Curtains often get the short straw when it comes to decorating our homes - they’re usually the last element we plan, and a place we often try to save money. But making your curtains an afterthought is a decorating mistake, as the right curtains (or the wrong ones) can make a huge impact on the overall feel of our properties.

And in fact, forgetting about them entirely means you may accidentally implement one (or all) of the most outdated curtain trends – which in turn can make your whole home feel older, more stuffy, and much less modern and stylish. Yes, the window dressing you choose really can have that big of an impact!

To help you avoid the curtain styles, lengths, colours and materials that will seriously age your windows and home, we spoke to interior designers and curtains experts, who shared their thoughts with us. So if you want to keep your window dressings looking as up-to-date as you can, here are the dated curtain trends you’re best off avoiding, because we’d all rather our homes don’t look like they’re straight out of a 70s interiors catalogue…

1. Curtains that are too short

Unfortunately, nothing quite says out-of-date interiors like a short curtain that stops almost exactly at your windowsill. Though they are still favoured by many - particularly as kids' bedroom ideas - if you want to add a touch of on-trend luxe to your home, long curtain ideas have persisted as the stylish favourite since the 90s.

And there is good reason why the interior experts we spoke to no longer love this trend. 'Short curtains instantly make a room feel dated and can visually cut the height of the space,' Kunal Trehan, interior designer and founder of Touched Interiors says. 'Wherever possible, curtains should run from ceiling to floor, even if the window itself is much smaller.' Debbie Leigh, Design Manager at ILIV, agrees, explaining, 'designs that gently skim the floor create a much softer, more refined look.'

Aside from changing the length of your curtains to avoid this outdated trend, you should also ensure the curtains are hung correctly - just above the window frame - to create a feeling of space. 'Mounting the track close to the ceiling draws the eye upwards, making ceilings feel taller and the room more elegant,' Kunal explains. 'Install a recessed or ceiling-mounted track with curtains that just kiss the floor or create a subtle 1-2cm break for a tailored finish.'

2. Overly fussy curtain details

Unless you’re living in a historic country manor house, the experts explain that fussy and intricate detailing on your curtains is a dated trend you’re best off avoiding in the 21st century.

‘Traditional, overly detailed window treatments are the biggest thing I’d steer people away from now,’ Katerina Tchevytchalova, Founder of K’Arte Design, says. ‘Think heavy voiles, fussy pelmets or anything too ornate. They distract from the rest of the space, rather than adding to it.’

Kunal agreed that overly decorative curtains can very easily date a space, especially in modern buildings. 'Traditional swags, ornate pelmets and fussy tie-backs can overwhelm a room, particularly in contemporary homes.

'Rather than simply dressing a window, curtains are now used to soften a room and add a layer of quiet luxury. The best curtain schemes almost disappear into the architecture, creating flow - rather than demanding attention.'

Instead, the experts suggest embracing simplicity. 'Choose simple wave headings or perfectly tailored pinch pleats on discreet tracks. They create beautiful, even folds that look timeless rather than trend-led,’ Kunal suggests. ‘For pelmets, use a reduced height for a more modern luxe look. And, opt for lighter sheer fabrics for privacy and added light.’ This is particularly helpful if you're looking for living room curtain ideas, as this is a space that doesn't need darkness and privacy as much as our bedrooms.

3. Matching curtains to your other upholstery

It’s bad news for those who love a matchy-matchy look, unfortunately. ‘One look that has gradually fallen away over the decades is having all your soft furnishings perfectly matched,’ Debbie explains. 'Gone are the days where you matched your curtains to your cushions and upholstery!'

Katerina agrees, explaining, ‘curtains and cushions in matching fabric are another dated giveaway; it makes a room feel overly styled rather than lived in.’

The experts explain that this curtain trend has become dated, as interior experts have come to favour layered personality, rather than copy-and-paste design schemes.

Instead of choosing curtains, cushions, pouffes and sofas in the same fabric, Katerina urged, 'let them relate to one another rather than replicate each other, working within the same colour family but varying the tone, texture or pattern for a softer, more layered look.'

4. Non-functional curtains

The experts explained that one of the most dated curtain ‘trends’ is in fact, choosing window treatments for their look and aesthetics alone. In the 20th century, the priority is for our curtains to be functional, as well as pretty.

‘One of the biggest modern shifts is that our curtains are expected to enhance comfort as well as style, whether that's helping to regulate temperature or soften acoustics, as well as providing privacy,’ Debbie explains.

Barbara Entwistle, Daylight Advisor & Project Development Manager at VELUX agrees, explaining that curtains nowadays need to work with the natural light in our homes, rather than block it out. ‘Heavy, dark drapes, busy patterns and elaborate curtains can make rooms feel smaller and block natural daylight. Instead, many are moving towards lighter, more streamlined options that create brighter, more contemporary interiors.’

In practice, this can mean utilising sheer curtains bolstered by shutters, to let in light as and when needed, and offer increased privacy from neighbours. And these days, curtains may not even be the best option at all for modern light, temperature and privacy requirements. 'Today, blinds can offer a sleek finish while giving greater control over daylight and privacy, with many modern options now also allowing adjustments to light levels and shading throughout the day,' Barbara explains.

‘External shading, such as shutters, can also help stop the sun’s heat from entering before it reaches the glazing.’

5. Crushed velvet curtains

There aren’t many materials that are a huge no-no for curtains, but interior designer at Furniturebox, Laura Rich, explained that crushed velvet is one exception and an example of a truly outdated curtain trend, despite its huge popularity a few years back.

‘Crushed velvet curtains are one of those interior trends from the 2010s that surged to popularity, drawing inspiration from the 70s boho and 90s grunge aesthetic. But its lifecycle as a trend was extremely short-lived,’ she explains.

‘Crushed velvet became hugely popular due to its association with hotel-style luxury, but it hasn't aged particularly well. It’s highly reflective, and the fabric appears synthetic.’

Instead, natural fibres make for a great material alternative for curtains, Laura explains. 'In 2026 we’re opting for more comfortable fabrics that are nature-inspired, like linen or a linen blend to keep the room cool but cosy and fresh. They diffuse daylight beautifully, and they’re effortless and timeless. Choosing a natural fabric in a timeless neutral will almost always outlast trend-led finishes like crushed velvet.’

As with anything in interiors your curtain choice will be a matter of personal taste. But if you're at a loss of where to start or can't put your finger on what looks a bit off in your room, your curtains could be to blame.

If you live in a Victorian house, autumn can be the point at which all its charming period features start to show their less appealing side. As temperatures start to drop and we begin closing our windows, turning the heat on and drying laundry indoors, condensation and damp can quickly become a bit of an issue.

I live in a Victorian house myself and know all too well the pitfalls of single glazing in autumn/winter, and while I love my house's high ceilings and features, keeping moisture under control is something I have to be far more conscious about starting from now. Older properties can be particularly susceptible to damp problems, especially where there are cold external walls and areas with limited airflow.

The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to prevent damp before the wettest, coldest weather arrives. These are the habits worth getting into right now.

1. Check gutters, downpipes and pointing

Before concentrating on moisture inside your home, take a walk around the outside. Autumn is a particularly important time to check gutters and downpipes as falling leaves and other debris can quickly cause blockages.

'I'd look at the colder areas first. Around windows, in corners, against external walls and behind wardrobes or sofas are all places where you can get a bit of a damp or condensation problem because the air doesn't circulate as well,' explains Tony Reynolds, Managing Director of Supreme Merchants.

And he also recommends looking outside. 'Gutters and downpipes can easily get blocked, and things like damaged roof tiles or cracks in the pointing can let water into an older house. Autumn is a good time to give everything a quick check before the weather gets really wet.'

If damp repeatedly appears in one particular spot, rather than as general condensation around the home, it's especially important to investigate whether water is getting in.

Mary Widdall, Product Category Manager for Laundry at Minky, also recommends checking lofts and roof spaces for signs of leaks and condensation, as well as making sure they have adequate ventilation.

2. Keep the house consistently warm

You don't need to crank up the thermostat, but allowing a period property to become very cold can make condensation harder to manage.

Catrin Parry, Buying Lead for Cleaning and Laundry at Lakeland, recommends keeping your home at a relatively consistent, warm temperature. Cold surfaces are more likely to become places where moisture in the air condenses, which is why external walls and windows can be particular problem areas in Victorian properties.

Once your heating is back on for autumn, aim for consistency rather than allowing rooms to become extremely cold before heating them intensely for short periods.

Mary points out that colder homes often have colder walls and surfaces, making it easier for moisture created by everyday activities (even breathing overnight) to turn into condensation.

This is why bedrooms are another area worth monitoring. Check windows and cold external walls first thing in the morning for persistent condensation rather than focussing on traditionally damp rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms.

3. Keep ventilating even when it's cold

As much as you don't want to open a window when it's cold and wet outside, and you've just paid to heat a room, ventilation becomes really important once we're spending more time indoors.

'Ventilation remains important throughout autumn and winter, even when it feels counterproductive to let cold air inside,' says Laura Bradbury, Head of Ecommerce at Vonhaus. 'Opening windows for a short period each day can help replace warm, moisture-laden air without leaving the property cold for hours.'

There's no need to leave windows wide open all day. Briefly airing rooms, using extractor fans and ensuring existing air bricks, vents and chimney ventilation haven't been blocked can help.

Tony agrees that 'if you keep the house completely shut up, all that moisture has nowhere to go.'

Pay particular attention to rooms you rarely use, too. Mary recommends regularly checking cold, poorly ventilated spaces for early warning signs such as musty smells, persistent condensation, staining and visible mould.

4. Change how you dry laundry indoors

This is a big one as we head into autumn. Once washing can no longer reliably go outside, all of that moisture has to go somewhere.

Avoid placing wet clothes directly over radiators. Instead, Catrin recommends choosing one well-ventilated room for drying laundry and, if you use a heated clothes airer or standard drying rack, pairing it with a dehumidifier.

I use a heated clothes airer alongside a dehumidifier myself, and I find it a really useful combination during this time of year. Rather than allowing all the moisture released by wet washing to linger in the room, the dehumidifier actively removes some of it from the air.

Keep the door to your chosen laundry-drying room closed too, so you're not simply allowing that moisture to travel around the rest of the house.

Mary stresses that using a heated airer doesn't remove the need for ventilation either. The heat might help your clothes dry faster but the water from those clothes is still being released into the surrounding air.

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

5. Pull furniture away from external walls

Now is also a good time to look behind wardrobes, sofas and other large pieces of furniture, particularly those sitting against external walls.

Laura recommends leaving 'a small gap between furniture and external walls, so air can circulate instead of moisture becoming trapped behind wardrobes and sofas.'

These hidden, poorly ventilated areas can be easy to overlook until you move a piece of furniture and discover a musty smell or patches of mould.

Pay particular attention to external walls, corners, window frames and the inside of cupboards. Laura also suggests keeping a closer eye on cellars, chimney breasts and ground-floor rooms in older properties.

For smaller condensation hotspots, a passive moisture absorber can be useful too. Mary recommends products such as Minky's 200g Damp Guard, £9.99 on Amazon, for targeted areas including bathrooms, bedrooms, utility rooms and around windows. It doesn't require electricity and works silently, with each tablet lasting up to three months depending on conditions.

6. Get on top of moisture from cooking and showering

It isn't just the weather outside that causes problems. A lot of our everyday activities continually add moisture to the air.

Cooking, showering and drying laundry indoors are three of the biggest culprits, so use extractor fans whenever possible and close the door while producing steam.

Catrin points out that these activities don't stop just because the season has changed, which is precisely why ventilation remains so important through autumn and winter.

It's also worth checking your extractor fans now. Tony recommends making sure they're clean and actually working effectively rather than simply assuming they're doing their job.

And if you wake up to condensation covering your windows like me, wipe it away rather than allowing water to sit against the frames and sills throughout the day. Critically, Mary recommends positioning moisture absorbers (I love Minky's moisture absorber, £25 at Argos and use it in my bedroom) in specific problem areas rather than treating them as an alternative to ventilation or a powered dehumidifier where there is a significant moisture problem.

Shop our top-rated dehumidifiers

7. Monitor humidity and use a dehumidifier

Finally, stop guessing how damp your house is. A simple hygrometer can tell you what's actually happening to humidity levels throughout the day and help identify rooms that consistently struggle with excess moisture.

'A cheap hygrometer is actually quite useful because it gives you an idea of how humid your home is, rather than having to guess,' says Tony.

A dehumidifier can also be extremely useful in a Victorian property, particularly in rooms where you regularly experience condensation or when drying washing indoors.

Laura stresses, however, that it should be used 'alongside suitable heating and ventilation rather than as a replacement for them.'

And that's a really important point as a dehumidifier can tackle moisture in the air, but it can't repair a leaking gutter or a plumbing problem. If one patch of damp keeps returning despite all your efforts, look into the cause rather than simply running a dehumidifier.

For smaller problem spots, Catrin also recommends moisture traps or compact dehumidifiers that can be placed in cupboards and wardrobes, while a larger compressor model is better suited to managing moisture across bigger rooms.

Ultimately, preventing damp in a Victorian house is less about one miracle product (frustratingly) and more about controlling where moisture comes from and giving it somewhere to escape to. And crucially, spotting any potential problems, like rising damp, early.

Sorry Le Creuset, Lidl is dropping a huge collection of lookalikes this week for just a fraction of the price.

Long hailed as some of the best cookware available to buy, Le Creuset pots, pans and crockery are a regular guest on most kitchen wishlists. However, less inviting is the Le Creuset price tag, hence why affordable alternatives are always so popular.

Over the years, Lidl has dropped plenty of Le Creuset alternatives, and landing in stores on 13 September, this latest cookware is huge. Here are the highlights.

Le Creuset is synonymous with the best cast iron cookware, so I'll preface by saying that Lidl’s cast iron pots, pans and griddles will not be of the same quality. However, for those looking to sample the world of cast iron cooking, Lidl is a good starting point.

Available to shop is a range of different casserole sizes, frying pans, griddles and even a cast iron pizza pan. This cookware comes in a few colourways (though not as extensive as Le Creuset), including black, red, orange and blue.

I was also excited to spot the inclusion of the set of two mugs (£3.99), which is a dead ringer for the Le Creuset Stoneware Mug (£17, John Lewis). I find my Le Creuset mug holds the perfect amount of tea, so I’m definitely keen to pick up Lidl’s set for a fraction of the price.

The mugs are only available in black and orange as are the salt and pepper shakers, serving bowls and snack bowls. If you want designer-look tableware to impress guests at autumn dinner parties, this Lidl collection is a good one to shop.

As mentioned, Lidl’s new cookware won’t be as high quality as high-end brands, but this doesn’t mean you should turn your nose up at it. Ideal Home’s Digital Editor, Rebecca Knight, has owned her Aldi cast iron casserole for over five years and still loves it. I personally have George Home’s Burgundy Cast Iron Stockpot (£32), which not only looks great, but cooks like a dream.

As always, these Lidl special buys will only be available to shop in-store, so if you don’t have a store local to you, or your local store sells out fast, I’ve rounded up a few more alternatives you can shop online.

If you're looking to try cooking with cast iron, check out Lidl's latest kitchen range for an affordable taster.

It's no secret that many of us see our kitchens as the heart of the home, which is why we want them to reflect our personal tastes and style. That said, there are certain features that can make a kitchen look "dated" across the board.

By dated, I mean a less-than chic aesthetic that just doesn't quite land how we hoped. Kitchen trends for 2026 aside, it's ultimately up to you how you want your kitchen to look. But if it's been feeling more drab than fab lately, it could be that certain features are working against you.

With that in mind, I asked kitchen design experts to share four features making your kitchen look dated in 2026. Some of their answers might surprise you...

1. Too much coordination

There was a time when a uniform-looking kitchen was all the rage, and a heavily coordinated look formed the basis of modern kitchen ideas. But Jess Barrett, the interior designer behind Jessica Simone Designs, says that a matchy-matchy kitchen can feel quite dated in 2026.

