Big-box stores come through when you’re looking for large pieces of furniture or appliances, but you’ll want to think small when you’re hunting for something unique or special to add to your home. New Jersey is a mecca of mom-and-pop shops that offer hard-to-find, curated collections of art, gifts and accessories or special décor and furniture for your home.
In fact, several new independently owned home stores have opened up across the Garden State. Here are three brand-new boutiques to check out:
Bergen County
There’s an art gallery-esque vibe emanating from every corner of Pepper, a Wyckoff home goods shop that opened in October. Display tables and walls showcase a healthy mix of modern décor and vintage finds, from neatly stacked coffee table books and plush sheepskin pillows to unique wall hangings and delicate alpaca blankets. There are also large collections of candles and fragrances, glassware and centerpieces—everything you need to fill your home, to surprise someone special or to use as inspiration.
*247 Everett Ave., Wyckoff, 917.887.8560
Essex County
Not only can you walk through the curated rooms in SPACES, a design studio that opened in Maplewood in November, you can also purchase the products and décor used in the designs. Each room at Hollie Velten feels elevated yet relaxed, and they’re customized by the store’s namesake, a former Anthropologie buyer and New Jersey-based designer. While there are plenty of items to buy, such as cottagecore-inspired pillows and fabrics, there is just as much detail to draw ideas and inspiration.
*745 Prospect St., Maplewood, 973.761.2070
Mercer County
If what you want is the best crystal, china, giftware or even baby memorabilia, you’ll find plenty of options and then some at Hamilton Home. The new Princeton store is devoted exclusively to high-end home décor items and features leading designers like William Yeoward to Baccarat, Simon Pearce to Ginori 1735 (pictured above). And the family behind the shop has a long history with top-tier products: They also own luxury jewelry store Hamilton Jewelers, also in Princeton.
*33 Witherspoon St., Princeton, 609.375.8003
What other new home stores have you spotted in your neighborhood recently? Tell us on Instagram @njhomemag.