Shopping for home decor in Toronto? Maybe you're planning to hit some of the major design districts - King East, Leslieville, the Castlefield Design District and Rosedale all come to mind - or pay a visit to old standbys like Elte, Umbra, or, uh, IKEA (meatballs = necessary shopping fuel). But if you're looking for a truly unusual piece - or just love to brag about where you bought stuff - then these lesser-known spots are worth checking out.

Here's a round-up of home decor stores in Toronto you might not know about.

General Tao
This shop occupies a sizeable storefront in Bloorcourt, yet somehow manages to evade the consciousness of most of the city's design geeks. Stationery hoarders and gift-seekers will love the place, but you'll also find cute little touches for the home: Paper garlands, whimsical ceramics, and a menagerie of cardboard "taxidermy" animal heads.

Len
If you didn't know this tiny spot off the Danforth was there, you'd stroll right by it - but it's packed to the brim with home goods and gifts, made by crafters and artisans from across the country. Funny greeting cards aside, there's also gorgeous hand-turned cutting boards, tea towels, slogan pillows, and anything else you might need for that homemade touch.

Green Light District
This Ottawa-based shop opened their Roncy outpost in 2011 and have been supplying the neighbourhood with contemporary furniture finds ever since. The owners, David and Deborah Peets, have crisscrossed the world, discovering small designers and bringing their wares back home to Canada.

Small Space Plus
You're a little short on space, right? Thought so. Luckily for you and everyone else in Toronto, there's this store in Mount Dennis which features compact, gorgeously modern pieces - many of which do double duty - at reasonable prices.

Birch & Co
Their selection of Pinterest-worthy gifts, ceramics, art and tchotchkes is so well-curated, you'd swear this place was in Rosedale or Leslieville, but its Little India location gives the spot a little extra breathing room.

Le Tablier Blanc
Le Tablier Blanc landed on College last fall, stacking the space's shelves with rows of cards and stationery, quirky art prints, patterned glassware, punchy cooking and serving items, and - of course - novelty bookends.

Torp
Torp might be able to give your place the cool Scandinavian touch it so craves, without necessarily hitting a high price point. (Pieces start as low as $29, though large pieces from named and famed furniture designers can reach into the thousands.)

Rowan Homespun
Newly arrived in the Beaches, Rowan is out to get your home and your body looking their best. Small-batch skincare products feature prominently in the store's lineup of handmade goods, which otherwise includes artisan-made pottery and a host of vintage items for the home.

Lab Studio Design
When is a chair not a chair? When it's a piece of freeform, sculptural seating from this Summerhill boutique, which specializes in avant-garde, big-ticket items that take traditional notions of furniture design to new heights. Bargain-hunters need not apply - these are true works of art.

Black Rooster
This Leslieville shop has a huge selection that skirts the line between whimsical and glamorous. Their wide scope means you can pick up a tiny accent, like a $12 ceramic owl - or all-out with a $3,500 mirrored headboard.

Did I miss any? Leave your picks for under the radar home decor stores in the comments. Photo of Rowan Homespun by Hector Vasquez.