Annyeong yorobun, if you’ve run out of excuses to book that flight to Seoul, Korea, here’s one more for you to use, especially if you’ve got a new house on the way. Besides the food, skincare, makeup and K-pop, Seoul is a haven for home and decor shopping━here’s a round-up of the places you should pin.
1. Modern House
Image credit: Modern House
First up is Modern House, a homeware brand that stocks everything from bedding to storage solutions, furniture and small goods such as mugs and bathroom accessories. If you’re looking for plateware, they’ve got you covered too, with prices starting from sub-S$10.
Image credit: Modern House
Mostly minimalist in style, with occasional quirky, cute designs, Modern House lives up to its name, allowing you to deck your home out in a clean, modern look.
Address: 15 Yeongjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 10:30am-9pm, Daily
Contact: +82 2-812-2001 | Modern House website
2. Butter
Image credit: @butter_insta
Should your tastes run more colourful and cutesy, sister brand Butter will be right up your alley. You can find their stores everywhere, with 2 outlets in Myeongdong alone, another 2 in Hongdae, and countless others across Seoul.
Image credit: @butter_insta
Their stuff runs colourful and whimsical, in neon-esque candy pinks, yellows, and blues, to say the least. Stock up on plush character slippers and other knick knacks for your home here. You might not need them━practically speaking━but it’s definitely one for the aesthetics.
Full list of Butter outlets
Contact: Butter Instagram
3. Arc n Book
Image credit: @arc.n.book_official
We found a secret homeware section in JB outlet store GOOD2U, and here’s one more for the books in Seoul. Arc n Book is a bookstore chain that’s much beloved for its photogenic stores, but which also has a lesser known accessories section too.
Said to feature smaller brands, the selection of goods at Arc n Book may not be the most comprehensive, but you’ll be sure to pick up some interesting pieces here, especially since the collection should be updated pretty frequently.
Full list of Arc n Book outlets
Contact: Arc n Book Instagram
4. Comptoir de Mirabelle
Image credit: @comptoirdemirabelle
With a name as pretty as Comptoir de Mirabelle, you can be sure that the goods live up to it. The emporium carries a whole lot of brands across clothing, accessories, books, stationery, and home decor.
Image credit: @xxterpsichore
You can shop their collections on the Mirabelle website, but nothing quite beats the experience of walking through the shop IRL. They stock Arita from Japan, La Soufflerie from France, Chabi Chic from Morocco, and local brands for you to support too.
Address: 11-14 Jahamun-ro 12-gil, Cheongunhyoja-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 11am-8pm, Tue-Sun
Contact: +82 2-722-9357 | Comptoir de Mirabelle website
5. Ahwon Gongbang
Image credit: @moom_soeon
For something hyperlocal, check out Ahwon Gongbang, a family workshop which has been selling handmade metal crafts since 1983. These handcrafted pieces don’t come cheap, but they’re definitely unique accent pieces that’ll add character and charm to your home.
Image credit: @lainchua via Lemon8
Besides being a home and decor shop, their Bukchon store also features a gallery on the 2nd floor where they hold workshops, exhibitions and other events.
Full list of Ahwon Gongbang outlets
Contact: Ahwon Gongbang Instagram
6. Momur
Image credit: @momur.official
When a food and lifestyle content studio decides to start their own homeware brand, you can be sure they’re going to nail the aesthetics for sure. Enter Momur, an online crockery with the cutest minimalist dishware you’ll find. Keep an eye on their Instagram page for pop-up dates so you know where to find them.
Image credit: @momur.official
Designed in-house, and made in collaboration with local artisans, you’ll find their products super homey, with a rustic, country touch, and practical in function, without being fussy or too colourful.
Contact: Momur Instagram
7. JAJU
MUJI, but make it Korean━that’s what you get at JAJU, a Korean lifestyle brand that’s got more than 1,000 outlets across the country. They’re well-loved for their wallet-friendly prices, and expansive selection of practical, no-frills products.
Image credit: JAJU
Like at MUJI, you’ll find storage solutions, cookware and kitchen utensils, household goods such as detergent, home slippers and diffusers, even clothes, PJs and underwear.
Full list of JAJU outlets
Contact: JAJU website
8. Living Creator
Image credit: @livingcreat.or
Colourful, creative, and sustainable: that’s the ethos behind Living Creator, another homeware shop to look out for in Seoul. They stock reusable silicone containers and multipurpose resealable bags which can be used in the freezer and microwave, in all sorts of sizes and colours, to help cut down on single-use plastics.
Image credit: @livingcreat.or
The most fascinating product in their lineup, by far, is their range of made-in-Korea, double-walled and leak-proof lunch boxes, which come in similarly cheery colourways. Each comes with a silicone outer box, and a stainless steel inner━which can both be safely microwaved as a set. The stainless steel box can also be heated on an induction stovetop.
Full list of Living Creator outlets
Contact: Living Creator Instagram
9. Hey Day
Image credit: @hey__they
Novelty shop Hey Day, or Hey They as it also calls itself, has just a concise selection of mugs and plates, but put them on your list if you happen to be in Seongsu. Get distracted by the knick knacks, character merch and endlessly cute curiosities that line this shop, but pay attention also to the small collection of homeware that may be by the window, or on a shelf further in the shop.
Address: Seongdong-gu 2(i)-ga Seongsu-dong 301-52, Seoul, South Korea
Contact: Hey Day Instagram
10. Kinfolk
Kinfolk really needs no further introduction: the slow lifestyle magazine has, as Vanity Fair put it, “defined the millennial aesthetic” since their launch in 2011. The Kinfolk aesthetic is cleanly designed, with simplicity and tranquillity at its core.
Image credit: あい via Google Maps
Now, at their Seoul pop-ups and store, you can cop that look in your home with pieces right out of their magazine pages: stationery, pottery, accessories, and even home fragrances.
Full list of Kinfolk outlets
Contact: +82 70-4333-4323 | Kinfolk website
11. The Conran Shop
Image credit: @theconranshop.korea
There’s no need to fly to the UK to get your hands on some of The Conran Shop’s super bougie homeware. Make a pit stop at one of their 2 stores in Seoul, and treat yourself to the design-forward pieces from one of London’s luxury home and decor brands.
Image credit: @theconranshop.korea
Things here don’t come cheap, that’s for certain, but the pieces you’ll get are definitely highlight pieces that’ll stand the test of time.
Full list of The Conran Shop outlets
Contact: The Conran Shop Instagram
Best home & decor shops in Seoul, Korea
It’s not just all fashion, food and beauty on the cards when you visit Seoul. The South Korean capital was the first ever city to hold the title of World Design Capital, and was named a UNESCO City of Design━surely there’s no better reason to make home and decor shopping a part of your next trip to Seoul.
For more home & decor content:
- IKEA has a new colourpop collection inspired by the 80’s
- FairPrice has a new Pokémon home goods collection
- Big Brain in JB has Scandi & Jungalow furniture
Cover image adapted from: @hey__they, @theconranshop.korea, @lainchua via Lemon8
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