This year, I’ve made the fateful mistake of waiting too long to purchase an air conditioner, and now that the best models have sold out, I’ve been scrambling for ways to achieve a similar cooling effect in my own - and this £5.44 Amazon Fan Mister Attachment is what I’ve settled on.

It’s my own fault, I know. As summers are becoming increasingly hot and muggy, the best portable air conditioners are ever increasing in popularity - so much so, this week we’ve been tracking the stock levels of portable air conditioners.

If you don’t have one of these appliances, or a refreshing misting fan to hand (such as the Shark FlexBreeze, £149.99, Currys), here’s how this affordable fan attachment from Amazon can help.

Now, this mister attachment won’t exactly turn your fan into an air conditioner, but it will mimic the feeling it provides. It’s essentially any easy way to complete the viral DIY air conditioner hack, which consists of putting a bowl of ice in front of a fan.

This popular cooling hack works because, as the fan blows air over the ice, it evaporates and cools the air, creating an air conditioning effect. While it certainly doesn’t have the power of an air conditioning unit, it will provide the same relief.

The Amazon misting fan attachment works in a similar way. Included, you get a case to hold your ice, and four containers, where you can add water and freeze. The case attaches to your fan via a hook, and cold air blows directly over the ice.

Amazon states it offers four to six hours of consistent cooling. It also says it has a ‘frostbite-proof’ handle, and it is double-sealed to prevent leaks. The attachment is suitable for use on round, square and mesh fans.

Now, this isn’t going to cool your bedroom or living room - it’s simply too small. But if you work from home, or are looking for some personal relief, it is great for attaching to a desk fan and cooling yourself down.

I’m also keen to mention that, obviously, electricity and water do not mix. If you plan to use a mister attachment on your fan, you need to ensure that you are attaching and detaching it when the fan is switched off and unplugged to prevent any potential shocks. If you do get water in your fan, it is advised that you don’t try to use it.

Alternatively, you can use a misting fan. These spray fine droplets of water to help cool you down, without making you or your home feel wet. Then the moisture droplets will create a wind chill effect on your skin as the fan blows against it. Here are a few misting fans that are in stock, and you can shop online.

If you haven’t got a portable air conditioner, will you be testing this mister attachment instead?

In case you've been living under a rock (which would be cooler than where I am sitting right now), temperatures are soaring into uncomfortable territory, and lots of portable air conditioners are either sold out or carrying eye-watering price tags.

I've found myself recommending a different cooling appliance to friends and family this week: an air cooler. In fact, the Midea 5L Air cooler became an Amazon bestseller as we were all looking for a way to beat the heat, but on a budget, and I can see history repeat itself. With features like three speeds, 75° automatic oscillation, a 7h timer and minimal noise output, it's clear that it offers sweet relief from hot and humid weather.

If you've never come across one before, I'll give you a little explainer on them and how they differ from the best air conditioners and fans. Sitting somewhere between a fan and an air conditioner, air coolers are an underrated appliance that seem to fly under the radar until a heatwave arrives.

But after testing quite a few cooling appliances over the years at Ideal Home, I think they're one of the most affordable ways to stay comfortable when the mercury rises. Here's more on what they are and why you should get your hands on one, quicksnap.

What is an air cooler?

Unlike a standard fan, which moves warm air around a room, an air cooler uses water to help create a cooling-feeling breeze.

Emma Coleman, seasonal buyer at Robert Dyas, explains that unlike a fan, an air cooler releases cool air instead of circulating warm air, which will have a more noticeable effect on the temperature.

You fill an internal tank with cold water (and sometimes reusable ice packs), and as hot air passes through the appliance, it is cooled before a fan inside the unit circulates it around your room. In fact, it works a lot like this effective fan ice cube hack.

'This temperature will also be felt across the whole room, instead of the focus point that a fan cools. Some also have a heating function, making them useful in the winter as well,' explains Emma.

It's important to be clear, though, that an air cooler isn't a portable air conditioner by any stretch of the imagination. It won't dramatically reduce the temperature of an entire room in the same way a fitted AC unit can.

However, it will make the air blowing towards you feel cooler and fresher than a standard fan, which can make a huge difference on hot, sticky days.

Shop these in-stock air coolers

We haven't tested any of the models below; however, we have based our selection on brand reputation and shopper reviews.

If you see an air cooler that will suit your home, I wouldn't wait around for a deal, as I expect these coolers are going to sell out fast.

The biggest advantage is their affordability. While many portable air conditioners cost £300 to £600 or more, a good air cooler can often be snapped up for under £100. They're also much easier to live with, with no bulky exhaust hose to hang out of a window, no complicated installation, and they tend to be quieter and more energy-efficient than portable AC units.

Saying that, if you're expecting a more dramatic cooling effect, you'll probably be a bit disappointed, but if you're just looking for a way to cool yourself down during a heatwave, it's an option well worth considering, since there are a lot still in stock right now.

With more spells of hot weather forecast and air conditioners increasingly hard to get hold of, it's the cooling appliance I'll be recommending to friends and family for some quick relief.

If you're struggling to find an in-stock air conditioner, you can sign up for stock notifications for our best air conditioners on sites like Argos and AO.com. Or if you want a budget cooling alternative for right this second, a compact air cooler could just be the sweet spot.

It won't necessarily cool down your room like an AC, but it can make you feel a lot more chill, and I think that's what really counts in the middle of a muggy UK summer.

Payday is finally on the horizon, and while I've been successfully resisting my wishlist of home items all month, I think it might finally be time to treat myself to something new for my kitchen. It's also the Amazon Prime Day sale, which is just the incentive I needed to trawl through some of the retailer's very best homeware picks.

You would be surprised at what you can find on Amazon - while there are small, affordable brands, there are also big name brands that you can shop - and there's often good deals to be found.

Whether you want to upgrade some of your kitchen essentials or treat yourself to a few fun pieces of crockery for alfresco dining, you don't have to spend a fortune. I'm personally on the hunt for some colourful kitchen pieces for hosting - so I have my eye on the Big Love napkins and the Bon Appetit bowl which will be perfect for summer dinner parties.

I couldn't believe just how many pretty buys there were on Amazon - you might be surprised too.

Looking to spruce up your bathroom next? These affordable Amazon bathroom picks will breathe new life into a space.

This year's summer Amazon Prime Day event (running from the 23rd to 26th of June) is in full swing, and if you want to shop in the savviest way possible, there's a new price-checking tool you need to know about.

For years, one of my top tips as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, who has been working Prime Days as a deal hunter for over five years now, was to use a price checking tool such as CamelCamelCamel to check that you're not being hoodwinked over a 'deal'. Often brands will artificially inflate the price of a product prior to a sales event to then bring it down to its normal RRP to create the illusion of a great deal.

Here's how using this new in-built price checking tool can prevent you from getting a bad deal on one of the best air fryers or coffee machines and help you find a worthwhile one instead.

You can find this new price-checking tool, which was officially rolled out in the UK in May 2026, next to where you see the price of the item you're looking for on Amazon. When you click onto it to see the price history, a pop-up window opens with Rufus, the platform's in-built AI tool.

Within the Rufus pop-up you can see a range of information on the product's price, as well as how it relates to the given RRP. Though this is useful information, I would also suggest going one step further and check Amazon's given RRP against what's listed on the brand page.

When shopping one of the best Ninja air fryers, for example, I would always suggest cross referencing with the brand's own site for a better understanding of prices.

While the tool defaults to a one-month view, it has 6-month and 12-month scope available too which will ultimately be even more useful for assessing how good the discount really is. If the price of the item currently is nowhere near what the lowest price over the last year has been, it's likely that there's been price-inflating taking place.

I check prices on products that I've reviewed every day to see if there's a deal worth writing about, so I have quite a good sense of the general price of different bestsellers, like Ninja's Foodi Max Dual Zone air fryer.

As I write this, the day before Prime Day begins, it's currently sitting at £129.99 via Amazon, which gives you £20 off the usual RRP. But if you click into the year view of the price history, you'll see that in November (during Black Friday), there was a much bigger price drop with the air fryer for sale for under £100. That means that it may well be worth waiting on this one rather than pouncing right now.

In all likelihood, the best deals of this summer will drop during Prime Day itself and during counter-sales run by the likes of AO, Currys and John Lewis. Below you can find the kitchen appliances I think you should bookmark if you're in the market to upgrade your hosting and entertaining game.

Whatever you end up perusing this Prime Day, remember that doing your due diligence will help no end to help you bag an actually good deal. Happy bargain hunting!

As a small-home dweller, I’m used to making sacrifices due to limited storage. And while I’m willing to second-guess some items that catch my eye when shopping, I’ve always been reluctant to get rid of clothes that I genuinely still wear and love. And before I invested in these DIMJ 12 Pack Drawer Organisers (£18.99 at Amazon), my clothes were constantly spilling out of my drawers.

Yes, as I’m always trying to be one of those people with constantly tidy clothes, the clothing clutter and my complete inability to shut my drawers really started to get to me. It made me feel anxious in what should be a relaxing sleeping space, made me less inclined to fold and care for my clothes, and even made it harder to get dressed in the morning.

However, I didn’t have space for a whole new chest of drawers or an extra hanging rail for my clothes, so I needed to find a solution that would work with what I already had. And introducing these drawer organisers has not only restored order but also freed up space I didn’t even know was there.

I’ve recently been talking about how I store clothes without a wardrobe, but, for me, a chest of drawers is non-negotiable, as I need the folded storage space - particularly for smaller items such as underwear, shorts and even pyjamas. But this folded space is often much bigger than the clothes inside, which means they can quickly become a jumbled mess that seems impossible to tame.

And while they may not be the most aesthetically pleasing clothes storage solution, the DIMJ Drawer Organisers are an organisational game-changer. The ones I bought came in a pack of 12, split into three sizes: four large square organisers, four smaller rectangular organisers, and four small square organisers.

It’s worth noting that the smaller option is very small, but the beauty of these organisers and the different sizes is that they can be used for anything. And I found this perfect for my underwear drawer, as I used the smallest size for my delicates, the middle rectangular size for my socks, and the largest size for bras.

I then continued to use the larger sizes to separate and organise my T-shirts in a drawer that had previously been impossible to close. This is mostly because I’d given up trying to fold them and simply shoved them in there to avoid dealing with them - as shown by the white T-shirt that definitely needs a good steam now.

And while I didn’t have the skills to perfect Marie Kondo’s impressive folding method when putting them into the new organisers, the difference was still really impressive. Not only could I finally close the drawers properly, but it also proved to me that my drawers weren’t as full as I thought (and that there was even space for more clothes).

My only regret is that I only bought a pack of 12, so I've since bought another set to organise my husband's chest of drawers, too - and his socks have never looked tidier. But there are also options on Amazon to buy them in a variety of quantities - including an 18-pack for £32.99 or a 28-pack for £38.99. Even if you don’t need them all, they’re flat-pack and won’t take up too much space in your house when not in use.

There are also many different colourways to choose from, so you don’t have to opt for the slate grey that I went for. And you can use these all around the house to organise a junk drawer or even tidy up your cosmetics, so the opportunities really are endless.

Don’t just take my word for it, though. The DIMJ Drawer Organisers are a bestseller on Amazon, with an overall star rating of 4.4 out of 5 across over 8,500 reviews. One customer even wrote, ‘The quality is good, and my drawers have never been so organised! Should have bought them years ago!’

Another wrote, ‘These organisers are brilliant - just what I had hoped for. Ingenious design (zips) and sizes. Great value for money.’

But even if you don’t opt for these specific drawer organisers, I can’t recommend adding some storage to your clothes drawers enough. They really do help maximise the available space while minimising clutter, as they allow you to grab what you need without messing up the entire drawer.

In fact, since adding these to my drawers a few weeks ago, I've been able to maintain the organisation with ease - no overflowing underwear in sight. Sure, I’ve had to re-fold a few things here and there, but I’ve been able to keep my drawers so much tidier with very little fuss.

If you want to continue organising your clothes, I’d also suggest checking out my roundup of Dunelm’s impressive clothes organisers, too.

Everyone has that annoying design flaw in their kitchen, whether it's a poorly planned corner cupboard or a floorplan that doesn't work for everyday life. Mine is my kitchen sink - admittedly, it wasn't me who designed it, but I'm officially over having a soaking wet sink caddy that drips onto the worktop.

I've tried a number of different methods over the years, and despite washing up carefully, there is always a pool of water around my sink. While I thought I would have to continue laying a tea towel under my washing up liquid bottle for the foreseeable, this sink stone from Amazon has changed the game.

I had never heard of this nifty gadget until recently, but it's ridiculously simple and effective. Here's why this £18 sink tray might be the best thing you buy for your kitchen all year.

Not only is the pool of dirty dishwater around my sink incredibly gross, it's also damaging my worktop. The laminate is beginning to peel and on a stone surface, this would be an even bigger and more expensive issue to fix.

Putting a tea towel down has prevented the water from reaching my air fryer, but it has increased how quickly I go through towels in my household.

The fix, it seems, is simple. This sink tray is made from diatomite stone which is a natural, highly porous sedimentary rock that is commonly used for bathroom mats but is less frequently seen in kitchens.

The stone absorbs and evaporates water within about 60 seconds, meaning that any drips from hand soap or from a dish brush will be gone in an instant.

Not only does the stone surface evaporate water, but it's also antibacterial and odor-resistant. An issue that I had found with my tea towel method is that after a few days of water, it smelled bad and was pretty unsanitary.

The great design feature of this Amazon choice is that it has four round feet that you add onto the bottom, which means that there is airflow beneath the mat to prevent mildew. And if it does get stained, you can simply buff it with some sandpaper to refresh its surface.

Aside from the practical benefits of a stone sink caddy, it also looks super sleek next to a sink. Most caddies are either metal or black plastic, which can look unsightly on your surface. The neutral stone has a much more subtle appearance and means your soaps are much easier to access.

Shop other alternatives

Sometimes the smallest, quick buys are the ones that end up changing how you use your space. Over the weekend, I'm trying out some of these affordable ways to add colour to my kitchen without repainting for a rejuvenated look.

It wouldn’t be British summertime without unpredictable weather forecasts. One minute it’s hot and humid, and the next it’s pouring with rain. Not only does this make it difficult to plan summer days out, but it also leaves our home at an increased risk of summer mould.

