Spring is the season everyone suddenly notices their living room. Lighter mornings, open windows, and the dawning realisation that the place could do with a lift. You do not need to redecorate. Quite often one good piece in the right spot is enough.
We are an independent gift shop on King Street in Stirling, and we handpick everything we carry. Here are five things from our homeware collection that will freshen up a room, and every one of them makes a lovely gift too.
1. Peeking Highland Cow Vase
Peeking Highland Cow Vase, £20.
Nothing says spring quite like fresh flowers, and this one comes with a friendly coo minding them for you. A cheerful ceramic vase that earns its place on a windowsill or a mantelpiece, and a proper conversation starter when the tulips arrive.
If the coo is not quite right, we have a whole shelf of characterful vases and ceramics, from a lobster to a rather smug sheep.
2. Embroidered Cushion with Pom Poms
Embroidered Cushion with Pom Poms, Sausage Dog, £24.99.
A hand-embroidered sausage dog with a pom pom trim, which is exactly as charming as it sounds. If your sofa has gone a bit beige, this is the quickest fix we know. Soft, tactile and impossible to walk past without smiling.
For the readers in the house, the Just One More Chapter Cushion (£15) has a built-in pocket to tuck a book into, which solves a problem you did not know you had.
3. Music Drinks Markers
Music Drinks Markers, Set of 6, £3.
Spring means people in the garden again, and people in the garden means nobody can remember which glass is theirs. These six markers clip onto a stem or rim, and they look like classic vinyl and cassette tapes. A small thing that makes hosting easier, and a brilliant little housewarming gift.
4. Sausage Dog Tealight Holder
Sausage Dog Tealight Holder, £9.
Spring evenings still get chilly, and candlelight covers a multitude of sins. This little ceramic dachshund holds a tealight along his back, which is a daft idea executed beautifully. Under a tenner, and one of those gifts that always lands.
5. The Colours of Scotland Print
The Colours of Scotland Print, £21.
New wall art is the simplest way to change how a room feels. This A4 watercolour by By Tilly lays out forty-two labelled colour swatches drawn from Scottish icons, from Highland cow to Edinburgh Castle to a good dram. Quietly clever, and it suits almost any wall.
Browse the rest of our art prints for more, including plenty by Scottish makers.
Shopping for the home at Contempo
Whether you are after a spring lift for your own place or a housewarming gift for someone else, have a look through our homeware collection, or come and see us at 19 King Street in Stirling. We post right across the UK, with free delivery on orders over £50. If you would like a hand choosing, just get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I freshen up a room without redecorating?
Change the small things that catch the eye. A new vase with seasonal flowers, a cushion in a colour you do not already have, and a print on an empty wall will shift how a room feels far more than most people expect.
What makes a good housewarming gift?
Something useful with a bit of character, rather than something purely decorative. Drinks markers, a tealight holder or a good vase all get used, which is what you want from a gift that is going to sit in someone’s home.
Do you post homeware across the UK?
Yes. We are an independent gift shop in Stirling and post across the whole of the UK, with free delivery on orders over £50.
