It's not the first time that the best cookware brand around has dipped its toe into the waters of pop culture. In recent years, it's featured collections with designs inspired by Harry Potter, Pokemon and Star Wars – all of which have gone on to become highly collectable.

So, whether you're a Trekkie or a Le Creuset collector, it seems these pieces are likely to fetch a pretty penny in the future. Here's a closer look at the range 'inspired by a legacy of discovery', some of which Le Creuset sent into the stratosphere (yes, really!).

The collection in its entirety spans 9 pieces but once they're gone, you won't be able to buy them directly from Le Creuset again. A quick look at how much the Harry Potter collection (released in 2021) now sells for on eBay is an indication of how in-demand these collector's items can become. I've even spotted a piece from the Le Creuset Star Wars range going for over £800 on eBay.

To celebrate the launch Le Creuset sent the flagship Enterprise Round Casserole from the range to the edge of space – quite the publicity stunt. Working in collaboration with Sent Into Space, the stunt marks the first time a cast-iron dish has reached the stratosphere.

So whether you want to collect a piece of space-making history or stock up on a Christmas gift for the Star Trek lover in your life, you'll have to act fast to snap up one of these pieces!

Following Olivia’s recent collaboration with Ninja to promote the new CRISPI Microwave, I was able to spend time with the star and find out what makes her house feel like home.

Olivia explained that investing in the best bedding and best mattress is a sound investment when it comes to cultivating an ideal sleep space, and her go-to place for bedding supplies is John Lewis.

Asking Olivia what the favourite part of her home was, she told me it was her bedroom. And as someone who values a cosy bedroom idea, I was keen to hear what she had to say.

‘It's just a very, like, peaceful space,’ she said. ‘I invested in a gorgeous mattress.'

‘I think good quality bedding and a good mattress is such an investment, and my bed is insane. My friend, he slept over the other night, and he was like, ‘oh my god, it’s like getting into bed at Four Seasons’, I was like, I know. That was literally what I tried to achieve.’

And the bedding Olivia uses to achieve a Four Seasons feel? Well, her favourite bedding always comes from John Lewis, in particular, the John Lewis Hotel bedding set (from £30).

‘I always want my bedding by John Lewis as well. My parents used to buy their bedding there, and I feel like I just followed in that,’ she said.

‘It's not cheap, but it feels incredible. It's called the John Lewis Hotel Collection.’

Amy Lockwood, Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, agrees with Olivia, explaining that while John Lewis bedding can be a little more expensive, in her experience it is worth the money.

‘All of the John Lewis bedding I've tested has always been great quality. Yes, it tends to be a little more expensive than M&S or Next, and a lot more expensive than Dunelm or a supermarket buy, but you do get what you pay for,’ she said.

‘Egyptian cotton is some of the finest you can get, so I'm not surprised Olivia is pleased with her choice. This set is smooth and silky, so it feels exactly like that luxe hotel experience.'

Shop John Lewis bedding

Olivia Attwood has partnered with SharkNinja to promote the new Ninja CRISPi Microwave, which is available now.

Call me ignorant, but I hadn’t realised such an array of kitchen sink ideas were on offer. From the editor-approved Joseph Joseph bowl to Argos’ washing up bowl with built-in cutlery drainer, there really is something for every kitchen size and style.

Now, for those of you who have a vegetable garden or prefer organic produce, Dunelm is providing one of the easiest ways to wash and drain your fruit and veg. Here’s why I think it is a worthy investment.

Right now, you’re probably thinking about what to plant in a veg garden in autumn, but I want you to cast your mind ahead of time to its harvest. Or more likely, the crops you’ve recently harvested from your garden.

There’s nothing better than eating the fruits of your own garden, but it goes without saying that your produce will need a good wash and in some cases soak, after it comes out of the ground or off your plants and trees.

This is where the Dunelm Stainless Steel Washing Up Bowl with Strainer comes in. Alongside your standard washing up bowl comes with a steel strainer that slots perfectly into the bowl. So, you can dump your veg in, rinse it and simply pull the strainer out of the bowl when you're done.

‘This is very useful, especially with a hosepipe ban! So it’s like having a permanent colander in the sink and then you just lift that bit out and take the steel washing up bowl into the garden and water everything. It’s really surprising how much water you get through, so it’s very much worth using it,’ explained one review.

It’s also worth pointing out that stainless steel is also a more durable and hygienic choice than plastic for a washing up bowl. You can pick stainless steel bowls for very reasonable prices. For example, you can pick up a stainless steel washing up bowl for £16.99 at B&Q. Stainless steel is also more environmentally friendly. It can be properly recycled or reused, as well as lasting much longer compared to microplastics.

What makes Dunelm’s unique is the built-in strainer, which makes cleaning your fruit and veg before cooking or eating seamless. It’s a simple design addition but one that will definitely make food preparation faster and easier.

If you grow your own fruit and veg, consider investing in this clever washing-up bowl and strainer to make enjoying your autumn harvest easier.

Every gardener will want to know ways to get rid of slugs naturally. These slimy pests can decimate plants and veg patches, leaving you with little to show for your hard work. But did you know that some plants naturally repel slugs?

Slugs dislike snapdragons' tough exterior, which makes them difficult to chew, making it a high-impact, colourful flower that you don't have to worry about being munched by slugs.

Why don't slugs like snapdragons?

If you’ve been toying with the thought of growing snapdragons, then isn’t the fact slug hate them a deciding factor? Or do you prefer the fact that snapdragons are one of the best plants for hay fever, or simply that they look like a plant straight from a fairy tale? Either way, snapdragons being naturally repellent to slugs is the icing on the cake.

‘Planting snapdragons does not actively repel or stop slugs, but they do not like to eat snapdragons. This is because mature snapdragon plants have a tough, fibrous texture that makes them harder to chew,’ says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.

‘They also hold less water than other plants, so they do not offer as much hydration or have as much nutritional value to a slug. The plants do contain chemical compounds that can be unappealing or mildly toxic to slugs, but they are likely to only avoid the snapdragons while still eating other plants.’

If you're fed up with slugs eating your flowers, snapdragons are a stunning alternative you can choose instead that slugs will tend to avoid. While you won’t get rid of them completely, or stop them from attacking other plants, you can still achieve a beautiful floral display without worrying about it being destroyed.

‘I’d recommend them as part of a slug-resistant planting scheme rather than selling them as a natural slug repellent. If you have a garden where slugs repeatedly destroy bedding plants, choosing flowers they’re less interested in is more effective than spending the season trying to create barriers around vulnerable plants,’ says Dr Russell Sharp, founder of Eutrema.

‘Snapdragons are particularly useful because you’re not compromising on the look of the border. They flower for a long period, give you plenty of height and colour, and you’re choosing something that has a better chance of reaching maturity without being shredded overnight. I wouldn’t expect a row of snapdragons to create an invisible barrier that slugs refuse to cross, though. They can still move straight past them to something tastier. The real advantage is that you’re giving slugs fewer plants worth stopping for in the first place.

Where to buy snapdragons

• For rich red blooms: Antirrhinum majus 'Admiral Crimson', £4.49, Crocus
• For bold orange blooms: Antirrhinum majus 'Potomac Dark Orange' F1 - Seeds, £4.49, Thompson & Morgan
• For soft pink blooms: Antirrhinum majus 'Appleblossom', £3.29, Crocus

Snapdragons are beautiful, romantic blooms, and their slug-repellent nature makes the decison to include them in your borders even easier.

While you’re probably already recycling old toilet rolls, there are plenty of ways to recycle toilet rolls in a garden to save money and benefit your garden.

Sustainable gardening has been a huge garden trend, and using old toilet rolls is one of the most affordable ways to achieve this. So, without further ado, here’s how experts say you can effectively turn toilet trash into garden treasure.

1. Make a bee hotel

If you want to attract more bees to your garden, the good news is that you can use old loo rolls to craft a bee hotel, giving them somewhere safe to shelter.

‘Cardboard toilet roll tubes can be used alongside other recycled materials to create a bee hotel for your garden. Place toilet roll tubes inside of a larger, waterproof container, like a tin can or plastic milk bottle,' says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.

'Stuff the hollow centres of the tubes with nesting materials, such as twigs, paper straws or reeds. The finished hotel should be hung in a sunny, sheltered area of your garden.'

2. Make seed starters

Toilet rolls make great DIY seed starters, as they are biodegradable and won’t damage your soil’s health once planted out. In fact, loo roll holders can also be composted in your garden.

‘Empty toilet rolls make good little pots for seedlings, especially for plants that don’t like having their roots disturbed too much when they’re moved. Stand the cardboard tubes upright in a tray, fill them with seed compost and sow as normal. The tube is deep enough to give young roots somewhere to grow, and when the seedling is ready to go outside you can plant the whole thing straight into the soil,’ says Dr Russell Sharp, founder of Eutrema.

‘The cardboard will gradually break down in the ground while the roots grow through it so there’s less handling at the point when the plant is still quite delicate. I particularly like this for things such as sweet peas or beans, which can quickly produce longer roots. Broad beans are the classic crop that gardeners have traditionally sown in toilet rolls because they develop long roots and don’t benefit from being disturbed.

‘Planting the whole tube into the ground helps the young plants establish without root damage, which can give autumn-sown broad beans a better chance of coping through winter. Just make sure the tube is damp before planting it out and bury the top edge below soil level. If dry cardboard is left sticking above the surface, it can draw moisture away from the compost around the seedling.’

3. Feed earthworms

I’ll bet this isn’t one you thought of. But you can use old toilet tubes to feed earthworms in your garden. This is a good idea because worms can help enhance soil fertility, aeration and water drainage - they’re a vital part of your garden’s ecosystem.

‘Toilet roll tubes can be used to feed earthworms in your garden because worms need a balanced diet of green waste and carbon. As cardboard is primarily made from wood fibres, this is a good source of carbon for worms that they can break down into castings for your garden,’ says Richard.

‘In worm bins or compost heaps, rotting food scraps can make the environment acidic. Adding cardboard, which is usually neutral or slightly alkaline, can aid with buffering or neutralising excess acidity to keep the environment hospitable for worms.’

4. Protect young plants

You can also use toilet roll holders to help protect young seedlings from pests when they’re first planted out in your garden.

‘You can also cut toilet rolls into shorter rings and place them around very young seedlings as a simple physical barrier. Push the bottom centimetre or two into the soil so the ring stays in place, leaving enough height above ground to protect the stem. It’s good for when you’ve just planted out tender young plants and want to give them a bit of protection,’ says Dr Russell.

‘The collar creates a clear boundary around a seedling that would otherwise be very easy to miss, especially in a busy vegetable bed. It won’t make the plant completely slug-proof, so I wouldn’t rely on it as your only defence, but it can make it harder for pests to reach the stem immediately and buys the seedling a little time to establish. The cardboard will eventually soften and break down, so you don’t have to remember to remove it later in the season.’

Next time you so your business, instead of putting your loo roll tube straight into the recycling bin, consider how it can benefit your garden instead.

One of the biggest garden trends of the year has been turning your outside space into a flourishing wildlife garden, supporting birds, bees, butterflies, and even frogs and insects as we embrace more natural features.

From this, the micro pond trend is an easy way for people with small gardens, patios or even balconies to embrace the naturalistic trend. And if you were stuck for inspiration, Kate Garraway’s garden is actually a good place to look.

Sharing glimpses of her home life on Instagram, journalist and broadcaster Kate Garraway has also shared videos of the progress of her garden pond - recently revealing it now had frogspawn (a sign of a successful garden pond!).

But what struck me about Kate’s pond was its size, or lack thereof. Nestled amongst the shrubbery of her garden, Kate’s small pond is completed with two wooden ramps to allow frogs and other wildlife easy access to the pond. The pond looks similar to this Amazon preformed pond (£32.95), and is a perfect example of how even a small area of your garden can work to support wildlife.

‘Even a tiny pond can provide a really valuable habitat, especially when you don’t have any other standing water in your garden for wildlife. Microponds, especially those with wildlife-loving plants, can attract an array of insects, pollinators, and birds for drinking and bathing. While larger ponds tend to be better for toads and dragonflies, a micropond is a valuable addition to any garden,’ says James Ewens, wildlife expert at Green Feathers.

‘I see microponds as a mini wildlife hotspot. While you can’t really recreate a wetland ecosystem in a small space, you can create something really beneficial without all the expensive and extensive upkeep of a built-in pond.’