That’s right, summer mould thrives in moist and humid conditions. So it’s no wonder that many of our homes are set to become a hotspot for mould this summer.

Finding an effective method for getting rid of mould can be tricky, and it’s even trickier to keep it away. But these £10 disposable dehumidifiers from Amazon are my secret weapon for keeping summer mould at bay in my home.

Mould thrives in areas of the home that are damp and poorly ventilated. While it’s an issue all year round, mould can become surprisingly present during the summer months. ‘We tend to associate mould with cold, damp winter conditions. But mould is a naturally occurring fungus that’s always present in the air,’ explains Emma Mannion, cleaning expert at Astonish.

‘Mould only becomes visible when it finds the right conditions to grow: moisture, warmth and a suitable surface. During the summer months, higher humidity levels inside the home can provide exactly that,’ she adds.

In fact, humidity is one of the main causes of summer mould. ‘In the summer, excess moisture combined with poor airflow is what causes mould,’ explains Andy Ellis, founder of Vidalux. ‘Although you may have the windows open in the summer, it could be that on really hot and humid days, you’re letting in more moisture rather than reducing it.’

With this in mind, the best dehumidifiers are a no-brainer for reducing the presence of damp and mould within the home. However, they often come with a price. So, I’ve found the next best thing from Amazon – disposable dehumidifiers.

Disposable dehumidifiers work to absorb moisture in your home, just like electrical dehumidifiers do. But, rather than plugging them in and finding space for the bulky appliance, disposable dehumidifiers can slot seamlessly into your space and still do the job.

Simply place the box in the area of your choice and remove the foil from the top of the box. Then you can leave it to work its magic. Filled with hydrophilic crystals, each dehumidifier absorbs up to 3 times its weight in water as it draws excess moisture from the atmosphere.

At just £9.99 for a pack of 10, you’re free to place multiple dehumidifiers in different spots throughout your home. Or, keep the spare boxes on hand as replacements for when your current dehumidifier fills up. Mine typically last me a month.

Disposable dehumidifiers come in many forms, like hanging bags or moisture absorbing balls. But I first discovered the handy dehumidifier boxes a few years ago when I was living in university accommodation. I noticed that my clothes were starting to smell a little musty, so I popped one in my wardrobe, and the problem went away in no time, while the box rapidly began to fill with water.

Since then, I've used the disposable dehumidifiers regularly in areas that might benefit from them. I have one tucked away by my kitchen window, one in my bedroom and multiple hidden behind plant pots, sofas or bookshelves throughout my home. I love how discreetly the dehumidifiers fit into my space, doing their job without distracting from my decor or style.

Summer mould will be rife in areas that are naturally higher in moisture, so consider placing your boxes here. ‘Everyday activities like cooking, showering and drying clothes indoors all release water vapour, and during warmer weather, the air is able to hold more of that moisture,’ explains Emma.

‘Problems start when that humid air has nowhere to go. If it comes into contact with cooler surfaces, for example overnight when temperatures drop, it can form condensation – this leaves surfaces damp enough for mould to grow,’ she adds.

And while these disposable dehumidifiers are a great starting point for reducing the risk of summer mould, they likely won’t be enough on their own to get rid of it altogether. For instance, sometimes larger rooms can benefit from bigger, electrical dehumidifiers.

‘Having a dehumidifier is a great solution for preventing mould, especially in rooms that feel stuffy, bathrooms without good extractor fans, and rooms prone to condensation. But it’s important to note, if you have an existing mould issue, a dehumidifier alone won’t fix the underlying cause of the mould,’ says Andy.

But, if you’re looking for a preventative measure before temperatures rise further, these disposable dehumidifiers will do the job just fine.

Get rid of mould

If mould has already settled on your surfaces, try these products to remove it with ease

My bathroom is one of the most neglected rooms in my home. Storage and practicality came first, and somehow the pretty extras I always wanted to add just never quite happened. However, now is the time to change that, so I've hunted down some of the chicest bathroom accessories on a budget to zhuzh up my wash space.

It's easy to see why decorating a bathroom falls to the bottom of the to-do list - it's rarely seen by guests, and you don't spend much time in there. However, adding some decorative touches will go a long way in making a bathroom feel like a more inviting destination in your home, rather than a forgotten room. It also might shock you that you can source many items on Amazon from the comfort of your sofa with next-day delivery.

You don't need to spend a lot of money or undergo a renovation to make this happen, either. Small touches like towels, shower curtains and storage trays all make a huge difference to how a bathroom looks and feels. In a bid to stick to a budget, I've hunted out some of the very best bathroom finds on Amazon that just might shock you.

From top brands like Christy and Neom to Amazon brands that look far more expensive than they are, these picks will make a bathroom feel brand new. Plus with the Amazon Prime Day sale kicking off next week, now is the time to snap up some bargains.

Looking to add more colour to your wash room? These bathroom colour schemes will offer you plenty of inspiration for any taste, whether bold or pared-back.

I've become an expert when it comes to bagging a deal in the Amazon Prime Day sales after writing about it for the past six years. As a homes journalist, my job involves tracking sales prices and the stock levels of home appliances all year round, so I know exactly what products to buy in the sale and what to hold off on.

The Amazon Prime Day sale kicks off next week, one of Amazon's biggest sales events of the year. I would typically recommend waiting until then to invest in a high-ticket home appliance, but the last two years of covering the event have taught me there is one appliance you absolutely should not wait until Amazon Prime Day to buy: a portable air conditioner.

The best portable air conditioners have shot up in popularity over the last few years, thanks to a series of exceptionally warm summers. But stock levels aren't quite matching the demand, especially during a heatwave.

This means two things if you're in the market for a portable air conditioner:

1. It is incredibly unlikely you'll find a major deal on a portable air conditioner in a summer sale like Amazon Prime Day.

2. They sell out exceptionally fast.

Over the last two years, I've seen firsthand how fast they can sell out. I've had to launch 'stock watch' feature on portable AC's during the last two Amazon summer sales events to track down any remaining units online.

This year, thanks to the heatwave at the end of May, stock levels on portable ACs are already depleted, and if you want to get your hands on one for the summer, I wouldn't wait even a week, let alone for a sale, to click buy.

‘Thanks to an unseasonably toasty end to May, the demand for portable air conditioners has already seen some models sell out before summer even hits,' explains Sarah Handley, Ideal Home's Renovation Editor and portable AC expert who has been monitoring this years stock levels.

'While I’ve spotted that brands like Meaco are due to replenish their stock at the beginning of July, others may not be restocked at all this summer. All is not lost though and there’s still a decent number of options available. But all it takes is another heatwave and they could sell out quick, so if you want one, definitely snap it up when you see it in stock.'

‘I’ve been testing the Dreo 318s portable air conditioner, which is still in stock on Amazon, which I would recommend,' adds Sarah. 'I’ve also spotted options from household names like Morphy Richards and Bosch also in stock on Amazon. Appliances Direct is another option that seems to have a steady stock supply of portable air conditioners, even when a heatwave hits.’

If you want to beat the heat this summer and invest in a portable AC over the best fan, then I'd buy now, or regret later, especially with another heatwave on the way.

Portable air conditioners in stock

If there's one cleaning and laundry recommendation Stacey Solomon's Instagram followers always pay attention to, it's the products she uses herself. And according to Stacey, there's one appliance that's become so indispensable she has practically ditched her iron altogether.

Sharing the Sundu Portable 2-in-2 travel steamer iron from Amazon, on her Instagram, Stacey described it as 'THE best steamer ever,' adding that: 'I never use my iron anymore and take it EVERYWHERE with me.' So, if you've been searching for the best steam iron alternative for tackling quick creases, this compact gadget could be it.

Even better, the celebrity organiser spotted the handheld steamer with a hefty 40% discount on Amazon, making it a bargain at £29.98. 'I just went to find the link for all of you asking, and it's 40% off. I don't know how long it'll last as it sells out EVERY time I share it, but OMG 40% off is INSANE,' she told followers.

Stacey Solomon is no stranger to handy home gadgets and hacks, including her genius wardrobe storage ideas and laundry room essentials. But yesterday was the first time she shared her latest steamer obsession.

And it's easy to see why the compact gadget has become a staple in Stacey's household. As a busy parent juggling school runs and busy morning routines, I'm always looking for products that tackle inevitable last-minute clothing emergencies.

Whether it's smoothing out last-minute uniform creases without having to wrestle a full-sized ironing board out of storage, or tackling lightweight summer fabrics like linen, cotton and silks now firmly back in rotation, a quick blast can help freshen up crumpled outfits in seconds.

The Sundu combines both a clothes steamer and a travel iron in one compact appliance, allowing you to steam garments vertically or use it horizontally for more stubborn creases. It heats up in 15 seconds and offers four different modes, including a dry ironing setting and three steam levels. And the ceramic soleplate is designed to be suitable for a wide range of fabrics, including silk, cotton, linen and wool.

While full-sized steam irons certainly have their place, it's the portability of this handheld model that caught my attention. Weighing less than a kilogram and designed to fit neatly into luggage, it's a grab-and-go appliance that is great for taking on holiday, for tackling creases in your summer wardrobe, whether it's a crinkled dress straight from a packing cube or refreshing a shirt.

The 100 ml water tank offers up to 20 minutes of continuous steaming, which should be plenty for holiday outfits and quick touch-ups. And unlike other travel steamers that arrive with little more than the appliance itself, this one comes with a handy anti-scald glove, an insulated base if you're using it as a travel iron, measuring cup and storage bag, making it a really practical option for home and away.

One of the things I think everyone should know before buying a clothes steamer is that it's not designed to replace a full-size iron if you're tackling an entire family's laundry pile. But for quick outfit fixes, school uniforms, holiday packing and refreshing summer clothes in a hurry, Stacey's go-to steamer looks like a really useful addition to your utility cupboard.

At 40% off, it's also a deal that feels too good to miss. But do hurry, as Stacey has already said that some of the colourways have sold out already!

Of course, if your budget stretches a little further, I've tested several brilliant clothes steamers in my own home that are worth considering too, especially if you steam clothes regularly. Cue my top three.

Alternative clothes steamers I rate

If you haven't bought a clothes steamer for your home yet, I'd seriously recommend one. And maybe Stacey Solomon's favourite could be yours too!

Amazon has launched a competitor to the Samsung Frame TV, the Amazon Ember Artline TV, which is available for pre-order today, with delivery from May 7th.

The Amazon's Ember Artline TV is designed to hide your TV in plain sight, disguised as a piece of art when not in use. The most famous TV to achieve this effect is the Samsung Frame, a staple in some of the most stylish living rooms on Instagram. However, lately, other TV brands, including TCL and Hisense, have started launching their own art TVs. Amazon's TV is the latest to join the ranks.

The TV has a 4K QLED display with Dolby Vision and uses the latest Fire TV interface. But as an interiors journalist, what I was most interested in was how the TV hides itself as a piece of art when not in use.

The TV has a gallery of over 2,000 free works of art that can be displayed when you're not watching it. The TV uses a matte display to make the images appear like a real piece of wall art. It also comes with a clever AI function called 'match the room' that will help you find the perfect piece of art to match your surroundings. Alternatively, you can upload your own photos and images to the TV for a personalised look.

But you don't have to worry about the device sitting on all day, running up your energy bill. The Amazon Ember Artline TV's Omnisense technology uses sensors to wake the display when someone walks into a room. Walk away, and the TV turns off, saving energy

To complete the look and turn it into a framed work of art, the TV comes with a frame available in 10 colours, including walnut, fig, gold and midnight blue. You can also switch the frame up at a later date, if you fancy a new colour or material; they are easy to snap in and out of place.

The new Amazon TV lifestyle TV is priced at £949.99 for the 55-inch and £1,199.99 for the 65-inch, which is roughly around the same RRP as the Samsung Frame TV. Right now at John Lewis, you can pick up the Samsung Frame TV, 55-inch for £894, and the Samsung Frame TV, 65-inch for £1,139.

I've seen the Samsung Frame TV in action a couple of times and have always been impressed with how well it blends into a gallery wall. I've yet to spend time with the Amazon Ember Artline TV, but I'm hoping it proves to be a worthy alternative for hiding a TV in a living room.

I recently visited KBB, the leading kitchen and bathroom design show, and left with tonnes of ideas about what I would choose for my dream kitchen. One of the best features I saw was Clearwater's range of sinks with built-in chopping boards, designed to save space on your worktops.

While a new sink isn't on the horizon for me, I knew I had to try to source an affordable alternative that would work for the existing sink in my rental kitchen. Luckily, Amazon pulled through with an over-sink chopping board.

In any kitchen, storage and space are the most important components to ensure the space is usable, but in a small kitchen in particular, this is often a challenge. That's why items that double up usable space are essential, and this chopping board is the easiest way to make that happen.

Whether you have a Belfast sink or an undermount sink, you end up losing a lot of room around the edge of the sink for a draining board or to house your washing-up essentials, which results in less usable worktop space.

Everything that I purchase for my kitchen has to have a very clear use-case, otherwise it just ends up being more clutter to store in a cupboard, but it's safe to say this chopping board gets my seal of approval.

When I visited KBB, I saw Clearwater's selection of sinks with built-in chopping boards and other accessories, turning the sink into a multi-functional space. I immediately started hunting for an alternative and for under £40, I think this Amazon alternative is a no brainer.

Using the sink as a dual-purpose space to complete food prep helps to create 'convenience zones' within your kitchen so that the entire layout functions more smoothly.

Our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly Cleary, adds, 'So many chopping boards now also feature sections to store your offcuts or completed chopping, reducing the need to traverse the kitchen to the bin. Incorporating this with the space-saving over-sink feature is genius.'

I couldn't agree more.

Shop more chopping boards

I can't stop thinking about how genius this piece of kitchenware is, and the beauty of it is that you can easily slot it away with your other boards when it's not in use.

Even though I’m a Room Decor Editor with some very strong opinions when it comes to home decor and interior design, I’m also susceptible to being influenced on social media. And I have the perfect example, I’ve fallen in love with a TV stand on wheels, thanks to social media, and I don’t even own a TV! However, I think it’s such a clever solution that if I had a TV, I would definitely want one of these.

