Ideal Home |
- Black Friday coffee machine deals 2021: Sage, Nespresso, and more
- Best coffee machine 2021: the 15 best pod, filter, and espresso machines
- 9 utility room design mistakes and how to avoid them
- Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser review: we tried the must-have hot chocolate maker
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- The best sofa beds for style, comfort and budget
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- Best slow cookers 2021: our top 10, reviewed
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- We want everything from Angel Strawbridge's new collection at La Redoute
| Black Friday coffee machine deals 2021: Sage, Nespresso, and more Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:15 AM PST Now is the time to start looking for Black Friday coffee machine deals. Black Friday may be a few days away, but you won’t need to wait for November 26th to pick up a great saving on one of our favourite brands. We are already seeing some great coffee machine deals on brands like Nespresso, De’Longhi, Sage, Russell Hobbs, Morphy Richards, and Breville, so if you want to buy the best coffee machine, now is the time to shop. Black Friday coffee machine deals can deliver a high-quality homemade brew every morning to keep you caffeinated all through the winter. That will save you from heading out into the cold to pick up a coffee to go, and allow you to work on your latte art or try different roasts to find your favourite bean. We’ve rounded up the best coffee machine deals you can buy on Black Friday, so all you need to do is scroll through and find the right machine for you and your home. The cheapest coffee machines tend to be filter machines, with pod coffee machines costing slightly more. It’s a big jump up to bean-to-cup coffee machines, and there is a mixture of automatic and manual bean-to-cup machines on them market. In short, there is so much choice, you’ll be sure to find the best Black Friday coffee machine deal for you when you shop right now. Black Friday coffee machine deals: where to buy
Black Friday coffee machine deals: today’s top discounts Sage Barista Pro Espresso Machine: was £699, now £599 at Amazon  Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie: was £79, now £42 at Amazon (save £37)
Black Friday pod coffee machine deals Image credit: Darren Chung Calling all ‘cwaffee’ lovers! If you are looking for a good deal on the best pod coffee machines and can’t be bothered with the faff of filling up a portafilter with grounds or waiting for a filter brew to drip through, there are some great Cyber Monday deal on Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo pod machines.  NESPRESSO by Magimix Vertuo Next & Milk Coffee Machine | was £199, now £119 at Currys  De’Longhi Dolce Gusto EDG225.W Genio S Pod Coffee Machine | was £79.99, now £75.99 at Amazon Black Friday filter coffee machine dealsFilter machines tend to be the most affordable option where a freshly brewed coffee is concerned. They don’t take up as much space on the kitchen worktop, and they tend to come in lots of great colours so you can match them to your decor.  Morphy Richards Verve Pour Over Filter Coffee Machine | Was £59.99, now £42.99, Amazon Cyber Monday bean-to-cup coffee machine dealsThe best bean-to-cup coffee machines will come either with a wand for frothing milk by hand, or with a milt compartment where the job is done for you. Look out for a warming tray on top with room for multiple cups – this will ensure you serve your drink extra hot. The machines are reduced by as much as 50 percent in the Black Friday coffee machine sales. For that reason – and the fact they would make excellent Christmas gifts – we can easily see these deals selling out before we even get to Cyber Monday.  De’Longhi Dinamica Plus: was £949, now £699 at Amazon (save £250)  De’Longhi Eletta Cappuccino Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Machine: was £999.99, now £599.99, Amazon What type of coffee maker is best for me? image credit: Sage Bean-to-cup coffee machinesSerious coffee aficionados should consider a bean-to-cup machine. This won't just deliver a freshly ground, aromatic cup of coffee. Unlike machines that use pre-ground coffee in pods or capsules, a bean-to-cup encourages you to get creative – try different beans and roasts, vary how coarse or smooth you like your grind, experiment with water temperature (up to a maximum of 98C – any higher and your coffee will taste bitter), steam and how much milk, until you find your favourite combination. Keeping your machine clean and scale-free is key to getting years of problem-free use out of it and if it's tricky to maintain, you're less likely to use it regularly. Look for a model that offers an easy clean option combined with one where the milk doesn't enter the internal machinery, avoiding any fiddly disassembly. Larger than pod machines due to the internal grinder, bean-to-cup models can live on your countertop, but do consider the space they’ll take up.
Pod coffee machinesIf you can’t function without a coffee first thing in the morning, but dread the rigmarole of making a decent cup from scratch, you need a pod coffee machine. There's no faffing about grinding beans, measuring out the right amount of grounds, or cleaning up the mess they make. These little machines are so simple to use, taking pods of coffee that's been roasted, ground and sealed for freshness. Steaming water is forced through the pod at a high bar pressure, creating a tasty drink with a thick 'crema' of coffee extract on top, which is the key to a tasty espresso. Some machines go a step further and have pods for longer, milk-based drinks, so you don't even have to work wonders with a frothing arm to get a creamy cappuccino, mocha or latte. When choosing your system you'll be tied into the manufacturer's pod range, which might include a wide variety of coffees, or a smaller choice with teas and hot chocolates, so research before you buy. Filter or drip coffee machinesRussell Hobbs invented the first fully automated coffee pot with a keep warm function back in 1952, and these machines have since become a fixture of many an office and kitchen since. The pros and cons of filter – or drip as it’s known in the States – coffee machines are quite simple. The main con is they only make one type of drink – filter coffee. To add milk and sugar is really the only way to mix things up. The main pro is that they can make a lot of drink at once. 12 cups of coffee in one jug is common. A decent machine will also come with a cup warmer – heating cups beforehand will keep your drinks hotter for longer. Some brands (KitchenAid, for one) have models that can be used with flasks, so you can brew your coffee to go. The post Black Friday coffee machine deals 2021: Sage, Nespresso, and more appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Best coffee machine 2021: the 15 best pod, filter, and espresso machines Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:48 AM PST Find the best coffee machine for your home with our top 16 picks for your money. Featuring pod, bean-to-cup, filter, and espresso machines, our guide to the best coffee machines is the result of hours of taste testing and some sub-par latte art. If you’re anything like us, you won’t be able to function before you’ve had your morning coffee. However, gone is the day when you would need to go to your local coffee shop to pick up your go-to. Now, using the best coffee machine, you can make your own americano of flat white using machines with one-touch pods or an in-built grinder with attached milk wands for steaming. And with Black Friday coffee machine deals just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start buying. Lovers of flat white or cappuccinos will want a coffee machine that comes with a milk wand or some form of milk dispensation, which is often a feature of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines. Others will just want a coffee machine that makes fuss-free drinks with the press of a button. The best pod coffee machines are ideal for this, and there are many options with a range of pod flavours and brands. If you want an affordable coffee machine, you can choose a pod or ground coffee machine. These save you the effort of buying a machine with a coffee grinder mechanism, which cuts down on cost up-front. However, if you want a coffee machine for a super fresh brew, a bean-to-cup offers some distinct advantages. We have tested each and every one of the best coffee machines on the market, from top brands like Lavazza, Melitta, Smeg, Breville, Sage, and illy, so whether you want a mighty machine to replace your local coffee shop, or a budget-friendly filter coffee machine that keeps your caffeine levels high, we’ve got an option for you. How we selected the best coffee machines Image credit: David Giles The coffee machines featured in this guide have all been tested as you would use them at home. We’ve considered the type of coffee machine – pod coffee machine, bean-to-cup coffee machine, filter coffee machines and espresso coffee machines – to cater for the varying household demands. With this comes the job of deciphering usability, maintenance, the amount of space the machine takes up, upfront costs and running costs. It’s (not) been a hard job! We like coffee as much as you probably do, maybe even a shot more. Keep scrolling to see which of the best coffee machines in the UK made our shortlist. The handy pricing widget underneath the products will ALWAYS display the best price, too, so you don’t need to go elsewhere to track down a good deal either. Best coffee machine 20211. Breville Bijou Espresso MachineThe best coffee machine for homemade espresso
Best for: espresso or long coffee • Continuous extraction What we don’t like: • Low filter can get in the way Make any type of coffee with the Breville Bijou Espresso Machine. It has a high-quality steam wand which is perfect for texturising milk, and there are two filters to choose from, which is great for having single or double shots of espresso. You need to wait for your coffee machine to heat up before twisting the dial to the left, which will continuously extract hot coffee until you switch it back. This will be good for some, and not so good for others. Some will prefer an exact espresso measurement, whereas others will just want a long coffee to fill up their favourite mug. Using grounds, you can easily tamp and twist to secure your filter with the included scoop and tamper. There is no jug included, but it will be easy to buy one for cheap online. Just press the steam milk button and wait for it to stop flashing before twisting the dial to the right and clearing out the wand. Then, it’s easy to create that high-pressure whirlpool to achieve that perfectly hot milk with a creamy latte finish. If we have a complaint, it’s that the filter hangs quite low and can get in the way of some taller mugs. We did have to fill up a smaller mug and then pour into a longer latte mug to make some drinks. For the money, this is a brilliant coffee machine. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars 2. Cuisinart VeloceThe best coffee machine for bean-to-cup functions
Best for: lovers of frothy coffee • Can make milky and long coffees automatically What we don’t like: • You need to clean the milk frother after each use The Cuisinart Veloce packs in a lot of value for the price, which, admittedly, is one of the highest in our guide. The digital display shows a menu of numerous coffee options, from espresso shots to cappuccinos. You can adjust the size of your drink in millilitres, the proportion of milk to coffee and the level of froth you would like if you do opt for a milky coffee. The milk dispenser is also removable, so you can keep it in the fridge between uses. We enjoyed being able to save custom drink preferences, which made coffee rounds seriously straightforward. The machine runs a self-cleaning cycle after every drink, which only lasts a few seconds. After making a milky drink you need to add the tube to a glass of water, where it will clean itself out after each use. This is a bit of a faff if you drink a lot of latte, but we just kept a glass of water handy in preparation. Cleaning is made easy by the on-screen instructions which guide you through the whole process. The digital display may be less charming than some of the other best bean-to-cup coffee machines on the market, but it really does make life a whole lot easier. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars Read our full Cuisinart Veloce coffee machine review 3. Swan Retro One Touch Espresso MachineBest coffee machine for quirky style
Best for: value and retro style • So many colours What we don’t like: • Removable tray feels flimsy The Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine is a retro-style coffee machine with all the modern touches you need to make your coffee shop favourites. The milk frother is very easy to use, and there are two sizes of beverage in three drink types. You need to add and tamp your own grounds to use the Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine, and we found that it can get a little messy to work this way. The pressure gauge will help you to tell if your machine is ready to go, and it also makes sure you’re getting the most of out of your beans. The tamp drips slightly once your coffee is done pouring. We suggest putting a cup underneath it to prevent it from splashing into the plastic base. Ideal Home rating 4 out of 5 stars Read our full Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine review 4. Lavazza A Modo Mio IdolaBest pod coffee machine
Best for: space saving • Easy to use What we don’t like: • On the expensive side Small kitchen? Short on space? This pod coffee machine from Lavazza will fit in nicely. Despite its small size, it will make a statement not only on how it looks but also because it’ll make a punchy coffee. The entire range of Lavazza A Modo Mio pods are compatible with the Lavazza A Modo Mio Idola which means that you can opt for a selection of espressos whenever you want them. The good thing here is that the pods are made with an innovative, compostable biopolymer, which means that they’ll naturally biodegrade. Keeping the machine clean is pretty straightforward. You’ll just need to run a cycle WITHOUT a pod inserted to flush out the system. It would also be worth just wiping it down with a damp cloth to remove any finger marks or coffee spills. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Idola review 5. Sage BambinoThe best coffee machine for compact design  Image credit: Sage Best for: espresso and milky coffee • High quality extraction What we don’t like: • Noisy brewing Home baristas will love the Sage Bambino, which is Sage’s latest and most budget-friendly coffee machine. It’s not cheap (of course, it’s Sage) but it is decent value-for-money, with pre-infusion which very effectively extracts creamy and smooth crema for a luscious layer on top of your espresso. The preheat is only three seconds, which is very impressive, and the milk steaming wand also preheats very fast. It gives out 130-degree steam which was very effective at creating steamed milk in a jiffy. When extracting we did find that the Sage Bambino rattles slightly, so it’s not the quietest coffee machine on the market. Cleaning is easy though, with a drip tray that simply pulls out for a rinse, and an easily flushed steam wand. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars Read our full Sage Bambino review 6. BREVILLE VCF125 Mini Barista Coffee MachineThe best coffee machine for every coffee imaginable
Best for: all coffees • Makes a lovely coffee What we don’t like: • No adjustable mug height This coffee machine will help you to hone in on those barista skills which you thought you never had. It is a little faff to set up each time you want a coffee BUT it the end result is so worth it. You’ll need to add fresh water to the 2 litre reservoir tank, heat your mug with the steam wand (if you desire), froth your milk in the jug, fill up the one or two shot espresso discs and hit the button. It’ll make an americano, latte, flat white, or cappuccino but you may have to perfect those swirls on the top with the milk jug and frother. A point worth mentioning is that try not to fill up the shots with coffee. There will be a resistance when you go to secure the handle, and will be tempted to force it. Don’t do this. Just tip some of the coffee grounds back into the bag. Cleaning and maintenance is easy but will need regular attention to keep it look in tip-top condition. The stainless steel shell will need a buff-up every other day, and the drop tray emptied as and when too. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars 7. Gastroback Design Espresso Barista ProThe best coffee machine for barista-style coffee
Best for: being a home barista • Reasonably priced for a bean-to-cup What we don’t like: • No indicator when it runs out of water Gastroback is a relative newcomer in the world of coffee machines, but it really impressed us in testing. The grind is fully adjustable depending on the type of coffee you want to make, and you can make soft steamed milk for a latte or a sturdy foam for some cappuccino using the attached milk wand. While it’s 15 bar (when many of the similar models on the market are 19) the Gastroback Design Espresso Barista Pro does make very delicious coffee. It does either single or double shots, so it is not best suited to making long coffees, but if you enjoy getting creative with your drinks, it makes a wonderful machine to hone those barista skills. The sleek stainless steel design has a black touch display panel, and it also has buttons to run some hot water to top up espressos. It is very easy to clean, but we did think that for the price it could use an alert to show you when the water level is low. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars 8. Illy Iperespresso Y3.3Best compact pod machine
Best for: quality coffee • Super compact design What we don’t like: • Basic functions The illy Iperespresso Y3.3 comes courtesy of some serious espresso masters. We found that the pods with this machine yielded a rich brew, whether we opted for long americanos or short espressos. There is a fold-out shelf to brew espressos, and simply place your mug under the dispenser for anything taller. Of course, you do lose the option of making lattes or flat whites when you’re working with such a compact machine, but what it does it does very well. We’re partial to the blue, but there’s also a striking red or subtle white option, so matching the Iperespresso to your kitchen will not be a problem. Cleaning is easy too, thanks to automatic descaling, but we did note that the drip tray cannot be removed, which means it’s a little fiddly to clean on the regular. Compact kitchens will benefit from the Y3.3’s narrow dimensions. It’s only 10cm wide, which is seriously teeny, but the cord is one metre in length meaning it can be placed just about anywhere on your countertops. Ideal Home rating 4 out of 5 stars 9. Smeg DCF02Best filter coffee machine
