Horse girls, it’s time to unite, as the Equestrian Charm trend is making waves in both the fashion and interior worlds. And here’s how to make this surprising trend work in your home.

It may sound like an unusual home decor trend, but equestrian-themed decor has been gaining momentum over the past year as heritage design and the country house aesthetic have become increasingly popular.

You’ll already be well aware of the Cowboycore trends of the past few years, but ‘equestrian charm’ is focused solely on the traditional English countryside. Here’s how it works.

Why is 'Equestrian Charm' trending?

Where Cowboycore takes inspiration from the Wild West, packed with Americana motifs, cowboy hats and a little line dancing, the Equestrian Charm trend takes its lead from countryside life.

‘We’re seeing the equestrian look move indoors to our homes as many people embrace a renewed appreciation for heritage design, craftsmanship, and timeless country house interiors,’ explains Caroline Woolmer, Head of Design at Lucie Annabel.

‘This trend is also influenced by the nostalgic rise of British countryside aesthetics, which revives these classic styles and brings them to a new audience. The wonderful thing about interior design is that it can be personalised, and a theme like this allows people to bring character into their home. Also, rich, earthy colour palettes have been a big trend in 2026, and this is a new way for people to express it.’

Essentially, you’re going for an old money charm in your home. As horses are synonymous with the landed gentry, this trend is about adding touches of British elegance to your home. For example, opting for the Anthropology Equestrian Brass Tieback (£28), which is shaped like a bit, to hold your curtains. This trend is about introducing subtle nods to the equestrian world in your home without going overboard.

How to get the look

‘The key to styling this trend is to add gentle references to equestrianism, rather than going overboard with horse-themed accessories. I’d recommend embracing rich, dark wood furniture and antique brass to establish a country-house feel,’ says Marie Goodwin, head designer at Prestigious Textiles.

‘Then introduce subtle horse-inspired motifs, like framed vintage prints, horseshoe detailing on cushions or decorative buckles. These small touches nod to traditional riding culture without making the room look too themed. I love the look of pairing these with classic checks and stripes which tie the look together to bring that timeless ‘old money’ charm.’

You don’t have to go over-the-top horsey either. Caroline says that using materials associated with the equestrian world is enough to embrace this trend.

‘Look to introduce other elements of the sport into the home too by layering tactile materials such as leather, velvet, wool and dark wood to add warmth and understated luxury, while antique brass accessories, vintage artwork and tailored upholstery reinforce the heritage feel,’ she says.

‘To keep the look fresh and avoid it feeling overly traditional, introduce contemporary furniture, clean silhouettes and unexpected colour accents. The key is to create a relaxed, collected-over-time aesthetic that feels elegant, characterful and effortlessly timeless.’

Shop the trend

Saddle up! It's time to embrace the British countryside in your home this winter.

If you’re looking for a pretty outdoor Christmas light display to decorate the front or back garden, I’ve just found one that’ll steal the show.

George Home’s Gold Firework Christmas Tree Light is just £55, and it can be used both indoors and outdoors. It’s a twinkling display of firework-inspired lights adorning multi-stem branches, and one of the prettiest garden lighting ideas I've found all year. It actually rivals M&S’s Outdoor Christmas Tree as my favourite outdoor Christmas tree light, because it offers even more texture and an authentic tree shape with the same golden glow.

Here’s why the George Home Gold Firework Christmas Tree Light is so high on my wishlist.

My favourite thing about the George Home Gold Firework Christmas Tree Light is the firework-inspired LED clusters. They look so magical on the ends of the delicate branches, and from a distance, they resemble the abundant foliage of a real Christmas tree (with a very radiant twist).

Of course, this one is already lit, so you won’t need to learn how to light outdoor trees for Christmas. Instead, you get an instant display of warm-white lights, filling the home and garden with a golden glow.

That’s another thing, actually – the George Home Gold Firework Christmas Tree Light is designed for indoor and outdoor use, so you can use it as a small living room decorating idea for Christmas or a feature of a front or back garden.

The tree light is mains-powered and the cable length is only two metres long, so you’ll probably need an outdoor extension cord like this Masterplug 1 Socket 15m Extension Lead from Argos – but it’s well worth the setup for such a beautiful light display.

It packs a real punch in height, too – at 150cm, the tree is tall enough to make a real impact outdoors. Its square base means there's no need for ground staking, either (just keep an eye on it during windy weather!).

Turned off, the George Home Hold Firework Christmas Tree Light looks pretty, too. Although it loses its warm glow, the bare branches add wintry character to outdoor spaces, so it remains an beautiful front garden idea during the day.

More outdoor Christmas lights

For £55, the George Home Gold Firework Christmas Tree Light is an absolute steal. It's perfect for decorating a front garden with virtually no effort, but you can bring the tree inside for a cosy indoor display, too.

It's November, which means that my festive diary is starting to get booked up, and Christmas hosting plans are beginning to get finalised.

And *that* means that my mind is starting to mull over how I can make my Christmas guests more comfortable this hosting season. In particular, how I can make my sofa bed more comfortable for the friends and family who will soon be spending a few nights on it.

Luckily, IKEA has just launched a new £29 buy that I think will help me do just that. And if you also own a sofa bed, chair bed, or even a guest bed that could use a little extra comfort, I think IKEA's KOMPISHÄNG is well worth having on your radar, too.

As the owner of a small home, I don't have a dedicated guest bedroom for festive visitors, but I do own the Swyft Model 08 Chair Bed (to my mind, one of the best chair beds on the market) that has done a great job of putting up the occasional guest.

However, like many of the best sofa beds and chair beds, the one thing my chair bed lacks is any kind of headboard that guests can lean back on when it's in bed form.

Yes, they can lean against the wall behind the sofa bed, of course, but that isn't exactly comfortable, and it means that my guests' sleeping space lacks some of the home comforts I'd like to be able to provide.

And that's where IKEA's KOMPISHÄNG Back Cushion comes in. Now, admittedly, this £29 buy may not look like much at first glance. However, add this clever back cushion to a sofa bed, and you have an instant backrest that guests can lean on to sit up in bed and lounge comfortably.

If you have a guest bed without a headboard, this is also a great, affordable solution for adding to a standard bed (including your own if your master bedroom is headboard-less).

The KOMPISHÄNG has only just launched in the UK, but it's already amassed a host of 5-star reviews from IKEA shoppers in other countries, with one happy owner saying they 'bought two of these at launch and love them! Great neutral colour and love how adaptable this is from the sofa to the floor for any of your needs. Zero regrets.'

Now this isn't the only comfort-improving extra I'm adding to my sofa bed, on my wishlist are also a mattress topper, chair risers, and some handy storage to stash guest bedding during the day when it's not in use.

However, I do think that for £29 this IKEA buy is going to make a big difference to my overnight guests comfort levels, and seeing as my own headboard is wooden and not that comfortable, it's something I can use on my own bed to sit up and read once my guests have gone home!

More tricks I'm using to make my sofa bed more comfortable

Actor and DJ Patsy Palmer is giving me serious home envy. Her relaxed California home is laid-back, organic and full of personality. It’s a masterclass in cool-girl 70s chic.

You may remember Patsy for her iconic role as Bianca Jackson in EastEnders. She has swapped the East End for LA living, in a stylish pad that nails the biggest home decor trends while also embodying a lived-in, relaxed look that sends it straight to the top of my favourite celebrity homes.

With warm wood tones, plenty of the best houseplants, creamy neutrals, and plenty of artwork, here’s everything we love about Patsy Palmer’s Los Angeles home.

‘I've followed Patsy Palmer for years, and her home is exactly what I'd expect from her. It feels laid-back, creative and full of personality. What I love most is that it doesn't feel like a showroom. So many celebrity homes are beautifully designed but a little impersonal, whereas Patsy's feels warm, welcoming and genuinely lived in. I think that's why people respond to it so strongly,’ says Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys.

‘She's nailed that effortless California-meets-retro look that's becoming incredibly popular right now. There's a real seventies influence running through the space, from the wood finishes and vintage-inspired artwork to the relaxed mix of textures and natural materials. It feels collected over time rather than carefully staged, which is often the secret to creating a home with character.’

It’s true. Patsy’s home has a homely look to it, which instantly makes it feel more inviting. Despite its location, I can only describe the space as ‘cosy’. It’s somewhere you’d want to spend time. Not to mention, its retro-inspired look nails the ‘70s trends we’ve been seeing everywhere.

‘There's definitely a mid-century influence in there, especially with the wooden chairs with woven seats, but there's also something quite bohemian about the space. You've got the enormous leafy plants behind her in that video, along with the colourful artwork and natural materials that all sit together and don't feel too carefully coordinated. There's a real sense of personality which suits the relaxed, artsy atmosphere you'd associate with living in LA,’ comments Blanca Sanchez, director, Halo Design Interiors.

Home highlight

My standout from Patsy’s home is easily the retro wood-panelled wall in her bedroom - I think it makes the ultimate relaxing bedroom idea and looks so effortlessly stylish. And Blanca agrees, stating it’s also her favourite feature.

‘It's probably my favourite feature because it's such a confident design choice, but the room itself feels incredibly calm,’ she says.

‘The honey-coloured wood has a beautiful natural grain, and those vertical lines draw your eye upwards, which makes the wall feel taller. She's paired it with very simple white bedding, which is exactly what I'd recommend because it stops all that timber from becoming overwhelming. And yes, wood panelling is definitely enjoying a comeback.

‘We've seen designers revisiting seventies interiors, but the modern interpretation is quite different from those dark, artificial-looking panels people used decades ago. It's much more centred around celebrating the natural beauty of the wood itself. Patsy's bedroom is a brilliant example of how that retro influence can still feel contemporary.’

How to get the look

‘I think what's interesting is that we're moving away from homes that feel ultra-minimal and perfect. People want personality back, and seventies-inspired interiors do that brilliantly. They're warm, expressive and a little bit playful, which is why we're seeing so many homeowners embrace bolder colours, richer textures and nostalgic design details,’ says Victoria.

‘If you wanted to recreate a similar look, I'd focus on introducing natural wood tones, vintage-inspired patterns and plenty of texture. You don't have to transform an entire room overnight. Even something as simple as a statement Roman blind or a pair of patterned curtains can bring that retro warmth into a space and start building the look naturally.’

If you like the look of Patsy’s bedroom, you could embark on a fun DIY wall panelling project, using wood panels on the wall behind your bed. You can pick up wall panelling kits for under £20 at B&Q, or even opt for wood-look wallpaper (£12, Dunelm).

‘For the living area, I'd look for second-hand wooden chairs with woven seats and introduce one large leafy plant, then if you're looking for some artwork to hang up, then that's where I'd recommend deviating away from emulating Patsy and instead choose a few pieces that you really like or that mean something to you. It works for Patsy because the individual pieces feel personal, which is something you can recreate on almost any budget,’ says Blanca.

Shop the look

Patsy Palmer's California home is my favourite celebrity home because it looks so homely. It may be effortlessly cool, but it's also the sort of space you would want to relax in.