Creative ways to hide a TV are becoming increasingly popular – from investing in an art-displaying TV like the cult Samsung Frame TV, available at Amazon, to covering a regular TV with a piece of wall art. But the Pedestal Moon Rollin’ TV stand, equipped with castor wheels and featuring a sleek, modern design, makes a contemporary feature out of the TV, while also offering the option to hide it when not in use, since you can wheel it out of sight.

But since the original design by Pedestal is selling for £290 for the colourful options - content creator Harry White of @mr.harry.white on TikTok opted for the electric blue colourway as seen in the video above - and £395 for the chrome variation, I took it upon myself to find a more budget-friendly alternative. Sure enough, I found one on Amazon.

Retailing for £112.56, Amazon’s rolling TV stand comes in stylish chrome finish - chrome is still one of the biggest home decor trends of the year - with a contrasting shelf in wood veneer for anything from decor to TV accessories. It fits a flat screen TV from 32 inches to 75 inches.

While the review section is a bit of a mixed bag, several customers have enjoyed the product. One wrote, ‘This mobile TV stand was very easy to assemble and the instructions were clear, so the setup only took a short time. The design is modern and stylish, and it looks great in the room. It feels stable and sturdy when holding the TV, and the wheels make it easy to move around, which is very convenient. Happy with the purchase.’

I think it makes for the perfect small living room idea. But also, if you live in a stair-free flat like me, you can take your TV from one room to another – so you don’t need multiple TVs for all the rooms in your home. Just wheel your living room TV to the bedroom, the dining room or the bathroom.

Can you see why I’m so obsessed with this piece of tech equipment? It’s clever, it solves several problems and it’s stylish. It ticks so many boxes!

Small bathroom? Cluttered cabinets? Chaotic windowsills? I know the drill — I've got a tiny en-suite, and every inch of floor and wall space in this room needs to be used to its maximum potential.

I need to store cleaning products, my skincare saviours and all of the other bits 'n' bobs that I end up forgetting about as they slowly slither to the back of my cabinet and collect dust. How exactly do you store all of these things without making your bathroom look cluttered? That's where the real heavy lifting comes into play, as nailing small bathroom storage ideas is no easy feat.

'When it comes to small bathrooms, smart design is everything,' claims Jorge Hernandez, Head of Design at Bathroom Brands Group. 'The right combination of furniture, fittings, and lighting can completely transform a smaller space, making it feel larger, more organised, and more intentionally designed,' she adds.

I've found some small space savers at Amazon, designed for the tiniest bathrooms — whether you're struggling with a small downstairs loo, a tight family bathroom or a minuscule en-suite.

Jorge Hernandez says the items you'll want to make use of in a tiny bathroom include: 'under-sink units with pull-out drawers, shelf dividers, and wall-hung vanity units,' she says.

All these storage-savvy Amazon buys can be delivered to your doorstep in days, and don't forget the Amazon Spring Sale is currently live, so there are timely discounts to be had too.

Amazon storage saviours

Storage isn't the only way to refresh your bathroom for spring soon? These are the best bath towels, as tried and tested, and our favourite reed diffusers for a pleasant-smelling loo.

But an organised space will go a long way in helping your home feel happier and calmer.

I've been testing appliances, kitchenware and general homestuffs (mattresses, hot tubs, candles, you name it!), for the best part of 8 years. So, it's safe to say I can tell a good air fryer from a bad one. The same goes for coffee machines, toasters, and the rest of those appliances that you use every day.

With this job comes a lot of recycling and donating. I get to test appliances that aren't a necessity that I wouldn't otherwise buy, and don't have space to store in my kitchen long-term. But that also means I'm uniquely placed to let you know when a buy is truly worth taking up space in your kitchen cabinet or on your worktop.

These are the 3 products that, if I were to empty my kitchen and totally start again, would be on my non-negotiables list. I'm yet to tell you the best part: they're all discounted in the Amazon Spring Deal Days sale. Whether you're buying for Mother's Day or you want to make the most of this sale, perhaps you're moving in and need some recommendations? Here are my favourite kitchen appliances, which I use often and sometimes I couldn't live without.

1. Our Place's Wonder Oven Air Fryer

The Wonder Oven's design is the 1 appliance that always has my guests asking "what is that?" The clue is in the name with this one — the Wonder Oven can literally cook anything, from toast to a small chicken and salmon fillets.

This air fryer sits firmly on my worktop, and it's used several times a day, whether for baking cakes with my toddler or cooking hash browns for breakfast. It's super intuitive, it comes in several colourways, and right now, it has £50 off, which is rare. Normally, this air fryer is only on sale for big events like Black Friday.

We rated it 4/5 stars in our Wonder Oven air fryer review, and it impressed both our Kitchen Appliance Editor, Molly Cleary, and me with its versatility and good looks. It has 3 dials, one for temperature, the other for mode and the last for the timer. It's so easy to use and you get a metal wire rack included, which I use for toasting. It also comes with a metal air fryer basket and a non-toxic coated baking tray which is great for cookies.

Although this air fryer isn't dishwasher-safe, its trays are easy to clean, and it comes with a removable crumb tray, which makes cleaning its interior a total breeze. It might not be your traditional-style air fryer, as it doesn't have baskets or cooking zones, but this air fryer can be used for multi-layer cooking.

As well as air fryer mode, other settings include: bake, grill, toast, roast and reheat. It also has a steaming function, which I have yet to test.

2. Cuisinart's FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker

I truly didn't know how easy it is to make your own ice cream. And now, thanks to this handy Cuisinart Freeze Wand, my toddler won't ever eat store-bought dessert again.

I used this ice cream maker for vanilla ice cream, and truly, I couldn't believe how nice it tasted. It does require some pre-prep, so you need to make the ice cream recipe around 24 hours beforehand, to allow it to freeze. Once ready, I found this super easy to use and then afterwards, I just stored it in a drawer. Its tubs are stackable, and they fit in an under-counter freezer with ease.

When in use, it has a light on the device which guides you — when it's green, you keep pushing. If it turns red, you've reached the bottom of the tub, so the ice cream has been churned. Simple!

It has several settings, for sorbet to ice cream and even milkshake, and it's so easy to use. You get 3 freezer tubs included, which are colour-coded and dishwasher-safe, and the manual features easy-to-follow recipes.

3. Beko's Caffeexperto Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine

This Beko coffee machine always gets questions from my guests — even more so after they've tried one of my famous lattes. It is my day one coffee machine, which my Dad (a coffee connoisseur) introduced me to. It is so easy to use, and it takes beans or ground coffee.

It can make 5 types of drinks and is pretty intuitive with a touch screen. It also cleans itself after each use, which ensures the coffee tastes even better. Its tank is pretty sizable at 2L, so I rarely need to refill it. On top of the machine, there's a cup warmer, which can hold up to 6 cups at a time.

If you're a coffee lover, trust me when I say that it's worth it — especially for only £235, which is affordable for a bean-to-cup coffee machine.

The Amazon Spring Deal Days are only on until 16th March, so if you want to get your hands on one of these appliances at a bargain price, I'd recommend you act fast.

I really need to find an alternative to my current draining board setup. Truthfully, it's the only thing that's currently letting my kitchen decor down, since it has recently been redecorated — and if I do say so myself, it's looking fancy. That is, until you turn to my sink and the bundle of (clean) washing up piled next to it. It looks a bit like I've been playing Tetris but on a tea towel, using kids' water bottles and non-stick pans.

So, it should come as no surprise whatsoever that when I scrolled past this genius roll-away Ibergrif Roll Up Dish Drying Rack from Amazon on TikTok, I've never added something to my basket so fast.

Right now, my kitchen sink only has worktop drainer grooves in place. All I can say is whoever designed them needs to pay a visit to my kitchen at around 6 PM on any day of the week. They get so grubby, so fast, and water just sits in there. No draining is happening whatsoever. So, I end up layering a tea towel on top of my so-called draining board, and even this gets sodden and gross in minutes. And the cycle continues.

Not now, though, thanks to discovering the roll-up drying rack on Amazon. Made from stainless steel, it rolls up for easy storing under your sink, and costs less than £7. Yes, it's arriving at my doorstep tomorrow.

I have two sinks, so this is the perfect solution to drape over my smaller sink, freeing up the space next to my larger, main sink. And this way, I won't have to scrub the life out of those drainer grooves every week. Hurrah!

Not only for drying your dishes, but this stainless steel mat is also great for holding vegetables and fruits as they dry, after they've been washed in your sink. You can also use it for protecting your surfaces from hot out-of-the-oven trays and pans — its design is heat-resistant up to 200°C.

Right now, I feel my draining board is bringing down the overall vibe of my kitchen — it's mostly used to hold eyesore toddler kitchenware that I won't put in my dishwasher. So, these things can absolutely be moved onto an over-the-sink rack.

I plan on using mine over my second, smaller sink. This way, the items I wash in my sink (which truly isn't a lot!) will drain straight into my sink, making for less of a clean up afterwards. Then, once I've dried everything and put it all away, I can roll up this mat and put it under my sink. A game-changing kitchen storage hack.

Alternatives

If you're worried that your sink isn't large enough — or maybe you'd rather make use of the space beside your sink, instead? You need an alternative solution. Here are some other draining racks that are as stylish as they are functional.

Now, I can wave goodbye to the tower of washing up that's usually sitting beside my sink. This mat contains the mess to keep it in the vicinity of the sink, taking up zero countertop space.

When I have guests coming over, my draining board area is the first thing I'll usually make sure is empty. I find that it instantly makes my kitchen look a mess — even if it actually isn't. Now, though, I can worry less as anything sitting on this draining rack won't stick out like a sore thumb.

You've probably heard of the viral Our Place Always Pan — and for good reason. This is the original multi-tasking pan that promises to do the job of 10 pans in one. The Always Pan and its colourful looks have often been copied, but are rarely beaten when it comes to performance.

However, there is one big downside to this famous pan: the pricepoint. Coming in at £125, it's not a cheap buy, which is why I was so excited to spot it discounted down to £95 in Amazon's Spring Deal Days.

In case you're not familiar with Our Place, this female-founded kitchenware brand oozes multifunctionality, whilst also being aesthetically pleasing enough to leave on display in your kitchen. While you can often find the Our Place Always pan on sale over Black Friday, it's rare to find it at such a low price point at this time of year.

Amazon Our Place Always pan deal

This pan is raved about as one of the best non-stick pans for a reason. Its convenient design is just one of its standout features — it has a pouring lip for easy serving, and a dedicated spoon rest. Its deep shape makes it great for cooking larger portions, and its non-stick surface was highly rated by our Kitchen Appliance Editor, Molly Cleary. However, it is the Titanium Always pan that she rates most highly, which is currently sold out at Amazon.

'Fried eggs slide around the pan, and it even makes a mean scramble, which is a tough task for many frying pans,' says Molly. 'The steamer basket that comes included is great for cooking anything from broccoli to noodles, and this can be stored inside the pan when not in use.'

This pan comes in three sizes in several cool colourways, including charcoal, steam, blue salt, spice and sage. My favourite has to be the spice — it's a soothing pop of colour to an otherwise neutral kitchen. However, the spice colourway is only on sale at Amazon in the Large Always Pan for £119 and the Mini Always Pan for £75.

Amazon Our Place Wonder Oven deal

Out of the rest of the Our Place sale, my next star buy is the Wonder Oven air fryer, which I have in my own kitchen. When I unboxed it for the first time, I wasn't sure what to expect. I wanted to love it because it's non-toxic and it's supposed to be so much better for your health, but I was unsure of its oven-like design — I've only ever tested air fryers, which have cooking baskets.

In short, I was wrong to worry: this air fryer gets used multiple times a day in my family home. Not only does it look super cute on my worktop, perfectly placed next to my favourite cookbook and my Amazon Alexa, but its beige colourway brings a soft feel to my counters, while the fact that it can be used to air fry, toast, bake, grill and reheat is a total game-changer.

Besides the lack of PFAS in its ceramic coating, it's seriously versatile. Available in 4 colours, this 6-in-1 air fryer can even be used to steam food, while its compact design makes it a great investment for smaller kitchens. It preheats fast, too, and it comes with 3 trays — a wire rack, a baking pan and an air fryer basket — and it benefits from 2 cooking levels.

I've used this air fryer to cook everything from fish cakes to Teryaki salmon and chicken wings. I even use it to toast sourdough, hot cross buns and ciabatta

The rest of the Our Place sale on Amazon

Don't miss these savings while they're still live — the Amazon Spring Deal Days Sale ends on the 16th March.

It's no secret that we are lamp fiends on the Ideal Home desk, so there's no way an affordable and pretty lamp was going to pass us by without jumping on it. Rechargeable lamps are one of the handiest additions to a kitchen, and it helps when it looks pretty too, just like this Amazon lacquer bobbin lamp.

This Amazon rechargeable bobbin lamp is the perfect affordable alternative for one of my favourite Addison Ross lamps - the rich cherry colour adds a curated, high-end touch to any kitchen worktop and I love positioning mine on a tablescape, too.

The quality of Addison Ross' lamps is high-end and can't be faulted, but for those wanting to try out the trend first, spending a little bit less will be easier to swallow.

The 'unexpected red theory' persuaded me to add pops of red (in any tone) to corners of my home, and I've found the kitchen is the perfect place for it. This cherry red lamp adds depth through the rich colour and a warm glow once it's turned on, which is ideal for a cosy evening ambience.

While I love the cherry colour of this Amazon lamp, it's also available in 4 other shades. The 'Milky White' shade is a delicious cappuccino-inspired colour that will be well-placed in neutral interiors, while the pink and yellow hues add a playful touch.

The lamp can be recharged with a USB-C charging cable, which is situated on the base for easy access. It's also touch-activated, so you can quickly turn it on when cooking or dining without any fuss.

Rechargeable lamps are such a versatile buy - the perfect winter pick me up that is functional too. I tend to move mine around my house, adding light to dark corners that need it the most. Bobbin lamps are a firm favourite on the team too, and our Content Editor for Rooms, Sara Hesikova, has also picked up her own.

'I love my bobbin lamp! I have the cherry red colourway and it sits on my kitchen worktop, illuminating a corner where my kettle and cafetiere also live. It creates the perfect ambiance when I make my evening tea as that corner is all I need lit up during that time of the day and it's super easy to switch on by simply tapping on top of the shade. It's also a nice little injection of colour and the glossy lacquered finish reflects the light beautifully,' she explains.

