ARTICLE BY Tina Stephen

There's no doubt that Kiwis love their online shopping, and interior design companies are jumping on the trend, with many forgoing a bricks-and-mortar store in favour of a digital one.

For start-up companies, an online store can often pre-empt a physical one. This is good news for New Zealanders, who in the past often had to source eclectic homewares offshore.

We are now seeing more independent homeware sites popping up, so here's a few of our New Zealand-based favourites.

Let Liv

Let Liv - which means Easy Life in Danish - opened its virtual doors in 2012, with a focus on clean and simple Scandinavian-inspired designs. Founder and director Natalie Sorensen has taken the company from strength to strength, and the site now offers a selection of sought-after ranges including Australian homeware companies Ferm Living and Kip & Co, as well as a healthy selection of New Zealand-based companies such as Penny and Bennett and Kow Tow. 

Green With Envy

Green With Envy focuses on vintage-inspired homewares, with a selection of pared-back basics and a healthy dose of quirky retro gifts. It's easy to navigate around the site's 16 categories, including a fantastic sale selection. With flat-rate shipping, which is free if you spend more than $100, it's worth checking out their curated range of unique lighting and furniture.

Perch Homewares

Perch Homeware carries a large range of European brands, often exclusively, which owner Helle Johnson complements with a hand-picked selection of New Zealand ranges. The result is a large and easy-to-use store which caters for all price ranges and styles.

Shut The Front Door

Shut the Front Door is a newbie on the homeware scene, but has already made a big impact with an impressive social media following. Hailing from Auckland's North Shore, they showcase their endless range of eclectic wares through gorgeous styling from their physical store.

Superette Store

Although it's foremost a fashion destination, Superette is fast becoming one to watch in the interiors world. With a unique crossover from clothing to homewares, this store is all about a luxury look at surprisingly realistic prices. Make it your go-to for bold patterns, metallics and monochromatic pieces.