Ideal Home |
- 10 extension ideas for semi-detached houses – single and double storey transformations
- Best blenders 2021 – for smoothies, ice, and even hot soup
- Experts reveal the popular home decor trends that could be causing your headaches
- Alert! This double hanging egg chair is on sale at QVC with £75 off – until Sunday...
- Best air purifier – improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergens
- DIY toolbox BBQ – how to make your own portable grill for outdoor entertaining
- See how a DIY fan saved £100s on garden decking by using an old industrial pallet
| 10 extension ideas for semi-detached houses – single and double storey transformations Posted: 30 Apr 2021 12:06 PM PDT Thinking of expanding your living space? Consider these extension ideas for semi-detached houses to see how best to convert your home, to add both space and value to the property. With a semi-detached property it’s especially important to be mindful of the neighbours, because their house is attached to yours.
‘For many of our clients, one of their biggest concerns as they look to undergo an extension on their homes, is the impact this process is going to have on their neighbours,’ says Ana Delgado at Structural Repairs .’Home extensions are known to be quite invasive, not only with on-site disruptions, unsightly excavation processes, noisy commotions and lengthy timelines, but also in regard to the end results.’ ‘However, there are certain preventative actions which can be advised as a means to minimise home extension disruptions. Making them as neighbour friendly as possible!’ First and foremost ensure the work you are conducting is classed as part of your ‘permitted development rights’. Or if not, make sure you apply and have your plans approved to legally comply with regulations. Our guide to building an extension on a house – will explain the basics of what to do, where to start and planning permission. Or read on for inspiration as you start the extension process. Extension ideas for semi-detached houses1. Dig deep for a basement extension Image credit: Rachael Smith Add an extra floor, without altering the exterior by going into the basement. But be mindful of the works involved. ‘Basement kitchen convesions and excavations take a lot longer than regular extensions, as the excavation process is a slow and steady phase of the build’ warns Rob Wood at Simply Extend. ‘A basement conversion build process takes around five months, unlike a typical house extension which takes between 8-12 weeks.’ It will also most likely requires planning permission, although Rob does add, ‘Occasionally, if your basement does not have a lighting well and is a small project, it may fit within permitted development restrictions and not need planning permission.’ But it’s imperative to check before you set your heart on carrying out the work. Check the 2. Extend up and out Image credit: Tom Meadows Many semi-detached properties will still offer the opportunity to extend to the back. But you may be lucky enough to have land to the side of the property that you can build into, as seen here. If that’s the case, and the extension will be viewed from the front of the property, it’s important to match the brickwork and other features, such as windows and roof tiles. Local planners will be far stricter with alterations that can been seen from the front, and more likely to want them to be in keeping with what’s already there. If that doesn’t give you enough space, look to the loft to add a subtle dormer extension to the back – our attic bedroom ideas show what’s possible. 3. Steal space from the garden Image credit: David Still This neat one-storey extension is one of the most affordable ways to extend. Plus, it offers more privacy than a longer stretch of bi-folds running the full length of the property. If you can afford to steal that little bit of space from the garden, it’s a surprisingly cost-effective way to get more room. We also love how spotlights have been incorporated under the window, for extra outdoor wall lighting. 4. Create a viewing room Image credit: Cece Wilden Open up the back of the property with a thoughtful extension which uses large glass windows to create a viewing room. This extension creates vast amounts of extra space for the main living room but additionally it welcomes volumes of light thanks to the glass panel walls within the corrugated steel-box extension. When you are extending to the rear of a property, it’s often possible to create an extension that contrasts with your existing home. In fact planners seem increasingly approving of this approach – though always check in your area. The juxtaposition of styles tells its own story of the history of your home. 5. Extend the aesthetic
 Image credit: Tom Meadows Create a harmonious exterior with an extension built from reclaimed bricks that match the original property. It may be more expensive, but keeping the aesthetic consistant will help the new space blend seamlessly into the rest of the house – and keep the local planning office happy! Though the steel-framed bifold doors contrast with the sash windows above, they still blend with the roof tiles and guttering, so don’t feel out of place.
6. Think about access Image credit: Alistair Nicholls One thing to consider when extending a semi-detached or terraced house is access. Building out to the side may involve losing a side door. But it’s not practical to have to open up bi-folds whenever you want to access your garden. That’s why we love this clever design. A large stretch of glass runs across and around the corner of the building. Not only does this create a seamless link between inside and out, it also allows the owners to just open the side glass door if they need to slip out quickly. It’s the perfect blend of practical and stylish. 7. Run a light well along the side return Image credit: Chris Snook This extension takes two directions to really get the most light possible into this home. the side return has been filled with a light well, with a floor-to-ceiling window and glass roof. But by not bringing it in line with the back extension, the owners have been careful to ensure that plenty of natural light is still being pulled into the centre of the house. Colour-matched stone has been used indoors and for the patio area for a seamless blending of the spaces. See our patio ideas for more ways to work your garden paving. 8. Stretch across into the garden Image credit: Darren Chung A sympathetic extension doesn’t have to simply mean one that matches your existing property. It can be used to describe ways to unite old with new in a harmonious way. This modern extension sits on the back of this period semi-detached brick house at ease thanks to its earthy panelled exterior and picturesque living roof. The side of the extension features retractable glass doors to allow a natural transition from indoor to outdoor. And consider your neighbours – this living roof provides something pleasant to look at from their perspective, as well as yours. 9. Pop on a porch Image credit: Lizzie Orme If your front door is located at the side of your semi-detached property it may run straight into a main living area, most likely a living room. Adding a porch extension makeS the entrance a separate space. This will give you more options when it comes to positioning furniture in the adjacent room and make it feel like less of a corridor or dumping ground. 10. Extend into the side return Image credit: Velux Often the first and most obvious option in a Victorian semi, use a side return to enlarge the kitchen space and create an open-plan living area or add a utility room of dreams. Of course, this may mean it’s tricky to add windows to the side of the house if you are close to neighbouring houses, so bring in the light with roof windows like these from Velux. Where should you start when planning to extend a semi-detached house?Before you start planning an extension, of any kind, it’s important to really think and visualise what you want from the new space you are creating – and how you’ll use it. Design expert Rob Wood at Simply Extend says to consider ‘Do you need a larger kitchen? Do you want an extra living area? This will help guide the type of extension you need, and how you will design the new floorplan.’ How much can you extend a semi-detached house?‘If you do not live in a conservation area, and you live in a house not a flat, you can extend from the rear of the property by 4m into your garden space,’ advises Rob. Is it worth extending a semi-detached house?A home extension on any type of property is always a worthwhile investment because it can increase its value significantly. This, of course, applies to semi-detached houses. ‘There are also more options for most semi-detached houses,’ explains Rob. Pointing out that with a semi-detached house you have the benefit of ‘being able to have side return and wrap-around extensions.’