Why is Kate Garraway a good example to follow?

‘Kate mentions that she has frogs visiting the pond in her garden, which is likely because she has the pond in what looks to be a shaded area of her garden. This helps to keep the water cool and can stop the growth of algae. The pond is also sheltered by other plants, helping to keep small animals and amphibians safe from predators,’ says Lucy Taylor, a wildlife expert from Vine House Farm.

As Lucy points out, the fact that Kate’s pond has attracted wildlife to her garden is a successful example to follow. James says it is the placement of her pond that is particularly good.

‘The pond is also tucked away in shrubbery, which makes it even more wildlife-friendly, providing shelter and food for birds, pollinators and insects by mimicking their natural environment,’ he says.

‘The measure of success of a mini pond isn’t solely whether it lures your favourite wildlife, either. It’s whether it has the basic conditions for wildlife to thrive - like clean water, suitable plants, cover and space and access in and out. Kate’s pond is ideal in that it doesn’t have stones or branches blocking the entry and exit points for wildlife - it gives them a safe way out.’

What are the benefits of a micropond?

If you’ve been considering garden pond ideas, but are short on space, a micropond can actually be very beneficial to your garden. And it requires minimal stress on your part - you can even make a micropond in a bucket.

‘A lot of smaller gardens can lack a water source, and a network of several smaller ponds across a neighbourhood means that small animals can safely travel between habitats. Creating a pond does not necessarily mean that you need to dig up the ground, as you can easily build a pond using old tubs or buckets. Water will attract a wider range of species than any other garden feature, and unlike more formal garden water features, wildlife ponds do not require as much maintenance,’ explains Lucy.

Plus, once your pond is established, you’ll even notice fewer pests in your garden.

‘Mini ponds are also a little corridor for wildlife in urban and suburban areas, helping little creatures move safely between green spaces, providing a stepping stone for them,’ says James.

‘They’re also a natural pest control, something you might not even consider at first. A healthy mini pond attracts predators like frogs and beetles that do some pest control for you, managing pests in your garden like those pesky slugs.’

What you need

Adding a small pond to your garden can make a big difference to local wildlife. Give it a try this autumn, and you’ll soon reap the rewards.

With this shift, it’s no surprise that Grandma Chic is set to be one of the biggest trends of AW26. The trend is all about embracing tactile textures, chintzy patterns and creating a sense of lived-in warmth through pre-loved pieces and vintage decor ideas.

While many classic accessories are experiencing a revival as part of this trend, there is only one that’s truly caught my eye: fringed lighting. That’s right, tassels and fringe have officially made a comeback. These decorative details were a mainstay of Art Deco and mid-century design ideas, adding a sense of interest and luxury to our homes.

But, with the return of Grandma Chic comes the resurgence of vintage decor, and Urban Outfitters is bringing the trend to the high street, with the launch of three stylish tasseled table lamps.

Urban Outfitters has always delivered when it comes to lighting. In fact, Ideal Home’s Room Decor Editor, Sara Hesikova, even went as far as to name the brand her go-to when buying stylish lamps this time last year. And the launch of these tassel lamps proves that the brand is still on its A-game.

I first came across the lamps when browsing the Urban Outfitters site, and was instantly enamoured with the umbrella silhouette and hanging fringed detailing. But, the brand's ability to effortlessly bring this vintage lighting trend into the 21st century is what really has me hooked.

Each lamp shade is made from a rich velour fabric, with contrast colour details to help the boning stand out. This, paired with the fringed trim and hanging tassels, make the lamps feel like an elevated approach to a classic design staple.

The light yellow colourway feels most true to tradition, offering a soft golden glow that would instantly warm any hallway or living room. But, the burgundy option is great for those of us who prefer a pop of colour.

Deep red motifs are all the rage this autumn, and the unexpected red theory is always a winner if you want to make your space feel considered. Whether you place it on your bedside unit or on the kitchen worktop, the lamp’s rich red speaks for itself and will instantly elevate your scheme.

However, my personal favourite is the leopard print option. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before, offering a playful and modern day approach to this old school lighting option.

Love it or hate it, animal print is having a real moment in interiors right now, and while this Urban Outfitters lamp combines two quite kitsch ideas, I think it feels very tasteful. The chocolate brown fringing offsets the animal print nicely, and I can just imagine it as the finishing touch on top of a bar cart, or as a statement bedside lamp.

And if you weren’t already sold on these chic lighting ideas, the lamps are currently on offer. With prices ranging from £67–£80 for a limited time, I wouldn’t wait if you’re hoping to get your hands on one of these tasseled treasures. I predict they’ll sell quick.

Shop alternatives

With the Urban Outfitter's lamps predicted to sell fast, here are some more fringed lighting ideas that might catch your eye.

When you consider buying a rug, I’ll bet you think about how the colour will work with your bedroom or living room ideas, how plush it feels underfoot, and, of course, its size. But do you consider the shape of it? Or how the shape you choose will impact the overall look and feel of a room.

Interior design experts have revealed that when a room is full of boxy lines - such as windows, your coffee table or TV stand - the curved rug rule comes into play, and you should opt for a curvy or round rug to create contrast and stop a room from feeling too rigid.

What is the curved rug rule?

Here at Ideal Home, we do love a rug rule to help bring the aesthetics of a room together, and the curved rug rule does exactly that. It’s a simple principle. If you have too many harsh lines in a room, a curved rug will help soften it.

‘Circular and curved rugs are an excellent alternative to traditional rectangular rugs. Curved rugs work particularly well in rooms with a lot of sharp edges, where they intercept sharp lines and add a softer, more relaxed feel. They also work particularly well beneath round furniture, such as coffee or dining tables, where the rug mirrors the shape of the furniture to create a unified design,’ explains Lizzie Mosley, Creative Director at Hug Rug.

‘Circular rugs can create an elegant centrepiece to a room by creating a focal point which furniture can be styled around. For a bold statement piece, look at rugs with bright, vibrant colours or expressive patterns to naturally draw the eye in.’

You can also opt for a rectangular rug that features a curvy or circular design to add some visual depth to the space. For example, John Lewis’ Pure Wool Scallop Rug (from £70), gives the illusion of a curve whilst retaining a traditional rectangular shape.

How to style a curved rug

If you think a curved rug will work with the contours of your home, the good news is that there are many easy ways to style one. If you plan to introduce a curved rug to your dining room or seating area, you need to ensure that you can fit the legs of your chairs/ furniture on the rug for a cohesive look.

‘Scale first. Get the front legs of every piece of seating onto it; otherwise, the furniture and the rug read as two separate things. Under a round table, allow roughly 60 to 70cm past the table edge so chairs stay on the rug when they’re pulled out,’ says Lisa Hensby, founder and Creative Director of Lisa Hensby Design & Build Studio.

‘Then keep the rest calm. Let the rug be the curve. One or two soft-edged shapes nearby, a round coffee table or a curved-back chair, and stop there, or the room starts to feel like it’s melting. Go plain or subtly textured rather than heavily patterned, because the shape is already doing the work.'

Shop curvy rugs

If you feel like your bedroom, living room or dining room looks too sharp, you may benefit from the curved rug rule. It’s a simple change, but one that will make your space look softer instantly.

If you’re a bit of a lazy gardener, or simply too busy to spend hours tending delicate plants, a low-maintenance garden idea (that works) is like gold dust. Luckily for you, these plant recommendations are all tough and easy to care for - you can pretty much leave them to do their thing.

If you want a beautiful autumn garden without the stress of cultivating one, here are the five plants that thrive on neglect that gardeners recommend.

1. Sedums

First on the list are sedums, a colourful perennial that thrives on neglect. Available in an array of colours, not only do these plants require minimal care, but they are also excellent for attracting bees and butterflies to your garden.

‘If you're the sort of gardener who occasionally forgets to water or simply doesn't have hours to spend outside, sedum is a brilliant choice. Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, so it copes surprisingly well during dry spells, and it doesn't need rich soil or regular feeding to perform well,’ says Luke Newnes, gardening expert for Hillarys.

‘Planting it now gives the roots a chance to settle into still-warm soil before winter, and next year you'll be rewarded with masses of late-season flowers that pollinators absolutely love.’

Where to buy Sedums

• Hardy Succulent Sedum Collection, £19.99, Gardening Express
• Sedum Seduction Pink, £10.99, B&Q
• Sedum telephium 'Dark Magic', £29.99, Thompson & Morgan

2. Japanese Anemones

If you want flowers from August through autumn, Japanese Anemones are an excellent choice. These long-flowering blooms are ideal for filling in sparse borders and bringing much-needed colour to autumn gardens once established.

‘Japanese anemones quietly get on with the job year after year. Once established, they’ll return reliably every autumn with very little input, gradually forming larger clumps that produce elegant blooms just as many other plants are fading,’ says Charlotte McGrattan, hardy nursery stock buyer at Hillier Garden Centres.

‘They need very little watering once fully established, are generally trouble-free and don’t require regular feeding or pruning, making them perfect for gardeners who prefer a more hands-off approach.’

Where to buy Japanese Anemones

• Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert', £13.99, Crocus
• Anemone x hybrida 'September Charm', £9.99
• Anemone × hybrida 'Königin Charlotte', £18.99, Crocus

3. Hardy Geraniums

Who doesn’t love a geranium to brighten a garden, patio or even balcony? Offering vibrant colour and pretty blooms, growing geraniums should be on every low-maintenance gardener's to-do list.

‘I'd recommend hardy geraniums to almost anyone looking for a low-effort garden. They're incredibly forgiving, happy in a range of conditions and form dense mounds of foliage that help suppress weeds naturally. Once they're settled in, they're largely self-sufficient and don't need constant watering or feeding. Plant them in autumn, and they'll spend the cooler months establishing strong roots, which means less work and better growth next spring,’ says Luke.

Where to buy Hardy Geraniums

• Geranium Hardy Double Trio, £14.99, Thompson & Morgan
• Hardy Magenta Geranium sanguineum Ground Cover Plant, £14.99, B&Q
• YouGarden Geranium Parade plug plants x 12, £14.88, QVC

4. Heuchera

Heuchera is one of the best ground cover plants for suppressing weeds, as well as adding colour to your garden - so there’s plenty of reasons for planting heuchera, low-maintenance aside.

‘Heucheras are one of the easiest plants to grow, with vibrant foliage that provides colour long after their summer flowers have faded. While spent flower stems can be removed for a tidier appearance, they’re far less demanding than many flowering perennials, typically needing little more than the occasional tidy-up of old leaves,’ says Charlotte.

‘They thrive in partial or dappled shade whilst some cultivars can cope well with full sun. Once fully established, many heucheras continue performing without frequent watering or feeding.’

Where to buy Heuchera

• Heuchera Palace Purple, £15.97
• Marshalls Garden Heuchera Seeds 'Melting Fire' - 25 Seeds, £5.49, Argos
• Heuchera Caramel Coral Bells 9cm Pot Perennial Plant, £18.99, B&Q

5. Bergenia

Bergenia is a shade-loving perennial, making it a great choice for gardens that don’t get a lot of sunshine. It’s also incredibly hardy, making it a pretty much foolproof choice for beginner gardeners.

‘Bergenia is one of the toughest garden plants you can buy and often looks after itself once it's in the ground. It copes well with shade, can handle periods of drought and keeps its attractive evergreen leaves throughout the year, so there's always something to look at in the garden,’ says Luke.

‘For busy people who want reliable colour and structure without lots of maintenance, it's hard to beat. Planting now allows roots to establish before winter, helping it to settle in quickly.’

Where to buy Bergenia

• Bergenia Cordifolia, £18.99, Dobies
• Bergenia Vintage Rose - Elephant's ear, £9.99, Gardening Express
• Bergenia cordifolia purpurascens - Elephant's Ears, £12.95, Gardening Express

These gorgeous plants will make brighten your garden with minimal effort from you.

The CRISPi has quickly become one of the best Ninja air fryers out there, with its design that shuns non-stick plastics and is simply perfect for stuffing away into a drawer. But one of its major downsides, as I mentioned in my review, is that its capacity makes it suitable for one or two people only.

That's all changed with this double drawer version, which can cook two foods in two different ways and has an impressive 7.6 litre capacity in total – the same as the brand's bestselling OG Ninja Dual Zone. Here's a closer look at this glass version, which I'm sure is about to become a very popular choice for kitchens looking to get rid of plastic.