If you're looking for a mood-boosting buy to get you through the winter months, nothing is as pretty and also practical as a rechargeable lamp. Whether situated on your dining table, on a bedside table or in a living room, you'll get so much use out of some added illumination.

Is it that I have too many clothes, or that my wardrobe is tiny? I’m not entirely sure, and while it’s most likely a combination of the two, I’ve found a brilliant storage solution to end the age-old problem of overflowing wardrobes - these space-saving hangers, £8.08, at Amazon.

Listen to us when we tell you that anyone who always has a tidy bedroom is well-versed in organising their wardrobe. Clutter can easily build up in a wardrobe, which is why it’s always a smart idea to invest in quality wardrobe storage.

These Amazon space-saving hangers, also known as magic hangers, use vertical space in your wardrobe to allow you to categorise clothes and hang more garments on the rail.

While it’s always a good idea to declutter your wardrobe semi-regularly, sometimes we’re simply not blessed with loads of wardrobe space - this is especially true if you have a small bedroom.

This is where space-saving hangers can be really effective. You can hang 6 garments per hanger, and it has a max load-bearing capacity of 40lbs (18.1kg). Instead of hanging horizontally across your rail, the hanger drops vertically instead. According to Amazon, this can effectively triple your closet capacity.

These hangers also allow you to group items of clothing. For example, work shorts can be assigned to one hanger, while summer dresses are grouped on another. This keeps everything organised and easy to find, too.

‘I first came across magic hangers when I moved into university halls. With only a single wardrobe and more clothes than I care to admit, I thought they seemed like an easy and cheap solution to my storage struggles. They worked an absolute treat, allowing me to fit much more than I initially imagined into the small wardrobe. They've come with me to every house I've lived in since,’ says Maddie Balcombe, Ideal Home’s Editorial Assistant.

‘I now have a double IKEA wardrobe, with more than enough space to house all of my clothes. But I still find the Magic Hangers game-changing for grouping similar items of clothing. With four different colours, and space to hang 6 items from the same hook, they're a perfect organisation tool and make it much easier to find what I'm looking for when I'm in a rush to get ready!’

I honestly believe these magic hangers are one of the things people with tidy bedrooms always have, and are therefore worth investing in. And if you’re really looking to maximise wardrobe space, here are a few more storage heroes we recommend.

I’m not ready to say goodbye to some of my clothes yet, which is why these handy space-saving hangers are a must-have in my home. They keep my wardrobe tidy and organised with ease.

‘New year, new me,’ and this time I promise I mean it, as I aim to keep my home tidier and more organised in 2026. And one way I plan on keeping my bookshelves in order is by investing in Amazon’s metal bookends (£15.19) and spirit level (£20.77).

As a writer, naturally, I love books and reading. And as a messy person, you can imagine the state of my bookshelves. While I’d argue that the shelves and books are clearly well-loved and read regularly, I can appreciate that it looks very untidy to an outsider. While I can’t quite bring myself to declutter my bookshelves, I have vowed to make an effort to keep them tidy in 2026.

Using the metal book tends to hold my favourite reads in one place, and the spirit level to ensure everything lines up on my shelf neatly. Here’s how I plan to keep my books in order, without needing to defer to one of the best decluttering methods this year.

I’ve come to accept that I am never going to stop buying books. In fact, if I dare step foot in a charity shop or book shop, it’s unlikely I’ll leave without having selected a new read from the shelves. And as my personal library grows (and so does my dream of a reading nook or room), the need for organising them gets stronger.

Right now, I have piles of books stacked all over my flat. But given that I am partial to some shelf faffery, I am actually looking forward to this task, especially given that these two Amazon buys will make the job so much easier.

The first book organiser I’m adding to my cart is some metal bookends from Amazon (£15.19). Available in black, green, blue or white, this one-piece structure adjusts the length and thickness of your books to hold them neatly in one place. It has a maximum length of 50cm and a minimum of 15cm, making it suitable for storing everything from your favourite novels to chunky encyclopedias.

Using bookends also makes it easier to organise your reads. I plan to use mine to help organise fiction and non-fiction reads, before breaking them down into more specific categories. Not only is this bookend suitable for your bookshelves, but it can also be used to help organise your home office desk, bedside tables and cookbooks, making it a versatile organisation solution.

‘These bookends are sturdy and do a great job of keeping books upright without sliding around. The adjustable feature is handy, especially if you want to secure just a few books or fill a longer shelf. The black metal design is simple and looks neat in both home and office setups,’ said one review.

Once my books are organised in their bookends, I plan to use the Bookshelf Organiser Tool (£20.77), which is essentially a spirit level for books, to ensure everything is neatly lined up.

The tool helps you line up your books so that they are all the same distance from the edge of the bookshelf. This is a particularly good idea if, like me, you have a lot of books. Keeping them neatly lined up can help reduce the amount of visual clutter, making your bookshelf look more curated, rather than a dumping ground.

‘I’m a librarian, and we use these all the time to straighten our shelves. Nice and sturdy, super easy to use. The only thing that could make it better is for it to be a few inches longer to make fixing all our shelves go faster,’ said one review.

‘Bought one for my bookshelves. Easy to use. Keeps books lined up. Small enough for easy storage but big enough to do a quick job if you have a lot of books like me!’ said another.

I’m actually feeling pretty excited about organising my bookshelves. It's all good practice for my dream home library in the future…

I earned serious brownie points as a big sister this Christmas after I gifted my plant-obsessed younger sibling a set of Tinkling Toadstools (£11.25 at Amazon), and they look so good IRL, I couldn’t not share the love further.

These ceramic toadstools are essentially ornamental wind chimes that are perfect for adding a splash of whimsy to your garden ideas. In fact, they’re so pretty and affordable, I can’t help but smugly pat myself on the back for such successful Christmas shopping.

Christmas may be behind us, but I think Tinkling Toadstools are a good enough reason to treat yourself to just one more pressie as we head into the new year. Here’s why.

I love buying presents for my little sister. She’s got such cool taste as well as being plant obsessed, which means when shopping for Christmas and her birthday, I often stumble across really cool homeware and garden finds.

My siblings and I don’t like to spend loads of money on each other, which can mean lots of hours spent trawling for the perfect (cheap) gift. Enter, the Tinkling Toadstools.

Perfect for anyone with a wildlife or cottage garden, this whimsical set includes three ceramic toadstools that slot easily into your raised beds or soil. Choose from two colourways - a selection of pink and purple or a more traditional red and sage green set.

The heads of the toadstools are smooth and glazed, giving them a beautiful, polished look. These slot perfectly fit onto the ‘legs’, which are sturdy and made from high-quality ceramics.

I’d first spotted the toadstools on TikTok before dedicating my afternoon to tracking them down online. I think I’d even searched for ‘mushroom chiming ornament’ before stumbling across the correct term, ‘tinkling toadstools.’ The toadstools had hundreds of positive reviews, but I was still a little skeptical when I ordered - they were really affordable and I’d never heard of them before, so I worried they might look tacky and gimmicky.

But unboxing them to check when they arrived, I was really impressed. The quality is excellent, and they were much taller than I expected them to be, standing at 27cm.

According to Amazon, each toadstool is handcrafted and hand-glazed for a unique pattern by the team at HH Home Hut. They’re designed to chime gently in the breeze, creating a relaxing atmosphere in your garden.

And don’t just take my word for it, these are just a couple of the reviews the Tinkling Toadstools have received.

‘Really lovely quirky thing for the garden - looks handmade and not tacky at all,’ said buyer.

‘Love them! They look and sound great, and the colour scheme is fab. Already ordered another set,’ said another.

Tinkling Toadstools work best nestled amongst the best fairy tale plants for a romantic yet kitsch look. Garden ornaments, as you well know, are perfect for giving your garden space a little extra visual interest and personality - and this year, mushroom decor has been a trend in its own right.

Now I just wish I’d picked up a set for myself, too. What about you?

Between the endless reams of wrapping paper, cardboard boxes from countless deliveries and the inevitable clear-out before guests arrive, Christmas has a habit of producing far more rubbish than usual, and it can feel like you're constantly playing rubbish tetris. And add to that the disrupted bin collection schedules over the festive period, and it's no wonder that overflowing wheelie bins become a familiar sight post-Christmas.

I got targeted on Instagram recently for a product I'd never heard of but instantly knew that I needed: a wheelie bin compactor, £26.95 at Amazon. Designed to compress rubbish inside your existing bin, these compactors compress the volume of waste, meaning you can fit more into each bin without resorting to trips to the tip or open bin lids, which is deemed bad bin etiquette. Plus, you'll not risk a fine by trying to sneak anything into your neighbour's bins.

Here's why this is a great buy for over the Christmas period and also why you shouldn't take the bin compaction too far.

At first glance, the appeal of a bin compactor is pretty obvious. When collections are pushed back a week (or skipped entirely), it can help you stay on top of waste without unsightly overflow ruining your outdoor Christmas decor aesthetic. Think bottles, boxes and wrapping paper that build up very quickly after the big day. The compactor is a great way to flatten all this down to make more space in your recycling bin for sure.

This particular compactor has two handy hooks that easily attach to your wheelie bin, and the position of the front, back and right side of the compactor plate is adjustable, so you can press down the rubbish fully. It's also suitable for all 120-litre or 240-litre wheelie bins.

What I also like is how it makes you feel a tad more on top of the mess, rather than letting it pile up. Used sensibly, it isn't about cramming everything in at all costs but more about buying yourself a little extra space and calm when the rubbish seems to be coming at you at all angles.

It is really important to use this piece of kit sensibly, though. Compacting rubbish too much can actually cause a few problems, as overfilled or overweight bins may not be collected at all, with rules varying depending on your local council.

Some councils discourage compacting waste entirely, particularly when it comes to recycling, as crushed items can be harder to sort or process. It's also worth being mindful of what you're actually compressing. For example, food waste and nappies are best left out.

However, when used lightly and alongside proper recycling sorting, a wheelie bin compactor is a really helpful short-term solution. Just don't forget to check your local council's guidance before you get too carried away!

I think my bin compactor will come in super handy this Christmas week with the amount of rubbish we've already got on our hands.

I'm just making sure I don't go overboard by overfilling my wheelie bins, so it helps rather than causes issues when collection day comes around. Will you be buying one?

Are you ready for Christmas hosting? Is the guest room prepped and ready for visitors? Are you sure? Because I’ve just spotted the one thing every guest wishes was in their room - the Pezin & Hulin Bamboo Charging Dock Rack (was £32.99, now £24.76 at Amazon).

One of the biggest joys (and stresses) of the festive season is undoubtedly hosting. Having all your loved ones under the same roof is one of the best parts of Christmas, but it undoubtedly comes with pressure to get it perfect. From making your guest bedroom ideas as comfortable as possible, to scenting a guest bedroom to the level of a luxe hotel, it’s always nice to go out of our way for guests.

While you’ll probably have a list of things that should be added to a guest room, I think this bamboo charging dock should be included, too. It keeps all of your guests' items and electronics in one place, so no one is creeping around in the dark, looking for a charger this Christmas.

Fresh towels, linen, and a room spray are all essential parts of a lovely guest room, but from my own experience of hosting, guests won’t be well-acquainted with the plug sockets in your spare room. When living out of a suitcase for a few days, things inevitably go missing, and someone has always forgotten a charger.

This is why I think the Pezin & Hulin bamboo charging box is an underrated guest essential. Made from sleek and durable bamboo, this small storage box is great for the clutter that comes with us on the road. Not only is it designed to hold travel essentials like glasses, car keys and wallets, it also offers USB charging.

The product doesn’t come with a charger; however, it is perfectly compatible with multiple-port USB chargers, so you can use your own

The organising station has a removable watch stand, which you can also use to charge smart watches, and has space to charge three mobiles and one watch and a tablet at one time, easily handling a whole family's electronics.

This clever storage idea means your guests don’t have to look at unsightly wires, and can rest assured knowing small items are all in the same place - something the reviews are appreciative of.

‘Brought for my husband. He loves it, and I love that his bedside table is now organised with all the leads in this box. Great for when we travel, as he takes the whole box with him, knowing that all his chargers are in one place,’ said one.

‘Great size, holds my multi USB charging hub neatly. Great solution to get rid of the tangled mess of cables under my bedside table, which was just a dangerous irresistible chewing temptation for my cat,’ said another.

Guest bedroom storage essentials

When staying at another home, I’m sure we can all benefit from the offering of storage and organisation solutions. This clever charging dock will show you’ve taken an extra step to show consideration to your guests.

There's one spot in my house that seems to attract clutter no matter how tidy I try to be, and that place is the stairs. School jumpers that didn't quite make it upstairs, stray toys waiting to be returned to bedrooms, odd socks, a hairbrush maybe, all congregated right there for someone (i.e. me) to take up.

Enter the stair basket, namely this Woodluv stair basket, £29.99 from Amazon. It does exactly what it sounds like: it's a neat hallway storage idea that sits neatly on a lower step or at the foot of the stairs, acting as a temporary holding zone for anything that needs to go up or back down the stairs. Instead of messy, clutter spreading across multiple stairs, this keeps everything contained in one neat little place.

I went for a neutral woven style with soft handles, which blends into our hallway, and it looks just the part.

The small storage solution couldn't be simpler, really. Anything that needs to go upstairs goes straight into the basket. No more piles or visual clutter are creeping up the staircase, and no tripping hazards.

What makes it especially practical is the handle, which sounds like a very small detail (most baskets have one), but it makes all the difference. When I do finally have the energy to tackle it, I just grab the basket, take it upstairs and go room by room putting things back where they belong. It's way easier than making endless individual trips up and down.

And it looks good too. The grey tone of mine works well in my hallway, blending in rather than shouting storage basket.

Compared to the visual chaos of loose clutter on the stairs, it helps the hallway look more put-together instantly, even on days when life feels anything but.

It might be a very simple idea, but sometimes those are the ones that make the biggest difference! It's not a system that demands constant upkeep or micro decluttering.

It's a holding zone, really, as the mess technically still exists. But the difference is that it's contained (and hidden clutter), which makes the space feel calmer.

For me, the stair basket has helped keep my hallway looking half decent with minimal effort and in a busy family home, that's a small win I'll happily take.