Best for: making a really good filter coffee • Excellent filter • Bulky ‘small’ design We fell in love with this filter coffee machine from Smeg the moment we saw it. It’s a very neat, simple design which is available in a suite of colours so it can be bought to match your kitchen decor. On the subject of design, however, it is a little bulky and can take up a fair amount of space in a small kitchen. It’s also a little tricky to fill up the water tank but there are ways round that, such as pulling the coffee machine away from the wall and from underneath the wall units. Not ideal but it solves for the problem – for us it did, anyway. It uses filter coffee to make a quick and easy fresh brew for up to ten. If there’s less than ten of you then you can simply use less water, or just more coffee. A keep warm plate will unsurprisingly keep the coffee warm for you, too, but not for much longer than a couple of hours. Oh and another thing to note is to NOT turn off the machine at the plug after each use because all settings will be cleared. It’ll mean that you’ll need to run through the set-up process again, and no one has time for that. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars 10. Lavazza VoicyThe best smart coffee machine  Image credit: Lavazza Best for: smart design • The in-built Alexa speaker What we don’t like: • You’re limited by only two buttons It’s not cheap, but the Lavazza Voicy is the best smart coffee machine we’ve reviewed. It has an Alexa smart speaker front and centre, which will make you a fresh brew if you simply command it to make you a coffee. You can also ask for a hot coffee, which will boost the temperature, and a long coffee, which will deliver a lungo instead of a cappuccino. The Lavazza app can be used to customise your coffee, with several profiles to adjust the number of ounces that go into your favourite beverage. That means you won’t be limited by the two buttons on top of the coffee machine, and if you don’t drink much espresso, you can change the preset for both buttons to something more your liking. If you pair your Lavazza Voicy with your Amazon account you can use it in the place of a regular smart speaker. This is ideal for playing your favourite podcast while you do the washing up, or checking the time when you are in a rush. Ideal Home rating 5 out of 5 stars Read our full Lavazza Voicy review 11. Sage Barista ExpressBest bean to cup coffee machine
Best for: home baristas • A fully customisable brew What we don’t like: • It could be overwhelming for some We love that the Sage by Heston Blumenthal Barista Express coffee machine can grind your beans, brew them, and even steam the milk for lattes and cappuccinos. Everything from the grind coarseness to the volume can be adjusted manually for that shot of espresso, just how you like it, and the pressure gauge shows you the optimum levels to aim for when brewing. The Sage by Heston Blumenthal Barista Express isn’t a cheap option, but compared to some of the other options on the market it’s a good middle ground between value and quality. Cleaning is easy enough and needs to be done every month or so using the included insert for the portafilter and tablets. A word of warning though, be sure to empty the tray before it gets too full or it will get messy! Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 12. Lavazza A Modo Mio JolieBest pod coffee machine for strong espresso
Best for: strong coffee • Quality design What we don’t like: • No size presets If you value a good quality espresso, the Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie is a top choice. It comes in a range of dashing shades and sits pretty on any kitchen counter. The pods are recyclable, albeit through Lavazza’s slightly complicated scheme, and the machine is very easy to use. You simply pull up the lever, insert your pod, and push it back down to start the brewing process. You press to start brewing, and then press again to stop the process. This has pros and cons, because while it’s nice to see a coffee machine that offers a fully adjustable length of coffee, you do need to stand by while it brews. Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie review 13. Melitta Barista TS Smart coffee machineBest smart coffee machine
Best for: smart features • We LOVE the smart features What we don’t like: • A little hefty for small kitchens This coffee machine does it all. It’s a super smart choice in more ways than one; from the grinding of the beans to the frothing of the milk, which can all be controlled on your smartphone. Yep we know. Impressive stuff. Making an espressos or cappuccino is spot on, as you’d hope – but there are actually 21 coffee recipes you can create. The onboard milk frother is super easy to use and effective, too, plus it self-cleans, which is ALWAYS a win for us. And – if you’re into grinding your own coffee beans – then you’ll be happy to know that the integrated grinder is quiet when operating; that said, there’s the option, as with most models of this type, to use pre-ground coffee, too. Usability-wise, we’re overwhelmed (in a good way) by the smartness. You just need to download the app, which allows you to control the coffee machine from your smartphone. Your favourite coffee choices can be saved so you’ll always get the cup you want, and there are some useful tips on getting the best from your coffee machine, too. More on those coffee choices: this machine has the My Coffee Memory function which has the ability to save the coffee preferences of up to eight people, and four pre-programmed classic specialities: espresso, cafe creme, cappuccino and latte macchiato. It’ll even just give you hot water, too, should anyone dare to ask for tea instead. Ideal Home rating 5 out of 5 stars 14. Morphy Richards Verve Pour Over Coffee MachineBest filter coffee machine for value
Best for: value • Makes a good coffee on a budget What we don’t like: • Hot plate doesn’t stay on for long A filter coffee machine offers excellent value for money; the coffee grounds can be bought from the supermarket and the machine itself can be picked up for circa £50. And this coffee machine from Morphy Richards is no exception. We love how full-flavoured the coffee is. This is all down to the pour over shower head and cupcake filters which evenly disperses water over the coffee grounds to release all those lovely rich flavours and aromas. It’s also super easy to use with a coffee strength selector and programmable timer. This means that you’ll also have total control over exactly how you want your coffee. Have guests coming over post-lockdown? You can pop a brew on for 12 with this coffee machine. Anything less and you’ve over calculated how much coffee you’ll need then you’re going to have to drink-up (or pour it away) if you want a warm coffee because the hotplate won’t keep it long for much longer than 20 minutes. 15. Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio PlusBest coffee machine for cold brews
Best for: cold brews • Easy to set up and use What we don’t like: • Pods are not recyclable in household waste If you like to use a pod coffee machine, and like cold drinks then, this coffee machine from Nespresso ticks all the right boxes. It’s so versatile. As with many pod coffee machines you have access to a pantry-full of variety of drinks, too. During testing it was all these things which really impressed us, along with just how compact it is which was a relief for our reviewer who has very limited workspace. To prepare for its first use, just a couple of system rinse-throughs were required. And then to make a drink it was just a case of opting for a pod, filling the 0.8 litre water tank and selecting the correct setting. It’s worth looking at the instructions on the pod packets so you get the correct temperature settings and strength, as they all differ slightly. For example, if you’re expecting a milkshake but end up with a hot chocolate although it’s not exactly the end of the world but it may just be something which you simple do not fancy at that time. There’s not too much cleaning and maintenance required on this coffee machine, although you may want to wipe it down every other day or so. After a couple of heavy months you’ll noticed that the automatic descaling alert will light up on the hood. Some descaling solution will need to be bought for £5.80 (for 2 bottles) at Dolce Gusto and instructions will need to be followed, but that’s all there is to it. Just a couple of things to note about the pods, however: they are NOT recyclable with your household waste and just be careful handling them after making a hot drink because they can be very warm. Ideal Home rating 4 out of 5 stars 16. Sage The Barista Pro SES878BSS coffee machineBest high-end bean to cup
Best for: making a coffee from scratch • Super quick to heat up What we don’t like: • If stainless steel is not for you, look elsewhere As you can probably tell, we are BIG fans of coffee so we’re easily impressed when we find a machine which can grind, brew and make a delicious brew. This is a pretty expensive coffee machine – we give you that – but if you are a regular punter down at the local coffee house then you’ll soon earn your money back with one of these. You’ll also have coffee on tap which is a welcomed relief with all that working from home and homeschooling the majority of us have been doing for the past year-or-so. The burr grinder will work its magic on coffee beans of your choice which can be adjusted, if needed. It’ll heat up in about three seconds so you won’t be waiting long for your next caffeine-fix. And that steam wand is simply FAB which will see you flex those evolving barista skills. Just one thing to note: the stainless steel version of this coffee machine will mark easily, although (technically) it’s brushed. How we test the best coffee machines
It’s a tough job but someone has to do it, right? We like to get hands-on experience with as many products as we can before featuring in our buyer’s guide, and if we get to drink the rewards – even better! We understand that there’s A LOT of choice out there when finding the best coffee machine and, really, the only way to find out which one will be the most suitable for your lifestyle is to test one out for size. This is not always possible though, we get that, so luckily that’s where we can help… Whenever we hear of a new coffee machine or we want to find out more about an already popular option, we call them in. We go for testing the pod coffee machines, espresso coffee machines, filter coffee machines or bean to cup coffee machines for a number of weeks (or months) to get a better understanding about how they work. Sometimes we can even keep the coffee machine on review, meaning that we’ll continue to use it and update you as we go. All the important factors such as ease of use, cleaning and maintenance and cost to run are all considered. We even take into account other user reviews we see on retailer and brand websites so no stone is left unturned when reporting back to you. What is the best coffee machine?To recap, our favourite coffee machine for 2021 is the Breville barista mini coffee machine. It’s relatively inexpensive and gives you the opportunity to practice making all sorts of coffees. Our reviewer even made a few hot chocolates with the steam wand. The machine doesn’t take up too much space on the kitchen side, either, plus it’s easy to keep clean so long as you keep on top of it. The post Best coffee machine 2021: the 15 best pod, filter, and espresso machines appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| 9 utility room design mistakes and how to avoid them Posted: 16 Nov 2021 06:50 AM PST They’re the must-have room for any busy family home, and as utility rooms rise up the wish-list for many homeowners, it’s a space you’ll want to get working straight away. This means avoiding common utility room design mistakes to create the ideal laundry set up. While you might be looking for utility room ideas on how to style up your shelves, or make a small space work harder, its important to know the things to avoid too, when planning your practical laundry room. We’ve put together our own tips, plus asked the experts to shed some light on the utility room design mistakes we should all avoid… Utility room design mistakes to avoid1. Getting the location of your utility room wrong Image credit: Future Plc Whether you have a dedicated room for your utility essentials, or just a tucked away cupboard or bathroom corner, it’s all about getting it’s position right. Grame Smith, Head of Retail and Commercial Design at Life Kitchens says, ‘A common mistake is not carefully considering what function you are going to use the space for and location of it in the home. A utility room could be located towards the centre of the house, not too far from the bedrooms as most of your washing will come from these.’ ‘With the acoustics of appliances running in mind, you may alternatively wish to locate it away from a room where you entertain and socialise.’ 2. Opting for bad lighting Image credit: Higham As one of the most practical rooms in your home, this isn’t the place for mood lighting. During the planning process be sure to consider your lighting options, as poor lighting can lead to clothing stains not being spotted and care labels not being read properly. Under cabinet or shelf lighting is great if the space is on the smaller side and there isn’t a huge space for spot lights on the ceiling. Opting for wall lights can be aesthetically pleasing, but think about supporting these with bright ceiling lights for dark days in the winter when natural light levels are at their lowest. 3. Forgetting to measure your appliances Image credit: Future Plc Before building your utility space, think about exactly what will be going in to it and where. ‘One common mistake that so many people make is not measuring up their appliances before designing their laundry room’, says Vicky Silverthorn, Professional Organiser at You Need a Vicky. ‘You need to think about what you want to store, be it your ironing board, mop, hoover or laundry baskets and make sure you measure their dimensions before you design your space. It’s no good going for an off the peg design and then expect your items to fit, they won’t, and you’ll be gutted if your smart utility space is ruined by a washing machine that doesn’t fit in it’s designated spot.’ 4. Not utilising the space you have Image credit: Lifestyle Floors Whilst most utility rooms are often on the small side, that doesn’t mean you can’t max out their potential to give you all the drying space you need for your laundry. If floor space is lacking, think about rigging up a hanging clothes airer from the ceiling on a simple pulley system. This way the floor is left clear of clutter but your clothes can still be drying inside on wet days. Another tip is to stack your washing and dryer, rather than placing them side by side. Again this saves on floor space and make the most of the height of the room rather than the width. a great idea to free up space in a narrow utility room idea to maximising compact space. Where you can, always opt for a deep sink so you can soak more in one go. You can always use the space below it to keep cleaning products too. 5. Getting the finishes wrong Image credit: The Main Company It’s worth planning out all the details of your utility room, even down the colours and finishes too. Alex Main, Director at The Main Company advises, “When planning your utility room design, choose cabinets mainly in a painted finish as this gives the flexibility of a complete makeover if you decide to dramatically change your colour scheme later down the line. It also means even if you want a quick, subtle change, it’s much easier to do’ 6. Neglecting a practical layout Image credit: Life Kitchens When it comes to the layout of your utility space, its so important to get this right. There’s no point having a washing machine tucked in a corner where you can’t easily get the washing out, or cupboards that open the wrong way for you to see whats inside. You also need to think about where electrical sockets are, or can be put, plus where your waste pipe is plumbed in too. And of course you’ll want it all to look nice and neat too. ‘Layout is crucial to get right. Plan carefully so that it’s absolutely perfect for you and your lifestyle- it needs to be both functional and somewhere that you love walking into,’ says Alex. 7. Not making use of open shelving Image credit: Garden Trading Open shelving is a great way to utilise wall space in a utility room. As well as make a display of your prettier cleaning paraphernalia. Try decanting washing tablets into glass jars or keeping washing powder in galvanised storage pots. Cleaning products such as sprays could be hidden away inside cupboards but room sprays and linen water look pretty displayed on shelves, so keep these out and at hand. This simple storage solution is perfect as a budget utility room idea to create an affordably beautiful laundry space. 8. Forgetting to leave space to sort the laundry Image credit: Future PLC For a successful utility room, it’s important to have surface space to sort the laundry before and after washing. Worktop space also gives you a place to fold clean clothes or even apply stain remover before popping them in the wash, so try and leave worktops clear of clutter. If space is tight, look to get a sink cover board which turns your basin and draining board into a flat surface. This can be easily removed when you need to use the tap. 9. Leaving hard floors bare Image credit: Mereway Utility rooms can often feel chilly due to the lack of soft furnishings. By adding in a rug, not only will it keep your feet warm, it will also help with stopping any drafts that might come up through the floorboards. Plus it will help with absorbing sound, making it less noisy. It will also be kinder on your knees when you are bending down to fill and empty the washing machine. Use an anti-slip mat underneath to ensure the rug stays in place. Try choosing a design with some pattern to help elevate the room. What are the most common utility room design mistakes for laying out?We asked William Durrant, owner of Herringbone Kitchens to give us the inside scoop on where mistakes are often made…
Avoiding these common utility room design mistakes will ensure your laundry room is a dream to be in. The post 9 utility room design mistakes and how to avoid them appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser review: we tried the must-have hot chocolate maker Posted: 16 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser is Hotel Chocolat’s answer to the best milk frothers for making perfect hot chocolate. Designed to be paired with the brand’s range of luscious hot chocolate flavours, the Velvetiser is at the top of everyone’s Christmas lists this year. It’s an expensive pick though, so before parting with your hard-earned cash, you may want to know if the Velvetiser is worth the money. That’s why we took it for a spin in this Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser review. Here’s what we thought. Ideal Home rated: 4.5 out of 5 starsReasons to buy:
Reasons to avoid:
Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
Specs:
Setting up the VelvetiserEverything about the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser is easy to get to grips with, and that includes the setup. It comes with a kettle-style electric base that allows you to easily slot the Velvetiser onto place. From there, you just need to press the button underneath the handle.
