If I had a thousand pounds to decorate my room, I would come to Sense…read more Very contemporary, very chic, very nice! I couldn't help but feel a little in awe wandering round this shop, they have thought of just about everything from furniture, to decoration, lighting of every kind even garden accessories. At the moment they have some huge, and I do mean huge, cups and sauces outside which I assume you would plant a pretty plant in, though they looked way to good to put soil in if you ask me! As well as quite extravagant things they do have a good selection of affordable bits and pieces ideal from presents or to brighten up your room, like picture frames, fairy lights, and statement cushions! Not everything in here is to my taste, I think you will either love or hate some pieces but it's definitely work popping in on your way past.

"DO NOT ENTER if you have a dreary, grey, misty, Autumn outlook, as you may be distressed by the…read morecontents of this shop and might have convulsions". This sensory warning should be displayed prominently at the door of the excellent shop - 'Sense Clifton' - all bright and glittering, colourful pinks, blues and shiny metals. On the other hand, if you have a sparkling magpie persona, fine. Or if you just want to be shocked out of your November torpor, come to Sense for a quick fix. You dont have to buy anything, just browse and you'll fell much better. Though of course, the owners would also feel much better if you did buy something, so why disappoint - they will have done you a good turn. According to some blurb, Sense "...offers a smart mix of design-led products with a contemporary edge...". Apparently, the owners' frequent trips to Holland have given them a new perspective on design. They wanted to attack all the senses and create a complete home environment, everything from comfortable leather seating, exciting lighting and soft furnishings to unusual gifts. Pay a visit yourself, check it out, but take heed of the sensory warnings - highly recommended.

Probably not the kind of store you go into constantly, but when you need nice stuff for your home,…read morethis is the spot. Great selections of linens and towels and curtains! It seems like there's always a "sale" on of one sort or another, so I don't know if they do actually lower the prices or what. But when I needed a set of bed linens and some bathroom rugs, this was the place to go. Good quality and I did find some options that were reasonably priced (as opposed to some stuff that was 'arm and a leg').

being a ponden home store manager myself we do lower the prices....."sale" stock is widely…read moreavailable as stock is being reduced to make way for new designs as like the seasons ranges of colours etc change constantly?eg winter is normally darker colours,spring is pastel shades sunmmer and autumn are warm colours!!hope this clarifies everything for you from a ponden home scottish store manager :)

I love this store, I am madly in love with about 3 of the windchimes on display here, I already…read morehave 2 from here - there are only so many chimes a person needs, but they are so pretty. I know nobody needs a geisha snowglobe in their life but again, its hard to resist when you are surrounded by cute trinkets! It isn't just cute and silly, it sells some nice accessories. I got a bag from here which got loads of compliments. This is a great place to buy some pretty pretty gifts or just treat yourself to something fun.

Evolution is a gift shop in The Galleries in Broadmead. I think this is my favourite shop to buy…read morepresents from thus far! They used to be quite a Balinese style gift shop buy quickly has moved towards a more Brittania, cutesy and kitsch feel lately. I would happily decorate my apartment with the stuff here. There are great welcome mats here that I've been eyeing up recently that look really well made and are affordable too, at £12. They have a few pieces of kids wooden furniture, some chairs sold here are so very cute, with carvings of animals on the chair backs- however I have no children to buy them for as yet! A few presents I have bought here are their rustic metal gifts; like wall clocks made to look antiquey and wall hangings with old style postcards printed on them. I bought my best friend one that said 'live well, love much, laugh often', which she loved. When on sale, I bought a huge amount of candles here which lasted me ages, and smelt great (they were mighty cheap). I could go on talking about the many various things they sell, but the best is if you keep this place in mind to check out for when you next need a gift!

Loads of furniture of the bright and modern variety. Not really my style, but my friend who's into…read moreall things kitch regularly lusts after various things in here. It's better quality than Ikea, but with a price to match, and they have some unique lampstands and funky chairs that wouldn't have looked out of place in the 70s (in a good way). Definitely worth considering if you're buying a present for someone, or if you're into that sort of thing. If not, at least wander past and look at the window displays.

Great place for window shopping and browsing and for finding things you won't find elsewhere in…read moreOxford. Very modern and stylish.

I recently took a much picture to Chromatic Arts on Rodbourne Road to be framed. I`m not very…read morecolour co-ordinated so i didn`t have a clue what type of frame i wanted. The very helpful sales assistant showed me a wide range of frames to choose from and made some very helpful suggestions. I asked him when it would be available and he said he would have it ready the next day- i was very impressed and the finished product looks lovely in my living room. The price was very reasonable and i will be returning for my future framing needs.

I've used several picture framers over the years, but have never had one that provides such as…read moreoutstanding level of service and quality of framing. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend anyone to use Chromatic Arts to get anything framed with the confidence that they'll be looked after and receive good quality work!

A nice change from Ikea: this home store specialises in ranges of lighting and bits and bobs for…read morethe home. I don't own a house, but I still find the range of lamps, lightshades and quirky lampstands really intriguing. It's best to go in with an open mind and let yourself be drawn to something, rather than going in with a set idea of what you want. There are lots of things under the rather vague category of 'soft furnishings', which can range from bags to trays to ornaments. The general trend is colourful and contemporary, with the odd squirt of quirkiness. It's a bit different from the nearby antique shops, but it works. The items seem like good quality and the staff are helpful. Prices are reasonable and all in all it's worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing. Personally, I find it interesting, but can't quite get excited about lighting and soft furnishings. I guess you've got to do it at some point though, and you could do a lot worse than starting here.

Northlight is a fascinating shop just to browse around, and great if you're looking for an…read moreintriguing gift, especially for a style-conscious fella. I've received and given a few presents from there and they always go down a treat, especially when used to brighten up a gloomy student room. They have a selection of almost painfully elegant home furnishings, including cushions, throws, candles, decorative items They also sell crockery and other kitchenware as well as picnic bags and hand-made kids' toys. There are some quirky items of jewellery in a cabinet at the side, and lovely children's mobiles dangling from the ceiling. This is all crammed into a tiny shop (don't take a large bag with you!) with very friendly staff. I am so tempted by their lovely fruit bowls, sigh. It really isn't cheap, by the way, but if you are looking to treat someone (including yourself) then it is a great place to find an unusual present.

This B&Q store is massive. It is brilliant for getting all your DIY stuff. There are plenty of…read morestaff to help you and they stand out in their orange tops! They have stations to help you with the different areas of your house (kitchen, bathroom, painting etc) so if you need help you know where to go. Staff seem friendly and they are happy to cut wood etc down so it fits in your car. The outside area has all your garden needs, decking, plants, lawn mowers. the list could go on. There is an on-site cafe which serves cakes, drinks, sandwiches etc. Its is not very big but I have never had any trouble getting a seat. Massive car park outside, which I can never imagine being full up. Be prepared to be in here a long time, especially if you are going along with a man!!

My favourite DIY store. It's Huge! Sells absolutely everything you need for the home and has a…read moregreat christmas shop within. The staff are absolutely brilliant and lots of them. I don't bother with the other DIY stores. Big car park. Cafe inside. Wear your walking shoes - one member of staff told me it was over 1/4 mile long.