If the one I have isn't quite to your taste, here are a few other stylish options to consider.

Anything that makes day-to-day tidying feel easier is a win. And a stair basket isn't about achieving a perfectly clutter-free home.

It's a small, affordable fix that makes a big difference to how our hallway looks daily. Who wouldn't want that?

I may not have a big house with oodles of space, but that doesn’t stop me from inviting friends and family round for regular get-togethers. And while I can handle us all squashing around a dinner table, one thing I can’t stand is shoe clutter. That’s why I’ve recently invested in this Storivo Shoe Organiser, (£16.99 at Amazon) to pop by my front door this Christmas.

As I’m gearing up to be a hostess-with-the-mostest over the festive period this year, I didn’t want a jumble of shoes sitting by the front door. I want the place to look neat and tidy for my guests, and I also want it to be a safe space for my nieces and nephews, who will no doubt spend most of their time running around like headless chickens (and potentially tripping over the shoes in the process).

However, my home isn't exactly huge, so I needed to find a shoe storage idea for small spaces that would solve the problem without taking up too much space itself. And I’ve definitely found it. Now I just need my guests to arrive and fill it!

I’ve recently been using the Reverse Advent decluttering method to prep my home for hosting this Christmas, but that doesn’t account for the many things (i.e. shoes) that guests bring into my space when they turn up on the big day. Hence, the need to organise them in a way that doesn’t take over my entire home.

And while it may not be the prettiest or most stylish storage solution, the Storivo Shoe Organiser is a space-saving game-changer. It has space for 16 pairs of shoes, and the internal dividers even allow you to adjust the compartments to fit different shoe types.

It’s worth noting that it stores 16 pairs of small shoes, though. I’ve been testing it out ahead of the festive period, and have found that a pair of daintier pumps can fit into each slot without any issues, but mine and my husband’s chunkier trainers require one slot per shoe.

So, if you’re inviting guests who have larger feet or favour larger, chunkier shoes, it may be worth upgrading to the Storivo Shoe Organiser 2-Pack (£29.99 at Amazon) so you can double your space. I’m even considering buying a second box to fill with cheap slippers for my guests to wear over Christmas, as it serves as a warm welcome when hosting overnight guests.

But what I love about this shoe organiser is that it also has handles on either side, so I plan on popping it by the door when guests arrive, and then moving it under a chair or in a cupboard when they’re all settled, so it’s out of the way.

As I don’t have a huge amount of extra space in my house, I then have the option to disassemble it when I don’t need it - and it folds down into a flat rectangle that can be hidden in cupboards, slid under sofas, or packed away in an ottoman bed like I’ll be doing. However, I have a feeling that this will come in handy throughout the year anyway.

Don’t just take my word for it when it comes to this Christmas shoe storage idea, though. These shoe boxes are also highly reviewed on Amazon, with one customer writing, ‘I bought two and then liked them so much that I bought another two. They're good quality, and they fit in a lot of shoes, and all types of shoes.’

Another raved, ‘I have to say this box for shoes is amazing. It’s much better than it actually looks online, with very sturdy dividers. With a lovely zip-up, plastic cover to keep dust away.’

But even if you don't opt for this specific shoe organiser over Christmas, Sophia Lorimer, a Sustainable Stylist and the founder of Fine-Tuned Wardrobe, says that choosing some kind of shoe storage is more beneficial than not having anything at all.

She explains, 'A small basket or tray for guests’ shoes subtly signals, “Here’s how we do things in this home.” It removes any awkwardness and keeps the flow of the space calm.' Plus, it keeps your floors protected!

If you want to protect your floors from muddy footprints over the hosting season, it's well worth checking out the absorbent doormat I can't live without, too.

A bedside table is an area of the home that can quickly become cluttered, as a space we value for its functionality, over aesthetics. But if you’re a little sick and tired of the mess, a bedside pocket holder (£17.93 at Amazon) is ideal for keeping books, magazines and glass off your bedside table and tucked away safely.

As a naturally messy person, I'm always on the lookout for new ways to keep my home in order. While looking for ways to organise a bedroom, I stumbled across these handy holders.

Designed to slot onto your bedframe and hang from the side, bedside pocket holders keep your nighttime essentials within arm's reach, clearing the visible clutter from your bedside table. Because of this, they are a new bedroom storage idea that I will be investing in this winter.

I frequently use my bedside table as a bit of a dumping ground. More often than not, it has a stack of books, some discarded jewellery and my glasses left on top of it. Don’t get me wrong, I use these items every day, and they’re handy to have within reach, but they do make my nightstand look very messy.

This is where the bedside pocket holders come in handy, especially if you’ve just gone through the process of decluttering your bedroom. They hang neatly against the side of your bed, with enough space for books, magazines and other trinkets to discreetly slot inside. While I wouldn’t use one to store my earrings, I think they’re really handy to have if you’re a nighttime reader.

The Kikkerland Boiled Wool Bedside Pocket (£17.93 at Amazon) is designed to keep books, phones, remotes and even iPads safe and out of the way while you sleep. It folds into the side of your bedframe, turning the side of your bed into a handy pocket. It’s available in a sleek grey colourway, designed to blend in well with your bedroom colour scheme.

I even think that this practical storage solution is a great stocking filler or gift for any of your loved ones who are big readers or enjoy an evening watching TV in bed (who doesn't!). Not to mention that this Amazon model has racked up thousands of positive reviews online.

‘A perfect addition to the bedroom to keep clutter tidy. These pockets are made of a lovely boiled wool, so they have a soft feel, but sturdy and strong, and they look good too. They are low profile and subtle,’ said one.

‘I did my research before buying this item as there are lots of different varieties on offer; however, this looked very smart and well-made, plus it was a good price. I am very happy with my purchase.’

Personally, I’d say investing in storage solutions is never a bad idea, and this one offers both convenience and promises to keep your bedside table free from clutter. It’s a win-win.

I don’t know about you, but I have a big month ahead of me. With plenty of friends and family visiting over the festive season, I’m looking to get my home in order right now - and these are the Amazon decluttering heroes I’m stocking up on to do it.

I live in a small flat, which means clutter builds fast - and this is only exacerbated during Christmas when we have more guests and more social gatherings. Because of this, I know my way around a few of the best decluttering methods and some of the best cleaning products - especially as I can be quite chaotic and messy myself.

So, to organise my home this Christmas, these are the nine decluttering essentials I’m stocking up on to make my house not only look good to visiting guests, but also give me extra space and peace of mind.

A tidy home makes me feel more relaxed amongst the chaos of Christmas, and sets me up well for a fresh set of resolutions in January. Do you have any tips or products you swear by to get your home in order?

Any meal prepper will tell you that storing prepped meals in your freezer can sometimes feel like a complicated (and very cold) game of Jenga. If you’re struggling to organise your freezer or are simply short on space, may I introduce you to Souper Cubes - the storage solution that should be on every meal prepper’s wish list.

While there are plenty of ways to organise a freezer, a fair few of the Ideal Home team would argue that Souper Cubes deserve to be at the top of the list. Allowing you to ditch multitudes of plastic pots, Souper Cubes allows preppers to store individual portions of soups, stocks and sauces.

Whether you’ve made a batch of roasted red pepper soup or multiple portions of bolognese, these handy storage pots can be stacked even vertically to make freezer organisation even easier - here’s everything you need to know.

I’m an avid meal prepper. I don’t like spending a fortune on my food shop, and meal prepping allows me to plan ahead, eat healthily and save the pennies too. I already use OXO’s meal prep bags to help organise my fridge, but I won’t lie, my freezer is a mess.

Living in a one-bed flat, I have a small under-the-counter fridge in my poky kitchen, which means my freezer is just one little compartment at the top of the fridge. It’s a struggle to get a pot of Ben & Jerry’s in there, and often I find myself getting overly frustrated when the plastic tubs I use to freeze food won’t stack properly.

Souper Cubes are made from food-safe silicone that is both oven and freezer-safe. The trays are flexible but have a steel rim to make transporting contents to the freezer easier.

So, when Lindsey Davis, Ideal Home’s Ecommerce Content Director, recommended Souper Cubes, I raced to pick up a pack myself. The tray also has handy fill lines to ensure you portion food evenly.

‘Initially, the price had put me off buying Souper Cubes as they seem expensive compared to other freezer containers, but I bought one tray (the 4 x 250ml tray from Lakeland) while they were on offer and have been able to give away most of my plastic tubs. I have paired them with a set of Joie reusable freezer bags and now my batch cooking takes up a fraction of the space,’ she told me.

‘I have my freeze-and-store process down to save as much space as possible. I can freeze more than one meal at once, then when each block is frozen, I transfer it to its own smaller bag, which is much easier to tessellate among the other boxes and bags in my freezer. It also feels safer than freezing the meal in bags, which, though advertised as leak-proof, still feels a bit precarious to transfer anything thick or heavy to.'

‘I now have one tray of 250ml sections, which is perfect for soups, or things like chilli that will be paired with a carb after cooking. Then I also bought a set of the 500ml Souper Cubes that I can use for whole meals, such as lasagna or portions of cottage pie. You can cook in them too, as they are oven safe, but I rotate use of them so often that I generally use them for the freezing stage, then transfer to a bag before taking them out to cook in an oven-proof dish,' said Lindsey.

‘My favourite Souper Cube hack is making blocks of soup concentrate. I simply season, roast and blend any leftover veggies, then freeze before adding the stock so that they take up less room. They are so easy to pop out of the silicone tray during the week and add to a pot of stock for a very quick, easy and nutritious mid-week dinner.’

If, like me, you’ve been looking for clever ways to maximise your freezer space, Souper Cubes are a great investment. While they do cost more than a standard storage pot, these silicone containers will last you a long time, and free up some much-needed space.

Ninja's stone air fryer is finally back and available to buy after the popularity of this air fryer skyrocketed earlier in October. Currently in stock on Amazon for £228.99, I'd recommend checking out on this one in double quick time if you've had it on your wish list.

Released as part of Ninja's array of new air fryer colours earlier in the year, this stone shade proved by far to be the most popular, especially with Ideal Home readers. The best Ninja air fryers are renowned for their excellent quality, but these limited-edition colour runs are really adding to the design appeal of these appliances too.

This particular version is an Amazon exclusive, but Ninja also has its own limited edition colours available right now, including the navy cyber space (£229.99 at Ninja). For the neutral lovers, here's a closer look at the particular stone shade.

If you have a neutral kitchen colour scheme, appliances that match your design vision is essential. That's why this stone Ninja air fryer has proved so popular, ranking as Amazon's bestselling air fryer this month.

Specs-wise, this is the standard Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer that caused so many sellouts way back in 2022 and which we've reviewed to great acclaim, but repackaged in colours far more suiting to most kitchens than black.

With two drawers that you can control separately to different temperatures and times, this Ninja is seen by many as an ultimate kitchen upgrade – though it's not quite as versatile as our favourite air fryer ever, the Ninja FlexDrawer, which impressed our reviewer and has the edge on space and design.

Seeing as this stone gold version is an Amazon exclusive, it'll be especially enticing to Prime members, as you could have this air fryer in your kitchen as soon as tomorrow.

We're certainly hoping that this stone gold Ninja air fryer can stay in stock long enough to feature in Amazon's upcoming Black Friday sale. After all, there's nothing better than scoring a bargain on something you've had your eye on for a while!

If you’re after a Christmas tree that’s a little more understated and minimalist than the traditional style then you’ll love the trending twig trees. Most retailers are jumping on the now popular tree style but Amazon is my go-to for budget-friendly twig trees, including this Netta 6ft Birch Pre-lit Twig Tree. And thanks to Amazon Prime Day deals, it’s now available for less than £50.

Some of the best artificial Christmas trees I've seen this year have in fact been twig trees, from the John Lewis Christmas shop opening where I got to see the retailer's indoor/outdoor pre-lit twig tree IRL to perusing Next's website and stumbling across the brand's twig Christmas tree which comes in a black, more traditionally shaped version or a gold one as well.

But while those two twig trees in particular are beautiful and stylish, Amazon’s take on the Christmas tree trend is chic while also being budget-friendly. And it’s popular with customers as over 50 have been sold in the space of a month and boasting over 400 five-star reviews already.

One existing customer wrote, 'This gorgeous tree is replacing a traditional Christmas tree this year and it’s fitted the bill perfectly now it’s got its baubles on. Spent 30 minutes fiddling with the branches to make it look full but it was worth it.'

Last year, the twig Christmas tree trend was already rising in popularity, especially thanks to the incredibly well priced Aldi twig tree. But I predict that this year, this Scandinavian look will be more sought after as I’ve already been seeing it popping up all over.

Why should you invest in the Amazon twig tree?

Apart from the aesthetic benefits, twig trees in general are also perfect for small rooms due to their space-saving design.

But when it comes to this particular twig tree, many customers praise it because it can be used as year-long decor due to the birch tree style.

It’s also a pre-lit tree, equipped with 160 LED lights and eight different light settings. And it features a smart feature of staying on for eight hours a day and then automatically switching itself off for the next 16 hours to make your life easier.

And I think we can all use a little bit of that, especially during the festive season.

If you’re feeling suddenly overwhelmed by masses of dead leaves in your garden (I know I am), you’ll want to get your hands on a machine that makes light work of clearing them.

Well, both Garden Force’s Leaf Chief from High Street TV and the Gardena Leaf and Grass Collector from Amazon do just that – they're push grass and leaf collectors with huge collection bins, and they've got stellar reviews.

If you’re looking for an effortless alternative to a leaf blower, the Leaf Chief is one to watch. Here’s why…

The Leaf Chief and Garden's Leaf and Grass Collector sweep up leaves, grass clippings and other garden debris using inner brushes. You don’t need to plug them in – they're manual machines that you simply push over a range of outdoor surfaces, from lawns to patios, paths and driveways.

The fact that they're manual collectors is a huge bonus for me – it saves splurging on fuel or electricity fees in the future (that's a perk of manual lawn mowers, too), making the £99.99-£125 upfront cost worth it. It also means both models are really quiet, so you don’t need to worry about rousing the neighbours with a noisy leaf blower or leaf vacuum.

The long handle eliminates the need to bend down and collect every pile of leaves – instead, they’re all bundled effortlessly into the huge detachable storage collection bag.

