Sales at Temple & Webster, one of the country’s biggest online furniture retailers, rose by almost a quarter over the last six months, driven by big increases in demand for bathroom fixtures and ceiling fans.

The result was better than brokers had expected and followed a softer period at the start of the financial year. Sales had picked up, the retailer told investors on Thursday, to reach $313.7 million in the six months to December 31. The market had forecast sales of $310.2 million.