The functions on offer with this air fryer combine all of Ninja's best, I think. As well as Air Fry and Max Crisp (which is essentially just a very hot air fry mode), there's also Dehydrate, which will come in very handy around Christmastime. It's incredibly handy for dehydrating fruit (including oranges) for decoration as well as cocktail and meal garnishes.

As we get into autumn, another mode that I'd be very excited to try out is Prove. This setting modifies the temperature of the air fryer to foster the perfect conditions for rising your bread – perfect for cosy season and weekends spent baking!

The ability to use the Keep Warm setting will also be good given that this is a dual function air fryer. It means that once one side of your cooking is done, you can use the Keep Warm option on the other side and plate up everything at the same time hot.

The dual functionality is a real game changer for family cooking. The Match Cook button means that you only have to program everything in once and the Smart Finish tech makes everything ready at the same time.

The glass walls on this air fryer make it a very fun addition to a kitchen if you're cooking anything that rises or melts as you have a front row seat to the whole process. The two containers also have the benefit of being ready to be stored straight away – they come with lids so that you can pop them straight into the fridge once your leftovers have cooled down.

The bottom of each container also has a protective heat-proof layer, which means you can serve from both containers straight onto granite, laminate, solid wood or marble surfaces without risk of damage.

Another benefit of glass air fryer containers is the total ease of cleaning. In my time testing air fryers I found that the CRISPI base fared best when popped into the dishwasher.

The colour range has caught my eye too as I'm always a big fan of appliances that aren't just a default black colour. Rose Quartz, a pastel pink, and Bone (a steely sort of grey) are also on offer if either of those will suit your existing kitchen colour scheme better. Can you see the appeal in a glass air fryer?

I would be lying if I said Habitat’s frequent collaborations with Morris & Co weren’t marked on my calendar. Not only is it one of the best William Morris collections to shop right now, but the range is never influenced by home decor trends, either. It serves up timeless designs, all inspired by the works of the iconic Arts and Crafts designer.

This latest batch of tableware and kitchen textiles is heavily inspired by Morris’ experiments with indigo dye, which means a vivid indigo blue features heavily throughout the collection. These are the pieces I’d add to my kitchen.

Habitat has described the collab's expansion into kitchenware as providing collectable hosting pieces that are designed to be passed down to future generations. And I’d argue that this kitchenware certainly has the designer look of a family heirloom, but at far more affordable prices.

Most noticeably, the Habitat x Morris & Co. Inky 12 Piece Dinner Set costs £60 and includes four place settings, four dinner plates, four side plates and four bowls, which is honestly a brilliant price. It features the Loddon print, which was originally designed in 1883 and first printed using the Indigo Discharge method at Merton Abbey.

The dinner set consists of different shades of blue and white, and the bowls are a block indigo, which balances the set perfectly. It’s a great choice for special occasions and won’t break the bank.

The latest Habitat x Morris & Co collection is simply beautiful, and will still be in style in years to come. If only I had the space for all of it in my home...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Le Creuset's warehouse sale 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the rest of my top picks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop zipped duvet covers at M&S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Would you invest in the ReBorn Washing Up Bowl Pro?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alternatives to buy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the rest of my top picks...

Which pick is your favourite?

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

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

What is cloud capping?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is colour capping replacing colour drenching?

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

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

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

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

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

Is cloud capping right for your home?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop white paint

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

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

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

What are tipsy wasps?

At the end of summer, a wasp’s colony dies down, and worker wasps start looking for food. Often this is fermented fruit that has started dropping from the best fruit trees, and it is this fruit that makes the wasps ‘tipsy’.

‘You can encounter ‘tipsy’ wasps during late summer and into early autumn. This is partly because, by this point in the season, the queen has stopped laying eggs, meaning there are fewer larvae for worker wasps to feed,’ explains Daniel Steward, managing director at Shield Pest Control.

'Normally, the larvae produce a sugary substance that the workers feed on, so when there are fewer larvae, the workers have to seek out other sources of sugar

‘At this time of year, there is also plenty of fallen fruit, such as apples and pears, left on the ground to ripen and rot. The sugars in this fruit can ferment and produce alcohol. Worker wasps, with their increased appetite for sugar, may feed on this fermented fruit and can appear intoxicated, sometimes flying erratically or seeming disoriented.’

This is also why you are more likely to have wasps buzzing around you in pub gardens, outside cafe seating and picnics, as worker wasps search for sugary food

Do tipsy wasps sting more?

While wasps during this time of year may be a little more aggressive than usual as they seek food, they are not out with the intention to sting you. The alcohol makes their behaviour more erratic, but this doesn't necessarily mean they are more likely to sting you unprovoked.

‘Wasps don't generally go looking for people to sting. They sting when they feel threatened or when they're defending their nest,’ explains Natalie Bungay, head of technical at British Pest Control Association.

‘However, at this time of year they're spending much more time searching for sugary food, which brings them into closer contact with people. That means there are simply more opportunities for an unpleasant encounter. So rather than thinking of late-summer wasps as suddenly becoming aggressive, it's better to remember that they're hungry, persistent and much more likely to be sharing your lunch.’

One thing Natalie says is important to remember is that you should avoid swatting wasps that come near you.

‘Sudden movements can make it feel threatened. Move away calmly and give it space,’ she says.

‘Keep sweet food and drinks covered when you're outside, and be particularly careful with cans and bottles as a wasp can crawl inside without you noticing. Clearing away fallen or rotting fruit from areas where people spend time can also help.

‘If you find a nest, don't disturb it. A nest in a quiet location can often simply be left alone, but if it's somewhere people regularly pass, seek advice from a professional pest controller.

‘Most wasp stings are painful rather than dangerous, but some people can have a severe allergic reaction. If you suspect anaphylaxis, call 999 immediately.’

Get rid of wasps

If you are concerned about wasps in your home or garden, you should contact a pest control experts (that is British Pest Control Association (BCPA) approved) for help and avice.

Famous for her love of neutrals, influencer Molly Mae is no stranger to turning a bedroom into a warm, yet luxurious-looking oasis. And her most recent guest bedroom unveiling may look even better than her recent master bedroom transformation.

Opting for her classic neutrals, Molly Mae has also included subtle black accents and pops of blue to nail the bougie hotel look. Here’s why it’s a great example of cosy luxury this autumn.

Posting on her home’s Instagram account, @mollymaison, Molly Mae showed off the guest room transformation, captioning the post: ‘Guest room brief: “Cosy, London hotel room”…. I think we might have nailed it 😭🛋️🤍’.

She’d used interior fit-out specialists Swanshawe to bring her ideas to fruition, and, taking a look at the comments, most were in agreement that the ‘cosy London hotel’ brief had been nailed.

‘Molly Mae has definitely captured the essence of a cosy London hotel with this room,’ comments Sergiu Tulbur, head of product innovation and design at OPA Living. 'The key to the look is that it feels considered and luxurious without becoming overly formal.

'The use of warm tones, layered textures and soft lighting helps to create that sense of comfort you associate with a boutique hotel, while still feeling like a welcoming space within a home.

‘There is a real benefit to giving a guest bedroom a hotel-inspired feel because it makes the room feel like an experience rather than simply somewhere for visitors to sleep. Small details such as quality bedding, ambient lighting, comfortable seating and carefully chosen accessories can make guests feel looked after and give the room a more finished, elevated feel.’

The hotel interiors trend

This year, chic, hotel-esque interiors have undoubtedly been trending, as we all look for ways to inject hotel-style luxury into our homes. As a result, we’ve seen everything from hotel plants to glam up your garden to luxury hotel bedroom ideas for the most restful night's sleep. And it all boils down to the fact that we want the escapism of going on holiday, without the high costs of a boutique hotel room.

‘The hotel look is particularly popular because people are increasingly looking to recreate the feeling of luxury and escapism they experience when staying somewhere special. It also works well with the wider trend towards creating homes that feel like a retreat, with comfort, relaxation and sensory details becoming just as important as how a room looks,’ says Sergiu.

What makes Molly’s transformation so successful is that she’s shown her neutral colour palette can evolve as tastes change, creating a room that is beautifully inviting and cosy.

‘Molly has used pale neutral bedrooms for years, but she’s clearly becoming more interested in warmth and character within that palette,’ explains Blanca Sanchez, director of Halo Design Interiors.

'Her recent bedroom redesigns have moved towards warmer finishes, and I’d copy that evolution rather than copying individual products. You don’t have to paint a neutral bedroom burgundy to make it feel richer because sometimes the problem isn’t the colour itself; it’s that every surface has the same temperature.

‘A hotel approach makes you look at the room from the guest’s point of view. Instead of treating it as a spare bedroom that happens to contain a bed, you start thinking about what somebody sees and feels when they walk through the door.

'The bed becomes the centre of the room, and everything around it should reinforce that. That’s particularly useful in a guest bedroom because it stops the space from becoming a collection of furniture that wasn’t wanted elsewhere.’

How to get the look

‘For anyone wanting to create their own cosy hotel-inspired guest bedroom, I would focus on layering first,' Sergiu advises. 'Start with high-quality bedding, add different textures through cushions and throws, introduce warm, low-level lighting and keep the colour palette cohesive. Curtains, rugs and upholstered furniture can also help to soften the room and make it feel more luxurious.

‘The final touch is to think about the details a guest might appreciate. A small chair, bedside lighting, a tray, fresh flowers or even a selection of toiletries can give the room that boutique hotel feeling without making it feel staged.

'The aim should be for the room to feel calm, comfortable and thoughtfully designed, rather than simply trying to replicate a hotel room.’

Blanca adds that adding an armchair to the room can also emphasise the luxe hotel look. You should definitely opt for one of the best accent chairs for your room, and Molly’s blue and white pinstripe number looks similar to Next’s Chenille Stripe Blue Lilly Armchair (£399).

‘A proper armchair is my favourite because it changes how you read the room immediately. It gives somebody somewhere to sit that isn’t the bed and fills the kind of awkward corner that can otherwise make a guest room look unfinished.

'I’d choose something upholstered and substantial rather than a tiny occasional chair. You want it to look comfortable enough that somebody might genuinely sit there with a coffee, because that’s exactly the detail that separates a lovely spare bedroom from a room that actually has that London hotel feeling,’ she says.

Get the look

Molly Mae has nailed the chic hotel look. If you want to up your hosting game and give your guests the ultimate experience in comfort, it's a good example to follow.

Better known for their frozen dessert, bedding seems a (very) strange new direction for the brand, but, actually, once I understood the logic, I have to admit that it makes sense. Kind of!

What's more, when it comes to where to buy bedding, you usually won't encounter any way to dress your bed that's *free*. But this new Ben & Jerry's pillowcase range is.

There are three pillowcases in Ben & Jerry's unconventional collection, and, of course, they're inspired by the brand's most popular ice cream flavours. There are Cookie Dough, Phish Food, and Half Baked pillowcase designs, and all come served rolled up in a limited-edition Ben & Jerry's ice cream tub.

Weird? Definitely, but this is also part of their ingenuity. The collection has been launched to coincide with the upcoming warm September weather, and to offer a solution to what sleep experts are dubbing 'cranium cooling.'

The idea is you stick your Ben & Jerry's pillowcase straight into your freezer in its freezer-ready tub, and when a too-warm bedtime arrives, you pop your chilled pillowcase onto your pillow to cool down your head.

Is it a marketing gimmick? Absolutely. But it's also a gimmick that sleep experts say can actually work to help us sleep better in warm weather.

As Ben & Jerry's reveals, new research commissioned via OnePoll found that over half of Brits say flipping to the cool side of the pillow is crucial for a decent night’s sleep, with 56% agreeing that flipping to the cool side helps them fall asleep.

Ben & Jerry’s also found that a further 42% of those polled admitted they are already officially fed up with the summer heat, and 72% are now desperately craving 'cosy season'.

Had I been polled, I would definitely have been one of those cosy season cravers, and a large part of that is how badly I've slept during this summer's heatwaves.

I imagine none of us enjoy tossing and turning in bed when it's too hot and humid to drift off, and an overly warm pillow definitely adds to that misery.

Plus, as sleep expert and clinical psychologist Dr. Zoe Gotts explains, there's a scientific reason why a hot head makes it harder to fall asleep, and why cooling our cranium (otherwise known as head cooling or brain cooling) can help us sleep better.