Effortless is certainly the buzzword: according to Garden Force, ‘garden maintenance has never been easier’ with the Leaf Chief, and judging from the reviews, it certainly lives up to the claim.

‘The machine itself is very light and easy to use,’ says one reviewer. Another, who lives on a road with large trees, claims, 'It is the best I have ever tried.’

It isn’t just larger leaves that benefit from the Leaf Chief, though – according to one reviewer, it’s the perfect solution for pine needles, too.

‘[I was] originally sceptical about purchasing this as we have a garden full of pine trees,’ they said. ‘I needn't have worried – [it] picked up the pine needles with ease in a fraction of the time it used to take.’

You can even customise the raking height by twisting the control dial on the front of the collector, ensuring the best possible sweep for the surface and debris size you're dealing with.

The only pain point is that the Leaf Chief isn’t suitable for sweeping wet leaves, with one reviewer claiming it ‘works better when leaves are dry’, and another mentioning that ‘wet grass with branches causes it to keep stopping’. A few reviewers say it works better on flat, even surfaces, too.

Despite that, I was impressed by the number of reviews celebrating how well it works. It even comes with a wall-mountable storage bracket, a brilliant garden storage idea for a shed.

Gardena's Leaf and Grass Collector receives just as much praise as the Leaf Chief, with reviewers saying it's 'robust, handy and does its job well'.

Of course, you don’t need to clear every leaf from your garden – there are plenty of wildlife benefits to be had from a few piles here and there – but if you, like many of us this month, are finding that sweeping leaves is consistently topping your October garden jobs list, this collector is definitely worth the investment.

Alternative leaf collectors

These leaf collectors are worth a look at, too...

I think the Leaf Chief and the Gardena Leaf and Grass Collector are real game-changers for tackling fallen leaves in the garden. I can't wait to try them out!

As Ideal Home’s vacuum expert, I know first-hand just how pricey a good vacuum cleaner can be. That’s why Amazon Prime Day (or Amazon’s Big Deal Days, as it’s been coined) is my favourite time of the year, as bagging an impressive vacuum cleaner deal is always a sure thing. My must-have deal this year? It’s got to be the Shark Stratos Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner Pet Pro, which has been reduced from £479.99 to £279.

Taking one of the top spots in my best vacuum cleaner guide, the Shark Stratos is a bestseller for a reason. However, Amazon’s Big Deal Days event end at 23:59 on 8 October, and I have no doubts that this particular deal is going to be very popular. So, you’ll have to act fast if you want to snap it up.

The Shark Stratos really is the vacuum that does it all and arguably one of the best Shark vacuums you can buy today. Not only has it been crowned the ‘best for everyday’ vacuum cleaner that I and the Ideal Home team have ever tested, but I’ve officially named it the number one cordless vacuum cleaner in our guide.

And while it may be one of Shark’s oldest cordless stick vacuums, it’s the kind of model that doesn’t need any upgrades or changes, as it’s that good. In fact, this particular model has two batteries, which means you can enjoy up to 120 minutes of fade-free suction, and it offers Shark’s best-ever hair pick-up thanks to its anti-hair wrap technology.

We gave it a glowing 5-star review for those exact reasons, as well as its impressive suction power that seriously won over our expert tester, Molly.

She raved, ‘Though it's slim and lightweight, as soon as you hit the power button on the handle, you feel this vacuum roar into life. Using it in stick mode on carpet initially, I was impressed by the visible lines this left, where it had really gotten into the depths of the fabric and pulled up dirt.’

And while this particular model - coupled with the impressive Amazon Prime Day discount - will undoubtedly suit any home, there’s no denying that it’s an absolute steal for pet parents.

That’s because the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT is designed to be a pet model, coming complete with a motorised pet tool, anti-allergen brush, crevice tool and multi-surface tool to help you vacuum pet hair and clean those smaller nooks and crannies in your home. Plus, it comes with a handy bag to keep the extra tools safe.

It also features impressive anti-odour cartridges that can protect against dust bin odours and leave your home smelling extra fresh while you’re cleaning. The Clean Sense IQ technology also senses the dirt in your home and automatically adjusts its cleaning power to leave both your carpets and hard floors spotless.

All in all, it’s a solid vacuum that I believe is well worth the investment at full price. So, the fact that it’s discounted by almost 40% right now is a huge perk on top of an already great deal.

However, it's worth noting that while many deals over the next couple of days will be available to non-Prime customers, you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to snap up the best of the best Big Deal Days deals.

You can sign up here if you’re not already a member, and you can even sign up for a free 30-day trial, so you don’t technically need to continue being a member once the deals event is over (as long as you haven’t previously used the free trial). Just don’t tell Amazon I said that…

And if this Shark vacuum deal isn’t quite what you’re after, there are so many other discounted vacuums on Amazon right now. Below are some of my favourites.

Alternative Amazon Prime Big Deal Days vacuum deals

Remember, Amazon Prime's Big Deals Day ends on the 8th October, so you'll need to be quick if you want to snap up one of these deals!

Breville's brand-new slimline espresso machine is currently on sale, taking it from £239.99 down to £169.99 on Amazon. With that 25% discount on this already relatively affordable coffee machine, this is without a doubt the Amazon Prime Day deal I'm recommending to those looking to hone their home barista skills.

I previewed this machine along with the other two released in the same collection in my first look piece earlier this month, but the Slimline model was a real standout for those with cosier kitchens. Taking up just 35cm across on a worktop, this is the perfect machine for a corner kitchen space. Here's a full look at this limited-time deal.

While the best bean to cup coffee machines are probably the most popular type of product out there right now, getting hold of an espresso machine remains a much cheaper option. So if you're not sure if you want to invest in something as expensive as the Ninja Luxe Café yet, this Breville machine is a great place to find your feet.

You'll either need to buy ground coffee or pair this Slimline model with a grinder if you want to use beans. A big selling point with this machine is the built-in manual milk frother which you can use (with a bit of practice) to serve up lattes and cappuccinos at home in your own kitchen café.

Compared to rival machines, like the Sage Bambino (£399 at Amazon), this Breville model is a bargain price for £169.99 and already has a host of excellent reviews from users. With a 4.4-star rating out of five earned from 102 reviews so far, one user describing it as 'sturdy and robust' while being 'sleek and beautiful to look at'.

While we haven't tested this particular machine yet here at Ideal Home, we have tested a more expensive model in the same series – the Breville Barista Signature, which earned 4.5 stars in our review. Saying it was easy to use and boasted great customisable settings, it's fair to say that Breville bring quality with their at-home espresso machines.

Could this Slimline version take your fancy this Prime Day?

It goes without saying that not every viral TikTok trend should be followed. But once in a while, I stumble upon a gem and become obsessed. That’s the case with the stained glass light bulbs, available at Amazon for £20.99 for a set of two.

Inspired by stained glass often seen on front doors of residential houses or church windows, these light bulbs are painted in a multicoloured pattern which helps to create a colourful but diffused light. And this lighting trend can be paired with pretty much any table or floor lamp - or perhaps even a ceiling light - as long as it has a white or light-coloured lampshade.

I first came across these light bulbs through TikTok content creator Tina Le Mac who in the video’s caption wrote, ‘These stained glass light bulbs are a whole ~vibe~ and to say I’m obsessed is an understatement!! Like how did I not know about these until this year?!’

While I’m in the same boat as Tina, having never heard of these before seeing her video - and subsequently many more from other TikTokers - this is apparently a returning home decor trend from the 90s, one I’ve never come across before. But Ideal Home’s Managing Editor, Thea Babington-Stitt remembers this nostalgic trend with fondness.

‘I'm aging myself here, but I remember this from the 90s! The stained glass bulbs were the thing to have in your bedroom for a while, and even DIY-ing your own. Fashion's been leaning heavily into that era so it seems about time that interiors are doing the same. Love the nostalgia, but let's keep it at these and not go as far as the inflatable furniture (IYKYK).’

You can pair your stained glass light bulb with a paper lantern-style lamp like Tina has done, or with a globe-shaped table lamp, similarly to Stephie Babie whose video has attracted 1.5 million views on TikTok. And there are others that have even surpassed 11 million views.

Yep, this is truly a viral trend – and one that I’m fully on board with and am ready to invest in, especially with Amazon Prime Day deals coming up! Will you be embracing this playful lighting look?

Rechargeable and wireless lamps have become an essential in homes over the last few years, lighting up corners of a room without the faff or wires. However, if you want all the perks of a wireless lamp without buying a new one, have you considered investing in a rechargeable light bulb? Available for just £8 from Amazon, this clever buy will turn any floor, table or wall light wireless.

The best wireless lamps look very different today than they did a few years ago. They have branched out from small reading lights into a staple of every high street lighting collection.

However, they can be expensive, and the available designs are more limited than traditional wired versions. But, with a rechargeable light bulb, you can turn any lamp wireless. Whether that is one you already have and love, a second-hand lamp you just picked up or a brand new one you can't find a spot for near a plug socket.

Why you should use rechargeable light bulbs

Rechargeable lightbulbs are not brand new; only a couple of years ago, interior enthusiasts were cutting the wires off their lamps and using rechargeable bulbs to create a Pooky-style lamp. But they were forgotten in the explosion of rechargeable lamps.

However, these rechargeable bulb hacks are being rediscovered as a way to upcycle old lamps, or easily install pendant and wall lights. In fact, experts think they are going to become increasingly popular.

‘Rechargeable light bulbs are highly energy efficient as they use far less energy than traditional light bulbs. This can provide significant cost-saving benefits by reducing your electricity bills over time,’ says Lighting expert Sam Garbutt, from LED & Power.

‘Furthermore, as rechargeable light bulbs are more energy efficient, they are highly beneficial for the environment. They also don’t need to be replaced as frequently, so they produce far less waste and are much more convenient.

‘Rechargeable light bulbs are highly versatile due to their portable nature, which means they can be used indoors or outdoors and moved around when necessary. This can make them much more convenient than rechargeable lamps, making them a more popular choice.’

Jamie Moxey, lighting expert at Dusk Lighting, points out that rechargeable bulbs are also excellent in the event that there is a power cut.

‘It's essentially an in-built backup, saving you scrambling around with torches and candles!’ he says.

Practicals aside, rechargeable bulbs can look great, too, with many models even controlled by remotes, with the options to change colour and warmth, too. For example, these USB Rechargeable bulbs (£11.44 at Amazon) range from bright white to a cosy yellow glow so you can achieve the ambience you desire.

Why not pair them with your favourite lamp shade (If you’re stuck for ideas, Next’s Mix’n’Match Collection is excellent) and create your own wireless lighting option at home.

While Amazon has the largest selection of rechargeable light bulbs, you can also pick them up from Next and a few other retailers. Here are our top picks below.

Do you use rechargeable light bulbs at home? Let us know how you get on with them.

Amazon has launched its first ever Second Chance Deal Days, which means you can shop high-quality returned and refurbished items at a fraction of the original cost - and these are the best home deals I’ve spotted.

When I want an Amazon deal, I typically wait for their Amazon Prime Day sales to snap up a bargain. But having launched today (3 September) and running until 9 September, the Second Chance Deal Days are another excellent opportunity to get a discount deal on some of the best products on the market.

But, these deals are a little more hidden than Amazon's typical sales, so I've put together a guide for making the most out of this secret side of Amazon. From some of the best coffee machines to the best air fryers, here are a few of the best deals you can snap up during Amazon’s Second Chance Deal Days.

When shopping for Amazon returned or refurbished items, look for a tab that says 'Save With Used' when adding items to your trolley. This appears on the right-hand side of a laptop screen. Or if you're using a mobile, scroll past the 'buy now' button to a heading called 'Other sellers on Amazon'.

The first of its kind sale offers customers up to 50% off recommended retail prices on returned and refurbished items from brands such as Shark, De’Longhi and Tower. This discount is applied to your basket when you check out, so I'd recommend checking what discount has been applied before you buy.

Amazon reports that last year, customers in the UK saved more than £110 million by shopping for returned and refurbished items from the site. The retail giant also says that two-thirds of Brits are now buying second-hand due to convenience and concerns of cost-of-living and the environment.

‘We've seen that once customers experience the value and quality of these products, they become confident second-chance shoppers, saving money along the way and helping to extend product lifecycles,' says John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager.

‘Our dedicated teams check every returned product. Customers can be assured that any used product they buy meets our quality standards and comes with Amazon's customer service and return policies.’

Currently, Amazon sells returned and refurbished products through two main channels: Amazon Resale and Amazon Renewed. Items sold via Amazon Resale go through a thorough inspection process and come with descriptions such as ‘Like New’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Good’, or ‘Acceptable’.

Amazon Renewed offers refurbished products sold by Amazon’s qualified selling partners. Each undergoes professional inspection, testing and cleaning and must meet Amazon Renewed’s requirements before being offered at competitive prices.

Have any deals caught your eye?

As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, the one thing I do not have *any* shortage of is bedding.

After four years spent testing the best duvets, pillows, and all manner of duvet covers and sheets for our where to buy bedding guide, it’s fair to say I have bedding stashed in every conceivable corner of my home.

I’ll be brave and give you a peek into the current state of my linen cupboard below. But, needless to say, what I am in desperate need of by this stage is bedding organisation.

Thankfully, I’ve just found the perfect solution in the shape of these bedding organisers that are currently just £13.99 for three on Amazon.

Storage experts say that when it comes to how many sets of bedding you should have, the average person owns two or three sets per bed.

However, despite frequent donations to friends, family, and neighbours, I still easily have about twelve sets of bed linen lurking in my airing cupboard at any one time.

Plus, at last count, there were eight king-size duvets piled on top of the bed in my spare bedroom, all either just having been tested or waiting patiently to be put through Ideal Home's duvet testing process.

It’s a lot of bedding by anyone’s standards. Here's how my linen cupboard currently looks, and this is after a pretty drastic clear-out and tidy recently.

As such, I don’t so much need bedding storage; I need some kind of industrial-scale bedding storage intervention.

And as much as I've look wistfully at the ingenious bedding files Ideal Home’s Rebecca Knight has employed in her London flat, when I read about the two duvet cover rotation her and her partner employ, I knew this compact and space-saving storage solution wasn’t going to house my, errr… larger… collection of bedding.