A couple of months ago, I got a first look at Next’s autumn/winter 2026 collection. The lamp which instantly caught my eye at the showcase was the Next Fitz table lamp. Selling for £65, it’s finally available to shop now – and it’s a lookalike for one of Soho Home’s high-end table lamps.

The two similar-looking lamps are designed in an Art Deco-inspired style, one of the biggest home decor trends and lighting trends of 2026. But while Next’s Fitz lamp retails for £65, Soho Home’s Janie portable lamp comes with an RRP of £295 – though it’s currently on sale for £210.

I recently got to see Soho Home’s Janie lamp IRL, too, when visiting the brand’s beautiful showroom in London’s Chelsea. And I was struck by how similar the two lamps look, even down to the size which is the same.

Both of the table lamps are rechargeable so you don’t need to worry about any unsightly cords or positioning them near a socket. Wireless lamps are so easy and convenient as you can move them around your home to illuminate different spots and corners.

As for the overall look of this living room lighting idea, they’re both made with ivory-coloured glass and brass detailing which is a little more prominent on Next’s version. Both lamps also feature a three-stage dimming function.

I'm famously a big fan of stylish lamps and light fixtures and I like both of these rechargeable lamps. But given how similar they are and Next's version being around four times less, I'm leaning more toward that one. Even though I prefer the pared back design of Soho Home's with less brass detailing.

Which one of these two stylish little table lamps do you prefer?

Small kitchen owners, listen up, as I have something of interest to tell you. IKEA’s £15 SKÅDIS pegboard is perfect for maximising space in small spaces (and making your kitchen look like it belongs to a pro chef in the first place).

Recently, every time I turn to social media, I’m met with cooking content creators who have taken to using pegboards on their kitchen walls to hang their best pots, pans and other cooking utensils. And as the proud owner of a tiny kitchen, I have to say this vertical storage idea caught my eye.

If you’re sick of constantly organising your kitchen cupboards, why not do away with them altogether? A pegboard will make the most of unused vertical kitchen space, and IKEA is one of the best places I’ve seen to do it on a budget.

Anyone who lives in a flat or has a small kitchen will know space is a premium. And if you’re like me and love cooking new dishes as well as hosting, a lack of space can quickly become frustrating. So, when I head to TikTok for new recipe inspiration, I’m also looking at how other home chefs have organised their small kitchens.

One thing I kept noticing was that many of these kitchens had pegboards or wire racks to hang their cookware, spice racks, best knives and utensils. I have a grand total of five kitchen cupboards in my flat - two for dry goods and cookware, two for cookware and crockery and one under-the-sink cupboard for cleaning supplies. As I’m not exactly blessed with space, I’ve decided my kitchen would benefit from a pegboard, and I’m going to use IKEA’s SKÅDIS board.

The SKÅDIS pegboard is 76x56 cm and can be fixed to a wall or desk to ensure you can access exactly what you need, as you need it. A mounting rail is included, and it’s suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms, so you don’t need to worry too much about steam or condensation.

IKEA also offers a range of accessories that are compatible with the board, such as clips, shelving and even elastic cords to help fix your items in place. I personally plan on attaching it to my kitchen wall so I can hang miscellaneous items that are bulky in my cupboards, such as cheese graters, sieves, colanders, and a corkscrew for easy access.

I’m not the only person who has had their attention grabbed by the pegboard, as these items have racked up thousands of reviews on IKEA’s website. 2,797 of these reviews are five-star.

‘I put it up in my kitchen and find myself using it every day. Fantastic find it helps keep my kitchen tops clear,’ says one.

‘Absolutely favourite buy! Perfect for a nifty storage solution for all the little bits needed in the kitchen! I absolutely love the peg board!’ says another.

Having fallen down the pegboard rabbit hole, here are a few more styles I’ve spotted online.

If you're short on space, a pegboard can use up otherwise useless vertical space and make frequently used items easier to grab in the process.

My wreath is going to have company this year, as M&S is selling a classic Christmas plant in a sophisticated tree form, and personally, I'm obsessed.

The M&S Outdoor Holly Tree is just £55 for a 70-80cm-tall plant and a natural Kubu basket. If you’re looking for Christmas plants for a front porch, it’s a fantastic choice – I'm very tempted to buy a pair to frame my front door, but a standalone tree would look just as beautiful in a front or back garden. Holly is a relatively low-maintenance plant to grow, too, so it's a wise choice if you prefer a hands-off approach to gardening.

Here’s a little bit more about the M&S Outdoor Holly Tree, and how I’d style one (or two!) outdoors.

The M&S Outdoor Holly Tree is a rounded mass of glossy green foliage that sits atop a long stem, and the pictures show the classic red berries adorning the plant, too.

It’s generally pretty easy to grow holly, so you won’t have to give it too much fuss once it’s home. Everything from the M&S Flower Market range comes with a care guide, though, so you’ll have all the information you need to encourage your holly to thrive over winter.

As far as outdoor Christmas plants go, holly is one of the most festive. If you’re looking for a Christmas tree alternative for the front porch, it’s worth considering the M&S Outdoor Holly Tree.

Personally, I’d buy two and position them either side of the door for a welcoming festive display – but a solo tree would also make a beautiful centrepiece for a patio, or a spot in the front garden.

That’s the beauty of Christmas container plants – you can position them pretty much anywhere, without being limited to ground planting space.

What sets the M&S Outdoor Holly Tree apart from other Christmas plants is the fact that it comes in a gorgeous Kubu basket. It suits so many garden design schemes, whether you’re after a classy chic look or a rustic aesthetic – and it’ll save you the cost and hassle of buying a pot separately, too.

Several reviewers have purchased the M&S Outdoor Holly Tree as a gift, which is a brilliant alternative to sending houseplants as Christmas gifts. Others say it looks ‘gorgeous outside [their] front door’, and that they ‘can’t recommend it enough’.

If you do decide to gift the M&S Outdoor Holly Tree, it comes in M&S Flower Market packing with a yellow bow (shown in the image above).

Other Christmas plants

For just £55, I think the M&S Outdoor Holly Tree is an absolute steal – especially for a well-sized, timeless Christmas plant that comes in a beautiful basket container.

Sorry, leopard print, I am about to commit adultery on my beloved statement animal print, as the Next Zebra Chenille Rust Brown Ashton Upholstered Fringe Storage Stool (£115) has got me clearing out space in my home for this stylish addition.

The best storage stools are an integral part of any list of small living room ideas. They make the perfect spot to stash away extra blankets and remote controls when not in use. I personally like to use mine to stash away clutter when guests ring unexpectedly.

But the main thing about living room storage stools is that they are on show, so they do need to look good. And right now, I haven’t seen any that match up to the glamour of the Zebra Ashton Storage Stool. Here’s why.

For the past few years, I think it would be fair to say that leopard print has held the monopoly as the ‘it’ animal print. From leopard print bedding to the viral Kelly Hoppen x M&S leopard bolster cushion, this retro print has been inescapable - not that I’m complaining.

Earlier this autumn, deer print threatened to topple leopard from its throne, but now it looks like zebra print is a strong contender for the pole position. And looking at the Ashton storage stool, it’s proof that zebra has the potential to look effortlessly stylish.

Drenched in a rust colourway, this chenille stool looks incredibly luxurious. Plus, given that earthy browns and pinks will remain key colour trends for 2027, this stool is perfectly on trend, too. The chenille material also means the zebra pattern is raised and textured, only adding to its luxurious feel.

And I can’t not mention the wonderful tasselled fringe running around the base of the stool. Back in the summer, we said tassels and fringe were the vintage-coded trend making a comeback in 2026, and Next’s storage stool is a brilliant example of how this translates into a contemporary piece. If you love the Art Deco look, but still want your furniture to look good in a modern home, this storage stool is a great choice. It’s rich in colour, pattern and texture; who wouldn’t love this maximalist luxury look?

The stool features a lift-off lid so you get versatile storage and convenience as well as good looks. As I’ve previously mentioned, it’s great for stashing extra cushions and throws when not in use.

Unfortunately, however, there is a 10 to 11 week wait on this storage stool, according to the website. If you don’t want to wait, the Tailored Checkerboard Green Ashton Upholstered Fringe Storage Stool (£115) is in stock (and also looks fabulous). Or, here are a few more styles at Next I love.

Next's zebra storage stool has completely won me over. Not only does it hide clutter, but it will add a little extra style and luxury to your space, too.

We're now firmly in dark mornings and evenings territory, and the only thing getting me through is leaning into the cosiness - and lamps are the ultimate way to do so.

Rechargeable lamps have got better and better in recent years, and there's now a style to suit every taste and kitchen lighting scheme. While these handy, moveable lamps can be used throughout the home, I particularly love them for kitchens as they're the perfect way to build ambience without spending a fortune or calling in a professional.

Value Lights is the under-the-radar brand that I love for trend-led lamps that add a fun, stylish update without costing the earth. And with their Black Friday sale that has just started, they're even more affordable. These 7 rechargeable lamps are my top picks to shop now.

The right lamp can completely alter a kitchen scheme. Whether you want to make your space feel like a cosy, country cooking space or a contemporary, sleek room, these small tweaks can make all the difference.

In 2027, we're predicting that one of the biggest kitchen trends is all about making your kitchen feel more like a living space, and lamps are the easiest way to achieve this. Whether you pop a rechargeable lamp in the corner of a kitchen worktop or in the middle of a tablescape for cosy evening suppers, the warm glow will make any space feel warm and inviting.

Value Lights has some of the best lamps out there, and they regularly create trendy styles that rival other brands, for really good prices.

Their rechargeable lamps are some of my favourites out there, and I can personally vouch for the quality as I have the antique brass rechargeable lamp on my bedside table.

Here are my top picks from the Black Friday sale.

Shop rechargeable lamps

Autumn is upon us, so it's time to start thinking more carefully about how to plan kitchen lighting. These tips will provide plenty of inspiration for new projects.

As part of the B&Q Black Friday Sale, the retailer is selling a smart dehumidifier for under £100. If you’ve been struggling with damp this autumn, the TCP Smart White Portable Dehumidifier (was £160, now £98) may be a wise investment.

The best dehumidifiers offer a simple and reliable solution to the build-up of damp, mould and condensation during winter. They’re also great at drying washing fast, making them even more handy to have in your home when the mercury plummets.

If you’ve been struggling to get rid of damp in your home, a dehumidifier is a must-try. But while the top models can be fairly pricey, the TCP is a great price right now and has the reviews to back it up.

A dehumidifier works by extracting excess moisture from the air in your house in order to maintain an ideal humidity level so you can live comfortably. This is because not only will a build-up of damp and mould damage your home, but it can negatively affect your family's physical health, too.

As I mentioned, the best dehumidifier models are often expensive, easily costing hundreds of pounds. As the TCP Smart Portable Dehumidifier has dropped just below £100, this is a deal worth looking at.

This smart 12L/d dehumidifier has a built-in HEPA filter, which means it will extract allergens as well as excess water, providing cleaner air to breathe. If you don’t already have one of the best air purifiers in your home, this is a good feature to look out for.