'Glossy, handleless cabinetry, rows of identical wall units and everything finished in the same cool grey or bright white can leave a space feeling quite flat. I much prefer kitchens that feel as though they have evolved over time.'

Jess is encouraging us to embrace an ecclectic mix of materials, textures and finishes instead (like in the image above). 'Mixing painted cabinetry with natural timber, choosing aged brass or bronze hardware, and introducing a freestanding or antique piece gives the room far more depth and character,' she says.

2. Open shelving

Open shelving feels like a rite of passage when you're creating a farmhouse-style kitchen, which is still having a resurgence. But refusing to bring open shelving into a kitchen could be a smart choice this year, both in terms of practicality and design.

'Open shelving has certainly had its moment, but using it extensively in place of considered cabinetry can leave a kitchen feeling visually busy,' says Tom Howley, Creative Design Director at his namesake bespoke kitchen company. 'It also places a lot of emphasis on what is displayed, meaning the room needs to look beautifully curated at all times.'

That pressure to keep open shelving looking picture-perfect can be an unnecessary mental load, which is why many contemporary kitchens are shifting back to classic cabinetry as the main form of storage. 'It doesn't mean you need to get rid of open shelving completely,' says Tom. 'Try using it more selectively, perhaps to showcase a few favourite pieces, and balance it with generous closed storage.'

3. All neutral colour schemes

All-neutral kitchens aren't outright banned this year, but many of us want to embrace a bit more variety in our kitchen colour schemes. 'A timeless kitchen isn’t necessarily one that is completely neutral,' says Tom. 'Some of the most enduring kitchens are full of personality, bold colour, and character.'

The best colours to replace beige with in 2026 include dusty pinks and warm terracotta shades, but adding personality into your kitchen really does come down to personal preference. And if you still like a neutral kitchen, that's fine – there are subtle ways you can add colour to a kitchen without repainting, too.

4. Appliance overload

Kitchen appliances are an essential part of our culinary spaces, but having all of them on display is a recipe for clutter – a.k.a. not what most of us are aspiring to in 2026.

'Too many appliances on display can also make a kitchen feel overly driven by current technology trends,' Tom says. 'Where possible, integrate appliances into the cabinetry and be selective about what you choose to leave visible.'

John Law, Creative Director of interiors at Woodhouse & Law, agrees. 'Integrated appliances and clever appliance storage ideas help create the calm, streamlined look that is increasingly desirable in 2026,' he adds.

If your kitchen hasn't felt fresh this year, try taking the experts' advice on board. Even subtle tweaks can reinvigorate a space.

Easy ways to update your kitchen

Le Creuset's huge Factory to Table sale is back for 2026, with the event running from the 25th to the 27th of September in Harrogate.

Taking place at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, this is your chance to snap up some of the best cookware from this beloved French brand at up to 50% off. Tickets to enter the event, priced at £10 each, are available to buy now.

And it's not just bargains you'll find at the sale either. Le Creuset is also offering collectors the chance to snap up pieces not usually sold in the UK as well as rare colour ways. Here's a closer look at exactly whats on offer.

Le Creuset's warehouse sale 2026

Le Creuset's cookware has cult classic status in the world of homeware, meaning it's rare to see pieces from the brand available for hugely discounted prices. This warehouse sale, held once a year, is the exception to that rule. So if you're in the market for a pot or pan that'll gain heirloom status in your home, this event is well worth a look in.

There's no specific detail on the 'limited-edition colours not typically available in Le Creuset UK Signature Boutiques' that will be available, but there are plenty of colours that collectors covet. That includes one of the Le Creuset colours our readers loved most in 2025 that's now discontinued – Kiwi.

Given the time of year, fans of the brand will also be excited to hear one extremely sought-after shape will also be available to buy just in time for Halloween – the brand's signature pumpkin casserole. With a design that's been duped a million times since its release, it seems the original will be available for a steal of a price at just the right time of year!

If you're still clinging onto the end of summer, the brand's infamously beautiful petal casseroles will also be discounted at the event too. A fan favourite since its release in 2024, I'd have my fingers crossed for it available in some limited edition colours if I was attending!

If you can't make it to this in person event, I've rounded up the Le Creuset shapes and styles I've tested and love best that are currently on sale so that you can snag a discount from the comfort of your home.

If you're in the mood to pick up some treasures for your kitchen to prepare for autumn then Le Creuset's big warehouse sale might just be the place for you. Is there anything on your wish list to pick up before hosting season arrives?

Home decorator Lara Winter is one of Ideal Home's Open House contributors, sharing her thoughts on revamping a 200 year old cottage to make it right for modern family life. See the rest of her articles here.

I used to think decorating meant tackling a whole room. Choose the paint, find the furniture, hang the art, sort the lighting and somehow make everything work together. Easy.

Except sometimes it really isn’t. The more I looked at a room as one big project, the more overwhelmed I felt by everything that wasn’t quite working. So, almost accidentally, I started doing the opposite: ignoring most of the room and concentrating on one corner at a time.

And weirdly, that’s when everything started falling into place.

Start with a corner you’ll actually use

One of my favourite spots in our living room is ridiculously simple: an armchair, a small marble-topped table and our green drinks cabinet. That’s basically it. But the chair swivels around to look straight out into the garden, which makes it somewhere I genuinely want to sit, rather than just furniture arranged to look nice.

That’s probably my first rule for a good corner: think about what you’ll actually do there. Where will your cup of tea go? Is there somewhere for a book? What will you look at when you sit down? Sometimes moving a chair by half a metre does more for a room than buying anything new.

Don’t overlook the really tiny corners

Not every corner needs an armchair and a perfectly positioned lamp. One of the smallest areas I’ve deliberately decorated is our kettle corner.

Our thrifted kitchen cabinet holds all our mugs and glasses, so the kettle naturally lives beside it. I hung a tiny piece of art by Lucy from Kitchen Corner Gallery on the side of the cabinet, just above the kettle, and added a little hen-shaped teaspoon holder. That’s it. Cute and practical.

I make tea approximately 700 times a week, so why shouldn’t that tiny bit of kitchen make me happy? We tend to focus our decorating energy on the big views of a room, but sometimes it’s the little places you use every single day that deserve it most.

If a whole room overwhelms you, shrink the job

Our dining room is a walk-through room and the first room you enter when you come into our home. For ages it bothered me. There are lots of doorways, people constantly walk through it and whenever I thought about “doing the dining room”, I couldn’t work out where to start.

So I stopped trying to solve the whole room and focused on the dining nook instead. We built the DIY banquette, added a good table, put down a beautiful Neptune rug and painted the shelf above in Firebrick Red, one of my favourite colours. Done.

And somehow, once that area felt intentional, the rest of the room stopped bothering me. My eye had somewhere to land and the whole space suddenly made more sense. Now it’s one of my favourite rooms in the house.

Shop your house before you shop the shops

Before buying anything for a corner, I always think it’s worth moving things around. Steal the lamp from upstairs. Try the little table that isn’t doing much in another room. Move some art. You’d be surprised how different something can look simply because you’ve stopped seeing it in the same place every day.

Corners are brilliant for this because you’re not committing to an entire new scheme. A chair, lamp, table and picture you already own might be all you need.

Know when to stop

This might be the hardest bit. Once one corner looks good, you don’t immediately have to “finish” everything around it.

Rooms can evolve slowly. In fact, I think mine usually end up better that way. Make one bit work, live with it and then see what starts bothering you next.

The internet would have us believe rooms are transformed over a weekend. Mine tend to improve one little corner and one inexplicably long DIY project at a time.

Turns out, looking at less of a room has helped me like the whole thing a lot more.

Yesterday, the Dulux colour of the year 2027 was revealed. The brand crowned Soulful Sage, a soft, light shade of sage green, as the defining shade of the coming year.

This time of year, from early autumn all the way to early December, is when all the paint brands and colour authorities announce their colours of the year (also referred to as COTYs for short). And these are what inform future colour trends for next year. Last week, Graham & Brown kicked off the season announcing its latest colour of the year as 'rose earth' – and Dulux is next up.

In all honesty, I was a little taken aback by Dulux’s colour of the year 2027 choice as sage green has been a popular colour for a few years now, especially as a bedroom colour idea due to its calming, soothing effect and a 'new neutral' quality. If anything, I thought it was on its way out, as new sage green bedroom colour alternatives have become increasingly popular this year. But perhaps I was wrong, and sage is about to have a resurgence in 2027.

‘I do love a sage green,’ says Jenny McFarlane, Ideal Home’s Senior Digital Editor and self-proclaimed fan of sage green. ‘It's a really relaxing shade. So much so, that I've used it as our bedroom hue in the last two houses we've lived in. It's gentle, soothing, and I think it always feels fresh.’

That’s exactly why Dulux opted for this colour as Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux, explains, ‘There’s something wonderfully uplifting about green. It’s the colour we instinctively associate with nature, new growth and the feeling of taking a deep breath outdoors, so when we were looking for a shade that captured our desire to “Live Lightly”, green felt like a natural place to land.’

Marianne continues to describe the concept of ‘Live Lightly’ which inspired this colour choice and was Dulux’s starting point for 2027. ‘Our overarching theme, “Live Lightly”, reflects what we feel people need from their homes right now. With increasingly busy lives, information overload and a world that can often feel quite heavy, our homes should provide a counterbalance – somewhere we can switch off, reconnect and make room for moments of joy.’

The sentiment behind this colour choice is very similar to Dulux’s 2026 colours of the year, selecting three different shades of blue as it’s the most familiar colour to us as people and one that sets our bodies’ biological clock.

It seems that biophilic design ideas which first became popular during the Covid 19 lockdowns are not going anywhere anytime soon. And to that end, nature-inspired hues are still the most popular, both now and in the near future.

What are your thoughts on Soulful Sage as the colour of the year for 2027? Are you going to embrace it in your home or go in a different direction?

Can my neighbour build a shed against my fence? You wouldn’t be the first to ask – but the answer isn’t exactly straightforward.

Sheds can quickly become garden features that cause neighbour disputes, especially when they sit close to your garden’s boundary. Even if it's close to your side, a shed that sits within the bounds of your neighbour’s own garden is generally considered acceptable by law – but there are a few exceptions, as well as height rules they’ll need to follow.

Below, I’ve explored whether or not your neighbour can build a shed against your fence – and the three rules they’ll need to follow if they’re building it within two metres of your garden’s boundary.

So, can a neighbour build a shed against your fence? It might feel as though it’s infringing on your space, but the position itself isn’t classed as an offence. It’s all down to its height, roof design, and whether or not your area is listed or protected.

‘Permitted development rights under Class E of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) let homeowners put up garden outbuildings without planning permission, provided they stay within specific permitted development criteria,’ says Andrew Boast, property expert at SAM Conveyancing. ‘So legally, your neighbour doesn’t need to ask your permission or even tell you before they build right up to the boundary line.’

Andrew notes that there are exceptions, though – and if either your property or your neighbour’s property meets certain criteria, they’ll need formal planning permission first.

‘If either property is listed or is in a conservation area, national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), those automatic rights disappear, in which case different planning rules can apply, and formal permission becomes mandatory regardless of how small the shed is,’ Andrew explains.

If your neighbour is planning to build their shed within two metres of your fence or garden boundary, they’ll need to follow a few extra rules (even under permitted development).

1. Height

There are rules around how high a garden fence can be, and the same applies to a shed that sits close to your fence.

'In England, if an outbuilding is within two metres of the boundary, it will generally need to be no more than 2.5 metres high if the owner wants to rely on permitted development rights,' says Sarah Dodd, founder and CEO of Tree Law.

That’s why it’s best to go for a shed that's under 2.5 metres tall, like this Mercia Woodsman Shiplap 8x4 ft Pent Shed from B&Q. If you notice that your neighbour is beginning to build a shed that’s too tall and within two metres of your fence, Andrew recommends taking dated photos from your side of the boundary and making a note of any measurements you can safely take.

‘That timeline matters a great deal if things escalate,’ he says. ‘Plus, it’s much easier to sort things out informally while the shed is still a frame than after the roof, guttering and finishing touches are all in place.’

As with any garden dispute, it’s best to speak to your neighbour before pursuing a legal path. Andrew says most people simply might not know the rules exist!

2. Roof design

Your neighbour’s shed roof design matters if it’s built within two metres of your fence, too. More specifically, it’s about the way it manages rainfall.

‘The neighbour must manage rainwater on their own land,’ says Andrew. ‘Heavy rain running off an angled shed roof directly onto your land can saturate the soil, rotting your fence posts and potentially affecting the structural integrity of your garden walls or patios.’

Andrew says rainwater runoff onto your property from a poorly designed shed can be considered a civil nuisance, and so can the fence wood rot that can result from a solid structure sitting flush against a fence (if the rainwater becomes trapped in the tiny gap between the two).

They’ll also need to make sure that no part of the shed and its fixings cross over into your garden.

‘Your boundary is treated by UK property law as a vertical plane extending straight up into the sky,’ explains Andrew. ‘Even if the base of a neighbour’s shed is on their land, their roof eaves, guttering or decorative trims cannot cross over that boundary. If they do, it constitutes a civil trespass.’

Boundary rules like these are why you can’t prune your neighbour’s tree on their side of the fence (or keep the clippings from your side of the fence without their permission!).

3. Light

A neighbour’s tree blocking your sunlight is one thing, but what happens if an encroaching shed starts shadowing your space?

‘While a shed under 2.5 metres rarely breaches formal ‘Right to Light’ rules, if it blocks light to a window in a habitable room that has enjoyed uninterrupted light for over 20 years, a prescription claim can arise under civil law,’ says Andrew.

If your neighbour breaks any of these rules and a polite, informal chat with them doesn’t change anything, Andrew says you can report it to your council’s planning enforcement team for free.

‘They can investigate and, where appropriate, issue an enforcement notice requiring the work to be altered or removed, although this can take around eight to twelve weeks,’ Andrew explains.

‘For civil issues, such as guttering crossing the boundary, water damage, or a long-standing right to light, you’ll likely need a solicitor. This can take six to twelve months and cost around £1,500 to £10,000 or more if the matter reaches the stage of a court injunction.

‘Whatever happens, don’t take matters into your own hands by cutting, damaging or painting your neighbour’s shed. Even if it is encroaching onto your land, that could leave you facing a criminal damage claim instead.’

Where to buy sheds

If your neighbour builds a shed within 2.5 metres of your fence and it breaks any of the above rules, it's worth having a friendly chat with them first.

If you’re shopping for seasonal decor, Argos Home’s autumn range is packed with affordable buys to get your home ready for the cosy season.

When shopping for the latest home decor trends, I can imagine you rarely consider Argos Home. After all, the retailer is largely known for its savings on electronics such as the best air fryers and heated airers.

However, the brand’s own homeware is worth shouting about. So much so, I’ve rounded up my six favourite picks from Argos Home’s autumn range.

My top pick is the Argos Home Pumpkin Tufted Natural Bedding Set, which starts at just £20. Decked out in a warm, cosy beige colourway, it doesn’t look too overwhelmingly autumnal and will suit most bedroom colour schemes. The tufted pumpkin embellishments add to the overall cosy look, too.

But for those of you who love autumn decorating ideas, the Autumnal Pumpkin Gingham White Bedding Set (from £16), is a great choice. Embracing a cosy, farmhouse look, there are pumpkins galore - let there be no mistake what season it is in your bedroom.

Here are the rest of my top picks.

If you want seasonal decor on a budget, Argos Home is the place for you.

After months of continuously hot weather, it's all too easy to associate certain appliances with keeping cool.

But as someone who's literal job it is to test the best fans around, I'm finding that I still have plenty of use for the fans I have dotted around my home, despite the cooler temperatures we're now experiencing in the UK. I have one in my office, my living room and my bedroom, and I don't think I'll be packing them away any time soon.

