If I had a thousand pounds to decorate my room, I would come to Sense…read more Very contemporary, very chic, very nice! I couldn't help but feel a little in awe wandering round this shop, they have thought of just about everything from furniture, to decoration, lighting of every kind even garden accessories. At the moment they have some huge, and I do mean huge, cups and sauces outside which I assume you would plant a pretty plant in, though they looked way to good to put soil in if you ask me! As well as quite extravagant things they do have a good selection of affordable bits and pieces ideal from presents or to brighten up your room, like picture frames, fairy lights, and statement cushions! Not everything in here is to my taste, I think you will either love or hate some pieces but it's definitely work popping in on your way past.

"DO NOT ENTER if you have a dreary, grey, misty, Autumn outlook, as you may be distressed by the…read morecontents of this shop and might have convulsions". This sensory warning should be displayed prominently at the door of the excellent shop - 'Sense Clifton' - all bright and glittering, colourful pinks, blues and shiny metals. On the other hand, if you have a sparkling magpie persona, fine. Or if you just want to be shocked out of your November torpor, come to Sense for a quick fix. You dont have to buy anything, just browse and you'll fell much better. Though of course, the owners would also feel much better if you did buy something, so why disappoint - they will have done you a good turn. According to some blurb, Sense "...offers a smart mix of design-led products with a contemporary edge...". Apparently, the owners' frequent trips to Holland have given them a new perspective on design. They wanted to attack all the senses and create a complete home environment, everything from comfortable leather seating, exciting lighting and soft furnishings to unusual gifts. Pay a visit yourself, check it out, but take heed of the sensory warnings - highly recommended.

I love this store, I am madly in love with about 3 of the windchimes on display here, I already…read morehave 2 from here - there are only so many chimes a person needs, but they are so pretty. I know nobody needs a geisha snowglobe in their life but again, its hard to resist when you are surrounded by cute trinkets! It isn't just cute and silly, it sells some nice accessories. I got a bag from here which got loads of compliments. This is a great place to buy some pretty pretty gifts or just treat yourself to something fun.

Evolution is a gift shop in The Galleries in Broadmead. I think this is my favourite shop to buy…read morepresents from thus far! They used to be quite a Balinese style gift shop buy quickly has moved towards a more Brittania, cutesy and kitsch feel lately. I would happily decorate my apartment with the stuff here. There are great welcome mats here that I've been eyeing up recently that look really well made and are affordable too, at £12. They have a few pieces of kids wooden furniture, some chairs sold here are so very cute, with carvings of animals on the chair backs- however I have no children to buy them for as yet! A few presents I have bought here are their rustic metal gifts; like wall clocks made to look antiquey and wall hangings with old style postcards printed on them. I bought my best friend one that said 'live well, love much, laugh often', which she loved. When on sale, I bought a huge amount of candles here which lasted me ages, and smelt great (they were mighty cheap). I could go on talking about the many various things they sell, but the best is if you keep this place in mind to check out for when you next need a gift!

Oskar, the furniture shop is definitely a cool place to go to deck out your abode. It's something…read moreof an expensive and better quality Ikea, and more central, which is definitely a plus point for a pedestrian like myself. I really like the style of the furniture here, it's kind of Eastern, but also modern and trendy, and I always nearly persuaded to buy something every time I go in here. The price tag is a little off putting though, but I will definitely visit again when I can afford to.

This modern furniture shop, situated towards the bottom of Whiteladies Road, is a great place to…read morecome for inspiration, even if your wallet can't quite stretch to some of the price tags. A mix of Eastern and Western design ideas, Oskar is certainly more upscale than Ikea and slightly more individual than nearby Habitat. As well as the shop, which acts as a showroom, there is a warehouse around the corner which can be seen by appointment. I found the woman in the shop to be a little distracted the last time I went in but this place is still worth a visit, particularly for the accessories, which are more affordable and a great way to jazz up a living room.

This home shop on Bedminster's slightly poorer East Street, is the perfect place to come for…read moreanything you need in your home. From cheery lighting, to furniture and electronics, you can get a great deal with interest free credit, if you so wish. Technology wise, they stock a range of well known brands, as the best deal they can find. The best part about Brighthouse is that they assess your situation and can arrange the best possible weekly repayment scheme, and you could still get that new addition to your home in time for Christmas, even if you can't quite afford it straight away.

Home Zone is all about interior design for the kind of person that knows what they are looking for,…read moreand doesn't need to leave it all to a designer, (although I bet that interior designers use Home Zone just as much as we do, for both inspiration and ideas, as well as purchasing their products and services). Home Zone have only been around for five years, but have established themselves really quickly, and are generally considered to offer us a benchmark of what is both tasteful and innovative. In addition, Directors Jayne Bishop and Sean Kerr offer a full and attentive service, which has also gone a long way to augment their standing. Specialising in made to measure curtains and soft-furnishings, upholstery, blinds, and tracking with a comprehensive measuring and fitting service, they draw on their combined 40 years of experience, which puts them in the enviable position of being able to work with trusted people that they have had regular dealings with over the years. These days they have a dedicated, highly experienced team of sewers, upholsterers and fitters who work alongside them, as well as a network of crafts people who can be commissioned to make accessories when required. Some of the beautiful things that the crafts people make are amazing, and prove that everything is possible! Using every material imaginable, and every technique available, they are able to produce practically anything you could dream of for the house and home. Home Zone can do conventional as easy as falling off a log, but where they excel is when they are pushing creative boundaries and coming up with unique solutions for clients that have a real appreciation of what is possible.