Can I build a two storey extension on semi-detached house?‘In some occasions you can, but planning permission will be required from your local council’ advises Rob. ‘If the design is too imposing, the planning department may push back and refuse permission or you may need to alter your plans.’ Talk your plans through with an architect who will be able to advise on the most common design problems associated with semi-detached extensions. The post 10 extension ideas for semi-detached houses – single and double storey transformations appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Best blenders 2021 – for smoothies, ice, and even hot soup Posted: 30 Apr 2021 08:30 AM PDT The best blender will blitz up personal smoothies and shakes or pulverize soups in seconds. There are plenty to choose from, too, which is where our blender reviews come in handy. In this guide you’ll find ten tried and tested blenders recommended by our team, at a variety of prices and sizes.
From the coveted Vitamix and KitchenAid to a more affordable Nutribullet or Ninja blender, the best blender for you should have the right functions and capacity for every need. It pays to opt for a multi-functional model; one that can be used as a blender food processor combo or with interchangeable personal and family-sized attachments. We’ve included blender reviews of all that and more in this guide, to make your choice easier than ever. Why do I need a blender?There's just so much you can make with a blender, kitchen essential, just like their culinary cousin, the stand mixer. As well as the obvious smoothies and soups, you can create dips, spreads, sauces, milkshakes, nut butters and pestos. Those with a sweet tooth can quickly whip up brownie mixture, mousses, waffle batter, sorbets and ice cream. A versatile blender can take you through from breakfast to dinner, and from spring to winter, mixing, blitzing, milling and whipping. Importantly, it will save you time and mess in the kitchen. How much should I spend on a blender?How much you spend depends on what you want your blender to be able to do. The good news is that if you're on a tight budget, you can find a decent, basic blender for under £50. Its motor may have less power than more expensive models and the features will be limited – but it should still be able to handle everyday tasks. Spend more than £100 and you'll get a better choice of attachments and extra blades, usually a glass jug or a thermally resistant plastic one, and more choice of speeds and programmes. At the other end of the scale are premium blenders that have evolved from those found in professional kitchens. These blenders will be far more powerful, sometimes enough to gently heat the contents. These blenders frequently come with a price tag upwards of £500. Best blenders 20211. Vitamix A2300i blenderBest blender overall
Type: Plastic The Ascent 2300i can be used to make your own butter (no churning by hand, yet all of the wow factor at your next dinner party), dips, nut butters, mayonnaise, non-dairy milks, hot soup from scratch without a pan in sight, bread and pasta dough, wholegrain flours, baby food and frozen desserts – essentially, almost anything you could make in a food processor. To which end, it's built with a more durable construction than you'd expect your average blender to have. There's a large base to find space for in your kitchen, plus a two-litre plastic jug with a wide spout that manages to be both lightweight yet sturdy and a secure push-on lid that prevents leaks. And while there aren't any programmes, the Ascent 2300i doesn't lack options – 10 speeds plus a pulse button mean you can scroll between gentle liquefying and pulverisation. Other points of difference are a comprehensive recipe book, a tamper to nudge frozen ingredients towards its blades and an on-off switch so it's not accidentally flicked into life. In testing, it made a smoothie that was completely lump and fleck-free in about a minute, staying steady on the worktop even at the highest speed. Its count-up timer on the front came in especially handy for keeping an eye on blending times. Similarly, it took a minute to blend cooked ingredients into smooth soup and 6 mins 30 to blend and heat using the friction of its blades. A few pulses were all that was required to crush ice, and it cleaned easily after messy jobs by using water and washing-up liquid, with the mixture even reaching the lid for a thorough clean. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 2. NutriBullet RxBest blender for smoothies
Type: Plastic carafe/cups Fans of the original Nutribullet looking to upgrade to something with more oomph will love the Rx. While some bullet blenders can leave behind flecks (of leafy greens, for example) the Rx uses its 2.3hp/1700W motor to create a flawlessly smooth consistency. Inside its blade unit, you'll find four angled blades that screw into an oversized or short cup for smoothies or its Souperblast pitcher. This comes with a vented lid, so you can use a special programme to blitz veggies into hot soup in only seven minutes. There's no on or off button or speed settings. The Rx adjusts automatically to the contents and for the right amount of time – just drop the cup onto the base. In tests, it effortlessly blitzed smoothies using seeds and nuts. It easily tackled black treacle and broccoli too, all of which were thoroughly blended. This super blender then made piping hot soup from vegetables and pre-made stock. It's worth noting that it won't brown ingredients, so some may need cooking beforehand. It was also used to blend creamy nut butter from almonds and oil. One downside is that the blades aren't dishwasher-safe, so you'll need to clean out any residue by hand. Also, the cups are bulky to drink from directly and the kit it comes with doesn't have an obvious way to stack it for storage. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 3. Ninja 2-in-1 Blender with Auto-IQ BN750UKBest blender for froth-free smoothies  Image credit: Ninja Type: Plastic Powerful blenders can turn tough fruit and veg into yummy smoothies but all that whizzing makes for a foamy drink. Enter the vacuum pump – designed to suck the air out of the jug or cups before the high-speed action begins. This incorporates fewer bubbles in the process, so you can pour out a silky-smooth beverage. The other benefit of using a vacuum is better colour retention (so the green doesn't turn to sludge brown as quickly). And, unlike some vacuum-compatible blenders, Ninja's Smart Screen Blender comes with the pump and enough batteries to run it. It's not just the vacuum pump that makes this a good buy for smoothie fans either. Concealed within the base unit is an 1100W motor, which gives the stacked six-blade assembly of the jug enough power for its smoothie, purée, frozen drink or ice cream programmes. You can also blend smoothies directly in a pair of on-the-go cups using a screw-in blade tool, and there are high, low and pulse speed options. What we especially liked about the Smart Screen Blender was its sleek buttonless control panel: it was easy to wipe it clean, with nowhere for mess to hide, and when the machine was off, it was completely blank. Its performance was also good – our smoothies only had small flecks of spinach and berries remaining and had a bright, vivid colour. Blending them was very loud but only took just over a minute. However, the vacuum process adds on about another 20 seconds for the cups and a minute for the jug, so may not be suitable for busy mornings. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars 4. Sage Super QBest quiet blender
Type: Plastic carafe and cup Putting off making your morning smoothie for fear of waking the whole household, or even the neighbours? The Super Q is here to save the day. While blending is never going to be a quiet activity, this speedy, commercial-grade machine does its best to dampen the usual racket, and, importantly, the sound it does make is less of a jarring whine – because it's often the pitch that's a blender bugbear as much as the volume. However, it's not just noise suppression that makes this blender an asset – it's also the breadth of programmes, versatility and efficiency. In the box you'll find a good-sized two-litre jug with a lid that clips firmly into place, a 700ml cup with removable blades and a lid that you can use to blend shakes or smoothies, tamper, spatula, and a sleek silver base unit. The controls are devilishly simple to get the hang of – there are five programmes at the push of a button, such as green smoothie, frozen dessert or soup (designed to heat up ingredients rather than blend already hot soup), plus a manual dial for ramping up through 12 speed settings and an LCD screen showing count up or count down times. What's especially clever though, is that the jug is compatible with the separate Vac Q pump, which enables you to suck the air out before blending. In our tests, this resulted in far less froth in a fruit and veg smoothie and noticeably velvety butternut squash soup, heated in less than six minutes (although this was noisy). A final reason to love it is its frozen food and ice-crushing abilities – it transformed cubes into snow in about 30 seconds (the programme lasts a minute), which was easily scraped out. The only downside is the price – but if other blenders are leaving you disappointed or deafened, the Super Q is a superhero solution. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 5. Magimix Power BlenderBest blender for one-touch programmes
Type: Glass How much blending is too much? If you're the sort of person who feels like you're always second-guessing your appliance or over-processing, meet the Power Blender. It comes with five auto programmes (one of which is a time-saving self-cleaning setting) that help take the effort out of blitzing ice, smoothies, desserts and soups, alongside four speeds plus pulse for when you want more control. On the design front, it's everything you'd expect from Magimix – clearly labelled buttons and a dial, a choice of three classic finishes, easy drop-on jug, and a good balance between sturdy and stylish. However, there are some quirks to be aware of, such as 1.8-litre glass jug. It's heavy even without anything in it, so pouring out accurately can be tricky. The push-on, pull-off lid can also be stubborn at first, and there's a max run time of a minute. Beyond this, there's a lot to love – the jug splits apart for cleaning, it's all dishwasher-safe and you can blend soup that's still relatively hot (up to 60 degrees C) so you don't have to wait long after cooking. Its smoothie programme, which was a gradual ramping up of speed, followed by low then high, took about 30 seconds to whiz through a fruit and veg smoothie. There was no trace of leafy greens left and the blend was beautifully consistent. Its cleaning programme using warm water and washing-up liquid left the jug spotless with some residue remaining around the lid. It also crushed ice into snow in seconds while its auto programme turned hot chunky vegetable broth into silky smooth soup in just over a minute. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars 6. Smeg BLF01 50s blenderBest looking blender with smart features
Type: Aluminium With a die-cast aluminium body and six lovely colours to choose from, you won’t want to remove the Smeg BLF01 50s blender from your kitchen counter. We were impressed with just how smooth it left our drinks, even when they had ice and frozen blocks of spinach; a notoriously tricky ingredient. The soup had an almost whipped consistency because of how well the blender broke through tomato skins and peppers to incorporate, but Smeg does recommend waiting until your soup has cooled before blending, which is a shame. The jug doesn’t need to be screwed in: just slot it into the base and select your setting. The Smeg BLF01 50s blender may have a retro style but the build is all modern. It features a pulse setting and numerous preset modes, including a button for blitzing ice. You only get the 1.5 litre tritan jug with this one, so it’s not the most versatile. For pairing with a toaster or kettle though, the look really does impress. It also felt incredibly powerful and not too loud, which given the 800 watt motor was a surprise. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 7. Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UKBest personal blender