This is why I don't think you should either.

1. It helps reduce stuffiness

Temperatures may be a lot more tolerable now than they were a month ago, but that doesn't mean that the air is feeling lovely and crisp.

Still air combined with the rainfall we've been having lately can easily make rooms feel stuffy, so I've been using my fan to circulate the air, removing any staleness and encouraging fresher air in from outside.

When it comes to how fans can help with humidity, they might not be able to actually reduce moisture levels like the best dehumidifiers can, but the movement of air can help reduce how muggy a room feels.

2. It can help you fall asleep all year round

While experts advise not to leave a fan running all night long, I'm a big fan (pardon the pun) of having a fan on while I fall asleep. It's a combination of the feeling of a gentle breeze across the skin, and the almost imperceptible hum it creates, that sends me off into a deep sleep.

And so even though the nights are getting cooler (although I've not yet swapped to my autumn/winter duvet), I'm still using my fan on the lowest setting (and with a timer so it's not running all night), to help me drift off.

3. It can help prevent damp-causing condensation

While you might not think about using a fan during wetter months, it can actually help keep damp and mould at bay.

Having good air circulation can help speed up the evaporation of moisture, and prevent condensation from forming on windows and walls, which if left unchecked could lead to problems with mould and damp. And I definitely don't want those, so I've got used to sticking the fan on for a bit especially after cooking or showering and it seems like a good idea to me!

For more serious issues with excess moisture, a fan won't be enough though and you'd be better off with a dehumidifier. You can always use your fan to help your dehumidifier, boosting its effectiveness in a shorter amount of time. It might also be worth assessing whether a multi-functional appliance is a more worthwhile investment to give you year-round use.

4. It could help boost my heating (when I turn it on)

OK, admittedly I'm a little way off turning my central heating on for the first time this season, but with the energy price cap due to rise again in October, I'm definitely keen on any low-energy options that will boost the benefits of my heating, without costing me a fortune.

While it can seem counter-intuitive to use a fan in the colder months, it can be a great tactic for helping to circulate warm air around your home, using the same logic as radiator fans.

When the time comes to put my heating on, I plan on putting my fan near my radiator, and on the lowest speed setting, to help help evenly and quickly distribute the heat around the room. If the room feels warmer more quickly, I'm less likely to resort to having it on for longer than necessary, keeping my energy bills as low as possible.

FAQs

Do you need to use a fan all year round?

Whether you'll get the benefits of using a fan all year round will depend on your home and how it handles moisture and heat distribution.

If you have no issues with excess moisture and your heating emitters work like a dream, and burping your home gets rid of any stuffiness, then you might not need your fan over the colder months and you can probably quite happily pack it away.

However, even though you won't need it for cooling, if your fan can keep your home feeling fresh and help your dehumidifier work more effectively then it's worth keeping it at the ready. Fortunately, many of the models you can buy today are relatively unobtrusive, quiet, and inexpensive to run.

The White Company advent calendar for 2026 just landed on the brand’s website and in stores – and it’s time to go, go, go! This calendar famously sells out super quickly which is why you need to act fast if you want to bag one for yourself or a loved one, as it makes for a beautiful gift, too.

Every year, the Ideal Home team and I declare it as one of the best advent calendars – many of my colleagues including our Digital Editor, Rebecca Knight would argue that it’s in fact the best. And this year, it’s indeed better than ever before. But the best part is that the £195 price point remains unchanged for a few years running now.

The 2026 advent calendar features a new look with a fresh hand-drawn design depicting a London townhouse with a Christmas wreath decorating the front door framed with a Christmas tree on either side of the entrance. The 2025 advent calendar from The White Company was adorned with a large Christmas bauble instead – and I must say the new design alone elevates the calendar in my opinion.

But that’s not all – there’s more! Aside from the new design, there’s newness even when it comes to what’s hiding inside the calendar. The overall worth of all the included products is £336 - but you’re getting them for £195 - and there are some changes compared to previous years. But the one thing that remains unchanged is that you’re still getting 25 little treats – so you get a gift even on Christmas day.

For one, there are seven full-sized products this time around – which is more than ever before. These include favourites like the Winter signature candle, Lime & Bay signature candle and the Seychelles bath and shower gel.

There are also new products added to the repertoire like the Wild Mint hand wash - the Wild Mint collection is a newcomer to The White Company offering this year - while the Seychelles shampoo and Seychelles conditioner (the brand’s bestselling scent) are both exclusive products to the calendar. You won’t be able to find them anywhere else.

12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar

If you, like me, love The White Company for its best scented candles more than anything else then the 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar might be a better fit for you.

Selling for £100, the calendar is filled with 12 70g mini candles in both seasonal and bestselling scents including the popular Seychelles and Christmas-ready Mistletoe and Fir Tree.

The beautiful box the calendar comes in features a similar design as the big advent calendar with a wreath-adorned front door of a townhouse.

Whether you decide to go for the sellout big advent calendar or the more compact 12 days of Christmas set, I advise to make your purchase soon while you still can.

This week, BookTok has been going crazy for the viral Dunelm Ria Rotating Bookcase (£149), and given its expensive look and dual function, it’s easy to see why.

If you ask me, a bookcase is an essential piece of furniture. And if you’re looking for furniture that also nails the latest home decor trends, then the Ria Rotating Bookcase might just be perfect for you.

Not only does it have a luxe look, but it can double as a bedside table or side table, making it a great choice for small homes. Here’s why I added it straight to my wish list.

I’ll admit that in my home, I’ve taken ‘bookshelf wealth’ to the next level. My bookshelf is buckling under the weight of my personal library, and rather than get rid of my books, I’ve decided I just need another bookcase. And while scrolling the FYP on TikTok, I kept seeing viral videos of the Ria Rotating Bookcase.

‘It’s absolutely amazing, I know it’s expensive but sooo worth it !!’ said one comment.

‘On my way to Dunelm right now!!’ said another.

And I’m with them. As the renter of a small flat, the Ria bookcase immediately stood out to me because of its space-saving potential. Not only can it be used as a side table or bedside table, but its rotating inner console means you can store a multitude of books. This clever feature means you can maximise storage space without taking up much space - ideal if you have a small bedroom or living room.

Not to mention that the dark wood finish of the bookcase gives it a stylish old-money look. While £149 isn’t exactly a bargain buy for a bookshelf, I do think this Dunelm looks more expensive than it is. It’s also available in a lighter oak effect, if you’re not a fan of the dark wood trend.

Not to mention, the Ria Rotating Bookcase has already racked up some rave reviews online, with shoppers complimenting the look and convenience of the bookshelf.

‘Absolutely delighted with my table, fits perfectly between my armchairs and can't wait to fill with my books. It took a while to put together with help but instructions were easy to follow,’ said one.

‘Brilliant combination of table & bookcase all compact in one. Ideal if you haven’t got space, or if you want a trendy side table. I needed both so it was the perfect solution.’

A few reviews do mention this Ria bookcase can be difficult to put together. So I’ve tracked down a few more rotating bookcases you can shop online.

Dunelm's Ria Rotating Bookcase is seriously stylish and perfect for keeping your favourite books stored and safe in a small space.

With summer coming to an end, there are plenty of jobs to be getting on with in the garden right now. And one task worth tackling before it gets too cold is overcrowded beds and borders.

Separating congested plants will help to rejuvenate older plants, free up growing space and give you new plants that can be replanted elsewhere, so knowing which clump-forming perennials will benefit from dividing in September and how best to do it is key.

‘It’s always best to separate plants in early September to give them time to establish before any hard frost hits,’ says Craig Wilson, co-founder and gardening expert at Gardeners Dream. ‘There are a few signs to watch out for that mean your perennials will need to be separated. For instance, if the plant is growing fewer or smaller blooms, beginning to look overcrowded, or the plant is looking bare from the middle, then you need to think about dividing perennials like these now.’

Find out which perennials will benefit from being divided below.

1. Daylilies

‘Daylilies are prone to becoming congested, which results in reduced flowering, so they will benefit from dividing in September,’ says David Denyer, flower and garden expert at eflorist. ‘To divide, lift the clump carefully and separate the individual fans by hand or with a sharp knife. Make sure that each division has a good section of roots attached. Replant as soon as possible and keep the soil moist while the plants establish.’

‘Rather than dividing everything on a set schedule, I’d first assess how the plant is performing,’ says Matt J Adams, founder and lead gardener at The Relentless Gardener. ‘If it is healthy and flowering well, there is usually no need to disturb it and sacrifice late-season colour when the plant can be divided once flowering has finished.

‘But for clumps that are becoming overcrowded or losing vigour, September can provide a good opportunity to lift, divide and re-establish them before winter.’

Where to buy daylilies:

• Gardeners Dream: Enjoy the bold orange tones of these Hemerocallis 'Orange' daylilies, £16.78.
• Primrose: Or go for these dramatic purple Hemerocallis Olive Bailey Langdon Daylily, £16.80.

2. Hostas

‘Hostas form dense root clumps that can be divided every four to five years when overcrowded,’ says Chris Bonnet, founder of Gardening Express. ‘Once separated, replant them in partial shade.’

‘Hostas are easy to divide once their foliage starts to die back,’ advises David. ‘Don’t be afraid to dig up the entire clump and use a sharp spade or knife to separate it into smaller sections. Try to make sure each division has a healthy portion of roots and several shoots, then replant at the same depth as before and water thoroughly.’

‘When dividing perennials, it’s best to water plants thoroughly before lifting them, ideally the day before,’ suggests Matt. ‘This makes the soil easier to work and reduces the amount of stress placed on the plant. And have everything ready before you start – a garden fork, sharp spade or clean knife, gloves and somewhere prepared to replant the divisions.’

‘Dig around the outside of the clump with a fork, keeping slightly further away from the crown than you think you need to. Work around the plant and gently lever it from the ground rather than pulling hard on the stems.’

‘Once it is lifted, remove some of the loose soil so you can see how the roots and shoots are arranged. This is important because you want every new section to have a healthy piece of crown and a good amount of roots.’

Where to buy hostas:

• Thompson & Morgan: Try this assorted Hosta Collection, from £9.99.
• Gardeners Dream: Stunning with its variegated leaves, try this Hosta 'Wide Brim, £9.58.

Shop these useful garden tools

3. Cone flowers

‘Coneflowers (or echinacea) benefit from being divided when mature clumps become crowded or lose vigour,' advises Chris. 'Lift and split the roots gently, then replant promptly in a sunny garden border and well-drained soil.'

‘How you split a clump depends on the plant,’ says Matt. ‘Smaller, fibrous-rooted clumps can often be teased apart by hand, whereas a large, established clump may need two garden forks placed back-to-back and used as levers. For particularly tough rootballs, a sharp spade or knife will make a much cleaner cut.’

‘Don’t be afraid of making a decisive cut – repeatedly hacking at a rootball can cause more damage than one clean division. I also wouldn’t try to make dozens of tiny plants. Larger, healthy divisions with several shoots and a strong root system will generally establish much more quickly than very small pieces,' adds Matt. 'If the centre of an old clump has become woody, weak or dead, discard that section and concentrate on the vigorous outer portions.’

Where to buy coneflowers:

• Crocus: Go for the hot orange tones of this Echinacea 'Flame Thrower', £12.79.
• Gardening Express: Or go pink with this Echinacea purpurea Magnus - Compact Purple Cone Flower, £12.99.

4. Shasta daisies

‘Shasta daisies can become congested after a few years, so divide them every two to three years to encourage growth, better flowering and gain extra perennial plants for free,' says Chris.

‘Replanting is just as important as dividing,’ advises Matt. ‘Try to replant the divisions as quickly as possible so that the roots don’t have an opportunity to dry out. Prepare the new planting hole first, making it wide enough to accommodate the roots naturally rather than forcing them into a small space. To help the roots re-establish, it’s always best to add some bonemeal to the hole as well to strengthen roots for better chances of survival during spring and summer.'

'Plant each division at roughly the same depth as it was growing originally,’ adds Matt. 'The crown should not be buried deeply, as this can lead to rotting and poor growth. Firm the soil gently around the roots and then give the plant a thorough watering.’

Where to buy shasta daisies:

• J. Parker's: Enjoy masses of blooms with these Leucanthemum x superbum 'Silver Princess', from £7.99.
• Thompson & Morgan: Or go for this frilly petalled variety Leucanthemum 'Crazy Daisy', from £7.99.

5. Asters

‘Asters can become overcrowded over time, so divide established clumps every few years to help them grow well,’ suggests Chris. ‘September is a good time to separate and replant the healthiest sections.’

‘Good aftercare is just as important as the division itself,’ advises Matt. ‘Keep newly planted sections consistently moist during dry spells while they establish, and once they are settled, give them the nutrients they need to support healthy roots, shoots and flowering. A liquid feed can be an easy way to maintain plants through the growing season without overcomplicating your feeding routine.’

‘For flowering plants, I use Blooms Booster All-Purpose Liquid Plant Feed with Seaweed, from £9.50, from The Relentless Gardener, as part of that approach. It is formulated with higher potassium to support flower growth while keeping nitrogen lower to avoid putting too much emphasis on foliage. It also contains 20% liquid seaweed and can be applied every three to four weeks, making it a simple option for keeping flowering plants fed through the season.'

‘A light mulch of well-rotted garden compost around, but not directly against, the crown can also help retain moisture and improve the soil.’

Where to buy asters:

• Amazon: Enjoy a variety of colourful plants with this Aster Perennial set, £19.99.
• Primrose: Super-pretty, try this Aster × Frikartii Mönch | Michaelmas Daisy, £4.49.

6. Black-eyed susans

‘Black-eyed Susans are vigorous spreaders and may need dividing every three to four years to prevent overcrowding,’ says Chris. ‘Split established clumps and replant with plenty of space in flower beds to thrive.’

‘Black-eyed Susans (or rudbeckias) will need dividing every few years,’ advises David. ‘When lifting, be sure to keep as much of the root system intact as possible before separating into smaller sections. Have some well-prepared soil ready to replant them in and water them thoroughly to encourage strong root development.’

Where to buy black-eyed susans:

• B&Q: Go for these sunny yellow Rudbeckia Goldsturm - Black-eyed Susan x 3, £25.99.
• Gardeners Dream: Or try this bold alternative Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar', from £7.68 for a 9cm pot.

7. Hardy geraniums

‘Hardy geraniums can quickly form large clumps, so dig around the plant and lift it from the soil so you can gently tease the roots apart,’ advises David. ‘Sometimes the root ball can be dense, if so, use a sharp spade to divide it into manageable sections.’

‘When dividing plants, choose a cool, cloudy day if possible and avoid dividing during particularly hot or dry weather,’ says Matt. ‘Don’t work on soil that is waterlogged either. If September is exceptionally wet, it’s better to wait until conditions improve or postpone the job until spring.’

‘It’s also worth remembering that not every perennial wants to be divided at the same time. Summer-flowering herbaceous perennials, like salvias, are often good candidates for autumn division, while some spring-flowering plants are better divided after flowering. And if something is still looking fantastic in September, there is no need to disturb it simply because the calendar says so,’ adds Matt.

‘Done at the right time, division is one of the simplest ways to give an ageing perennial a new lease of life. You get a healthier, more vigorous plant, prevent overcrowding and potentially turn one established clump into several – all without spending another penny - so a great budget garden idea.’

Where to buy hardy geraniums:

• Gardening Express: Fill your borders with these easy to grow Geranium Rozanne - 'Jolly Bee' Hardy Geranium, from £6.97.
• Thompson & Morgan: Or enjoy a variety of different plants with this Geranium Hardy Mix, from £14.99.

8. Bearded irises

‘Bearded irises benefit a lot from regular division as their rhizomes become congested,’ says David. ‘To do this, carefully lift the plant and separate healthy rhizomes, you can discard any damaged or diseased sections. Replant the healthy pieces so that the rhizomes sit close to the soil surface rather than being buried deeply.’