Whilst my bedding situation is unusual – I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who lives alone and yet has twelve of the best mattress protectors and umpteen electric blankets hidden in their house – you don't need that large of a family before the bedding situation soon adds up.

A master bedroom, two kids' beds, and a guest bedroom soon means four sets of bedding. And if you have a summer and winter tog duvet for each bed – plus, at least one spare set of bedding for each when one is in the wash – then like me, your airing cupboard is probably fast threatening to smother you in a sea of loose sheets every time you open the door.

The joy of these particular Amazon bedding organisers, is that unlike the bedding files I've come across on Amazon, they’re large. They measure roughly H35 x W60 x D40cm each, and that means there’s plenty of room for a king-size duvet inside, plus some space to spare.

If you only need to store a double or a single duvet, that means there’s room to pack some bed linen into the storage cube, too. I even managed to squeeze three pillows into one bag without too much bulging at the seams. And thankfully, the zips feel robust, so I didn't worry about overfilling them slightly.

What's even better, especially if you have a small bedroom like me, and not much space for storage ideas, is that, unlike the bedding files, these storage bags fold completely flat when they're not in use. I also love that large window on the front that lets me easily identify what's inside. You could always add a handwritten label if you want to be *really* organised.

If I had more bedrooms to worry about, I’d have one of these storage cubes dedicated to each bed. So a winter storage cube with a higher tog duvet and brushed cotton bedding, ready for the colder months, to be unpacked in October and put on the bed.

And then a bag ready and waiting with a summer tog duvet and a breathable muslin bedding or 200 thread count cotton percale bedding set for the warmer months.

All in all, these storage bags have definitely transformed my bedding storage for the better. And at just £13.99 for three of the foldable storage boxes with lids, I think they're a great investment. No wonder they have so many 5-star reviews on Amazon. In fact, I'm about to go and order some more.

I've been on the hunt to find the perfect iced coffee cup this summer, because there's no way you'll catch me having my morning latte hot in this heat. In this search, I've pinned down a couple of personal non negotiable criteria.

The first is my pick of the best coffee machines on hand to make the coffee (obviously), but the second is a cup that's insulated properly, so that I don't end with a watery mess. A straw is also a feature I'm looking for, so I can sip along as I sit at my desk.

That's why this bottlebottle iced coffee cup (currently on sale on Amazon for £7.59 down from £9.99) is ticking all of my boxes. Plus, it's a dead ringer for a frank green cup (£34.99 on Amazon) that I've been hovering over clicking 'checkout' on for weeks now. Here's how the two measure up.

You can pick up the bottle bottle cup in two different sizes: 500 and 800ml, while the frank green version is smaller at 425ml. Both feature metal straws, which you can use time and time again, but the Amazon alternative here can also be used as a water bottle thanks to its size.

One of the iced coffee mistakes I've been trying to avoid is investing in cups without dual-wall insulation. As much as I love my on-trend pistachio cooler from Nespresso, the plastic does sweat a fair bit in the heat.

Both of these cups have double walls, so the iced cubes inside won't be melting in a hurry. The frank green version is also ceramic lined, which should help with heat distribution too.

I haven't made any Amazon Prime Day purchases yet, but this coffee cup is the thing I'm going to invest in before deals end at midnight. Given how many iced coffees I'm getting through a day in this heatwave, it seems like an investment that will quickly pay for itself. Are you looking to shop any deals to improve your coffee set-up?

If you’ve been looking for ways to stay cool this week, then you’re not alone. As the weather heats up, I’ve been racking my brain trying to find the best cooling product and this £5 mister attachment from Amazon is too good not to share.

With temperatures predicted to hit over 30 degrees in the UK this week, even the best fans will feel like they’re just pushing hot air around your room, which is where knowing the best cooling hacks comes in.

Now, the obvious choice would be to invest in the Shark FlexBreeze Misting Fan , which produces ultra-fine droplets to cool you down, but if you’re not looking to buy a whole new fan, this £5 Amazon budget buy is a great alternative.

The mister attachment is incredibly simple to use. It’s a small plastic container that you can clip onto your fan. Inside the container, there is space for two pots, about a shot glass size. The idea is that you freeze water inside the pots and then add the pot of ice to the attachment so that the air that blows through your fan cools as it goes over the ice.

Essentially is an easier way to execute the DIY air conditioner hack. The mister attachment works to cool you down as the air will cool as it passes over the ice. The ice will also evaporate, cooling the air further.

It’s a much cheaper alternative to the best portable air conditioner, which, while brilliant, can be a little pricey. The mister attachment is also best used in one space, so don’t expect it to cool your home. However, for working from your home office, it’s a game-changer for cooling you down (which is the reason why I’m adding it to my cart).

However, if you plan to use this attachment, then you need to be aware of the safety concerns. Ice and electricity do not mix, so you need to be very careful when this attachment is attached to your fan and only put it on and remove it when the fan is off to avoid electric shocks. The manufacturers of this attachment have stated the product has a double-sealed structure to stop leaks.

If you are concerned about using the attachment, it is better to stay safe and opt for one of these alternatives instead.

Do you know of any other game-changing products to help you beat the heat?

Keeping on top of the washing for a family-of-four (including two fashion-conscious teenagers) when the dirty laundry basket seems to fill up daily is a constant challenge. Is it just me or does it always seem to be full of everyone else's dirty clothes rather than my own – how do they get so many clothes dirty so fast?!

I have a small utility room idea (actually, it's not just small, it's tiny!) that's mainly used for laundry, with a stacked tumble dryer and washing machine, plus a handy extra sink. To keep up with the volume of washing, I've needed to employ every space-saving laundry trick in the book, including a few really great products that have genuinely been game-changing.

Top of the list is this drop-down wall-mounted clothes airer from Argos. With minimum floor area and very little worktop space, using vertical solutions like this is a no-brainer.

The clothes airer comes with hooks which I use for items such as small towels or tea towels, then I hang clothes over the rails and pop a few clothes hangers (I have these white wooden hangers from Amazon) along the outer rail for garments such as shirts or sweaters.

I picked up a set of magnetic storage shelves and hooks from Amazon a couple of months ago. Stacking the tumble dryer on top of the washing machine is a great way to store appliances in a utility room, and it means I can attach the magnetic shelves to the side of my dryer. I've been seriously impressed at the weight these shelves will hold – I've stored full bottles of washing detergent on them without them moving an inch. They've really exceeded my expectations, and I give this space-saving laundry trick an enthusiastic thumbs up. They turn what would otherwise be dead space into usable storage, meaning I have less stuff cluttering up the limited worktop area.

My most recent buy was a magnetic lint bin from Amazon. I was fed up of having a small pedal bin cluttering up the floor (I kept tripping over it), and so finding another wall-mounted solution was exactly what was required.

If using the magnetic surface isn't an option, it also comes with self-adhesive hooks so that you can fix it to the wall using those instead. Plus, it includes a handy lint brush, so I can easily keep the tumble dryer clean to make sure it's working as efficiently as possible.

Space-saving laundry storage buys

These nifty little space-saving laundry tricks and hacks have maximised the usable space in my tiny utility room and made tackling the family's laundry much easier, all for under £100.

As Ideal Home’s resident vacuum expert, you’d think I’d be all over robot vacuums. And I am. However, I’ve always struggled with the high price tags attached to these hands-free appliances. So, imagine my surprise when I spotted that the price of the already-pretty-affordable Eufy G50 Robot Vacuum Cleaner has been slashed from £199.99 to just £99 on Amazon.

I’ve tested some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market, and while there are some amazing Amazon Prime Day deals to be had on my top-rated models right now, this robot vacuum cleaner deal has got me the most excited. In fact, the bargain price coupled with the fact that this model is Amazon’s #1 bestseller has finally convinced me to invest in my first robot vacuum cleaner.

Featuring 4,000 Pa of strong suction (for reference, 2,000-3,000 Pa is usually sufficient for general, everyday cleaning), 120-minute run time, a large 600ml dust bin, active detangling roller brush (which is perfect if you regularly need to vacuum pet hair), and bluetooth connection, this bargain robot vacuum offers a lot for a very affordable price.

It also runs at just 55dB, so you can even have it running at night without it compromising your sleep. And what could be better than waking up to squeaky, crumb-free floors?!

But it’s the price of the Eufy G50 Robot Vacuum that has really won me over. For a big-name robot vacuum brand like Eufy or Roomba, you’d typically expect to spend upwards of £500 (and sometimes over £1,000) to welcome one into your home - and that’s not something I’ve previously been willing to spend. And while the G50 is relatively affordable at full price anyway, the current £99 price tag for Amazon Prime Day is hard to ignore.

The reviews speak for themselves, too. At the time of writing, the Eufy G50 Robot Vacuum is the #1 bestseller in the robot vacuum category and has racked up an impressive 4.4-star rating with almost 10,000 reviews. One happy customer even calls it an ‘efficient workhorse’ while another who has already purchased one during the Amazon Prime Day event said, ‘For £99 I think it's a bargain. Will probably get another one for upstairs.’

On that note, however, it’s important to note that this £99 robot vacuum won’t stay this price forever. With the Amazon Prime Day deals set to end at midnight on the 11th July, you don’t have long to snap up this deal. So, grab it while you can!

Alternatively, if this isn’t quite the right robot vacuum for you, these are a few alternatives in the Amazon Prime Day sale I’d suggest instead.

If you've been waiting to bag the best Amazon Prime Day deals, stop looking! I've found it... and I'll definitely be adding this robot vacuum to my basket.

Whether you have a small kitchen or a sprawling open plan space, making the most out of every inch of cupboard space is essential to creating an organised kitchen. So when I found these Joseph Joseph under-shelf cupboard organisers, I knew it was the missing kitchen storage idea in my home. And my favourite picks are currently still reduced on Amazon following the end of Prime Day.

Living in a rented flat, there's little that can be done to make my small kitchen tidier and clutter-free. Adding extra shelves on the wall is out of the question (although I do love how open shelving looks in a kitchen) so instead, I've been on a mission to double the available space in my cupboards.

There's nothing worse than having a plethora of spices cluttering up a worktop and unless you have lots of drawers in your kitchen, where are you supposed to store those extras like tinfoil and sandwich bags?

Well, as always, Joseph Joseph has the answer. Here's what I tried.

I'm always looking for ways to add organisation to my small kitchen, but with no room to add freestanding furniture to the layout, my only option is to audit the insides of my cupboards.

Clutter can quickly build up - whether it's empty cereal boxes, out of date condiments or storage boxes that take up far too much space, regularly decluttering your kitchen is key to making it easy to use on a daily basis.

Something I noticed in my own cupboards is that half of the height is essentially wasted, leaving so much empty space that could be utilised much better. Joseph Joseph's range of CupboardStore products fixes this exact problem, creating an extra ledge that slots onto your upper shelf.

'At Joseph Joseph, we believe no space should go to waste - especially in the kitchen. That’s why our CupboardStore™ collection is thoughtfully designed to maximise every inch of space. From the new and innovative Film, Foil & Bag Organisers and Easy-Access Storage Caddy’s to storage heroes such as the Under-Shelf Coffee Pod Drawer, each solution helps keep your cupboards neat, accessible and effortlessly organised,' explains Richard Joseph, CEO & Co-Founder of Joseph Joseph.

As a result of the film, foil and bag organiser, I've managed to streamline my 'junk drawer' and instead move these kitchen essentials to a different cupboard. As a result, I have a completely empty drawer to use that was otherwise being wasted with random bits and bobs.

I've got my eye on the coffee pod holder to try next, as this will free up the space taken up by a glass jar in my tea and coffee cupboard.

Other Joseph Joseph storage solutions

These weren't the first space saving buys I've tried from Joseph and Joseph to tidy up my kitchen, below are a couple other suggestions that will help you save space around the kitchen sink and beyond.

For less than £20, you really can't go wrong with these Joseph Joseph organisers if you're looking to revamp your kitchen storage over Amazon Prime Day.

Four years ago in the midst of another heatwave, I took the plunge and decided to go all in on a Duux Whisper fan, and it was the best decision I ever made. So when I spotted that the updated version - the Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Smart Portable Fan - had been dropped down to £174 on Amazon, I knew I had to shout about it.

Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times to pick up a deal on electronic appliances, but this deal in the midst of a summer heatwave is quite rare. There were almost no fans on sale during last summer's Prime Day event, so I was surprised to find the upgraded version of one of the best fans I've ever used reduced.

Like most people, four years ago I dreamed of owning a Dyson fan to replace my cheap and noisy one that rattled away on my bedside table. However, unable to afford even the cheapest Dyson fan, I settled for one that was half the price but equally well recommended: the Duux Whisper Flex.

The Duux fan, while a budget alternative to the Dyson, was still an investment for me, but the girl math added up (and paid off). I've used it every summer and been so impressed by it that I've never been tempted to invest in a Dyson again.

The biggest plus point of the Duux fan is that it's almost silent. It is one of the quietest fans we've tested at Ideal Home, only topped by the latest model that is currently on sale, the Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan.

It's so quiet at the lowest settings that I've accidentally left it on a couple of times without realising it. It has an impressive 26 speed settings, but even at the higher settings, it's still almost impossible to hear.

One of my favourite features is the natural breeze mode, which varies the speed to mimic a cool breeze. It's the perfect relief on a hot evening. There is even a night setting to dim the screen, and a timer to automatically switch the fan off, so you can drift off easily if you're using it to cool a bedroom.

While the fan comes with a remote control, it can also be used via the app on your phone. I did have some difficulty setting this up, which is my only gripe with this fan. However, once it was up and working, I could turn it on and off with voice control via my Google Assistant.

While I do love the sleek design of the Whisper Flex, if it's a bladed fan, it does pick up alot of dust. It is also a faff to clean compared to a bladeless fan, so if you have allergies, you'll need to consider whether a bladed or bladeless fan is right for you.

If you're in the market for a new and quiet fan, I wouldn't pass this opportunity up.

The Ninja NeverStick Waffle Maker is the latest product from my favourite kitchen appliances brand to only be available in the US for the time being, along with the Ninja Swirl and the Ninja Thirsti.

If you love the look of this clever vertical waffle maker and don't want to wait until the UK release (which has not yet been announced), then I've found just the alternative for you. It's from CASO Design, which I've tried one of the best microwaves from.

