Keens is a pretty cool interior design shop in East Belfast. The stuff on offer is pretty…read moreimpressive and although it is quite expensive, it's great quality stuff so worth the price- no boxed self build stuff in here! Its a far cry from Ikea! They obviously must be doing something right if they've been here for 40 years, especially as it's not exactly an upmarket part of town. I'd advice going in for a browse if you're doing a bit of decorating as the stuff is both beautiful and different!

Heading to find a sofa a couple of days after Christmas is not the way the OH wanted to spend his…read moreholidays, but I dragged him here anyway. Firstly, don't be put of by it's dreary location. Once through the doors you are greeted by a rainbow of colours, shapes and textures. A bit of a maze, with 3 massive floors there is loads to see and perhaps buy. I say perhaps as it is a good bit more expensive than the chain retailers, but what they do have is quality. If you are just looking to add a hint of style head towards the back of the ground floor where you will find all manner of trendy accessories to funk up the dullest living room at more reasonable prices. There was some cracking statues, which I really would have bought if the other half hadn't dragged me out. My VISA card thanks him.

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...

Lush place. Very very fancy. Out of my budget but nice to…read morelook around. It's located inside an old church. Displays are on the ground floor and office space upstairs on the balcony. Lovely venue. Great branding. Though when your in an interior shop and it says on some of the displays 'no photos' it's a bit strange. Rather cold inside. Very difficult to park outside. Some of the furniture etc is also being used in the Vestry cafe in the same building. Perhaps this company either own the whole premed is or done the for out for the others also.

If I ever run away from home, and I often threaten it when my sons are re-enacting WWF wrestling on…read morethe sofa and the husband has been struck by deafness and is reading the paper, I will go to live in Fultons. If you like furniture, home accessories and opulence, you will love Fultons as much as I do. It even smells good, kind of fragrant and expensive and tranquil. There is so much in this huge shop that I covet. Lexington bed linen, Ralph Lauren crockery, Bridgewater crockery (a full set) and oh, the furniture. Huge squashy sofas in sumptuous velvet, leather armchairs you could live in, polished wood dining tables that seat 20 people. It almost hurts to look around. Everything is stunning, and so are the price tags. I have only ever bought table linen and some big serving platters here and I treasure them dearly. Come the day I win the lottery, my new WAG style mansion will be furnished entirely from Fultons.

Why did I even bother to place my foot in through the door of this place. I could almost feel the…read morestroke luming as I strode closer to the price tag on the first thing I saw. I was not aware we had a store of in which only the King could shop in (I'm aware there isn't a King....just....shush..ok). Fultons is very high end indeed. Don't get me wrong, the stuff looks like its worth every penny. The store itself is laid out to look like the biggest, best house ever. It has that Ikea maze feel like about it, the only difference being is that instead of leaving with a lot of cheap stuff I never needed, I leave with an overwhelming sense of being a pauper!

In the middle of the forest of enormous lamps and bold black and white patterned armchairs and…read morezebra stripes there was a very pretty chair covered with pink toile de jouy fabric. The stock sold in Interiors by Sharon also bristles with huge artificial flower arrangements but there are also more practical items like leather covered tub chairs and other furniture in this small shop that is geared towards the needs of local community at reasonable prices.

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.

I'm very into improving my home and so am always putting up pictures or touching up paint and I…read moregenerally go to B&Q or Homebase for supplies. But there are times when I just need something really small like a tiny pot of white gloss paint or another little bit of black gloss - thanks to the five year old standing on the wet door saddle, exactly where I told him NOT to stand. Or times when I'm really in a hurry to touch up a skirting board before the school run. Yes, I know it's not normal. On those occasions, a jaunt to the cavernous DIY superstores, where I can get lost for hours, just isn't on the cards. That's when I go to my little local place, Decorator's Touch. This is a small shop which I can park right outside so that's time saved before I even go in. It's one of those mysterious little places that seems to have more stock than its space should allow. Paint, varnish, brushes, wall paper, check, check , check. They also offer a full interior design service - curtains, cushions etc. Quite how they manage to pull all that off is a miracle, but manage it they do. The owner is usually behind the counter and is really helpful if you're not sure which product you need. And best of all, he doesn't patronise me just because I'm a laydeee.

The world of student housing can be a very bleak one with unhelpful landlords, last weeks baked…read morebeans stuck to the way behind the bin and the kind of temperatures that would make an Eskimo feel at home. The least that can be done to make your place to live is get it decorated a wee bit( with the landlord's permission of course!) to make things less sterile and more conducive to good times! So when I was driving with my friends on their way to their new abode, we went out on a whim and called in here to pick up a few bits and pieces, and I was quite impressed! The staff were helpful and informative, and were ready to guide our bunch of unruly males to the lower cost end of the paint spectrum! There are a wide range of paints we were able to pick from, as well as other wallpapers, paintbrushes and other accessories that would be useful to the more advanced DIY consumer! We were just idiots with brushes, so basic coloured paints were just the ticket for us! I find the likes of Homebase and B&Q almost too large at times, and the customer service is sometimes lacking, so I find places like this most refreshing!