'When dividing any plant, always use a clean, sharp spade or knife to make clean cuts and don’t make divisions too small. Larger, healthy sections will generally establish more quickly and give you a stronger plant the following year,’ adds David.

Where to buy bearded iris:

• Crocus: In pink and purple tones that look super-pretty, try this Iris 'Burgermeister' bearded iris, from £7.99.
• Suttons: Or go for the deep burgundy colour of this Iris 'Pass the Wine' (Re-Blooming) bearded iris, from £9.99.

So now is the time to think about dividing congested perennials to keep them healthy and gain new plants in the process.

M&S has just launched a new collection of zipped duvet covers, and they're a game-changer for hassle-free bedding.

What's more, this new bedding collection isn't just practical; it's also one of the most stylish autumn bedding ranges I've seen so far this year.

Plus, prices for one of the collection's star bedding sets – the M&S Brushed Cotton Melange Printed Geo Bedding Set – start from just £30.

If you're looking to cosy up your bed, ready for the 'ber' seasons of September, October, November, and December, I think M&S is the place to shop this autumn.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I always choose M&S as one of my top recommendations for where to buy bedding.

In my opinion, the brand's bedding reliably offers good looks, value for money, and ease of care. Every season, M&S nails stylish design, affordable prices, and practical materials that wash well.

However, this season, I think M&S has added another convincing reason to shop its bedding range. Namely: it's ditched faffy buttonhole or popper duvet closures, and replaced them with zips.

I've done the math and Marks & Spencer's has over 60 zipped duvet covers in its collection this autumn. That's more than I've ever seen at any retailer, and if you're in favour of hassle-free bedding, this is a big deal.

After all, there's a reason that coverless duvets are currently taking the bedding market by storm, and that reason is the promise of faff-free laundry days.

Are coverless duvets a good idea? Personally, I'm not sure they suit everyone. But their popularity is definitely a sign that we're all looking for ways to make our lives easier, and that includes time-saving bedding choices.

I doubt that any of us would name changing a duvet cover as one of our favourite household tasks, and there's no denying that simply zipping up a duvet cover is quicker and easier than forcing ten buttons (that never seem to fit) through ten buttonholes (and then constantly rebuttoning them every time one pops undone).

Plus, the expansion of M&S's zipped duvet cover range means that the brand's zipped bedding sets now include some *very* stylish options. We saw a curated edit of the autumn bedding collection at M&S's Press Show earlier in the year, and the Ideal Home team was definitely impressed.

Both the £30 M&S Brushed Cotton Melange Printed Geo Bedding Set and my personal favourite, the uber-autumnal M&S Checkerboard Gauze Jacquard Bedding Set, nail one of this autumn's hottest bedding trends.

From bedroom rug trends to what goes on the bed, design experts say geometrics are one of the key looks of the season. And when those checkerboard geometrics are paired with this autumn's most stylish colourways – moss green and aubergine – the effect is an instant bedroom upgrade.

That said, geometrics aren't the only bedding to benefit from M&S's new hassle-free zip closures. I've rounded up some more of my favourites below.

Shop zipped duvet covers at M&S

Committed home renovators David and Andrew Harrison-Colley (better known on Instagram as The Home Boys) are part of Ideal Home's new Open House contributors, sharing their thoughts on making a home together and living through the tricky parts. See the rest of their articles here.

Every breakage, delay and awkward layout at Owls Cottage has taught us something about our own home – because a house that has to work for strangers can't hide behind good intentions.

Changeover day at Owls Cottage always starts with the same walk-through: strip the beds, check the bins, count the wine glasses. Last month we got to six out of eight and stopped counting. We didn't need to see the pieces in the recycling to know what had happened. We just walked to the garage, opened a box, and put out two more.

Owls Cottage sits next door to our own cottage, and for the last few years it's paid its way as a holiday-let while we've worked on the house we actually live in. Same postcode, same taste, completely different brief. Our own home only has to survive us. Owls Cottage has to survive whoever's booked it that week – and unlike us, they've never been told which floorboard creaks or which tap needs a firm hand.

That's the real difference, and it's taught us more than we expected. A well-designed room shouldn't need its quirks explained to you. Every choice we've made at Owls Cottage has had to hold up without us standing next to it, translating.

Lesson one: replaceable doesn't have to mean disposable

The wine glasses that came with the cottage originally were a fairly delicate, matching set – the kind you'd choose for your own dinner table without thinking twice. They didn't last. After replacing a few, we gave up on matching altogether and switched to vintage cut-glass instead.

It turns out our local charity shops are full of the stuff – heavy, faceted, no two quite the same, usually 50p to £1 a glass. We pick up little hauls whenever we spot a good one and keep the spares in the garage, which now contains what is probably an unnecessarily well-stocked emergency wine-glass department. When one breaks, we swap in a replacement from the box, and nobody notices it wasn't part of the original set – because there never really was an "original set" worth being precious about.

The glasses look better than the ones they replaced. They also cost less than a pound to replace instead of a tenner and a wait for delivery. We hadn't expected those two things to line up quite so neatly.

Lesson two: the least disruptive option can still be the durable one

The cottage bathroom came with grey patterned wall tiles that had dated badly, though they were still stuck fast to the wall. Pulling them off would have meant a much bigger job than we could risk – tiles that well-attached tend to take plaster with them on the way out, and we didn't have an open-ended timeline to deal with it if they did.

We considered painting over them, but weren't convinced a painted finish would hold up to daily use in a bathroom we wouldn't be keeping a constant eye on. Because the existing tiles were sound and firmly bonded, we used Kerakoll Keragrip Eco, a primer that rolls onto suitable existing tiles and creates a key for the new adhesive to bond to. It only works over a stable base – you're not skipping the prep, you're skipping the demolition. That meant no risk to the plaster underneath, and a job we could finish in the gap between bookings. We found green zellige tiles heavily reduced at the Topps Tiles Outlet and tiled straight over the old grey ones.

It's not really a holiday-cottage problem. Anyone with a bathroom they can't take out of action for a fortnight – which is most people, most of the time - is weighing the same thing: the most correct fix against the one that actually gets finished on time. We liked the result so much that when it came to our own main bathroom, we used the same zellige tiles again.

Having already lived with them at the cottage, we knew exactly what we were getting into our own home, instead of guessing from a sample tile.

Lesson three: build in flexibility before you need it

The second bedroom at the cottage has two single beds that get reconfigured most weeks – twins for one booking, pushed together into a super-king for the next, depending on who's staying. Two separate headboards would never have read as one piece once the beds were joined, and unless they were fixed to the beds themselves, they'd have been genuinely clunky to shift every changeover.

So we built one padded headboard that spans the full width of the wall instead. MDF panels cut to size at our local B&Q, upholstered in fabric from a local fabric shop, foam and spray adhesive bought online to keep the cost down – nowhere near what a custom-built version would have cost. It's hung on a French cleat, so in theory it lifts straight off if it ever needs recovering or repairing. We haven't had to test that part yet, but with beds changing over weekly, it was never going to be a headboard we could afford to make fiddly.

Whichever way the beds are arranged, the wall itself effectively becomes the headboard. It's a small bit of joinery, but it's changed how we think about our own bedroom too – we're planning something similar there once we finally get round to finishing it, useful for any room that has to earn its keep two different ways, not just a guest room booked by strangers.

Designing for the unfamiliar

None of this came from working only on our own house. When it's just the two of us living somewhere, a mistake is an inconvenience – an ugly tile, a job we'll get round to eventually.

At the cottage, the same mistake shows up on someone else's holiday. That's forced us to design for people who don't know the house's quirks, which turns out to be a genuinely different skill from designing for people who do.

It's changed what we're willing to risk closer to home, too - though not in the way you might expect. Owls Cottage hasn't taught us to buy worse things for it; it's taught us to tell the difference between irreplaceable and hard-working. The irreplaceable pieces tend to stay at home. The cottage gets things that can take everyday use, be replaced without fuss, and still feel like they belong there.

If you ever come round for dinner and your glass looks a little more interesting than ours, there's a reasonable chance it's on secondment from Owls Cottage. It may also be nicer than ours – which is perhaps the clearest proof that practical doesn't have to look practical.

Although the sun may still be (slightly) shining, there’s no denying that the seasons are changing. The days are getting shorter, mornings are getting colder, and it’s definitely getting damper. And that’s only going to get worse as the weeks go by.

Of course, knowing how to get rid of damp will be key during the autumn and winter months. But certain rooms in the house are naturally more moisture-prone than others, and, unfortunately, many of our bad shower habits are making things worse by creating the perfect breeding ground for mould to develop and spread in the bathroom.

As Emma Mannion, Cleaning Expert and Product Development Scientist at Astonish, explains, ‘The tricky part is that it usually builds slowly, so a lot of people only spot the problem once the black marks have already appeared.’ But if you tackle your bad habits now, you can focus on prevention rather than the cure.

1. Letting moisture sit

Showering flings water everywhere, from the tiles and shower screen to the floor itself. And while it can be easy to run from the bathroom to your bedroom without a second thought as to what you leave behind, people with consistently clean bathrooms never let this moisture sit for too long.

Emma says, ‘The biggest mistake is letting moisture sit after every shower. Water left on screens, tiles and sealant gives mould the damp surface it needs to spread, so a quick squeegee or wipe-down makes more difference than people realise.’

If you want to be extra efficient, removing this moisture is one of the cleaning tasks you can actually do in the shower (with the water off, of course), using a squeegee and a cloth to reach every nook and cranny. Personally, I always use an absorbent, streak-free cloth like these Marigold 2 x Squeaky Clean Microfibre Cloths (£6.78 at Amazon).

2. Scrunching up towels

When it’s damp outside and damp inside the bathroom after showering, scrunching up towels won't help the situation. This is echoed by Samantha Lawson, Bathroom Design Expert at Drench, who says we need to focus on keeping towels fresh and dry in between uses.

‘Because bathrooms are naturally warm and humid, leaving a wet towel folded or scrunched limits airflow, meaning it takes much longer to dry. This extended dampness allows mildew to form, resulting in a sour, musty odour that is incredibly difficult to wash out,’ she explains. And if those damp towels are left on or up against tiles, this can cause damp in the room itself, too.

It may be that switching up your towel storage idea helps with this, and Samantha advises, ‘Allow your towels to dry as flat as possible, or better yet, place them on a heated towel rail. Make sure they are 100% dry before folding them away.’ And if you have a small heated towel rail, using hooks like these Set of 2 Black Magnetic Hooks (£12 at Next) can instantly double your space.

3. Closing the bathroom up

Alongside rogue water from the shower itself, one of the biggest causes of damp and mould in a bathroom is excess steam. And, ideally, you want to get rid of the steam as soon as possible - instead of trapping it inside the bathroom to condense, form water droplets, and settle on surfaces.

This steam is especially damaging if you’re trying to stop condensation in a windowless bathroom, which is why Emma urges everyone to open windows (if they can) and use extractor fans for as long as possible after a shower. She also suggests keeping the bathroom door open once the room has cooled to keep the air circulating.

If you’re guilty of closing the bathroom door immediately, it may also be worth utilising moisture-absorbing bathroom plants and considering whether you can use a dehumidifier in a bathroom. After all, it’s important to use the right type of dehumidifier to ensure it’s as safe as possible.

4. Using too many products

Everyone has their own take on what essentials they need in the shower, from shower gels to shampoos. And while you can technically use as many as you want, you need to be conscious of how these products affect your bathroom - especially if you want to keep your shower damp and mould-free.

Samantha explains, ‘Plumbing blockages are actually the leading cause of bathroom complaints across the UK, and they are a massive source of nasty, musty odours. Over the summer, a buildup of hair, soap scum, and body oils accumulates inside the pipes. When a drain is partially blocked, water cannot flow freely, creating stagnant pools that quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria and pests.’

Come autumn and winter, pipes and drains still blocked from summer can lead to water pooling and bacterial growth, causing damp and mould. Thankfully, it’s very easy to clean a shower drain. You can use these EcoZone Drain Cleaning Sticks (£9.99 at Amazon), or pour bicarbonate of soda, followed by white vinegar, down the drain and let it sit overnight. This should break down any stubborn grime.

5. Not giving furniture enough space

No matter whether you have a tiny shower cubicle or a whole wet room, there’s a high chance that you also have some furniture in your bathroom, like a bathroom vanity or a laundry basket. And while these are essential for a tidy bathroom, they can aid mould build-up.

Samantha warns, ‘When we push them completely flush against the bathroom walls, we cut off vital air circulation. Moisture from humid showers settles in these narrow gaps, creating dark, damp pockets where mildew and mould thrive completely unnoticed.’ In fact, this is often why most people end up with mouldy grout and silicone sealant.

Thankfully, the solution is easy. Samantha explains, ‘Move freestanding furniture and accessories slightly away from the walls to allow air to flow freely. I often recommend opting for wall-hung vanity units. Elevating your furniture off the floor not only makes your bathroom feel significantly larger and brighter, but it also eliminates awkward, unhygienic floor gaps, making it incredibly easy to keep the surrounding areas clean, dry, and damp-free.’

6. Overlooking the shower curtain

While some may think that they’re old-fashioned, there are so many amazing shower curtain ideas that are both modern and chic. But if you have one in your bathroom, you need to take care of it, as overlooking your shower curtain can lead to bigger mould problems that are harder to tackle.

‘Shower curtains constantly get wet, making them prime real estate for mould and soap scum buildup long before you notice visible signs of dirt. If your curtain is bunched up in the corner while wet, moisture becomes trapped in the folds and begins to smell damp,’ Samantha explains.

The solution here is to pull the curtain back to dry after every shower, and clean it regularly (at least once a month) to keep on top of any mould or mildew growth. Samantha says, ‘A brilliant laundry hack is to throw a couple of clean, dry bath towels into the washing machine drum along with your shower curtain. The towels provide gentle friction during the cycle, helping to scrub away slimy soap scum and mildew without damaging the curtain's fabric.’

7. Ignoring the extractor fan

Airflow and moisture extraction are key when you want to keep mould and damp out of your bathroom, and using your extractor fan is essential - even for the quickest showers. However, too many people neglect their extractor fan and don’t give it the TLC it needs, which can reduce its effectiveness and lead to moisture buildup.

‘Over the summer, dust and fluff combine with high bathroom humidity to create a thick, felt-like layer over the fan's filter and grilles. This severely restricts airflow, meaning your fan has to work twice as hard to remove half as much steam, leading to moisture settling directly on your walls,’ Samantha warns.

Because of this, it’s worth cleaning your extractor fan and its filters before autumn really rears its head. Make sure you isolate the power first, and then use either a duster or a handheld vacuum to remove any lingering dust. You can also remove the plastic cover, wash it in a solution of washing-up liquid and water, then allow it to dry and pop it back in place.

So, take this as your sign to break up with your bad bathroom habits this autumn.

Once upon a time, we were led to believe that the smaller the space - and hallways tend to be among the smallest areas of the home - the lighter the colours should be in order to make it appear bigger. But in recent times, colour experts have been moving away from that method, instead embracing the cosiness of spaces with darker shades – and it turns out that the colours to make your hallway look expensive in 2026 follow a similar pattern.

If an elevated entryway is what you’re after then the darker the hallway colour idea the better, according to the pros. ‘Colour is one of the easiest ways to create a visual story in your hallway and achieve a scheme that feels considered and expensive,’ says Helen Shaw, international director of marketing at Benjamin Moore.

What colours will make your hallway look expensive?

Going for a darker and richer colour on your entryway’s walls will not only make the space look more expensive but also more stylish and considered – that’s why it’s something interior designers always do in hallways.

But if you’re wondering exactly what shades to go for, the current burgundy colour trend is a great bet as are deep earthy greens and elegant dark blues.

