Ideal Home |
- Best TV – sets for binge-watching, gaming, sports, soaps and more
- 15 best Christmas advent calendars for adults – from coffee to wine
- A glass roof extension turned Daisy Lowe's kitchen into a bright space: ideal for entertaining
- Best vacuum cleaners 2021: which to buy in the Black Friday sales
- Before & after: This dated living room had a moody makeover in charcoal blue
- Aldi's sell-out cast iron cookware range to rival Le Creuset is back – in black, grey and brand-new teal
- TV never looked so good – check out Sky Glass, a new smart TV you can personalise to suit your style
- Black Friday air fryer deals 2021: early savings on Ninja, Tefal and more
- Farrow and Ball paint could add £3,000 to the value of your home
- Christmas card ideas – creative ways to display season's greetings around the home
| Best TV – sets for binge-watching, gaming, sports, soaps and more Posted: 02 Nov 2021 10:55 AM PDT TVs are always changing and evolving, and so is the advice for getting the best TV for your home. Unfortunately, with so many buzzword features, sizes, and brands to choose from, it can be near-impossible to find the perfect screen for your next binge-watch. On the plus side, TV and movie watching at home have never been better, with a cinema-quality experience now in reach for pretty much everyone. And with services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ (not to mention all the rest!) churning out brilliant content at breakneck speed, now is the perfect time to upgrade your own living room set-up. Whether you want to upgrade because of aesthetic reasons (there’s sometimes nothing worse than a boxy eyesore in the middle of the room) or you’re interested in new technology such as OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), LED (Light-Emitting Diode), and HCX (Hollywood Cinema eXperience) and smart streaming features, we’re here to help cut through the noise a little with our ranking of the best TVs around right now. Scroll down for more information and to see what we thought and, once you’ve chosen a new TV, why not take a look at our rundown of the best soundbars – a good picture needs good audio to go with it, after all. The best TVs 20211. Samsung Q80T Smart 4K UHD QLED TVBest TV overall  Credit: Samsung Display: QLED Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Samsung Q80T is packed with some of Samsung's sharpest TV technology but avoids the painful price tags found higher up its QLED range. It's actually the cheapest 2020 QLED TV to offer a full array backlight, which means you get punchy HDR (High Dynamic Range) images with excellent contrast. We auditioned the 65-inch screen size, which is big on impact, but it's also available in 49-, 55-, 75- and 85-inch guises, so there's a model to suit most rooms. Smart connectivity is impressive. The Q80T doesn't just offer catch-up and streaming TV services (Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Disney+, BT TV and YouTube, amongst others), it also has Samsung's signature Ambient Mode, which turns the screen into a photo gallery when left in standby. The Q80T is also a fabulous choice for gamers, with class-leading low image lag (just 8.7ms), so you'll never be slow on the draw when the competition heats up in Fortnite. QLED technology is also guaranteed screen burn free (that thing where static images can sometimes get burnt into the panel itself), which comes as welcome comfort if you're planning console marathons. The TV also sounds surprisingly good. In addition to downward-firing stereo drivers and woofers, the set boasts additional speakers positioned top left and right rear, which work with Samsung's OTS (Object Tracking Sound) technology to create a more involving, immersive audio experience. We reckon there's no better 4k HDR TV for joystick jockeys right now. Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars 2. PANASONIC TX-JX800B Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TVBest Panasonic TV  Credit: Panasonic Display: LED Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
With designer good looks, this talented mid-ranger is the perfect option if you want a polished LED flat screen for home cinema, sports and gaming. Picture quality has literally been fine-tuned in Hollywood (by Stefan Sonnenfeld), and the set boasts universal dynamic HDR support, which basically means it'll automatically maximise image quality on a scene by scene basis when you're watching 4k HDR programmes. It's also a great gaming TV, even giving the Samsung Q80T a run for its money due to low input lag. The TX-58HX800 is fashionably minimalist too. Just as we saw on last year's Panasonic GX800 models, the LCD panel appears to sit on top of, rather than within, the bezel. It's a cool design embellishment. But it’s in the picture department that the HX800 really shines. Arguably the most cinematic of all the LED LCD TVs