Being home for a holiday is always exciting and one of my favourite things to do. The allure of comfort food, good wine, friends and family is as good a reason as any to visit South Africa. This year, I have one more thing to be excited about. A few of my latest discoveries. A burst of new home decor shops that embrace minimalist design and Scandinavian influences, while mixing it with a good dash of South African style and earthiness.

I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite products from these newly discovered South African decor shops. Most of them sell products online, so be sure to check them out – if you’re shopping from abroad, exchange rates are in your favour. Featured retailers include Mia Melange, Mono, Esque, Zana Products, Little Love Kids and Simply Home.

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Mia Mélange (cover image) is a small home decor label founded by Mia Danieli in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Mia’s designs are inspired by her love for texture, nature, natural materials and ancient crafting techniques. She likes to combine all of these to create modern and functional design. I love the subtle colour palette.

Amongst many other things, Mono (1) has amazing prints available. From typography inspired designs to rich patterns of printed tapestries, Mono’s designs will create a focal point of any room. If monochromatic tones are on your radar, you’re sure to find something to your liking from this amazing online shop. Their products also include great lighting options like the mini copper Jack table lamp (9). This table lamp would be a great addition to any modern home office. Combine it with their Minimalist Calendar for the ultimate work station.

Esque sells stylish homeware online – great ceramics, desk lamps and wallpaper are readily available. A quick click on their latest products tab will give you a good idea what this shop is all about. The Hoi Ploy Metallic Pendant (2) features an elegant twisted fabric cable, and sturdy, hand turned fitting cups. These are designed as permanent fixtures for those who admire a blend of traditional and contemporary style. Im also a big fan of the Geo Table (7).

Like Esque, Zana isn’t really a new discovery but I love their range and thought it worth another mention on here. Their Yay Flag Banner (3) is made from 100% cotton fabric and the Lines Continental cushion (4) is screen printed by hand – both items great for a graphic element in any room.

Little Love Kids is the ideal shop if you are planning your next nursery or upgrading your little one’s room. They stock a range of on-trend bedding, blankets, furniture and apparel. My favourite pick has to be the Crochet Carpets, leather strap shelves and square knobs (6). Use these colourful knobs to hang jackets, scarfs or even pot plants from.

Simply Home is all about bespoke products, ethically sourced and developed on South African soil.  With clean lines, neutral colours and the use of local raw materials, the Simply Home brand is where simplicity and sophistication meet. I have my eye firmly fixed on the adorable painted bunny in water colours (5). Another brilliantly versatile item is the white-dipped Belly Basket (8) – it has the ability to be a subtle focal piece, an indoor plant pot or a storage solution. My daughter manages to stuff hers with a whole village of Barbies.

Happy shopping, folks.