
Sarah Handley
Sarah is Ideal Home’s Renovation and Home Energy Editor 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 how you can make your home more energy efficient.
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.
Latest articles by Sarah Handley
-
If you want a stylish and whisper-quiet fan, this Duux smart fan gets my voteIt really could not be simpler to use, too
By Sarah Handley
-
I've had fitted air con for 12 months — this is how much I've actually used itIf you're debating installing air conditioning, read this first
By Sarah Handley
-
Is underfloor heating going to be banned in the UK?This is what the experts told me about the rumours
By Sarah Handley
-
I’ve tried both a £180 and £50 fan — this is how they really compareIs the expensive one really better?
By Sarah Handley
-
Are portable air conditioners really worth it?I review them for a living and these are the pros and cons everyone should consider before buying
By Sarah Handley
-
Meaco has dropped a new portable air conditioner range that is twice as quiet as its predecessorsI predict a sell-out!
By Sarah Handley
-
I reviewed the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan — is it worth your money?This budget-friendly Vonhaus fan will be ideal for those who prefer a more gentle breeze to a powerful gust
By Sarah Handley
-
I’ve been committing this cardinal sin when it comes to my dishwasherCurbing this habit now could help me offset the 13% price cap increase
By Sarah Handley
-
These are the best desk fans I swear by while working from homeThey’re ideal for small spaces too
By Sarah Handley
-
Lidl launches an affordable solar battery to help with rising energy costsBut there’s a catch if you live in the UK
By Sarah Handley
-
The new AirCraft LUME fan is the most powerful of any I’ve testedIts clever design means you you get two fans in one, plus it's whisper-quiet
By Sarah Handley
-
Dyson has launched a portable fan for under £100 — it's already sold out once, but I've just spotted it back in stockA Dyson for less than £100? Count me in!
By Sarah Handley
-
5 things the heatwave taught me about how my home handles heatThis is what I'm doing to improve it before the next hot spell hits
By Sarah Handley
-
Do you really have to vent a portable air conditioner outside?Air con pros share why it’s so crucial to get this step right
By Sarah Handley
-
I’ve tried and tested the best fans – these are my top picksAs someone who runs hot, my internal thermometer makes me well placed to put the best fans through their paces in my own home
By Sarah Handley
-
Shark's new 3-in-1 portable fan has officially put an end to my heatwave anxietyI always struggle in the heat, but the Shark ChillPill has been helping me stay deliciously cool
By Sarah Handley
-
5 things that people with consistently cool homes in summer always haveHeatwave essentials that will keep your home comfortable when it gets hot
By Sarah Handley
-
A fan won't help with humidity – this is what experts recommend you use insteadA fan may help circulate the air, but you'll need something else to actually lower moisture levels
By Sarah Handley
-
The best portable air conditioners I’m certain will sell out this summerIf previous years are anything to go by, these best portable air conditioners will be like gold dust this summer
By Sarah Handley
-
I fixed my leaking toilet for £9 and in less that 15 minutesThese are the four steps I followed to fix my leaking loo
By Sarah Handley
-
This is how I fixed chewed skirting boards for £5 in under 30 minutesIt was easier than I thought it would be too
By Sarah Handley
-
Meaco's new table-top air circulator is powerful and quietBut it has a clever feature that means it'll last much longer than other portable fans
By Sarah Handley
-
I did not expect this sub-£100 Silentnight fan to be as quiet or as powerful as it isIt can hold its own against fans that are twice the price
By Sarah Handley
-
This dishwasher setting could have been saving me money (and no, it’s not the Eco mode)I've always skipped this cycle, but it turns out that could have been a mistake
By Sarah Handley
