What actually makes a piece of furniture worth keeping? | Ideal Home

The home of great ideas for more than 100 years

Sign in

View Profile
Sign out

Room Decor
- All rooms
  - Lighting
  - Colour
  - Flooring
- Kitchen
  - Utility Room
- Bedroom
  - Childrens Room
- Conservatory
  - Conservatory Decor
- Living Room
- Dining Room
- Bathroom
- Hallway
Garden
Homes & Tours
- Room Makeovers
- House Tours
Renovation
House Manual
- Cleaning & Organising
- Home Energy
- Owning & Renting
  - Money & Costs
- Smart Home
- DIY
What to buy
- By Product
- By Brand
  - Aldi
  - Amazon
  - Argos
  - Dunelm
  - Dyson
  - Habitat
  - Ikea
  - M&S
  - Next
  - Ninja
- How We Test Products
Open House
- By Type
  - Buying Guides
  - Deals
  - Advice
  - News
  - Reviews
  - Features
- Explore More
- Discount Codes

Room Decor
Garden
Homes & Tours
Renovation
House Manual
What to buy
Open House
- - Buying Guides
  - Deals
  - Advice
  - News
  - Reviews
  - Features
- Discount Codes

Sign up to our newsletter

Trending

Create a cosy outdoor space for autumn
Easy and free hack to save energy
Is this the most stylish air fryer ever?
Clever storage for tiny laundry rooms
6 issues of Ideal Home for £6

Published 28 October 2026 In Features

Get the Ideal Home Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter for style inspiration, real homes, project and garden advice and shopping know-how

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Read more

A rustic-style dining room with a wooden rectangular dining table, three pendant lights above it, a floor lamp in the corner and a table lamp on a dresser nearby

Dining room 6 interior experts reveal the 5 things that every dining area needs to look and feel inviting, comfortable and personable

Neutral kitchen-dining room with yellow floor and bright blue stable door

Open House I put my ‘Everything Test’ to the test in 4 very different homes – could it finally reveal your interior style?

A dining area in an open-plan space with a rectangular dining table covered with a white tablecloth placed in front of a fireplace

Dining room Are dining rooms outdated? Interior experts reveal how we’re dining at home now

Sofa at John Lewis show in white with cushions

All rooms John Lewis' autumn homeware collection is full of future classics – 9 timeless pieces to add to your wishlist

Small girl standing on stool in front of open wooden shelving filled with ceramics, glassware, jugs and baskets

Open House I put my ‘Everything Test’ to the test in 4 more homes – and discovered what really makes a style feel personal

Hallway with lower half painted coral and top salmon, with green radiator cover console table with vase of hydrangeas and blue and white striped lamp, beneath round mirror reflecting coat rack

Open House I can tell in 5 minutes why a room doesn’t feel right – here’s what I look for

Latest in Dining room

Victoria Beckham on the red carpet wearing a light pink dress

Dining room Victoria Beckham launched her first tableware collection, just in time for hosting season

Richard E. Grant wearing trench coat and burberry scarf at Wuthering Heights premier.

Dining room Richard E. Grant’s circus-inspired dining area is characterful, humorous and kooky – here’s what designers love about it

A rustic-style dining room with a wooden rectangular dining table, three pendant lights above it, a floor lamp in the corner and a table lamp on a dresser nearby

Dining room 6 interior experts reveal the 5 things that every dining area needs to look and feel inviting, comfortable and personable

A dining area in an open-plan space with a rectangular dining table covered with a white tablecloth placed in front of a fireplace

Dining room Are dining rooms outdated? Interior experts reveal how we’re dining at home now

Ideal Home Awards 2026 over neutral dining room scheme

Dining room Ideal Home Awards 2026 Dining Room Winners

Table laid with colourful dishes of food, vase of flowers and lit candles. Festive table settings and cooked dishes at Christmas time, at Ravinder Bhogali's Mayfair restaurant, Jilkoni.

Dining room How to easily extend your dining table for Christmas without buying a new one – this purchase from a DIY store will change everything

Latest in Features

A neutral rustic living room with a wood-burning stove in a fireplace and a large mirror on the mantelpiece

Living room Interior experts reveal the 6 things that are making your living room look and feel less cosy

Kutchenhaus modern kitchen

Kitchen Hidden lighting is the key to making a kitchen look more expensive

Room makeovers From bland to bold – this bathroom is a masterclass in dopamine decor

Olive and barr kitchen

Kitchen Cottagecore kitchens are back but they're more sophisticated than ever before

houseplants on shelf

Houseplants Houseplants are getting bigger, bolder and full of personality in 2027 – these are the trends to know

vintage inspired kitchen with red and white splashback blue cabinetry and antique wooden furniture

Case Studies This once ugly extension has been transformed into a bold and playful kitchen filled with beautiful antiques

Useful links

Most Popular

Small Living Room Ideas
Easy DIY Updates
Home Improvements That Won't Add Value
Energy Saving Tips

buying-guides

Best Mattress
Best Dehumidifiers
Best Sofa Beds
Best Bean-To-Cup Coffee Machines

subscribe

Subscribe to Ideal Home
Ideal Home Newsletter
Follow Ideal Home on Instagram
Find Ideal Home on Facebook

About us
Contact Future's experts
Contact us
Advertise with us
How We Test
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Careers

Add as a preferred source on Google

Ideal Home is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.