'When you cool the head and neck area directly, you’re doing more than simply making yourself comfortable,' explains Zoe, 'you’re tapping into one of the body’s key signals for sleep: temperature.

'Cooling the head can help with heat dissipation and thermal comfort, particularly when you’re too warm to sleep, potentially making it easier to settle and stay asleep.

'Rather than forcing the brain to switch off, you’re creating the right thermal conditions for the body’s natural sleep system to take over. Think of it as helping your body press the sleep button,' Zoe explains.

Do you need a Ben & Jerry's pillowcase to make the most of this cooling hack? No. But the brand's pillowcases are free, and they do come in a freezer-ready tub. Plus, they're kinda fun!

To get your hands on one, you simply need to enter the Ben & Jerry's giveaway before it ends on Sunday 14 September at 11:59 pm.

And if you're not a lucky winner, you can, of course, use one of your existing pillowcases to try out this cooling trick instead.

Or, if you really want to create the ultimate cranium-cooling sleep setup, I recommend investing in one of the best silk pillowcases. They're not cheap, but the silky fabric is much cooler than any other fabric I've slept on, and they've certainly made a big difference to this hot-sleeper's shut-eye over the summer.

If your neighbour is not picking up their fruit tree windfall, it can feel very frustrating - especially if this dropped fruit is attracting pests. Because of this, it’s important to get clued up on the legal side of this dispute, so you can solve the issue and ideally maintain a good neighbourly relationship.

Whether your neighbour’s fruit is falling into your garden or theirs, this is what experts say you should do if their harvest is attracting wasps to your garden.

Who is legally responsible for removing fallen fruit if it attracts wasps to a garden?

If the fruit tree is within the boundaries of your neighbour's garden, the fruit that drops from it belongs to them. That remains true if the fruit drops into your garden. So, ultimately, if dropped fruit is attracting wasps to your garden, it is your neighbour’s responsibility to deal with it.

‘The first thing to do is to talk to your neighbours and see if a sensible resolution can be agreed to reduce and/or stop the wasps becoming pests. If they have no appetite to do anything then you can take action to remove branches that are traversing the boundary, in order to reduce the amounts of wasps on your side,’ explains Jagdeep Sandher, partner and head of civil litigation at Blythe Liggins Solicitors.

‘Your neighbours do not technically need to do anything with any windfall on their side of the boundary unless their refusal is causing vermin to come into your garden, in which case it is possible this may be deemed a nuisance.’

When it comes to any garden feature that may cause a neighbour dispute, the most important thing you can do is open a conversation with your neighbour first. Politely ask if they mind removing the fruit to reduce the number of wasps. If they refuse, as Jagdeep says, you can remove the fruit and cut back overhanging plants on your side of the boundary. However, you must never cross your boundary or damage your neighbour's tree.

‘You are perfectly within your rights to ask [your neighbour to remove fallen fruit] and to do so in writing. However, if your neighbour refuses, your legal options are limited unless the problem rises to the level of a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990,’ adds Mosh Latifi, pest expert and co-owner of EcoCare Pest Management.

‘In the meantime, you can remove fruit that has fallen onto your side of the boundary yourself, place a wasp trap at the far end of your garden to draw wasps away from the problem area, and use deterrent sprays around play areas and patios while the situation is resolved.

‘If the wasp activity is severe enough to constitute a nuisance affecting your enjoyment of the property, your local council's environmental health team may be able to advise, though their powers in this area are limited.’

Deter wasps from your garden

If fallen fruit is attracted wasps to your garden, the first step is to apporach your neighbour and ask them to remove it. When it comes to wasps, most will not want to encourage them to a garden.

Not only is Next one of the best places to buy bedding, but it’s also renowned for its beautiful bedding designs. Only recently, Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, Amy Lockwood, was lusting over Next’s adorable new pumpkin bedding.

However, you can set pumpkins aside for now, as what used to be known as more ‘grannyish’ prints such as ditsy florals, ruffles and vintage prints are currently in vogue. Here’s how and why you should be shopping for the grandma chic bedding trend.

The grandma chic bedding trend

‘Grandma-chic bedding is a move away from the clean, minimal, hotel-white aesthetic that has dominated bedroom interiors for the past decade,’ explains Richard Lord, bedding and interiors expert at Lost Loom.

‘Think floral prints, ditsy patterns, broderie anglaise, lace trims, layered pillows, quilted bedspreads and soft, faded colour palettes in dusty roses, sage greens and warm creams. It is a style rooted in nostalgia, craftsmanship and comfort, evoking the kind of bedroom that feels lived-in, personal and genuinely cosy rather than designed for a photoshoot.’

This nostalgia for vintage bedding trends has been seen everywhere this year. FatFace dropped a retro bedding collection back in the summer, and I couldn’t possibly write an article on vintage look bedding without referencing Habitat’s Morris & Co bedding collection, which is arguably the epitome of the trend.

But why are these prints becoming increasingly popular? It’s as simple as shoppers looking to make their bedroom ideas feel more personal, and changing your duvet cover is one of the easiest ways to redecorate without spending a fortune or making any permanent changes.

'We're overstimulated by over-consumption and tired of homes that add to this overwhelm in our personal and professional lives, especially with social media,’ explains Laura Rich, interior designer at Furniturebox. We’re focused on making our homes sanctuaries for this exact reason, while also maintaining personality and fun in our homes - making our homes a reflection of us and our character.

'We’re looking for comfort personified in our homes, especially as we head into the nesting season in autumn/winter, so the priority is soft, cosy spaces where we can be ourselves and feel comfortable and safe.

‘Once upon a time our homes were all about perfection and fitting into an aesthetic. Now, our bed can be an emotional safe space, rejecting any coldness of minimalism, built around soft textures designed for real rest and relaxation.

'A modern take on vintage styles and heirloom embroidery feels nostalgic and comfortable while also being fresh and functional. It feels lived-in without being dated, and is the perfect place to properly rest and unwind.’

Shop the trend

Are you on board with the grandma chic bedding trend?

If your algorithm is anything like mine, then you’ll likely be familiar with gem-maxxing; the viral trend that involves embellishing everyday items with gemstones. For the past month, my feed has been filled with celebrities and content creators bedazzling their belongings.

And now the gem-maxxing has cemented itself as an unusual home decor trend, with homeowners covering their decor, accessories, appliances and everything in between with eye-catching gemstones. But why is bedazzling back? And is there a way to turn this kitsch trend into a chic design upgrade?

The gem-maxxing trend

Chances are you’ve heard of whimsymaxxing, the feel-good philosophy that influenced our home decor choices at the start of the summer. Well, gem-maxxing is an extension of that and a chance for people to put a fun spin on everyday items.

Phone chargers, vases, plant pots – you name it. If it’s a blank canvas in your home, why not bedazzle it? Even plain white lamps can benefit from a glitzy makeover, as demonstrated by content creator @celenabrownie.

‘Gem-maxxing is a maximalist DIY trend where everyday household items are transformed into sparkling showstoppers using rhinestones, flatback gems and adhesive jewels,’ explains Jo Hamilton, head of buying at Hobbycraft. ‘It offers an affordable way to refresh items you already own, aligning with the dopamine decor movement and allowing people to inject colour, texture and personality into their living spaces.’

The bedazzling boom seems to have started when Kylie Jenner added jewels to her coffee cup. Since then it’s been a domino effect, with people bedazzling anything they can get their hands on. In fact, Hobbycraft has reported a 65% increase in searches for rhinestone gems compared to last year.

But the trend is not just an attempt to copy the celebrities, it actually taps into a wider appetite for personality-led design ideas. ‘Quiet luxury and minimalism have dominated social media for so long that many people have been curious about something different, something personal and playful. Gem-maxxing offers exactly that,’ explains Shaun Middleton, founder at Bluestreak Crystals.

‘While traditional bedazzling was all about neat, symmetrical rows of rhinestones on one item, gem-maxxing is all about piling on as much sparkle as possible,' Shaun continues.

'Iced coffee cups, mirrors, water bottles, photo frames, and even light switches are all fair game, with gems layered up in a way that looks joyfully chaotic. Plus, it costs very little to get started, so there's no pressure to get it “right” on the first try,’ he adds.

How to embrace gem-maxxing

There’s no denying that gem-maxxing is an irresistibly playful design idea, but if you want to give it a go there’s a few important things to consider to make it feel considered, rather than kitsch.

‘The line between tasteful and tacky with gem–maxxing is thin, so start with one piece you actually want people to notice, like a mirror or a lamp base, rather than covering every surface at once,’ suggests Shaun. This way, you can ease yourself in and create a real statement.

The application of your gems will make a big difference to the appearance of your piece, too. ‘Before starting, always clean the surface thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to ensure proper adhesion,’ advises Jo.

‘Use a dedicated strong gem glue for items you handle daily or opt for self-adhesive gems when working on simple display pieces. And try experimenting with a mix of gem sizes, this allows you to map out your pattern beforehand and fill any awkward gaps seamlessly,’ she adds.

There’s no denying that the gem-maxxing trend isn’t for everyone but, when done well, it can add a fun pop to your decor. Just take it from Ideal Home’s Editor in Chief, Heather Young, who put the trend to the test after intrigue got the best of her. ‘I was a bit cynical about this trend when I first heard about it as I'm not really into bling, but it's actually a really nice way to personalise or upcycle plain items,’ she says.

‘I'd definitely consider it for small items such as notebooks and memo boards or decorative pieces like vases and photo frames. I'm always behind anything that makes people smile, so if you love it, go for it! It's not like it's a permanent transformation, so don't overthink it – have some fun and get creative,' adds Heather.

However, it is worth considering the impact your gemstones can leave behind. While small, plastic stickers are an easy fix, they won’t do much good for the environment in the long run. So, if you’re serious about committing to gem-maxxing, consider investing in some proper stones for a real style upgrade.

‘Glass crystals have properly cut facets, so they throw light around a room and still sparkle years late,’ explains Shaun. Just be sure to use the right glue – ‘E6000 will work for glass, ceramic or metal, while a fabric-specific glue is best for textiles,’ he adds.

Shop the trend

Don’t fancy getting crafty? These buys will help you embrace the trend.

Habitat’s now iconic wiggle vase first launched in spring/summer 2024, and has been a constant bestseller for the brand ever since, even selling out in the first six weeks of its original launch. Now available in a wide variety of colours and even shapes, it’s perfect for brightening up your home.

The striped home decor trend has been taking off all year, and this affordable vase is the perfect addition to your home if you want to keep colour present as the seasons change.

In a post shared with followers this time last year, you can clearly see Tess’s Habitat Hand Painted Stripe Vase in Mustard on display. The bright pop of yellow was the first thing I noticed when looking at her post.

And Tess isn’t the only celebrity to snap up this statement vase. Singer Raye included the wiggle vase in green (on sale for £9.33)) as part of her promo for her single Nightingale Lane.

It’s even a favourite amongst the Ideal Home team, with our Editor-in-Chief Heather Young, opting for the stylish new Habitat Stripe Ceramic Pink & Yellow Wiggle Vase (£14) to brighten up her kitchen dining area.

What makes this home decor trend so popular is that it combines a timeless stripe with pops of bold colour. Because of this, it suits most home decor styles - from brightening a neutral space to complementing an existing colour scheme. Not to mention, the vases look plenty more expensive than just £14 - perfect for those trying to capture a designer look on a budget.

These gorgeous vases have dozens of glowing reviews, praising their quality and looks.

‘Beautiful vase! Good quality, looks much more expensive than it was. Great size and perfect for my kitchen table. So glad I treated myself!’ says one happy customer in July this year.

‘This is so beautiful; I've been coveting it for ages as my Mum and friend have it. Now I've bought it for myself and as a housewarming gift for my other friend. Brightens up my kitchen, especially with some yellow roses in it. Love the other colourways too,’ says another from December last year.

Shop the range

I am also the proud owner of a green Habitat wiggle vase. They’re stylish, easy to style and perfect for holding cut flowers. What not to like? Plus, if they’re good enough for Tess, they're good enough for me!

While the best robot vacuum cleaners have become the new must-have appliance in homes across the UK, they’re not cheap. Many of the top models - including Dyson’s own robot vacuums - retail for anywhere between £700 and £1,000. But the new Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry breaks the mould at just £499.99… and it promises excellent cleaning power, too.

The Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry isn’t alone, though. It’s one of THREE new robot vacuums unveiled by Chief Engineer Jake Dyson at the Dyson Unveiled Event in Berlin today (which I was lucky enough to get an invite to), and you can read on to find out what makes these new robot vacuums so special.

The affordable R1 Nurovi Dry forms part of the new Nurovi range, aimed at offering varying levels of innovation and cleaning power across three very different machines: the R1 Nurovi Dry, R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry and the Dyson R3 Nurovi Spot+Scrub™ UV.

All three offer varying features and price points, but to cut the jargon, I’ve put the information you need into an easy-to-understand table below:

Of course, the cheapest R1 option is undoubtedly the most basic model, and it's worth weighing this up if you’re buying your first robot vacuum cleaner.

But if you primarily have soft flooring in your home and don’t need a robot vacuum that also mops, it’ll suit you perfectly. Especially with the new, souped-up cleaning technology and the side-sweeper system that aims to reach nooks and crannies like never before.

If you do want a robot vacuum that’ll mop your floors, the R2 is the mid-range option offering both wet and dry cleaning with new Reuleaux triangle pads designed to offer an effective and efficient clean that covers every inch of your floor - something that robot vacuums with round pads often miss.

And this is what Dyson wants from this new era of robotics. Speaking at the event, Jake Dyson explained, ‘With the Dyson Nurovi robots, we’ve rethought things from the ground up – from how debris is captured, to how edges and corners are cleaned, and how the machine senses and adapts to its environment.’

‘The result is a range of robots that clean intelligently, precisely, and effectively across every surface,’ he added.

But if you’re not a fan of robot vacuums, you don’t have to worry. Dyson unveiled a whopping 12 new home appliances at the unveiling - including the new Dyson W1 PencilWash (£299 at Dyson), which builds on the success of the original PencilWash by offering a self-cleaning roller dock and a more absorbent roller.

Or if you’re in the market for an old-school vacuum cleaner with a twist, the iconic vacuum brand has also reimagined the Dyson Big Ball Konical Vacuum Cleaner (£399.99 at Dyson).

You’ll probably recognise this classic design as one of Dyson’s first big successes, but this new model has been upgraded to include the Konical head (which can be seen on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal), improved cyclone technology for powerful suction power, and self-righting ball technology - which means it’ll never fall over.

Fans of the best cordless vacuums, and more specifically the hugely popular Dyson V15 Cordless Vacuum, will also be happy to hear that the brand will release its most powerful V15 model ever in 2027.

I’ll share more details on this in the coming months, but from what I hear, it’s going to be extremely versatile and very powerful.

Things are looking exciting over at camp Dyson!

Getting to know all the different brands’ colours of the year (also known as COTYs) is largely how I discover and determine the biggest colour trends that are going to shape the new year. And as Graham & Brown chose a warm, earthy pink shade with subtle brown undertones as its year-defining colour, it’s clear that this already trending hue is here to stay at least for another year.

Dusky pink has been one of the ‘new neutrals’ replacing the likes of beige in 2026, while plaster pink is the new go-to colour for kitchens. And according to Graham & Brown, this is not going to change anytime soon as the brand predicts we’ll all still be obsessed with shades like Rose Earth well into 2027.

This paint idea was inspired by the natural mineral pigments found in clay deposits in Italy – and this connection to a natural material and a shade traditionally found in nature is exactly what makes this shade feel warm and comforting while also being more playful and exciting than a more traditional warm and earthy neutral like beige or taupe.

'I've long been a fan of earthy pinks – I've used these tones in both my home office and my bedroom – so I was immediately drawn to Rose Earth,' says Heather Young, Ideal Home's Editor in Chief who was also present at yesterday's reveal.

'I find it a very calming colour that brings warmth and feels grounded. The beauty of it is that it sits happily with lots of different shades so it's supremely usable – something I think is really important when selecting a colour of the year.'

I’ve been seeing people use shades like this one to colour drench entire rooms. But given the versatility of the colour, it can also be paired with other colours – be it a burgundy like Graham & Brown’s 2026 colour of the year, Divine Damson or one of the brand’s newly launched shades like the dark green called Sue’s Jumper as pink and green is generally one of the best colour combinations.

Graham & Brown Design of the Year 2027

While I’m always most interested in the brand’s colour of the year to help me determine the following year’s biggest colour trends, for Graham & Brown, the design of the year is always the main event. And this year, it’s all about the new Roselle Grove design depicting large-scale florals and botanicals inspired by English gardens.

The Roselle Grove wallpaper blends Indian chintz dating back to the 16th century with a very traditional English aesthetic popular in the Victorian times, creating a very ‘grandma chic’ look which is set to be a major home decor trend in itself. While the main design comes in a dusky pink shade, coordinating with the Rose Earth COTY, it’s also available in three other colourways.

Graham & Brown Mural of the Year 2027

As Graham & Brown celebrates its 80th anniversary, the brand also reveals a mural of the year with a design that’s very distinct from the wallpaper design.

Depicting a scenic view, the Red Rose County design is inspired by the rolling Lancashire landscape, the home of the Graham & Brown brand. At the same time, it’s very reminiscent of views you might encounter in Italy’s Tuscany. And again, this mural design, too, comes in four different colourways to choose from.

Are you thinking of embracing earthy pink shades in your home? Or are you going to wait for more colours of the year to drop before you commit?

In 2026, most homes will have some form of smart home ecosystem. You may have an Alexa, Ring doorbell or even a water leakage sensor under your sink (yes, they exist), and now with the launch of Aldi’s Lamp with Motion Detector (£9.99), you can add easy illumination to your list of smart home features.

Landing in stores today (3 September), Aldi’s affordable new light is suitable for use both inside and outside your home. Here’s why we think it’s a great Specialbuy.

Motion lighting is typically associated with smart security, and it’s true: it's a great choice for helping to deter thieves and keep your property safe. As the name suggests, motion detector lights illuminate when movement is detected. When positioned on the exterior of your home, or on garden paths, this can alert you to unusual comings and goings.

As Aldi’s new light is suitable for outdoor use, you can absolutely use it for this purpose. However, its indoor uses are just as good as a reason to invest in one (or a few), too.

You can use an indoor motion detector light in cupboards, porches, hallways or even to guide your way as you step through your front door. If you’re someone who hates coming home to a dark house, a motion sensor light can help you stop from stumbling around in the dark.

The Aldi Lamp with Motion Detector is available in either black or white and has three sets of lights with a PIR sensor (passive infrared sensor). A PIR sensor detects motion by measuring changes in Infrared Radiation emitted by objects in its view. In other words, it detects changes in body heat.

The light duration lasts approximately 15 hours, and it has multiple lighting modes including: On, Off, Motion Sensor Activation or Dim Night Light, which has 30-second full brightness when motion is detected.

Now I haven’t tested Aldi’s sensor lamp myself, but I will say I am frequently impressed by their Specialbuys, most recently their autumn candles, which genuinely smell so good. Alternatively, I’ve tracked down a few more motion lamps that have great reviews, and you can shop online.

If you find yourself in Aldi this week, make sure you consider this sensor lamp for your autumn lighting needs.

The range includes 29 products with prices starting from £19.99, spanning everything from decor like candleholders to table lamps and even pieces of furniture. The focus of the collection is on modular pieces, including modular sofas.

I don’t think they’re necessarily the best modular sofas to invest your money in, since a modular sofa should future-proof your home and you should be able to add new modules to it in the future which I doubt will be the case with this like one-off range. However, I’m a big fan of the Ortra modular coffee table – or sofa table, as it’s been called – and the Noxen stools which can form a larger bench.

Aside from modularity, the defining characteristic of most of the pieces is their sculptural shape and quality – interesting, sculptural shapes and pieces can be found across most of the interiors Kelly’s designed. Even though all the products have a practical purpose – be it a vase for flowers or a lamp to light the room – each of them looks like a piece of art in its own right. When styled together, the variety and contrast of natural materials becomes evident – from wood to marble, metal to ceramics.

H&M’s designer collaborations are famous for selling out pretty much as soon as they drop, like with last summer's H&M X Palm Heights hotel collab. Given the amount of buzz and anticipation there’s been around Kelly’s collection for the high street retailer, I’m sure these pieces will fly off the shelves.

These are the 6 pieces I’ve got my eye on and would recommend investing in asap.

My top picks

I love a good collaboration. And it seems we’re in the midst of a collab season as Dunelm’s collection with artist Yinka Ilori dropped just in July, while both Tan France’s partnership with Castlery and MADE’s range with the Barbican launched last month. It's looking like the H&M Home x Kelly Wearstler range is the perfect cherry on top.

While you probably know Matt for his work on Countryfile, The One Show and Blue Peter, the presenter shares glimpses of his life on his Instagram account, and it is here that we spotted his gorgeous Tiffany lamp in the background of a video.

Tiffany lamps are the vintage lighting trend that has been making a comeback over the past couple of years, and Matt’s suits his country kitchen perfectly. Here’s how you can get the look, too.

In a video where Matt shows his parents a copy of his new book, My Dogs and Me, there is a beautiful cream Tiffany light twinkling in the background. In a way, it sets the scene perfectly.

‘Matt's Art Nouveau Tiffany lamp fits really well in his room,’ comments Jamie Moxey, a buyer and lighting specialist at Dusk Lighting. 'The wider space is very country/traditional, featuring a lot of natural wood, rattan and greenery above his mantle. The lamp fits in nicely as an Art Deco touch in a country kitchen, adding a luxurious note to the space.'

Last year, experts told me Tiffany lamps were making a comeback as retro lighting styles, particularly Art Deco, are back in vogue. Not to mention the fact that Tiffany lamps are a symbol of craftsmanship, with their intricate designs adding plenty of charm and personality to a home.

‘What I love about Matt’s is that it doesn’t seem out of place or overly traditional,’ says Julia Barnes, product director at ValueLights. 'The green in the stained glass works really well with the plants and other natural tones around it, so although the lamp itself is quite decorative, it feels like it belongs. It’s also a great example of how you don’t need a completely vintage interior to make this style of lighting work.'

‘Tiffany-style lamps take inspiration from those beautiful leaded-glass designs, with all the colour, pattern, and detail that people have loved for more than a century. There’s something special about the glow you get through coloured glass.

'Once you switch the lamp on, all those different shades come to life and give off a lovely, warm light that instantly makes a room feel cosier. When it’s switched off, you’ve still got something incredibly decorative to look at, which is why these lamps can feel almost like a piece of art in the room.’

How to style Tiffany lamps in modern homes

While Matt’s Tiffany lamp is perfectly suited to his rustic, farmhouse kitchen, this lighting style can also be adopted in more contemporary homes. So, if you love Tiffany lamps but assume they wouldn’t work in your new build, you can think again.

‘Tiffany lamps can be styled very easily in most modern homes,' explains lighting specialist Jamie. 'Minimalist briefs can use more simplistic Tiffany Lamps as a showcase item to build a room around.

'Alternatively, in colour-drenching or maximalist aesthetics, a Tiffany Lamp can create a jewel tone that echoes the rest of the space. Tiffany lamps have the benefit of coming in a variety of styles and patterns; natural patterns fit biophilic design, geometric patterns to support urban looks.

‘Today a lot of interior design projects aim to avoid mass-produced, flat-pack furniture; Tiffany lamps act as an antidote, bringing a touch of artisanal class to the space.’

Julia agrees, stating that sometimes Tiffany lamps can work better in contemporary homes, rather than surrounded by antiques.

‘If you love the Tiffany look, but your home is more modern, don’t feel like you suddenly need to fill the room with antiques. Personally, I think these lamps look their best when there’s a bit of contrast. Style one alongside a contemporary sofa, a simple side table or more modern furniture and let the lamp be the piece that brings in the colour and character,’ she says.

‘You can also use the colours in the glass as your starting point. Pick out a green, amber or red and bring little touches of that shade into cushions, artwork or accessories around the room. You don’t need to match everything perfectly; just having those small connections will make the lamp feel at home in the space.’

Shop the look

Have you been charmed by this retro lighting trend?

Sitting down with Olivia to discuss all things at home, she explained to me that Ninja’s latest appliance had meant she could save space and reduce clutter in her kitchen. And honestly, small kitchen dwellers may want to pay attention as I think she’s onto something.