available right now, there's a lushness to its colours and a sense of image depth that hints of OLED. But it's brighter and more contrasty when viewed in daylight. Also available in 65-, 50- and 40-inch screen sizes, we were really impressed by this 58-incher. The size will be a good compromise for many if 65-inches just seems a tad too big for comfort. Intuitive and versatile, Panasonic's own My Home Screen platform remains one of the easiest smart TV platforms out there to use. There's no shortage of catch-up TV, thanks to Freeview Play, and there's also Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Unfortunately, Disney+ is AWOL. Let's hope Panasonic gets it on the platform sooner rather than later. The set will also work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa smart home products. Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars 3. Hisense Roku A7200 Smart 4K LED Freeview TVBest TV under £500  Credit: Hisense Display: LED Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Though Hisense is traditionally a brand found in the US, last year saw the company release a suite of budget TVs exclusive to Argos on this side of the pond. Since then, the TVs have been updated for 2021 and have fast become one of the go-to choices for a user-friendly AND budget-friendly TV. Boasting 4K HDR resolution with HDR10, DTS Studio sound, 60Hz motion rate and compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit, it’s hard to fault what’s on offer at this price point. The home screen from Roku is one of the simplest to navigate, and you’ll find all the apps here, including catch-up, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and the rest. It is recommended for those who enjoy using the Roku streaming stick, which was true of this writer. It’s now our main TV, having bought it back in 2020, and we certainly have no complaints. Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 4. LG C1 Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TVBest TV for gaming  Credit: LG Display: OLED Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Our pick for the best TV in the 2021 release slate, the LG C1 Smart 4K OLED TV, offers a bevvy of features that will please movie fans, gamers and casual users alike. The OLED panel offers individually self-lit pixels and optimised settings and upscaling courtesy of the a9 Gen4 AI processor. Dolby Vision IQ boosts brightness, contrast and colour depth, and there’s also a good amount of customisation in settings if you want to get the picture just right. Alexa and Google Assistant are both built-in to make voice control and integration with your wider smart home simple, and you can make use of the popular webOS. If you have a keen gamer in your household, then the 1ms response time, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync and Game Optimiser mode also make this a recommended set, with lots of HDMI ports to allow for multiple consoles to be plugged in alongside streaming sticks and soundbars. In addition to its impressive specs, the LG C1 looks great in person, with an ultra-thin bezel and paper-thin panel giving it a high-end feel. 5. SAMSUNG QN95A Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR Neo QLED TVTV with best sound  Credit: Samsung Display: Neo QLED Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
One of the more affordable new models to use Mini LED backlighting for its QLED panel, the Samsung QN95A 4K TV, offers solid sound and visual features that ensure your TV looks and sounds incredible no matter what you’re watching. The Quantum 4K processor will upscale lower-resolution content. At the same time, HDR10+ ups colour and contrast, and the anti-glare screen offer extensive viewing angles – ideal if you have a large living room in which some family members struggle to see the screen. Gamers will also love the Multi View feature, which allows you to cast your phone screen to one side of the screen without interrupting your game. The QN95A doesn’t skimp on sound, either, adapting to objects in the room and adjusting based on background noise. How to choose the best TV for your home Credit: Samsung We know many questions need answering before you commit to a new TV, so here is some advice to make the buying process a bit easier. Is it worth getting a 4K TV? (And is 4K really better than 1080p?)In a nutshell: definitely. With a 4k screen, it really does look better than regular HD models. That's because a 4k UHD TV uses 4 times as many pixels as a 1080p HD model. Think chunky knit versus fine Merino wool. There's no 4k TV on regular terrestrial TV. Still, you will find it from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, and premium pay-TV suppliers like Sky, Virgin Media and BT. 4k is also available on UHD Blu-rays (you'll need a UHD Blu-ray player to spin them). But there's a catch. To appreciate this resolution, it makes sense to buy a screen larger than the one you're replacing or move your sofa nearer. Helpfully, thinner panels and better design have seen TV’s take up less space. So in the room occupied by a 2010 43-inch telly, you'll now probably fit a svelte 2019 55-inch model. Most all new 4k TVs will also be HDR compatible. This translates to brighter highlights, so the sun shines hotter, lights glow more realistically in the dark, fireworks dazzle. What are the key features I should look for in a smart TV?All our featured screens connect to the internet over Wi-Fi, which means they have access to streaming services and catch-up TV. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube are all standard attractions, but the number of secondary services varies. If there's a specific streaming provider you want, check your shortlisted sets offer it. For the best in catch-up TV, look for a model with a Freeview Play tuner. This guarantees all the main-channel catch-up players are on board (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5). Increasingly, smart TVs will also work with voice control systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant: "Alexa, play Great British Bake Off!" Is QLED better than OLED? And what's the deal with LED?OLED, QLED, LED LCD? TV manufacturers use a variety of panel technologies, each with its own pros and cons. The vast majority of TVs available are LCD lit by an LED backlight (hence LED LCD). They're bright and affordable but can have a limited black level performance. Consequently, in a fully dark room, blacks tend to turn grey. OLED models are only available in larger screen sizes (55-inches plus) and command a price premium. However, OLED is widely regarded as the best TV technology currently available. Self-emissive, OLED doesn't require a backlight. As every pixel is controllable, the technology can deliver pure, accurate blacks. Nirvana, if you're a film fan. As favoured primarily by Samsung, a Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLED) may sound like OLED, but it's actually an LCD variant. QLED helps improve colour vibrancy and brightness. However, as with standard LCD panels, they require a backlight. QLED screens are TVs with brighter viewing environments, offering an unbeatable light and colour combination. What will the sound quality of my TV be like?Probably poor. One inevitable consequence of ever-thinner TVs is weak audio. There's typically not enough room in the cabinet to accommodate decent loudspeakers. The result is thin sound with limited volume. The solution is to partner your thin screen with a separate soundbar (prices range from £100 to £1000+), which will add volume, width and clarity. A soundbar turns on and off automatically, effectively replacing the speakers in the set itself. Alternatively, you can hand over sonic duties to an AV receiver. This creates a full-blown home cinema system with speakers front and back. There are exceptions to this rule of sound, though, and we've picked several TVs here. Our Best Overall TV winner, the Panasonic GZ2000, has a compelling Dolby Atmos sound system on board that offers wide, high cinematic sound. Sony also has an inspired solution in its Acoustic Surface Audio+ system, which uses vibrating acoustic transducers attached to the panel itself to create forward-facing sound waves. How we test our TVsAll our chosen TVs have been rated not just on technical performance but how they perform in the real world. We've peered at pixels and scrutinised backlights. We’ve also taken the selfless task of sitting down and watching our favourite shows on regular TV and other sources, like Netflix and YouTube. We ate an obscene amount of popcorn watching the latest 4k HDR (High Dynamic Range) movies from a UHD (Ultra High Definition) Blu-ray player, and we rated screens on general usability. We also ask, do they have Freeview Play? Is their smart larder well stocked? Are they more confusing than flat-pack furniture? That kind of thing… The post Best TV – sets for binge-watching, gaming, sports, soaps and more appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| 15 best Christmas advent calendars for adults – from coffee to wine Posted: 02 Nov 2021 10:00 AM PDT These are the best Christmas advent calendars for adults to buy in 2021. So, whether you are looking to skip the chocolate this year or perhaps you fancy going all-out in the run up to Christmas? Either way, we can help.
Our Christmas advent calendar roundup features everything from alcohol advent calendars to food advent calendars, as well as ones for tea lovers, coffee drinkers and even DIYers. Popular brands such as Fortnum & Mason, Yankee and BrewDog made it into our guide this year. We’d suggest buying your advent calendar soon, as the best ones always sell out first – and way ahead of Christmas. Just whatever you do, don’t leave it until the last week of November.