‘Deep, sophisticated shades such as forest green, inky blue, rich burgundy and warm charcoal can instantly make a hallway feel more considered and luxurious,’ says Caroline Thornborough, design director at Thorndown. ‘Hallways are transitional spaces, so you can often be braver with colour than you might in a main living area.’

Helen at Benjamin Moore continues, ‘For an elevated feel, rich tones such as navy blue and olive green are a great choice. Highly saturated hues such as Van Deusen Blue and Night Owl are particularly dynamic, instantly bringing a sense of luxury to the space.’

How to use these hallway colours

It’s not just about what colours you go for but also the paint technique you opt for and what else you pair it with. That’s exactly why the experts recommend an all-encompassing colour drenching scheme.

'The key is to embrace the colour throughout the space rather than using it only on the walls,' says Rob Abrahams, founder and CEO of COAT Paints. 'Carrying the shade onto doors, skirting boards and woodwork can create a more cohesive and enveloping finish.'

Alternatively, you can pair your chosen statement shade with a lighter neutral colour if a colour-drenched hallway is a little ‘too much’ for your liking. But it’s best to avoid stark white in these instances.

‘Pair a deep shade with warm off-whites, muted stone tones or soft plaster pinks to create contrast without making the scheme feel stark,’ Caroline at Thorndown advises.

Expensive-looking hallway colour top picks

Helen concludes with a final tip, ‘Layering in tactile materials such as stone, velvet and dark woods will further enhance the sense of luxury.’

Until joining the Ideal Home team, I had never considered how a washing-up bowl can make cleaning a kitchen easier, nor that sometimes its design can be interesting, too. But now that I am well-acquainted with these facts, I’m back with another clever washing-up bowl: the ReBorn Washing Up Bowl Pro (£39, Argos).

One thing people with tidy sink areas always tend to have is some sort of clever caddy or bowl to help make the cleaning process more efficient. If you’ve always found bowls make more mess than they save (me), the ReBorn Washing Up Bowl Pro is designed to sidestep this problem.

With a clever cutlery compartment and handy drainage plug, here’s why I predict ReBorn’s new washing up bowl will be the sink of every washing up pro soon.

For a long time, the Joseph Joseph washing up bowl was a favourite amongst Ideal Home editors due to its built-in plug, which allows you to drain dirty dishwater without having to lift it up to tip it. This feature made it a great choice for people with mobility issues, as well as offering everyday convenience. You can even get an even more affordable version: Minky’s £10 washing-up bowl with plug.

ReBorn’s washing-up bowl also has the aforementioned clever plug for easy draining, but what sets it apart from the Minky and Joseph Joseph bowl is that it has a separate drainage drawer.

This drawer can be attached to the inside or outside of the bowl to store sponges and brushes, or even to drain cutlery. This space-saving feature is great for small kitchens, where you may lack the space for a separate sink caddy.

It’s been designed to fit in most sinks while holding a whopping 9L of water. It’s lightweight and durable for ease of use, and it is also dishwasher-safe, making it easy to keep it clean. If you have the space, you can also get a matching ReBorn Sink Tidy for £18.

At £39, this is definitely one of the most expensive washing-up bowls I’ve spotted, so I can appreciate it’s not a practical choice for everyone. I recently discovered foldable washing up bowls (which you can snap up for as little as £3), which, as the name suggests, fold flat when not in use, making them great for tiny kitchens, uni houses and even camping trips.

Would you invest in the ReBorn Washing Up Bowl Pro?

Cupboards are always a tricky one. On the one hand, they’re ideal for hiding everything from cleaning products to food packets and bathroom essentials. But in my experience, hiding something behind a cupboard door doesn’t always lend itself well to home organisation - which is why I was intrigued when I spotted the new Tall SlideAway Storage Caddy (£4.99 at Lakeland).

As I write, I know there are at least two cupboards in my house that will empty themselves onto the floor as soon as I open them. And as I’ve recently moved house and plan to give it a complete organisational redo, I’ve set aside some money to buy clever clutter-busters to help me along the way. Luckily for me, this option is ridiculously affordable.

Technically, this Lakeland storage caddy comes in a set, and you can buy the smaller - but wider - Short SlideAway Storage Caddy for the same price of just £4.99 at Lakeland. But for less than £10 for the pair, I still think Lakeland has just won the clutter-busting storage war.

I recently wrote about Lakeland’s under-the-sink organiser, which I immediately added to my basket. However, these two new storage caddies can offer similar storage space to the first organiser - for less money and without taking up as much space. And in my eyes, it’s also way more versatile.

While the under-the-sink organiser was largely designed for people who want tidy under-the-sink cupboards, these caddies can be used anywhere - from under the sink to your kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanity. Personally, I’d also use the taller one for paperwork in my home office.

The slimline design makes them perfect for smaller cupboards and spaces, and they even come with wheels and a handle so you can quickly pull them out and grab what you need in seconds. This means that you don’t have to reach over and grab the item you need - which, let’s face it, always seems to be right at the back.

Despite being small in footprint, they’re also still big enough to hold cleaning bottles, jars, packets, tubes, and anything else you’d like to keep separated or categorised.

Plus, I’ve already seen how pull-out caddies like this can transform cupboards from chaotic to calm in no time. That’s because Ideal Home’s Managing Editor, Thea, uses caddies just like these in her under-the-sink cupboard and beyond.

She uses the Joseph Joseph CupboardStore 2-tier Easy Access Wheeled Storage Caddy (£25 at Amazon) and the Joseph Joseph CupboardStore 2-tier Easy Access Wheeled Storage Caddy (£35 at Amazon). All in all, those caddies set her back £60.

For two very similar caddies at Lakeland, you could spend just £10. And while they don’t quite have the same bells and whistles as Joseph Joseph, they’re ideal in their simplicity.

They’ll allow you to separate everything from food items to cleaning products, and give everything a home in a cupboard for a budget price.

Alternatives to buy

I think Lakeland might be my new favourite shop for clever storage solutions!

As slow-growing evergreen shrubs, hebes don't need lots of pruning. However, an annual tidy-up can extend their life and result in more abundant blooms. Pruning can also breathe new life into an old hebe; a useful tool in your gardening arsenal.

Pruning hebes is best done in late summer – in fact, it's one of the plants to prune in August. However, it is best to wait until the flowers have faded before taking your secateurs to your hebe.

'A light prune of the whole hebe in late summer will gently hold its shape together. Annual pruning is not essential as they are slow-growing plants and tend to maintain their dome-like appearance naturally, but this can vary depending on which hebe you are choosing to grow,' says Cal Stewart, head gardener for the National Trust's Gibside.

1. Deadhead throughout the flowering season

As flowering shrubs, hebes can flower from late spring to early autumn depending on the variety and climate. Deadheading spent flowers keeps the plant tidy and encourages more blooms, rather than the plant redirecting its energy into setting seed.

Deadheading differs from pruning and simply involves snipping off the dead flowerheads. A pair of garden snips like these Kent & Stowe Garden Life Snips from B&Q are perfect for the job.

Before you start deadheading your hebe – make sure you know these deadheading mistakes to avoid.

2. Prune hebes in late summer

As one of the best low-growing evergreen shrubs, your hebe doesn't need a rigorous prune every year; however, a light trim can help maintain a clean dome shape. The best month to prune varies from hebe to hebe, but pruning hebes is generally regarded as one of the jobs to do in the garden in August.

'Hebes are naturally nice and round, needing pruning rarely. However, if you think it needs a bit of a tidy, lightly prune the outside to reform its shape with shears,' says Paul Parker, managing director at J. Parkers.

Avoid hard pruning and cutting into old wood, as this is less likely to grow back. If you have fallen victim to this or want to add more hebes to your garden, then this hebes collection from Gardening Express offers a vibrant selection of plants to brighten your garden.

Secateurs are needed for this job – Wolf-Garten RR4000 Bypass Secateurs, available on Amazon, are rated among the best secateurs of 2026.

3. Prune hebes in spring

If you miss the opportunity to prune in late summer, then you can prune in spring instead. 'Pruning hebes in April will also help prevent overcrowding and allow good air circulation throughout the plant,' says Steve Swanborough, gardening expert at Henchman. 'Generally, we recommend removing about a third of old growth for best results.'

Even if you pruned your hebe in August, take a moment to remove any dead and damaged branches that did not survive the winter.

If pruning in spring, make sure the last frost has passed – this is one of the most common pruning mistakes. You should never prune a hebe in midwinter, as this will make the plant more vulnerable to a sharp frost – potentially killing the plant.

'Although general advice is not to hard prune hebes, if you are going to replace it anyway, it can be worth trying to see if it regrows. The best time to rejuvenate a hebe is in March, just before new buds begin to form,' adds an expert from Hayloft. 'Cut back to a node about 30cm above the soil.'

We’ve all got our own personal preferences when it comes to the design of our bedrooms, whether we have a small bedroom to decorate or a larger space. Some of us like to use the blank canvas of a bedroom to stamp our personality onto it, filling it with colour and personal trinkets. Others opt to create as serene a sleep sanctuary as possible, with muted tones, comfy textures, and minimal personal clutter, like all the best five-star hotel bedrooms.

But despite the fact that taste is subjective, there are a few collective design choices that give interior professionals the serious ‘ick ’, with certain aesthetic options undeniably making them cringe.

We spoke to interior designers who design homes day in and day out, and style experts at some of the UK’s biggest interior brands, to ascertain the bedroom decor ‘icks’ they wish we’d all avoid, and how you can actually improve upon these ‘icks’ if you find yourself guilty of some of the below…

1. Busy feature walls

For Victoria Robinson, style & trend expert at Hillarys, the popular trend of a busy feature wall behind a bed is a huge ‘ick’, with the expert explaining that it can be much too busy for a space that’s meant to be so relaxing.

'A bold wallpaper idea can work brilliantly' she says. 'But when the pattern is very large, highly contrasting or clashes with the rest of the scheme, it can overwhelm a space that's supposed to feel calm and restful.'

To improve the overall ambience of the room, Victoria explains that you don’t need to abandon wallpaper, patterns or lots of colour entirely. 'I'd just opt for a softer approach,' she says. 'A subtle patterned wallpaper, textured wall finish or even just a beautifully dressed window can create just as much visual impact, without dominating the bedroom.'

Even a small pop of wallpaper over a bed as shown above will help add pattern and interest to a room without overwhelming the space.

2. Matching furniture

Some design ‘icks’ apply from room to room. And as experts explained that overly matching furniture is a living room design 'ick' - they also agree that the same distaste applies in the bedroom.

For interior designer Catherine Colegrave, creative director at Eighty Four Interiors, matching furniture can make your room look too showhome-like; rather than lived in. 'If the bed, bedside tables, chest of drawers and wardrobe all come from exactly the same range, it’s a bit of an ‘ick’ for me. It can make the room feel a bit like a furniture showroom, and appear a little flat and uninteresting,' she says.

Instead, she recommends finding pieces and furniture that feel similar to one another, but that aren’t exactly identical in style like in the bedroom shown above. 'This gives the room more character, and creates that sense that everything has been properly thought through and considered, rather than simply choosing a matching set,' Catherine says. 'I think a bedroom feels so much more interesting when you layer different materials, finishes and shapes that still sit beautifully together.'

3. A TV in the bedroom

Though it may not technically be a design choice, for Catherine, a TV in the bedroom can seriously ruin the otherwise beautiful design you’ve chosen for your room, particularly if it really dominates the space. 'Bedrooms should feel calm and relaxing, and a big black rectangle on the wall can really take away from that,' she explains.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a TV in your bedroom! There are some fantastic bedroom TV ideas out there to help hide it away.

'If you do want a TV in the bedroom - which is, for many people, a really nice addition - I think it’s really worth looking at ways to conceal it, maybe behind sliding doors, within some joinery, or even having it built within an ottoman at the end of the bed,' Catherine suggests.

4. An all-white bedroom

“For me, the biggest bedroom ‘ick’ is when everything is so pale and neutral that the room ends up feeling a little lifeless,” Kate Palmer, Creative Director at The Painted Furniture Company says.

She explains that the ‘ick’, for her, lies in the lack of variety and texture in a bedroom like this. 'There’s nothing wrong with a calm bedroom, but if every element in your bedroom is beige, cream or white and there’s very little contrast, it can lack the warmth that makes a bedroom feel inviting,' Kate says. 'I think bedrooms work best when they feel restful but still have a sense of personality; they don’t need to be completely colourless to be calming.'

Luckily, this particular ‘ick’ is easily solved with some clever purchases. Kate explains, 'I’d introduce colour through one or two key pieces of furniture. A painted chest of drawers or bedside tables in a deeper or more characterful shade can completely change the feel of the room.

'You can then pick up that colour in smaller details such as cushions, lamps or artwork.'

5. Items that are too small for the room

Choosing items that are out of proportion with the rest of the room is one of Catherine’s biggest design ‘icks’ in the bedroom. It's something she says makes the room look less stylish and considered.

And this applies to so many different bedroom items, Catherine tells us.

'Proportion makes such a difference,' she says. 'For example, if you’ve got a king or super king bed and use standard pillows or small cushions, everything can start to look a bit lost; for me, larger beds need large pillows, rather than standard ones.'

'I’m also not keen on a little throw that just sits across the very end of the bed. I love a lightweight throw that’s generous enough to fall down either side. It just looks so much more elegant,' Catherine continues.

Tiny bedside furniture is another of Catherine’s lines in the sand. 'Really small bedside tables are another ‘ick’! Especially when everything ends up piled on top of them. If you’ve got the space, I’d always go a little more substantial and ideally have some proper storage, so all the chargers, books and everyday bits can be tucked away. It makes the whole bedroom feel much calmer,' she explains.

The final design of a bedroom will all come down to personal taste, but if you're struggling to put your finger on something that's currently not working in you room, it might just be one the things on this list.

Don’t chastise me; I know it’s September, but Next’s Gingerbread House Light Up Wooden Tree Skirt (£35) has just come back into stock and given that it sold out just after its launch in September last year, you’d be foolish not to snap it up now.

I’m perfectly aware it’s a little early to be discussing Christmas decorating ideas, but this stunning tree skirt sold like hotcakes last year, leaving many shoppers disappointed and looking for alternatives.

So, to avoid similar feelings of disappointment, here’s why you should forget that it's only September and consider picking up the must-have Christmas decoration while you can - because I bet it will sell out again.

A tree skirt is one of the easiest ways to mask the bottom of your best artificial Christmas tree and make the space look tidier. Last September, Next’s Gingerbread House Light Up Wooden Tree Skirt went viral on TikTok, and it was easy to see why.

The wooden skirt is made up of a row of beautiful embellished ‘gingerbread houses’, each with built-in LED lights twinkling through the windows. The finished result makes up a beautiful, cosy scene that is perfect for the upcoming festivities.

The skirt has a traditional Scandi-look, which is perfect for the purist Christmas decorators amongst us, who are less keen on the bold and bright decorations that have been trending over the past couple of years.

For me, it's the battery-operated twinkling lights that really sell the skirt. They add a whole new level of cosy to the decoration, and are part of a wider trend I’ve noticed over the past few years. M&S’s light-up candles and even light-up cushions have demonstrated the importance of cosy lighting at Christmas, and a light-up tree skirt provides a refreshing way to embrace the glow.

Next’s tree skirt is 180cm long, designed to wrap around the base of your tree. If your tree is too large, you can position the skirt at the front of the tree, making it largely universal. Next also says this decoration is foldable, so you can neatly store it away until it's time to decorate your home for Christmas (and pack away afterwards).

With the arrival of Next’s viral gingerbread tree skirt, I’ve fallen into a little bit of a rabbit hole exploring the rest of Next’s Christmas shop 2026. Here are a few more Christmas accessories I think will sell fast.

What I know about this tree skirt is that it won't be available for long. So, if you like what you see, don't hestitate to check out now.

Whatever kind of air environment you want to create in your home, you can probably buy an appliance to help you achieve it. Whether it's one of the best fans to help circulate fresh air, a purifier to remove allergens or a dehumidifier to help banish damp, there's a product solution.