While the best air fryers and microwaves have long been an essential part of any modern kitchen, an excess of appliances doesn’t always work in small or minimal spaces. Offering multiple functions, Ninja’s new microwave plans to solve this problem.

Chatting to Olivia about her recent partnership with SharkNinja, as well as things relating to her own interior style, she explained to me she preferred her home to be tidy, organised and neutral. A calming space.

‘I feel like a microwave is something that most people have in their home, but a lot of people honestly have had the same microwave for way longer than they should have. It's probably not performing as well as it should have. It’s probably quite unsightly,’ she explained.

‘And the second thing most people have now is an air fryer. So the Ninja Crispy Microwave basically combines the two, and I love clear surfaces. Like I like I'm a no clutter girl. So I think when you combine two appliances, it looks sleek. You've then created more space for yourself on your countertops. It's just a no-brainer.’

If, like Olivia, you’re someone who doesn’t like clutter, opting for a three-in-one microwave will help make room and save space in your kitchen. I personally have a tiny kitchen, and thus far I’ve opted for a Ninja Food Air Fryer (£159.99 at Argos) instead of a microwave. But I have to say I’m considering a swap after this latest launch.

That said, essentially £360 is a lot of money to drop on a kitchen appliance (especially if your current appliances don’t need replacing). Luckily, if you’re not looking to upgrade, there are plenty of appliance storage ideas to help reduce clutter, such as opting for deep drawers, or even using appliance covers if yours look unsightly in your kitchen.

The Ninja CRISPI Microwave, Air Fryer and Oven is currently being tested by Ideal Home’s trusted and expert review, so we’ll be able to tell you if it’s Ideal Home approved very soon. But, from a small kitchen perspective, I’m with Olivia -I can see it quickly becoming one of those things people with tidy kitchens always have.

Small kithen essentials

Olivia Attwood has partnered with SharkNinja to promote the new Ninja CRISPi Microwave which is available from today (2 September).

The Posie sideboard is definitely one of the standout Dunelm autumn 2026 buys that I recommend snapping up fast. Since it’s such a distinctive design, I predict it will prove very popular with customers. Reminiscent of last season’s Dunelm chequerboard side table, the Posie sideboard is covered in a similar checked pattern, hand-painted using chestnut-toned wood stain rather than paint – what a great idea for an easy DIY project!

Checks and ginghams are always popular during the autumn season. But this year, it’s one of the biggest autumn home decor trends that both homeware and fashion brands are focusing on. Meanwhile, the antique brass-style drop pull knobs are a great nod to the current tassel trend I’m seeing in the most stylish homes lately.

The sideboard is selling for £599 which might sound like a lot – but considering it’s made with genuine mango hardwood, that’s actually a reasonable price.

The design is finished with tapered, turned legs made from the same wood which give the sideboard a vintage-style look. Dunelm’s autumn collection consists of a few different looks, one of which is ‘Vintage Emporium’ – this is the style that the Posie sideboard and the check ruffle easy fit lampshade - which our Editorial Assistant, Maddie Balcombe was enchanted by - are part of.

The Vintage Emporium look is described as cottagecore nostalgia meets charming, eclectic touches and whimsy. It’s defined by a ‘more is more’ approach which sees mix-and-match patterns and textures.

It’s encouraged to pair the checked pattern of the Posie sideboard with other patterns, textures and whimsical touches for a cosy yet playful result.

Get the full look

If I was to get just one thing from the new Dunelm autumn collection - and had the space - this standout sideboard would be it. Although, I’m not going to lie, the Salvage enamel nibble bowls are also great – and I’ve already bought two of those for my home…

It's the latest in a line of multi-hyphenate appliances which combine the two most convenient products in a kitchen: the speed of the best air fryers meeting the ease for reheating leftovers of the best microwaves.

Despite sounding great on paper, as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I've so far been disappointed in the microwave/air fryer hybrids we've tried so far. Here's why I'm hoping this new iteration of the best Ninja air fryers is going to be the exception to the rule.

If you own a Ninja air fryer already, you'll know that this is the brand to go for if you want to maximise cooking power. With temperatures up to 240°C, that certainly looks like an advantage that will carry over with this clever combination buy.

Though this is advertised as a 3-in-1 (air fryer, microwave, oven) there are actually a whopping 13 functions available on the interface of the appliance. Eight of those are for microwaving to your hearts content, and 5 of them will be very familiar to those who love their existing Ninja air fryer.

Those five settings are: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Air Roast, Air Bake and Air Broil (which is the American term for grill). I own the Ninja Double Stack and the high heat and power of the Max Crisp setting means it's never out of use in my household.

Using the microwave and air fryer elements separately is one thing, but the setting that has me most intrigued is Fusion Crisp. This button allows you to whip up 'fast meals with a crisp finish'.

Once pressed, your device will begin by microwaving your food and then move onto auto finishing with air frying. That should, in theory, allow you to 'go from frozen to crispy in minutes'. If it works well, this should make this microwave air fryer the most time-efficient buy in your kitchen.

Another winning feature of the original Ninja Crispi is present within this new version too: the introduction of glassware to help with efficient meal prep. With a 5.2 litre capacity and a matching lid, it's perfect for saving on washing up. Capacity-wise, it can fit a 3kg chicken, according to Ninja, making enough food for up to eight people at a time.

Simply cook in it within the Crispi and then pop any leftovers straight into the fridge when you're finished. And though it doesn't come as standard, it looks as if you'll also be able to separately invest in a steamer lid too – perfect for veggies, rice, dumplings and more.

Though it was released today (the 2nd of September), Ninja will always send their products ahead of time to reviewers. At the time of writing, this 3-in-1 has already gleaned a 4.7 star rating from 160 user reviews, which is a promising sign.

Our review of this innovative new Ninja is currently in the works so that we can let you know whether it's Ideal Home approved for your home. Could you see this type of appliance working in your kitchen?

Whether you're putting an IKEA DIY hack into practice or following the latest home decor trends on a budget, IKEA is undoubtedly a go-to brand for many in the interiors world. And now, IKEA is dropping the prices of its bestsellers; it's become even more affordable.

With cult products such as the KALLAX shelving unit, HEMNES daybed and the retro DIVYLINGE chair all seeing a reduction in price, here’s everything we know about IKEA’s New Lower Prices, and how it can save you money this autumn.

IKEA's New Lower Prices

Officially launching on Friday 28 August this year, IKEA’S New Lower Prices are, as IKEA states, not a sale, but the new normal. They have rounded up everything from some of their most recognisable furniture designs to everyday essentials to make shopping from your home more affordable.

If you’ve been worried about rising energy costs, increasing food prices and the general cost of living, it is quite refreshing to see a brand committed to doing the opposite. New Lower Prices will be available both in stores and online. Here are some of the best deals I’ve spotted since the launch.

Whether you're giving your home an upgrade this autumn, sending a loved one off to university or moving home yourself, IKEA is helping to make furnishing a home more affordable. We can't fault that.

If you’re in need of new bedroom ideas, influencer and businesswoman Molly Mae Hague has shown that you don’t need a full-blown renovation; a fresh lick of paint and a few design tricks can completely transform your sleep space.

The Ideal Home team raved about Molly’s last neutral bedroom, and this most recent transformation shows she’s not lost her gift. If you want warm, cosy bedroom inspiration, here’s why Molly Mae’s is where you should look.

Posting the before-and-after photos on her home Instagram @mollymaison, Molly explained that while there was absolutely nothing wrong with the space before, she was planning to stay in her home for a long time, so she wanted something ‘that feels completely like us’.

There’s an undeniable difference between the two rooms. While the layout hasn’t changed, Molly Mae’s switch to warmer-toned colours and natural finishes gives the room a far cosier, yet luxurious look.

‘The original bedroom’s cool greys, reflective surfaces and sharper contrasts gave it a sleek, contemporary hotel feel, but it could also appear slightly icy and impersonal. The finished bedroom feels softer, warmer and much more established. The natural timber, creamy neutrals, layered textiles and traditional furniture shapes give it the character associated with the ‘old-money’ aesthetic,’ says Melanie Whetstone, in-house interior design expert at British Bedmakers Get Laid Beds. Melanie also designed the house prior to Molly Mae moving in.

‘The warmer scheme also feels better suited to the proportions of the room. The bed provides a strong visual anchor, while the deeper wood tones prevent such a large space from feeling empty or overly polished. It now feels like a private retreat rather than simply an impressive room.

‘It is also a more tactile space. Timber grain, soft bedding, upholstery and layered fabrics bring sensory warmth, which is particularly important in a bedroom. The styling feels luxurious without being showy, and the combination of traditional forms with a restrained modern palette gives the room a timeless quality. Ultimately, it feels designed around rest rather than display.’

Is Molly Mae a good example to follow?

If you plan on decorating with neutrals, Molly Mae is always a good example to follow. She transformed her bedroom into a space that is both welcoming and screams old money sophistication.

And it’s for this reason that Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director and Colour Expert at Dulux, prefers the renovated bedroom, too.

‘They're both beautifully considered, but for a bedroom I'd lean towards the new design. There's something very comforting about those warm cream tones, particularly when they're paired with natural materials and softer lighting. A bedroom is ultimately somewhere we want to unwind at the end of the day, and this palette creates that sense of calm without the room feeling bland or lacking in character,’ she says.

‘What works so well in the finished room is the layering. Rather than relying on one colour or one statement feature, you've got warm neutral tones sitting alongside wood, linen, soft upholstery and pools of lamplight, which gives the room depth without making it feel busy

‘It's also a really timeless approach to decorating. When you build a decorating scheme around a considered palette and beautiful natural textures, rather than lots of competing trends, you create something that feels stylish now but will still feel lovely to live with for years to come.’

Get the look

While I normally opt for a splash of colour, I have to say Molly Mae has nailed the cosy neutral look. I'll definitely be using her for inspiration for my own bedroom this autumn.

However, the design inspo doesn't stop at their outside space. The Ideal Home team has already been impressed by the Kemps' classic Shaker kitchen, and now it's their restful bedroom that's caught our eye. The vintage-inspired boudoir is a masterclass in creating a relaxing sleeping space, and it's all down to Shirlie's use of one of Farrow & Ball's most popular colours.

In a social media post shared to her @maisonnumber9 Instagram account, Shirlie tells her followers about her bedroom redecoration project, and the star of the room is a decorative wooden headboard painted in a soft green shade.

Her followers can't get enough of the colourway, which Shirlie soon reveals is Farrow & Ball's Green Blue No. 84. 'The headboard needed a paint, so I used @farrowandball blue and green which matched the wallpaper beautifully!', shares Shirlie.

Yes, the paint's official title is 'Green Blue', not blue green, but it's an easy mistake to make, and it's clear which Farrow & Ball shade Shirlie plumped for. A delicate and slightly 'dirty' duck egg blue, Green Blue is pretty without being *too* pretty, and her followers are quick to praise its relaxing qualities.

'That's very pretty...a lovely restful colour!,' says one follower. 'Beautiful ✨want this same colour for my bedroom one day,' shares another admirer.

And her paint choice isn't the only thing her keen-eyed followers are quick to appreciate about Shirley's restful bedroom idea. The delicately patterned wallpaper is another hit.

'The wallpaper is beautiful,' says one commenter, after Shirlie shares that it's from one of her favourite brands.

'I’m a huge Nina Campbell fan, so I chose one of her wallpapers to decorate this bedroom, and I’m so pleased with it,' says Shirlie in the Instagram post, 'it has turned out prettier than I thought!'.

Personally, I'm also impressed by Shirlie's choice of bed linen. She's chosen to finish off her romantic Parisian-chic bedroom look with lace-edged pillowcases.

Pinterest named 'laced up' as one of the biggest trends of 2026, saying 'lace sets the pace in 2026, bringing unexpected elegance to absolutely everything. This trend is a gentle reminder that more is more: especially when it’s this gorgeous.'

And I certainly think that lace-edged bed linen is the finishing touch to this pretty bedroom idea.

Martin and Shirlie Kemp may not have been on our radar as bedroom style aficionados before, but following this room reveal, they are now!

In fact, as one follower comments on Shirlie's bedroom post: 'Love it! If you’ve not done already, you should publish an interiors book.'

We'll definitely be watching this space to see if that request becomes reality!