B&Q states the TCP Smart dehumidifier is compact and quiet, with a large 2L water tank. It has an auto-shut-off function and a transparent water level indicator, making it easy to keep an eye on when the tank needs emptying. It also offers three dehumidifier modes and two speeds.

This budget dehumidifier is also compatible with Alexa and Google home as well as iOS and Android smartphones. You don’t need a smart hub either to set it up. This makes it easy to control your dehumidifier from your phone, allowing you to keep a closer eye on your humidity levels. Alternatively, you can invest in a hygrometer if you want your home’s humidity levels on show in your home at all times.

The TCP dehumidifier has 134 reviews, with 103 being 5-star, with customers stating it effectively reduced humidity and condensation in their homes.

‘Great product, really efficient with low noise. Good capacity and very convenient. Highly recommend this one,’ says one.

‘Early days yet, but seems like a great piece of kit. I have excess moisture in my bedroom at present (very old windows) and as such I was required to clean mould off the window frames regularly and there was always a large amount of condensation every morning. Since using this, there is zero condensation and my windows are now bone dry. Would thoroughly recommend this dehumidifier!’ said another.

Alternatively, here are a few more dehumidifiers members of the Ideal Team have tested and recommended.

If you're looking or an affordable dehumidifier, this one is well-reveiwed and offers plenty of attractive features - it's worth a try in my book.

As far as celebrity homes go, Stacey Dooley’s is a firm Ideal Home office favourite and one we often look to for a dose of stylish interiors. Stacey famously has great taste, both in terms of her interior design decisions and her fashion sense. But few of her pieces are as famous as the breathtaking chandelier hung above her dining table. And I just discovered that Next is selling a chandelier which is pretty much a dead ringer for Stacey’s, only more accessible and affordable.

The Messina white glass chandelier from Next is selling for £399 and it makes for a beautiful dining room lighting idea, but equally, it would work well in other spaces, too – whether it’s the lounge or a hallway with high ceilings as one existing customer wrote, ‘Bought this for our front room, it's very beautiful and unique, and very good quality.’

When Stacey first posted her impressive tiered white Murano glass chandelier, she shared that it was a vintage purchase. Murano glass is the most prestigious kind of glass handmade by artisans who have perfected their craft over many generations across centuries on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. So given the fact Stacey’s chandelier is made with Murano glass, the size of it and that it’s vintage, it’s very safe to assume it cost a lot more than £400.

The Next chandelier is smaller compared to the Murano glass one, featuring less tiers. But the design and the flower petal shape of the glass pieces is the same on both. The hardware is also different – while Stacey’s chandelier comes with chrome-finish fittings, Next’s features warmer antique brass-finish hardware which I personally prefer.

And even though Next’s version is smaller, the brand still warns to check that the spot you’re planning to install it in is strong enough to hold it as it’s rather heavy – 16.2 kg heavy to be specific. But if a white chandelier is not in keeping with your home’s colour scheme, Next also has amber and green colourways available, as well as flush ceiling light versions.

Alternatives

As already mentioned, this is not the first time I’m swooning over Stacey Dooley’s home (or anyone from the Ideal Home team, to be fair). Whether it’s Stacey’s Scandi-style oversized paper lampshade or her iconic Togo sofa, we’re always taking notes.

But since she has quite the expensive taste - while other pieces from her home are vintage and therefore hard to come by - it’s often worth looking into more budget-friendly ways to emulate the look, or at least take inspiration from it.

Would you spend £399 on this beautiful, statement chandelier from Next to get the Stacey Dooley look for less?

One of Aldi's most popular specialbuys, the heated winged airer, is returning to store next week (19th November) for a bargain price of £29.99. However, I've recently come across the Beldray Quick Dry Heat Unit and 3 Tier Cover, which might beat Aldi to the punch as the best budget-friendly way to dry your clothes indoors this winter.

I've been the proud owner of one of the best heated clothes airers (Lakeland's Dry: Soon 3 tier heated airer) for almost 10 years now; in that time, I've become very attuned to their pros and cons. Yes, they do speed up drying times on clothes, but with some of the cheaper models you have to regularly move your clothes around the bars to achieve the desired result.

While many of the Ideal Home team own and love the Aldi heated airer, they note that this is a big con with the Aldi version. You have to either lay your clothes flat across the bars or be constantly rearranging them to get those quick-drying results. Then there is the other issue: what do you do with the dryer in summer when you don't need the heating element?

Over the last two years, a new type of heated clothes airer has broken through to fix both of these issues. They use a fabric cover and a 'heat pod' to turn an ordinary airer into a quick-drying system during winter, which can be easily packed away during summer when it's not needed. Right now, Beldrays ' version has been reduced from £50 to £33 in the Argos Black Friday sale, and is one of the cheapest you can buy right now.

I've yet to test the Beldray heated airer system, but I have used a similar product from Minky when the technology first launched and was impressed by how effective it was. You pop the ventilated cover over your usual tiered clothes airer and then pop the 'heated pod', the part that's like a hair dryer, on the floor underneath the airer. The heated pod pumps out hot air to dry your clothes quickly and evenly, as the heat rises and spreads out under the cover.

I found that this type of system can dry clothes in 2-3 hours, which is reflected in the Beldray Quick Dry Heat Unit reviews: 'Clothes dry within 2-3 hours depending on thickness and amount on the airer. Great buy!' wrote one reviewer. 'I’m so happy with this; great if you don’t have the central heating on. It dried a full airer in 2 hours and warmed the room up, great value for money,' wrote another.

It isn't without its downsides; like the Aldi heated airer, the heated pod is noisier, and you have to check it will fit over your existing clothes airer, as one isn't included with the system. But unlike the Aldi one, you can also order it online right now.

There is a place in the home for both of these types of affordable airers. If you are short on space and looking to speed up drying times as much as possible, I'd give the Beldray system a try. But if you'll be bothered by the noise, are on a tight budget and don't have an existing clothes airer, I'd wait for the Aldi one.

Right now is the perfect time to invest in a heated airer with the Black Friday sales kicking off. Here are a couple others I've spotted on offer that we've tested and loved.

Finding the best bath towels can be a difficult task. I have tried and tested countless towels that go stiff after just one wash, or don't seem to properly dry you at all, but the right towel can have the biggest impact on your daily life.

While it's a small item, I'm a big believer in making sure that the basic things we use everyday are those that we invest in. Finding the best, high-quality towels for less will feel like a win and a warm hug every time you step out of the shower - particularly as we enter the coldest months.

Luckily, I've done the hard work for you - Rise & Fall's towels are some of the very best out there, rivalling premium brands for a lot less and their Black Friday sale has started. With 20% off, now is the time to buy.

Rise & Fall's business model puts luxury first, without the crazy mark ups. I've tried their products first hand and can attest to the fact that the quality of the materials is truly top tier, but what sets them apart from other brands is that the prices are much lower.

They partner directly with the best manufacturers and produce small quantities which cuts out waste and inflated mark-ups, so you can get the same high quality as other retailers provide, for a fraction of the cost.

Towels are the area where I think this is the most valuable. No one wants to overspend on towels, but equally, you notice when towels are poor quality. Rise & Fall's towels are crafted in Turkey from 100% Aegaen cotton and woven using an 'Aqua-fibro' process which increases absorbency.

With 20% off, two bath towels are now £36, which is an amazing price for the quality. What I love about Rise & Fall is that they do extended bath towel sizing - there's nothing worse than a towel that barely wraps around your body.

You can choose between a bath towel, bath sheet and an XL bath sheet, and these are available in 5 different colours.

The move-in bundle, priced at £105.60, is a great option for overhauling your bath towels in one fell swoop. It includes two bath sheets, two bath towels & two hand towels, and works out 15% cheaper than if you were to buy separately.

This would also make a fantastic gift for friends and family who are moving into a new home.

Shop Rise & Fall bath towels

Now is the perfect time for a bathroom refresh - these budget bathroom ideas will provide plenty of inspiration for affordable updates.

The best hosts will know well that detail is everything when it comes to curating a beautiful Christmas table. And one key detail is, of course, your Christmas crackers - and I’ve found a real showstopper. George Home’s Premium Pudding-Shaped Christmas Crackers (£8).

While there’s nothing wrong with your standard Christmas cracker, opting for one of the best Christmas crackers can really help elevate your table. Plus, George Home’s pudding crackers look so fun; they are ideal for creating a playful atmosphere, too.

If you’re in need of a stylish table decoration idea, George Home’s Christmas pudding crackers are not only quirky and unique compared to a standard cracker, but they are incredibly affordable, too. Here’s everything you need to know.

This year, Christmas trends have centred on creating more whimsy at home. Whimsymaxxing has been trending all year, as we seek to make our homes feel like extensions of our interests and personalities. Christmas decorating is no exception this year.

George Home’s Christmas Pudding Crackers jumped out at me firstly because of their unusual style. Instead of having a traditional cracker shape, these are shaped exactly like Christmas puddings. Instead of being ripped apart, these crackers are pulled from the top to reveal the prize instead.

I wouldn’t expect to find anything groundbreaking inside the cracker. It looks like you’ll get fairly standard cracker items such as a whistle, silver dice, and even a trolley key. But I think this is all part of the fun, and a nod to the Christmases of our childhoods - a nice nod to nostalgia.

These pudding crackers are beautifully detailed, and with each pudding wearing its own kitsch bow tie, they are cute enough to make even Scrooge smile. However, if this is not quite to your tastes, I’ve also noticed George Home is selling Pink Premium House Shaped Christmas Crackers - Set of 6 (£8).

If you’ve been a fan of the Scandi Christmas house trend, these crackers are certainly not to be missed. Shaped like little gingerbread houses, these crackers have intricate gold and pink details for a luxe finish.

If, like me, you’ve fallen for quirky, characterful Christmas puds, here are a few more stylish designs that have caught my eye.

If you want to impress your guests at the dinner table this Christmas, George Home's quirky Christmas crackers are an easy winner.

Stainless steel pans are all the rage right now thanks to their non-toxic, high-quality nature, but in terms of adding design points to your kitchen, they can be seriously lacking. Unless you're into an industrial look, a stainless steel pan isn't the kind you leave on your hob as a status symbol.

That's why I was so happy to finally see someone combining the aesthetically pleasing all-in-one pan pastel look with this material type. Enter Prestige's Stainless Steel Edition cookware line, which features a Deep Frying Pan for just £45.

Oven and dishwasher safe as well as made without PFAS and PFOA, this pan should provide you with excellent heat distribution for everyday cooking as well as the perfect vessel for all-in-one meals. Here's how the specs compare to the best cookware I've tried in the past few years.

The trend toward stainless steel cookware goes hand in hand with a consumer desire to get rid of plastic sources within the kitchen – especially with the items we use to cook our food. It's also long been the material that trained chefs rely on in order to provide precise temperature control and caramelisation for dishes with sauce.

There are other benefits to this material too, including the longevity that comes with using such a hard-wearing metal. If looked after well, stainless steel pans can last a lifetime.