Start scrolling to wow your guests, show off on your Instagram stories or treat someone you love to a little pre-Christmas surprise. Here’s how you can make December a little less stressful, and a little more festive. The best advent calendars for adultsThe best chocolate advent calendar for adultsFortnum’s Piccadilly Chocolate Advent Calendar Image credit: Fortnum & Mason It’s official: the best chocolate advent calendar for 2021 goes to Fortnum & Mason. Their Piccadilly Chocolate Advent Calendar doesn’t just taste great, but it looks the part, too. Shaped and designed so as to look similar to their Picadilly store, inside this calendar you will find 24 small doors. Reach inside these doors and enjoy sumptuous chocolate for each day of December. These chocolates are made with a minimum of 35% cocoa solids and expertly crafted to tantalise your taste buds. Plus, there’s the bonus that this advent calendar will bring the wow factor to your kitchen – it also makes a lovely gift. Buy now: Fortnum’s Piccadilly Chocolate Advent Calendar, £22, Fortnum & Mason The best prosecco advent calendar for adultsFreixenet 12-Day Sparkling Wine Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar Image credit: Freixenet We’ve seen plenty of prosecco advent calendars in our time, but this one from Freixenet tops them all. Even if it does only have 12 boxes. Inside each drawer sits a 70cl bottle of Freixenet, ranging from their Negro Cavada to their Rosado Cava and their sparkling rose. For a bubbly treat in the lead up to Christmas, this advent calendar is here to keep you calm when there are approximately 1,000 things on your to-do list. Enjoy your glass and a half of bubbly in front of the TV, along with your dinner or with friends. This one’s going straight in our basket before it sells out. Buy now: Freixenet 12-Day Sparkling Wine Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar, £60, QVC The best luxury advent calendar for adultsThe White Company Beauty Advent Calendar Image credit: The White Company Yes, The White Company’s 2021 advent calendar is finally here. And it’s as gorgeous as we expected it to be. Think everything from shampoos to bath shots, sleep oils and even four candles – two of which are full-size with a 33-hour burn time – all inside. These beauty and home bits come in a range of scents from signature favourites to winter must-haves, from Seychelles to Lime & Bay and the to-die-for festive scent that is Fir Tree. Enveloped inside a white box that opens like a book with numbered drawers, The White Company’s advent calendar is as pretty as it is packed with goodies. This makes them understandably hard to get your hands on – more stock is expected at the end of October. Buy now: Beauty Advent Calendar, £120, The White Company The best candle advent calendar for adultsYankee Advent Book Image credit: Yankee If you are searching for a candle advent calendar for 2021, then you have landed in just the right place. This one from Yankee not only looks great as it’s designed to look like a book, but it is filled with a range of Yankee favourites. From their Snow in Love fragrance to Letters to Santa, Christmas Cookie and even Cinnamon Stick, all of their top festive fragrances come inside this advent calendar. There’s a mix of tea lights and votives, plus a votive holder included. Buy now: Advent Book, £34.99, Yankee Candle
The best beauty advent calendar for adultsAmazon Beauty Advent Calendar 2021 Image credit: Amazon Amazon has truly upped their game this year with their 2021 beauty advent calendar. It’s packed with products from top brands including Neal’s Yard, L’Occitaine, Foreo, This Works, Real Techniques and more. Open this advent calendar each day in December to be greeted with a brilliant surprise, some of which are full-size, others sample size. We don’t want to ruin too much for you, but you’ll even find a Foreo Luna Play Mini behind one of the doors! Get yours whilst they’re still available. Buy now: Amazon Beauty Advent Calendar 2021, £70, AmazonThe best wine advent calendar for adultsVirgin Wines Mixed Wine Advent Calendar Image credit: Virgin Wines Searching for a wine advent calendar? Whether it’s for yourself, to gift or perhaps it’s a treat for parents? Either way, this one from Virgin Wines is the best wine advent calendar you can buy for 2021. Why? It’s filled with bestselling wines from around the world – including limited edition bottles. It’s also mixed so that one day you’ll open a 20cl bottle of red, another day it could be white wine and the next rosé. There is, of course, sparkling included, too, and on the big day, you’ll open a full-size bottle of prosecco. What are you waiting for? Pre-order now for just £10. Buy now: Mixed Wine Advent Calendar, £89.99, Virgin Wines The best vegan advent calendar for adultsCandy Kittens Christmas Advent Calendar Image credit: Candy Kittens Buying an advent calendar for a vegan? It’s not all dairy-free chocolate, you know. Candy Kittens’ tree-shaped calendar is packed with vegan gourmet gummy sweets that are palm-oil free, too. The best part? You’ll get two sweets a day – minimum! – plus for every one of these advent trees you buy, they will plant an actual tree. Give something back to the environment with this vegan advent calendar. You won’t regret it! Buy now: Candy Kittens Christmas Advent Calendar , £12, Amazon The best gin advent calendar for adultsHaysmith’s Gin Advent Calendar  Image credit: Aldi Yes, you can