The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser comes in three colours, and I received the white colour. It’s larger than I expected, but very tactile, with a textured handle that makes pouring very easy. Other thoughtful touches I enjoyed included the 360 pouring spout, which is great for left-handed or right-handed users. It comes with two beautiful cups, with the same capacity as the Velvetiser itself, so don’t expect to make two servings in one go with this machine. The cups are 220ml which doesn’t sound like much, but it’s plenty when you’re drinking rich and luxurious hot chocolate.
My Velvetiser came with a collection of Hotel Chocolat’s different flavours, including dark chocolate, hazelnut, ginger, and even chilli. This is a great way to try the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, with the chocolate it was designed to be paired with, although there’s nothing stopping you from pairing it with another type of chocolate. Making hot chocolate
It’s a simple process: pour in milk (cow’s or plant-based) until you reach the clearly marked line at the side of the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. Add in the whisk, which simply slots into place, and then pour in your chocolate of choice. I went with the dark flavour for the purposes of this Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser review, and I was surprised by how much chocolate comes in one sachet. This is a hot chocolate maker for serious chocolate lovers!
You press the button on the side of the Velvetiser to get the process started, and a gentle whirlpool will start inside your machine. It has a lid that simply slots on top of the Velvetiser, but I wouldn’t worry about splashes when making your drink. The process took about two minutes, and I was left with very creamy and thick hot chocolate at perfect drinking temperature.
Pouring was easy and I was left with no chocolate at the bottom of the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. The glass was left with a layer of creamy froth, but I did find that it got quite hot, so I had to wait before holding it to have a sip.
I have no complaints about the hot chocolate. It was comparable in quality and texture to hot chocolate I’ve had in chocolate shops and the dark flavour was rich without being too sweet. When I went back for seconds I tried the ginger flavour, which had some subtle heat that was perfect for a seasonal drink. Cleaning the Hotel Chocolat VelvetiserWhile it’s not dishwasher-safe, you will find the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser very easy to clean. Its lining is non-stick and you simply fill with water up to the Max line and then add a few drops of washing up liquid to run a self-clean cycle. |
| Black Friday cordless vacuum deals: live deals to shop right now Posted: 16 Nov 2021 05:38 AM PST Pick up a Black Friday cordless vacuum deal with our top picks of Shark, Dyson, Beko, Miele, and Vax. We’ve been reviewing the best cordless vacuum cleaners for every home, and now that Black Friday cordless vacuum deals are upon us, we’re bringing you the best savings on brands we love. We’ve got a separate page on Black Friday Shark vacuum deals, but if you’re not feeling picky about the brand and just want a brilliant vacuum with cordless controls, this is the place for you. A cordless vacuum will keep your home in top shape for Christmas and New Years’s, with no need to drag around a cumbersome cord as you keep your home spick and span. Black Friday deals are technically a few days away, but we’re increasingly seeing price drops as early as two weeks before Black Friday cordless vacuum deals begin, so we’re really in the midst of all the top savings right now. Get ahead of the deal hunters with our guide to the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday cordless vacuum deals, and our predictions of what to expect. Black Friday cordless vacuum deals: quick links
Today’s top Black Friday cordless vacuum dealsA reliable vacuum is more important than ever as we stay inside our warm, cosy homes, but with autumn leaves and more time spend curled up on the sofa, our floors are likely to need a good clean. Whether you have carpet, laminate, vinyl or wooden floorboards, a convenient, cordless vacuum cleaner can eliminate any mess.  Bosch Athlet Serie 6: was £279, now £169 (save £110) at Amazon  Shark IZ300UKT: was £429, now £248 (save £181) at Amazon  Dyson V11 Absolute Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: was £599, now £449 (save £150) at AO.com  Beko PowerClean: was £299, now £269 (save £30) at Amazon What should I look for in a new cordless vacuum cleaner? Image credit: Dyson You’re going to want to spend £150 for a good-quality cordless vacuum that can clean up properly – although, with the Cyber Monday discounts on offer here, you might sneak that quality for less. If you invest more, you might get stronger, more consistent cleaning power, a longer battery life, and some very helpful tools. Ideally, you’ll want a few tools that are stored onboard your vacuum. That way, you’ll be able to make a quick draw and switch, sharpshooter style, when you spot a cobweb up high or need to clean upholstery. One other feature worth going for is a HEPA filter. This removes tiny particles from the air that can aggravate breathing issues such as asthma. Best Amazon Black Friday cordless vacuum deals
Often the home of Amazing deals, Amazon is a great place to look when buying a new cordless vacuum cleaner. There is a huge range of brands on offer and you can always scroll down to the reviews to see what other buyers think. One of the reasons people love to buy the best vacuum cleaners from Amazon is their Lightning Deals when Black Friday and Cyber Monday starts. Keep your eyes peeled on their site (or ours, because we’ll be dropping our favourite discounts right here) to see exclusive limited-time discounts that tend to sell out in hours. When they’re gone, they’re gone! Best Argos Black Friday cordless vacuum deals Image credit: Dyson Argos has been one of the UK’s most popular retailers for decades. After being in print for nearly 50 years, Argos was famous for its huge catalogues, detailing all of its products. It really was a staple for children picking out Christmas presents. Now that catalogue is virtual and many of Argos’ deals can be found online, where you can order for delivery or choose click and collect. You can pick up Argos products in their own stores or in various Sainsbury’s supermarkets across the UK. Last year we saw some great cordless vacuum delas from Argos across Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This included the Dyson V8 vacuum, which at the time was the brand’s flagship stick vacuum. After a £100 discount it was just £299, but after the launch of the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute, we’re wondering if prices on the V8 will go even lower. If you like the idea of picking up one of the best handheld vacuums, we saw discounts of 20% on already affordable top picks from Shark and Bush. Best Very Cyber Monday cordless vacuum deals Image credit: Vax Reinventing itself since the 1930s, Very started life as Littlewoods Home Shopping in Liverpool. Since then they’ve undergone many changes and merged with Great Universal Stores stores in 2003. Very went 100% digital in 2015 and hasn’t looked back, offering customers hundreds of designer brands and constantly having great products on offer. Last year we saw savings on the Hoover H-Free 100 Pets, which is one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair if you’re on a budget. The price went even lower thanks to a £20 discount, making it just £129. Another big save was on Swan’s Hyper Clean Cordless, which is a three-in-one vacuum with a 30-minute runtime. Appropriately, it was a third off at £199.
Best ao.com Cyber Monday cordless vacuum deals Image credit: Shark ao.com has nearly been around as long as its online retail rival Amazon, having been founded in 2000.Like Amazon, it has thousands of tech and electrical products to choose from, including the latest smart tech and TVs, to all-singing, all-dancing washing machines, fridges and ovens. Unlike Amazon though, ao.com is purely an electrical and appliance retailer, meaning that it has in-depth, expert knowledge on all its products. Plus, ao.com has its own recycling plant that sustainably gets rid of your old appliances. So not only do you get a new appliance, but you save yourself a trip to the recycling centre! Last year we loved the £100 discount on the high-tech Samsung Jet 75, and there was another amazing saving on the Shark Anti-Hair Wrap IZ201UK, down from £349 to £199. It’s one of the best Shark vacuum cleaners you can buy even a year on, so we’re hoping to see it go on sale once more with Black Friday cordless vacuum deals in 2021. The post Black Friday cordless vacuum deals: live deals to shop right now appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| The best sofa beds for style, comfort and budget Posted: 16 Nov 2021 03:00 AM PST Looking for the best sofa beds available? We’re here to help with our round-up of the most stylish and comfortable sleeper sofas for every budget. Whether you’re searching for a sofa bed that’s comfortable enough for everyday use in the living room, a compact sleeper sofa to squeeze into the home office, or the most affordable option for conjuring up extra sleeping space in a guest bedroom or children’s playroom; we’ve narrowed down the options to help you find the best of the bunch. What are the most comfortable sofa beds?Let’s be upfront. It’s unlikely that you’re going to find a sofa bed that’s as comfortable to sit on as one of the best sofas, sorry to be the bearers of bad news. But… there are most certainly sofa beds that are far, far more comfortable than others. We know because we’ve tried and tested a whole lot of sofa beds in compiling this guide, and in order to find the best options we’ve discovered it’s well worth understanding the difference between the two main types of sofa bed construction. Fold-out or click-clack:A click-clack sofa bed is one where the sofa’s backrest and seat fold flat to become the sleeping surface. If made of solid foam then quite often these designs can be the firmest for sitting and sleeping, the ‘bed’ also tends to be quite low to the ground once the sofa bed is unfolded, and your guests will be sleeping directly on the sofa surface – unless you add a mattress topper – which may or may not be something you’re happy with. Click clack sofa beds are more often contemporary in appearance, and quite often the upholstery options will be a little more limited. However, they’re generally the most affordable option, have the shortest lead times, and are the most compact if floor space is a consideration. That being said, two of the most comfortable sofa beds in this round-up are fold-out sofa beds. What sets these click-clack sofa beds apart is the addition of pocket springs nestled in amongst their foam cushioning, which give both seating and sleeping areas some welcome bounce – although it does also up the price. Pull-out:A pull-out sofa bed looks the most like a traditional sofa. In this design, the sofa seat cushions are removed and a folding bed frame pulled out from the sofa seat cavity, with a dedicated mattress on top. The backrest and arms of the sofa remain in place, which means the bed takes up (sometimes considerably more) floor space, but the sleeping surface tends to be higher from the ground and more like a standard bed. As they tend to be made by sofa specialists, there are usually a lot more upholstery options and matching furniture available if you want to blend a sofa bed in with a living room suite. However, there can be a huge difference in specifications and comfort. As you are sitting ‘on’ the folded bed frame, thick seat cushions are a must to add comfort, and there can also be huge variation in mattress thicknesses and construction (which can often be fairly hard to find in the small print). Generally speaking, you want the thickest mattress you can afford – a 10-14cm depth is a good gauge – and a sprung or pocket sprung mattress rather than solid foam for some bounce.  Darlings of Chelsea Waverley sofa bed What else to consider when looking for the best sofa bed?Sofa sizeIt may sound obvious, but it’s important to consider how much seating space your sofa bed needs to offer. If it’s not going to be your main living room sofa then you can get away with a more compact version – maybe even one of the best chair beds if you only need to sleep a single guest at a time – but if the sofa bed needs to seat the entire household on a daily basis then investing in a chaise sleeper sofa, or one of the best corner sofa beds might be something worth considering. It’s also vital to ensure your sofa bed is going to fit comfortably into the room where you want to use it. Find expert tips from Heal’s and Habitat in our guide to getting sofa measurements right. Mattress sizeIt’s also important to check the mattress measurements. Many sofa beds are marketed as doubles, and although they will fit two people, they can sometimes be a snug sleeping experience. So if you regularly have more than one guest staying at a time – and they stay for a good length of time in one go – they will thank you for opting for the roomiest sofa bed your budget allows. Black Friday sofa bed dealsOf course, we all want to find furniture at the best prices possible, and with Black Friday just around the corner – this year on Friday 26th November 2021 – it can mean some great deals on sofa beds. You’ll find our guide to all the best buys on the Ideal Home Black Friday deals hub, but for the best prices on sofa beds make sure to visit our Black Friday sofa sales page. We'll be updating that, as well as our Black Friday furniture deals page in the run-up to the event to bring you all the best Black Friday furniture sales as they're unveiled, so watch this space!