Type: Personal If you’re looking for the best blender for smoothies, it’s a good idea to consider a personal blender. Personal blenders are designed for taking drinks on the go, and can blitz up ice, frozen fruit and protein powder into smooth and creamy drinks. The Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK is a smart choice. It has two smart settings that use Auto-IQ to tackle even the toughest ingredients – as we learned in our Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK review, it can chop through chunks of frozen spinach, banana, and ice to make thick milkshakes and creamy smoothies. Personal blenders are far from versatile. This option comes with two 700ml cups that have lids for taking on the go, but nothing larger for blending family-sized dishes. What they do offer though is some seriously high powered blending power, and a smaller footprint for your kitchen counter. We loved this model when we put it to the test, so if you’re after a personal blender, take a look. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars 8. Philips HR3652Best blender for smoothies and soups
Type: Glass Most of us could probably do with eating more fruit and veg. Proven to motivate you into upping your five-a-day is the 1,400W Avance blender, which will turn unpalatable vegetables into smoothies and soups with ease. Its makers claim it produces 50% finer blending than a previous model – which is great news for the fruit and veg-phobic. For its price, it brings a lot to the table. This blender has a two-litre glass jar with 1.5-litre working capacity, 13 speeds plus pulse, two one-minute programmes for smoothies and ice crushing. It has cable storage and a spatula that inserts through the lid to move contents around. The manual speeds are only marked min to max without numbers between, so it's more difficult to reproduce a recipe if you've already found the perfect setting. It also can't be used for more than three minutes at a time. In tests, it turned a couple of handfuls of ice cubes into snow and made a fruit and veg smoothie, both using the dedicated programmes. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 9. Cookworks 1.5L Jug BlenderBest basic blender
Type: Plastic Proving that affordable doesn't mean having to make too many compromises, this basic blender should prove to be a hard worker in your kitchen. Plus points include three speeds with a pulse for more control over blitzing. Where you will have to compromise is that it's not dishwasher safe – and getting the blades spotless by hand means you'll have to be careful – and blending soups. Even though the jug is made from plastic, the lid isn't vented, meaning any soup will have to cool to room temperature before blitzing. There's also a maximum run time of a minute, which could limit your blending horizons, and no guidance as to what speed to use for different foods. One other concern is the flat base of the blender, which sometimes made it tricky to seat on the base without trapping fingers. In testing, we found that our fruit and veg smoothie wasn't as consistent as the same recipe made in other models. As well as noticeable texture, there were visible pieces of fruit skin and leaves after a minute of blending on top speed. This may be because during blending, the vortex wasn't quite strong enough to suck the contents on the surface down towards the blades. Ice crushing using the pulse also took longer than expected, about 30 presses of the button, and some larger shards remained at the end. That said, given the good performance with other tasks, such as batter and cooled soup, it's still an excellent option for those on a limited budget. Ideal Home's rating: 3 out of 5 stars 10. KitchenAid Artisan Power Plus Blender 5KSB8270Best blender for power
Type: Plastic If the smoothest of smoothies is a priority, the KitchenAid Artisan Power Plus Blender 5KSB8270 will deliver. Equipped with a peak 3.5hp motor and billed as the most powerful blender available, it liquefies everything from frozen fruit to nuts and grains. There's a choice of 11 speeds plus high or low pulse and three programmes for juice, smoothies and soups, plus a self-cleaning option. Its 2.6-litre blender jug is superbly designed – made from BPA-free dishwasher-safe plastic, it has a dual-wall construction so the exterior doesn't become hot even when it's heating soup. Inside the blender are four heavy duty 3mm-thick angled blades. On top, a vented lid lets out steam, while a tamper comes in handy for solid food. The blender power cable also detaches for storage. Available in three glossy shades, the Artisan Power Plus blender is beautifully designed and rightly so – at 9.4kg, lifting it in and out of a cupboard would be a chore. It's more of an investment than your average blender, so you'd need to get lots of use out of it to justify the cost. It’s also an exceptionally noisy blender – anything over speed 7 may have you fleeing the kitchen. However, in tests, it gave a peerless performance with smoothies, soup and ice. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars How to buy the right blender for you Image credit: Vitamix 1. Check how powerful your blender isThe wattage can work as a guide but higher doesn't always mean a better blender. Take into account additional features that it uses to process food thoroughly, such as jug and blade design. A blender's power can sometimes be displayed in horsepower (746W = 1hp) instead of watts. While basic liquidisers sufficed with two blades, most modern jug blenders will have at least four, sometimes with mini blades nestled around the stack. They're usually angled, which helps them to whisk up pieces from the bottom of the jug and create a vortex to drag blender contents down from the top. 2. Check blender settings and speedsBasic models tend to have just a few speeds while more feature-packed models will have several. Both will usually feature a pulse option for quick bursts of speed. You can also find blenders with programmes for blitzing specific foods, such as soup, ice crushing, smoothie, pureé and frozen desserts. A cleaning programme is another handy option, allowing you to clean the jug in-situ by running it filled with water and washing-up liquid.