The ability to use metal utensils with stainless steel is also a huge draw. In the past year our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue has reviewed a selection of highly-rated pan sets in this material. The highlights include her EverClad range from Ninja review, Le Creuset's 3-Ply range review and Made In (which is a brand that originated in the UK).

Though Helen was won over by this material (she actually ended up replacing her older pans with a stainless steel set), it can be a steep learning curve if you're used to non-stick cooking surfaces. This metal isn't naturally non-stick, so you have to use some kind of oil or fat to begin cooking and getting the heat control just right to avoid burning can take some practice.

Once you've managed it however, you'll have a pan for life that yields results that totally won over our resident home economist. And with this range from Prestige, you don't have to pick between that kind of quality and pretty pastel colours – you can bring the two together.

The colour range includes a dark green (Urban Olive), a dark blue (French Navy) and a dusky pink shade (Earth Rose). On each pan you get the splash of colour on the exterior as well as on the handle and the knob of the lid.

So if it's chef-worthy quality you're looking for in your pans that also double as decor, then Prestige's new range might just be the way to go. They certainly offer a great price considering the quality.

A festive houseplant makes a lovely centrepiece for your Christmas dining table, and right now Lidl are selling Christmas houseplants for as little as £1.99 this week.

Lidl is an underrated place to shop for the best Christmas houseplants on a budget, and if you’ve been wondering where to buy a Christmas cactus or amaryllis, Lidl has started selling these festive plants as of today (Thursday 12 November).

So, if you're looking to create a cheerful winter display, here’s why Lidl is a great choice for snapping up your Christmas houseplants this year.

First to catch my eye was the Christmas cactus, which is on sale for only £2.99. What makes a Christmas cactus one of the best houseplants you can choose during the festive season is that the blooms are incredibly long-lasting. With the right care, a Christmas cactus can bloom from January until November, filling your home with gorgeous red, white, pink and purple flowers.

If you are planning on picking up Lidl’s budget cactus from a local store, there are a few checks you can make to ensure you choose a healthy Christmas cactus. First, you should check to ensure the cactus’s leaves are green, shiny and plump. You should then check for wrinkly or limp stems, as this can be a big giveaway that the plant has been mistreated. Lastly, check that your cactus has plenty of closed buds, as this indicates a healthy plant that will bloom at home.

Once you get your Christmas cactus home, it is worth considering a smart houseplant sensor (such as the Elho Smart Pebble, £39.99, Amazon), which will track your plant’s watering, feeding and light needs. This makes caring for your Christmas cactus much easier.

Also on sale at Lidl is an Amaryllis in a Glass Vase (£7.99), which is an elegant decorative piece for your table. You should expect to see an amaryllis flower in a stylish vase, accompanied by seasonal decor. It’s an affordable yet thoughtful addition to your Christmas dining, showing guests you have gone the extra mile.

Lidl is also selling British Cyclamen for just £1.99. This stunning bloom is a cold-loving plant, perfect for adding much-needed colour to winter gardens. You can use this plant to brighten up window boxes and baskets, or you can also grow cyclamen indoors as part of your festive display.

Lidl’s Christmas plants will be available to shop in stores and are available while stocks last. If you miss out on picking some up, or don’t have a store local to you, here are a few alternatives you can shop online.

If you're looking for affordable Christmas houseplants, head to Lidl sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

Lid’s Black Friday Event kicks off on Thursday (12 November), but we're most excited about the inclusion of a budget-friendly heated throw.

It’s pretty cold right now, and if you don’t want to rely on your central heating to stay warm, choosing one of the best heated blankets or throws is a clever (and more affordable) way to stay toasty this winter.

From Thursday, Lidl will be selling the Silentnight Luxury Throw for just £24.99, making it the most affordable place to shop for this throw that I’ve seen.

During winter, I swear by my Silentnight Electric Blanket (£35, Argos) and Dunelm Teddy Bedding (£20 for a double set) to keep cosy on cold nights. However, I have been considering adding a heated throw to my living room to help me keep warm during the day.

Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor Amy Lockwood invested in the Dreamland Luxury Throw and swears by it for keeping warm during winter, whether that's snuggled up on the sofa or wrapped around her when working. And since then, I’ve been looking to get my hands on a similar model.

The Silentnight Luxury Throw is on sale at Lidl, reduced from £44.99 to £24.99, making it one of the most affordable heated throws I’ve seen. This machine-washable throw offers a fast heat-up time and nine different heat settings. It’s incredibly soft to the touch and will heat up in minutes, too. As with all heated blankets, you should switch it off before you go to bed, but this blanket features an auto shut-off feature after two hours as a precaution.

Electric blankets and throws are cheap to run and effective at keeping you warm, and the Silentnight Luxury Heated Throw has thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon singing its praises, so you can trust that Lidl is offering more than just a low price with this deal.

‘Really comfortable heated throw and perfect for keeping warm on colder evenings. The fleece feels soft and cosy, and it heats up nicely without taking too long. Easy to use and a good size for relaxing on the sofa. Very happy with it,’ says one review.

‘Lovely and soft. Heats up well with a great range of temperatures. Perfect for snuggling on the sofa in winter and will help keep the heating bill down. Husband loved it so he bought his own! Definitely recommend,’ says another.

If you haven't already invested in a heated throw, this Lidl offer is too good to miss.

Sorry, Christmas, George Home is replacing you with Pinkmas, as traditional colourways have been kicked to the curb and all things pink have been embraced.

Pink Christmas decor trends every year as a playful maximalist Christmas trend, and this year, George Home has proved, in spades, that they got the memo. From bedding and cushions to crockery and even trinket dishes, George Home’s pink palette is perfect for putting a playful spin on the festivities.

The pink colour trend is nothing new and instead reflects a wider, whimsical trend, whereby we're looking to make our festive decorations more characterful and quirky. This year we've seen Merrymaxxing break out as a popular way to bring whimsy to our homes, and pink is just another branch of this playful maximalism.

You don't have to drench everything in pink either - unless you want to, of course. A few pink accents, such as a few pink bows for your tree, or even a garland for your stairs, can introduce the colour to your decor without going overboard. So, I’ve rounded up my six favourite pink pieces from George Home’s Christmas collections that will bring some joy into your home.

Pink is surprisingly festive and versatile; however, if you're nervous about using it within your Christmas decorating ideas, opting for a pink festive bedding set is a fun way to embrace the trend in the privacy of your own bedroom, away from the rest of your decor.

Are you willing to embrace pink Christmas decor? I think I am...

Loaf just launched the *dreamiest* velvet corner sofa bed, and, as far as I'm concerned, it's the ultimate way to host festive guests in style this Christmas.

Squishy seating, a generous size, stylish good looks, *and* a comfortable mattress make the new Loaf Slow Riser Corner Sofa Bed a definite showstopper.

However, whilst I think it's one of the best sofa beds on the market if you want to wow your overnight guests this upcoming hosting season, this new Loaf launch is also a definite investment, which is why I've also rounded up some more budget-friendly alternatives below.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the last five years visiting nearly every furniture brand in the UK to test their sofa bed collections, and Loaf is one of the retailers I recommend time and again.

In my experience, Loaf makes *very* comfortable sofa beds, and it's one of the few furniture retailers where adding a hidden mattress to a sofa doesn't mean compromising sitting or sleeping comfort. You still get all of the squish of a very sumptuous sofa, but with the bonus of being able to host guests on it too.

The brand's sofa beds are also *stylish*, and I think its velvet upholstery options in particular are especially swoonworthy.

However, we all know you get what you pay for, and whilst Loaf's might be some of the best top-of-the-range sofa beds I've tested, they're also (sadly) some of the most expensive.

And, of course, a *corner* sofa bed with its generous proportions pushes the price up even more. The new Loaf Slow Riser Corner Sofa bed starts at £4895, and in my book, that's a *lot* of money.

That's why I've made it my mission to track down some more budget-friendly alternatives, so that if you too think the Slow Riser Corner Sofa Bed is your Christmas-hosting dream setup, you might be able to find an alternative that will still leave you some cash to buy a few Christmas presents on top!

Shop alternatives

Ninja's first ever microwave (which is also, of course, an air fryer) has been sold out pretty much since the moment it was first released in September. Luckily I've found the one retailer where you can place an preorder: via Very, for £349.

With stock expected at Very from the 21st of November, there is still a little bit of a wait until you can get your hands on the Crispi Microwave (which our expert Home Economist recently rated very highly in her Ninja Crispi microwave review). But if you want to guarantee your order rather than be met with a 'sold out' sign, it's your best bet at this moment.

This hybrid, which is a meeting of worlds between the best air fryers and the best microwaves, has all the power of Ninja favourites like the FlexDrawer with the convenience for heating up leftovers of your built-in microwave. A true space-saver, it's also kitted out with a FusionCrisp mode, which allows you to cook foods by combining both functions. Here's a closer look at your options if you want to snap up your Ninja Crispi before it sells out at Very, too.

At the time of writing, the Crispi is sold out across all UK retailers (including Ninja itself, John Lewis, Argos and Currys).

You can sign up for alerts to be notified when this air fryer comes back into stock at Ninja, which is also the only retailer to offer this appliance in an array of colours: silver, blue and black.

Very is the only one offering a preorder system, though Ninja's website promises more stock is 'coming soon' via the product listing. And with Black Friday deals just around the corner, it looks like this is going to be the appliance everyone's fighting for in the November sales, even without a discount applied!

In her review Helen said that the Crispi in some sense 'outperformed' her current Ninja air fryer and was fiercer than she expected at some air frying tasks. The microwave element delivered as expected, with the combination mode also impressing.

So, if you want to get your pre-order in of this clever hybrid before it also sells out over at Very, I'd advise acting fast!

Sofa armrest trays are an ingenious invention which is great in theory. The thing that I always find when confronted with one is that they are usually quite ugly. And if they’re not, they’re pricey. But this doesn’t apply to the new IKEA KRAMHULT armrest tray which is practical, stylish and budget-friendly – selling for only £5 a pop.

Armrest trays are a perfect small living room idea if you don’t have space for a side table to rest your morning coffee or afternoon cup of tea on. But even in living spaces that are on the bigger side, they’re a handy addition that will make your lounging and TV watching all the more comfortable as you don’t reach over or pretty much move at all to get your mug or TV remote from the coffee table.

I first came across the recently launched IKEA KRAMPHULT armrest tray through the viral Instagram reel of @millastori. I was instantly impressed with the aesthetically pleasing look of this modern living room idea, the affordable price point and the customisable element of the design.

Available in two colourways, I’m a fan of the aubergine version (which IKEA calls dark lilac-red) rather than the plain white. But both colourways come with the same features. For one, you can adjust the width of the base depending on the size of your sofa so that it fits perfectly. And it will be compatible with the majority of sofas out there.

While I personally prefer the sleek, unadorned look of the armrest tray, there’s also an option to purchase it with additional accessories for your sofa necessities. There is an option to get it with a pen holder, with hooks to hang small essentials on or with a grey felt storage basket for things like a book or a tablet. Getting the tray with these extras added on top will set you back only £10.

