This affordable homeware brand rivals Soho Home with design-led pieces
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The humble high-street homeware brand Dunelm doesn’t get its flowers nearly enough. Known for its affordability and design-led pieces, the store has come in clutch for my own interiors countless times.
My flat counts three Dunelm rugs, two Dunelm shelving units and even one Dunelm sofa – but you’d be forgiven for thinking they were found in an East London boutique, rather than online for sub-£100.
Born in 1979 as a market stall, Dunelm has grown to offer luxe-looking pieces that rival highbrow – and high-priced – counterparts, including Soho Home.
To save you some time scrolling through the site yourself, I’ve picked out five favourites available right now that give Soho Home a run for its money – from mid-century table lamps to marbled side tables.
Dunelm Maddie Tile Chunky Table Lamp
For £65, this Dunelm Maddie lamp looks like a piece of lighting over double (maybe triple) the price thanks to its rich, saturated colour palette and tiled base. The mid-century-inspired piece nods to the Soho Home Greyson lamp (£395, Sohohome.com), at a fraction of the cost.
A little Art Deco with modern construction, this sideboard features two adjustable shelves, with plenty of room for plates, glasses, cups, et al. Elevated by its retro-inspired design with curved details and slatted fronts, the large four-door sideboard easily combines form and function. It’s a stellar substitute for the Soho Home Marcel media unit (£1,995, Sohohome.com).
Dunelm’s amina chair is a near-identical alternative to Soho Home’s blair tub armchair (£995, Sohohome.com). But on Dunelm? You can cop it for under £170. Sewn from smooth chenille fabric, it features a sculpted tub back that creates a warm, inviting feel. The Amina chair is both bold and easily placed in your interiors... as well as being rather comfortable. Win-win.
Dunelm seana side table
Something about this Seana side table nods to a plinth at a museum. Crafted with a burl wood veneer and curved edges, this piece brings both warmth and sophistication to its surroundings. A near-identical alternative to Soho Home’s Dawson side table (£995, Sohohome.com), visitors won’t notice the difference.
Combining an organic shape with a luxe construction, Dunelm’s Pondus coffee table is a centrepiece if ever I saw one, just like Soho Home’s Oxley marbled coffee table (£3,995, Sohohome.com). The defining feature of this piece is, very clearly, the real cherry marble top with natural veining, based on solid mango wood legs.