Articles by Sarah Handley

Sarah is Ideal Home’s Section Editor of the Renovation content and looks after subjects such as how to add more space to your home, what permissions you might need, and the costs you need to consider, as well as inspiring ideas to help you make your home the best it can be.

After Sarah graduated from University of Wales Aberystwyth, with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she entered the world of publishing in 2007, working as a writer and digital editor on a range of titles including Homebuilding & Renovating (where she was digital editor for three and a half years), Real Homes, Gardeningetc, GoodtoKnow, The Money Edit and more.

Sarah has worked with the Ideal Home team since November 2021, where she looked after all of the home finance content, before taking up the mantle of Section Editor for Renovation in September 2024. Sarah is slowly renovating her home and has so far ticked a kitchen revamp, new windows and external doors, and a garden makeover, off her list.

When not focusing on renovating, Sarah can be found getting opinionated about a movie or learning British Sign Language.

IDEAL HOME TRUTHS

Where’s your happy place? Home is my happy place. My house is filled with finds that remind me of experiences I’ve had, places I’ve been or people that I love, so it feels like a warm hug every time I step through the front door.

What’s your home addiction? I love the unexpected when it comes to decor, so I’m obsessed with quirky and eclectic finds that spark both joy and conversation. This could be anything from wall art and knick-knacks to lamps and soft furnishings. If they’re amusing too - all the better.

What’s your next home project? I’m constantly adding to my list of home improvements, but the top priorities are to decorate my bathroom (I’m keen on Valspar’s Emperor Butterfly for the walls) and change the awful black and grey flecked carpet on my stairs and landing (which I have been saying I’ll do for years, but this year I’ll definitely get round to it). Longer term, I am also really keen to replace the roof on my conservatory to make the space more usable year round.

Sarah Handley

Latest articles by Sarah Handley

Do you need planning permission to convert a basement?

There's a lot to love about block paved driveways – but my best friend has one, and this is why she's rethinking her driveway design

9 game changing tools I'm adding to my renovation kit

How to insulate a basement — your options explained, plus how much it’s likely to cost

This is what a cavity wall actually is and how you identify one, according to the experts

How to convert a basement into usable living space

I inherited a garage conversion, but it's far from perfect

3 clever ways I use masking tape when drilling

Filling cracks in walls might seem simple, but skipping this crucial step can render your efforts useless

This is how much a garden room costs

I swear by these 4 genius ways to add space without extending

My friend is an expert renovator, and she says this £6 product has been an 'utter gamechanger' during her renovation project

This one basement conversion mistake could leave your space completely uninhabitable

5 alternatives to bifold doors that will still maximise natural light and offer brilliant garden views

I overspent when renovating because of these 5 decisions

Renovation experts all agree that most wall removal mistakes stem from this initial blunder

Pros and cons of knocking down internal walls revealed

How to tell if a wall is a partition wall before you remove it

This is the one regret I have about installing air conditioning at home

Forgetting to do this one thing before removing a wall could have dire consequences, say experts

Building pros explain what a load-bearing wall actually is and why you should ‘never assume’ you can tell one just by looking at it

There’s a lot I love about my gravel driveway, but these niggles are making me rethink my driveway design

How much does a green roof cost and will it add value?

Thinking about a green roof? I asked the pros for their ultimate beginner tips

I’m a renovation expert – these are the 6 bungalow extension mistakes I’d never make