However, if you need a fan or air conditioner in the summer, a heater and dehumidifier in the autumn and winter, as well as a purifier all year round, then that's a lot of appliances to find space for and it can easily feel like clutter.

More and more, you can find these functions grouped together in single appliances, which is great from a space-saving point of view, but is a combined appliance really as good as a single function one? As well as having tried individual and multi-purpose appliances myself, I've also reached out to the experts to weigh up the pros and cons.

What are the benefits of having a fan, heater, air conditioner and dehumidifier in one appliance?

There are lots of benefits at choosing an appliance that offers multiple different functions.

Firstly, despite the fact that they are more expensive than single function alternatives, multi-function appliances that offer cooling, purification, heating and dehumidification are usually more cost-effective than buying each of the appliances individually.

Cost-per-use is also usually lower too as you could use the multi-function appliance year round, rather than just for a few weeks depending on the season. For example, Dyson's HP1 combines fan, heater and air purifier functionality in a single appliance. While it costs more than £500, you could easily spend that buying a fan, heater and purifier of similar quality.

In addition to making sense if you intend to use the extra functions over the course of the year, they 'can reduce upfront outlay versus buying separate appliances, cut clutter, and save storage space,' says Meaco's Chief Product Officer, Chris Michael. 'They can also reduce running costs in practice because you can run the mode you actually need at the time.'

What are the disadvantages of having a fan, heater, air conditioner and dehumidifier in one appliance?

But while there are undoubtedly benefits to buying a single appliance that offers a range of functions, there are some downsides to consider before you buy.

Multi-purpose units can be sizable, bulky and heavy, especially if they have air conditioning functionality. While they may still be portable, this can make them challenging to move up and downstairs. This is especially the case when it comes to portable air conditioners.

It may also be that you don't have use for all of the functions your unit provides. For example, if your home doesn't struggle with excess moisture then you might not need a dehumidification function. You might also be able to use a single function appliance throughout the year (I'm not packing away my fan just yet and plan on using it frequently over autumn).

Or if your home is well insulated and holds onto heat well, a heating function may not get used that often, in which case, it may be more cost effective to buy an appliance that is dedicated to the function that you need. You might also already have a couple of air quality appliances, in which case you may be doubling up unnecessarily.

But for me, based on my own experience, the biggest downside is that not all of the functions on a combined appliance are as good as their standalone counterparts. I find this particularly apparent on portable air conditioners with fan and dehumidifier functionality. The air conditioner is usually the star of the show, while the fan especially is louder and not as powerful as a standalone fan. I always tend to see the dehumidifier as a bonus feature rather than of equal standard as the air conditioner.

Ideal Home's Senior Digital Editor Jenny McFarlane (who's been reviewing and writing about air quality products for years), agrees, saying: 'I'm always a little wary of appliances that try to do too many things at once, and that's true of dehumidifiers with built in air purification.

'I've tested enough dehumidifiers to know that more features don't necessarily make for a better appliance, because most importantly, a dehumidifier needs to be really good at getting excess moisture out of the air.

'Having an air purifier function is a really nice bonus though, but it wouldn't sway me to buy a combo appliance if the extraction performance isn't as powerful as it should be.'

Finally, it's important to think about your air quality needs around your home before deciding on a combined or single function appliance. Maybe you need a dehumidifier in a poorly insulated part of your home, and an air purifier in the bedroom to help with allergies. If that's the case then a single appliance may not be suitable.

Instead a dedicated dehumidifier for the room that has issues with excess moisture, and a separate air purifier for the bedroom would be a better and more sustainable set up. Just make sure you weigh up whether a dehumidifier or purifier will be best for your home before you commit.

What is worth buying in a single unit?

If you aren't after something whisper quiet, then opting for a dual purpose fan and heater can be an effective way to get more use our of your appliance over the course of the year. These are available in slimline designs that won't take up too much room and are usually light enough to move around with relative ease.

If you can find an air conditioner that also offers a heat mode, and you are short on storage space then it's worth investing. Air conditioners can be bulky and hard to store, but if you can find use for it over the winter months, then you don't have to worry about packing it away.

For a dehumidifier, where it's effectiveness will be paramount if you want value for money, you may find that you need a standalone appliance. However, we were very impressed with the Meaco Arete Two dehumidifier that has a purification function when we put it through it's paces.

Screen printer Hannah Carvell is one of Ideal Home's new Open House contributors, sharing her thoughts on colourful home design for a creative family to live in. See the rest of her articles here.

People often assume that because I spend my days screen printing, I must have some secret formula for putting colours together or an instinct for knowing exactly what works.

The truth is far less glamorous. My studio floor is usually littered with test prints, colour swatches and sheets of paper covered in scribbled notes. I spend an awful lot of time simply trying things to see what happens.

That's probably the greatest lesson screen printing has taught me, and it has very little to do with making art. It's taught me to trust my own eye.

When I first started screen printing, I'd often second guess myself. I'd hold two colours together and wonder whether they were supposed to work. Was that shade of pink too bright? Did mustard really belong next to lilac? Should I be choosing something a little safer?

But the more I printed, the more I realised there wasn't a rule book hidden away somewhere. Sometimes the combinations I was least certain about became my favourites, while the sensible, predictable choices felt rather flat.

I often think my test sheets are the best sheets. They're the ones where I stop trying to get everything right and simply start playing. I'll layer colours I'd never have consciously put together, combinations that, on paper, probably shouldn't work. Yet they're often the ones I love the most. It's taught me that some of the most interesting colour palettes come from letting go of the rules and trusting your instincts instead.

Now I rarely ask whether colours "go" together. Instead, I ask whether they spark some joy (Marie Kondo eat your heart out). If a combination makes me stop in my tracks in the studio, chances are it'll find its way into my home sooner or later too.

I think we can all become a little overwhelmed by trends, paint charts, instagram and all the endless advice telling us what colours we're supposed to have this year. There always seems to be another list explaining what works with what, or which shade has suddenly become outdated. Somewhere along the way it becomes surprisingly easy to stop listening to your own instincts.

My home has never really worked like that. It's a collection of things gathered over time: colourful screen prints leaning on shelves, vintage finds, family photographs, flowers from the garden and treasures found in charity shops and car boot sales. None of it was bought because it matched perfectly. It simply found its place because I loved it.

Working as a printmaker has also taught me that layering is often where the magic happens. In screen printing, each colour is printed one at a time. What looks rather ordinary after the first layer slowly comes to life as the next colours are added. Occasionally I'll peel back the paper after the final print and discover the image is even better than I'd imagined. Other times, I've added one colour too many and realise it was stronger before.

Homes are much the same. The rooms I love the most aren't the ones that were finished in a weekend. They're the ones that have evolved slowly. A chair moved from one room to another. Prints swapped between walls until they find their rightful home. A lamp bought from the local car boot sale. Layers added over months and years rather than days.

Screen printing has also made me much braver about editing. That might sound strange coming from someone who clearly likes collecting things, but editing isn't always about having less. It's about making space for the things you really love.

In the studio I'll often spend hours creating a design only to remove a tiny detail at the very end because the print is stronger without it. I'm forever starting again as a print evolves and I realise I want to take it in a different direction. It's also exactly how the drawers for my twice-yearly sample sale seem to fill up so quickly.

I've learnt to do the same at home. Every now and then I move things around, take a picture down, swap a cushion or quietly admit that something no longer belongs. It isn't because I'm chasing perfection. Quite the opposite. I'm simply making room for the pieces that still make me pause as I walk past.

However much I plan and sketch a print beforehand, it always evolves once I begin printing. Colours change, inks overlap in unexpected ways and new ideas appear halfway through. Perhaps that's why screen printing has taught me to become comfortable with uncertainty.

No matter how carefully I mix my inks, there's always a moment of anticipation when I lift the screen. Sometimes there are happy accidents that are far better than what I'd planned. Occasionally things don't work at all. Either way, I've learnt that creativity is rarely about getting everything right the first time.

Maybe that's why I've stopped worrying whether my home is ever truly finished. For years I thought one day I'd finally arrive at that perfectly decorated house where every picture was hung, every corner complete and every room exactly as I'd imagined. Now I'm not so sure I'd want to.

A home, much like a print, is always evolving. There will always be another season, another idea, another bunch of flowers picked from the garden or another slightly wonky pot to bring home from pottery class. And I rather like that. After all, the most interesting homes aren't the ones that follow every decorating rule. They're the ones that tell the story of the people who live there.

If screen printing has taught me anything, it's that the only opinion that really matters when you're creating a home is your own.

Back in the day, most homes featured a dedicated dining room, contained into one space and separated from the kitchen and the living space. But in modern homes, the boundaries between dining, cooking and living spaces are becoming increasingly more blurred. But should you have a dining room in your home? Or is there no need or use for it in this day and age?

I asked five interior experts this very question, along with what their modern dining room ideas and recommendations would be. And all of them agreed that dedicated dining rooms come with their benefits and drawbacks. While you likely won’t find a separate dining room in the majority of homes these days, whether you should have one depends on your priorities, lifestyle and the style and size of your abode.

‘The dining room has really evolved over recent years, especially as open-plan living has become more popular and the way we live is changing and becoming less formal,’ says Amanda Huber, creative director at The Dining Chair Company.

Pros of a dedicated dining room

The main benefit of having a separated dining room is that it makes sitting down to eat feel all the more special.

‘A separate dining room offers a dedicated space for dining and makes mealtimes feel more celebratory,’ says Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village. ‘They’re great for hosting guests or special occasions too. A dedicated dining room also offers separation between living and dining spaces, which has practical benefits such as keeping dining away from the noise and activity of the kitchen.’

Being separated from the rest of your home for this short time also allows for no or very little distractions which is great for taking the time to enjoy and appreciate the food and the company, be it your family, friends or even just your own.

Shelley adds, ‘However, even those with dedicated dining rooms usually also have kitchen tables for more casual everyday dining.’

Another benefit of a dining room is that it creates an opportunity for decor and design that’s a bit more ‘out there’. ‘For me, the biggest advantage of having a separate dining room is that it gives you the freedom to make a real feature of the space,’ says Adam Dugdale, creative director at Oak & More.

‘You can be more ambitious with the proportions of the table, introduce statement lighting and create a room that has its own character and atmosphere, rather than simply being another functional part of an open-plan space.’

Cons of a dedicated dining room

As modern homes tend to be on the smaller side, the available space often doesn’t allow for a standalone dining room. And this demand for dedicated space is the dining room’s biggest drawback.

‘A separate dining room can feel like a luxury if space is limited, particularly when homes need to accommodate working, relaxing and entertaining in the same footprint,’ explains Nicky Emlick, interior designer and creative director at Sofa.com.

She continues with a tip, ‘The key is to make sure the room earns its place in the home and is used regularly, rather than becoming a space that is only opened up for special occasions.’

How to make a dedicated dining room work

Nicky at Sofa.com already touched on the necessity to make sure the dining room earns its place in your home if you have one or are looking to incorporate it in the future.

Sophie Chapman, associate and interior designer at The Vawdrey House, agrees, ‘The downside is that a formal dining room can become underused if it doesn't reflect the way the household lives. It also takes up valuable floor area, so in a smaller property you need to ask whether that space could serve the family better in another way.’

‘If you do have a separate dining room, we like to make sure it can work beyond dinner. Good storage, a generous table and appropriate lighting can allow it to double as somewhere for homework, working from home, games or larger family gatherings,’ she says.

This can be done with the right dining room table ideas, as well as storage furniture including dining benches like Next’s Aldridge storage bench.

What’s the best dining room alternative?

If a separate dining room is simply not an option, there are other ways you can create a dining area that feels special.

‘With the continued appeal of open-plan living and the pressure on space in many homes, we’re seeing less demand for a traditional, dedicated dining room,’ Nicky at Sofa.com says. ‘For many homes, a dining area within the kitchen is a much more practical solution. A well-proportioned table can act as the heart of the home, providing a place to eat, work, entertain and gather throughout the day.

'In smaller spaces, it’s about choosing furniture that works hard without compromising on comfort, a properly sized table and comfortable chairs can transform even a compact area into a sociable dining space.’

A dining area within an open-plan living room is another great alternative. ‘Having a well-designed and defined dining area in an open-plan living space will be really effective, creating a natural transition between the various zones without compromising on functionality,’ Amanda at The Dining Chair Company says.

'Extending tables are always a great option as they allow you to accommodate more guests when needed without taking up unnecessary space on a day-to-day basis. Dining benches are becoming increasingly popular as they help to create a more relaxed atmosphere.'

My top dining picks

These picks will work both in traditional dining rooms, as well as modern, open-plan dining spaces.

‘Ultimately, people are prioritising flexibility over formality. Rather than having a room reserved only for dining alone, they want spaces that can work harder and adapt through the day,’ Amanda at The Dining Chair Company concludes.

Wondering whether you can plant allium bulbs in September? Preparations for spring start sooner than you'd expect;

The best time to plant allium bulbs can be tricky to pin down, because the timings vary between spring flowers. According to experts, though, the ideal planting window is wider than you’d think – and there’s never been a better time to start shopping for bulbs.

So, can you plant allium bulbs in September? Here’s what you need to know.

What you'll need

The best time to plant bulbs for spring very much depends on the flower. Some, like daffodils, can be planted as soon as September arrives – but others, like tulips, are best kept away until November.

Can you plant alliums in September, though? I’ve been wondering it myself, and as it turns out, we do have the green light for getting the bulbs in the ground this month.

‘For anyone wanting a head start on next year’s colour, this is when planting your spring bulbs should be high on the list,’ says B&Q’s horticulture expert, Mark Sage. ‘Prioritise daffodils, crocuses and alliums which can be planted now.’

I’ve had my eye on this award-winning allium collection from Crocus, which includes five different varieties with stunning architectural flower heads.

It’s actually a brilliant time to plant allium bulbs, since they benefit from a head start before winter arrives.

‘September is the perfect month to plant allium bulbs,’ says Charlotte Daubney, bulb expert at Taylors Bulbs. ‘Planting between September and November allows the soil to cool below 15 degrees, giving the bulbs plenty of time to establish good roots before the first frosts arrive.'

You can also plant alliums in pots this month, especially if you choose compact varieties like the white-bloomed Allium amplectens 'Graceful Beauty' (the bulbs are available to order from Thompson & Morgan). It only grows up to 30cm tall, so it;s perfectly suited to container life.

If you want them to reach their full flowering potential, you'll need to know how deep to plant your allium bulbs. You can buy bulb planters like this Kent & Stowe Hand Bulb Planter from Amazon, which includes a measurement scale on the side.

As Mark mentioned, you can plant daffodil bulbs in September, too – and if effortless displays are your kind of thing, there are plenty of low-maintenance daffodil varieties to choose from, like Narcissus 'February Gold' from Thompson & Morgan.

So, you can plant alliums in September. Time to start browsing for bulbs!

Michelle Keegan’s latest collection with Very has dropped, and if you were looking for furniture that nails the cosy, Scandi look this autumn, you’ve landed in the right place.

The actress launched her homeware and fashion lines with retailer Very back in 2017, and ever since, Michelle Keegan Home has been serving up the actress’s takes on the latest home decor trends.

Her most recent furniture launch celebrates a warm autumn colour palette paired with stunning Scandi-style design. Here are my top picks.

Michelle Keegan, while known for her roles on Coronation Street, Our Girl and Netflix’s Fool Me Once, is also well-known for her quiet luxury interior style, which she and husband Mark share on their home Instagram account @wrightyhome.

While we’ve previously been impressed with Michelle’s crisp white colour schemes and trendy, curved white sofa, her latest collection with Very, very much leans into cosy autumn aesthetics.

For example, the Esta 120cm Round Dining Table (£299), which is also my top pick, has a minimalist, Scandi design (as you would expect from Michelle), but is decked out in darker, richer autumnal colours. I particularly like the use of dark wood for the base of the table as it makes it look so expensive.

