25 Australian homeware brands to transform every room

Swapping out bedlinen is a fantastic way to keep your decor style current. Linen House’s ever-evolving range serves as a snapshot of globally trending colours and patterns. “Our head of design, Emily Treganowan, starts each design season by looking for inspiration everywhere: travel, fashion, film, trend forecasts and more,” says Claire Duncan, marketing director at Linen House. “We also often collaborate with Australian designers and local artists”. Past collabs include Alex Perry, Collette Dinnigan and Camilla. “We’ll soon release our second range with Victorian artist Grotti Lotti, whose bright, large-scale, abstract Australiana designs have proven to be a favourite.”

Key features:

• Mix and match style
• Made from cotton
• Matching European pillowcases

This 150-year-old textile mill is, “in every way Tasmanian – all our manufacturing, our natural landscapes for inspiration, and our team,” says Waverley Mills co-CEO Bede Clifton. The brand is building on its rich heritage in a thoroughly modern way, launching the Tasmanian Wilderness Collection of throws, designed by Australian design duo Rina Bernabei and Kelly Freeman of bernabeifreeman, using 70 per cent virgin wool and 30 per cent recycled wool. “Waverley Mills is the only mill in Australia that can recycle woollen fibres producing an all-natural throw. Currently, we have not seen any other product in the world that is doing this,” explains Bede. From their heritage tartans to elegant contemporary patterns, these heirloom-worthy blankets and throws are designed to accent your home, now and for generations to come.

Key features:

• Designed and made in Tasmania
• Recycled wool
• Soft 29-micron Merino wool

“Of all the rooms in our homes, the bedroom is the most personal, and people increasingly value it as a sanctuary for relaxation,” says Heatherly Design founder Georgie Leckey. “The bed in particular plays a pivotal role in setting the room’s tone. Whether you opt for a minimalist or statement-making design, it serves as the anchor.” Heatherly Design bedheads allow you to completely customise your bedhead (or bed base, ottoman or footstool), picking from more than 100 fabrics and 25 designs. The products are then made to order in Melbourne by the brand’s team of craftspeople. “We genuinely believe that the skills of our local makers rival the best in the world,” says Georgie.

Key features:

• Customisable
• Wide range of fabrics
• Freestanding bedheads

Sleep is vital to our wellbeing and, with its focus on the finest sleep technology, Snooze is dedicated to supporting this. Since the 1970s, the bedding brand has established itself as a market leader, in part due to its support of local communities and commitment to Australian-made products. Mattresses in the ‘Madison’ range are no exception. While they utilise the best that global springs and fabrics have to offer, each product is crafted by hand in Australian manufacturing facilities. “We have faithfully upheld a tradition of master craftsmanship, passing it down proudly to each succeeding generation,” says George Giannopoulos, chief executive officer at Futuresleep Australia.

Key features:

• 10-year guarantee
• Stretch knit fabrics
• Modern European style

“The number of local textile manufacturers in Australia is dire,” says Amelia Marasco Adair, creative director of Abode, which has defied the odds by producing its own tailored linen sheets and quilts in the brand’s Melbourne factory for 30 years. “Everything we craft, we make to last. And most of that is happening all in the one place in Melbourne!” Even more exciting is its tailored service; quilts and pillows can be stuffed to suit the way you sleep, while Abode’s hotel-quality bed linen can be customised on request.

Key features:

• Quality linen and yarn
• Matte percale weave sheets
• Soft and breathable

There’s an almost Scandinavian simplicity to Plyroom furniture products; a quiet and functional beauty that’s entirely deliberate. “Our intention has always been to create furniture that is visually understated, considered in how precious materials are used, and can be used in different ways over the course of its life,” says founder and director Elise Heslop. “We like our products to provide a canvas to the lives that revolve around them, where they don’t demand attention.” Plyroom wares range from beds to coffee tables, coat racks to bedside tables, but the heroes are arguably its storage pieces, which are both serenely simple and cleverly customisable. The brand works with small-scale makers in Italy and at home in Australia to create its furniture. “We love working locally as it creates a dynamic process where we can test ideas and understand the impact without delay,” says Elise.

