When Tableau first caught my eye I had two contradictory thoughts. Firstly: oh look at that nice…read morepainted iron table that would look lovely in the garden. Secondly: why is there another shop in Headingly selling seemingly pointless ornamental objects? I went in to check it out and see which initial thought would pervade. They have quite a few bits of furniture that are very attractive, expensive but original such as a white painted iron bench and a similarly crafted coat stand. Decorative things hang from the ceiling that would suffice as gifts for mothers or girl friends who like pretty, hand-crafted things and can overlook their pointlessness. There is hand-made jewelry and some interesting prints, including a Jack Vertriano print. I particularly like the tiny glass pigs for sale. This shop is a bit more sophisticated than others of its kind in Headingly/Hyde Park selling gift items but they do sell fairy lights.

Tableau is a gift shop that I'm actually willing not to whinge about! The exterior is very tasteful…read morewith a muted forest green painted front and minimalist stainless steel lettering. The large windows display their pretty wares. Upon entering it's quite difficult to categorise their products as there is such a range. Mainly decorative home ware. There are small pieces of furniture, clocks, fairy lights, plant pots, lanterns, watering cans, ornaments, bobs and bits, bits and bobs, pretty things and lovely items. What I must say is I just LOVE their greetings card selection. Small it may be but perfectly formed it certainly is. The cards are very unusual and with a vintage and quirky style. Though I always make cards for my family I found a few that would just make perfect mothers' day cards...could I really give her two? I might have to they are so pretty! Now I'm not easy to please when it comes to cards so waxing lyrical about a shop's card selection feels rather out of character! Now gift shops and I generally don't get on, but Tableau really is different with its own character and style. Definitely a place to hunt for a present for mums or female friends who like to beautify their home. What the hey...I'm a fan!

This beautifully presented shop stocks a bounty of gadgets, ingredients and gifts. Situated in the…read moreClarence Dock development, Hob is a hub of activity. Although I do not feel Clarence Dock has reached its full potential in terms of creating a vibrant atmosphere, I am sympathetic towards their plight. Economically, it has not been an ideal time to attract businesses to fill the space. With that in mind, I commend them for not lowering their expectations and therefore quality of the area, by settling for less and accepting the arrival of mediocre companies. For mediocrity is an alien concept to Hob. When entering the shop, my eyes were bedazzled with the spectacular array of colourful and unusual items. It appears as though The Mad Hatter got a little jaded with the monotony of Wonderland, and decided to relocate to Leeds to open a shop. Dainty little carts display items from varying cultures. An Indian cart is covered with convenient spice packs to create the perfect curry. Authentic Indian and Chinese crockery are available, perfect for enhancing the most sophisticated dinner party. Chinese lanterns and various cooking items are available in their droves, with the warming scent of herbs wafting around the nostrils. When I was in recently, I noticed that my behaviour began to change. Who would have guessed that I, Kate, would ever be interested in the grace of a ginger grater, the comeliness of cutlery or the tastefulness of a teapot. I admit, I do enjoy a good teapot, but I behaved as though I was an expert, a veritable connoisseur of all kitchen based goods! It is a lovely shop to choose a gift for a friend or relative. From the choice of cookery books, kitsch kitchenware and many more treats, a present from here should by no means be considered a generic last resort. A section which introduces children to cooking is also a great resource to buy a birthday present which is a bit different from the usual My Little Pony or He-Man figurines. I am not out of touch, you take that back. At the rear of the shop, there is a small cafe which serves a range of sandwiches, toasties, soup and brunch. The food I have had has been both tasty and inexpensive, with the breakfast sandwiches earning particular profuse praise. A huge wooden table serves as an excellent base to devour your snack, the communal setting creating an intimate atmosphere. Whether you need to track down some yellow mustard seeds, some loose teas from around the world or the latest scribblings from your favourite chef, Hob is the ideal place to do so. Whilst eating a ham and cheese toastie, result.