Armrest tray alternatives

Similarly to this Dunelm bedside pocket organiser which banishes clutter from your bedside table, this IKEA armrest tray will do the same for your living room and your coffee table. And for mere £5, it’s a bargain if you ask me. What are your thoughts – is this IKEA sofa tray a yay or a nay?

Back in July, I previewed Dunelm’s autumn, winter, and Christmas collections in person, and since then the brand’s beaded baubles and tree decorations have been living rent-free in my head. Now it's December, and it's finally socially acceptable to start buying decorations. I’ve rounded up my favourite examples to add to your tree.

This year, Dunelm has proved it’s the underrated place to shop for Christmas decorations, offering affordable and stylish designs for every taste. And while the latest Christmas trends lean whimsical, beaded decorations are the perfect way to stay on trend and add a little glitz to your setup.

Beaded decor has stolen my heart this festive period, and Dunelm is one of the best places to shop for it. Here are my top picks to add to your Christmas Tree this year.

Beaded decorations work well because the extra sparkle is perfect for catching the light from your Christmas lights. Because of this, I'd pair them with more natural decor, such as pine cones and ribbons. Bolder styles like tinsel may overwhelm your beaded decor.

I also think these decorations work well standing alone on your tree. If you have a particular interest, a hobby bauble mixed in with your typical decor acts as a fun nod to your personality - why not get one for each family member?

Beaded decorations might be my favourite style this Christmas. Which pick is your favourite?

It's rare for a cushion to achieve cult status, but the M&S x Kelly Hoppen chenille leopard print bolster cushion is on the cusp after selling out not once, but twice in a matter of months.

Kelly Hoppen is one of the UK's most well-known interior designers, and has built up a fanbase who adore her use of texture and neutral colours to create gorgeous, calming and elegant spaces. So the inclusion of a £40 leopard print bolster cushion in her M&S range did come as a bit of a surprise from the 'Queen of Taupe'.

However, leopard can absolutely be an elegant and modern home decor trend when handled by the queen of neutrals herself. She has turned the trending print into one of this year's must-have buys from M&S, and even added a follow-up £30 square cushion in the same pattern to the collection. But sometimes you just can't beat the original.

A large part of the success of the leopard print bolster cushion is down to its shape. It's a glamorous, designer-style shape we've seen growing in popularity over the last year. At 90cm long and 28 cm wide, it's long enough to dress a double bed or run along the back of the best sofa in lieu of a mountain of cushions. In an Instagram video shared by M&S, Kelly Hoppen says it's 'the perfect size'.

'It's narrow, it's long, and it's exactly what you need on a sofa. It's modern, and leopard is just one of those designs you can just add with anything,' Kelly says. 'It's got this incredible feel to it; so it's not flat, it's not a printed pattern, it's this real woven, beautiful piece. You've got this tiny little stitching, so it feels authentic and fabulous.'

You can't ignore how gorgeous the pattern is. There's a lot of dud leopard print homeware on the market at the moment, things that look more Kat Slater than Elizabeth Taylor. This cushion bucks the trend. As Kelly Hoppen says, the M&S x Kelly Hoppen cushion has a gorgeous, rich caramel colourway, but it's the rich textured finish that takes it to the next level.

This cushion has already sold out twice, so I have a feeling it won't be sticking around for long if you have had it on your wishlist.

If you've not been persuaded by the leopard print, here are a few other pieces in the Kelly Hoppen range which are quickly becoming icons in their own right.

The William Morris brand is no stranger to homeware collaborations, lending its iconic prints to home decor, kitchenware, and even cleaning products. But I recently spotted the William Morris Strawberry Thief Ironing Board Cover (£24.99 at Lakeland), and I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it before.

Typically, the best ironing boards focus on the practical, rather than the pretty. They’re designed to get the job done and work in tandem with your iron for crease-free clothes and bedding (and your socks, if you’re anything like my nan). But this often results in ugly eyesores that you want to stash away as soon as you’ve finished ironing.

This new William Morris ironing board cover gives you the chance to cover your grey, bland ironing board with the brand’s most popular print - Strawberry Thief. And as someone who doesn’t have proper storage space for an ironing board at home, I can safely say I’d be proud to keep this one on show.

This 100% cotton William Morris ironing board cover slips over your current ironing board setup, adding a stunning, whimsical design plus an extra 2mm of foam and 270gsm polyester felt backing to help prevent ironing mistakes.

After all, this extra padding should not only protect the board underneath, but also protect your wrists from strain and your clothes from damage by aiding heat and steam distribution.

Just be warned that it is designed to fit standard full-size ironing boards, so if you have a more compact model like the Joseph Joseph Pocket Ironing Board (£100 at Amazon) or the Beldray Small Tabletop Ironing Board (£12.99 at Amazon), it won’t fit.

But if you do have a standard-size ironing board and generally don’t enjoy ironing (guilty), the Strawberry Thief design will offer something exciting to look at.

It’s widely accepted as the brand’s most-loved print thanks to the colourful strawberries, birds and flowers, and is also adorned on the William Morris x Purdy & Figg Collector’s Bottle and within many of the high street homeware collections.

So, if you wanted to, you could fill every inch of your home with William Morris’s luxe designs, trailing all the way down from your bedroom to your laundry room. And with so many ironing board storage options out there, you could leave it to make a statement in your utility room or tuck it away in a cupboard.

Whatever you choose to do, I think the William Morris Ironing Board Cover is a great way to upgrade one of the many ugly home additions without having to pay a fortune to do so - especially if your current ironing board has seen better days and you don’t want to shell out for a brand new one.

Plus, who doesn’t love William Morris?

Alternative ironing board covers to buy

I wonder what household chore the William Morris team will be eyeing up next?

The RSPB has changed its bird feeding advice to include nuts and seeds from now until April, in line with safe feeding practices to help curb the spread of trichomonosis.

You may remember earlier this year the RSPB asked us to stop feeding birds seeds and peanuts due to the increased risk of the deadly trichomonosis disease during spring and summer. However, recent guidance from the charity states it is safe to feed nuts and seeds between 1 November and 30 April.

If you love attracting birds to your garden, here’s everything you need to know to do it safely this winter, in line with the RSPB’s advice.

RSPB November bird feeding guidence

If you have a wildlife garden, I’m sure leaving food out for birds is part of your routine. However, the 2026 Big Garden Birdwatch found that species such as Greenfinches saw a 67% decline in average numbers recorded since the Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979, and this was largely due to disease.

‘Earlier this year we asked the public to join us in pausing the provision of seeds and peanuts for birds between May 1 and October 31. This is due to a disease called trichomonosis which is causing declines in finch species, especially the Greenfinch,’ explains RSPB Wildlife Expert Charlotte Ambrose.

‘Greenfinches' preferred food is seeds, but they will also divert to peanuts, and we also know that the risk of disease spreading is higher during the warmer months of the year.

‘Over the colder months, there is a lower risk of the disease surviving and spreading. This is also when natural food sources are more scarce and birds can really benefit from the full range of supplementary food we can put out in our outdoor spaces.’

What is trichomonosis and what are the risks?

‘Trichomonosis is a disease caused by a tiny parasite which attacks a bird’s throat and upper digestive tract. It causes lesions that make swallowing incredibly difficult, so infected birds struggle to eat and drink and, sadly, it can even be fatal,’ explains James Ewens, bird expert at Green Feathers.

‘It spreads mainly through saliva - sick birds often bring back up food they can’t swallow, and healthy birds then pick up that contaminated food from feeders, trays and the ground below. The parasite can also survive in water, so bird baths need just as much attention as feeders.’

Alongside the RSPB’s feeding advice, it’s also important to clean your bird feeder and bird bath weekly to help reduce the risk of spreading disease here. It’s a little extra effort, but it’s important when it comes to the welfare of local birds. And while there is a reduced risk in winter, you still need to be cautious.

‘Whilst the risk of trichomonosis is lower, there is still a risk. Therefore, it remains important to continue to 'feed safely' year-round to reduce the spread of the disease. Good hygiene is important - if you are putting feeders out, feed in moderation, only providing enough food that is eaten within a day or two (excluding suet that generally takes longer to consume). The disease thrives well on damp food, so well-ventilated feeders which also limit rainwater getting in are preferable,’ explains Charlotte.

‘Feeders should be emptied, taken apart and thoroughly cleaned at least once a week with soapy water and disinfectant. If you can, rotate your feeders between different spots in your outside space after cleaning, and take care to clear away any uneaten food from the ground.

‘Trichomonosis can also survive in water, so if you're providing a bird bath this should be emptied and refilled daily with fresh water and cleaned (with warm soapy water and disinfectant) once a week.

‘Our research has also shown that disease is more likely to spread on flat feeding surfaces, so we recommend retiring your bird tables, window feeders and any trays beneath hanging feeders.’

Feed birds safely

To conclude, from now until April it is safe to leave out seeds and nuts for birds. Just remember to only give a little at a time and maintain a good standard of hygiene.

In my house, November and December are a myriad of birthdays and Christmas celebrations, which means it’s also the time of year when my hosting capabilities need to be at their best. So, when I spotted Ruth Langsford’s wine cooling rod on Instagram, I knew it was the space-saving idea that was perfect for hosting in my small flat.

I’m always down to hear a new Christmas hosting tip, especially if it makes the process easier and reduces clutter in my home. Presenter Ruth Langsford frequently shares a glimpse into her home life on her Instagram account and it was her I spotted her Lindner & Co Wine Cooler (£29.99).

Do away with your ice bucket and add this clever buy to your bar cart ideas instead. This clever cooling rod inserts into your wine bottle, saving you space and ensuring all your guests get a cool, crisp glass of wine.

It’s a pretty poor experience being handed a tepid glass of pinot, and ice buckets always seem to dribble water over your kitchen sides. A wine cooling rod solves both of these problems.

In her video, Ruth explained that the cooling rod is placed into a freezer to chill, before being inserted into the wine bottle. There is a pourer attached to the top of the rod, meaning the wine you pour runs through the frozen rod for an extra chill. However, Ruth does say you will need to pour a glass of wine first to avoid any spills when you insert the cooling rod.

While Ruth is using the Linder & Co Wine Cooler, I have found a more affordable option at Amazon. The Vinenco Wine Cooler Stick Set is only £14.99 and has racked up thousands of positive reviews. This set even comes with three rods, so you can keep three bottles of wine cool at the same time - perfect for larger gatherings.

As much as I love the look of a chic ice cooler (in fact, I dream of a rattan ice bucket), they’re not always the most practical hosting option. My one-bed flat lacks the space for a full bar cart, so it’s awkward to store an ice bucket in my limited kitchen cupboard. By contrast, a wine cooling rod will easily slot into a drawer, making a great small kitchen idea.

If you have a lot of hosting coming up this season, and are not exactly blessed with space, a wine cooling rod is a brilliant alternative to an ice bucket. I’m with Ruth on this one.

Pod coffee machines are beloved for the convenience they bring to kitchens but one complaint often levelled towards brands who produce them is that they leave behind waste product that isn't easy to get rid of.

