
Holly Cockburn
Holly is a Content Editor at Ideal Home and has been working at the brand since June 2023. Prior to this, she was Features Editor at Top Ten Reviews where she focussed on practical, how-to home and garden advice. Holly graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Literature from The University of Birmingham in 2020, and immediately joined the editorial team at Howdens where her love for writing about interiors blossomed. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her exploring the best London bars and brunch spots, or planning the next budget-friendly city break.
Ideal Home Truths
Where is your happy place?
My happy place is curling up with a book or reality TV on the chaise section of the sofa in my West London flat, right next to the sash window. The living room is south facing so this spot feels like I'm sunbathing, even in the winter months. When I need a break from the city, I love relaxing at my parent's house in the Bedfordshire countryside. The view of uninterrupted fields and an alpaca farm right from my bed never get old, especially on a slow morning with a coffee.
What’s your home addiction?
My ever-expanding book collection is both a blessing and a curse. My favourite books take pride of place on the built-in shelves in my living room, and they're now sprawling out into every corner of the flat. I can't walk into a bookshop without adding to my TBR list, so I'm constantly looking for clever storage solutions to show them off. Currently, I'm on the lookout for pastel Scandi-inspired storage crates to stack books in, as well as a floating shelf for the wall.
What is your next home project?
I'm a Facebook Marketplace fiend, and I've managed to kit out almost my entire flat on a budget. After being inspired by my mum's recent mid-century dressing table and boudoir chair purchase, I'm determined to find the perfect pair for my own bedroom. I've got the Pinterest boards planned perfectly, now I just need to keep refreshing resale sites until my ideal vintage find appears.
Latest articles by Holly Cockburn
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It's officially roast season – these handy Joseph Joseph will make cooking a Sunday roast fuss-free
Upgrade your essentials now and you'll use them all winter
By Holly Cockburn
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This one simple design trick will maximise natural light in a bathroom – it's interior designer-approved
A clever visual trick goes a long way
By Holly Cockburn
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This is my big kitchen lighting ick, and interior designers agree it's an impractical choice – what you should buy instead
Kitchen lighting should be pretty and practical
By Holly Cockburn
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I've scoured the shops for the best bathroom lighting so you don't have to – this is where to buy trend-led styles and practical picks
I'm shedding some light on the best places to shop
By Holly Cockburn
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Design experts all agree, these are the three kitchen colours that have no place in 2026 - the shades we're leaving behind
Trends come and go, and these are the ones to let go of
By Holly Cockburn
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Farrow & Ball's new paint finish is their best kept secret for kitchens - it's their most durable yet
You won't need to worry about scuffs
By Holly Cockburn
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Kitchen lamps are the underrated buy designed for dark autumn evenings – these are the 5 best places to shop for them
Once you buy one, you won't go back
By Holly Cockburn
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This tiny detail will make your kitchen look expertly designed - it's turning function into a thoughtful style
Clear light switches and sockets are a clever design hack the pros are using
By Holly Cockburn
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Tortoiseshell is the autumnal trend I can't get enough of – and I found the perfect home for it in my kitchen
It's the ultimate colour palette for autumn
By Holly Cockburn
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I found the perfect autumnal towels at M&S – they’re ideal for an easy bathroom update
Gingham is the ultimate pattern for autumn
By Holly Cockburn
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5 ways I'm revamping my kitchen ready for autumn – from organisation to seasonal trend tips for the heart of your home
A few simple switches will make a big difference
By Holly Cockburn
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So long, colour drenching - colour capping is a simple paint trick that will make a small bathroom feel bigger
Your ceilings deserve some love, too
By Holly Cockburn
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The tiny utility trend is the secret to squeezing in space for laundry in small kitchens - these are the tricks for making it work
You don't need to have a big home to achieve a utility space
By Holly Cockburn
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'I didn't want it to be too Barbie' – this Farrow & Ball kitchen colour scheme shows why aubergine is the new pink
Model Charli Howard's kitchen is a masterclass in creating a sophisticated, feminine colour scheme
By Holly Cockburn
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John Lewis' collection with Deliciously Ella is set to be the heart of my kitchen this autumn
The food-motif tableware is just as covetable as the practical cookware
By Holly Cockburn
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A lamp is the best thing you could add to your cloakroom - this is why it's the fastest way to create a luxe hotel look
It's as stylish as it is practical
By Holly Cockburn
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Joseph Joseph has the answer to a messy fridge and lack of wine storage - it's just what I needed for a September reset
My fridge has never looked so satisfying
By Holly Cockburn
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The 4-inch seating rule is the secret to a sociable kitchen – here's how to use this design principle in a cooking space
'This small detail goes a long way'
By Holly Cockburn
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2 small appliances you shouldn't store in a utility room – plus the 2 that will be right at home
Keep your kitchen and utility room worktops organised to perfection
By Holly Cockburn
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Is a small kitchen with a utility better than an open plan kitchen? This is the ultimate layout for organisation
Which layout comes out on top?
By Holly Cockburn
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The designer larder trend will instantly make your kitchen look more high-end - and it's surprisingly affordable to recreate
From items to stock it with to stylish design details
By Holly Cockburn
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Oliver Bonas just dropped its tableware collection with Shrimps – I give it a week before it's in every stylish home on Instagram
I can't wait to upgrade my weekend brunch set-ups
By Holly Cockburn
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18 Boot room ideas to add classic countryside functionality to your home
Create a dedicated space to store muddy boots and wet coats to keep the rest of your home clean and tidy
By Holly Cockburn
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A 'bootility room' is the key to containing back-to-school mess – you won't go back to a regular utility room
It will be the hardest working room in your home
By Holly Cockburn