The most stylish new interiors boutiques to check out now

Quit online scrolling and start real-life strolling to find the best homeware, says Olivia Lidbury

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If the thought of Black Friday and the short-lived deals on offer is already giving you anxiety, then why not block out the digital noise and shop in a more analogue way this year? Pounding the pavements instead of scrolling a screen, speaking to shopkeepers rather than chatbots and coming away with a considered purchase that is beautifully wrapped is far more gratifying than trying to locate exactly where that DPD delivery has ended up. After all, online returns cost you time (and retailers a fortune) and when it comes to homewares, it pays to see, touch and feel items in real life. No one wants to hold up a Post Office queue with a rug that didn't quite fit, or repack a lampshade that looked a completely different colour online.

The high street is supposedly dying out, but the capital has recently welcomed a slew of mostly independent homeware stores ranging from the practical to the purely decorative. They won't be shouting about discounts or bundles à la Vinted, but they will give you a warm welcome and probably some free decorating advice. Here are the ones to check out as Christmas shopping season approaches.

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