currently grab this grand advent calendar from Aldi – online only. Behind each door lives a 5cl bottle of Haysmith gin, all of which differ in flavour and taste so as to spruce things up this December. The best part? The advent calendar itself is designed to look like a giant Christmas cracker, so as to look the part on display in your kitchen. Win-win. Buy now: Haysmith’s Gin Advent Calendar, £69.99, Aldi The best advent calendar for DIYersDraper 02431 Advent Calendar Image credit:Draper Buy this advent calendar for the tool enthusiast in your life who loves DIY a tad too much. There’s a total of 54 pieces to collect, from 24 different doors. Think everything from drill bits to screwdrivers and even a storage case for everything to sit neatly inside. Buy now: Draper 02431 Advent Calendar, £30.99, Amazon The best coffee advent calendar for adultsPact Advent Calendar Image credit: Pact Open each door of this Pact Advent Calendar to reveal a sachet of fresh coffee to start your day, the right way (caffeine-fuelled, obviously). This coffee advent calendar is filled with pre-ground coffee that’s perfect for brewing in your cafetière or Aeropress, plus each sachet is fully recyclable – and ethically sourced. A great way to spice up your morning brew in the run-up to Christmas, and to keep yourself awake after buying Christmas presents online at 2am. There’s everything from fruity coffees to dark coffees, bestsellers and more included. Buy now: Pact Advent Calendar, £29.95, Pact Coffee
The best beer advent calendar for adultsBrewDog 2021 Advent Calendar  Image credit: BrewDog Give the gift, or surprise yourself, with a beer a day this December thanks to BrewDog’s 2021 advent calendar. A total of 24 full-size beers live inside this decorative cardboard calendar – they’ll love it! A mix of IPA, pale ale’s and stout, plus there are 6 new beers for this Christmas hidden in there, as well as four online exclusives. The best part? BrewDog works to remove twice as much carbon from the atmosphere as they emit each year. Last year, this advent calendar sold out fast (it’s easy to see why!) so get yours whilst you still can. Buy now: BrewDog 2021 Advent Calendar, The best charity advent calendar for adultsLove Cocoa Luxury Chocolate Truffle Charity Advent Calendar  Image credit: Love Cocoa If you are searching for an advent calendar that gives back, then Love Cocoa’s Charity Advent Calendar should be your first pick. Every penny of profits go straight to NHS Charities Together, whilst it’s filled with decadent chocolate truffles to count down to Christmas in tasty style. Every bite will make a difference, whilst this calendar is also plastic-free – just when you thought it couldn’t get any better. Buy now: Love Cocoa Luxury Chocolate Truffle Charity Advent Calendar, £25, Love Cocoa The best advent calendar for your dog (or cat)Lily’s Kitchen Dog Christmas Advent Calendar  Image credit: Lily’s Kitchen Because our pets are technically adults, too, right? Help them countdown to Christmas in tasty style with a Lily’s Kitchen advent calendar. They probably love when you buy them Lily’s Kitchen treats, so what’s to say they won’t love this? All treats are made with natural ingredients and they are baked. Three types of treats come included in this calendar, from Training Treats to Rise & Shine treats for early mornings and Bedtime Biscuits for when you are opening their calendar later on than you’d hope in the day. What more could they want? Buy now: Lily’s Kitchen Dog Christmas Advent Calendar,£17.60, Amazon The best advent calendar for home lovers24 day wax melt Christmas advent calendar  Image credit: LittleCarouselGifts This wax melt advent calendar is handmade by a small business on Esty, plus there’s the added benefit that you can get it personalised with a name. Great for gifting to anyone who takes pride in their home smelling lovely, and the wax melts behind each door are even shaped. With scents such as spiced cranberry, candy cane and spiced mulled wine to look forward to melting, this calendar is more than tempting… Buy now: 24 day wax melt Christmas advent calendar, £15, Etsy The best advent calendar for tea loversTeapigs Limited Edition Advent Calendar  Image credit: Teapigs Whether you drink several cups of tea a day or you can’t get enough of herbal teas recently, this advent calendar should be yours. Inside lives 23 single-serve envelopes, plus a special surprise under the Christmas Eve door. You might find your favourite new tea with help from this advent calendar… Buy now: Teapigs Limited Edition Advent Calendar, £34.99, Amazon Which advent calendar will you be treating yourself to this year? There’s more to come on our list… The post 15 best Christmas advent calendars for adults – from coffee to wine appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| A glass roof extension turned Daisy Lowe's kitchen into a bright space: ideal for entertaining Posted: 02 Nov 2021 09:05 AM PDT  'Cooking is an absolute joy for me,’ says model and food writer Daisy Lowe. ‘So when I moved here four years ago, the tiny kitchen at the back of the house was an issue. It was dark, with hardly any work space or storage, and nowhere to sit or entertain – in fact it was smaller than the bathroom,’ she says. ‘I wanted to extend and add light, and my must-have was an island with a big Aga and breakfast bar. Finalising the design and planning permission took three years, partly because of the pandemic, but that gave me time to save up.' Daisy wanted a traditional, country feel, but with feminine touches. 