Here are the rest of my top picks...

Which pick is your favourite?

Around four months ago I started using the Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set. In my original full length review I noted that this pan set offers both functionality and quality. So it’s a good choice if you’re in the market for one of the best saucepan sets.

I’d already made the switch to stainless steel saucepans a while ago, but completely ditching the non-stick when it came to the best frying pan in my kitchen was daunting to me. I had to put my non-stick frying pans out of reach in the spare bedroom, to stop myself from defaulting to them.

Now, four months on, it’s safe to say those frying pans never made their way back into my kitchen and I’ve been happily cooking on stainless steel ever since. Here’s my update on what I’ve learnt using these pans (which are currently on sale at Amazon for £205, down from £231) over a longer period; the good, and the bad.

1. I’m definitely getting the hang of stainless steel frying pans

During my initial review, there were a few things that I didn’t exactly nail. One of them was frying fish to perfection. But as you can see in this photo of fried seabass fillets, I’ve perfected the art of creating a crisp skin and succulent flakey texture without any sticking.

For fish and meat, the trick is taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and thoroughly patting it dry with kitchen towel. And I’ve learnt to resist the temptation to turn the heat down too low as well.

What I would say is that for things I don’t cook frequently, like pancakes, I have to hop online for a reminder of the best stainless steel specific cooking method. Because I know that if I dive straight in without that reminder, I won’t get the best from the pans.

I also know that I’m easily distracted in the kitchen, so if I’m preheating a frying pan, I set a two minute timer. This reminds me to test for the leidenfrost effect and usually means I nail the initial pan preheat, which is key to avoiding sticking.

2. I feel reassured that non-stick coatings aren’t flaking off into my food

It is a bit more effort to cook in stainless steel frying pans, and as I said above, I have to go to extra steps like timing the preheat. But I feel like I’ve embraced the challenge and learnt a new cooking skill. And now I don’t have to scrutinise the type of non-stick coating on my pans for fear of toxic chemicals, because I no longer need non-stick pans at all.

3. My husband loves them too

Since I’m usually in the kitchen reviewing kitchen appliances, my husband doesn’t get much of a look in when it comes to cooking. So while he had used the saucepans for the odd tin of beans and soup, it’s not surprising that he shied away from the frying pans for several weeks.

However, he is the pancake cook in our house, so when we recently had a craving for crepes with banana and chocolate spread, I walked him through making them in the stainless steel frying pan.

And I was surprised when, at the end of the batch of pancakes, he declared that he actually preferred using this frying pan. He thought it cooked very evenly and using it was much easier than our old sort-of-non-stick ceramic frying pans.

3. They feel robust and hardwearing

We’ve all had the odd dodgy spatula that’s a bit melted at the end, and many of us are now realising that’s probably not ideal. I’m in the process of trying to replace most of my cooking utensils with wooden and metal ones. So naturally I love that I don’t have to stress about using metal utensils in these pans.

Incidentally, I also noted in the original review that the pans are pretty weighty. So it's worth saying that for me personally this hasn’t been an issue over the last four months. I think I’ve got used to the weight and simply don’t give it a second thought anymore. But that’s not to say it won’t still be an issue for some people.

4. There are some downsides

So far, I’ve managed to avoid the temptation to put them in the dishwasher and have learnt how to clean stainless steel pans properly instead. The saucepans are generally quick and easy to clean and have stayed looking pristine. But the frying pans are becoming a bit of a chore, and if you like to keep your cookware immaculate, this could be a sticking point for you.

After a few uses, I start to notice brown fatty deposits up the sides of the frying pans. These stains don’t come off with normal hot soapy water, so periodically I have to spend extra time giving them a deeper clean.

I usually use bicarbonate of soda for the deep clean, scrubbing the powder into the pan in a thick paste. It gets the job done but still requires a good amount of elbow grease. Last time, I spent 10 minutes on one pan, though arguably, I had left it a bit longer than I should.

Personally, I have a bit of a ‘cooks kitchen’ philosophy, whereby I expect the things in my kitchen to look like I use them, because I do. But if you’re fastidious about keeping your cookware like new, I think this will start to bother you quite quickly.

Four months in and I'm very pleased on the whole with how this pan set is getting on in my kitchen. Could you be persuaded to make the switch away from non-stick?

Despite open plan reigning supreme for the last few years, I never really loved the look of a single wide open space with no visual breaks. In guides on how to design an open plan living/kitchen/dining room, you’ll notice there is a real emphasis on zoning — I know, because I’ve written a fair few over the years.

The idea of zoning is so the spaces feel interconnected, but for them to have their own identities. Naturally, this then developed, as all interior trends do, into the ‘broken plan’ layout. Similar to open concept, this style uses physical dividers, such as walls with archways or open doorways to give the circulation flow, but with a certain level of cosiness to each space.

Once my kitchen-dining-sitting layout was finished with builders, it felt void of character, so I got to work one weekend and started plotting an easy DIY project to create a visual break, add colour and character, inspired by mid-century design and broken plan living.

Designing the mid-century divider

Between the kitchen-diner and the living space, we installed a dwarf wall alongside the two small steps for the change in level. It gives the space a cosy feeling like a mid-century conversation pit, without being too on-the-nose.

But the idea was always to create a divider atop the dwarf wall that would encourage the light between the spaces, while making them more separate. One idea was simply to install timber slats, another was glass panels, but after playing around a little bit with different drawings, we ended with a ‘cubby’ idea on three levels to house the different objects, artwork and plants.

The final design also allowed for us to connect two sets of speakers to our record player so when we have people over, or while we are reading/cooking at the same time we can listen to music through the rooms.

How I built the divider

As we were building this DIY, which is made of plywood, my partner made a cut list that maximised the material — which, let’s face it, is not nearly as cheap as it once was — and made use of B&Q’s cutting service.

While we were able to cut small widths at home using a mitre saw, it was substantially easier and quicker to pay for their industrial panel saw in store to get straight and consistent length cuts rather than fight it with our table saw.

For ease of assembly, my partner constructed the ‘cubbies’ row by row, counter sinking screws (which would have a flush finish) into the uprights so they wouldn’t be seen once it was installed, as well as glue for long-term strength.

As the dwarf wall is made of timber, we screwed in the bottom section of the divider to provide stability — it was going to house a lot of treasured and expensive items so we didn’t want it to go toppling over.

The dwarf wall is also hollow so we were also able to drill a hole for a cable to fish through down to a nearby plug, which is then hidden by the sofa. After it was installed, it was time to caulk, prime and paint!

Although we could have left the plywood edge raw to match some of the other furniture pieces my partner has constructed, we opted to paint it all. The key here was to use wood filler, like this Everbuild Multipurpose Wood Filler, £4.78 from Amazon, on the counter-sink holes and the exposed edge to even it out for a uniform finish.

Enjoying the result

The kitchen, dining and living areas are all painted off-white (for now), so I wanted to encourage the theme of greens alongside our kitchen units and windows. We chose Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke in a high sheen finish and it looks fantastic.

The open structure means that our belongings can be rearranged constantly to freshen the space up. Plus when we have guests over and one person is cooking they can still be involved in the conversation rather than feeling separate.

If we were to commission this style of carpentry, it would have cost us around £300 at least — it probably would have gotten us a slightly better finish, but I’m delighted with how it looks. I think you could achieve a similar look by embracing some IKEA hacks, but I think for the time spent and that we were able to customise the cubby sizes to fit the speakers/record player it was well worth the effort.

The classic white ceiling has been out of fashion for the past few years, while the colour drenching trend has reigned supreme as the ‘it’ paint idea. But colour experts say the tide is starting to turn this autumn, and cloud capping is the increasingly popular paint trend that will make your home feel bigger and brighter.

This is not to say colour drenching is going anywhere. It Isn’t. But experts have noticed that more and more of us opting to cloud cap our ceilings, whereby we paint our ceilings a white or neutral hue instead of drenching the room in one shade.

The end result feels brighter and lighter, and it stops a room from feeling too enclosed. I asked paint experts how to decide whether cloud capping is right for your home, as we welcome white ceilings back into the trend cycle.

What is cloud capping?

Many will argue that a white ceiling has always been a classic design choice, but in recent years it has looked a little dated compared to the drenching, colour capping and double drench trends that have dominated social media feeds. That said, a classic white ceiling is timeless and can definitely be given a 2026 update.

‘Cloud capping is a lovely evolution of the colour-drenching approach,’ explains Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux. 'Rather than taking one colour across every surface, you use your chosen shade across the walls, doors, skirting boards and other architectural details, then ‘cap’ the room with soft white or pale neutral cloud colour that perfectly complements the colour on the ceiling.

‘The result is wonderfully cohesive because you’re not breaking up the walls and woodwork with lots of contrasting colours, but the lighter ceiling introduces a sense of openness overhead.

'For example, an earthy green such as Overtly Olive paired with a soft billowy white like Gentle Fawn above can give you that enveloping feeling while still keeping the room light and balanced. Think of it almost like a little patch of sky above the room; it gives all that immersive colour somewhere to breathe.’

Cloud capping doesn’t automatically mean going for a brilliant white ceiling (although you can do that if you prefer. To give this classic white paint idea a 2026 update, you should opt for softer, warmer whites and neutrals - just like a fluffy cloud!

‘There’s this long-held idea that a brilliant white ceiling will make a room feel lighter and bigger, but decorating is all about contrast,’ says Tash Bradley, director of interior design at Lick and author of Master The Art Of Colour, available at Amazon.

'Put a very stark white ceiling above a beautiful coloured wall, and suddenly you create this really strong visual line where the wall stops and the ceiling begins. It can actually make you more aware of the ceiling height and make the wall colour appear darker by comparison.

‘With Cloud Capping, we're choosing a complementary white instead, a softer white with an undertone that relates to the colour on the walls.

'That subtle relationship between the two colours means your eye travels much more gently from the wall to the ceiling. Rather than having this abrupt stop, it feels almost as though your wall colour gradually lifts into this beautiful soft cloud above you.’

Is colour capping replacing colour drenching?

If you’ve been wondering whether you should colour drench a room or try cloud capping, just know neither is more stylish than the other - they simply serve different purposes.

‘Colour drenching is wonderful when you want to completely cocoon a room in colour, but not everybody wants that enveloping feeling, particularly when they’re introducing richer, deeper shades for autumn,’ says Tash.

‘Cloud Capping gives you a beautiful middle ground. You still paint the walls, woodwork, skirting boards and doors in the same colour, so you get that seamless, contemporary look we love from colour drenching, but instead of continuing the colour across the ceiling, you ‘cap’ the room with a soft, complementary white.

‘I think that’s why it feels particularly relevant going into autumn. We naturally start gravitating towards warmer, earthier and more comforting colours at this time of year, but Cloud Capping allows you to embrace those richer shades without necessarily wrapping the entire room in them. The soft ceiling gives the colour breathing space and creates this lovely sense of lift above you.’

Marianne agrees, stating: ‘I wouldn’t say cloud capping is replacing colour drenching; it’s simply giving us another way to be confident and creative with colour. Colour drenching is brilliant when you want a completely immersive, cocooning effect, whereas cloud capping offers some of that same impact while keeping the room feeling a little lighter and more open.’

Is cloud capping right for your home?

If you have a small room or low ceilings, you should absolutely consider cloud capping. This way, you can still get the benefits of a cosy autumn colour palette, without making your room feel cramped.

‘A pale ceiling can do a lot of clever visual work. It reflects more light around the room and creates a sense of height and openness, which can be particularly useful in smaller rooms or spaces that don’t receive lots of natural daylight,’ adds Marianne.

The beauty of cloud capping a room is that this technique works with every shade. Again, you just need to choose the right shade of white. ‘The secret to successful Cloud Capping is choosing a complementary white that feels like a natural extension of the wall colour, rather than a stark contrast,' explains Tash.

'When the ceiling colour is visually connected to the walls, the eye moves effortlessly around the room, creating a beautifully harmonious finish that's full of colour yet still light and balanced. The white needs to be sympathetic to the undertones of the colour beneath it.

'So if you're decorating with a warm earthy red (Red 03) or a soft plaster pink (Pink 01 or Taupe 03, I'd look for a warmer white with a pink undertone White 06). With softer blues and greens, you might choose a white with a subtle grey White 02, or Yellow White 03 or 05 undertone depending on the particular shade.

‘That's where the magic happens. You don't necessarily consciously notice the undertone in the white, but you feel that the two colours belong together.

‘The only combination I'd generally avoid is a really rich, nuanced wall colour paired with a cold, brilliant white ceiling. The contrast can feel too stark and disconnected, which completely defeats the softness we're trying to achieve.’

Shop white paint

Ditch the brilliant white emulsion and embrace cloud capping whith stunning and sophisticated white shades.

Finding the right heated clothes airer for your home comes down to a few key things, including how much washing you regularly need to dry, the size of your household and, importantly, how much space you have to spare.

I've tested quite a few of the best heated clothes airers for Ideal Home, from compact options for smaller spaces to family-sized tiered airers and speedy drying pods. Through testing them with real loads of laundry in my own home, I've learnt which features genuinely make a difference and which are worth looking out for before you buy.

So I've rounded up the main considerations below so you can decide if a heated airer is worth buying for your family and household.

How to choose a heated clothes airer

1. Types of heated clothes airers

There are two main types of heated airers: heated drying pods and heated drying racks. A heated rack warms the rails to speed up drying, while a drying pod circulates warm air around clothes inside a cover.

In our tests, drying pods such as the JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer, £79 at Argos and Minky's heat pod, RRP £60 at Argos, were the fastest, drying clothes in roughly three hours. However, their fans make some noise, and they generally hold less washing, making them particularly useful for getting school uniforms and sports kits dry quickly.

Traditional heated racks are slower, taking around six to ten hours in our tests. However, they're silent, generally cheaper to run and can accommodate more washing.

If you're choosing a rack, we've generally found tiered models more effective than winged designs. More of the laundry sits close to the heated rails, whereas longer garments can hang below the heated sections of a winged airer and remain damp.

2. Their drying capacity

Check how much washing an airer can accommodate before buying. Capacity may be given in kilograms of laundry, metres of drying space or, for pod-style airers, the number of garments it can hold.

'The right heated airer size depends on how much laundry you regularly dry, the size of your household and the space available in your home,' says Mary Widall, Product category manager for laundry at Minky.

Mary suggests a compact model will generally suit one or two people, while a larger three-tier heated airer offers more drying space for a household of three or four. Larger families should look for maximum drying capacity and multiple heated tiers.

Catrin Parry, Buying lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, gives a useful benchmark for a family-sized model. The Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier Deluxe Heated Airer, £199.99 at Lakeland, offers 21m of drying space, holds approximately 15kg of washing (around two wash loads) and is well suited to a family of four. Its design is also more accessible from the front than the smaller mini and standard models.

However, bigger isn't always better. 'Avoid overcrowding; leaving space between garments improves warm-air circulation and helps clothes dry faster and more evenly,' Mary advises.

If floor space is limited, a vertical or tower-style airer can also provide plenty of drying capacity without taking up as much room.

3. Size and storage

Don't underestimate how much space a heated clothes airer can occupy once unfolded. Check the dimensions and think about where you'll use it, remembering you'll need access to a plug socket and enough room to move around it safely.

Storage is just as important, particularly if you don't have a dedicated utility or laundry room. 'One that folds up nice and compact' is Catrin's recommendation for homes where storage is limited. Look for a design that's quick to put up and collapse, and always check its folded measurements before buying.

Small practical details can make a difference here too. Lakeland's Dry:Soon models have handles at the top to make them easier to move, and optional wheels are available if you need to transport a loaded airer between rooms.

Some covers can even double up as storage solutions. Catrin explains that the Dry:Soon cover can be zipped flat around the airer once it's collapsed, so you don't need to find somewhere separate to store it.

