Why leave home? Get everything you need delivered to your door

From haircuts to chefs to toilet rolls, these days you can arrange to have anything you need turn up at your door. Even a cheeky six-pack…

By Carolyn Tate

Our world is now so fast-paced that we’ve come to expect convenience in everything, especially when it comes to comfort! Gone are the days when you had to venture out for every little thing, no matter the distance or the weather.

But the possibilities of delivery have extended far beyond just pizza and parcels. Now there is a world of products and services that can be brought right to your doorstep, making life simpler and maybe more luxurious.

So why leave home when so much of what you want can come to you? Let's take a look at some of the things you can have delivered that can bring you joy, comfort, or even new experiences. Without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home.

1. A more beautiful you

Need a little bit of pampering? You can bring the spa experience home with luxurious self-care boxes. The Retreat Yourself Winter 'Rest and Relax' Box, priced at $99.95 (but valued at $300), is packed with full-sized wellness products from local Australian and New Zealand brands. 

It has your full spa day experience in mind, from artisan chocolates and organic chai latte blends to facial masks and body scrubs. Check out Retreat Yourself  and Peony Parcel which offers beauty to your door.

2. Greenery to brighten your day

Flowers are great, but potted plants are a lasting way to freshen up your living space. And now you don’t need to leave home to buy them. The Jungle Collective offers a wide range of beautiful indoor and outdoor plants of all sorts of types and sizes, you can also choose from various pots, accessories and plant care products. 

Plants not only improve the quality of air in your home, but it can also be rewarding caring for the plants and watching them flourish. Other plants-to-your-door services include Plant in a Box and The Good Plant Co.

3. Freshly-pressed laundry

Yes, you can keep your clothes and linen fresh without the hassle of doing laundry yourself. At $27.50 per 5 kg of washing (with extra costs for duvets and ironing), The Laundry Lady offers nationwide services, charging a $12.50 pickup and delivery fee per service.

It’s a convenient and modern solution for anyone looking to reduce their home maintenance, without the hassle of loading up the car and sitting at a laundromat. Ask around to see if any local laundrettes, dry cleaners or small businesses offer a similar service.

4. A private chef

Have an amazing restaurant experience from the comfort of your own dining table with Take a Chef, a nationwide service that sends a professional chef to your home. You can enjoy a chef-quality meal and luxurious dining experience – and stay in your pyjamas if you like – they won’t judge!

At Your Table, CHEFIN and I Hate Cooking all offer a similar experience. They handle everything from menu planning to table service, and they’ll also leave your kitchen better than they found it with their post-cooking cleanup.

5. Groceries, flowers, a six-pack of beer…

Who needs the hassle of hunting for parking spots, navigating crowded supermarkets and scanning your groceries? Major supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles offer same-day delivery services, but getting a decent delivery window can be tricky. To get your groceries right when you need them, MILKRUN offers super-quick delivery – usually within around 30 minutes of ordering – with no delivery charge on your first three orders.

6.  A brand new haircut

The Blys app allows you to order a range of wellness services direct to your home, no matter how small or extravagant. Whether you're in the mood for a massage, facial, haircut, nail treatment, or even a package with all the above, you’ll receive a knock on your door from expert professionals.

Check to see if your favourite stylist also offers this service, or ask around your neighbourhood for recommendations.

7. A good night’s sleep

If your mattress is more sag than sound, have a new one delivered straight to your door. This is nothing like old-school mattress buying where you’re asked to ‘try out’ the mattresses in-store (trying not to gag at the questionable hygiene practices). 

Instead, order online and have your mattress delivered (usually) the very next day. You can then try it out for a set period of time (some brands give you up to 100 days!) to see if it suits you. So civilised. 

Look into it at places like Sleeping Duck, Koala, Emma or Peace Lily.

Read more: sleep tight

8. Milk delivered like old times

Remember when fresh milk was delivered to your door with the classic layer of cream on top? You can relive that nostalgia with Farm Fresh Organics. 

While they require a minimum $100 spend for one-off orders, you can order organic, unhomogenised cow's milk straight from the farm, as well as fresh baked goods, organic fruit and vegetables, delicious ready-to-eat meals, and more.

A service like this may also be offered by organic farmers in your local area, so be sure to ask around.

9. A brand new wardrobe

Shopping for clothes online isn’t new (or maybe it’s new to you). But many of us don’t like doing it because sizing is an issue and returning items can be an expensive hassle.

Companies are starting to make it easier, though. Australian-owned Birdsnest offers a flat shipping fee (or free for orders over a certain amount), so you can feel free to order in a couple of different sizes and treat your bedroom like a changing room.

Read more: finding your personal style after 50

Once you’ve decided what you want to keep, send the rest back. Returns are free if you choose a store-credit or a flat-fee return shipping cost if you’d rather get your money back.

Check the returns policy at your favourite store to see if they offer a similar good deal.

10. Toilet paper that cares

Boutique toilet paper-to-your-door offerings are springing up all over the place. Not since those shameful COVID days when we fought each other for the last pack of 3-ply has toilet paper been so newsworthy. 

Brands like Who Gives a Crap, About a Dog and Squares to Spare promise to donate some of their profits to their charity of choice. Others are just about the pretty packaging and convenience of not having to lug 36 rolls home from the shops.