Best sofa beds of 2021The post The best sofa beds for style, comfort and budget appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| How to paint a scalloped wall - perfect the latest trend by creating a fun feature wall Posted: 16 Nov 2021 02:50 AM PST How to paint a scalloped wall is getting a lot of love on Instagram and we can see why! We can’t resist a new interiors trend, especially when it’s as gorgeously curvaceous as this one. Not only is a scalloped wall a great way to inject some lively energy back into a room, it’s actually pretty quick and easy to do. Still feeling nervous about trying this on-trend DIY and decorating effect? Don’t be! Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux, has some reassuring advice: ‘Practice makes perfect. If you have never done this before or are a little nervous painting, have a practice on a piece of painted lining paper or a bit of wall you haven't painted yet. No one gets perfect scallops without a bit of touching up at the end so don't worry and just have fun.’ How to paint a scalloped wall Image credit: @banish_the_beige/Dulux Heritage Serving up a little inspiration, @banish_the_beige has used two gorgeous neutrals – Blossom and Potters Pink, both from the Dulux Heritage paint range. This decorative painting technique is perfect if you’re on the look out for fun children’s room ideas. Let’s get started with this imaginative paint ideas – to create feature walls to give any room a makeover! What you’ll need
1. Apply the background colourPaint the walls in your chosen background colour. A once-coat formula will get the job done in super-quick time. 2. Make your scallop templateDraw around a plate onto thin cardboard. Old cereal packets or craft card taped together are perfect. Position the plate so half of it sits on the top edge of the cardboard. Draw at least three scallops in a row. Neatly cut the template out so you have a continuous line of scallops. If you plan to use them as stencils, make two or three more of these. 3. Decide what height you’d like your scallops to beDraw a straight horizontal line across the width of the wall using a ruler, spirit level and coloured chalk. Apply masking tape to the chalk line. Paint with the colour you’ll be using for your scallops. Marianne advises, ‘If you have a large space with high ceilings, placing the scallop line three quarters up the wall helps create a cosy feeling, bringing the ceiling down to envelope you. ‘If you're working with a small space, opt for placing the line in the middle to avoid making the room feel smaller. Painting the skirting boards in the same shade as the bottom half also helps maximise the space you have.’  Image credit: @mcchills_nest/Dulux Here @mcchills_nest has created their scalloped wall using Pale Nutmeg and Pomice Brown from the Dulux Heritage paint range. 4. Paint in the scallopsPosition your template so the points of the scallops are just above the painted line. Use masking tape to hold in place. Use this as a template to draw the scallops directly onto the wall. Paint in with a small brush. Alternatively, use the template as a stencil and apply paint directly over the stencil using a small foam radiator roller. Move the template along until you’ve completed the entire wall. If a whole wall seems daunting, Dulux paint expert Marianne has a final tip: ‘A more subtle way of using the scallop design is around a door or along the top of the skirting board where it's a fun little element that will make you smile every time it catches your eye.’ Good luck and have fun! The post How to paint a scalloped wall - perfect the latest trend by creating a fun feature wall appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Black Friday dehumidifier deals - relieve allergies and your wallet with these great savings Posted: 16 Nov 2021 01:24 AM PST Fight off unwanted moisture and damp patches with these great pre-Black Friday dehumidifier deals that can’t be beaten. To steal a phrase from Game Of Thrones, “Winter is coming”. But homeowners don’t need a sword and shield for protection from the British weather; many of us just need a dehumidifier. The colder weather brings with it all sorts of allergens and bad bacteria which could end up affecting our home and our health. Chillier temperatures, frost and dew can cause dark spots, mould and damp stains across your windows, ledges and in the corners of our walls and ceilings. Not only this but bacteria and allergens brought in from the cold can trigger people’s asthma and breathing difficulties. But have no fear! A dehumidifier could be the perfect solution to fight your winter worries. They reduce the risk of allergens being in your house, as well as keep your walls and furniture fresh and dry all year long. Take a look at our guide for the best dehumidifiers around. And for many more of the most exciting discounts, take a look at our guide to the best Black Friday deals. Black Friday dehumidifier deals – quick links
Black Friday dehumidifier deals 2021 Credit: Dimplex Is your home suffering from damp, mould or mildew? If you’re feeling hopeless because you can’t get to a shop that sells them, have no fear, because you can grab a dehumidifier without leaving your front door. Retailers are soon to be offering savings on a huge number of dehumidifier brands, and you can see some early bargains below.  Duux Bora Smart Dehumidifier | was £300, now £224 (save £75)  Dimplex 14L EverDri dehumidifier | was £200, now £136 (save £63)  PureMate 500ml Compact and Portable Mini Air Dehumidifier | was £38, now £30 (save 22%)
Do humidifiers really work for damp?In a word, yes. The demands of modern life mean that our homes are constantly being pumped full of moisture, thanks to the regular cycle of bathing, cooking, washing and cleaning – all of which use gallons of hot water, creating steam. Let that steam and moisture build-up, and it will cause dampness, which will stain your walls, and left unchecked, cause long-term damage. A dehumidifier can be your best ally to tackle dampness and condensation and improve the air you breathe by regulating moisture levels and extracting that potentially harmful moisture. How does a dehumidifier work?A dehumidifier draws air containing water in with a fan, then extracts that moisture, deposits it into a tank, and pumps out dry air. The desired humidity can be set via a rotary control and an auto shut-off setting turns the product off once it's reached the optimum level. Most models have an indicator light to notify you when the tank is full. A continuous drain option enables the dehumidifier to run continuously by attaching a hose to the drainage outlet. The post Black Friday dehumidifier deals - relieve allergies and your wallet with these great savings appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Best chair beds: the best single sofa beds and futons Posted: 16 Nov 2021 12:25 AM PST Looking for the best chair beds? If space is tight, then a single sofa bed or futon for one makes a great solution for putting up the occasional overnight guest, and the best designs will also double up as a stylish accent chair the rest of the time. Just like the best sofa beds, chair beds come in two main designs; pull-out models where a traditional mattress is pulled out from under the chair’s seat cushions to form the sleeping surface, and click-clack models where the backrest and chair seat fold down into a flat surface that becomes the sleeping area. What type of chair bed is the most comfortable?Generally speaking, pull-out chair beds tend to be the most comfortable options for both sitting and sleeping as they usually have traditional sprung seating for daytime lounging and then a dedicated mattress for sleeping. Because the mattress rests on a platform that lifts out of the sofa base, once extended a pull-out chair bed is similar to the height of a standard bed. There are often more upholstery choices available with a pull-out chair bed as well, although this can mean there’s a lead-time whilst your chair bed is made, and generally pull-out options are the most expensive. A click-clack or futon sofa bed is generally a firmer experience all around. The seat and backrest of the sofa (which once unfolded become the sleeping surface) tend to be made of solid foam which makes for a lot less give than a pull-out model, and the sleeping surface is usually very low to the ground. On the plus side, a futon tends to be much more affordable and its footprint can be smaller once extended than a pull-out model – very useful if you’re the owner of a small living room! Designs are often more modern, and a click-clack chair bed can generally be bought off-the-shelf, so there’s less chance of a long wait. The best chair beds or single futonsThe best chair bed for your home is likely to depend on your budget, whether you want to use it to sit on every day or just as an occasional chair, and who is going to be sleeping on it. As additional sleeping space in a kids bedroom, or an occasional extra bed in a guest room or home office, then a budget fold-out futon or modern click-clack chair bed is likely to suit your needs fine. Whereas if you have adult guests staying for longer chunks of time in one go, or you want to use the chair as everyday seating in a living room, then it may be worth making a bigger investment in a pull-out model. We’ve rounded up the Ideal Home team’s top picks in both varieties below – as well as a range of styles, from classic to modern – to give you some food for thought. Black Friday chair bed dealsOf course, we all want to find furniture at the best prices possible, and with Black Friday just around the corner – this year on Friday 26th November 2021 – it can mean some great deals on chair beds. You'll find our guide to all the best buys on the Ideal Home Black Friday deals hub, but for the best prices on sofa beds make sure to visit our Black Friday sofa sales page. We'll be updating that, as well as our Black Friday furniture deals page in the run-up to the event to bring you all the best Black Friday furniture sales as they're unveiled, so watch this space! The post Best chair beds: the best single sofa beds and futons appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| This TikTok hack uses tin foil to keep your house cosy Posted: 15 Nov 2021 11:00 PM PST A TikToker has shared an easy hack that might just help to heat our homes this winter. He explains that if you put tin foil behind your radiators, it helps to keep rooms toasty. We’re always keen to try out some energy-saving tips for the home, so, how does this tin foil radiator hack work?  Image credit: Getty TikTok tin foil radiator hackKyle from That Property Guy says you can give your radiators a boost with standard tin foil or reflector foil, £12.56 from B&Q. Both will reflect some heat back into the room, therefore helping to keep your home warm. In the short video, he simply puts some folded back tape onto the back of a sheet of reflector foil and slides it behind the radiator. This tin foil radiator hack is especially helpful in retaining heat from external walls, Kyle adds. The TikToker recommends you pick up the reflector foil from a DIY store, or simply use kitchen foil for a quick fix. The video has attracted a lot of attention on TikTok.  Image credit: Future PLC/ David Parmiter Kyle’s post has now had over 65,000 likes and hundreds of comments. It’s fair to say the commenters were a mixed blend of converts and skeptics. ‘I’ve done this for years in certain rooms of the house. The rooms without it are colder,’ one person commented. ‘Made such a difference for me,’ wrote another. ‘Anything for a bit of heat,’ joked a third. Others said it wouldn’t make much of a difference because most radiators heat through convection rather than radiation.  Image credit: Tamara Kelly However, if you have a bedroom in your home that gets particularly chilly due to having one or two external walls, there’s no harm in trying it. With chilly weather and increased gas bills, more of us are looking for tips on how to keep your house warm in winter. Since this tin foil radiator hack makes use of a kitchen cupboard staple, we’ve got nothing to lose in giving it a go. You could also wrap some foil around a piece of cardboard to make it more sturdy. Speaking of heating, make sure you know the signs of a broken boiler. Spotting problems early could help it from conking out altogether. The post This TikTok hack uses tin foil to keep your house cosy appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Best slow cookers 2021: our top 10, reviewed Posted: 15 Nov 2021 09:39 AM PST Choosing the best slow cooker is easy thanks to our reviews of the top 10 on the market from Crock-Pot, Russell Hobbs, Sage, Morphy Richards, and Swan. While an increasing amount of slow cookers also come with modes for pressure cooking, searing, and even interchangeable lids to double up as the best air fryers, we’ve included a variety of options in this guide at every budget. Slow cookers are a favourite for meal prepping and batch cooking because they’re so low maintenance. Simply prep your veggies, choose your cooking mode, and come back in a few hours to a perfectly cooked meal. If all you want is the best slow cooker to make stews and tender pull-apart meat, then a manual or digital slow cooker will be more then adequate. However, we’ve also included some multi-cookers in our guide from the likes of Ninja and Drew & Cole to make your buying easier than ever. Digital slow cookers can be set with a timer to automatically switch to a keep-warm setting once your meal is finished, so if you spend a lot of time away from the kitchen, it may be worth spending a little more to get something with more smart settings. How much should I spend on the best slow cooker?
Many people opt for multi-cookers that can slow cook and also act as the best rice cookers. However, these machines can cost at least £150, whereas even the best slow cookers can cost as little as £25. If you want an option that can roast and bake with removable inserts that can be used in the oven or hob, which also boasts digital settings, you can expect to pay around £75. Ultimately, you don’t need to pay much to find a slow cooker to make tender lamb or beef, as well as easy bolognese and flavour-rich stews. Our best slow cooker guide features options from £25, up to £200. Best slow cookers 20211. Morphy Richards Sear and Stew Slow CookerBest slow cooker overall
Digital? No • It looks great Reasons to avoid: • It’s not a digital model, so it won’t switch off automatically Feature-packed, versatile and so simple to get the hang of, you'll be slow cooking everything you can with the Sear and Stew. It could revolutionise your mealtimes. Its pot is made from aluminium rather than ceramic, meaning you can use it on the hob (not induction) to brown meat and veg. You can then transfer it to the base to slow cook on either high, medium, or low heat. The Morphy Richards slow cooker’s high setting can also be used to reduce liquid after cooking. In tests, it was used to make a delicious slow-cooked curry, first sautéing meat on the hob. The pan's base was slippery on the cast-iron support of a gas burner, so it had to be held in position when stirring. This required gloves as the handles grew hot. After, it was transferred to the base to cook on high for four hours. The slow cooker was easy to set, and although it lacks a keep warm setting, we found that the low heat setting was a suitable alternative. While cooking, it bubbled away well. The exterior of the base only grew slightly warm. Both the pot and the toughened glass lid are dishwasher-safe so clean-up was straightforward. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars Read our full Morphy Richards Sear and Stew 3.5 Litre Slow Cooker review 2. Instant Pot ProBest slow cooker for multi-cooking
Digital? Yes • Modes for cooking anything you wish Reasons to avoid: • Pot isn’t non-stick Instant Pot has been making waves in the States for some time, but now it’s landed here. The Instant Pot Pro is one of the most premium options on offer, which a huge range of smart settings on offer. You can browse through them and save your favourites or most-used on a custom setting bar. Amazingly smart, the Instant Pot Pro is very safe to use, and the pot allows you to sear either on the hob or inside the cooker before adding stock or tomatoes and setting your meal on to slow cook. The lid screws into place and can even go in the dishwasher after you’re done. We found that it took just three and a half minutes to preheat and allowed us to preset your cooking mode for up to 24 hours. After 6 hours of slow cooking we had a delicious chicken stew, although we did wish that some recipes were included with the cooker. Ideal Home's rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Read our full Instant Pot Pro review 3. 4.5L DuraCeramic Sauté Slow Cooker by Crock-PotBest slow cooker for large servings
Digital? No • Easy to clean by hand Reasons to avoid: • Quite expensive for a digital model Some things may deter you from cooking. Having to transfer food from a pan to a pot, cleaning up or that annoying puddle of water you get from putting the lid down on the worktop. If that’s you, you need this smart model. This slow cooker has been designed to be easy to clean – food residue just slides off. It’s also dishwasher-safe, and also oven and hob safe, so you can sauté in it. Be aware that the handles get hot, too. Slot in the hinged lid, which also has a seal around the edge, and you're good to go. Its manual control features three heat settings – high, low and keep warm – and there's an indicator light. Given its mid-range price, there are a few extra features you'd expect to have like a timer or automatic controls. Having said all this, it made a fantastic Bolognese sauce in four hours on high. Rich and tasty, with perfectly cooked meat and veg. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars 4. Russell Hobbs Sous Vide Slow CookerBest large slow cooker for families