Coffee capsules are renowned for being difficult to dispose of at home and the best pod coffee machines in general can often be a bit of a headache when it comes to sustainability.

That's where a new wave of coffee machines come in, including a new machine from the brand Coffee B, hot on the heels of the release of the Lavazza Tablí. Here's how these two machines, both of which are podless as opposed to the traditional sense, are seeking to provide convenience in a different way.

Both of these machines have ditched plastic coatings and the traditional pod design. Rather than encasing their coffee, Lavazza has created pucks that slot straight into their pod machine while Coffee B has opted for balls.

While both are technically made from 100% coffee, Coffee B's version has a thin, patented seaweed based layer covering their grounds which allows them to be stored for up to fourteen months when unopened. Lavazza's last for 12 to 18 months in the same environment.

The great thing about both of these systems is that their waste products are both 100% compostable. Both sets can go straight into the food waste bin that sits on your worktop or into your garden compost, saving you any headaches about recycling drop offs.

The cost of the coffee per drink works out rougly the same too – Lavazza's version comes out at about 49p per 'capsule' while the Coffee B system is around 48p.

There are, obviously, slight differences in the machines themselves. Lavazza's Tablí features a clever lift-up compartment which reveals a space for the puck, while Coffee B uses a ball dispenser/chute (which is a fun visual addition) with the balls on display as part of its design.

Our expert product reviewer Helen McCue is currently putting the Lavazza Tablí through its paces to see how the puck system actually works in practice, but interest in these waste-free machines only seems to be growing.

Can you see the appeal of a pod machine that isn't a headache to deal with when it comes to the capsules?

It’s time to unlock your inner child. Homemade paper chains are the breakout Christmas decorating trend of 2026, and it’s not just limited to paper either.

A lot of this year’s Christmas trends have been hooked on nostalgia. We want to transform our homes into magical, whimsical spaces that are reminiscent of childhood. When it comes to achieving this nostalgic look, it doesn’t get much easier than with a traditional paper chain.

Not only is this a brilliant budget Christmas decorating idea, but it's easy to make, too. But it's not just paper people are making chains from this year; I've seen these linked-up decorations in everything from velvet to lace. Here’s how you can get involved.

Why are paper chains trending?

After investing in one of the best artificial Christmas trees, lights and baubles, it’s always handy to have an affordable decorating idea in your back pocket. Not only is making paper chains an easy and fun family activity, but it will also contribute to making your Christmas decor look more stylish in 2026.

‘Paper decorations are having another moment, and honestly, I’m thrilled. There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a handmade paper chain. With the right colour palette, they can look incredibly chic too! Choose shades that complement your scheme and drape them generously. You can also look for honeycomb paper garlands that concertina down beautifully for storage, so they’re the gift that keeps on giving,’ says Whinnie Williams, interior designer and trends forecaster for Balsam Hill.

‘The trend ties into the growing idea of 'whimsymaxxing', which is all about finding ways to bring more joy, colour and unexpected details into everyday life. Rather than playing it safe with a perfectly coordinated scheme, it's about embracing the things that make you smile and allowing a little more personality into your interiors.’

And it’s not just paper either; we’re seeing similar chains styled from materials such as velvet, lace and wool all across social media right now.

‘We love getting creative. Using velvet, lace or even sheet music is a fun way to take that nostalgic idea and make it feel new. You get the same playful loops and the same handmade charm, but with texture and richness that suit a Victorian or traditional Christmas scheme. They can also be used year after year, so they're becoming part of the family's Christmas story rather than something thrown away in January,’ comments Natalie Evans, founder and CEO of home styling and staging company Little Barn Door.

How to get the look

‘This is the best part; paper chains are something the whole family can do together. Cut strips of paper, fabric or any other material about 2cm wide and 15–20cm long, looping each strip through the last and securing it with glue, a staple or double-sided tape,' says Natalie.

'Put on some Christmas music, make a hot chocolate and let everyone add their own links. The finished chain becomes a little piece of family memory hanging in your home.'

Then, Whinnie recommends creating a centrepiece for an impactful yet stylish look.

‘Paper chains aren’t just for the tree or mantelpiece. Take your garlands up to the ceiling and create a gorgeous starburst effect by hanging them from a central point and draping them out towards the walls. It gives you an instant retro glow-up without drilling holes or making any permanent changes,’ she says.

Shop the trend

I love this affordable decorating idea. All you need is a free afternoon, your favourite materials or colours and a little bit of sticky tape.

The temperatures have dropped, and right on time, the B&Q Black Friday Sale has started, and one offer in particular I’ve got my eye on is the Daewoo 11 Fin Oil-Filled Radiator, which is under £40 right now.

Is it just me, or has this week been freezing? When working from home, I’ve felt practically frozen solid - and I’m not prepared to switch my central heating on just yet. In fact, what would save my bacon is having one of the best oil-filled radiators so I can 'heat the human, not the home ' when I’m working.

However, the top models can be on the pricier side, so when I spotted this B&Q model on offer, and for such a good price, I was instantly intrigued. Here’s everything you need to know.

An oil-filled radiator can be a helpful addition to your central heating, especially if you only need to heat one room in particular, for example, your home office while you work. Not to mention, oil-filled radiators tend to be pretty affordable to run, costing typically between 13p and 66p per hour.

The Daewoo 11 Fin Oil-Filled Radiator (was £49.99, now £39.99) is one of the most affordable I’ve spotted. It’s even on par with Aldi and Lidl’s oil-filled radiators, which also tend to be around the £40 mark.

It has three power settings, ranging from 100W, 1500W and 2500W and has four castor wheels, making it easy to move around, too. It has a dial thermostat for temperature control, and also features a tip-over switch and overheat protection to ensure safety and guard against potential accidents.

Now, we haven’t tested this oil-filled radiator for ourselves, but we have tested another Daewoo model: the Daewoo 2500W Oil-Filled Heater with LED Display & Remote Control. Our review found that while the casters could be a little sticky and the handle got a little hot, it was well-suited to heating small-to-medium rooms, and we were particularly impressed with how quiet it was to run.

The Daewoo 11 Fin Oil-Filled Radiator promises to heat large rooms, and based on its reviews, it is adept at keeping homes toasty.

‘I bought this last month for my daughter at uni, the house she shares is quite cold it warms her room up quickly and holds the heat after turned off,’ said one reviewer.

‘I've had the Daewoo 11 fin oil filled radiator for about 3 weeks now to use in my garage. I'm really pleased with it. It's just the right size and keeps the garage area warm when I'm working in there,’ said another.

This radiator is on sale as part of B&Q’s Black Friday sales event, so this deal won’t last forever. If you do miss out, I’ve rounded up some of the oil-filled radiators we've tested and loved at Ideal Home.

If you're in need of an affordable heater, B&Q's is worth trying, especially if it promises to keep you toasty this winter.

Christmas decorating has inched into every area of our homes if the popularity of Christmas bedding is anything to go by. And if you love these festive sets, then Next is easily one of the best places to shop - their whimsical designs are wonderful for getting you into the Christmas spirit.

If I’m honest, I’ve never really bought too much into festive bedding as a Christmas trend. After all, you’ll realistically only use your festive set over one month of the year. However, this year’s best Christmas bedding sets have won me over.

From tufted mice to the Nativity donkey, Next’s farmyard array of animal-themed festive bedding is full of whimsy and Christmas magic. Here are my top picks.

I first became aware of Next’s animal-inspired bedding with the drop of their robin fleece bedding last year. Beautifully festive, showcasing a snowy garden scene, I was won over by this cutesy design. This year we’ve seen a continuation of this style, not only via a sateen robin duvet set, but with other critters, too, such as mice and even penguins.

My top pick is without a doubt the White Woodland Christmas Mouse Tufted Bed Set (from £45), which is even cuter than the robins. It features adorable tufted mice, wearing little scarves, carrying sprigs of holly across the duvet and pillow covers. Topped with a green border and striped underside, the set looks as high-quality as it does whimsical.

‘Bought this ready for Christmas - it’s really beautiful, and the pillowcases are fabulous with the edging and the mouse. Glad I bought it early,’ said one reviewer.

‘Gorgeous Christmas bedding, white, good quality fabric with cute little mice decoration, Love it and can highly recommend,’ said another.

So without further ado, here are my top picks from Next’s whimsical Christmas bedding of 2026.

As much as I enjoy sophisticated and stylish Christmas bedding, I also think it is the perfect opportunity to have some fun. If you want whimiscal, you can't go wrong with these designs.

As someone with a small home, I know all too well that when it comes to choosing furniture, every inch of floor space counts. And never is that more apparent than at Christmas, when, with extra guests visiting (and potentially staying overnight), my house has to work extra hard to accommodate everyone.

That's why I was so thrilled to come across the newly launched DUSK Kennadi Single Ottoman Sofa Bed. I think this compact bed-in-a-box gives the best sofa beds a run for their money, and its small footprint means it's definitely top of my wishlist for Christmas hosting this winter season.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past five years testing some of the best small space sofa beds and sofa bed alternatives on the market, and I've already raved about how ingenious a bed-in-a-box can be for a small home.

However, similar to the best chair beds, it can be easier said than done to find a good bed-in-a-box, as not many retailers make this ingenious piece of multifunctional furniture, and especially not at a price that doesn't break the bank.

I'm a huge fan of Loaf's super-stylish bed-in-a-box, which is hidden inside a smart buttoned Chesterfield ottoman, but with Loaf's prices starting from £995, it's a definite investment. That's why I was overjoyed to see that at just £399 for the single bed option, DUSK's ottoman bed-in-a-box is nearly half the price.

In fact, the DUSK Kennadi Ottoman Sofa Bed collection comes in two sizes: the £399 single bed option that's available in three colourways – autumnal muted gold, pine green, and natural beige – and a slightly larger small double in pine green and natural, which costs £449.

In my opinion, both options will only suit one adult sleeper (the DUSK ottoman's small double mattress measures 113cm wide, which is a little smaller than a standard small double mattress at 120cm, and a lot smaller than a standard double mattress at 135cm wide). But choosing the small double gives your guest a little more wiggle room at night.

And that's especially important with Christmas coming up and more overnight guests on the horizon.

The other thing I love about this new launch is how versatile an ottoman can be. A chair bed is great, but I think an ottoman can be tucked away even more discreetly in a small home. When it's not employed as a bed, you can use it as a coffee table or footrest in front of a sofa, or pop it into a bay window to act as a loveseat or extra surface.

I've rounded up a few more ottoman sofa bed options below, but I definitely think DUSK's Kennadi ottoman is a great addition to the current overnight hosting solutions on the market – and with pre-orders available now, and dispatch currently estimated for mid-November, that's plenty of time for this spare bed to arrive before my Christmas guests do!

Shop alternatives

During winter, drying your laundry can feel like an uphill battle, sometimes taking days at a time, only to be greeted with a damp, musty smell upon completion. Because of this, it can be tempting to dry clothes on your radiator, but heating experts are warning this method will actually make your radiator less efficient and drive energy bills up.