What a house of wonder! Chase really isn't kidding when he says it sells everything, it really does…read moresell pretty much everything you might need for your home. From cleaning products, kitchen items, DIY bits and bobs, cheap snacks, cards and so much more - they've got it covered. If you're a keen shopper/browser it's a veritable treasure chest to explore. My particular favourite is the upstairs section. Here's where the items get slightly less bargainous and become a little higher end... They've beds, lamps and all other kinds of home furnishings in a range of styles. Faux-antique right through to the more modern sleek look. I bought an awesome 'telephone box' lamp for my room at home, which is so kitsch and delightful and only set me back £15. (I can imagine it costing a ton more in a vintage shop!) My Mum was particularly overjoyed with a red painted vase that she picked up as well, of which they had many different shades! So, there's plenty to get excited about, and not too pricey as well. However, all that glitters is not gold. I did come away having purchased a few oil reed scent dispensers (the pots of oils with the wooden reeds) and they simply don't work at all. They were only a pound each, but I can see why they were so cheap as they give off no scent at all! Even so, I'm pleased as punch with my lamp so that more than makes up for it!

I was first introduced to QLM by my new wife (I change them quite often, not really if you're…read morereading this love) just after we set up home together. It was the first time I'd been in a shop which I cannot categorize by what it sells, IT SELLS EVERYTHING !! From bleach to crisps, rugs to xbox games, they have almost everything under one roof. The only thing I can say lets it down is a lack of electrical goods like TV's but if you're looking for a pack of brass tacks and a birthday card for auntie Mabel this is a good place to start........ and if you're feeling tired you can nip upstairs and pretend you're testing a bed out :)

Junk Again is another fantastic furniture place that doesn't require you be to snobby and rich to…read morepurchase their goods. I like Habitat, don't get me wrong, but really, why bother when you can get good quality furniture for much less. Especially if you are a student! Which is perfect for this area. Flocks of students come and go through Leeds, moving every year and needing to get rid of or attain furniture every time they do. Junk Again are aware of this and have cleverly positioned themselves not far from the postcodes that are predominantly student populated. If you are looking for a cabinet, a table, or arm chair, or are looking to get rid of, a fridge, a freezer, or chimney pot, Junk Again is a great place to go. They are slightly chaotic but that just adds to that old fashioned feel of shops of this type. Plus no-one will look down their polished nose at you as they so often do in Habitat.

When my friends and I moved house last year we opted for a grand four bedroom house that was…read moreunfurnished as it wold cost us a little less. That, sadly, was not the case in the end but that's more to do with the Estate Agent and building than anything else. However, pretty much the only thing that we required for our move was a sofa and some arm chairs. Enter: Junk Again! My old housemate had spotted Junk Again on her way through Woodhouse and suggested that we tried here for a cheap second hand suite. I was game for any bargain and so when she called me, all a fluster, to tell me about this awesome sofa, two arm chairs and a pouffe for a mere £40, I came immediately to the scene. Yes. That's right. All that for forty flippin' pounds. The friendly chap explained that he had planned to have them cleaned but hadn't yet, so was willing to let them go for that much - all we needed to do was clean them. No probs, Handy Hire in Headingley solved that one for us dirt cheap too! We couldn't have been more chuffed. Inside you'll find an array of lovely old furniture and the odd antique, for seriously cheap prices. My advice is: if you're moving look here first. I've a few more things I need myself so I'm planning a re-visit very soon...

I could spend hours in this place looking around. It is a feast for the senses with bold colours…read moreand luxurious fabrics, decadently strewn about. I am slightly nervous about going in, it has always been one of those places that because it looked so good I always thought I couldn't afford it. On this particular journey they had some great screen pints on display and they immediately caught my eye, I just had to go and have a look. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices which I thought were extremely reasonable considering the quality involved. Once I was in the shop found it really hard to leave. The sales assistant was so friendly and chatty and there were yards and yards of some of the most gorgeous material I have ever seen. A fantastic place to come if you need to brighten up a dull room and they cater for a range of tastes.

This shop is a feast for the eyes, covered in wallpaper and fabric samples of an array of styles…read moreand colours. It has styles to suit most taste including dark striking patterns, colourful stripes, pale and pretty, plain and understated, jazzy and bright, vibrant gem colours and vintage Cath Kidston style prints and polka dots. If you're particular about the interior of your house you could probably spend hours in here browsing the vast range of options. The shop provides a curtain-making service to make the shop to home transition as smooth and easy as possible. When I popped in for a browse the staff were very pleasant, allowing me to browse for a minute or so before asking if I needed any help. They happily chatted away while I was there, which I really liked as I hate feeling like the staff are another part of the display, taking on a robotic demeanour in an attempt to make as many sales as possible. If you're looking for curtains or wallpaper you're very likely to find something to your taste here. It's certainly not the cheapest shop, but the prices reflect the high quality of the products.