You can buy the very similar CASO Design WaffleUP right now on Amazon for £89.99, with it boasting five browning levels and the same space-saving design. Here's how the two products compare.

The selling point of both of these products the vertical space-saving design – you won't have to deal with a waffle maker taking up valuable space on your worktop with either of these, which are also much easier to stash in your cupboard.

With both of these products you pour your batter for the waffles into the chamber by pouring from above. This should cut down on spills and mess and means that you should pour the optimum amount too.

Both also have non-stick materials, so you won't be picking the remnants of your waffle out of the mould.

In terms of cost, while it's not known how much the Ninja NeverStick will sell for in the UK, it's available in the US for an RRP of $99.99. The CASO Design equivalent is instead available for £89.99, though we're hoping that there might be an Amazon Prime Day discount on it coming up.

The only real difference I can see between these two waffle gadgets is that while the Ninja produces squares, the CASO design is circular.

Of course, we'll keep you updated as soon as we know more about the release of the NeverStick in the UK. Plus, we're hoping to test one of these vertical waffle makers as soon as wen can to see how they perform. In the mean time, if you're keen to try one like this, I think the CASO alternative looks like a great buy.

Have you ever looked at your carpet and wondered what that mysterious sticky patch could be? Felt tip? Squished up toddler snack? Just me?

Well, if, like me, you have little ones who are prone to accidents or have a pet with frequent muddy paws, I've got a recommendation that might change your cleaning life, and it's currently got 50% off. Enter the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro carpet cleaner, RRP: £299.99, now £148.99 on Amazon.

I've tested a few of the best carpet cleaners, but I have to say this one deserves extra fanfare. Not only did it tackle dried-in pen, chocolate and suspicious stains from my kids, but it completely lifted a red wine stain too. And that's an all-around winner in my eyes.

And now that it's 50% off in the Amazon Prime sale, I'd strongly advise anyone thinking of giving their carpets a proper refresh to snap this epic deal up before it sells out.

Want to know why I rate it so highly? The Bissell Proheat 2X Revolution Pet Pro carpet cleaner is a powerful bit of kit. It features dual dirt lifter power brushes that work with the brand's HeatWave technology for a seriously impressive clean. There's also a built-in CleanShot pretreater, which means you can blast stains directly first before going over them.

It also comes with a range of really useful attachments, including a star tool, one for upholstery and one for spot cleaning, which I use a LOT. And although there are a lot of great features, I found it refreshingly simple to use. Plus, it's got a large water tank, so it's great for using in big rooms or even whole-home cleaning jobs.

The one standout feature for me, though, was the Express Clean mode, which is ideal if you're short on time and need to target a fresh stain without really soaking it.

And the downsides? Well, it's not the most compact machine on the market, and who's surprised with all of those features? It's quite tall, though, and a little on the bulky side, so it does take up a good amount of cupboard space, so it's good to be aware of that if you're short on space.

It's also corded, which means if you're refreshing multiple carpets, you'll need to unplug and move.

However, I'd happily take that trade-off for its performance.

At full price, I already thought this cleaner offered solid value. But with a whopping 50% off during Amazon Prime week, it's a no-brainer buy, especially if your home plays host to muddy paws, small children, or just accident-prone other halves.

If you've been putting off a deep clean or are considering renting a carpet cleaner, you won't regret buying this machine while it's half price. It's an investment, but it's worth its weight.

This deal won't last for long, though, so make sure you snap one up quickly. However, if you don't bag it on time, though, there are other great deals on carpet cleaners we rate below.

Alternative carpet cleaners we rate

I’ve spent all year praying for the sunshine to arrive, but now that it’s finally here there’s only one thing on my mind: flies.

I’m sure I’m not alone in cursing one every time it buzzes through my window and sets up camp in my home. However, I've just discovered soemthing that could fix all that: a magnetic, heavy duty fly door screen on Amazon.

Not only does this handy tool have rave reviews from all shoppers who have put it to the test, but it is currently reduced to just £15 as part of the Amazon Prime Day deals. What more could you ask for?

Intrigued by the hundreds of positive reviews, I asked the experts why fly screens are so effective at keeping flies out of the home.

With hook and loop tape that attaches to the doorframe, and extra push pins, counterweights and magnets to keep it in place, this screen is a sturdy solution to the swarms of summer flies. A testament to its performance, this product has found itself a firm position on Amazon bestselling lists this Prime Day.

Plus, it has a host of positive reviews to boot. With 69% of shoppers rating the screen 5 stars, it must be doing something right. One shopper said, ‘This is the best money I’ve ever spent! So easy to fit and it’s amazing… I don’t ever leave product reviews but this deserves it’

‘It was easy to install, fits perfectly and I am impressed with it,’ wrote another. ‘My dog and cat have learned how to go in and out. No flies have entered through my doors, and I can leave my doors open in this good weather.’

How do fly screens work?

‘Magnetic fly screens and curtains are such a simple but clever solution for keeping flies out of your home, especially when you want to keep windows and doors open to let in some fresh air,’ says Yvonne Keal, product specialist at Hillarys.

In the height of summer, when temperatures are set to soar over 30 degrees this weekend alone, there is nothing worse than a stuffy and airless house. But, with a mesh fly screen, you can have the best of both worlds.

‘The screens are made from a lightweight mesh that lets air and light flow through, but the tiny holes are small enough to stop flies and other bugs from getting inside,’ explains Yvonne. ‘The magnetic strips down the middle mean you can walk through easily, and the screen just snaps back into place behind you, so you don’t have to worry about leaving a gap.’

In fact, in many hotter climes, fly screens are not seen as a game-changing purchase. They are simply standard practice. ‘My wife is Australian and over there, you wouldn’t have a house without a fly screen! In the UK, they’re nowhere near as common, but we’re getting more clients asking about them every year,’ shares Pav Wasik, founder of Uptown Interiors.

If you’re looking for a screen that is custom made for your window or door size, it’s a good thing to consider installing during home refurbishments. But, if you’re just after a quick fix this summer, this magnetic option from Amazon does the job, and does it well.

Add to basket

Looking for other options to accompany your fly screen? A fly screen will only keep flies from coming inside, so if you want to keep them at bay outdoors, here are a few more best-selling buys you can try.

If you've tried a fly screen before, what did you think?

It's clear that we're all gearing up for the inevitable heatwave that's fast approaching. And with the best portable air conditioners selling out left, right and centre as lots of us scramble to beat the next heatwave, armed with the ultimate cooling gadget, it's no surprise that we're turning our sights on the next best thing: air coolers.

Air coolers work a little differently from portable air conditioners, but versions like the Black+Decker Portable 2-In-1 Air Cooler, £70 on Amazon, are quietly becoming best sellers.

The difference between an air cooler and an air conditioner is that air conditioners actively remove heat and humidity from a room, using a refrigerant and a compressor, which is why they can be bulky, on the noisier side and can be costly to run.

Air coolers use evaporative cooling to circulate cool, moist air with ice packs. While they aren't as powerful as ACs, they can create a lovely, refreshing breeze.

So if you're on a budget and you need a cooling fix without the faff of a window hose or stock issues, these are the ones to take a look at.

Air coolers

We haven't tested any of the models below; however, we have based our selection on brand reputation and shopper reviews.

If you see an air cooler that will suit your home, I wouldn't wait around for it. In the last 24 hours, the Midea air cooler (shown below), which we originally included in this round-up and was a bestseller on Amazon, has already sold out. So I expect these coolers are going to sell out fast.

If you're struggling to find an in-stock air conditioner or want a budget cooling alternative, a compact air cooler could just be the sweet spot.

It won't necessarily cool down your room like an AC, but it can make you feel a lot more chill, and I think that's what really counts in the middle of a muggy UK summer.

If your kids wake up drenched in sweat on summer nights, you’ll know how hard it is to keep them cool and sleeping.

As a mum of three, I know that getting kids to sleep in a heatwave is no mean feat. It’s not just roastingly hot in their bedrooms (unless you have one of the best fans on the market or are lucky enough to have an air conditioning unit), but it’s also so bright at bedtime. Those long summer days can feel brutal when you’re a parent – trust me, I’ve been there.

However, after testing dozens of duvets as both a mum and a sleep reviewer, I’ve finally found one that actually keeps my kids cool – and the good news is the Slumberdown Climate Control Duvet is currently on sale for under £17 at Amazon.

Why are kids more liable to overheat while they sleep? Because young children haven’t yet fully developed their thermoregulating systems, which means their core temperature is less stable than that of an adult’s.

Kids also spend longer in deep sleep (aka slow-wave sleep) – the lucky things. This deep sleep is crucial for physical recovery and growth, but during slow-wave sleep the body is less able to regulate temperature. And voila – a heady cocktail of ingredients that produce sweaty children.

Enter Slumberdown’s Climate Control duvet. I wasn’t expecting a synthetic duvet to be a sweaty-night saviour – I usually favour natural fibres like wool or silk as the best duvet for hot sleepers – but this one surprised me.

It's filled with Dacron hollowfibre, which has a hollow structure that provides airflow and insulation. This makes it feel warm without overheating the sleeper.

It comes in a range of togs, but I went for the coolest 4.5 tog version for summer. My kids liked that it felt light and breathable, without that clingy, sweaty feeling you get from some synthetic duvets, and it kept them cool through even the hottest nights.

The fact it's so easy to care for is another huge bonus for parents and allergy sufferers. One of my children suffers from various allergies, and bedding can exacerbate their allergy symptoms. So I was happy to note that this duvet can be washed at 40ºC to blitz allergens, and it can even be chucked in the tumble dryer.

This might also be a relief to those parents who are still in the trenches with kids who have nighttime accidents.

For those of us who are concerned with beds looking inviting, thin duvets can often fall a little flat; many low-tog duvets just don’t look inviting. So I was also impressed with how much this Slumberdown Climate Control duvet fluffed up and held its shape – even when my sons decided to pummel this duvet during a particularly active session of den building.

Plus, the Slumberdown Climate Control Duvet isn’t just a great kids’ duvet – it’s also ideal for guest rooms, uni halls, even camping – and with sizes from single to superking, you can kit out the whole family without spending a fortune.

For under £20, I think this is a small price to pay for cooler, calmer nights – and fewer complaints about bedtime when it feels like a sauna in their bedroom.

A bean-to-cup coffee machine is the dream kitchen appliance for many. Understandably, given how capable a manual espresso machine is for brewing delectable coffee at home.

But if the dream of a bean-to-cup machine has always been unachievable because of very high prices, then I've found a hidden gem deal that might have you changing your mind. The Philips Barista Brew bean-to-cup machine, which is now £299.90, down from £529.99 at Amazon.

It's a machine I've recently tested too, so I can attest to its quality, both in terms of quality, design and the calibre of the coffee. Here's why it's one of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines to invest in for your kitchen while it's on offer for Amazon Prime Day.

The first thing to know about this machine is that it's manual, so you'll be grinding, tamping and pulling your espresso shot yourself. That's pretty different from automatic offerings on the market, including other machines from Philips like the LatteGo, which we've also reviewed.

Manual machines are great for allowing you to hone your coffee skills though, especially this one which has very helpful features built-in to guide you through the process, including an in-depth control panel and a very extensive manual.

This machine also boasts a fantastic integrated milk frothers, so once you've mastered your espresso you can get to work on picking up those essential latte art skills at home.

After testing it myself, I think this machine is the perfect entry level buy into the world of coffee. The grinder is really easy to use as a beginner and it has real countertop appeal too. Though I tried it in stainless steel, it's also available in Metal Black.

Another great thing about this machine is that it holds a really good amount of beans, so you don't have to refill the hopper every other time you go to use it. Cleaning is also really easy – all you need to do is pull out and clean the bottom tray in terms of daily maintenance.

I can safely say that this is the standout coffee machine deal I've seen this Amazon Prime Day - for under £300, it's a total steal given the overall quality. If you've been on the hunt for a bean-to-cup machine to get you into coffee at home, there's no better chance than this right now.

Amazon Prime Day is officially here which means the Ideal Home team has their heads down searching for the best deals for you to snap up, and this one is too good not to share. It’s always exciting when a cult product drops in price, but this time one of the hottest new floorcare appliances is already on sale - the Shark VacMop Cordless 2-in-1 Vacuum Mop is currently £59.99 and has gone straight in my shopping basket.

What makes this Amazon Prime Day deal so exciting is that these babies haven’t been on the market for long. In fact, our Floorcare Expert Lauren Bradbury only got a first look at this game-changing appliance last month, so for the Shark VacMop to already be on sale (down from £99 at 40% off) is very exciting.

Now, I’ve already added this VacMop to my basket, and I think you should too. Emerging as a key floorcare trend this year, vacuum mops combine the power of a vacuum cleaner with the precision of a mop to complete two cleaning jobs for the squeakiest, cleanest floors.

The Shark VacMop is ideal for small spaces, especially if you don’t have the storage space for both the best vacuums and the best mops. However, unlike a classic mop that can often push debris around your floor (if you’ve made the mopping mistake of not vacuuming first), this VacMop uses strong suction to lock away dry debris in a separate compartment. You can then use the spray mop function for wet messes and to mop every type of floor. It’s important to note you can’t mop and vacuum at the same time.

The Shark VacMop has no cords, just a charging cable for when it runs out of battery. It takes three and a half hours to fully charge and will last 13 minutes if you’re continuously vacuuming. When you’ve finished, simply take off the disposable pad and pop it in the bin. It may not sound like this VacMop lasts for long, but it’s been designed with small spaces and quick cleaning sessions in mind.

The Shark VacMop is available in three sleek colourways, lavender, charcoal grey and lime green. However, it is only the charcoal grey that is currently on sale. Alongside the appliance, you’ll also receive Shark’s floor cleaner and six disposable VacMop pads, which for £59.99 is a great deal.

When Ideal Home’s Floorcare Expert Lauren Bradbury tested the Shark VacMop, she was left thoroughly impressed. It’s hundreds of pounds cheaper than other vacuum mops (made even cheaper by the sale), lightweight, easy to use and store. Lauren even went on to say Shark were 'onto a winner’, stating it was a great device for a small home dweller.

However, if you don't manage to get your hands on the Shark VacMop, here a few more highly-rated Amazon buys.

I plan to join her by investing in this VacMop to keep my one-bed flat in top shape. It’s compact, lightweight and does the job well. What more could you want?