My View: Stephanie Smith

The windows were pasted over with hastily stuck-on posters screeching “Closing Down Sale Everything Must Go”, their cheaply garish capital letters more suited to a pound shop than the store that brought bold, contemporary style to the High Street – and to the homes of generations of slightly baffled but intrigued shoppers in search of inspirational pieces and objects to define their homes.

It felt a little ghoulish, walking around the products stacked high and ready to go. Natural woods teamed with sleek whites and bold brights, this season’s lime and fuchsia and rich turquoise, on bowls and table lamps and glasses and bathroom mats.

I suspect I wasn’t the only one who felt guilty, judging by the dozens of other shoppers in there, also shuffling half-heartedly through the reductions. But I don’t think it was just bargains we were after; it was a little piece of history, something that epitomised Habitat – perhaps a chicken brick or a lime green floor lamp, or just some coloured glasses.

It was rather sad. I attend my local Habitat on a regular basis and have done so for years, finding both peace and enlightenment within its walls. I’ve bought clocks and candle-holders and baskets and parasols and endless cushions and ornaments since I discovered the store, setting up my first proper home, near Tottenham Court Road in London, more than 20 years ago.

I still own and use everything I have ever bought at Habitat. Each piece, from a small, grey, ridged vase to a red plastic Tam Tam stool, looks as fresh and pleasing to me now as it did when I first saw it.

I cannot say the same for items I have bought from Ikea, Homebase, Marks & Spencer or any other chain, because no other High Street store, in my opinion, has ever taken the care to offer the quality and design values that Habitat has.

But Ikea is cheaper and good fun, BhS is great for lighting and you can always park outside Homebase, whose parent company has bought the Habitat brand and three central London stores, although 30 outlets and a possible 750 jobs will go.

Perhaps there will be mini Habitats within the huge Homebase sheds, which will be something, but not the same.

Habitat isn’t about DIY; it’s about creating the soul of a home, and I don’t find that between paint tins and garden hose. Some say that Habitat didn’t address the current vintage/retro trend but, as its pieces reference classic designs of all eras, I think that’s unfair.

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful,” William Morris said. Habitat usually combined both qualities. I’m off to find a chicken brick.