Danber is a very small curtain stall in the lower market hall. It is full to bursting with curtains…read moreof different lengths, fabrics, thicknesses and colours. Due to its tiny size, though, it is unable to offer a great deal of choice so it wouldn't be the obvious shop of choice for anyone wanting to browse through a range of styles. However, prices are cheap though so if you did find something suitable it certainly wouldn't break the bank. If you like the twee look they have a few sets of cutesy lace curtains and some frilly curtains with matching pelmets, ties and thick lace edges printed with fruit. They would look very at home in a country kitchen with a gingham table cloth and an apple pie in the oven! If you're looking for curtains on a tight budget and aren't very picky about the precise colour or design then it may be worth a look in Danber.

the best shop for curtains but especially nets. The owner is the nicest and kindest shopowner I…read morehave ever known and will help you in any way possible. If only all shops were like this one.

Inspirations 'Wallcoverings, Fabrics and Design' isn't in the most frequented area, being in a…read morerather remote location on the city end of Roundhay Road. The clue to its existence is a rather demure sign and a patchwork of wallpaper and fabrics covering the windows. This is a good indication of the interior as it really is collaged all over with an array of different wallpaper and fabric samples as well as curtains on rails. Shelves all round the room house folder after folder of wallpaper and curtain fabric samples, all of high quality and many with a lavish, sumptuous plush feel. There are also displays of curtain rails and hooks of a range of different styles. They also sell paint in a wide range of colours. This place would be heaven for any house-proud type who delights in choosing the precise style, colour and design of all their interior décor. There are wallpapers and fabrics here to suit literally any colour scheme and to appeal to most tastes. My favourite fabric was some luxurious-looking silk tartan in an array of jewel like colours and designs. Scrumptious!

Big thanks to Gab behind the counter, super sweet and helped me get all fitted up for cowboy night…read moreim going to!!

Ingeniously situated in one of Leeds' most bohemian and effortlessly cool areas, Hyde Park, Retro…read moreBoutique provides customers with vintage items from many eras with which to wear and furnish. Like any retro shop, you have to root around for ages before you find anything worth buying, and sometimes you won't find anything worth purchasing at all. There are heaps of clothes on offer, but they are more geared towards women than men, which is a bit disappointing if you have a Y chromosome. Unlike most of the other vintage shops in Leeds, however, this place does offer plenty of quirky items of furniture as well as its clothing selection. So if you're a woman, or in need of some bizarre bric-a-brac, I'd recommend Retro Boutique. If, like me, however, you want to find a 1980s Adidas tracktop, I'd recommend Blue Rinse in town.

James Macintyre & Co specialise in floral pottery, lamps and a range of other home ware as well as…read morecards and artwork with a similar style. The products all have a vintage and quite pretty art nouveau style with gently curving plants and highly stylised flowers and insects. The aesthetic runs throughout the shop, though with a wide range of variations on the theme. The smaller items like cards and picture frames are good if you like the style, but aren't prepared to splash out on a lamp. The shop is compact, with a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere and helpful staff.

This shop specialises in art pottery and has a vast selection of vases and art work for your home…read more They have some really unusual pieces and some are actually quite humorous. They have catalogues that you can choose items from to be ordered and also offer gift cards, lamp bases and shades and collections from Prestige Moorcroft. The shop is small and homely, pop in and have a look around.

Dunelm is one of those places where you go in not needing anything in particular then find yourself…read morecoming out with bag fulls....! I visit here frequently if I want to update my house with a few new pieces of furniture or a new flower display. They have a massive craft section with bits and bobs from making your own christmas cards to arranging your own flower display. They have several different sections that cater for both home and garden and you can literally find almost anything you might need for your home. This Dunelm is a super store so thankfully has a coffee shop. Take advantage of the Latte mid shop...you won't regret it! I love Dunelm for buying bedding, although some ranges can be expensive (they stock Kylie Minogues collections), a lot of the ranges are very reasonably priced. That reasonably that I can pick a few sets up even on my student budget. If you want to find something to spice up your living room like a few unusual cushions or a new vase then you'll love looking around in this place.

Although there are many good shops with cheap bits and pieces and everything you need close by and…read moreon easy bus routes in and around Leeds city centre this shop is an absolute bundle of amazement and joy for those wanting to DIY home furnishings and buy loads of interesting materials and some bargain prices. Having got there, decided what you want and are ready for the off you'll more than likely be carrying more than what you originally planned to go in for. And now, well now is January and we all know what that means...SALE.