Digital? Yes • Probe for perfectly cooked meat Reasons to avoid: • Sous vide takes a while The Russell Hobbs 25630 Slow Cooker is a true multi-tasker. Armed with a temperature probe and sous vide capabilities, you can make sure that your meat is cooked just right before you cut it open, or fill up a water bath for succulent sous vide fish or veggies. This digital slow cooker comes with a probe and sous vide setting on its front control panel, as well as a regular slow cooker mode. You can set a timer, and choose between high and low heat, as well as a keep warm mode. We tested the Russell Hobbs 25630 out on slow cooker stews, as well as a whole cooked chicken. This is when the temperature probe came in particularly useful, because we were confident that our chicken was cooked perfectly when we took it out, with none of the guesswork that come with roast chicken timings. Other features we enjoyed included the lock-safe lid and dishwasher-safe pot, both of which made mealtime easy and stress-free. If you buy this slow cooker, you'll probably want to use its sous vide mode. One thing we found is that you should account for how long the water will take to come to temperature when planning your meal around this. For us, it took about 20 minutes, so we suggest adding already hot water to speed this process along. Ideal Home's rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 5. Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UKBest slow cooker for range of functions
Digital? Yes • It allows you to sear and simmer Reasons to avoid: • Add less liquid to avoid watery stews The Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker is certainly mighty, but if you like your gadgets it could be a great investment. You can of course just use this multi-cooker as a slow cooker, for which it has a generous 6 litre capacity, but you can also take advantage of the sear setting to brown meat and veggies before slow cooking for a more rich flavour. When we tested its slow cooking mode we found that it’s almost too good at retaining moisture. Recipes that came out more saucy in some slow cookers were a little less rich because it’s also designed to be an airtight pressure cooker. That can be remedied though by adding less liquid or taking into account the liquid that will come out of meat and veggies when you add them. You can place the cooking pot in the dishwasher or wash by hand fairly easily. The Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker also has a basket insert and can be used to air fry other treats when not in use as a slow cooker. Is this the future of slow cooking? We think so. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars Read our full Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK review 6. Sage The Fast Slow ProBest slow cooker for batch cooking
Digital? Yes • It’s a real multi-tasker Reasons to avoid: • If you don’t want to pressure cook there are cheaper options out there Removing the need to sauté in a pan before transferring to the pot, the Fast Slow Pro is as useful for slow cooking converts as it is to experienced cooks. Functioning as both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, it includes sensors at the top and bottom to monitor temperature. This makes inconsistently cooked stews a thing of the past. Also, you can set this slow cooker to heat for two to 12 hours – ideal if you're going to be out of the house for a long day. Its slow cook presets correspond to different types of food, such as pudding, casserole, stock, pot roast and legumes – it also has a custom setting. All settings switch automatically to keep your dish warm at the end. In testing, the sear function was a little too hot and caused oil to spit. Also, the bowl was an awkward shape for turning a chicken while browning. The chicken was cooked on the pot roast programme after, set on a rack over water, and emerged juicy and so tender the meat fell off the bone. The machine also slow-cooked stock on low for six hours. This produced a rich, flavourful broth without making the kitchen smell from hours on the hob. The slow cooker’s ‘reduce’ function was useful for bubbling away excess liquid after slow cooking. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars 7. Swan 1.5L Slow Cooker RetroBest slow cooker for a classic kitchen
Digital? No • Looks the part Reasons to avoid: • No keep-warm setting Proving that limited worktop on space doesn't mean compromising on style, this cheerful slow cooker is a welcome departure from so much stainless steel and purely functional designs. Not only is it available in a wide range of colours from pastel Blue to bright Red, it comes with generous chrome handles and a matching control knob. Inside, a white ceramic pot makes a change from the usual black, and it's topped off by a glass lid. It's quite compact, so best suited for solo households or couples and comes with plenty of recipes to try. The only catch here is that you'll have to adjust the quantities to suit the size of its bowl as they're portioned for bigger pots. One plus is the cooker's auto mode, which cooks on the high setting before switching to low heat for the remainder of the time required. It wasn't clear at what point in the cooking duration this happens but it provides a useful alternative to its high and low settings. Sadly, there's no keep warm option, only the low setting if dinner needs to be delayed. We used it to cook chilli cooked on high, which required sautéing some ingredients beforehand in a pan. After two hours of cooking, the chilli was bubbling and the lid clear, making it easy to check on progress without lifting it. After four hours, there had been about an inch of liquid evaporation, with some of the meat slightly dry but soft beans. We also used it to simmer rice pudding on the low setting. After five hours there was a slight browned crust around edge but no burns and plenty of liquid, so the pudding wasn't too thick or clumpy. The bowl and lid were both easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars 8. Drew & Cole Cleverchef Pro MulticookerBest slow cooker for app pairing
Digital? No • The exterior stays cool Reasons to avoid: • Accessories need to be hand-washed We tried everything from baking a cake to pressure cooking rice in the Drew and Cole Cleverchef Pro, and it’s a smart multi-cooker that also wows when slow cooking. The inner pot is non-stick which made cleaning a breeze, and we made good use of the keep warm function which switched on automatically when the recipe had finished cooking. One of the best things about the Drew and Cole Cleverchef Pro is the app, which comes with a huge range of recipes at the touch of a button. Compared to a lot of multi-cookers the Drew and Cole Cleverchef Pro has an uncomplicated display that’s simple to customise. A great choice for those who want a smart multi-cooker. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars Read our full Drew and Cole Cleverchef Pro review 9. Russell Hobbs Chalkboard Slow CookerBest budget slow cooker
Digital? No • Chalkboard can be very fun and useful Reasons to avoid: • No light to show when it’s on There's lots to like about the Chalk Board Slow Cooker. It has a 3.5-litre ceramic bowl that can cook up to three or four portions. Its matt black finish is designed to be written on in chalk. So, for example, you could write on what time dinner will be ready, what’s cooking inside or what time to add a final ingredient. It features standard settings of high, low and warm but the control dial is manual so you'll need to be there to switch between them. It's affordable and a good medium size with enough capacity for newbies to experiment with, without occupying too much room. During testing, a few quirks emerged that you'll need to work around. One is that adhesive left behind from a sticker made writing on the chalkboard area difficult. Another is that there's no light to indicate it's on, so you'll need to preheat it before decanting dinner. When used to cook soup on high, some steam and condensation escaped from the lid, leaving a puddle of water on the worktop, while the exterior grew very hot. However, the low setting produced a tasty Bolognese meat sauce and the warm function kept food at a hot enough serving temperature. The pot and lid are dishwasher-safe, too, which is advisable as it's tricky to see food on the pot's black glaze. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars 10. Bosch AutoCook MulticookerBest slow cooker for keen entertainers
Digital? Yes • Dishwasher-safe bowl and accessories Reasons to avoid: • The controls can be fiddly There’s one area in which slow cookers truly excel and that’s producing top-notch meals that taste like you've been slaving away in the kitchen all day. In fact, all you had to do is pop some ingredients in a bowl and walk away. This is what the AutoCook slow cooker does brilliantly, stewing and simmering away while you enjoy a glass of wine with your guests. Strictly a multi-cooker rather than a simple slow cooker, Bosch’s AutoCook Pro nonetheless performs the role with gusto. Offering up a five-litre cauldron-shaped round bowl, it provides good capacity without the awkward depth. It also uses induction to heat it evenly, removing the issue of hot spots. Also unlike a traditional slow cooker, there's an abundance of controls to get to grips with. Some are more confusing than others. The silver lining of this button bonanza is that you have more flexibility with your slow cooking time and temperature as it goes as low as 40C. In tests, the AutoCook slow-cooked eggs in their shells to gently poach them. The resulting eggs were still slightly watery after an hour. However, this slow cooker could be a time-saver for a dinner party. It made yogurt on a slow cooking programme that took eight hours and resulted in creamy semi-set yoghurt. Parts of the lid need to be washed by hand but the bowl and its accessories are all dishwasher-safe. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars How to buy the best slow cooker for you Image credit: Will Heap Why do I need a slow cooker?Slow cookers have got so much going for them, it's hard not to love them. Not only will a good one save you time and effort in the kitchen, it'll save you money too. Slow cookers transform cheaper cuts of meat into tender dishes and liven up economical healthy pulses, like lentils, beans and peas. Plus, while they can be on all day, it's at such a low wattage that it will only cost pennies.
Slow cookers are also brilliant for less-than-confident cooks, easily creating all those meals that seem a bit scary on the hob. That's because slow cooking develops the flavours of food for richer, tastier results. It's not just dinners that slow cookers excel at making either. They make great porridge, granola, stewed apples, bread and butter pudding, fudge and dips. You can use your slow cooker to melt chocolate, as a Bain-marie. How much should I spend on a slow cooker?Slow cookers are one of the most affordable small appliances, and you can buy one for as little as £20. At this price, it'll be pretty basic in terms of features. Also, the dish may be the traditional choice of heavy, potentially breakable, ceramic. However, you should still be able to simmer and stew whatever you like. Spend more and you'll find a greater array of features, such as automatic functions. A bigger budget will allow for a durable metal pot that can be used on your hob and is dishwasher-safe. Stretch your budget to the £100 mark and your slow cooker may also double up as a multi-cooker, so it can cook fluffy rice and steam food, too. What are the main features of a slow cooker? Image credit: Russell Hobbs Slow cooker capacity The first thing you need to consider with any slow cooker is its capacity – each will list its bowl size in litres. Bear in mind that this won't translate to the same amount of food, as you shouldn't fill slow cookers to the brim. This gap allows your food to bubble and simmer properly. The usable cooking space will be around three-quarters of its bowl size, for example, a five-litre cooker can accommodate around four litres of food. Slow cookers range in size from a compact 1.5 litres to a 6.5-litre bowl, so be sure to choose the right size for the way you intend to cook. As a rough guide, 1.5-3 litres will feed one or two people, 3-5 litres, three or four people and anything over five litres should suit a large family, with six litres or more ideal for batch cooks who like to fill the freezer. Alternatively, a larger cooker is great for those who like to eat what's leftover for lunch the next day. Slow cooker controls Most slow cookers will have similar standard controls – high heat for meals cooked in less than a few hours, low heat for all-day cooking. A ‘keep warm’ mode should hold food at a serve-able temperature without actually cooking it. Some cookers will switch to ‘keep warm’ automatically after an elapsed cooking time, while more basic models need this altered manually. Slow cookers with digital controls may also have a delay start, which is ideal if you're out of the house for more than eight hours. This means you can start cooking at a time to suit you – while it's hard to overcook recipes with a lot of liquid, this gives more freedom with dishes that could potentially start to dry out. A timer is another handy feature – this will either turn the machine off after cooking or put it into a limited time keep warm mode. One-pot solutions Basic slow cookers won't get hot enough to sauté meat or vegetables, so you'll need to do this in a pan before transferring the contents to the bowl. However, more expensive models offer a different one-pot solution. This can either be bowls that you use on your hob or in your oven in place of a pan (some will even be induction compatible). They will need to be moved to the slow cooker base. Machines with a sauté function for high-heat browning can simply be switched to slow cooking.
The advantage of this is not leaving all that lovely seared flavour behind in a pan, and it reduces washing-up. Finally, look for a slow cooker with a transparent lid, so you can keep an eye on your food's progress. Lifting the lid of a slow cooker while it's in use lets out heat and steam, prolonging cooking time. It's always best to be able to see what's going on without doing so. Are slow cookers easy to clean?
You'll only have a lid and a pot to wash but even so, it's best to check the cleaning instructions. Budget models with large ceramic dishes may not be dishwasher-safe and the pot can be heavy and cumbersome to clean thoroughly by hand. Dark glazes may also make it hard to see stuck-on food. A non-stick coating on a lighter pot can be a better choice for straightforward maintenance. What other key questions do I need to ask?
The post Best slow cookers 2021: our top 10, reviewed appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| The Christmas countdown is on! Our six-week festive planner to get ahead Posted: 15 Nov 2021 07:48 AM PST With the big day coming ever-closer, start prepping now to ensure the calmest Christmas countdown ever. We've laid out what you should be prioritising each week in the run-up to advent so you can be the host with the most (most organised Christmas, that is!). Not only will this six-week festive planner leave you even more time to sit back and enjoy time with family and friends, but you'll be gleefully avoiding any last minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve. Christmas countdown: six-week festive plannerAt this stage, you're likely to have arranged who'll be coming over to yours for the day itself. While we of course hope things will be back to 'normal' this year, make sure to have some back-up plans in hand in case anything changes. Plan who'll be setting up Zoom get togethers in case they're needed. The next thing you should have in hand, on your Christmas checklist, is sorting the ever-fun budget. Then, it's time for the even more fun stuff – like finding the coolest Christmas ideas and enjoying the excitement of finding that perfect for gift for someone special. Here’s our essential Christmas checklist to planning the festivities to perfection. Six weeks before Christmas… Image credit: Future PLC With still plenty of time to go, make sure you sit down and think about what you want your Christmas menu to be. Are you opting for a classic turkey, going old school with some goose, or do you need a vegan/vegetarian option on the cards? For the birds, it's time to get ordering. Both local butchers and supermarkets will be able to sort this for you. Think about your mains sides, too, because there are still plenty of bits and pieces you can pick up in advance, like crackers for your cheese, or chocolates for the sideboard. If you might have trouble getting out and about nearer the day itself, it's also worth looking at getting supermarket delivery slots booked in, too. Remember that most of the bigger retailers will allow you to alter produce in your baskets until near the actual date of delivery, so it's more about the slot than having everything set in stone. Six weeks in advance also leaves you enough time to order an artificial Christmas tree – with so many deliveries delayed this year, it's worth leaving plenty of time for this one. There are so many amazing Christmas tree ideas out there, so it's worth allowing yourself time to pick the perfect centrepiece. Five weeks before… Image credit: Future PLC When there's five weeks to go in the Christmas countdown, that means it's time for Stir-Up Sunday. A Victorian tradition, Stir-up Sunday is the day for the family to gather and make the Christmas pudding. Once prepped, the pudding can be stored ready for Christmas Day when it simply needs heating up to enjoy. This year the date falls on Sunday 21st November, so make sure you've got your ingredients ready to go. If you don't fancy doing things the old fashioned way, pick up a Black Friday mixer deal to stir in style. Get online and order any outstanding gifts. Remember that the larger or more popular the item, the more likely it will sell out or have a long lead time for delivery. It's also time to find the best Christmas lights for your theme this year. Unravel those old fairy lights and tree decorations to see if anything needs replacing, and get ordering new ones as required. Similarly, assess your wrapping paper and Christmas card stash and make sure you order more if you're running low or are looking for new designs. Four weeks before… Image credit: Future PLC It may seem early, but once the bulk of your gifts are in your possession, get wrapping! Setting aside a little time every day, or couple of days, to gift wrapping will mean you get to say goodbye to hurried, hushed nights manically sellotaping up presents with mere days to go. Look at decorating the exterior of your home at this stage, with the latest outdoor Christmas decor ideas