From the owner: We are a small, local, team of specialist curtain makers, upholsterers and fitters and we offer a…read morefabulous service, providing you with made to measure soft-furnishings, upholstery, blinds, shutters and tracking along with a comprehensive measuring and fitting service, to make the whole process a bit easier for you!

A cutesy little shop that feels like it has been transported from Bath. I'm unsure whether this is…read morea good thing, as if you want this sort of quality homeware then Bath is actually just 20 minutes by train and every other shop sells things like this. I like that Bristol is more contemporary, more urban, has a sense of humour. Still, it's hard not to browse through the entire shop, with smiling staff and gentle music. There are lots of perfect gifts for those ladies who lunch, or at least aspire to.

Georgia Brown is a really cute, quaint shop that I know my mother and gran would just love. They…read morehave so many little ornaments and gifts that they would spend hours rummaging through. This is why I have only just spoken about it! I don't mind spending a couple of minutes in these shops, but there's only so long you can spend looking at scented candles and china figurines. Having said that, their designs are original and make great gifts for someone who appreciates these things. It's a style of shop which is lacking in Bristol so there must be a gap in the market for Georgia Brown. It's just a shame that it's not central so many who are not local will not realise its here.

With a touch of the Cath Kidston's about their window display, Blaze is not what you might expect…read moreit to be from the outside. This gallery-cum-giftshop is a wonderful place to find unique and thoughtful gifts for girls who avoid the high street. Sadly a lot of the artwork and jewellery is priced outside of my limited budget, but it doesn't stop me from regularly visiting Blaze and seeing their ever-changing pieces. The shop assistants are extremely welcoming and helpful, who'll go out of their way to help you find an ideal gift. I particularly like their smaller artworks and posters which are perfectly designed to adorn student flat or studio walls.

Great little collection of artists make this tiny shop a real pull for those heading past Christmas…read moresteps. Crammed with items and such friendly helpful staff, it is somewhere I go back to regularly for gifts for girlfriends and for myself. Artists include: Hannah Turner (www.hannahturner.co.uk) who does these stunning porcelain birds Hanne Rysgaard (www.hannerysgaard.com) who does American-style milk cartons in ceramic, sounds very odd but they are very cool Kay Morgan (www.kaymorgan.co.uk) who makes glamourous purses and clutches The jewellery is contemporary silver work and very nice - they can give you gift cards if you don't know what size ring to buy for someone else as they can re-size or make a new version of everything there. Highly recommended for presents for stylish and modern girlfriends!

This place is full of very expensive little gifts. Ethically concerned, it ensures that all of its…read moresales items are chosen in person, with a view to supporting British designers. On entering Sage, your senses are indulged: the smell of incense lingers subtly in the air and elegant looking gifts are presented in graceful displays around the room. I'd recommend you try this shop if you're looking for a special occasion gift. Products such as candles, makeup bags, glasses and books are all available, each made with a quirky kind of attention to detail. The shop is currently selling a lavender filled sausage dog doorstop (£39.95), which sums up its charm and intent perfectly. A touch superfluous, perhaps, but if you like to buy unique gifts with a touch of class, this is the place to go.

Sage is a cutting edge lifestyle shop with a cottage industry feel. The whole thing sings intimacy…read morein gentle dulcet tones. Crammed with novelty and inspiring takes on conventional things, this shop is as enchanting as it is innovative. I could wax lyrical about this place for a good time to come... Even thinking about it evokes the sense of charm I experience the moment I step through the door... yes I feel newly warm and vital inside, and if I don't go back and buy that colour-it-yourself wallpaper for my feature wall in my living space, I'll never forgive myself! Yes, of course, I could buy it online from their very secure site, but that would deprive me of the excuse of paying them a visit and tanking up on the vibe, and engaging in awe-inducing conversation with the staff. This is the kind of business that you expect to find in Clifton Village or on Colston Hill, not thrust out into the sticks at the end of Gloucester Road. But I think it's a smart move. There's parking here, and nothing remotely close to competition for a good mile.

I found myself in mamas and papas at the weekend looking for a gift for a newborn baby…read more I have bought a few sale items from there previously so knew it wasn't cheap but was still quite shocked at just how expensive some things were! The baby clothes all look really cute and stylish, they even had little flat cap hats that were adorable but you have to wonder why someone would spend that much on items that a child will grow out of in a matter of months. My son grew out of his 0-3m clothes in about 6 weeks! There were beautiful little outfits that were £45+ each!! A mere onesie cost £25+... Considering I didn't really want to spend more than £20 my options were very limited. I did end up having a quick look in Mothercare but the style and quality didn't compare. I did find a lovely gift in the end but still came away thinking everything was a bit of a rip off!

I really love this store and they know how to treat their customers…read more They have excellent sales and will gift wrap items in beautiful boxes at no extra charge, even if it's just a pair of booties. Great place to arrange a gift list for all expectant mothers and they don't just stock the bog standard pink, blues and yellows you will see in other well known children's stores.