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...

Ever walked in to a shop and wanted to buy everything? Made In The Cellar is like that. It's like…read moreAladdin's cave, but in Sheffield. In there you'll find things like typographic prints of inspiration & wit; stripped-back, up-cycled tables and bespoke one off pieces of furniture; gorgeous scented candles, and stylish candlesticks; quirky lamps and the types of light fittings you see in ultra stylish interior design magazines... The list goes on. There is a selection of smaller items which would be great gifts for people, and a box of greeting cards which are so sarcastic and borderline offensive, that I couldn't resist buying 4 on my last visit - the one I'll be giving my dad for his birthday will either make or break our relationship! For the quality of the stuff in there, it's incredibly reasonably priced, I just wish I had a big enough house to fit it all in!

If you like exotic pictures, statues and ornaments then you'll love this shop. I was amazed at how…read moremuch they sold and was almost captivated by all the products. Their products range from giraffes as tall as you to animal masks to brightly painted pictures to unique African style ornaments. They could really spice up your home. With all this going on it made the shop look a bit cluttered this was a minor issue for me because I was so amazed at the products. Who knew a little taste of the exotic could be so close? The prices are good as well and if you've read any of my other reviews you'll now I like a bargain. The paintings were about ten pounds and small ornaments were on offer for less than £5.00. Being in here temporarily took my mind of the real outside world. If I had the money on me I definitely would have taken something home!

I really like wooden carved ornaments and unique art pieces, so I thrive on visiting these sorts of…read moreplaces. When I first discovered Exotic Homeware, I was literally amazed at the amount of cultural creativity that they sold, especially considering that the store is not far from where I live; I feel like I should have discovered it sooner. From wooden crafted giraffes to elephants to masks to brightly coloured birds to cages to canvases, the shop sells a great selection of organic and hand created objects, which really do make your home look more interesting and cultured. The price of items isn't bad either; usually when you go to similar shops, they put a high cost on these sorts of unique gifts. But here, you can pick up a medium sized collection of three wooden owls for £5! Bargain! I really wouldn't mind buying every item in this shop to be honest. Then I'd be able to develop my own haven of all things exotic to escape the drudgery of Birmingham. (from time to time)

Great spot for shopping. Lots of treasures. We loved all of the different businesses in building…read moreacross 4 floors.

Back in the days of Madchester, Afflecks Palace was the place to go to get cool flares, psychadelic…read moreshirts, sunhats and all the right threads. Rumour has it Urban Splash founder Tom Bloxham even had a stall here selling bootleg Inspiral Carpets and Happy Mondays tees. These days, Afflecks is a bit of a ghost town. There are still dozens of stalls selling everything from vintage and secondhand clothes to military wear, drugs paraphanelia, henna tattoos, wind-chimes and furniture. Sadly, there aren't as many old goths, rockers, emo teens and ageing punks as there used to be and you can sometimes walk round the whole building without seeing anyone other than the staff!

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.

HomeSense is a chain of discount home furnishing stores, it is owned by TK Maxx, who also has a…read morestore next to this one in the Manchester Arndale. like TK Maxx the branding/styling of the name is different on this side of the Atlantic. The store is large and has a good selection of bits and bobs, from pillows to appliances, from ice cube trays and cheese-graters. Considering, they're supposed to be a "discount" chain, I did find some prices to be a little high, if you're lucky you'll find a high-quality item with a good discount/offer though, so it's kind of like a TKMaxx jumble sale but replacing the clothes with home items. The staff seemed friendly and happy to help me find what I was looking for, and the experience at the checkout was smooth. This is a fairly good store, obviously, some deals are better than others, but probably the best selection of home furnishing in the Manchester Arndale, with a fairly presentable store and helpful staff. 4*

I'm kind of in love with this shop. It's dreamy! The window displays are whimsical and they're sure…read moreto draw you in every time. The seasonal produce is brilliant, both food items and general home ware. They've got the Christmas stock in at the moment and it's absolutely gorgeous, snow globes and crockery, bath products and food. You name it :) I had to drag myself out of the shop before I spent my entire pay check. I love that you can get top quality, one off items here are a very decent price. The staff are always helpful and the store is clean and well presented. They also have a pretty good reduced to clear range. If you're in to DIY like me you can pick up something that's a little damaged for a ridiculous price and fix it up at home. I've saved so much doing this. I also find this shop to be ideal for gift shopping as they stock such a wide range of products, the packaging tends to be beautiful and I can pick up items here that I wouldn't normally see in other shops.

Wow, what a gem! I wish I had discovered this earlier…read more Located within walking distance from Broad St, and has very good transport links, this handy business sells everything from ornaments, furniture, flooring, Chinese antiques and arts, to clothes, fabrics and jewellery that are unique and distinguished in character. This is an ideal shop that has it all to fit out your home with all the decor, and more, whether your a first time buyer, or just in need of some stuff. I really liked this outlet, as it's not like the Ikea's of the shopping world, it's a great independent outlet. You feel like your walking through someones home as it's so nicely fitted out. It would be nice if the shop offered gift vouchers, as there is so much housing in the city. That way, if your not exactly convinced of a purchase, you can still buy a voucher where friends and family can choose instead.

With neighbours including a hair salon, a beauty spa and a newsagents, Curzon's is an unusual…read moreaddition to the mini commercial district in the otherwise residential area along Sheepcote Street near the NIA. Stocking a wide range of Chinese furniture, ornaments and clothing, Curzon's is well worth making the trip. The family-owned business also offers traditional Chinese teas, interpretation and translation services, and tutoring in Mandarin Chinese. The staff are really chatty and happy to assist you with making your purchase, and the shop often has special offers on a wide variety of stock. You might expect a shop like this to be found nearer the Chinese quarter, but given the number of apartment complexes in the immediate area that might benefit from an oriental makeover, it makes sense to something a little closer to home.

One of my favourite furniture shops! Filled with beautiful unique furniture and home accessories…read morethat you won't find anywhere else in Manchester. My recent purchases include a Mid-Century Modern velvet upholstered rocking chair, a faux Monstera plant, a couple of PF Candles and a collection of beautiful Scandi-inspired tableware.

From the owner: Rose and Grey offer an electric mix of furniture and home accessories - everything you need to…read more'make your home happy'.

A good little new age shop selling all kinds of gifts and oddments from all over the world…read more The theme of the items is very bohemian with throws, cushion covers, candles and ornaments many from India and Thailand. It's a good place to look for a present for the person who has everything as you're bound to find something in here they haven't got. The shop can get very busy with people looking at things so be careful not to knock anything fragile off the shelves as you're weaving past other shoppers. Also, as part of their ethical stance, Evolution don't particularly like giving plastic bags out but you'll get a beaming smile if you tell them you don't need one.

A well established outlet filled with funky trinkets including gifts, candles, home accessories &…read morehand made goods. Ethically sourced, reasonable prices with regular sales and friendly staff. Love it!