'Devol's beautiful green-black, farmhouse-look cabinetry maximised the space, and I added the pink china cupboard, marble tops and pretty lighting to soften the room,' she says. 'I moved out for six weeks during the building work, which cost £100,000. Everything went smoothly apart from the resin floor, which turned out too beige. The colour just wasn't right, but we mixed some grey paint into the final coat of sealant, which luckily solved the problem. The kitchen fitting cost around £5000 and took about five days. It's transformed the whole flow in the house and it's such a pleasure to cook or just spend time in there, especially now we can entertain again.' Daisy's top tip when planning any kitchen idea: 'Check, check and check again! I really believed I'd thought of everything, until I realised, too late, that I'd forgotten to include storage under the breakfast bar. It would have been so useful, but unfortunately it's a wasted space,' she says. Kitchen island Image: Future/Photography James French ‘The island-breakfast bar combo was a really important feature for me, as I love having friends here while I'm cooking. I searched high and low for comfy, affordable, upholstered bar stools,’ says Daisy. ‘Sometimes we'll light candles and have dinner together at the breakfast bar, too. It's the next best thing to going out to a restaurant,’ she says. The new glass roof lantern boosts light from above and adds a sense of height. Shelf brackets Image: Future/Photography James French ‘I wanted somewhere for cookbooks, plants, a few photos and some pretty accessories to make things feel homely. The brass brackets tie in with the taps, cabinet handles and electrical sockets too,’ Daisy enthuses. ‘I really thought the layout through’ says Daisy. ‘My bin and dishwasher are hidden on either side of the sink, and all the foodstuffs are in a lovely big pantry unit at the far end, opposite the fridge-freezer.’ Thoughtful layout Image: Future/Photography James French ‘The new glass roof and doors have transformed the room. There's a bit of an industrial feel to them – the grey frames tie in with the exposed brick, resin floor and steel support beam,’ Daisy continues. Underfloor heating frees up wall space and works well with a resin floor. Kitchen sink Image: Future/Photography James French The marble work surface is extended to form a seamless kitchen splashback idea. ‘The boiling water tap is amazing – instant hot water for drinks and cooking, and no kettle cluttering up my work top! I wanted a big butler's sink and the fluted front makes this one a bit prettier,’ Daisy comments. Colour contrasts Image: Future/Photography James French Dramatically dark shades on the central island contrast beautifully with echoes of soft blush, for added depth and a contemporary nudge. ‘I was very tempted to have a completely pink kitchen, so the pink china cabinet is a nice way to bring in femininity and that element of colour, without totally committing,’ says Daisy. Cost-effective brick slips give an authentic character look. Brick slips Image: Future/Photography James French Daisy used cost-effective brick slips as a fuss-free way to add texture, character and an industrial vibe. Feature written byAnnabelle Grundy. The post A glass roof extension turned Daisy Lowe's kitchen into a bright space: ideal for entertaining appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Best vacuum cleaners 2021: which to buy in the Black Friday sales Posted: 02 Nov 2021 07:29 AM PDT If you’re looking for the best vacuum cleaner in 2021 to keep on top of crumbs, pet hair and messy carpets, you’re in the right place. Each and every one of our top ten best vacuum cleaner picks have been tried by the Ideal Home team to see how they perform on all floor types. We took into account power, noise levels, attachments, price, and where we included one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners, we also took into account the battery life and portability. While all of the best vacuum cleaners will be powerful and easy to operate, the right one for you will depend on your budget and the type of home you’re cleaning. Flats and homes with only one type of flooring are a lot less demanding than multi-storey homes with pets and a mix of carpet, tile and hard wood. If the latter sounds more like your home, you may not get away with a cheaper vacuum cleaner. Luckily, Black Friday home deals are just around the corner, and you’ll be able to find some great Black Friday cordless vacuum deals if you’re looking for a stick vacuum for day-to-day use. Recent vacuum cleaners from Dyson can cost upwards of £400, and they’re unlikely to go on sale in the near future. However, they can be worth the investment if you want the latest cleaning tech in your home. Other new releases from Shark are more likely to recieve a discount this Black Friday, and when we put them to the test, we loved their powerful suction and high-tech DuoClean rollers. If having a high-tech vacuum cleaner is not your top priority, we’ve also included classic canister vacuums to faithfully follow you around your home on wheels while you do the cleaning. If your main concern is pet hair, we also have a guide to the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair to consider. For the best vacuum cleaner in 2021, keep reading. What is the best vacuum cleaner?