Given that Energy bills increased in October, we’re all looking for ways to save energy and money, and while drying clothes on a radiator may seem like a quick and easy hack, it has quite the opposite effect.

Heating experts want you to stop using your radiator as if it is one of the best heated airers. Here’s the negative impact this small action can have on your energy bills.

Can you dry clothes on a radiator?

If you already have your heating on, drying a jumper or pair of jeans may seem like a simple way to dry washing in winter. You might say it's killing two birds with one stone. However, your wet clothes can block the heat emitted from your radiator, making it less efficient and driving up your energy bills.

‘This restricts heat circulation, which means rooms take longer to heat up, driving up bills. The moisture released from the clothes also needs somewhere to go. Without ventilation, it's trapped inside the room and settles on cold surfaces such as windows or walls as condensation,’ explains Meaco's co-founder, Chris Michael.

‘As it gets colder and more and more washing is dried this way, the increasingly damp indoor conditions can lead to mould growth. Early signs that there is too much moisture include musty smells and loads taking longer to dry.

Over time, this habitat can increase your energy bills as your boiler works harder to heat your home.

‘When wet clothes are draped over a radiator, they prevent heat from circulating properly around the room, meaning your boiler has to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Over time, this can increase your energy bills, particularly if you're regularly using your central heating to dry laundry,’ says John Klee, content executive and heating technology expert at BestHeating.

‘The exact cost will depend on your heating system and how often you do this, but it's an unnecessary expense that can quickly add up. There's also the issue of excess moisture, as drying wet laundry indoors releases water into the air, increasing the risk of condensation, dampness and mould, particularly during winter when windows tend to stay closed.’

How to dry clothes in winter

If you don’t have a tumble dryer, or are trying to avoid the high cost of using one, a heated airer is your best bet. While your clothes will still release moisture into the air, you won’t be reliant on your central heating to dry your clothes. If you are concerned about excess moisture, one of the best dehumidifiers can help dry laundry fast and absorb excess moisture.

‘A heated airer can be a better choice than covering radiators with washing, as it keeps them free to heat the room and can be used when the central heating is off. However, it still releases moisture into your home, so you need ventilation or a dehumidifier to manage this. It isn’t automatically cheaper either, as the total cost depends on its power consumption and how long the clothes take to dry,’ says Chris.

If you have a non-heated airer, you don’t have to throw it out. I recently invested in the Minky Sure Dri Heat Pod Pro with 3 Tier Airer Cover (£60, Argos), which uses an electric heater and cover to turn my three-tier airer into a heated one. Now a full load of washing is dried in a matter of hours, rather than days.

If you need to dry washing fast, your radiator is not the answer. Instead, investing in heated airer or dehumidifer is a more efficient solution.

Let's face it, kitchen storage ideas rarely incites fun, creative ideas, but it's nonetheless an essential part of a space. Well, that was until Mustard Made entered the kitchen storage scene.

This colourful storage brand was founded by sisters Becca & Jess, who realised that their favourite vintage lockers (that were flaky and battered) deserved a fun, trendy refresh. It's a way of breathing new life into your kitchen while also fulfilling a practical need for storage, whether it's for tableware, as a makeshift pantry, or for children's toys.

Mustard Made is having its biggest yearly sale with 25% across their full range of lockers, so it's the right time to bag a new kitchen storage hero.

While built-in storage makes up the majority of a kitchen, as our lives evolve and household needs change, adding freestanding storage is a great solution.

Whether you need a low cabinet to complete a dining space or a large pantry-style cupboard to add essential storage to your cooking area, Mustard Made lockers will fit into any nook and cranny that you have spare.

Rebecca Knight, Ideal Home's Editor, invested in her own in the sale last year and got the whole team hooked.

‘I invested in The Collector last year for my kitchen. I wanted a faux pantry where I could store food, water bottles, and tablecloths that wasn't a huge hulking mass in my kitchen,' she says.

The beauty of The Collector is that it offers handy storage while also adding to the aesthetics of a room.

'The panels on all sides allow light to pass through to keep the space bright, while the fluting disguises the contents inside. It fits so much in, I even had space for my massive pans on the bottom. Everyone compliments it when they visit my flat,' Rebecca adds.

With a rainbow array of colours to choose from, there is guaranteed to be a style to suit any kitchen colour scheme. While you could opt for a monochromatic look, adding in an unexpected twist with a contrasting shade is a fun way to breathe new life into your cooking space.

This 25% off everything sale is the biggest discount that Mustard Made do all year long, and it's only active until the 11th November. Now is the time to invest to get your kitchen storage sorted before Christmas.

Shop Mustard Made storage

Not sure which shade to go for? These are the 2026 kitchen colour trends that have lasting power, for inspiration that won't go out of style.

When you think about Christmas, how many of your favourite memories are attached to scent? Well, that’s exactly what Tom Daley has had me thinking about after he revealed in an interview with Ideal Home that his go-to festive scent was inspired by memories of past Christmases.

Tom Daley has recently joined scent brand Airwick as an ambassador and, with this, has unveiled five new autumn and winter fragrances. If you’re looking for the best scents to welcome in the festive season, Air Wick’s new range is proving to be both affordable and beautifully scented.

Recently, I sat down with Tom to discuss his recent Air Wick collaboration as well as his family traditions surrounding Christmas and autumn. He revealed that the new Warm Mulled Wine scent (£10, Amazon) is his new go-to for Christmas.

As someone who’s gone to the effort to scentscape her home (my go-to is the White Company’s Santorini scent), I’m always one to beat the drum of filling your home with fragrances that remind you of happier times. For me, my Santorini scent reminds me of a previous holiday, while Tom’s choice of Air Wick’s Warm Mulled Wine goes back to his Christmas memories.

‘I always think the first thing that you notice when you walk into someone's home is how it smells,’ Tom told me.

‘I know it's a little bit early for the Warm Mulled Wine, but that one is my favourite, and it always will be because Christmas is like my all-time favourite season. Although my boys love the Pumpkin Ginger Chai one because they love Halloween.’

As Tom mentioned, Pumpkin Ginger Chai is one of the four new scents in his Air Wick Collaboration. The other three are Warm Mulled Wine, Cosy Rose Tea and Velvet Vanilla Latte. While he says each serves a purpose in his home (for example, Cosy Rose Tea is used to scent his office), Warm Mulled Wine has become one of his Christmas decorating ideas in its own right.

‘It's because it takes me back to my childhood, and I have so many amazing memories around Christmas. Whenever I get transported to anything Christmassy, it makes me so excited and gets me right into that feeling of being excited about Christmas,’ Tom said of the Warm Mulled Wine scent.

‘I know this year is going to be super exciting when it comes to Christmas because Robbie's [Tom’s son] eight, so I feel like this is like on the tail end of all things exciting for Christmas, but for Phoenix [Tom’s son] he's three and a half, so it's going to be the exciting side of Christmas for him. I also want to make sure that we make the most of all of it.’

Shop the Tom Daley x Air Wick collaboration

The Air Wick x Tom Dale collaboration is available to shop at online retailers like Amazon, as well as in stores such as Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

As Christmas decorations continue to sell out left, right, and centre and with Ideal Home’s own Christmas content outperforming all else, it seems that Christmas is on everyone’s mind at the moment. As a Room Decor Editor, I know most brands’ festive collections inside and out and there’s one adorable and nostalgic decoration style that I keep seeing everywhere – miniature Christmas houses. And there’s no one that does it better than Anthropologie.

This whimsical Christmas decor trend dates all the way back to 18th century Germany taking on the look of miniature snow-dusted Christmas village scenes. But these days, you don’t need to commit to a full-on Christmas village – you can incorporate just one or two holiday houses in your festive decorating scheme.

I got to see Anthropologie’s Christmas collection IRL earlier this week – and I was struck by how many different Christmas village-inspired decorations the brand’s range has on offer to choose from. All equally as whimsical and cute as each other.

On Anthropologie’s website, the ceramic holiday houses are currently among the top three bestsellers in the Christmas category. Available in eight designs, each one depicts a different building or an establishment one might find in a village – from a bakery to a post office (my favourite), each priced between £38 and £46.

In addition to the ceramic Christmas decor ideas, Anthropologie also collaborated with Canadian illustrator Emily Taylor on a charming range of four light-up holiday houses made from card paper with the same price range as the ceramic ones.

But the most adorable option, in my opinion, is the range of Christmassy house-shaped tableware you can get from Anthropologie. A German inn-shaped butter dish? Sign me up! A tea canister with a tea house design? Yes, please! These pieces are more practical than the simply decorative holiday houses, but they still deliver the same amount of whimsy (if not more).

Which mini Christmas house design from Anthropologie have you got your eye on?

November has only just begun, but it’s already Christmas in Amanda Holden’s house! The TV personality and radio host has officially decked the halls, and she’s set the bar high when it comes to this year’s Christmas decor inspiration.

With an impressive entryway display, statement wreath and giant tree, Amanda certainly hasn’t held back. But, in my opinion, her festive look is the perfect example of a toned-down take on the trend I’ve been seeing everywhere this year.

So far, the general consensus seems to be that ‘more is more’ this holiday season, with maximalist trends like Merrymaxxing taking over. As the name suggests, this trend is all about bringing festive fun to your home, with the help of everything from tinsel tree skirts to funky Christmas bows. And while Amanda has adopted some of these decor ideas, her scheme ultimately shows that you can go all-out for Christmas, without appearing too kitsch.

While there’s certainly nothing subtle about Amanda’s Christmas scheme, her use of festive foliage means that the overall feel is opulent and refined, rather than cluttered and chaotic. ‘Although everything is on a huge scale, the greenery stops it from feeling too over-the-top,’ explains Gareth Davies, Design Director at Classic Interiors.

‘Amanda has used these enormous arrangements of foliage around the front entrance. The greenery has lots of different textures, which makes the arrangements interesting even before you notice the ornaments,’ he adds. ‘And, because the decorations are built around natural-looking branches rather than endless baubles, they almost feel like an extension of the house itself.’

‘In this case, the foliage is not just there to make the space feel festive; it's actually helping to frame the home,’ agrees Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys. ‘Greenery works hardest when it feels like an extension of the room itself rather than something that's simply been added on for Christmas. Here, our eye naturally follows the garland up the staircase, which draws attention to one of the room's best features’

Amanda’s clever use of foliage, along with her tight colour palette, has allowed her to embrace some of the fun Merrymaxxing motifs, in a way that stays true to her luxe style. ‘Amanda's decorations are a brilliant example of why choosing a consistent colour palette can be much more effective than just buying lots of beautiful individual decorations,’ agrees Gareth.

‘She has carried deep green, teal and gold tones from the front entrance right through to the enormous Christmas tree inside. Everything feels connected, even though the decorations themselves are quite different,’ he adds. And the decorations themselves are also something to behold.

As a staple of merrymaxxing, oversized ornaments have been around for the past few years, and they’re still going strong in this year’s Christmas decor trends, too. From bows, bells and statement reindeer, Amanda has effectively balanced the super-sized elements of her scheme to avoid overwhelm.