3. Check blender materialsThe blender jug itself will be made from either glass or plastic. Glass tends to be sturdier and less likely to become scratched but a good quality BPA-free plastic, such as Tritan, is a smart choice. This is because it's strong yet lighter than glass, which can make all the difference if you're lifting a heavy jug of soup. Jugs vary in total capacity and working capacity (ie how much they can safely blend without the contents trying to escape). This is usually lower for hot liquids. A 1.6-litre jug should cover most everyday blending but to be able to get the most of out of your blender, look for around two litres. 4. Check blender practicalityLook for blender jugs that have two-part lids, too, so you can add food or liquid as it blends. This is ideal for making sauces that can easily split, such as mayonnaise, or when processing hot food, so steam can be released. 5. Check for extrasThe lids may include small measuring cups. Some blenders have additional milling and grinding blades (which can be used for seeds, nuts and sometimes coffee beans), mini containers for mincing smaller amounts of food, personal blender cups and even food processor bowls. Another useful blender accessory is a tamper. This fits through the lid of the blender so you can move solid chunks of food, such as frozen fruit, towards the blades. What other key questions do I need to ask about blenders?
Are blenders easy to clean?You'll get more use out of a blender that's easy to clean, so look for those where all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Some blender jugs will split apart so that the blades can be safely cleaned separately and more thoroughly. If the jug has fixed blades, it can be difficult to clean around them by hand, so always use a brush. Are blender noisy?All blenders will be noisy, though some more than most. The pitch can differ from blender to blender, too, meaning that some noises, while not louder, are more annoying than others. If possible, try before you buy. Will my small kitchen accommodate a blender?Blender cables can be substantial, so look for machines with built-in storage to prevent the flex getting out of hand. Unless you're buying a machine that you're happy to have on display on the worktop, your blender will probably live in a cupboard. If so, choose one that can be easily dismantled, is light enough for you to lift in and out and won't take up too much storage room. The post Best blenders 2021 – for smoothies, ice, and even hot soup appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Experts reveal the popular home decor trends that could be causing your headaches Posted: 30 Apr 2021 04:00 AM PDT If you’re struggling to work out why you can’t seem to shake off those ferocious daily headaches, your home decor could be to blame.
Have you spent lockdown getting creative and producing unique, striking schemes in your home? You’re not alone, as bold patterns, motifs, murals and paint effects have never been more popular. However, as much as we applaud and encourage this creativity, it seems there could be a drawback to being so brave with your decor choices. According to a new study carried out by HomeHow.co.uk, research suggests that vivid patterns, such as monochrome stripes, may be the cause of many headaches and migraines. Surprised? So were we!  Image credit: Paola Roder Designs In the last year, Google searches for headaches and migraines have increased by nearly 50% – which, if this is true, could be attributed to the fact that so many of us have spent much more time at home and have been seeing our (busy) interiors 24/7. Keen to get to the bottom of it, a group of researchers from the American Headache Society discovered that certain patterns could make those looking at them feel physically ill. They asked a range of people to view a selection of pictures containing stripes and conflicting colours (shown below), and then asked how each one made them feel. The images with the strongest contrasting colours were found to have the biggest effect on participants, and even those with simple stripe patterns caused headaches.  Image credit: Homehow.co.uk So, why is this? Well, it seems the brain can become overstimulated with extreme patterns that don't exist in the natural world, and as our minds struggle to process the images of unnatural tones and busy designs together, a headache can occur. We don’t know if this is true of everyone, but if you do suffer from headaches and you have lots of bold patterns in your home, it could be worth looking at ways you can tone them down. Ways to soften your decor Image credit: Interior Curve If you love pattern and colour, introduce slightly wavy lines to make it easier on your brain. Or, try breaking up the pattern with a frame or two. Try and steer away from extreme contrasting lines of block colour and change the size of stripes, and the distance between each, to make the decor more 'natural'. Lastly, avoid stark colour clashes like black and white, blue and black, or red and blue.
We’d love to know if you’ve found your decor has been causing you headaches – and whether you’ve found a way to combat that. The post Experts reveal the popular home decor trends that could be causing your headaches appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Alert! This double hanging egg chair is on sale at QVC with £75 off – until Sunday... Posted: 30 Apr 2021 04:00 AM PDT Hanging egg chairs are so in right now, so much so that everyone who is anyone is buying one – if they can find one in stock, that is. If you are searching for an egg chair for your garden so that you can catch some sun in style – and comfortably – then this one we spotted at QVC shouldn’t go amiss. Especially since this is a double hanging egg chair, so it has enough space for two people to sit and swing, and even more so because it’s on sale with a lovely £75 off. Just in time for the bank holiday weekend… The Innovators Folding Double Cocoon Chair is on sale for £449.94 instead of £525 ahead of its pre-launch, so this price will change on Sunday 1st of May. This hanging egg chair comes in two colourways so as to match your garden decor, while it’s perfect for placing on a decking, patio or even grass. It’s large enough to make a statement, while comfortable enough for you to WFH in style, Wi-Fi permitting of course. The cosy plush cushions come included and it also comes in a single size which is better suited for teeny gardens and smaller budgets – you can read more on the single version below.