This month, plenty of autumn ranges such as Primark’s Heritage Collection and Matalan’s pumpkin decor have caught my eye, but I’m not convinced that any brand has nailed the cosy brief as well as George Home.

If you’re looking for affordable, stylish homeware that makes you excited for the upcoming season, you’ve landed in the right place. Here are my top picks from George Home’s AW26 collection.

Regarding home decor trends, George Home is always a viable option for picking up stylish home accessories, from bedding to lighting, on a budget. And this year, cosy is certainly the buzzword on everyone’s lips.

We’re all sick of the recurrent heatwaves and are looking forward to snuggling up under a blanket this autumn. In particular, the Green Argyle Brushed Throw (£15), whose mossy green and beige colourway looks very autumnal, while its timeless argyle design means it won’t go out of fashion either. It’s perfect for giving your living room a country makeover.

Then, if you want to create a Piglet In Bed vibe in your bedroom, George Home is offering a seriously discounted alternative. Their Gingham Piped Edge Duvet Set in ochre starts at just £14 for a set, and its warm colourway makes it perfect for the cosy season.

And if you are in need of more cosy picks, here are the rest of my top picks.

George Home has so many stylish seasonal looks this year. If you're looking for autumn decor on a budget, this is one of the best places to look.

Belle Rogers from Nottingham, known as @bydesignermum on TikTok and Instagram, has gone viral after revealing that the council has ordered her to take down the wooden pergola in the garden at the back of her house, where she’s lived for 11 years, following an anonymous complaint.

The content creator originally built the pergola in 2021 during COVID as the finishing touch to her patio ideas. This little sanctuary included a stylish dip tank and seating area filled with plants and festoon lights. Typically, pergolas fall under permitted development, meaning you don’t need to apply for planning permission if your structure meets certain criteria. In the case of a pergola, it must cover less than 50% of the garden, and it is below 2.5 metres high (if it's within 2 metres of a neighbour's fence). However, the rules differ if you’re dealing with a listed building or live in a conservation area, where restrictions are tighter.

Belle’s beautiful home is a Grade II listed home in a conservation area. When speaking to Ideal Home, Belle admits that despite being pros at renovating older properties, it didn’t occur to either her or her partner to apply for planning permission for the pergola because it wasn’t a permanent enclosed structure.

‘This is our 14th renovation in 10 years, we’ve always renovated older things - an old chapel, old Georgian houses, an old bank - so we’re pretty much always applying for planning. Everything in this house we’ve applied for planning for: the barn conversion, the conservatory round the back. So we do follow the guidance, but I didn’t think that a wooden pergola outside that wasn’t permanent would need planning permission.’

The pergola was first reported in 2022 for being a permanent structure that was attached to the property. To comply with the council guidelines, Belle took the pergola down.

‘I think they were concerned about the attachment to the actual building, which I do actually understand,’ says Belle. ‘I asked what if we put it on wheels, what if it was movable? And they said, well, if it's movable, then that's fine.’

'I have to admit, at first, I was absolutely gutted when the first, you know, when I had to take down the first one; I left it for a year,' she explains.

In 2025 she decided to take on the challenge of building a moveable pergola and created a new freestanding wooden covering on wheels that was detached from the house.

However, the pergola was reported again. This time the council said that the pergola would need to be taken down by the end of August (2026). In emails seen by Ideal Home, the main reason given for the decision was the similarity between the original pergola and the new one built on wheels, along with maintained objections from the council's conservation officers that it introduced an ‘intrusive feature’.

When approached for a comment on the ruling, Councillor Andy Freeman, Chair of Planning Committee at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: 'as with any listed building, homeowners must follow specific rules and regulations, and planning permission is often required for structures of this kind.

'This is a protected Grade II listed building, and planning permission was not obtained for the work undertaken. Although the structure has now been placed on wheels, this has not removed the harmful impact identified by the Council’s Conservation professionals. The owner has therefore been asked to remove the structure.'

It’s not the outcome Belle hoped for. She told Ideal Home that she’s confused about why the pergola has been targeted, explaining that it’s hidden around the back of the house and is one of several other garden structures, including a greenhouse and a shepherd’s hut built under permitted development. However, these other structures have drawn no complaints or action from the council.

But despite her disappointment, she has maintained a sunny outlook. She plans to find a way to reuse the pergola (watch this space!) She is also already thinking of ways to replace the structure with parasol trees or something similar to create a natural covering over the patio that the council will approve. 'I emailed the council, and in terms of planting, there are no planning restrictions on what you plant, where it goes, or the height it eventually grows to,' she explains of her new idea.

Following the experience, Belle’s advice for other homeowners living in a listed building or a conservation area is to always check regulations if they’re hoping to build a pergola. ‘The first thing you need to do is look at what’s allowed. Contact the local council because they are pretty good at responding, and find out what the rules are around non-permanent and permanent structures in your garden.’

I’m talking about Greek chic as the surprising home decor trend taking interior design by storm this year. If you’re a fan of crisp, white hues, marble and sun-washed natural materials, this Mediterranean-inspired trend is one you should get on board with.

I spoke to interior design experts about how to modernise this ancient trend and make our homes look more stylish this season. Here’s what they said.

Why is Greek chic trending?

Perhaps it’s not that surprising. Last year, Greek gardens dominated garden trends, and this year Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey has led to a sudden interest in ancient Greek aesthetics.

Up until now, Mediterranean decor (which has been immensely popular over the past few years) has focused on ‘la dolce vita’, citrus motifs and an overwhelming amount of sardines. Greek chic is stripping this back to its roots.

‘After a summer of bright colour and playful interiors, we’re beginning to crave spaces that feel calmer, cooler and more grounded. There’s almost a sense that we’re in denial that winter is coming, holding onto that Mediterranean feeling for a little longer,’ comments Natalie Evans, founder and CEO of home styling and staging company Little Barn Door.

‘Greek chic taps into that beautifully. It gives us sun-baked colours, tactile surfaces and relaxed, lived-in spaces that feel warm and comforting without being heavy. It’s less about recreating a holiday villa and more about capturing that wonderfully effortless Grecian way of living.

‘Popular culture is also helping to reignite our fascination with the ancient world. With the Odyssey bringing Greek mythology, landscapes and architecture back into workplace conversations. But I think its appeal goes deeper than a single cultural moment. We’re increasingly looking for homes that feel restful rather than overly designed. The earthy colours, raw materials and simplicity of Grecian architecture offer exactly that.’

How to style the Greek chic trend in modern homes

Don’t worry, you don’t have to fully embrace the ancient Greek lifestyle to embrace the trend. So that’s a no to dealing with the Gods and monsters Greek heroes were expected to put up with them thousands of years ago.

‘The good news is you don't need a villa in Santorini to embrace the look. In a modern home, I'd focus on natural textures like linen, stone and ceramics, alongside a palette of warm whites and sandy neutrals. Even a few sculptural accessories or oversized pottery pieces can capture that Greek-inspired feel without making the space look themed,’ says Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys.

With the Greek Chic aesthetic, the key is to keep your decor as stripped back as possible. You need to let your materials do the talking. Because of this, it’s worth investing in quality materials such as marble vases (£80, Next) or textured ceramics.

‘Paint brands are already leaning heavily into these natural plaster-inspired shades, which makes this one of the easier trends to introduce without completely redecorating. Coat Paints have even introduced a Natural Plaster collection to bring this look into our homes with ease,’ adds Natalie.

‘The secret to getting Greek chic right is influence rather than imitation. You want the warmth, texture and architectural simplicity of a Greek home without making your living room feel like a Mediterranean-themed restaurant.’

Shop the Greek chic trend

Ready to embrace the Greek way of life? I hope I've provided you with the best ways to get started.

Anyone who has grown sunflowers this summer will know how beautiful they look both in your kitchen and in your garden. But what has impressed us about Prue’s display is that she has paired them with a second bloom that helps emphasise the sunflower’s beauty even more.

If you’re looking for a flower bed idea that is as simple as it is stunning, this is why you may want to consider planting khella and sunflowers together for next year’s summer display.

Prue Leith's sunflower and khella display

In an Instagram post, Prue shared a video of her blooming flowers, thanking her gardener, Philippa Lillywhite, for her hard work over the past eight years as she was moving away to live by the sea. Phillipa then commented, informing followers that the flowers on display were ammi visnaga (khella) and sunflowers. And we’re keen to agree that this makes for a great flower pairing.

‘Sunflowers are bold and graphic, while khella have these light, domed heads made up of tiny flowers. The khella almost acts like a cloud around the sunflower heads. It stops the yellow feeling too heavy and gives the whole display movement,’ says Dr Russell Sharp, founder of Eutrema.

‘It feels quite loose and garden-picked. Sunflowers can easily dominate a display because they’re so recognisable, but the khella breaks up those big yellow circles and gives your eye somewhere to rest. It’s also a combination that makes sense both in the border and in a vase, which I always love. You can grow the two together, then cut a few stems and get the same relationship indoors. Prue Leith is known for using strong colour throughout her garden, so the sunflowers feel in keeping with that, while the white khella gives the colour some breathing room.’

Dr Russel also goes on to explain that this isn’t the only khella pairing that works beautifully in a garden. And it’s great news for anyone who loves to grow dahlias.

‘Dahlias give you that dense, sculptural flower head, while ammi adds air and softness around them. I particularly like deep burgundy or plum dahlias with white ammi because the contrast feels rich outdoors but still looks elegant when you cut it for the house,’ he says.

‘Plant the ammi through and around the dahlias rather than in a separate block, so it weaves between them naturally. Then when you cut the flowers, don’t make the arrangement too perfect. A few dahlia stems with airy ammi around them will usually look much better than trying to cram twenty different flowers into one vase.’

Where to buy sunflowers and khella

• Sunflower Plant, £12.99, B&Q
• Mr Fothergills Oh Sow Simple Little Dorrit F1 Sunflower Flower Seeds, £3.60, B&Q
• Cenolophium denudatum, £12.59, Crocus
• Visnaga daucoides (syn. Ammi visnaga) (seeds), £1.99, Crocus

When choosing flower combinations, you want a pair that complement each other. Sunflowers and khella make a dreamy display that is perfect for summer.

Anyone who wants to attract birds to a garden should be aware of how the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects them. Under this act, it is illegal to deliberately damage or remove a bird's nest in your garden, with the offender sometimes facing an unlimited fine or even prison. This is why you should always avoid cutting your hedge during nesting season.

While nesting season technically comes to an end on 1 September, it is also the moulting season for birds, and during this period they may take refuge in your hedges. So, before you start cutting, experts want you to make this check first.

Why should I check my hedge in September?

Even the best hedging materials for a garden need cutting back, and this is especially true if you’ve chosen fast-growing hedging for quick privacy. But if a bird has taken a fancy to your garden, you should always check for nests before completing any work.

‘You should still check hedges for birds after August because some late-breeding bird species may still be raising their chicks. The breeding season can extend later into the summer for some birds, with individual pairs still having eggs, nestlings or dependent fledglings in and around hedgerows,’ says Lucy Taylor, a wildlife expert at Vine House Farm.

‘More birds may shelter in hedgerows during moulting season because they are more vulnerable to predators at this time, as growing new feathers uses large amounts of energy and can affect their ability to fly.

‘Hedges provide moulting birds with a hiding place where they can remain until they finish shedding and replacing old feathers. It is also important to note that birds are much quieter during the moulting season, as they stop singing or calling to avoid attracting attention to themselves. This may make it less obvious that they are hiding in garden hedges.’

When checking to see if birds are nesting in your hedges, watch to see if birds repeatedly fly in and out of the same spot, are carrying nesting materials into your hedge like twigs or moss and lastly, listen out for chirping birds from inside the hedgerow. If you spot these features, birds are likely nesting in your hedge, and any work should be postponed.

What to do if birds are nesting in your hedge

‘If you spot an active nest in your hedge, simply do not cut the hedge. Postpone your trimming work until the nest is empty and the birds have fledged,’ says Melissa Quinney, gardening expert at Cabin Master.

‘It’s better to be safe and wait a few weeks than to risk causing harm or facing severe legal penalties. A little patience and a careful check are all it takes to keep your garden thriving and our feathered friends safe.’

Instead, monitor your hedge from a distance, and when there are no signs of birds nesting, check again and proceed from there.

Shop nesting boxes

If you want to provide somewhere safe in your garden for birds to make a home, consider investing in a nesting box.