Key features:

• Versatile and customisable
• Minimalist style
• FSC certified birch

Ross Gardam products sit within the space where art and objects meet – flights of imagination, tethered by functionality. The studio’s latest lighting collection, Ceto, is characterised by rippled mouth-blown glass, designed to evoke the ever-moving surface of the sea. Ceto is a modular system of wall lights, floor lamps, pendants and chandeliers, all of which can be tweaked into custom finishes and configurations to suit a space – a freedom afforded by having every part locally crafted. “All our lighting is made, assembled and packaged in Australia,” says the brand’s eponymous founder. “The Ceto collection uses machined aluminium components sourced from our manufacturer in Melbourne, while each glass shade is mouth blown in Adelaide by the talented team at the Jam Factory.”

Key features:

• Versatile and customisable
• Minimalist style
• FSC certified birch

Specialising in natural fibre textiles (particularly wool – sheep and llama), Pampa’s beautifully tactile rugs, throws and cushions are ideally suited to a bohemian-style interior – or anywhere you want to create a feeling of comfort and calm. The Byron Bay studio works with Argentinian artisans, using traditional techniques to create a contemporary product. Creative director Victoria Aguirre explains, “We have built longstanding relationships with weavers in remote areas of Argentina, and through these strong connections have been able to design bespoke rugs and homewares for a contemporary market, while simultaneously preserving culture and traditional weaving practices. Behind every Pampa product is a long and complex process steeped in tradition and untouched by modern technology.” The tightly woven connection between design studio and artisan also allows Pampa to deliver bespoke products for specific projects.

Key features:

• Argentinian sheep’s wool
• Hand-loomed
• Unique colour-ways

Melbourne design studio, Biasol, understands the impact of understated elegance. As director Heidi Biasol explains, the multidisciplinary studio draws inspiration from European design greats, “applying these sensibilities through an Australian filter”. The concise selection of products – which includes modular lounge furniture, stools and mirrors – is carefully curated, yet offers an enormous freedom of finishes for each piece, which is handcrafted in Melbourne. “When we look at fashion collections in Europe, they’re especially lucky to have choice and every option or colour available to them. When those same collections reach our shores, we only get a limited selection. Our point of difference is that we offer a wide selection of options, giving the consumer ultimate choice,” says Heidi. So, one can order a ‘Tondo’ mirror in one of four sizes and numerous frame colours, or a ‘Comoda’ sofa in one of several configurations and innumerable fabric choices, for a unique look to suit your space.

Key features:

• Modernist style
• Wide fabric range
• Green Star approved

Bespoke Letterpress has long been a favourite brand for luxury paper goods, but it has now extended its range beyond stationery, bringing its exquisite botanical designs to linens and wallpapers. “Our designs are so beautiful on stationery products, so to use them in home interiors, such as linens and wallpapers, felt like a natural progression, and our customers love them!” says senior graphic designer Michelle Holik. The patterns have been transferred to 100 per cent linen fabric to make napkins, tablecloths and tea towels. For its new wallpaper collection, the brand has rescaled its designs, which will be produced by Queensland-based company, Milton & King. “We love being able to work with another Australian company and that they print on demand for each order, so there’s no waste, shipping directly to our lovely customers,” says Michelle.

Key features:

• 100% flax linen
• Environmentally-friendly materials
• Whimsical print style

Smooth, comfortingly solid and made in a ravishing array of colours, Bison ceramics is the type of tableware you’ll treasure forever. “I’ve always felt uncomfortable about the disposable nature of ‘seasonal’ ranges,” says founder Brian Tunks. “I’d like to think that our quality and classic design means you can pull our pieces out of a cupboard 30 years later and they are still beautiful and enduring.” The brand, which began with ceramics (inspired by Brian’s training as an ancient historian and archaeologist, and made by himself and a small team), now includes a range of glassware in elegant but friendly shapes. Since outgrowing its Canberra studio, products are now produced collaboratively with makers in Thailand, Indonesia and India. “We try and support people who also have environmental and social accountability at their core. Our ceramics studio in Thailand generates over 30 per cent of its power using solar and aims to increase this. Trying to tread lightly is key to us,” says Brian.

