It was a key scene in Sunday night's Sherlock. After evading justice for the crime of the century, the master detective's nemesis had popped round to Baker Street for a gloat. As he revealed how he'd got away with it, Sherlock poured him a cup of tea from a most striking teapot – and designer Ali Miller suddenly had a hit on her hands.

Miller has been selling the teapot, a fine bone china number with a picture of a map of the UK, through her website for about a year. "I sold out by the end of the evening," she says. "I am so very delighted. I can't believe how many emails I have had."

Miller didn't know her tea set was going to take centre stage in one of the BBC's biggest dramas – in fact she wasn't even watching the show. It wasn't until swathes of emails started dropping into her inbox from friends and would-be customers that the Sherlock effect made itself felt. She is now trying to keep up with the orders that are flooding in. "People are being very patient. I'm aiming for a Valentine's deadline and telling them that they will make a great gift."

There is also a waiting list at Rockett St George, which sells the tea set cups and saucers for £25. "We normally know when products are going to appear but this took us totally by surprise," says Jane Rockett. "It was a real jump-off-the-sofa moment, and they did look fantastic. We were in stock when the programme went out, but sold out very quickly." The wonder of television has also been helping the shop's "This is where the magic happens" sign, which made an appearance in Heston Blumenthal's Channel 4 kitchen this week.

Desperate fans can still head for Selfridges or Notonthehighstreet which have some tea set items still available – but the Sherlock-effect is clearly strong. In August 2010, Belstaff relaunched its Millford great coat after being inundated with fans of the first series who wanted to buy their own.

It's not just Sherlock that's inspiring viewers to hunt out homewear from their favourite show. While the teapot is very striking, far more pressing for this fan is my hunt for a new lampshade for my kitchen – and like many people I have found food for thought in Borgen, and some choice lighting fittings in Birgitte Nyborg's house in particular.

For the more cashstrapped among us, teapots and lamp fittings might have to wait – but there is always the joy of spotting something you own in somebody else's TV house. As a child I remember being over the moon about "our" dining plates appearing on the 1980s kids show Seaview, and I was almost as excited when I spotted that (the late) Pat Butcher had the same pineapple-shaped ice bucket as me, although I think one piece of shared decor was probably enough. It's more than a little dispiriting to see your much-loved new cushions/dress/vase used as TV shorthand for bad taste.

How about you? Did Sherlock have you rushing to the shops? Does the Big Brother chair sit in the corner of your living room? Have you ever bought anything in a rush of fandom after seeing it on TV? Leave your retail triumphs (and horrors) below.