San Francisco Home Decor Shops
Books and objets on display at Super Simple. Photo by Trudi Michael.
So you’ve bought a new house or condo. Hooray! Now, to make it a home. Whether your style is modern and minimalist or edgy and eclectic, San Francisco has plenty of places to shop for furniture and home accessories that can make your home stand out. Bonus prize: All make excellent sources for holiday shopping (#shoplocal). Here is a by-no-means comprehensive list of our favorite curated, independent decor shops.
Acacia (Three Embarcadero Center, Financial District, 415.643.4847, acaciasf.com)
With a hip, Scandinavian vibe, Acacia offers a broad array of products to smarten up any room, and the people and pets who occupy them. Leaning into earth tones, there are also many items that pop with stylish color.
Black & Gold (2200 15th St, Duboce Triangle, 415.658.7707, and 572 Valencia St, Inner Mission, 415.757.0225, shopblackandgold.com)
This shop’s namesake colors feature prominently in the product mix, giving a sheen of luxe to any space, but they also flow through plenty of pops of color to keep things fresh and bright.
Cliff’s Variety (471-479 Castro St, Castro, 415.431.5365, cliffsvariety.com)
The iconic anchor tenant of the Castro, Cliff’s Variety is so much more than a hardware store. From decor to kitchenware to fabrics to toys, if you can’t find it at Cliff’s, you can probably live without it.
Garden Court Antiques/Epoca (1700 16th St, Potrero Hill, 415.864.6895, gardencourtantiques.com/epocasf.com)
With the philosophy that great design transcends all ages, this two-in-one gallery artfully combines elements from several centuries, from 18th century French and English antiques to dapper midcentury modern lighting. Ask gallery manager Jim Gallagher about the turtleshell and porcupine boxes.
Heath Ceramics (2900 18th St, Inner Mission, 415.361.5552 x13, heathceramics.com)
A mainstay of design in the Bay Area since 1948, Heath’s matte textures and soft colors inspire a sense of comfort. The occasional vase makes a nice touch, or go whole hog and cover a wall in their gorgeous tiles. The showroom incorporates elements of wood and leather for maximum warmth, and you can enjoy a bite at Tartine Manufactory, in the same building.
Hudson Grace (3350 Sacramento St, Presidio Heights, 415.440.7400, hudsongracesf.com)
Founded in this flagship space by two former retail executives from Gap Inc. and Williams-Sonoma, Hudson Grace has expanded to a mini-empire of six design stores in California, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta. The space is clean, serene, and awash in subtle earth tones.
Maker & Moss (2800 Van Ness, Russian Hill, 415.928.1287, makerandmoss.com)
A fourth-generation San Franciscan, Matt Bissinger turns his keen eye to local artists and craftspersons to fill his space with objets inspired by natural materials: Wood, stone, fibers, and metal. The items make the vast, reformed industrial space feel warm and inviting.
Paxton Gate. Photo by Trudi Michael.
Paxton Gate (824 Valencia St, Mission Dolores, 415-824-1872, paxtongate.com)
If you’re looking for a conversation piece, this is the spot for you. Paxton Gate was started by two landscape designers inspired by the natural world, bringing its wonders inside. Think lots of (often quirky) taxidermy, shimmering insects in shadowboxes, and more. Sure to make someone ask, where did you get that?
The Perish Trust (724 Dividsadero St, Alamo Square, theperishtrust.com)
Rich, moody, and intriguing, The Perish Trust draws you in with a thoughtful yet eclectic mix of carefully curated used objects and new works from local artisans, all with a uniquely Californian aesthetic.
Rare Device (600 Divisadero St, Alamo Square, raredevice.net)
What started out as a gift and bricabrac shop has blossomed into a charming source for local, artisanal wares. With a bent toward the starkly modern and colorful, Rare Device is chockablock with shoppable, giftable items sure to delight.
Stuff by Luxe (1830 Harrison St, Inner Mission, 415-864-2900, instagram.com/StuffbyLuxe)
The vacuous warehouse of the original is no more, but new owners have taken up the mantle in the Inner Mission. This shop is chockablock with miles of MCM treasures; don’t be surprised to stumble across a Noguchi or Eames, hobnobbing with all manner of other modern wares. You could lose a day or two in here.
Sue Fisher King (1913 Fillmore St, Lower Pacific Heights, 415.922.7276, suefisherking.com)
For over 40 years Sue Fisher King has been embodying the very essence of Pacific Heights, with elegant yet complex designs for luxe homes. Think florals, animal prints (or prints with animals in them), and rich colors.
Super Simple (855 Valencia St, Inner Mission, 415.658.7685, shopsupersimple.com)
Offering “warm minimalism,” this Valencia Corridor shop teems with modernist decor in neutral tones with an austere, Logan’s Run vibe. The place is full of attractive bric-a-brac that’s eminently giftable.
When Modern Was (4001 24th St, Noe Valley, 415.970.9030, whenmodernwas.com)
Sorta shabby chic, sorta steampunk, this one’s a bit hard to categorize, but it absolutely lures you in with quirky bric-a-brac, hand-painted furniture, and much more.