Have a quirky Christmas with Abode Living gifts on mydeco.com

Admit it, you don’t really want to unwrap yet another pair of woolly socks and some generic high street vouchers this Christmas. And you’re not being bah humbug; you do deserve better!

At mydeco.com we’ve handpicked the most original, eclectic and cutest Christmas gifts from quirky boutiques across the country.

Image credit: Abode Living

One of our favourite independent retailers is Abode Living, based in Brighton and London. Via mydeco.com you can enjoy Abode Living’s array of designer homeware, creative accessories and bright gifts.

Founded by Phillipa Brereton and Lynda Everett in 2004, Abode Living is the perfect supplier for our new-look curated homeware site. I met Lynda in her London shop to show you why:

Express your individuality

‘We are intent in offering beautiful objects that will help our customers let their personality shine through,’ she says. ‘What we’re about is expressing your individuality, choosing quirky accessories and not being scared of changing things. Why not go for pink lights or paint the wall behind them? You don’t have to adhere to a ‘look’ but pick individual pieces that you love.’

mydeco.com loves this ethos as we conscientiously edit and handpick our selection of homeware from various suppliers and designer-makers.

What do you want people to be braver with?

One area Lynda and Phillipa really focus on is lighting: ‘Big retailers just aren’t doing interesting lighting at the right price so we spend time looking for lighting pieces that are a bit different,’ explains Lynda.

‘I love the Timourous Beasties leaf light shade and have the grey and white version at home. You get a multi-coloured shadow effect with the red leaf design and the grey and white pattern allows you to add other colours into the room around it.’

Christmas gifts with a difference

‘We want people to feel like they’ve bought something really nice for their home and being really pleased about it and seeing it as something exciting, especially if it’s bought as a gift for someone.’

Image credit: Abode Living

‘This pelican lamp by Abigail Ahern is the number one thing people covet and you do want people to return longing for that one thing they won’t see somewhere else.’

Why not make a Christmas gift Wishlist of home accessories you love on mydeco.com and show it to your friends and family (see my Wishlists for inspiration). Then you’re guaranteed to stop longing and start owning those items you just can’t stop thinking about.

For gifts you’d be proud to give, be inspired by mydeco’s Gifts With a Difference Wishlist in collaboration with Abode Living.

How can shoppers be more confident about their style tastes?

‘Put together a moodboard of different objects and don’t expect things to match. Look for a thread of commonality or similar trait going through your chosen items.

‘Lower priced home accessories like cushions can easily be changed to suit the seasons or your style. Don’t be scared to change your mind and change your home items if you want to. People do tend to hang onto things but it can make a room feel uncomfortable. Changing just a few different bits, like cushions or candles or pictures, can make a lot of difference.’

Take Lynda’s advice and make a moodboard on mydeco.com of home accessories you like. You’ll soon see what they share in common, whether it’s a bohemian look, pretty in pink, bold and bright, masculine chic, minimalist or even French luxe. If you’re feeling uninspired from your selection perhaps your style is the best style there is: diversatile!

Throw away the rule book

‘Rather than matching all soft furnishings in a room you can mix them up a bit: a throw is a wonderfully versatile way to add interest, colour and texture to your scheme. For example, a beautiful textured throw across the end of a bed adds interest to plain bedding; a multi-coloured throw in the living room can help introduce new colours to a neutral scheme; and a beautiful wool weave can add texture and comfort to your favourite chair.

‘Colourful bowls grouped together on a table can make a really lovely ornamental display when they’re not in use. Think outside the box: items don’t have to be used just for their main functional purpose.’

Image credit: Abode Living