From cow print accent chairs to beautiful bed frames and dining tables – these are the household staples I’m eyeing up ahead of my move
I’m a first time buyer currently scouring the housing market for my dream house, and as someone who has never moved out from under their parents’ roof – not even for university – it also means that I’m starting from scratch when it comes to furniture and furnishings, too.
Unfortunately, I have a love of interiors but a budget that doesn’t quite stretch to designer price tags. But in a bid to save money in the long run, I want to ‘buy better, buy once’ to avoid replacing cheap, shoddy flatpack in years to come. And after browsing their latest collections, ‘luxury for less’ retailer Dusk has just found themselves as my go-to for kitting out my home .
I recently attended the brand’s SS25 press day, where I was able to see and feel a selection of their most popular new-in pieces. It was a great way to get hands-on with their furniture, seeing as they don’t have physical stores like Dunelm or Marks and Spencer. Even Made.com has a presence on the high street, with locations within Next stores across the UK.
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Dusk, who pride themselves on quality designs at affordable prices, has taken inspiration from around the world for their latest launches, from the pops of colour of the French Riviera, to the soft tones of English Gardens and rich textures of New York lofts. There were a couple of pieces that really stood out to me and have fast made it onto my wishlist, including accent chairs in trending prints, pretty bed frames and a dining table that’s racked up some impressive shopper reviews.
Here are five Dusk pieces I’m eyeing up for my new home:
Surrey Bed Frame sage green – £389
One of the first pieces of furniture we’ll need to pick up is a bed and this frame feels like something straight out of a boutique countryside retreat . The sage dress stripe is soft and elegant, yet still a really fun way to add colour and pattern to a room without it feeling too maximalist.
The curved headboard and main frame is upholstered with a cool, linen fabric, complete with turned wooden legs. Available in double and king sizes, it pairs seamlessly with crisp white bedding for a fresh, airy look or layers of rich textures for a cosier feel. Plus, a shopper on the site said it ‘was very easy to put together ’ which is about as much convincing as I need.
There is also some space under the bed which is ideal for storage, however, it would be visible so not ideal for those who prefer their clutter out of sight. An ottoman bed could be a good alternative, with this Egerie Curved Head board Slate Blue Striped Fabric Ottoman Storage Bed from Daals coming in at £439.99 for a king size. Or, you could upgrade a regular bed frame with a striped headboard, like the £170 Habitat Onda Linen Kingsize Headboard in sage.
Rae Accent Chair – Cow Print
Cow print is having a serious moment in fashion at the moment, having overtaken leopard as the reigning animal pattern dominating the high street. And whether you’re going full gothic western with interiors rooted in Americana, or want to add character to a more minimalist space or reeding corner, this chair is the perfect addition to your cosy nooks.
Originally £199, it’s currently down to £139 saving £60 and I can confirm it’s as comfortable as it looks, with a deep, plush back and seat cushion. The accent chair is part of Dusk’s New York Loft aesthetic and it pairs really beautifully with rich earthy tones. Think pops of terracotta, exposed brick and houseplants – a dream.
The brand’s Rae chairs, which come in a range of colours and styles, including dining chairs and bar stools, have earned an overall rating of 4.87 out of five. One shopper wrote: “Absolutely love it looks so good in the corner of my living room! Even the cat approves.” Another added: “Love my chair, easy to put together and great value for money too.”
“Easy to put together, it’s comfy and looks a lot more expensive,” said a third. However, a third knocked off a star, writing: “Very sturdy and look more expensive than they are, slight issue with some of the metal work on 2 of the chairs but this was rectified quickly via email with customer service.”
Dusk isn’t the only retailer leaning into the cow print trend, though. Elsewhere, B&Q has this Wood Frame Black and White Spots Velvet Upholstered Recliner Chair Armchair , also for £139. If a chair isn’t for you, but you do want to incorporate the print into your interior design, Dunelm has this Marley Faux Cow Fur Storage Ottoman for £99 , which not only helps hide clutter, but doubles as extra seating when guests visit too.
Stockholm Wood Veneer 1 Drawer Nightstand – Mahogany – £142
I have a real love of mid-century style wooden furniture; think long sideboards and coffee tables. As for bedside tables, these Stockholm Wood Veneer nightstands from Dusk are right up my street.
Coming in wood, walnut or mahogany, the distinctive chevron design adds texture to the design, and looks incredibly sleek. I love the drawer, where you can stash bedside essentials like your favourite moisturiser or a satin sleep mask. At £142 , they’re on the pricier side, though, and perhaps not as easy to assemble as other Dusk pieces, with one shopper commenting: “The furniture is lovely, but it was hard to put in the screws to attach the legs.”
Marks and Spencer’s Monroe Bedside Table comes in cheaper at £129, and has earned praise from homeware fans, one of which commented: “Loved this item beautiful table looks expensive. Arrived well packaged, heavy not cheaply made. Very pleased.”
While I do like the handles on the Dusk drawer , I also love that you could make this piece more unique by adding your own drawer handle.
Hattie Panel Round 4-6 Seater Pedestal Dining Table – Black – £329
This round dining table has some amazing reviews on the Dusk website and when I was at their press day, I heard at least three people say they already owned it and were full of praise for the table. Big enough to seat four to six people, it’ll be ideal for my partner and I, and will be able to accommodate when we want to host guests, too.
It’s made with a natural, solid wood effect veneer with a smooth round top and panelled black stool with vertical ridges all around, which is gorgeous to look at, but now I can’t help but wonder if it will be a bit of a dust magnet?
That said, it’s earned 4.89 stars from shoppers, one of which said: “Beautiful table. Just what we needed to fill a small space in our kitchen. Got chairs to go with it as well.”
Another added: “Easy to assemble and it looks much more expensive than it was. Really impressed. Also came quite quickly, quicker than the anticipated date.”
However, a third penned: “I do love the table. The only downside I had was when I attached the plate to the pedestal base 3 out of 4 screws are spinning and don’t tighten. There are a few scratches on the table top too.”
For a similar style, Debenhams has this Birlea Round Fluted Dining Table Axel for slightly cheaper at £299.99. However, this version doesn’t currently have any shopper reviews, which are often helpful when helping make considered purchases on higher priced items like furniture.
Bondi 3 Seater Sofa – Cappuccino – £899
When it comes to a sofa, comfort is key, but I still want something that looks the part. I’ve given up on convincing my partner to allow us to get a leopard print sofa, which was my first choice, but this cappuccino number from Dusk is a serious contender. It’s described by the brand as ‘modern luxury meets everyday comfort’, and reminds me of something you might find in a celebrity home, like Molly Mae Hague’s.
The bubble design is playful and perfect for larger living areas. Its sculptural form really makes a statement, but it’s not just a visual masterpiece, because it’s actually ridiculously comfortable, as though the phrase ‘luxurious lounging’ was made just for this sofa.
Elsewhere, Love Sofas has the T eddy Boucle Fabric Sage Green Atrani 3 Seater Sofa, which is down to £699.99. However, it only has one review, and it’s sadly one star, with Karen commenting: “I was very disappointed with this sofa. It was very uncomfortable. Would not buy again.”
Our home and interiors enthusiast, Lauren, has also put together a list of her top home brands to shop now, which include Oliver Bonas, Swyft and more. You can check our her top picks across kitchen essentials, sofas and bedding here.