festive magic to your home. Even if you're not officially switching them on yet, get the stress of unravelling fairy lights and hunting for weather-proof extension cords out of the way early on. Three weeks to go… Image credit: Future PLC If you’re opting for a real tree, now’s the time to pick one up. Keep it in water somewhere fairly cool in your home (a garage usually works well) to allow needles to drop before you move it where you want it. While the last dates for posting cards within the UK is still a while off, it's still time to get posting Christmas cards and presents. For a start, this means you can guarantee they'll arrive on time, but also, who doesn’t love finding new Christmas card ideas for decorating their home in the run up to advent? One of the most exciting bits (in our home-obsessed opinion) of the Christmas countdown is here – getting the house decorated. From the foliage decorating bannister, mini trees in kids rooms and Christmas mantelpiece ideas running around our minds, there are options to suit every style. Collect foliage to make your very own festive wreath. Alternatively, take one thing off your plate by buying one of the best Christmas wreaths of the year. Either at, you're sure to have a show-stopping front door that'll impress even St Nick himself. This is a great point to finalise your shopping list for Christmas dinner. Make sure you've got everything you can buy in advance, added to your online delivery or have a set list of what you can pick up and where nearer the big day. Also use this time to order or buy any alcohol for Christmas. Two weeks to go… Image credit: Future PLC With only a fortnight before Christmas, it's absolutely the moment to check that list twice. Double check all your cookware and dishes, making sure you’ve got enough of everything and the right sizes – the last thing you need is to find out on Christmas Eve that the turkey is too big for your baking trays. While sorting out the kitchen, stock up on household essentials. Think bin bags for collecting up wrapping paper, spare batteries for fairy lights or new toys, and any over-the-counter medication that you might need (it never hurts to have some Berocca and paracetamol on hand for Boxing Day). If family or friends are staying over at your home for the holidays, get the spare room spick and span. Get new sheets on the bed, have clean towels folded and ready, and hunt out extra blankets or a dressing gown to keep them cosy. One week to go… Image credit: Future PLC T-7 days! This is your last chance for posting within the UK. Royal Mail advises Saturday 18th December as the last day for posting second class in time for Christmas. First class, you have a little more leeway, until Tuesday 21st. It may not sound like the most fun task, but it's time to give the house a good old clean. The fridge should also be cleared and cleaned so you can get all the festive food arranged and ordered as it comes in. Make sure you include your wardrobe in this, too, so you don't have any outfit panics over the next week. Check you have enough chairs for everyone to sit around the dinner table, if you’re borrowing anything from friends or family get it now so it’s not a last minute rush. Three days before… Image credit: Future/ Chris Alack Go food shopping for your final bits and pieces. Pick up your turkey and all the vegetables. Go armed with a list so you remember everything you need. Check Christmas supermarket opening times, some are open extra early so you can shop in peace! In terms of food, if you've ordered a frozen turkey, you need around one day defrosting in the fridge for every 4lbs. For fresh birds, your butcher will typically have you pick it up with 2 or 3 days to go. Some food can get prepared at this stage – get the stuffing made, and list out a timeline for the day so you know exactly what you're roasting, at what temperature and when. If you're the host, you might find that you miss some of the Christmas specials that you wanted to catch. Most TV satellite boxes allow you to record about a week in advance, so grab the TV guide and get taping. Whether you're an Articulate or Jenga family, use this time to also dig out family favourite board games to pre-arrange screen breaks. Christmas Eve Image credit: Future PLC 'Twas the night before Christmas, and we were oh-so-organised! On December 24th, set the table in advance of the meal the next day and decide where everyone is sitting.Don’t forget the crackers! You can also start cooking – make sure as much as you can get checked off at this stage is done. This depends on what you're cooking, but typically you can start peeling veg and defrosting party nibbles. Depending on how you cook your main, you might even be able to start cooking it on Christmas Eve itself. lay the dining table a Prepare as much food as you can in advance, peel vegetables, make the stuffing and write a cooking timeline so you know when everything needs to be cooked. If you need a few minutes of peace to tie up any loose ends, or you simply want the kids to simmer down, look out for Christmas Eve box ideas. This modern tradition is a miracle worker in terms of keeping the little ones occupied. Christmas Day Image credit: Future PLC First thing charge phones, iPads, cameras and other devices you’re likely to use throughout the day. And of course…chill the drinks, ready for when guests arrive. Get those sleigh bells jingling, because you've made it! Since you were sorted well in advance using our Christmas countdown, your day should run like clockwork. Note – we take no responsibility for any arguments between the kids or your partner singing their eyebrows when lighting the Christmas pudding… Boxing Day Image credit: Future PLC And you thought it was all over! Well, yes but you can now use this time to start shopping the New Year sales, and get ready for any NYE parties. Our favourite way to use this time, however, is to find ways to brighten up your home after the Christmas decorations come down, so come early January your house looks as beautiful and warm as ever. Does your family have any traditions that we should be including in our Christmas countdown? The post The Christmas countdown is on! Our six-week festive planner to get ahead appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| When is the best time to buy a house? Experts reveal best times of the year Posted: 15 Nov 2021 07:46 AM PST If you're thinking about buying a house, it’s worth bearing in mind that there are different times of the year that lend themselves to a property purchase better than others. For example, a market brimming with properties for sale is the best time for buying a house as a purchaser, as you're more likely to be able to get a deal. Whereas if there's little available, you could end up paying over the asking price in a bid to beat other buyers also struggling to find a property. Interestingly, the UK property market bucked its usual trend of summer being a quiet month this year. Pent-up demand for moves post lockdown, as well as the rush for buyers to secure their purchase before the end of the stamp duty holiday fuelled the property market, resulting in over 200,000 house sales in June 2021 according to HMRC. When is the best time to buy a house?Read on, to find out the answers to some of the most frequently asked homebuyer questions to work out whether 2022 is the right time for you to take a leap onto the property ladder…  Image credit:Future/ Douglas Gibb Buying property is a huge investment, from deposits to solicitor fees for buying a house. It’s not a decision to ever take lightly. With the stamp duty holiday now over, and life getting back to some sort of normality as we come out of lockdown, it'll be interesting to see what happens to the property market going forward. What time of year is it best to buy a house?Traditionally, spring and early autumn tend to be a popular time to buy, with summer and winter being quieter. 'There is typically more housing stock available in spring. Sales often go through quicker as people tend to be keen to complete before the summer,' says Heather Owen, Financial Planning Expert at Quilter. 'In contrast, the number of homes available later in the year tend to drop as homeowners opt to stay put for the winter,' says Heather. 'As there are typically business closures around the Christmas period, house sales can also take much longer to process.' What is the best time of year to sell a house?Interestingly, although spring and early autumn are the best time to buy a house, winter and summer tend to be the best times to sell a house – as there's less competition on the market. 'With fewer properties available in summer and winter, your house will have less competition and stand out more,' says Natalie Carter, Director at Kai Carter Estates. 'March often sees an increase in the number of homes up for sale. So if you are looking to buy a house then it is likely you will have far more to choose from as there are lots of people looking to move home in the spring,' says Heather.  Image credit: Future/ Brent Darby What time of year are houses the cheapest?Unfortunately, there isn't really a certain time of the year when you can get a bargain. It's more about the seller's circumstances. 'If someone needs to sell quickly for financial reasons – relocation or perhaps a separation – they may be more inclined to take an offer, says Natalie. 'Being a cash buyer and/or with no chain will increase your appeal as a buyer, as the sale can move quickly, sometimes in as little as 30 days.' Natalie also recommends looking at new developments where the homes are all finished, but not yet all sold. 'Once houses are built, developers want to capitalise on their investment to fund their next project. If a few houses remain unsold they may be prepared to take an offer,' she says. Is 2022 a good year to buy a house?There is a general consensus among the property industry that 2022 will be the year where buyers will get a fair price. 'Sales being agreed has increased, but the number of sales achieving over the asking price has reduced, meaning we may start to see an end to the bidding wars that have been so prevalent,' says Nathan Emerson, Chief Executive at Propertymark. Nima Ghasri, Director at regulated property buyers GoodMove, agrees: 'Demand remains strong and there is currently a shortage of properties to meet demand. So prices are holding steady and I believe they will continue to do so in 2022,' says Nima. Meaning 2022 is looking promising start a moving house checklist to make a smart home change over. When is the best time to buy for first-time buyers?'Latest OBR forecasts suggest an imminent base interest rate hike from the Bank of England, which will ultimately lead to higher mortgage costs over the next year,' says Vadim Toader, CEO of Proportunity. 'At the same time, real estate is usually considered a solid hedge against inflation, which will drive property prices even higher and contribute to mortgage costs going up. Unfortunately, it's going to be a double whammy impact on homebuyers' affordability,' he says. If you're in a position to do so, Vadim advises aspiring homebuyers to jump on the property ladder sooner rather than later, in order to benefit from the lowest historic interest rates currently available. 'To unblock these advantageous rates, buyers will need around a 20 per cent deposit,' says Vadim. If you don't have cash savings to hand, check out the government's shared ownership and Help to Buy: Equity Loan schemes, offering first-time buyers with the financial aid that they need to afford a property.  Image credit: Future/ Olly Gordon What age is the best time to buy a new home?According to comparethemarket.com, the average age of a first-time buyer in 2020 was 34.5 in London, and 32.2 in the rest of England. The comparison website predicts the age threshold will rise over the next ten years, reaching 37 in London and 34.7 in the rest of England in 2031, crediting house prices as the cause for the rise. 'There’s no hard and fast rule. I think you want to be young enough that you can have a mortgage term and payments that are affordable for you, as the older you get, the shorter your term and therefore the higher your payments,' says Nicola Schutrups, Managing Director at The Mortgage Hut. 'However, you need to be of an age where you have a credit history, so it's highly unlikely you'll get a mortgage at 18, for instance.' There used to be an age threshold that cut off at 55, but lenders realise people are living longer. 'We're seeing lenders who will approve a mortgage for people up to the age of 80, with repayments until they reach 100,' says Nicola. 'To a lender, someone with a pension is seen as more reliable because you can't be made redundant from your pension.’ Is the best time to buy a house during a recession?A recession is generally considered a bad time to buy a home, as wages are lower and more people find themselves out of a job. However, there are pros to buying in a recession. The biggest being that house prices tend to drop, and therefore you might get more for your money. 'Ultimately, if you look at any five-year period, house prices have gone up and property is a great long-term investment. So buying during a recession is a good idea, provided you can get a good deal,' says Nicola. How has Covid 19 affected home-buying patterns?Since the pandemic, there's been a shift in homebuyer's priorities. A private garden, space for a home office and access to open green space are now becoming much more important. 'The home has become far more than just the four walls that surround it. ‘With 2020 behind us, a year when we've all spent most of our lives inside our homes, where we live has never felt more important,' says Lisa Crush, Director of Sales and Marketing for Peabody. 'People's appreciation of the space they inhabit, their immediate surroundings and the lifestyle that can be enjoyed from it, is more significant than ever,' says Lisa. The post When is the best time to buy a house? Experts reveal best times of the year appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| How to cosy up your home for the festive season with The Chateau Posted: 15 Nov 2021 05:17 AM PST Christmas is a truly magical time, there's a feeling of excitement in the air and it's the perfect opportunity to cosy up our homes. Be inspired by Dick and Angel Strawbridge's fairytale home Chateau de la Motte Husson and add some Chateau sparkle in time for a fabulously festive Christmas. Make your home warm and cosy for the festive season with top tips from The Chateau 1. Introduce festive prints and motifs Image credit: The Chateau If you want to add subtle decorative accents of the season into your home, try introducing Christmas-inspired prints and motifs to create a truly festive feeling. The beautifully illustrated 'Joyeux Noel' design, features traditional Christmas motifs – robins, red berries, holly and ivy, and Christmas baubles. This pretty yuletide design is available in a handful of decorative and personalisable products including a statement tile, which can be used as a tile or trivet, a coaster, mug and even a notebook and diary to get you organised for the new year! Buy now: Personalised Joyeux Noel tile, £15, The Chateau 2. Switch up your bedding for the season Image credit: The Chateau When the nights start drawing in, change your bedding to sumptuous rich colours which will cosy up your bedroom and transition your home to winter. If you want to create that luxurious feeling perfect for the time of year, choose a darker colour palette that features rich and opulent colours like emerald greens and deep purples. The new homeware collection by Angel includes the Emerald Fan print (you may have spotted it in the first episode of the new series of 'Escape to The Chateau') which features illustrated fans, flowers and 1920s-inspired motifs. The deeply vibrant colour palette is perfect for creating a luxurious space befitting of the season…it's not only available in a bed set but a cushion, fabric, wallpaper and lampshade, too! Buy now: Emerald Fan Bed Set, £45, The Chateau 3. Choose heavy curtains Image credit: The Chateau French Chateaux are filled with gorgeous big windows, perfect for hanging luxurious statement curtains. The added benefit is keeping your rooms nice and warm and cosy throughout winter. The Chateau The curtains come in many sizes and would be a great addition to any room. Buy now: The Wild Flower Garden Curtains, £45, The Chateau 4. Fill your home with festive scents Image credit: The Chateau Candlelight immediately cosies up a space, making it warm, inviting and atmospheric. Ambient lighting and luxurious scents are perfect for a date night or a festive evening in with the family. The scents of Christmas are truly magical; chestnuts roasting on an open fire, cinnamon, cloves and orange, and fresh pine needles. The Chateau With a burn time of around 40 hours, the festive scent will fill an entire home. For an extra special touch, you can get your candle personalised…or why not treat a loved one to a personalised candle for Christmas? Buy now: Personalised White Forest Candle, £30, The Chateau 5. Cosy up your accessories Image credit: The Chateau Bring in warming accessories to your home this winter to make sure you and the entire family keep nice and cosy. The Strawbridge family love a hot water bottle and there's no better feeling than snuggling up on a chilly night…they're a must at The Chateau! The Chateau Buy now: Nouveau Wallpaper Hot Water Bottle, £24, The Chateau 6. Pour yourself a delicious hot chocolate Image credit: The Chateau Indulgence is part of the Christmas experience! And what could be better than a cosy cup of delicious hot chocolate while you're snuggled on the sofa. The Chateau Buy now: Personalised Hot Chocolate Gift Set, £24, The Chateau 7. Let the countdown begin Image credit: The Chateau Now your home is feeling warm and cosy it's time to start the countdown to Christmas! No countdown is complete without a traditional chocolate advent calendar. There's nothing quite like the ceremony of sitting down all together in the morning and behind every door is a surprise! The Chateau Buy now: Organic Chocolate Advent Calendar, £12.50, The Chateau  Image credit: The Chateau Discover the entire range of Chateau homeware, gifts and personalised accessories at www.thechateau.tv and follow The Trésorerie and @the_chateau_tv on Instagram for more inspiration.