Our top pick is the Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, which has the power of a corded vacuum but with the freedom of cordless control. We also like the Miele Blizzard CX1. This canister vacuum may not have some of the more modern features you’ll see from more expensive options in our guide, but it’s a workhorse that will make quick work of pet hair and all floor types. The filter is also self-cleaning, which is a real treat. Best vacuum cleaners 20211. Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum CleanerBest vacuum cleaner overall
Cordless? Yes • Immense power Reasons to avoid: • Battery life is good, but not amazing The Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is one of the best Shark vacuums on the market. It performed consistently across carpet, parquet, hardwood and tiles, and PowerFins lifted huge amount of deep-rooted pet hair from around the dog’s bed leaving a brand-new carpet look. It made the vacuuming process straightforward, requiring only one pass on all floor types, although we found that it ran out of battery on the normal cleaning mode after 31 minutes. Powered LiftAway means you can transform this cordless vacuum by lifting it away from the stick to carry the canister up stairs and out to car interiors. This is great for getting up the stairs, although getting the vacuum assembled once more will take getting used to. The vacuum converts into a handheld which works very well on stairs and upholstery. We really enjoyed the motorized pet tool, which was very effective at picking up pet hair and restoring carpet pile. The LCD display allows you to switch between the carpet brush and hard floor brush with the touch of a button thanks to Shark’s DuoClean, which is a real time-saver for homes with a mix of floor types. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars Read our full Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner review 2. Miele Blizzard CX1Best canister vacuum cleaner
Cordless? No • Outstanding turbo brush performance Reasons to avoid: • It’s pretty pricey for a canister vacuum Miele's first bagless cleaner is available in multiple flavours. These range from a £249 Parquet model designed for hard floors to a £410 Comfort PowerLine with wireless controls on the handle for maximum convenience. We tested the Cat & Dog model, which sits near the top of the range and boasts a turbo brush floor head for whipping up pet (and human) hair, as well as a regular carpet floor head and another for hard floors. It is certainly one of the top pet vacuums on the market. The tube is long but telescopic, making this a good cleaner for tall and short people alike. We loved it for straightforward cleaning power. Its suction is outstanding thanks to a powerful, fast (more than 100km/h) cyclone. The single cyclone design also makes for low noise and controllable power. The cylinder moves smoothly on its castors and perches acceptably on a stair. The handle is comfortable in the hand and the floor head pleasantly manoeuvrable. The hose is extra-long, giving you 10m overall reach from the power socket. Tools (crevice and upholstery nozzles) are stored on board, easy to get to, and the handle has a built-in dusting brush that slides into place when you need it. We were wowed by the cleaning results from the Cat & Dog turbo brush; it left floors spotless. And the canister was easy and fairly dust-free to empty. Cleaning pauses for a few seconds from time to time: frustrating till you realise this is because the machine cleans its own filter. There's also a lifetime HEPA filter to catch the smallest particles. Vacuumed bacteria, allergens and mould spores remaining safely within the filter for the vacuum cleaner's lifetime of the Blizzard CX1. As a result, this vacuum cleaner has British Allergy Foundation approval. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars 3. Vax ONEPWR Blade 4Best vacuum cleaner for most budgets
Cordless? Yes • An amazing value cordless vacuum Reasons to avoid: • Not all tools come included The Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 is a winner when it comes to value. We were impressed by its performance on carpet and hardwood floors alike, and even when it came to picking up pet hair it did a sterling job. The design makes it easy to clean underneath furniture and around corners, and the floorhead rotation means there’s minimal wrist work to pick up dirt and dust. Lightweight and well-balanced, we were impressed by the battery life, which can also be increased by simply buying a backup battery for larger homes. This is also great because it means the lifespan of your vacuum isn’t limited by an in-built battery. Simply dispose of the battery if you think it’s dying faster than you’d like after using it for a year or so, and buy a replacement online. Attachments include a crevice tool and dusting brush, but you can pay extra for the ProKit 2 toolkit, which is useful for smaller tasks such as upholstery and textile. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 4. Dyson Ball Animal 2Best upright vacuum