If you already own a three-tier airer, another space-saving option is a system such as the Minky Heat Pod Pro (£45 at Argos). It sits underneath a standard three-tier airer and adds a cover and warm-air technology, so you don't need to store a second full-sized drying rack. Minky says it can dry clothes up to four times faster than air drying.

4. Covers

A cover is one feature I'd recommend looking for, as it can make a heated rack more effective.

'A covered heated airer can be more efficient than an uncovered one because the cover helps trap warm air around the clothes rather than allowing heat to escape into the room,' explains Mary. 'This creates a warmer drying environment and can help clothes dry faster.'

Catrin agrees: 'We'd always suggest adding the cover. It traps the heat in and dries things faster.'

However, ventilation is important. Look for a cover with vents that allow moisture to escape rather than trapping humid air around your washing, which can leave clothes damp or musty.

5. Energy use

Heated airers are generally much cheaper to run than a tumble dryer, but running costs vary depending on the model's wattage and your electricity tariff.

'A heated clothes airer is generally very economical to run,' says Mary. 'Most heated airers cost approximately 5p-15p per hour to operate, making them a lower-energy alternative to a tumble dryer.'

Lakeland puts the running cost of its Dry:Soon Deluxe at around 8p per hour, compared to approximately 65p for a standard tumble dryer. These figures are based on an average electricity unit cost of 26.11p per kWh as of July 2026, so actual costs will vary according to tariff and usage.

Don't judge efficiency on hourly running costs alone, though. It's also worth considering how quickly the airer dries clothes. A higher-powered model that finishes the job faster could prove more practical than a lower-powered airer that needs to run all day.

6. Features that make drying easier

Heat isn't the only thing that dries clothes quickly – airflow and how you arrange your washing are just as important.

Look for good spacing between rails, multiple heated tiers and enough drying room to avoid bunching garments together. Adjustable tiers are also useful for accommodating longer items.

'Give garments a good spin in the washing machine first, spread them evenly across the airer and leave gaps between items,' recommends Mary. 'Avoid overloading, as airflow is just as important as heat for achieving faster drying.'

A timer is another feature I find useful, particularly if you're likely to leave the airer running for several hours.

Also consider the accessories available for the airer you're buying. Mesh shelves can be useful for drying delicates or items that need to lie flat, while dedicated hangers can make better use of the available space.

7. Ventilation and humidity

A heated airer gets water out of your clothes, but that moisture has to go somewhere. Drying laundry indoors can increase the humidity in a room, so ventilation is an important consideration.

Catrin recommends leaving 'a small space around the airer for ventilation,' adding that heated airers can also make the room feel warmer. Depending on humidity levels, she suggests leaving a window on the latch to allow moisture to escape.

Mary similarly recommends using a heated airer in a well-ventilated space and opening a window or using an extractor fan or dehumidifier where appropriate.

Pairing a heated airer with a dehumidifier is actually one of my favourite ways to dry clothes indoors during autumn and winter. And it's a combination that both experts recommended.

As Catrin explains, 'The airer warms the fabric and the dehumidifier pulls the moisture from the surrounding air, which speeds up drying even more and prevents damp.'

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

Ultimately, these are all the things I wish I'd known before buying my first heated clothes airer. Get them right, and you'll avoid any buying mistakes and own a model that suits your space, laundry loads and drying routine.

So much of our homes take inspiration from period features, particularly if you live in a period property itself and want to stay true to the era. But while coving and fireplaces are popular restoration projects, the Victorian cold pantry has been quietly forgotten.

Victorian cold pantries were traditional larders that kept food cool, and thus had particular design features in order to achieve this all year round. Many people strive to include a kitchen pantry idea in their cooking space, and this offers a new approach to the trend that is super practical, too.

Here's why you should consider creating your own.

A Victorian cold pantry differs from a regular pantry because it's specifically designed to keep things cool. Larders and pantry units are great places to store dried goods, but as temperatures rise every summer, they aren't necessarily designed with cooling in mind.

As refrigeration wasn't around in the Victorian times, they had to resort to other methods, including the cold pantry. While this differs to our modern lives, creating dark, cool areas in our kitchen will help dried goods last for longer, too.

Walk-in style pantries align well with a cold pantry design. Sectioning off part of your kitchen to have a dedicated walk-in space, even if it's small, allows you to keep kitchen cupboards less cluttered, and worktops clear.

So what exactly does a Victorian cold pantry include?

For starters, designing an effective cold pantry begins with ensuring it's situated in a cool, dark area of your home. North-facing pantries will naturally keep items cooler, which is even more important in sweltering summer months.

Open shelves were a popular feature of a Victorian cold pantry, and they help to create an open air flow towards the top of the room. Whether you opt for natural wood or a painted finish, the open feel also adds to the rustic, antique-inspired look, too.

'To recreate the charm of a Victorian pantry at home, focus on practical storage, paired with traditional materials such as natural stone worktops, often used to keep goods cold,' explains Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr.

'Open shelving is key, providing easy access to everyday essentials, while dried goods can be decanted into glass or ceramic jars,' he adds.

Decanting your dried goods into glass jars adds to the period design, and helps you track what is running out more easily.

Stone surfaces and tiled flooring are more practical design elements that are necessary in a cold pantry. Traditionally, cold slabs were located beneath a window in a Victorian pantry to keep butter and cheese cool, but as we have fridges for this purpose now, choosing cool flooring and worktop surfaces will benefit the temperature of the entire room instead.

And of course, the finishing touches are important, too. In 2026, pantries have become somewhat of a status symbol, so consider small accessories that add to the overall look of the space. This will help to make it feel like an extension of your kitchen.

'Wicker baskets are ideal for adding extra storage as well as visual texture and interest, while natural linens and soft textiles bring warmth through layering,' Al adds.

Shop pantry accessories

September is the perfect time to reorganise your cooking space. These small kitchen storage ideas will help you declutter for the new season.

Last week, I awoke to a spider (quite literally) hanging out on my bedroom ceiling…right above my head. The next day, I unknowingly took a shower with one of these eight-legged critters. And if that’s not a sign that spider season is officially here, then I don’t know what is.

Even more horrifyingly, experts warn that this year’s spider season will be worse than ever, as the warmer temperatures will result in them staying active for longer as they go in search of their mates. Because of this, knowing how to get rid of spiders is key - but understanding why they’re coming in is equally as important.

And it turns out that many of us (me included) have unknowingly been luring these spiders into our homes without even realising it. So, it’s well worth understanding what attracts spiders and making a few changes before these rent-dodging lodgers outstay their welcome.

1. Moisture and humidity

While spiders can set up camp in any room of the house, they definitely have a preference. As Alex Woods from Victorian Plumbing explains, ‘You’re most likely to find spiders in your bathroom or kitchen, because their food is attracted to dark, moist areas.’

And by ‘food,’ Alex means most insects, including flies, mosquitoes, moths, and earwigs, all of which are typically attracted to your moisture-ridden drains and pipes. So when a spider needs a meal, it’s going to head straight to the source and head to the areas that are high in moisture and humidity, too.

Because of this, it’s well worth cleaning your drains regularly and keeping humidity in these rooms to a minimum. Opening windows and using extractor fans can help here, but you may also want to use a non-electric dehumidifier, such as this Absodry Moisture Absorber (£27.99 at Amazon), to tackle excess moisture.

You can also use plants and the scents spiders hate to your advantage here. Alex explains, ‘Plants such as mint, lemongrass or eucalyptus will not only elevate your bathroom interior, but they will help warn off spiders as they hate these kinds of aromas.’

2. Bright lights

The days definitely start getting shorter in September, and you may be inclined to use your outdoor lights as a result. Just be warned that these can also attract spiders into your home, especially if you’re also leaving doors and windows open to enjoy the still-warm weather.

Helen Godsiff, Brand Manager at Eurocell, warns, ‘When spending time outdoors, keep outdoor lighting to a minimum where possible, as the lights can attract insects, which in turn provide a food source for spiders.’

She adds, ‘This can make areas around the home and garden more appealing to them, so don’t be surprised if you notice an influx in the kitchen or garden rooms.’ And when they’re in your house, they’re probably not going to want to leave anytime soon.

Of course, not using your lights at all may be a step too far for you, but simply understanding that lights will attract spiders can be all you need to keep them out - especially if you enlist the help of a spider catcher and rehome them as soon as you spot one trying to sneak its way in.

3. Clutter

It’s already a well-known fact that excess clutter can cause damp, so it should come as no surprise to learn that clutter can also attract spiders. But it turns out that spiders also love hanging out and spinning their webs in clutter because they love being warm and cosy and hate being out in the open.

Luke Newnes from Hillarys explains, ‘Dark, undisturbed areas with piles of stored items can provide ideal conditions for spiders to settle. Keeping these spaces tidy and regularly checking stored belongings can help discourage them from nesting.’

After all, if a spider nests in your house, there’s a very high chance that future spider babies will soon call your home their home - making the situation so much worse. Because of this, decluttering regularly (without making a bigger mess) can work wonders. You also need to maintain a regular cleaning schedule.

Having one of the best vacuum cleaners to hand can help. Dr Jonathan Kirby, Head of Research & Development at Safeguard Europe, says, ‘Regularly remove or vacuum webs and any visible egg sacs. This can reduce activity, but spiders will quickly attempt to rebuild their webs if suitable shelter and insect prey remain. Reduce clutter and keep flies and other insects out to make it harder for spiders to enter and settle.’

4. Shelter

You probably don’t need me to tell you that the weather in the UK is becoming increasingly unpredictable. This summer alone, we’ve gone from month-long heatwaves to flash flooding. Because of this uncertainty, spiders seek shelter in our homes to find a stable place to enjoy mating season.

And when they want to come in, they do so through the weak spots in your home - including cracks and gaps in windows and door seals. The good news is that fixing these can also help you draught-proof your home ahead of winter.

Luke advises, ‘Check external doors and window frames for small cracks or gaps where spiders can enter. Replace damaged weather seals and use exterior-grade sealant- both of which can be picked up for less than £10 from most DIY retailers to close openings around frames, helping to prevent spiders from getting inside.’

In fact, you can buy this UniBond Outdoor Window & Door Frame Sealant for just £8 at Amazon. And if there are bigger gaps that need to be filled in order to keep spiders and draughts out, you can also buy draught-excluder tape for a very affordable price, too.

5. Food waste

We already know that spiders follow their food's footsteps, and flies will also enter homes with human food waste and crumbs for them to eat. Because of this, it’s also important to keep this to a minimum during spider season - and at any point throughout the year - if you want to keep critters at bay.

This means emptying normal waste bins as soon as possible, sealing your food waste caddy and taking steps to deter flies, and regularly wiping down surfaces to remove any lingering crumbs, sticky residue, or large chunks of food.

When you’ve done this, it’s well worth cleaning any areas where food has been present with essential oils, as spiders hate these scents. Alex advises, ‘A drop of essential oil is enough to deter a spider. You can make your spider repellent by mixing essential oil (20 drops) and water in a spray bottle. The best essential oils to use for your repellent are: tea tree, lavender, peppermint, citrus, and cinnamon.’

Just be warned that some essential oils are toxic to pets, so it’s worth taking caution if you have animals in your home - or avoid them altogether. Thankfully, making a white vinegar spider-repellent spray can be just as effective, and you can pick up a bottle of white vinegar for just £1.50 at Dunelm.

Sorry, spiders, if you're not paying rent then you're not coming in...

If, like me, you have a small bedroom, you'll probably be eager to learn every design tip there is for making a small space look bigger.

And according to interior designers, one of the tools you'll want in your belt is this simple window-dressing trick.

Yep, the experts say that the key to maximising a bijou bedroom is getting this curtain detail right. So if you're looking for ways to make your small bedroom ideas feel more spacious, let's get started.

Now, when it comes to bedroom curtain ideas, most of us might think that choosing the right colour and fabric are the most important details. However, our design experts say there's something else just as important to factor in, especially if you're furnishing a small bedroom.

Namely, that's the height of your curtains. And you might be surprised to find out that this isn't a situation where less is more.

Instead, our interior designers reveal that the key to dressing the windows of a small bedroom is to go bigger, not smaller.

The window dressing trick that makes small bedroom look bigger

Rather than simply hanging your curtains to frame your window, our design experts say that we should consider utilising all of the space *above* the bedroom window as well.

Why? Because, as Katerina Tchevytchalova, founder of interior design studio K'Arte Design, explains, 'full-height curtains are one of the simplest tricks for making a small bedroom feel bigger.'

'Hanging the track as close to the ceiling as possible, rather than just above the window frame, draws the eye upwards and emphasises the height of the room,' explains Katerina, 'so the space feels taller and more generous than it actually is.'

'Full-height curtains naturally draw the eye upward, giving bedroom walls the appearance of added height and making the bedroom itself look bigger,' agrees Chloe Dacosta, design manager at window dressing specialist Blinds2Go.

And, according to interior designer Lara Clarke, founder of Lara Clarke Interiors, it isn't just extra curtain *height* we should consider in a small bedroom.

'Full-height curtains are one of the easiest tricks for making a small bedroom feel bigger,' says Lara. 'It's a small adjustment that makes a disproportionate difference. However, width matters just as much as height.'

'Extending the curtain pole well beyond the window frame, so the curtains sit against the wall rather than the glass when open, lets in more light and makes the window itself look larger,' reveals Lara.

'Think "high and wide"', agrees Helen O’Connor, product and trend manager at 247 Blinds. 'Hanging curtains higher than the window frame draws the eye upwards, while extending the pole or track beyond the sides of the window helps create the impression of a wider and maximises natural light.

'Natural light is particularly valuable in a small bedroom, so you don’t want your curtains unnecessarily reducing it during the day.'

Other window dressing tricks for a small bedroom

So, we now know that high and wide is the way to make curtains work best in a small bedroom. But do our design experts have any other top tips for creating the illusion of extra space via window dressing choices?

'My other tip for making a small bedroom look bigger would be to keep the curtain and wall colour tonal,' says Katerina.

'A stark contrast between wall and fabric will visually cut the room in half, whereas a soft, tonal palette lets the curtains blend into the architecture rather than compete with it.'

'Keeping your curtain colour close to the wall tone helps the curtains recede rather than cutting the room in half,' agrees Lara.

'I'd also avoid anything too heavy or fussy in a small room,' says Katerina. 'A lighter fabric that puddles less and pools softly at the floor keeps the space feeling airy rather than weighed down.'

However, if your floor space is limited, Chloe does suggest an alternative approach to avoid a trip hazard. 'I would aim for your full-length curtains to hover just above the floor,' she says, 'ensuring easy opening and maximum coverage.'

'Additionally, choosing lighter colours for your curtains can give a small bedroom a brighter feel,' says Chloe, 'making it feel more spacious.'

'Colour and pattern can make a difference too,' says Helen. 'You don’t have to stick to white or beige, but softer colours or curtains that sit within the room’s overall colour palette will help the space feel calmer and more open.'

'If you do want to opt for a pattern, a subtle vertical design, such as a stripe, can help emphasise the room height,' Helen adds. 'And in a particularly compact bedroom, I’d be careful not to overwhelm the window with very bulky fabrics or excessive volume.'

'A curtain that hangs beautifully but stacks back relatively neatly will give you the softness of fabric without making the window area feel crowded,' says Helen.

Bear these design tricks in mind when it comes to your window dressing, and your small bedroom will soon look far larger than its measurements might suggest.

Homeowners should be on the lookout for tipsy wasps this month, pest experts have warned.

You may think that getting rid of wasps is solely a summer issue. However, late summer and early September are a prime time for ‘tipsy wasps’; intoxicated worker wasps that have essentially got drunk on fermented fruit that has dropped from trees.

Like a lot of drunks, tipsy wasps can sometimes be more aggressive than usual. So, I asked experts for ways to deter wasps, as well as what causes the tipsy wasp phenomenon in the first place. This is what they said.