‘Supersized ornaments are having a serious moment. They’re brilliant because they bring the drama without blowing the budget. You just need a few of these big beauties and you’re halfway there.’ says Whinnie Williams, Interior Designer and Trends Forecaster for Balsam Hill. ‘But it all comes down to scale and layering. The visual weight of your foliage needs to balance the scale of your oversized item, not fight it.’

‘What stands out about Amanda's Christmas styling is that she's decorating with scale rather than quantity. It would have been easy to keep adding more and more decorations, but she's shown a fair bit of restraint and that's exactly why it works so well,’ adds Victoria. ‘The larger pieces have room to breathe, which makes the whole scheme feel more considered and, ultimately, more expensive.’

Recreate the look

Although Amanda had help from a professional floral artist to bring her festive vision to life, there’s no reason why you can’t steal Amanda’s style yourself.

‘The biggest takeaway from Amanda's scheme is that a few oversized decorations will often create far more impact than lots of smaller ornaments dotted around the room,’ says Victoria. ‘When you pair those statement pieces with plenty of greenery, the overall look feels layered and luxurious without feeling cluttered or overdone.’

So have a go at experimenting with scale and layering this Christmas. Just remember to keep your colour scheme tight and practise intentional restraint, rather than throwing everything at your home at once. These festive buys will help you get started.

Has Amanda inspired you to transform your home into a winter wonderland? Or is it still too early in your eyes?

There’s something about well-thought-out bedroom storage that instantly calms the mind, and if you’re in need of inspiration, presenter Kate Lawler’s is worth a look.

Kate, who first shot to fame after becoming the first female winner of Big Brother back in 2002, frequently shares glimpses of her life on her Instagram account, and it was here I spotted how her bedroom storage ideas help create a cosy, relaxing bedroom that’s perfect for winter.

So, in order to achieve the same style in my own room, I asked interior design experts how good bedroom storage can make our bedrooms more comfortable, calming spaces. This is what they said.

Who doesn’t love a pretty storage example? And celebrity Instagram accounts happen to be one of the best places to find it. Clodagh McKenna’s mirror and built-in storage even manage to make her bedroom look bigger!

‘I love this kind of wall-to-wall storage, because it’s instantly part of the furniture - quite literally! It fits perfectly into a room, doesn’t stick out at an awkward angle, and looks chic. It’s the perfect way to utilise all the space you have for a wardrobe and make it look part of the room. The Scandi-inspired design comes through with its functionality and minimalism, but it’s not cold and sterile like some minimalist wardrobes, thanks to the warm, green-toned beige. It ticks my boxes for wall-to-wall storage,’ says Laura Rich, interior designer at Furniturebox.

‘There’s nothing more calming than a bedroom where everything has a place to go, and wall-to-wall storage like this hides away all the clutter, so you’re not lying in bed staring at a pile of clothes on a chair. The flat, seamless doors keep the look clean and uninterrupted, which prevents overwhelming visual clutter, and the slim brass handles add a touch of warmth.’

Kate’s use of beige, while not the most popular colour trend, also contributes to making the bedroom look cosy.

‘It's warm and neutral without being cold or clinical, and the brown undertones give it a bit of depth. It also lets everything else in the room do the talking - the soft carpet, the upholstered bed, her accessories - so the room still has plenty of personality. It shows you don't need a complicated colour scheme to make a space feel layered and welcoming,’ says Rob Cash, Showroom Owner at Kutchenhaus.

‘People are moving away from the cool greys and bright whites we saw so much of and going for warmer, earthier neutrals instead. Shades like stone, sand and light brown feel modern, but they're also comforting, and they won't date in a few years.’

How to achieve a calm, cosy bedroom

If you want to try decorating with neutrals or trying built-in storage, Kate’s bedroom is a good source of inspiration because it’s evidence that tidy equals relaxing and is relatively easy to achieve.

All you need to do is opt for integrated storage and warm colour tones. However, if you don’t have the capacity to rip out your current storage, here are a few other ways you can make your bedroom cosy, tidy and relaxing.

‘Layering is everything - especially as we move even more towards tactile materials inspired by nature. Mix up your textures with linen bedding, a wool or bouclé throw, velvet cushions, and a soft rug underfoot, especially if you have hard floors,’ says Laura.

‘Lighting is a big one too; ditch the ‘big light’ in the evenings and go for bedside lamps, wall lights, or even a dimmer switch for a warm, gentle glow. Live plants are a lovely way to bring life and calm into the room, as Kate’s shown.

‘Keep surfaces as clear as possible, though, because a tidy room genuinely makes for a tidier mind, but a large plant like a monster is a great statement without introducing visual clutter. Consider personal touches in a bedroom, like a favourite print, a candle, or a stack of books by the bed, so it feels like yours and not a hotel room!’

Shop the look

If you want a cosy and relaxing bedroom, remember a clutter-free space paired with warm, neutral colours does wonders.

This year, nostalgic Christmas decorations are all the rage, and there is one magical train-inspired design I’m seeing more and more. And Aldi, it seems, is the cheapest place to get your hands on a Christmas tree train set.

‘Nostalgia’ and ‘whimsy’ are two words you can’t escape when describing this year’s Christmas decor trends. And what captures that essence more than a model train and tracks adorning the branches of your best artificial Christmas tree?

Now available at Aldi stores, the LED Christmas Tree Train Animation (£9.99) is an affordable way to add extra festive magic to your Christmas decorating ideas.

Suspended mid-tree, the train tracks of this model loop around the branches, allowing the train to travel this festive route. It’s a fun, whimsical way to create a magical focal point among your decorations. Aldi’s train set is battery-operated and attaches to your tree via a clamp mechanism.

The tradition of putting a train around your tree was popularised in the early 20th century in America, and since evolved to being suspended around your tree as well as in place of a tree skirt.

I personally feel Aldi’s model is reflective of the Home Alone Christmas trend we saw a couple of years ago, where people were opting for nostalgic, mismatched decorations, lots of colour and a range of materials like felt and wood. Think of it as festive maximalism. A tree train is just the quirky addition that fits into this aesthetic.

As well as Aldi, I’ve also spotted tree trains on sale at retailers such as Argos, whose Christmas Train Set with Tree Attachment (£25.99) features even more detail than Aldi’s. Not only do you get a festive train, but this locomotive is also pulling Santa’s sleigh, a snowman and a fir tree.

John Lewis is also offering the Lumineo LED Christmas Tree Train Set (£60), which is softly illuminated for a warm white LED which adds an extra magical glow to your seasonal decor.

Aldi’s train set is already in store, and I think it has strong potential to sell out. So, I’ve rounded up a few more alternatives in case your local store runs out.

If you want to add a little extra festive magic to your home, a Christmas tree train set can certainly achieve that.

Lidl is selling a 7ft Christmas tree for under £40. It’s perfect for serving up maximum festive spirit on a budget.

It’s true that the best artificial Christmas trees can be expensive. The best and most realistic models can easily set you back hundreds of pounds. And while many of us would like the best Christmas decor, this isn’t always financially viable.

Luckily, plenty of affordable Christmas decorations and budget Christmas decorating ideas are available, and the Lidl Livarno 7ft Artificial Christmas Tree (£39.99) is the latest bargain buy to catch my eye. Here’s why.

At just £39.99, this is one of the most affordable 7ft Christmas trees I’ve seen. It’s even beating the bargain B&Q 7ft Valais Christmas tree (£50) on price, and I was impressed enough with that one alone.

But not only is the Livarno tree more than £10 cheaper than the B&Q tree, but it also has more branch tips. Branch tips contribute to how lifelike and ‘bushy’ your tree looks, and the more a tree has, the more realistic it tends to look. For example, the B&Q Valais tree has 1007 branch tips, while Lidl’s has 1160. So, while it won’t look as lifelike as high-end trees (like our best-rated tree, the John Lewis Cotswold Tree, which has 4725 tips), it is more likely to look lifelike than B&Q’s tree.

Lidl describes its tree as a ‘detailed replica with dense branches.’ It’s made up via a three-part folding design, which makes storage easier when the tree is not in use. It also comes with a three-year warranty. While Lidl has described the tree as 7ft, within its description the tree is listed as being 210cm or 6ft 11”.

The tree comes with a metal stand and floor-friendly caps to keep it upright, although you probably want to cover the base with one of this year’s pretty Christmas tree skirts to try and maintain the illusion of a real tree.

Norway £39.99, I don’t imagine you’ll easily mistake this tree for a real fir. But it is a brilliant budget alternative if you can’t afford to spend a fortune on Christmas trees this year. I personally opted for an affordable tree a few years ago (Habitat’s 5ft Fibre Optic Warm White Star Christmas Tree, £30 at Argos) and love it. By the time the lights are switched on and it’s been adorned with my favourite baubles and tinsel, I really don’t care how realistic it looks. In fact, I love its cosy lights.

Lidl’s tree lands in stores today (5 November), and due to its affordable price, it’s likely to sell quite quickly. If you are unable to get your hands on one, here are a few more trees we recommend.

Would you try out Lidl's 7ft Christmas tree?

M&S has just dropped its winter collection of super-soft faux fur bedding, and if last year is any indication, I think this cosy, luxurious bedding set will sell out in record time.

A reversible bedding set with soft fleece on one side and luxurious faux fur on the other, as far as I'm concerned, this duvet set is the *ultimate* cosy bedtime treat.

What's more, the M&S Supersoft Faux Fur Bedding Set is now just £28 for a single. Personally, I think that's a lot of good reasons to snap up this bedtime treat before it flies off the shelves.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the last five years testing bedding from all the major (and minor) high street names, and when it comes to where to buy bedding, M&S is always one of my top recommendations.

However, this year M&S has upped its game even further. The M&S autumn bedding collection is one of the best I've seen, and the M&S Christmas bedding is some of the best festive bedding you can buy this year, as far as I'm concerned.

But the brand's Supersoft Faux Fur bedding is in another league. When it launched last year, it was the first time I'd ever seen a faux fur *duvet cover*, and as the cold weather hit, I wasn't surprised to see it fly off the shelves.

And it seems I wasn't alone in being impressed by it. If my memory serves me correctly, by the end of November last year, stock of this luxurious bedding set was already sold out online.

This year, it's back, and, thanks to M&S's current 20% off 'Cosy Home' deals, a single is reduced from £35 to £28, and a double from £45 to £36.

'Lovely snuggly bedding, warm and comfy!' raves one five-star reviewer on the M&S website. 'Very cosy and so, so soft.' 'Beautifully soft and cosy duvet set,' confirms another happy owner. 'It’s a very nice colour too, exactly what I hoped for.'

'Absolutely amazing quality,' sums up another five-star review, 'feels so cosy with the winter weather coming around. Really recommend.'

What's more, this year it isn't just the faux fur duvet set on offer. M&S already has plenty of other cosy fleece and super soft faux fur bedding hitting the shelves, and I have no doubt there's more to come.

I've rounded up some of the best winter buys below, but if this luxe snuggly bedding catches your eye, I recommend moving fast whilst it's still in stock.