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.

When you are bored of flat pack and the idea of IKEA brings you out in a sweat, get yourself down…read moreto Creations. Looking for a chest of drawers with a friend I was dragged in on a Saturday afternoon (not my favourite way to spend the weekend), but I must honestly admit to being surprised. The place is enormous, very easy to get lost in, and while I wasn't the one buying they had so much furniture to suit most tastes and wallets. What I was most impressed by was their selection of accessories, and while before I didn't think I'd need a giant Buddha head I my living room, I'm totally considering one now.

Definitely one of the superior interior shops in Belfast. It's in a bit of a strange location so…read morethat's why I'm sure more people don't know about it. The place is absolutely huge inside with room after (fake) room of lovely furniture and other householdy stuff. The furniture seems to be off good quality and the staff are always helpful to advise on sizes and other price options as well which is nice. I bought a bed in here not so long ago and it was a pretty effortless exercise unlike my experience at IKEA around the same time where there was a massive screw-up with the delivery of a sofa. That's a rant for another day though. I really am always impressed when I visit here, the selection is second to none and the price range is right across the spectrum so you should always find something to fit the budget. Pros: Huge selection, well laid out. Cons: There's a lot to get through.

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.

I had bought a 6 door wardrobe from Curio in winter, joiner couldn't build it - said all the…read moremeasurements were slightly off and it would fall apart. Curio asked for photos as proof, how can I take photos of that? Anyway, I had lots of health issues so left wardrobe pieces in spare bedroom. Asked Curio to come take a look, when they came they told me the wardrobe pieces were perfect, couldn't help me, told me that no-one had attempted to build wardrobe (despite me watching joiner try) but they would leave wardrobe pieces in front garden for council to dump. Brand new "perfect" wardrobe for council to dump? Said they couldn't take it back because it would just be fire wood, you're right, it is. £300, £20 delivery, joiner £20 tip for coming out, and the wood is still leaning against a wall in my spare bedroom. Any other company would have the decency to try to help. AVOID.

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.

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.

This brand spanking new Harvey Norman mega store just opened at the already jam packed Boucher Road…read morePlaza. We were intending to go to Boucher Road for a few items to do a bit of DIY but we ended up aimlessly wandering around this new store. My favourite part of the store was that it had a coffee shop both upstairs and down. It's like a plush Ikea with furniture for grown ups. Would be a really good place to visit if you had a few bob to splash but otherwise it's just very average. On the plus side they have great parking and plenty of staff ready to assist you.

Had lovely food here today for lunch. Really fresh prepared produce that have a great price point…read more Such a comfortable place to eat. Free water sitting for all customers to enjoy. Staff friendly and very helpful. Will definitely be returning.

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...

One good thing about recession - it makes second hand cool again. In a time when everyone is…read morewatching the pennies, charity and vintage shops are making a killing. This store opened up in 2009 and seems to be doing very well. I love going in for a wee hoke about and while, like at most second hands, the results are varied, I've managed to find a few little pieces amongst the rails. It is predominately clothing, but there is the odd bit of furniture which tends to be beautifully crafted dressers or wardrobes - just what you need to hold all your beautiful vintage items, right? The staff are always very welcoming, the prices are right and there's always something new to find, rather than the same old stuff you see on the high street normally. Plus, it's run by the East Belfast Mission who do a lot of good work in the poorer parts of East Belfast, engaging with young people and homeless outreach, so everyone's a winner!

'Vintage, re:use, re:style, re:store'…read more I love the idea of this shop. I hate waste and I'm always one for restyling my own clothes. This isn't just another vintage shop, it's slightly better quality than the others. They do a great job with mannequins, I'm always impressed with their window dressing skills. The clothes in the shop front was the first thing I ever noticed about the place. It's always a really good job. So kudos to whoever sets this up. Inside the store it's always laid out brilliantly, some vintage shops are a bit like TK Maxx at the best of times, you need a good few hours to sort through the jumble until you find the gem you're after, but in Vintage they've got everything in order around the shop and you can immediately find some real gems. They sell (amongst a myriad of others) trousers, skirts, dresses, shoes, jackets, formal and casual wear. Anything and everything. Paradise! Even their furniture is for sale (so pretty too!) Like most vintage shops they don't offer refunds but do offer a credit note exchange. I find this particularly handy if you don't have the time to try items on. You're always going to find something you're after anyway.