Maven is a shop and also offers interior design services. It's a lovely space selling beautiful…read morehousehold items, ceramics, furniture, textiles and gifts. I especially like the Derek Wilson ceramics and the fact you can purchase Northern Irish magazine Freckle from Maven. So even if you're not wealthy enough to use an interior designer (or just like to do your own) you can pick up some beautiful bits and pieces for your home. However the minimalist, simple, natural, muted style Maven trade in wont be to everyone's taste. Well worth a browse though. Unfortunately the shop is small so you'll see a greater range of items on their website: http://www.wearemaven.co.uk/home.

A real hidden gem stocking some beautiful modern furnishings, accessories and locally produced…read moretoiletries. Its in a very nicely restored little hall just off the busy Lisburn Rd and the lady behind the counter couldn't be friendlier, full of great tips on places to eat and other interesting shops in the area (nearly as good as yelp :). A great place to browse and get inspired by modern Scandinavian style...

This isn't you're average charity shop, the idea behind Vintage Glow is to regenerate old and used…read morefurniture or up style it in girly terms. They are really on point with this idea as this seems to be a real trend gripping Belfast. I popped in on Monday and some of the items they had on offer you would expect to see in High Street shop windows, the beauty of this place is that all the furniture is reasonably priced and not only that but it will be a one off. Glow isn't just a great shop but it's also a great cause - the idea behind GLOW is that it provides women from both communities the opportunity to develop confidence and self-belief through creation and craft. The beauty of this place is that you can either purchase items that are donated to the GLOW team or you can bring in your own tattered furniture for a makeover. I would definitely pop in for a look next time you're on the Lisburn Road - you could pick up a bargain and help a good cause.

Ardis is the type of store that provides me with an Ikea moment, where you walk in and would just…read morelove to point at one of their display rooms and ask them to just pack it up and ship it to your place. Everything in here is fantastic. Importantly, everything seems to be within the same sort of style (don't ask what style!) which means everything in the store seems to go with everything else. There are a number of these stores across N. Ireland, but as far as I can tell this is the only one in Belfast and one of the most recent additions to their expanding brand. The stuff is quite pricey and if you fancy it pricier still, they also run a design studio.

Absolutely beautiful furniture, such unique pieces. The staff are very knowledgeable and…read moreexceptionally friendly!

Wow - Bright lights everywhere! Exclusive Designs is located just inside the Royal Avenue entrance…read moreof Castecourt, if you're coming in from the street on a sunny day don't bother taking your sunglasses off because Exclusive Designs is bright. There are so many shiny objects in this shop, physicists could use it to stage some sort of refraction or reflection experiment. Exclusive designs sell all sorts of home decorations, furniture, lamps, mirrors, vases and odd light fixtures. Looking at a few price tags it all seemed priced quite well and I noticed that they have payment plans available if you really want a bright red TV stand but just can't quite afford it this month. Exclusive Designs is not really to my taste but it is certainly popular in Belfast. If you're in to home decorations then pay them a visit - I'm sure you'll find something in their huge stock that you love.

After a holiday in Andalucia once years ago I came home obsessed with things Moorish, especially…read morethe tiles. A search led me to Fired Earth which to this day still has beautiful patterned Moorish and Turkish tiles as well as other great colours. The shop has expanded into the realms of fitting out kitchens and bathrooms. Fired Earth also does its own own paint range and supplies National Trust colours. It's a real pleasure to visit. Furthermore, the staff didn't take the blindest bit of notice of me which was good as I was unashamedly browsing only though they're probably used to hordes of gawpers which is what you get for having such a superior shop.

I had no intention of actually buying anything from here or hiring anyone to redecorate my house…read more I'm so lazy that the prospect of other people doing work around me leaves me needing a nap, so this was purely a nosey visit. As Diarmuid P has already said, they do focus on bathroom and kitchen furniture and honestly, after seeing the show room, I only wish I could afford to have them come in and move 2/3's of their shop into my house, or at least let me sub let the show room. Top quality design and installation at a price that seems reasonable for someone who's not a recently graduated pauper!

Utopia is my first port-of-call when I know someone's birthday is coming up, or at Christmas…read moretime...you're pretty much guaranteed to find something in here you know that person will like. The variety is huge - massive wooden chess sets to quirky key rings and everything in between. There's nothing cheap or tacky, just beautiful gifts at incredibly affordable prices. The last time I was (it was only last week, due to their being a friend's birthday on the horizon), I was served by the most friendly lady I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to. She really was genuinely lovely, and that really made the trip for me. There's nothing better than decent customer service, and I definitely experienced some top class service that day. With some of the loveliest ranges in town, and wonderfully helpful staff, Utopia really is a must see...you won't be disappointed.

Yeah I have no complaints about Utopia. I'm glad there is only one of its kind in Belfast as that…read morekeeps the family who run it in trade and the customers flocking back. I love to go in at Christmas time as my mum has a thing for Christmas decorations and this is the best place in town to get a quality piece at a really good price. It houses such a mixture of goodies you could spend hours just browsing. There is a massive selection if ornaments such as statues of dogs, animals and fairies. They also have a large collection of really nice inexpensive costume jewellery. You can pick up anything in here from a rubber chicken to a ceramic panda. It is definitely the place to go for gifts of any sort. I was bought a poker set from here many moons ago and I still treasure it as although it wasn't really expensive it has the feel of a luxury item.