Key features:

• Simple, functional style
• Hand-crafted
• High-quality stoneware

Elegant cutlery can be the linchpin of a stunning tablescape, while equally bringing a wee spark of joy to a humble bowl of cereal. Australian cutlery brand Krof provides all of that, combining slender and elegant looks with precise design for controlled handling. “Krof was founded on the idea that Australians are up there with the world’s culinary leaders and we care a lot about food, yet somehow we’re using ordinary tools to deliver the food to our mouths. We wanted to create a range of cutlery that complements the refined food we love to eat, while also being functional and durable,” says product designer Nicholas Johnston, who co-founded the brand alongside restaurateur Kristian Klein. “We both believe it’s a very intimate product that we’re putting in our mouths, multiple times a day, every day of the year, and that it deserves care.” This locally designed product is made from high-grade 18/10 stainless steel and designed to last a lifetime.

Key features:

• Dishwasher safe
• Sleek style
• Titanium coated Matte Black

Heirloom cookware is the antidote to cheap, short-lived pans – and boasting a multi-century warranty, the Solidteknics range gives new meaning to the phrase ‘built to last’. “Making a one-time investment in our cookware allows our customers to move away from the toxic, disposable, synthetic-coated cookware that has become normalised in our throwaway society, and towards healthier, durable cookware that will become a treasured family heirloom,” says Taliah Williamson of Solidteknics. “We are also the only company in the world making one-piece wrought iron and non-nickel stainless steel cookware,” she adds. Founder Mark Henry designs each piece on the Sunshine Coast, and they are manufactured in the brand’s Sydney factory from a solid sheet of Australian iron or non-nickel stainless steel, resulting in a seamless pan that promises a lifetime of durability.

Key features:

• Low maintenance cookware
• Australian iron
• Naturally seasoned

Beeswax wraps are one of the simplest ways to begin banishing plastic from your kitchen, but Queen B founder Cate Burton says they’re also fantastic for reducing your food waste. “Wrap a loaf of sourdough in a beeswax wrap and you will still be slicing it (not rock hard and not mouldy) on the seventh day,” she says. What began as a hobby for Cate, who started off making candles in 2020, has grown into a thriving business that pays equal service to quality and sustainability. “All Queen B products are made, by hand, in our hive in Brookvale, NSW, and our beeswax is primarily sourced from beekeepers in NSW so we can keep carbon emissions down,” she says. And pretty fabrics make the wraps a visual joy in your fridge or lunch box.

Key features:

• Biodegradable
• Australian beeswax
• Cotton fabric

Quality cookware that can withstand daily use without untimely wear and tear is what keeps a kitchen, and family, functioning well. When Melbournian husband and wife duo Kelvin and Chloe Chan couldn’t find the type of sturdy and stylish cookware they wanted, they decided to create their own. In 2020, they founded Crumble, a range of functional and chic cast iron cookware. “Cast iron cookware is formed from molten steel and iron, resulting in one solid piece that is virtually indestructible,” shares Kelvin. The cookware is designed in Melbourne, with Chloe taking inspiration from the colours she finds in her travels to create the vibrant hues Crumble is known for.

Key features:

• Easy to clean
• Bright colour range
• Multifunctional

Kitchen renovators looking for a robust and attractive alternative to engineered stone, rejoice! Betta Stone is a Melbourne-based Australian company creating a beautiful surface material from kerb-collected glass bottles. “By using waste glass that is destined for landfill or storage and repurposing it, Betta Stone is tying off the loose ends of Australia’s recycling industry,” says co-owner Rob Thompson. “Betta Stone is changing the way ‘waste’ is perceived across Australia,” he adds. Environmental credentials aside, Betta Stone is a durable and genuinely gorgeous handcrafted product, with all the warmth and organic characteristics of stone.