Keep scrolling for everything we know about this double hanging egg chair from QVC, and to buy one before they sell out. We have a feeling you might regret it if you miss this saving! Innovators Folding Double Cocoon Chair – what else do we know? Image credit: QVC  Innovators Folding Double Cocoon Chair | Was £525, now £449.94 at QVC Smaller garden? Go for the single size QVC hanging egg chair… Image credit: QVC  Innovators Holly Folding Cocoon Chair | £259.50 at QVC
Will you be adding a hanging egg chair to your garden this summer? We certainly hope so! The post Alert! This double hanging egg chair is on sale at QVC with £75 off – until Sunday... appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Best air purifier – improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergens Posted: 30 Apr 2021 03:30 AM PDT Many people are waking up to the fact that the air quality in our homes can be very poor. This not only opens up to extreme symptoms during allergy season, but also to ill-effects from excess dust and pollution that enters our space. Having an air purifier in the home can therefore make a massive difference. Research has shown that the air we breathe every day is often worse than that outdoors on all but the most polluted streets. Particles from traffic fumes, pollen and more are pulled in as we enter the front door or open a window and there often isn't enough ventilation to remove them. The chemicals in cleaning products, fresh paint, new furniture, cooking fumes, dust and other nasties only add to the problem. You may think regular cleaning and vacuuming keeps the problem of bad air at bay, but this alone can't deal with anything smaller than dust particles. A dedicated air purifier will thoroughly clean the air and, if you pick a good one that's the right size for the room, you'll really notice the difference. Read on to find out how to choose the best air purifier for your space.
The best rated air purifiers 20211. Blueair Blue 3210Best home air purifier overall  Credit: Blueair Room size: 17m2 Reasons to buy: Lovely, small design; Interchangeable coloured pre-filter sleeves; Quiet Blueair has become a true leader in the air purifier space, and the Blue 3210 has a lot of the same great features but with a serious upgrade in terms of style. Simpler than other high-tech air purifiers with a 'plug and go' system, it's also whisper-quiet and whirs into action as soon as unwanted particles enter the space. Without an app, you can control the purifier with a single touch control on the top of the device. Modes include Auto (which we used the most), Night, Everyday and Boost. The Night mode turns the fan speed down to its lowest setting, but in our experience it is quiet enough on Auto to sleep through. The Blueair Blue 3210 comes with a choice of sleeves that serve the dual purpose of pre-filter and a way to fit your device to your personal style. The colours include dark grey, light grey, pink, green and blue. We tested with the pink (Archipelago Sand) and green (Aurora Light) variations, and they look as lovely in real life as they do in images. Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 2. Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier Credit: Levoit Room size: 40m2 Reasons to buy: Very quiet on lowest settings, eco-friendly, sleep mode An affordable but high-performing option, the Levoit Core 300 is a low-maintenance device that is capable of cleaning a room up to 40m2. The HEPA H13 filter does a brilliant job of clearing 99.97% of pollutants from the air, from dust to smells and pet hair, and it does it without making a huge amount of noise. It’s true that the Dimplex DXAPV3N listed below is even cheaper than the Levoit offering, it can still be considered a budget option for those who just want something that will clear their living area or kitchen. It’s easy to use, too, with user-friendly controls on the top of the machine and a simple design that makes checking the filter (and replacing it) a doddle. We also really like how the Levoit Core 300 looks, combining the white cylinder design that’s common in the air purifier world with a more design-friendly minimalism. The size also makes it easy to tuck away in a corner or under a desk if you don’t want it to be a focal point. Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars 3. Philips Series 3000i AC3829/60Best portable air purifier
Weight: 8.42 kg Reasons to buy: Doubles as a humidifier. Track, monitor and control it with the Air Matters app Admittedly it's the only air purifier here on wheels, but they are handy. The Philips is a similar size to the Blueair 480i and again has an industrial look and feel: like a home aircon unit or a large fan, humidifier or dehumidifier. In fact, the Philips is also a humidifier. It looks curvier and cuter than the Blueair but there's a grille on the top, so you can't put things on there. It's on castors, which makes it much easier to move around – from room to room or just moving it out of the way when you're vacuuming. Again it's Wi-Fi and app connected, giving you remote control, air quality monitoring, child lock, a sleep timer of 1-12 hours and more. Noise is rated at 64dB but that's clearly at the highest of the four fan speeds: on the lowest speed you can't hear it. The auto mode is great, so it's only loud when necessary. The Philips is billed as suitable for a room size of up to 80m², which is large. There's no figure given for how many air changes per hour. However, it does say: "In a room of 20 m², it can purify the air in less than 10 minutes, so the air gets cleaned more than 6.5 times an hour." It uses dual filters: HEPA and activated carbon pellets. CADR is given as 310m³/h and humidification 600ml/h. We didn't use the humidifier while testing air quality. In our test in a large room it removed 87 per cent of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in an hour, which is good, but not as good as the Blueair 480i's performance in the same room. It's a pretty good workhorse for large spaces. Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars 4. Dyson Pure Cool MeBest purifying fan