The post How to cosy up your home for the festive season with The Chateau appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Extending resulted in a complete transformation for this neo-Georgian house Posted: 15 Nov 2021 04:37 AM PST  Having just refurbished a house and decided to settle into it for the foreseeable future, this property-savvy couple came across their current house online. ‘We weren't considering this location at all, but the house backed onto a park, and as soon as we walked in, as the cliche goes, we knew this was the one straight away.’ The property had been vacant for two years, with the previous owner, an elderly lady of 102 having lived there for 60 years. 'It was a time warp. It needed a lot of work. There was no central heating in some rooms, and there were numerous versions of old and even older electrical fittings throughout’ explains the owner. ‘We fell in love with the hallway and parquet floor, which ironically are the two things we had to rip out to make way for the new staircase. Now, after raising the roof and replacing all the windows, there's actually not much left of the original house.’ Neo-Georgian house exterior Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby The house is in a conservation area and the owners were keen to work with experts who knew how to navigate the council's requirements. They settled on Gruff Architects (gruffarchitects.com) who immediately understood their vision. 'I remember our architect asking where we'd put our Christmas tree, which was funny, because that's one of the things I'd also considered, but thought that was just me, over-thinking!' The architects felt the layout as you entered the house was vitally important, in order to enjoy the connections between rooms across the floor plan. 'They adjusted the entrance hallway to relocate the stairs centrally, which allowed direct access to the new loft and opened out the plan to make a much more understandable and practical layout for each floor.' Hallway Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby The owners were adamant that the hallway idea should feel authentic, despite being a new addition. ‘New parquet has been laid, which looks like it's always been there, perfectly complements the grand entrance space.’ ‘When we had to move the staircase we were worried about the effect it would have on the hall, but it feels completely natural. We now have a double height ceiling space on the first floor, leading up the loft which makes the house seem grander and airier.’ Kitchen Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby The kitchen is where the family spend most of their time. The previous owners had filled in a gap between the garage and the house with a porch that was added in the 1980s. The new owners removed the door and replaced it with a window seat idea to create the seating nook. ‘The extended peninsular worktop was a last minute addition. It wasn't meant to be so long, but now the children have a perching place to eat which has proved incredibly useful.’ The extension work is most evident in the new kitchen. Where space has been taken from the generous garden to create a large kitchen-diner. 'We removed the back wall of the house, as you couldn't see into the garden,’ explains the owner. Using a third of that outdoor space for the new extension. ‘I designed the kitchen with the architect and chose textures and tones that mirror the consistent colour palette used throughout the house. I decided on the colour of the kitchen early on, as I'd used the same thing in our last house.’ The owners came close to commissioning a kitchen company to make the units, but their builder was confident that he could put together a team who could achieve what they wanted – and he was right. Dining room Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby Compared to the rest of the house this space doesn't have many pictures because the owners wanted a serene feel. The bifold doors retract fully, so it feels like you're in the garden when they're open. ‘The room is a lot bigger than we anticipated. We had our existing, relatively small, table in here initially and it looked ridiculous, so we found this one from Neptune.’ At their children’s insistence, they have two Christmas trees: ‘One here in the dining area, decorated in a restrained theme, the other in the lounge, which gets strewn with everything they can find in the box!' Living room Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby In the winter this space has a country house type of feel; it's intimate, but there are lovely big windows. Originally two rooms, the couple removed the dividing wall to create an open-plan space. ‘It has a very different feel to the extension. The fireplace is a beautiful focal point, ready to gather round at Christmas time. Choosing a neutral hue for the surround and hearth means the style works year-round.’ Living room Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby The owners choose to create a subtle festive sparkle using lots of foliage interspersed with candlesticks and fairy lights. 'I make my own wreath for the front door: a haphazard mixture of greenery with purple thistles and anything with a silvery tinge.’ ‘The staircase has eucalyptus woven through the spindles, along with some lights. The scent is delightful right throughout the festive period.' Bedroom Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby Speaking of the blue bedroom idea the homeowner says: 'A fresh-feeling space has been created using a pared down palette of blue hues. I like tonal contrasts and wanted to keep the bedroom simple using a selection of tactile materials such as linen, corduroy, chenille & silk.’ ‘Wall-mounted lamps helps create a scheme of layered lighting. Offering practical illumination so you don’t have to get out of bed once you’re ready to sleep.’ Ensuite bathroom Photography Brent Darby/Future PLC 'This bathroom still has the original 1930s bathtub which we had re-enamelled. It used to be a south-facing bedroom with a beautiful arched window. I realised it would split well into two rooms. So on the other side of a dividing wall (which the units run along) is now my study.’ The post Extending resulted in a complete transformation for this neo-Georgian house appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Best robot vacuum 2021: our top 7 for busy homes Posted: 15 Nov 2021 04:01 AM PST Choose the best robot vacuum and you’ll have a new hands-free solution to those midweek cleans that just can’t wait. With completely hands-free controls and increasingly smart features, the best robot vacuums will cut down on cleaning time, just in time for the busiest time of the year. While they’re not quite ready to replace the best vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners will run around your home and pick up pet hair, dust, and crumbs, even when you’re not home. You can even schedule the best robot vacuum to slot it into your cleaning routine. While they’ve been around for a while, there’s a reason that everyone is buying the best robot vacuum right now. They are genuinely very smart pieces of tech, and despite that, they’re easy to use and have plenty of suction. We hate complicated setups and manuals that resemble textbooks, so if you snap up an Ideal Home approved robot vacuum, that means we were able to get to grips with its controls and even app pairing. Our top picks from Ecovacs, iRobot, Roomba, Roborock and even Dyson will make your cleaning routine easier than ever, and if you want to pick up a robot vacuum on sale, take a look at our Black Friday home deals page. How much does a robot vacuum cost? Image credit: iRobot Initial models could be found stranded on the doormat or bumping repeatedly into a door, but our robot vacuum reviews put the latest and greatest to the test, with options for under £200 and some recent releases that are crammed with added features such as self-emptying bins and the ability to avoid obstacles. Best robot vacuums 20211. Eufy RoboVac 15c MaxBest robot vacuum for your money
Dimensions: 32.5 x 32.5 x 7.25 cm • Comes with a remote control Reasons to avoid: • It won’t map your floors With both a remote control and app sync available, the Eufy RoboVac 15c Max is a great option for both the tech-averse and those who want to customise every element of their vacuum. Pair it with your smart speaker, or simply press a button to set your Eufy RoboVac 15c Max around your floors. Boost IQ is Eufy’s answer to homes with a variety of floors. Switching from carpet to hard floors will be no issue thanks to its automatic adjustments. It will adjust between standard and max cleaning modes, although you can manually choose your preference, too. While it is neither the smartest nor the cheapest robot vacuum in our guide, the Eufy RoboVac 15c Max gets the balance right for most families. It’s a great value pick that has the perfect amount of power for most homes. Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars 2. Roborock S6Best robot vacuum for mopping
Dimensions: 35 x 35.3 x 9.6 cm • Mopping power makes this vacuum a two-in-one Reasons to avoid: • It’s a hefty 4kg While it’s designed to be one of the best robot vacuums, the Roborock S6 has an optional mop attachment that works simply by filling up the water container. It’s great on hardwood floors and leaves a relatively dry trail while still picking up superficial dirt. It’s no stand-in for an actual mop because there’s no suds or antibacterial cleaning solution involved, but for a tougher clean on laminate and tile we found it did a perfectly good job. Onto the vacuuming, which really is the star of the show, the Roborock S6 is incredibly smart. It automatically maps out your space and figures out the smartest way to clean, meaning it tracks more of a zig-zag across your room than a random dodgem route; something we found with less smart robot vacuums. The vacuum also scans the room using the LiDAR navigation on top of the machine. Other features we enjoyed included automatic recharging and the rubber bristles that aren’t prone to tangling and can accurately detect barriers and move dirt into the path of the vacuum. If you’re looking for the best robot vacuum and mop combination it’s a smart pick, and not the most expensive option in our guide. Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 3. iRobot Roomba S9+Best luxury robot vacuum
Dimensions: 52.2 x 43.4 x 41 cm • Amazing design for corners • It’s as expensive as a robot vacuum can get The iRobot Roomba S9+ is one of the most expensive options on the market, but if you’re willing to spend over a grand on a robot vac, it’s a seriously smart choice. The squared front is perfectly shaped to reach into corners and run along skirting boards to pick up every hidden piece of dust or pet hair. iRobot’s 3-stage cleaning system was designed to clean very deep into your floors, with rubber treads to reach into the fibre of your carpets and loosen any rooted-in hair or dirt. What we really love about this robot vac is how simple it is to use. Despite it’s tech-y design it looks very smart in any hallway and can be operated using the iRobot app. This will map out your home using Imprint Smart Map, which will then allow you to set certain rooms to be cleaned as well as create no-clean zones where you may have concerns about rug fringes or kids’ toys getting in the way. When it returns to the dock, the S9+ will begin to empty its own dustbin into the storage tower. This will go into a bag which will mean there is no chance for dust to escape back to your home once it’s been cleaned up, but this process is a little noisy. Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars 4. Ecovacs Deebot N79SBest budget-friendly robot vacuum
Dimensions: 33 x 33 x 7.8 cm • Reasonably priced Reasons to avoid: • The brush is prone to tangling An Amazon favourite due to the low cost and easy use, we were impressed by just how powerful the Ecovacs Deebot N79S is on both hardwood and carpet. It’s got a Wide Reach bristle on either side of the front of the vacuum, both of which do an excellent job of sweeping debris in the path of the vacuum as it goes around the room. Its battery holds true to the 100-minute battery life promised by Ecovacs, but we did find that after about six months of use this had depleted to around 45 minutes. Still, that’s above average for many robot vacuums. Not everyone will be drawn to a robot vacuum that requires lots of complicated controls and syncing to a phone, and one of the best things about the Ecovacs Deebot N79S is that you can simply press a button on the top of the machine and off it goes in Auto mode. Unlike some smarter vacuums such as the Roborock S6 it does move around more randomly instead of mapping a clear path around the room, but keep in mind that it does so for only a fraction of the price. Other modes include spot cleaning and edge mode, that targets skirting boards and corners very well. Suction is powerful and the bin is large. The issues we encountered weren’t unique to the Ecovacs Deebot N79S. For example, the side bristles can get tangled easily if (well, when) they encounter long hair. When it comes to the top of the stairs it does detect an imminent drop, but we found that we needed to rescue it from the cliff before it would continue cleaning, despite the claim that it does this automatically. Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 5. iRobot Roomba 980Best robot vacuum for total performance
Dimensions: 50dia x H91mm • Consistent cleaning • The docking system is a faff iRobot, the company behind Roomba, actually started out making bomb disposal robots for the American military. The company has been selling robotic vacuums in the US for decades. The Roomba 980 is their top-of-the-range Wi-Fi connected design that costs less than the Dyson. In our opinion, it outperforms it. The 350dia x H91mm lozenge can sneak under all but the lowest sofa, detects when it moves from hard floors to rugs and carpet. It boosts the motor speed for better cleaning results. It has a clever twin rubber brush bar. This is easy to clean and untangle and seriously good at picking up pet hair. The brush bars don’t extend right to the edge of the vacuum. However, the two spinning brushes sweep dust into the bars, so it can clean right up to the skirting boards. It comes with two battery powered digital fencing devices that prevent the Roomba going where it shouldn’t. Away from a tangle of wires, or outside onto the decking for instance. But we’ve not found much of a need for them. It’s excellent across all sorts of terrain. It can climb onto thick piled rugs and hasn’t fallen down stairs once. While not as simple to empty as the Dyson, the 980 has a HEPA filter to reduce allergens escaping back into the room. The consistency of the cleaning is the best we’ve come across. That’s both in terms of the amount of dust it picks up, and how well it navigates around the room. We rarely come home to find it tangled or trapped, just docked and recharging. One word on the docking system though. Irritatingly, it can only be plugged in from one side, which limits where you can position it. We resorted to using Blu-Tack to keep it in the right position. It was a struggle to rest it flush against a wall. Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars 6. Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11SBest quiet robot vacuum
Dimensions: 32.5 x 32.5 x 7.25 cm • It’s quiet Reasons to avoid: • You can’t pair it with an app Robot vacuums are pretty smart, but that doesn’t mean you need to get one with all the bells and whistles. If you’re a bit scared of setting up new apps, or you don’t get along with Alexa, the Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S could be a good choice for you. It has a good old-fashioned remote control that allows you to select a cleaning style (spot clean, edge clean etc) and how deep you would like your clean to be. The vacuum also automatically adjusts to carpets, which means you’ll get custom cleaning no matter what room it’s in. One other thing we love is the size. It’s only 7.25 cm tall, so plenty small enough to reach under the sofa. The Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S is quiet, too. It reaches only 55bD when testing. 7. Dyson 360 HeuristBest robot vacuum for reliability
Dimensions: 240 x 230mm • Excellent suction Reasons to avoid: • The dust bin is tiny Instantly recognisable as a Dyson product, the Dyson 360 Heurist is gorgeous. Well made, it has the same feeling of dependability (and usability) as their other vacuum cleaners. It might only measure 240 x 230mm, but it boasts of having 'twice the suction of any other robot vacuum’. It also has the ability to look 360° around a room. And it has a high-quality carbon fibre brush bar (like the one found on the excellent Dyson V8 Handheld). With one simple button – and a comprehensive smartphone app – it’s a breeze to use. Easy to set timers, it’ll even draw you a map to show how much cleaning it does while you’re at work. It isn't the simplest device to link to your Wi-Fi, requiring long passwords and a fair amount of faffing. The transparent dust collector is easy to empty without creating a mess. The filters can be rinsed under the tap and the docking station sits flush with the wall. The cord can be plugged in either on the right or left hand, depending on the nearest socket is. Watching the 360 Eye work is slow going but give it time – you’re at work after all. The excellent mapping cameras and sensors will cover the open ground with ease. The short 45min battery life and slow recharge rate mean it took over three hours to cover a large living room. The small size means it can get through chair legs more easily than the rest. At 12cm tall it might struggle under very low sofas, but we didn’t have an issue. The first time we used it, we were embarrassed by how much dust and dirt it collected. It was hugely impressive, with the living room looking and feeling cleaner. Over time though, we did get frustrated by its tendency to get stuck on the fireplace hearth (The Roomba or Miele had no issues with this). It became a bit of a joke as to where Dyson would be when we got home. Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Can a robot vacuum replace a regular vacuum?Anyone who has ever paid for a cleaner will know the joy of returning home to a spotless house. Even the most hi-tech of robotic vacuums can't yet compete with that just-polished look. But they can keep on top of the daily once-around. And all without you lifting a finger. Sure, we all know people who manage to vacuum virtually every day. But if you’re busy working and hate the idea of losing free time to chores, a robotic vacuum could be for you. Especially if you have pets. Where they struggle is with getting up and down the stairs (but if we find one that can levitate, we’ll let you know!) and hopping on and off rugs. You can zone your home to avoid these obstacles, but they do prove tricky for those who want to replace a vacuum cleaner altogether. Plus, we all need to whip out the vac every now and again to pick up a little spill, which is often best done by hand. We love our robot vacuums for keeping on track with day-to-day dirt, but we do still run around our classic vacuum to get more stuck in with the weekly clean. How to buy the best robot vacuum for you Image credit: Roomba How does a robot vacuum cleaner work?Basic robot cleaners generally clean in straight lines, running until they bump into something. They turn around and head back the way they came. Some work by spinning in a spiral from the middle of the room until they hit the edges. However, the latest designs boast NASA style sensor. This helps them map out any room and prevents them from toppling down the stairs. All robot vacuums have drop sensors to avoid falling, and most have bump sensors in case they do run into things. A combination of cameras and even lasers help guide the top-of-the-range designs. These robots track what has been cleaned and what is left to clean until they’ve finished that particular section of your home. It might look like they work randomly, but trust us, it’s anything but! Some can also tell if they change surfaces – from carpet to hard floor for instance. They can decrease motor power in that instance. Some can even sense if there’s more dirt and pass over the area more frequently. How much should I spend on a robot vacuum cleaner?A good robot vacuum isn't cheap, and you should budget around £200 at the very least. Anything less and you’re looking at more of an automated floor sweeper than an intelligent appliance. Our best buys cost around £700 which is a lot, especially given you’ll still need to occasionally run around with a regular cleaner, but if you’re a pet owner sick of hairballs blowing across the room, the daily clean of a robotic vacuum will be worth every penny. 3. How well does a robot vacuum really clean?We were horrified by how much dust, dirt, and pet hair was collected by the robot vacuums. Remember to pick obstacles off the floor before leaving the house. This way you will come back to much cleaner floors. And the beauty is, it will clean every day, without complaining. Admittedly the quality of cleaning is dependent on the vacuum’s ability to clean unobstructed. If you have stuff everywhere you should expect it to get stuck from time to time. Also, it can't get right into the corners, no matter what the blurb on the box says. It also can’t climb stairs. So if you want to clean bedrooms or bathrooms you’ll need to take it up and turn it on. If you ask us, it’s still better than doing it yourself. What features should I look for when choosing a robot vacuum cleaner? Image credit: Braava