Key features:

• Made from recycled glass
• Classic stone colour range
• Easy to maintain

Beautiful hardware is the garnish that takes a kitchen from so-so to something special. This fingertip feel is at the core of the MadeMeasure product range, which uses leather to bring softness to cabinet hardware. “At the heart of our brand’s distinctiveness is our unwavering commitment to the artistry of leather,” says MadeMeasure studio manager Elena Seton. “The tactile quality of the hand-selected leather not only appeals to the eyes but invites touch, creating a connection with the user. This attention to detail brings a level of luxury and comfort that goes beyond mere functionality.” The entire range is handcrafted in MadeMeasure’s inner-city Melbourne studio and designed to last, while developing a patina of use over time.

Key features:

• Hand-crafted
• Durable and functional
• Made from leather

Australia is filled with unique botanicals that do wonders for our bodies, yet so many of us purchase skincare and wellness products made overseas. Adrian Norris launched Ikkari in March 2023 as a modern-day apothecary that delivers “curated, holistic and natural solutions to optimise people’s wellbeing,” explains Stephanie Leathers, CEO of Ikkari. Their bestsellers include a soap-free body cleanser and a vitality tonic, which can be mixed with water for a natural energy boost. All of the products are Australian made and some of the local ingredients include olive oil sourced from one of the country’s oldest olive groves, organic bladderwrack (a nutrient-dense algae) and Kakadu plum (with a high concentration of vitamin C).

Key features:

• Plastic neutral
• Natural ingredients
• Cruelty-free

As Australians back away from beige bathrooms, Nood Co concrete basins, with their range of pastel-pretty hues, are at the epicentre of the colour renaissance. “The idea has always been to embrace the duality of a traditionally masculine material – concrete – and see how we can transform it into something ethereal, feminine and soft,” explains Nood Co’s director of growth marketing, Anastasia Ignatova. Each Nood Co product is handcrafted in Perth, with an emphasis on sustainability. “Nood Co has created a unique blend of ultra-high-performance concrete that uses around 96 per cent less energy than that to create its ceramic equal,” says Anastasia. “The fact that every piece is handcrafted in Australia is a big point for us – the product is, quite literally, made for you.” The brand is now launching the Juno bathtub, which promises to be as gorgeously tactile and scene-stealing as its basins.

Key features:

• Minimalist, relaxed style
• Made in Australia
• Strong and durable

If tapware is the bling of the bathroom, Faucet Strommen products are the heirloom jewels, with their elegantly minimalist designs – both in taps and architectural hardware. “It is a common issue that [customers] cannot match their tapware to other fittings, such as shower hinges or cabinet handles. Our brand offers a broad range of different products including related accessories and fittings, and each one can be finished in all 20 Faucet Strommen finishes, giving architects and consumers harmony across their designs,” says Ketsia Sellars, Faucet Strommen marketing manager. The products are born in the company’s Victorian factory in Kerang. “This means we can start with a chunk of raw brass and turn it into a tap or other product, all in house,” says Ketsia. “This is the reason we are able to offer our industry-leading 40-year warranty, as we have control over all the processes.”

Key features:

• Bespoke design
• Made in Australia
• Recyclable brass

The spa-style bathroom is a trend that’s set to stay for the long haul, and the best renovation-free way to turn your bathroom into a retreat for relaxation is with scent: enter Byron Bay brand, Templ. “Our products are designed to make people feel, infusing beauty and aesthetics into daily rituals,” says founder Sarah Cargill. Locally – and where possible, organically – sourced ingredients are used to handmake botanical mists and oils with evocative names like ‘Purify’ and ‘Clarity’. Just as much consideration has been poured into the tools used to diffuse the oils; the ceramic air diffuser and solid brass oil burner are beautiful enough to be displayed even when not in use. “The objects that we surround ourselves with impact our wellbeing. It’s a felt sense that shapes our external world, which directly impacts our internal space,” says Sarah.