Having previously reviewing the store in Castlecourt I thought (meaning my girlfriend thought and I…read moredid not get a say in it) we'd go to the Boucher Road and check out the Homewares store. I have just recently acquired a new house for the new term so I really wanted to make it my own by getting some accessories such as cushions and throws, stuff that will prevent any stains on the already musty sofas but which will guarantee me my deposit back. Ha! Brian One. Estate Agents Zero. We headed to the Boucher Road with the intentions of going to Au Naturale but Laura Ashley's caught my eye and I thought I'd take a quick look. The prices of cushions ranged from £16 to £35, I thought that was for the set but no it was the actual price for one. Perhaps I was naïve or perhaps I had spent too long shopping and I was becoming increasingly infuriated with designer shops because I don't know how you can justify this price. Worringly I saw people actually paying money for the stuff in here. I quickly exited and made for Au Naturale. If you don't have a budget or have to worry about money then definitely come here as the stuff is really nice but other than that please avoid.

Dreadful customer service. Alison the ' manager. ?' is very rude with nil customer service…read more Most lampshades I have bought from this store have been damaged. No one seems to know Verny much product info and they just refer you to Laura ashley customer service. please take a leaf out of marks and Spencer's book and train staff to be nice, polite, accommodating!

There must be 8 (no exaggeration) coffee shops/cafés in a mile stretch on the Lisburn Road and they…read moreall have their little things that make them what they are. Bedeck's little thing is that it is joint on to a home décor/ gift shop. I think Bedeck started off as a gift shop with a small café but now it seems that the hop plays second fiddle to the popular café. The décor of the café is great - the shop front is all glass so there's a lot of natural light beaming in which makes it a nice working environment, if the Wi-Fi was better. The Wi-Fi was so poor in fact that I cut my visit short but not before I had eaten. I ordered a Bacon and Chili Jam wrap, which was delightful, the wrap was packed to the brim and served with a side salad and some homemade coleslaw. They had a few different warps on the menu but that one took my fancy. I don't think Bedeck Café is the type of place you'll get a stodgy lunch; it's more of a quick snack stop. Good news is they make a mean coffee and if you order an Americano like I did expect it to be served up in a huge bowl style mug. I liked Bedeck but it didn't have the wow factor - I think the awful Wi-Fi put me off slightly.

I always feel I have to walk gracefully in Bedeck as it is such a beautiful shop. Am I weird? I…read morethink I know the answer. So anyway, I glide about Bedeck when I need something like a housewarming gift or a cheer myself up gift. I also have to be feeling flush as Bedeck is not a cheap place to shop. But the stock is just so darn lovely. Bedeck is all about tasteful interiors. As well as offering a bespoke interior design service, they also sell all manner of what I call trinkets for your home - candle holders, vases, wine glasses, photo frames, lamps and artificial flowers. They sell lots of things from a home accessories company called SIA which I am just mad about. Everything on offer is totally upmarket and totally fab - lots of glass and crisp cotton and the kind of napkin rings which will transform your next dinner party. Well I believe it anyway. Downstairs is home to the most beautiful bedding for adults and kids - Designers Guild and Sanderson so we're talking pricey here. Mind you, my younger child has Designers Guild bed linen (does he appreciate it? He's 6, what do you think?) which I snaffled in Bedeck at 70% off which made it affordable and the quality is amazing. Speaking of kids, it's probably best that you visit Bedeck without yours if you have any of the little blighters. Otherwise you will be a frazzled wreck. Or £50 worse off when you pay for something that has been broken,

Located opposite Urban Outfitters…read more Good place for gifts. Have quite a few local items. Expect to pay on certain items more than standard retail due to the handmade aspect. Lots of wee cute toys etc for kids. Also lots of house soft furnishings. It's the sort of place you would like to buy lots of stuff you don't need but it looks nice. Lol Lots of chalk paint colours can be bought in here. The shop is packed with gifts etc. You have to hoke a bit as its jammed packed with things laid out on wooden dressers and tables etc. It's a bit kitch compared to just browsing the rails. Shop has a sort of Cath Kidston feel about it.

Lakeland is a chain of kitchenware shops based in Cumbria that has outlets all over England and…read moreScotland. It has kind of crept up on me but the shop is pretty huge, selling every kind of baking tin, kitchen equipment and home appliance that you could think of. Behind it there is a mail order section providing three catalogues so everything is covered. The shop seems brand new and is quite large. You might well need the help of the staff, who are friendly and pleasant, to find things. If you want a specific baking item or saucepan this is the place to go.I'd come here for sugar cake decorations, handsomely decorated tins and saucepans. Everything is good quality. There's a selection of china and foodie gifts, but the main focus is practical kitchenware. Lakeland has become so big that it is somewhat generic but undoubtedly has its place.

So I decided I'd bake my mum a birthday cake...and now I'm so full of regret as I never realised…read morehow difficult it is. Thankfully however Lakeland exists and has every colour of icing you could need and every instrument, tool and appliance you can think of to help with your masterpiece. Lakeland has a huge range of culinary delights, cleaning products, coffee machines, kitchen aids, beer/ wine/ cider making kits and lots of other handy devices that are super tempting but you really have to question if you would get enough use out of it. Prices can be quite expensive but all items are high quality. Staff are super friendly and really helpful. Here's hoping I can mould the pretty fuschia coloured icing I bought into something that resembles a flower or mother may be birthdaycakeless.