While cutting hedges keeps your garden tidy and neighbours happy, make sure you are keeping your garden birds safe and happy, too.

If you’re in need of new greenhouse ideas, I’d highly recommend taking a look at writer, comedian and actor Dawn French’s joyous example, which uses a mix of potted plants and pottery to create a stunning display.

And experts say that decorating your greenhouse is a great way to ensure your personality shines as much in your garden as in your home. Here’s how to do it like Dawn.

Dawn French's decorated greenhouse

This isn’t the first time a celebrity has demonstrated the benefits of decorating a greenhouse. Shirlie Kemp decorated her greenhouse for Christmas and instantly had us obsessed with her twinkling lights and foliage.

Since greenhouse decorating has taken off as a garden trend in its own right, and if you’re in need of some non-seasonal inspiration, Dawn is your girl. Posting on Instagram, Dawn was showing off a new mirror mask, which offered a glimpse into the greenhouse around her.

I spotted plenty of pretty geraniums in pots (Pelargonsjuka is a Scandi gardening trend Dawn is a fan of), with small ornaments and hanging plates nestled in between. It’s a simple idea but one that creates a gorgeous lived-in look.

‘What I like about Dawn French’s greenhouse is its personality. It doesn’t feel as though it has been decorated according to a particular trend or with the aim of looking immaculate. It feels joyful, individual and lived-in, which is exactly what a garden space should be. There’s a real sense that it reflects the person using it,’ says Francesca McEvoy, design expert at Crane Garden Buildings.

‘Plants themselves are obviously a huge part of the look, too. Mixing different heights, trailing plants and interesting pots can make a greenhouse feel wonderfully layered and established rather than overly styled. I particularly like the slightly eclectic approach, where everything doesn’t necessarily match perfectly. Greenhouses lend themselves beautifully to that relaxed, collected-over-time feel.’

How to decorate a greenhouse

If you’re feeling inspired to decorate your greenhouse, the best thing about Dawn’s is that she hasn’t relied on trends to decorate hers. It looks like her own individual expression and interests, which is what the experts say you should apply to yours.

‘We spend a lot of time in our greenhouses, whether that’s tending to plants, admiring our crops or simply relaxing. Greenhouses have become an extension of our home, so it’s natural to decorate them with as much consideration as we do our indoor spaces,’ says Andrew White, sales and marketing Director at Rhino Greenhouses.

‘Adding seating such as a small bench or bistro set, soft furnishings for comfort or ornamental features such as vases, storage containers, lights all go towards giving the greenhouse more life and personality.

‘Not only does decorating a greenhouse make it an even more enjoyable place to spend time, it can help turn it into a multipurpose space, whether that’s relaxing with a drink and book, or hosting a dinner or drinks evening.’

Recently, Fred Sirieix revealed he uses his greenhouse as a hosting and dining space, so if yours is large enough, you can definitely transform it into a multipurpose space. Just remember, it can get quite warm in there!

‘My advice would be to think about how you actually want to feel when you’re in the greenhouse. If you want it to be somewhere you can sit with a cup of tea as well as tend to plants, give yourself a comfortable chair. If colour makes you happy, introduce it through pots, furniture or accessories. And don’t worry too much about making everything coordinate. Some of the most charming garden spaces are the ones that have evolved naturally over time,’ adds Francesca.

Decorate your greenhouse

If you're planning on decorating your greenhouse, add decor you'd have in your own home. This way your greenhouse will feel like an natural extension of your indoor space.

Nicknamed the cosy season, autumn and the traditional autumn colour palette are known for featuring warm and earthy shades like terracotta, burgundy, brown and earthy green, all of which you can see in the likes of the Primark autumn range. But this autumn, H&M Home and the brand’s team decided to go in a very different, monochrome direction of black and white.

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend decorating your entire whole or even one whole room in this style, the individual pieces look very stylish and expensive. I think just a vase here or a table lamp there will instantly elevate your space.

‘Whether it’s a structured linen cushion, a statement metal vase or the interplay between materials and textures – each object in this collection is designed to stand on its own, adding to a harmonious and deeply personal home,’ says Evelina Kravaev Söderberg, head of design and creative at H&M Home.

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Inspiration behind the collection

H&M Home’s autumn range references modernist design of the early 20th century which was all about clean lines and sculptural shapes. And that’s exactly what many of the pieces from this collection are, whether it’s the geometric metal floor lamp or coordinating table lamp.

The brand opted to go with a restrained colour palette in order to highlight the various materials and textures included in the collection, from marble to stainless steel and warm wood. And as we know from the queen of interiors, Kelly Hoppen, texture is the most important element in any room design and decor.

Which piece from this stylish new collection do you have your eye on?

The different heights – ground, mid-level and high-level – would usually mean that I'd need to find the best strimmer at the very least. Then there's the hedge trimmers and tree pruners to consider. Each of these tools can take up a lot of space in the shed, take some finding and blow a budget, so having this all wrapped up into one garden tool is certainly appealing.

It's battery-powered and, therefore, cordless, which means that you won't need an extension cable to power it, so I plan to see how this performs too.

Using the Multi Tool

The multi-tool is powered by two 4Ah batteries that slide onto either side of the motor at one end, with the shaft of one of three attachments secured onto the other.

The batteries took fewer than a couple of hours to fully charge. What I liked about the charger is that it isn't a charging dock but a plug with three ports for a cable: 1x USB-A and 2x USB-C. The batteries each take a USB-C cable, which is unlike any tech product I have seen before; I like it, but the jury is out if it saves any space, or saves anything for that matter.

I found the set-up to be a headache, with the instructions not making much sense to me. Fortunately, with the help of my mum, we could figure it out without any written guidance (there's no YouTube video either – fyi).

It looks like a well-balanced piece of kit with a trigger handle positioned in front of the batteries, and a handle that can be positioned anywhere along the shaft to help hold it where you're strimming, cutting or pruning. For each task, the lower shaft will slot into the upper shaft; how it feels to hold will depend on the attachment secured to the lower shaft. For example, the hedge trimmer is longer than the strimmer, which is more circular, so the weight distribution will need adjusting for comfort and performance.

Weight-wise, the hedge cutter is the heaviest at 4.85kg with both batteries in situ, whereas the pole saw is 4.6kg and the line trimmer is 4.2kg.

To operate, hold down the button on the battery to turn it on, then press the safety button before applying pressure to the trigger to start it up. I started it up before trying to trim or cut anything to check that I was comfortable with the handle positioning, because it is heavy.

Line trimmer

Our robot lawn mower cuts the majority of the lawn, but it doesn't have the turning circle to get up close to the raised vegetable patch tucked between the boundary fence and flower border, so the line trimmer attachment was a welcome tool.

It was quick to cut the grass back, and it only took a couple of passes before all the longer lengths of grass were level with the rest of the lawn. I held the trimmer by the trigger handle with one hand, and the removable telescopic handle with the other on the upper shaft, which was comfortable and well balanced.

I then turned my attention to the hedge in our front garden. I am burdened by a lilac tree that keeps growing in the hedge, despite my constant efforts to remove the roots. The tree was towering over the box hedging so there was only one thing for it; hedge cutter.

To attach, I removed the lower shaft of the trimmer from the upper shaft, and slotted in the lower shaft of the hedge cutter. It was immediately obvious that I needed to move the telescopic handle to the lower shaft to help distribute the weight - with a blade length of 420mm, the hedge cutter was making the tool feel extremely unbalanced.

Releasing the screw nut and unclipping the handle had a bit of a knack to it. The bit behind the handle needed to be folded underneath and behind it, before securing again with the screw nut. It won't be secure otherwise.

Hedge cutting

I found this multi-tool to be really heavy to lift and slide across the top of the hedge. I also struggled to cut back the side of the hedge with it.

Still, to my relief, it sliced through the tree hedge like butter. The small branches were cut clean, and any leaves caught up in the action were obliterated.

Following the same procedure of switching-up the lower shaft, I secured the pole saw. It was our unruly Hazel tree that was to get some maintenance treatment next.

Check that the teeth on the saw are not slack and, for prolong spells of use, you'll need to add chainsaw oil, like this Castrol Garden Chain Oil (£13.09 from Amazon), to the 120ml oil tank to keep the chain lubricated.

Pole saw

Again, it sliced through thicker tree branches with no sweat. I had the handle positioned on the lower shaft whilst I had my hand on the trigger at the other end of the tool for comfortable positioning.

I found it to be long enough to reach higher branches from the ground, and it made the job of tree pruning lighter work because it required little effort on my part.

The Webb WEV20X2MTB4X 40V Top-Mounted Brushless Multi-Tool also comes with a brushcutter attachment which fits onto the line trimmer. I do not have a dense patch of weeds, or a suitable space, to try this out but going by the performance of the other attachments I'm sure that it'll excel.

Noise levels were consistently loud on all attachments; it bounced around 90dB on the decibel meter reading app downloaded to my phone which is equivalent to a petrol lawn mower.

Verdict? Overall the performance of this kit was brilliant with all grass, hedging and trees cut as intended. That said, I found it tricky to set up and you'll need to find space in the shed to carefully store the separate shaft attachments.

If you don't already own a strimmer, hedge cutter, brush cutter and pole saw, and you have a need for owning all four of these tools, then it'll be worth the investment for sure. It costs £249.99 which is not loads more than what a strimmer, hedge cutter and saw would cost if you were to buy them individually, so it'll save you money.

Alternatively, just owning one tool for what you need, such as a line trimmer, may be a more viable option for your gardening needs.

Alternatives

If a multi tool isn't quite what you're looking for, we have a few alternatives you can shop.

Will you be making the switch to a multi tool? Or do you prefer to have separate tools for all the gardening jobs? Let us know.

Celebrities have provided no shortage of water feature ideas this summer, so if you’ve been wanting to learn how to make a water feature, Instagram really has proved itself as a hotspot for how-tos and DIY inspiration.

But while the flavour of the month has centred on solar fountains, Monty’s tranquillity pond is a little more peaceful, and garden experts say it’s a brilliant idea if you want to make your garden more relaxing.

It was only recently that I spotted Martin and Shirlie Kemp’s stunning water feature and wondered if it was the best celebrity example of the summer. But having now seen Monty’s, I think he’s giving them a run for their money.

Positioned in between two flower beds in the Paradise Garden, Monty’s water feature is simply breathtaking. It’s simple in design, yet could equally have stepped out of a fairy tale.

‘It doesn’t feel as though a water feature has simply been dropped into the garden. It sits within the planting, so the edges feel softened and the pond becomes part of the landscape,' comments Blanca Sanchez, director of Halo Design Interiors.. 'I much prefer a pond where plants come close to the water and slightly blur its outline to one surrounded by a hard border because it just makes it feel a bit too contained. Monty’s has an established quality where you notice the water, but you also feel as though it belongs where it is.'

Why you should consider a tranquillity pond

If you’ve been thinking about putting your garden pond ideas into practice, I’m pleased to tell you that tranquillity ponds offer several benefits, from being wildlife-friendly to offering sensory benefits to you and your household.

‘Listening to moving water can lower cortisol levels and calm your nervous system, and trickling water can act as a natural sound barrier against traffic noise or noise from neighbours. Watching the ripples of the water can also encourage mindfulness,’ says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.

‘Having any kind of pond in your garden will encourage wildlife like birds and frogs to visit the area for food and drinking. As the water evaporates, it cools hot areas and adds humidity to the garden, which can stop the soil of nearby plants from drying out.

Plus, when positioned in front of your flower beds, as Monty has done, you get a beautiful reflection of your flowers. Just think of it as double the blooms! This can even be achieved with a well-positioned micro pond, making this an equally effective small garden idea, too.

How to DIY a tranquillity pond

Of course, if you want to add a tranquillity pond to your garden, you can always buy one. I’ve seen a pond similar to Monty’s for £109 at B&Q. However, if you love DIY products, experts say it is possible to make your own.

‘You can easily create a mini-pond using a container, and line the container with a pond liner if it is not watertight. Add a layer of gravel or rocks to the container, using stones or logs to create varying depths or points where wildlife can climb in and out,’ says Richard.

'When filling a pond, it is best to use rainwater to avoid the chemicals used to treat tapwater. After the pond is full, you can then add plants around it, or include a pump or filter to make the water trickle.'

Get the look

Has Monty won you over with his simple yet serene tranquillity pond?