Vanessa Richmond
Vanessa Richmond started her journalism career in 1998 thinking that she wanted to be the editor of Vogue. She got as far as being Chief Sub-editor at Red magazine before realising that home is where her heart is… and so she joined the Ideal Home family in 2006 and stayed for 15 years. Over that time, she was Chief Sub-editor and columnist, Associate Editor and then became Editor in 2015. A year later, she took Style at Home under her wing, too, and then, in 2018, became editor of a third title, Country Homes & Interiors. Over the years, she has seen Ideal Home develop and transform into the digital powerhouse it is today, while staying true to its 100-year-old ethos of trusted expertise and authoritative journalism. In 2021, Vanessa decided it was time for a midlife reboot, moved from London to Norfolk and retrained as a secondary English teacher. Journalism is her side hustle now, but why have one career you love when you can have two? Apart from writing for Ideal Home and idealhome.co.uk, Vanessa has also written for Scandi at Home and undertaken commercial projects. She lives in Norwich with her old mum (‘Ma Richmond’) and their disabled rescue cat, Willo the Wisp.
Ideal Home truths
Where’s your happy place?
In my home office. Before moving to Norwich, I worked at the kitchen table and packed everything away at the end of the day, but here there’s more space. The house has a big wooden building in the back garden – calling it a shed doesn’t do it justice because it has a loft and sliding glass doors, we call it ‘the cabin’. I have my desk there, plus a kettle and fridge, and a sofa so I can sit soft for a bit if I want to. It has nice rugs and the walls are covered with pictures. It does double duty as a playroom for my nieces when they come to stay – their extensive Lego collection is stored there – but otherwise it’s all mine. Sometimes I tell Ma Richmond I have lessons to plan, but actually I’m down there drinking wine and listening to music. I think she knows.
What’s your home addiction?
Baskets. Whenever I see one I like, I buy it. Every room in the house has at least one. I put loo rolls in them, slippers, soft toys in my nieces’ rooms, balls of knitting wool, random stuff I like to use while watching telly (like nail varnish and the iPad). I used to think it was impossible to have too many baskets, but it is. I have a basket containing unused baskets!
What is your next home project?
Gah, there are so many it’s hard to prioritise. Probably painting the hallway. There’s a stripey runner up the stairs, so I’ll pick colours from that – probably a creamy colour for the walls and off-black for the woodwork. Plus an amazing chandelier. I’ve got my eye on an amazing one at Pooky.
Latest articles by Vanessa Richmond
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Best bedding materials for menopause and night sweats - take back control of your sleep
Take control of your sleep quality and safeguard your mental health with our experts’ advice and top product recommendations
By Vanessa Richmond
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The benefits of natural light and simple ways to boost the amount of daylight in your home
Discover why – and how – you should boost natural light levels for your physical and mental health
By Vanessa Richmond
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Bedroom hacks that make waking up on dark mornings easier, according to psychology experts
Spring out of bed refreshed when the moon’s still up with our experts’ advice
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to fake natural light in a dark room - 5 design tricks to brighten up a gloomy space
Get out of the gloom and make every space bright and uplifting with our experts’ advice
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to zone your home using scent - clever tricks to divide your home up by using fragrance-zoning
Create a different vibe and mood in each room space with our experts’ advice
By Vanessa Richmond
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'Solid, dependable, and grounded' - 5 ways to use brown colour psychology in your home
Colour experts reveal the power of brown colour psychology in interior design
By Vanessa Richmond
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Scent experts reveal the best scents to relax, energise and make you feel happy
Scent experts reveal the fragrances to indulge in for all the good feels
By Vanessa Richmond
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10 tricks that experts use to avoid decision fatigue at home
Steal back time and energy by letting these smart systems work for you
By Vanessa Richmond
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Family command centres are the genius solution to keep your entire household organised
How to set up and customise your families' organisation and planning hub to keep things running smoothly
By Vanessa Richmond
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Could daily cleaning really make you happier and healthier? According to experts it really can
Grab a duster – it’s time to give your mental health a boost
By Vanessa Richmond
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The colours that keep you awake and how to harness their powers in your home
Experts reveal what colours keep you awake and how you can harness their energy positively
By Vanessa Richmond
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3 colours that cause anxiety – avoid these shades in your home to protect your mental wellbeing
Experts reveal the colours associated with negative emotions you don’t need in your life
By Vanessa Richmond
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What colours make you tired – avoid these if you’re already lacking energy
We asked the experts what colours can make you feel tired and drained – and how to use them in a positive way
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to improve air quality at home - it’s the big health issue nobody’s talking about
Experts reveal why indoor pollution matters and the simple ways to improve air quality at home
By Vanessa Richmond
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Colour experts reveal these are the depressing shades to avoid when decorating your home
Are these shades ruining your mood?
By Vanessa Richmond
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What colours make you happy? Use these on your walls for a daily mood boost
Experts reveal the colours that make you happy, for a home that’s bursting with positive vibes
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to fix a slow-draining bathtub – for stress-free soaks
A step by step guide to smoothly draining tubs
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to fix a toilet handle – and keep your loo in working order
Everything you need to know about fixing a standard toilet handle so you can flush in peace
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to fix a clogged bathroom sink – and keep it draining freely
Get your bathroom sink draining freely and easily again with help from the experts
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to change a toilet seat – and upgrade your loo in a few minutes
Changing a toilet seat is one of the easier jobs in the bathroom for a quick fix
By Vanessa Richmond
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How to fix a clogged shower drain – and keep it clear and clean
A clogged shower drain can be a nightmare, but you can resolve it quickly and easily yourself with this step-by-step
By Vanessa Richmond
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How much does an extension cost? Plus ways to cut the cost of yours
Thinking about stretching your space? This is what it will set you back…
By Vanessa Richmond
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Make your music sound amazing by streaming with Deezer
Promotional feature with Deezer
By Vanessa Richmond
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Three things you didn't know you could do with a SodaStream...
This might just blow your mind…
By Vanessa Richmond