Get the most from your robot vacuum Image credit: Dyson Robot vacuum cleaners aren't perfect yet, but you can help them perform better with these easy tips: 1. Tidy upEven the most hi-tech sensors can’t navigate around piles of Lego or dirty laundry, so to give the vacuum the best chance of a success, have a quick tidy before you leave. 2. Don’t get rid of the old vacuumRobots can't clean stairs, curtains or upholstery (yet!). Therefore you will still need a proper vacuum, or a decent cordless handheld with a nozzle and crevice attachments. 3. Use the timersRobot vacuums work best if they clean every day. Learn how to use the schedule and set it to clean when you know you’ll be out the house. 4. Clean it regularlyAs with a regular vacuum, make sure you clean the filters regularly. Get rid of any tangles as soon as you discover them. The post Best robot vacuum 2021: our top 7 for busy homes appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| Best pizza ovens 2021: the top 10 indoor and outdoor ovens Posted: 15 Nov 2021 02:19 AM PST The best pizza oven may be an investment, but it’s one that will give you an endless supply of delicious homemade pizza. While many of the best pizza ovens are wood-fired, some of our top picks from Ooni and DeliVita can also be powered with gas. Then, there’s an electric pizza oven from Sage that can be used indoors, a great solution for those in flats or who live in colder climates. We’ve been lucky enough to try out some of the best pizza ovens from DeliVita, Ooni, Woody, Gozney, and Sage, and we’re bringing you our top ten picks for your home or garden. With these ovens you can practice making the perfect pizza until you’ve mastered the art. Then, when summer comes back around, you can make delicious slices for the whole family with garden pizza parties. Much like the best BBQs, the best pizza ovens come in a range of fuel types. The wood-fired pizza ovens are certainly the most traditional, but there are also gas-fired options with easy ignition and adjustable temperatures. Some of our top picks from Ooni have multi-fuel modes which will give you flexibility in choosing the right mode for you. Best pizza ovens 20211. Ooni KaruBest pizza oven for everyone  Image credit: Ooni Fuel: Gas, wood or charcoal • It does it all Reasons to avoid • None! Go from stone-cold to stone-baked in just 10 minutes! The Ooni Karu is powered by fast-burning wood pellets that get the oven temperature up to 500°C, and it takes just 60 seconds to cook up a heavenly Hawaiian pizza – you can’t ask for better timing when it comes to entertaining. What's more, the removable chimney and foldable legs make it easy to sling in the boot of the car and take it wherever you may be required to host a pizza party. With an optional gas attachment, the Ooni Karu is also a great choice for those who want the style of a conventional wood fired pizza oven with more versatility. You can even cook using charcoal, which is perfect for smoking any extras for those who don’t fancy a pizza. We loved using the gas attachment when the weather wasn’t quite as warm, as it heats the oven up faster and means the wind is less of an issue. The oven is slightly lager than the Fyra but still very portable, and we found that its multi-use offering made it a great choice for those who like the idea of authentic wood-fired pizza but want the backup option of something more sturdy. The gas attachment takes less than a minute to install, and turns on like a gas barbecue. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 2. Gozney RoccboxBest pizza oven for multi-fuel options
Fuel: Wood & gas • Silicone jacket is safe to touch Reasons to avoid • When cooking with wood it’s quite fiddly The Gozney Roccbox is a premium pizza oven. It’s got a silicone jacket that keeps it safe to touch while cooking and also helps to insulate throughout. We also think it looks a real treat, and you can choose one of two colours when buying this oven. We found that the thermometer at the side of the oven makes cooking nice and easy, and you can keep track of how consistent the temperature stays when cooking to adjust timings accordingly. The legs fold down twice to make the oven very portable, and it comes with a strap that helps to hoist it in and out of the car. It is heavy though, so don’t expect to carry it long distances unless you’re very strong. The gas and wood burners both twist onto the base of the oven, and it’s very simple to hook up the gas burner to keep it consistently burning. When it comes to wood though the oven is more high maintenance, and we found that it could use a larger capacity to keep it well-stocked enough to hit those high temperatures. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 3. Woody Wood Fired Pizza OvenBest affordable pizza oven
Fuel: Wood pellets • It’s reasonably priced Reasons to avoid • It’s a high maintenance piece of kit The Woody Wood Fired Pizza Oven is our top pick if you want the best pizza oven on a budget. It’s got all the main features of other portable pizza ovens, as well as a pizza peel included, and e ven a thermometer attached to the front of the oven. That’s great value when you compare it to alternatives such as Ooni, which don’t include these extras and cost a slice more. The arched roof of the Woody Wood Fired Pizza Oven charmed us when we reviewed it, and the powder-coated oven body is insulated with ceramic fibre to make it easy to reach those high temperatures you’ll need to make a pizza in under 60 seconds. It also comes with a carry case and detachable chimney which makes transportation easy. As with all wood-fired ovens, it’s quite an involved process to get that high temperature. Despite this we were able to reach 450ºC, and our pizza had that telltale charring that shows it’s been cooked to perfection. Ideal Home rated 4 out of 5 stars Read our full Woody Portable Wood Fired Pizza Oven Kit review 4. Ooni Fyra Portable Outdoor Pizza OvenBest pizza oven for design  Image credit: Ooni Fuel: Wood • Excellent insulation Reasons to avoid • It’s exclusively wood-fired Our tried and tested top pick, this pizza oven gets the balance right when it comes to affordability and quality. We found that it takes a few tries to get the perfect pizza, but once you’ve got the hang of turning the pizza as it cooks you’ll have evenly-cooked and authentic Italian pizza, whenever you want! The Ooni Fyra is easy to clean, you just need to empty the fuel tray at the back of the oven and wipe down the pizza stone. Its legs fold out for use on wooden, steel or stone tables, and the chimney twists off so you can store it inside the oven itself and take it on the go. When we put the Fyra to the test it delivered perfectly cooked pizza in 60 seconds, as promised. There’s no temperature gauge but you’ll get the hang of identifying when the oven is heated up after a few attempts. This pizza oven makes the process easy and straightforward, and it’s guaranteed to be used all through the summer. 5. Sage Smart Oven PizzaioloBest indoor pizza oven
Fuel: Electric • It makes amazing pizzas with very little effort Reasons to avoid • You’ll lose that wood-fired charm The Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is a seriously smart indoor pizza oven. It can heat up to 400 degrees and cook authentic Neopolitan-style pizzas as well as deep dish and even frozen pizzas. When we put this pizza oven to the test and were seriously impressed by how fast it cooked our pizzas, as well as the evenness of the cooking. Although it’s electric, the Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo gives you the experience of authentic wood-fired pizza but without the stress of firing up an outdoor oven. The immediate advantage of this is that you can enjoy fresh cooked pizza all year around, and no weather can rain on your pizza party. The obvious downside of the Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is the high price, but when you consider that it plugs right in, comes with a pizza peel, and doesn’t need a thermometer to tell if it’s hot enough to cook your pizza perfectly, it’s an unmissable option. If you want the best pizza oven to take the stress out of judging the heat and timing of your cooking, this five-star option is the one for you. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars See our full Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo review 6. DeliVita Outdoor Pizza OvenBest posh portable pizza oven
Fuel: Wood-fired • A spectacle for serious pizzaiolos Reasons to avoid • It’s very heavy and expensive Enjoy pizza anywhere and any way you want it with this transportable oven. Handmade in Yorkshire, it's one of the most beautiful ovens out there. When we put this pizza oven to the test it impressed us with its beautiful exterior and sturdy design. Heating the oven was easy, we just made a jenga-style tower of wood and lit it before leaving it for about half an hour to come to the desired temperature of 450°C. The DeliVita comes in a gorgeous range of colours and can make 12-inch pizzas in just a minute. Its exterior is waterproof and it also comes with a cover, meaning you can leave it outside after use if you wish. It is a little on the heavy side at 30kg, so not the best for travelling, but there’s no denying the authentic feel of that crackling wood and our finished pizza was restaurant-quality. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 7. Monster Shop Pizza Oven Outdoor GrillBest freestanding pizza oven
Fuel: Charcoal • It’s freestanding, which makes storage very easy Reasons to avoid • If you want something portable, look elsewhere The Monster Shop Pizza Oven Outdoor Grill is a fully freestanding pizza oven with an in-built smoker. With storage space for fuel and toppings built right in, this pizza oven comes on two wheels and while it can make delicious 12-inch pizzas, you can also use it for slow cooking and smoking meats and veggies. Many of the pizza ovens in our guide will require you to either place them carefully on your prized patio furniture, or buy a dedicated pizza oven stand to keep them elevated when cooking. There’s no such issue with this freestanding oven. The price is amazing for the cooking capacity and visual appeal. It has an in-built thermometer and the powder-coated black exterior is striking and easy to wipe down. 8. La Hacienda BBQ Pizza OvenBest pizza oven for BBQs
Fuel: BBQ • It’s the space-efficient choice Reasons to avoid • Hard to transport because the handles aren’t heatproof The double-insulated La Hacienda BBQ Pizza Oven can be placed on your BBQ and used to cook pizza, flatbreads and other treats on the built-in stone. It can be placed on gas and charcoal barbecues and heated through for an authentic wood-fired effect. The dimensions are 35 x 35 x 15 cm, and it weighs nearly 8kg, but the handles on the side mean it will be difficult to lift until cooled fully. If you want a cheap pizza oven for your garden BBQ, go for this one. It’s easy to store and the wood-fired stone will give you that leopard-print Neopolitan pizza crust you’re craving. 9. Ooni KodaBest gas pizza oven
Fuel: Gas • Perfectly portable Reasons to avoid • It’s an expensive choice You can buy the Ooni Koda in either a 12-inch or 16-inch size, so there’s an option for those with more space and one for a more portable option. The legs fold away for easy storage and there’s a dial to control the temperature. It really couldn’t be easier. Another thing we like is that the gas burner comes included. You’ll have to pay extra for this if you buy the Ooni Fyra, whereas the Koda is ready to go right out of the box. As with the rest of the Ooni range you can cook your pizza in only 60 seconds, and it heats up fast to reach as much as 500 degrees in only 15 minutes. 10. Gardeco PizzaroBest traditional pizza oven
Fuel: Wood-fired • It’s on wheels and easy to move around Reasons to avoid • A heavy choice that could prove tricky to store Nothing says authentic quite like cooking pizza in a clay oven. This stylish design consists of a cooking dome and chiminea made from traditional, crack-resistant clay, which is guaranteed for 5 years against cracking due to thermal shock. The rustic oven cavity needs to be heated from within first. One firing is then good for cooking two to three pizzas, one at a time. How to buy a pizza oven – everything you need to know Image credit: Morso Check the weight of your pizza ovenPizza ovens – particularly clay or brick ovens – can be VERY heavy and tricky to manoeuvre without equipment or a team of helpers. It's always worth looking at the weight before you order, and check that if it is a beast, that the supplier will move it into position for you.
Alternatively, pick a design on wheels that you can move around the garden. Know your fuelsPizza is traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven for that signature smoky flavour. However, some pizza ovens have gas burners that will get your oven cavity up to temperature much quicker. Charcoal and pellet burners are other options. The temperature of your oven will peak somewhere between 400 and 500 degrees C, and the better your oven maintains its temperature, the more pizzas you can produce from one 'firing'.  Image credit: Sandtex Note the cooking timesA small oven will take anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes to heat up (around 10 if you're using gas, and closer to 20 if you're opting for pellets or charcoal. Larger ovens can take anything up to an hour. You're typical pizza will take around six minutes to cook, though remember to turn it for an even bake. The smallest gas-powered ovens, however, can do the job in as little as 60 seconds. Every oven is different, but it won't take long to 'learn' its optimal cooking time. Treasure those little extrasA temperature gauge is handy, as you'll always know when you're ready to cook. A few ovens come with a pizza paddle designed to fit the cavity perfectly, though this is the exception rather than the rule. Look out for models with griddles, as then you'll be able to use your oven as a barbecue and not have to own two separate outdoor cookers.  Image credit: Joanna Henderson Get an authentic base‘For a 10-inch pizza with an authentic thin base, roll out a piece of dough just larger than a golf ball, certainly no bigger,’ says Digital Editor (and pizza aficionado) Amy Cutmore. ‘Also, don't go too crazy with your toppings – overloading can cause your pizza not to cook properly.’ The post Best pizza ovens 2021: the top 10 indoor and outdoor ovens appeared first on Ideal Home. |
| We want everything from Angel Strawbridge's new collection at La Redoute Posted: 14 Nov 2021 11:00 PM PST Calling all Escape to the Chateau fans! Angel Strawbridge’s The Chateau collection at La Redoute is now available to shop – and, boy, it does not disappoint. The designer has built a career around her signature vintage style that has helped her shoot to fame on Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau. The Chateau collection features many of the prints Angel has designed and used to update her french home. Angel Strawbridge The Chateau collection at La RedouteWe’ll be sure to spruce up our bedroom ideas with the gorgeous prints and sumptuous fabrics from the collection, which offers the perfect variety of soft furnishings, bedding, and even wallpaper.  Image credit: The Chateau by Angel Strawbridge at La Redoute Avid viewers will recognise the Potagerie print, one of the first designs Angel turned her hand to on the show. It was designed for the Potagerie suite that overlooks the walled kitchen garden – Dick’s passion. Angel wanted to represent the garden in a beautiful print that marries botanical motifs and Art Deco geometry. We’ll leave you to spot the elegant carrot motif.  Image credit: The Chateau by Angel Strawbridge at La Redoute The Lily Garden Reversible Bedding set, on the other hand, is a subtle reference to the couple’s special affection for Monet’s gardens at Giverny. The gardens inspired the couple to plant their own water lilies at the chateau moat.  Lily Garden Reversible Bedding set | Was £35 Now £31.50, La Redoute
We really like the timeless combination of light green and pink in this print – there’s hardly a bedroom this will not suit.  Image credit: The Chateau by Angel Strawbridge at La Redoute If we had to pick just one cushion from the collection, it would have to be the Nouveau Wallpaper Museum Print Cushion. Fans of the show will be very familiar with the wallpaper museum at the Chateau, located in the honeymoon suite. The print started out life as a variety of vintage wallpaper off-cuts that she discovered in the Chateau. Angel painstakingly fitted the snippets together to create a show-stopping wallpaper design, which she turned into a fabric.  Nouveau Wallpaper Museum Print Cushion| Was £30 Now £27, La Redoute The whole collection is currently available at La Redoute. The post We want everything from Angel Strawbridge's new collection at La Redoute appeared first on Ideal Home. |
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