Homeware has been available from Marks & Spencer since the Company was founded.

In our Penny Bazaar shops, items such as stair eyes, brushes, doilies and candles were available at 1d.

Our customer magazine ‘The Grand Annual’, featured adverts for our home ranges including gardening tools, bolts, nutmeg graters and dress hangers.

By 1926, departments included: Household Goods, Glass, China & Earthenware, Cutlery, Hardware and Tin & Enamelware.

Demand for homeware increased as more new homes were being built across the country.

Window displays often featured homeware promotions including ‘National Aluminium Week’ in 1932, and displays of batteries perfect for listening to Coronation events in 1937. Our own homeware brands included Marspen and Monster.

Homeware was advertised in our 1932 customer publication ‘The Marks & Spencer Magazine’, including this ‘Tango’ teaset.

Our range of homeware shrunk during the war as raw materials were in short supply.

In 1948 we gave Sales Assistants training to help sell our ‘Thermomatic Irons’, electric fires and light bulbs.

Homeware was reintroduced in the late 1960s. By 1968 we were selling towels, nylon sheets and matching pillowcases.

Following the success of our towels and bedding ranges, our Home Furnishings Department was established in 1970. By 1972 the range included rugs, striped sheets, patterned bedspreads and curtains.

We introduced carpets – available in three stores, two of which offered a fitting service. The same year we introduced bathroom fittings and ready-pasted wallcoverings.

We launched our custom-made curtain service. The curtains were fully-lined and available in plain-dye velvet or a range of printed fabrics.

The same year we worked with the V&A on a range of bedlinen and towels inspired by 17th and 18th century prints in the museum’s collection.

Coordinated ranges of bedding and dinnerware were launched, including Autumn Leaves, Harvest and Edwardian Lady.  

In 1985 we launched our first Home Furnishings catalogue, featuring 64 pages of bedding, kitchenware, curtains and lighting.

The same year we began selling garden and nursery furniture.

We introduced furniture after a trial in four stores. The range included kitchen tables, cupboards and shelving, sofas, bookcases, curtain poles, bathroom units and sinks.

In 1989 we offered our first range of kitchen electricals. A toaster and two types of kettle were available in our Ashberry and Harvest patterns.

We launched a wedding gift list service in 31 stores, expanded to 72 stores by 1994. The M&S team visited American department stores to research the service.

The stainless steel range was launched, including utensils and a set of three pans. By 1996 the collection was a bestseller.

We opened our first store dedicated to homeware. The York store sold furniture, kitchenware, lighting, decorating and home accessories.

By 2001 most homeware products could be bought online.

We partnered with Terence Conran to design a range of over 300 homeware products, from furniture to home accessories.

We launched Loft – a range of ‘Stylish designs for modern living, from compact sofas and armchairs to contemporary crockery and lighting’ created to work well in smaller spaces.

We launched guest brands across M&S in 2021, by 2022 we had introduced home brands like Denby, Joseph Joseph and Laura Ashley to our homeware offering.

2022 also saw the launch of the M&S X Fired Earth collection, featuring prints inspired by the brand’s iconic tile designs and signature colours.

We collaborated with interior designer Kelly Hoppen. Her latest collection includes statement lighting, ceramics, textiles, bedding and bathroom accessories.