Weight: 2.8kg Reasons to buy: Dyson’s engineering ensures clean, filtered air The industrial design is similar to Dyson's larger Air Multiplier fans, but they don't filter all the air: air that passes through the machine's fan is filtered but then the clever design multiplies that air by pulling more (unfiltered) air along with it. The design is cute. It measures 401 x 254 x 274mm. You choose the angle of airflow up and down manually with your hand but there's a small remote control for everything else. This attaches magnetically to the front when not in use. You're a bit lost without it: only able to turn the fan on and off. With the remote you can choose fan level (0-10), oscillation (off or 70 degrees), sleep timer (30 mins to 8 hours) and see how much life the filter has left. There is a filter change alert and its life is given as a year if used 12 hours a day. It uses an activated carbon and glass HEPA filter and noise is 44-61dB. Unsurprisingly, it sounds like a fan. We tested the Dyson just like the others, to see what impact it had on air quality in an average-sized bedroom. The results weren't terrible: it removed 67 per cent of PM2.5 and 79 per cent of PM10 particles in an hour. This means that despite not setting out to purify the air in the whole room, it does a better job of it than some. The focussed beam of air is pleasant and cooling in the summer. So if you're in the market for a fan anyway, and your budget stretches to the Dyson, it's a good buy. It would be lovely on a bedside table or desk in the summer. But if your priority is air purification then you can get something better for much less. Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars 5. Dimplex DXAPV3NBest budget air purifier
Weight: 1.4kg Reasons to buy: It’s on a discount right now, so great if you’re on a budget If you're on a really tight budget, this slim air purifier is better than no air purifier at all. It's the size of a cookbook stood upright (333 x 248 x 133mm) so doesn't take up much space on a bedside table. The control is simply a lever on the right-hand side that chooses between the two speeds and off. Noise levels are 40-50dB. On both settings it sounds like a fan but it's a white noise you could easily ignore and go to sleep with. Filter life is quoted as 2,000 hours of use but there's no filter change indicator. Filtration is HEPA and carbon but the size of the filter is small compared with others on test, so it's surprising that it claims to be suitable for a room measuring up to 28m². The technical data reveals that this is based on 1.75 air changes per hour. So if you want 5 air changes per hour, your room would have to be just under 10m², which sounds more realistic. CADRs for smoke, pollen and dust are 80, 89 and 79m³/h, much lower than others on test. These were borne out by the test results. It removed 57 per cent of PM2.5 and 66 per cent of PM10 particles in an hour. This makes it the least effective air purifier on test but it's also by far the cheapest. If you have a small bedroom then using the Dimplex would improve air quality. But we'd recommend the Blueair 411 as well worth the extra expense. Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars
How to choose the best air purifier Credit: Levoit Do air purifiers really work?Yes. Read the reviews because some are better than others and you should pick the right machine for your room size. But yes, they remove everything from dust to very fine particles from the air, quietly and invisibly. In the summer, opening doors and windows for ventilation is a great way to improve indoor air quality – unless you live on a really congested road. But in colder months an air purifier is just the ticket. What is an air purifier good for?Improving indoor air quality is beneficial for anyone. Given a choice between walking down a polluted main road or a side road next to a park, you'd pick the latter every time. Indoor air quality is under threat from wafted-in pollutants, allergens, dust particles, candles, open fires, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products and "off-gassing". This is a process where VOCs are released from paints and plastics for years. So using an air purifier is like taking the leafy side of the road. They can be especially helpful if anyone in the family has asthma or allergies. Where should I place my air purifier? Image credit: Dyson
The machine cleans and circulates all the air in the room. So the only thing that matters is not to place it too close to the wall or furniture. You want 10cm around it on all sides to guarantee airflow in and out of the air purifier. Room-wise, if you pick one room, pick the bedroom. You spend about a third of your life in there, hopefully with the door shut (which is better for fire safety, too). The clean air will help promote deep sleep, as well as being good for your health. Do air purifiers make your house smell better?Air purifiers that use activated carbon filters will remove the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that cause smells. That could be a musty smell or the particulates from a scented candle or aerosol. How long does it take for an air purifier to clean a room?It depends not just on the air purifier but how big the room is. Measure your floor space and look for a machine that promises to clean the air in a room of that size five times an hour. Which means it filters all the air in the room once every 12 minutes. Machines sometimes claim to clean large spaces but then they only promise to clean the air a couple of times an hour. How much should I spend on an air purifier? Credit: Dimplex
For one room: £150 and look at the Blueair 411, which outperforms others that cost more. Budget £500-700 if you want to clean the air in a much larger space. What are the different types of filter and which do I need?The more stages of filtration, the better, to remove different sized particles.
How do I get the right-sized machine for my room?Measure your floor space in m². Then pick a machine that promises to clean the air in the room five times an hour. Ceiling heights are pretty consistent so this is accurate enough. If you enjoy maths homework then you can measure the volume of the space in m³ and look at the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of various machines to see which suits you best. What else should I think about when buying an air purifier?Noise if you're sensitive to it, measured in decibels (dB). If you want a discreet air purifier, consider a machine that's quiet on its lowest setting. Or one with an auto mode that is quiet unless it needs to scrub the air more, which is unlikely in the middle of the night. Sleep timers are ok for the bedside but surely it's better to have a quiet machine that you can leave on, so the air is clean all night. How we test our air purifiers image credit: Dimplex Our tester Caramel has decades of experience of reviewing technology products. Writing for, among others, The Evening Standard, The Express, The Guardian, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Mirror, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times. She's long been part of the Ideal Home family and knows exactly what you're looking for in an air purifier. London's air pollution, along with two tweens and a dog, meant that the air in Caramel's house needed a good scrub. She tested each machine rigorously at home, taking into account the size, price, controls, features and noise levels as well as the all-important air purification performance. Performance was tested using expensive high-end industrial equipment, namely the Met One Instruments Model 804 Handheld