Key features:

• Hand-poured in Byron Bay
• Organic ingredients
• Award-winning formulas

For all the time we spend in our outdoor spaces, Australians deserve stylish, high-quality alfresco furniture that can survive the extreme conditions of our harsh climate, which is where Tait comes into play. “Our ethos is all about enhancing Australians’ love of outdoor living with high-quality products that are made to last,” says Tait marketing manager, Rachael Horan. “Whether planning an outdoor balcony or pool area, our outdoor products are designed and handcrafted in Australia from sustainable materials, reflective of our enviable outdoor lifestyle, built to withstand diverse climate conditions and informed by a distinctly Australian palette.” Tait has been manufacturing its own products in Melbourne for 30 years, so its track record of quality and longevity is proven. Most importantly, its products are stunning to look at – visually delicate but sturdy, in gorgeous fabrics and 17 powdercoat colour options – so you’ll love your outdoor pieces for every moment of their long life.

Key features:

• Based in Australia
• Durable and high-quality
• Sustainable, authentic design

Neutral-toned outdoor umbrellas are easy enough to come by, but Sophie Finn spotted a gap (more like a chasm) in the market for materials beyond beige. “The Original Parasol Co was founded after unsuccessfully searching for many years for a decent patio umbrella for our own garden that was stylish, original and could survive the Australian climate,” she says. The range is designed to bring all the creativity and colour of interior decor to the garden, with varied shapes, scalloped edges and fringing, in a sorbet array of exquisite colours. Crucially, they’re also crafted in Australia, to survive our brutal climate. “Made for the harsh Australian weather, our umbrellas are wind tested to 120 kilometres an hour and UV rated up to 100 per cent. They are backed by a market-leading three-year warranty on workmanship, parts and the fabric from not fading,” says Sophie.

Key features:

• 3-year warranty
• Resort-style design
• Sturdy and durable

Lightly’s core range of products is incredibly varied – from metal planters to ceramic bowls, brass incense burners and leather-strapped shelves – but each piece is strikingly alike in its emphasis on balanced design and gentle, tactile shapes. “Our purpose has always been to make sensory design accessible and enrich people’s lives to recharge through these spaces,” says founder and creative director Cindy-Lee Davies. Among the most versatile of Lightly products are the brand’s planters, which can serve as vessels, plant pots or sculptural objects in their own right, while the powder-coated metal makes them suitable for use indoors and out. Each of the products is designed in Melbourne and small-batch manufactured, with an aim for zero waste. “Our design philosophy is centred on resourceful and sustainable manufacturing,” explains Cindy-Lee, adding, “As a company, we plant a tree for every order and are working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2024.”

Key features:

• Based in Australia
• Sustainable, considered designs
• Simple aesthetic

Australia’s love affair with Hamptons style drives a sizeable demand for heritage-look lights, but where it gets tricky is finding outdoor lights that combine the American aesthetic with the weather-hardiness demanded by our climate. Jesse-Lee Stringer answered the call, bringing Barn Light (an established US brand) to Australia and modifying it to suit our sunburnt country; shades are rust-proof aluminium, in Dulux powder-coat colours, and wired to Australian Standards – all made to order. Robustness aside, it’s the charm of the farmhouse look that makes us swoon. “I believe our lighting styles complement outdoor spaces by providing illumination where (and when) it’s needed, and allowing shadows to dance. It is far more relaxing to watch the sunset with the warm glow of our lighting splashed along the exterior walls, with a glass of prosecco in hand, than it would be to utilise that space with a bright spotlight,” says Jesse.

Key features:

• Designed for Australian conditions
• Hand-crafted
• Classic style