Must-visit home decor destinations in Windhoek

Retail therapy is out, browsing therapy is in. May this be a public service announcement to normalise “browsing” or “windowshopping” therapy. Retail therapy is for the end of the month, after payday, and only when the item(s) passes all the criteria of “is it practical, do I really need it, is the quality of such nature that it will last me forever, making it the more sustainable choice.”

This is the stream of consciousness that runs through the mind while browsing the spaces of these home decor destinations in Windhoek. Some are old, some are new, and some are borrowed. All of them make fantastic material for browsing therapy.

ALWAYS WELCOME

Ever since this multi-brand collective of Southern Africa’s design-maker studios opened its Windhoek showroom last year, I’ve been swooning over their homeware pieces on Instagram. This reached fever pitch when House and Leisure magazine featured pieces from the Windhoek branch in a stunning spread, photographed in some iconic Namibian landscapes.

The showroom at the Old Paint Factory on Lazarett Street is a feast for the eyes, showcasing the creations of Southern Africa’s most outstanding furniture and decor makers, bringing restaurant, hotel and other commercial space designing back to the artisanal hands of the continent’s talented designers. Always Welcome Namibia works in collaboration with Sevensys, whose state-of-theart smart home appliances and applications are also displayed with Always Welcome’s furniture and design pieces.

BEAUTIFUL LIVING / MUTUTO DECOR

This up-cycled second-hand decor shop sits right across from Always Welcome at the Old Paint Factory. Beautiful Living and Mututo Decor collaborated to feature a fast-moving rotation of pre-loved furniture, often giving it a fresh coat of paint and expertly reupholstered, as well as Ana wood decor pieces from side tables to tablescape elements.

Because of the one-of-a-kind nature of upcyled furniture, you will consistently be surprised by new textiles and different eras of vintage at Beautiful Living. Some groovy pieces that have made an appearance in the shop include a set of four spindle back chairs, painted a lacquer black and topped with round cushions, as well as wooden cabinets and consoles, sanded down and refreshed to lighter hues. Mututo’s pieces liven up the shop floor with rustic smallerticket items, including artworks featuring crosssectioned wooden disks. For the thrifters and vintage lovers among us, it’s the impeccable choice of textile and treatment of the furniture that makes Beautiful Living special.

LEON ENGELBRECHT DESIGN

Perhaps more of a lifestyle destination than strictly home decor, the LED showroom at 30 Lazarett Street offers a niche selection of handmade ceramics, functional baskets, bespoke scatter cushions, curated table and bed textiles alongside the abundance of hand-crafted leather goods Leon Engelbrecht Design is best known for. In the mix are several travertine side tables, their polished, speckled tops adding lovely texture to any space and definitely catching my eye.

The LED space sees a frequent rotation of items and displays. It is a surprise every time I revisit. That is because owner Leon also ventures into interior design and recently completed his first private residential project. This destination is a working showroom, where leather artisans are at work while you browse the shelves and displays. I can also imagine Leon meeting with clients there to discuss exciting projects surrounded by a well-designed space.

HABITAT

This home decor destination has just opened in Windhoek, following the raging success of their first spot in Swakopmund. Habitat, as it alludes with the name, sells a holistic curation of home goods, from bed linen and rugs to furniture and scented candles. The Windhoek branch, tucked in the old Jenny’s Place location in the Bougain Villas centre, emphasises the experience of a homey, calm habitat. Shopping there feels like browsing through your boujee aunty’s house.

A good mix of aesthetics makes Habitat a homedecor destination many can indulge in. Cottage core pieces like a farmhouse-style dining table are topped with more boho chic vases and crockery. Their outdoor and occasional furniture pieces lean towards the contemporary while the bed linen section oozes universal quiet luxury.

Charene Labuschagne