Particle Counter. For each air purifier, Caramel tested the room's initial air quality and then tested it again after the air purifier had been used at its top setting for an hour. Finally, she compared the two sets of results to establish how well the air had been cleaned. She focussed on the PM10 and PM2.5 figures for our test because these are the ones the World Health Organisation uses as benchmarks of air quality. These are particles measuring no more than 10 microns and no more than 2.5 microns. The post Best air purifier – improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergens appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| DIY toolbox BBQ – how to make your own portable grill for outdoor entertaining Posted: 30 Apr 2021 03:17 AM PDT Looking for a fun weekend upcycling project? How about making your own DIY toolbox BBQ for cooking on the go for days out. Be inspired to turn an old toolbox into a quirky outdoor cooking solution, with minimal spend. The imaginative idea comes from designer, author and TV presenter Mac McMurdo. ‘If there are three things that make me happy in life, they are upcycling, ‘I've had this particular toolbox in my workshop since I started my business. It's a bit battered and has seen better days, but I couldn't part with it for sentimental reasons. Then, while drinking tea and stroking my beard, searching for inspiration, I had a moment of madness: what if I could upcycle it into the ultimate portable barbecue?’ Visit out DIY and decorating channel for more project inspiration So that’s exactly what he did, and he’s sharing how to do so you can make your own DIY toolbox barbecue too… How to make a DIY toolbox BBQ – what you’ll need Image credit: Max McMurdo/Brent Darby
‘I always strive to combine form and function, so I was keen to have a series of cooking levels that could be varied for searing, cooking and keeping food warm. The toolbox is made from the same thickness of metal as most barbecues, and with several drawers of varying depths it seemed perfect for what I needed it to do.’ Step 1. Mark out the drawers‘Empty your tools from the toolbox, give them a clean and a new home!’ Max instructs. ‘Mark out the bottoms of the drawers to be cut, keeping a lipped frame all round to locate the grill. When cutting out a square or rectangle the Max’s top tip: ‘Cone cutters are a great versatile tool to have around your workshop. They allow you to drill a variety of hole sizes the further up the cone you go, ideal for cutting these corner holes in this steel.’ Step 2. Cut out bases Image credit: Max McMurdo/Brent Darby ‘Using an angle grinder with a cutting disc, remove the bases of the drawers. Watch out for flying sparks – wear appropriate clothing and safety goggles or a welder's mask to protect your eyes’ Max warns. Step3. Smooth edges‘Sand the cut edges with a sanding disc on your grinder. (Remember to disconnect the power when changing attachments!) To finish, use a small round file to get right into the corners.’ Step 4. Cut grills to size Image credit: Max McMurdo/Brent Darby ‘Using the natural dimensions of the salvaged barbecue grills, decide which way round they are going to be used, maintaining as much structural integrity as possible’ advises Max. ‘ Trim to fit with your grinder then sand the cut edges to ensure Step 5. Assemble Image credit: Max McMurdo/Brent Darby ‘I even managed to rescue the temperature gauge from the donor barbecue, so simply drilled a hole and bolted it on! Now assemble the barbecue by dropping in the grills.’ ‘The top compartment offered an obvious cache for storing tongs, skewers and other essential cooking tools. It just needed the addition of carry handles, so you can take your new upcycled, self-contained barbecue wherever you fancy, whether it's the back garden, a festival or the nearest beach.’ Step 6. Attach leather strap Image credit: Max McMurdo/Brent Darby ‘To increase portability I added a brown leather strap made from an old belt. Cut the belt to length then drill holes through (or use the existing belt holes) and rivet the belt in place, using the original carry handles on the toolbox as This feature is an extract from Max’s new book. If you love this project check out more of his ideas: Upcycling Outdoors 20 Creative Garden Projects by Max McMurdo, £12.48, Amazon All that’s left now is to pop to the supermarket to load up on BBQ bits, and you’re ready to go! The post DIY toolbox BBQ – how to make your own portable grill for outdoor entertaining appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| See how a DIY fan saved £100s on garden decking by using an old industrial pallet Posted: 29 Apr 2021 11:00 PM PDT There’s been a huge shift in the way we use our gardens over the past year. We’ve got into gardening and we’ve come to view our outdoor spaces as an extension of our homes.
Before, we might have been happy with a couple of outdoor chairs and the best BBQ on the market. But now, the nation’s gardens have been transformed with all manner of clever outdoor living room ideas. Vicki’s pallet decking makeover is a brilliant example that goes to show it doesn’t have to cost lots of money, either.  Image credit: Vicki Wilson Lees Vicki and her partner love spending time in the garden, playing with their dog and having an evening drink with friends. So when they moved house, they were keen to create a functional space to meet these needs. If you have a tiny garden, there’s still plenty you can do – consult our small garden ideas piece for inspiration. The garden had been left in a bad state, with overgrown grass a foot high. ‘There were uneven stones and mud everywhere, where they had previously had greenhouses and sheds,’ Vicki recalls. ‘The lawns were patchy and the paths and slabs were covered in thick moss.’  Image credit: Vicki Wilson Lees As they’re renting, they wanted to keep costs down rather than invest in materials they can’t take when they move. In comes the pallet decking… ‘My husband spotted a huge industrial pallet at work that was about 3m x 2m and asked if he could have it for free,’ Vicki tells us. ‘They were just grateful someone was taking it! ‘We sanded it down and painted it, then purchased some cheap offcuts of wood for the edges from a local DIY shop to neaten it up and it was good to go as our new deck!’  Image credit: Vicki Wilson Lees They also found turf and spare paving slabs on Facebook Marketplace, and picked up stones to go round the edge from B&M.
Vicki has added some outdoor furniture, including the sofa from Argos and some side tables perfect for those evenings spent socialising. The cushions, throw, outdoor rug and the big lanterns were all from Home Bargains. The post See how a DIY fan saved £100s on garden decking by using an old industrial pallet appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
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