Cordless? No • High power and long cord Reasons to avoid: • A hefty option Owners of large homes will love the Dyson Ball Animal 2. It’s got a cable length of over 10 metres and a bagless design for easy emptying. The canister has a push mechanism that makes it easy to eject dirt and dust. In testing we liked how well the Dyson Ball Animal 2 reached even the edges of walls and the corners of a room. It is a bit hefty when compared to a cordless vacuum, but plenty powerful enough to compensate for this. The vacuum comes with a stair tool, combination tool, carbon fibre turbine tool and on-board storage to make it easy to switch between different cleaning modes. Noise wasn’t too bad given the powerful operation and the ball makes it easy to swerve around the room as needed. 5. Beko Powerclean VRT94929VI Cordless Vacuum CleanerBest vacuum cleaner overall
Cordless? Yes • It seriously wowed us in testing with power and attachments Reasons to avoid: • The dustbin is a little small for some homes The Beko Powerclean is easy to use and comes with a range of attachments that will adapt to any home. There are two brushrolls that can be switched out for hard floors and carpets, as well as a crevice tool, mini brush head and dusting attachment. We loved how powerful this vacuum is. It has three speeds, but we found that we never needed to use the maximum strength, even on seriously dusty room and grubby carpets. The battery life is 45 minutes, which held true in testing but does get shorter depending on the strength you choose. The Beko Powerclean is intuitive to use, with a trigger control that sits right under your thumb for easy starts and finishes. Your vacuum path is illuminated by LED lights, and the vacuum even hinges with an elbow attachment that folds down to reach underneath sofas and beds with less bending work for you. This is like Shark’s Flexology function, which we’re big fans of. The price is incredibly reasonable for this Dyson-rival, and we also liked the stand that came included, which made storage straightforward thanks to the on-board tool storage. Our one gripe? That 0.8 litre dustbin fills up fast. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars Read our full Beko Powerclean VRT94929VI Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review 6. Dyson Big Ball Animal 2Best vacuum cleaner for pet hair
Cordless? No • Capable on pet hair and hardwood, with hassle-free operation Reasons to avoid: • If your home is pet-free you may get away with something less hefty Dyson’s clever take on the canister vacuum is a crowd-pleaser. Its party trick is that it sits atop a large ball, for manoeuvrability. It's bagless and the design is colourful. Although the design is visually complex, the ball steers simply. Its cleaning prowess was impressive. You can hear the power as you navigate hardwood and carpet. But some of Dyson's vacuum cleaner design touches impressed. Simple things make all the difference. For example, once you've got the hang of it, the wand and hose pop out of the handle easily and are ready to go. Pneumatic suction automatically swaps over from the floor to the hose. The hose is stretchy, and tools easily attach to switch as you go. Emptying was easy: press the red button at the top of the dirt canister to pop it off the cleaner body, then hold it over a bin and press it firmly to open the bottom. This is good because the button is at the top of the tall canister, so you can lower it well into a wheelie bin: you're further away from the dust. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars 7. Dyson V11 OutsizeBest vacuum cleaner for functionality
Cordless? Yes • Easy emptying mechanism Reasons to avoid: • It’s an expensive option The Dyson V11 Outsize wowed us in testing, and it was only that steep price point that held it back from a five star rating. The packaging was entirely plastic-free, which was a big thumbs-up for our appliances editor, and it arrived with 20% battery already loaded up. Perfect for having a quick spin before setting it up to charge. The run time is up to 60 minutes, which is pretty impressive for a cordless vacuum. There are three modes to choose from: Eco, Auto, and Boost, and each one results in a different noise level and suction, although all three settings held up very well in testing. The soft roller head did a wonderful job on hardwood floors, and it comes included in the Dyson V11 Outsize. The vacuum also comes with a charging dock, and will take 4.5 hours from empty to fully charge. Ideal Home's rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 8. Numatic Henry PET200Best budget vacuum cleaner
Cordless? No • Generous 9-litre capacity Reasons to avoid: • Pet hair turbo brush could be larger Henry and its (his?) siblings have a reputation for being workhorses: the cleaner's cleaner of choice, designed and made here in the UK. We put the Harry vacuum cleaner (sometimes known as the Henry Pet) through its paces. Harry boasts a large 9-litre capacity, the same as the Henry HVR200, and it has similar features. It's a bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner with a 10m cable, giving it an overall reach of 13m from the power socket. Its floor head is straightforward, with a lever that you press to go from hard floor to carpet, or vice versa. Build is simple, solid and bombproof: the cord winds up manually, the top clips on solidly, the wand is in two pieces but not telescopic. This vacuum cleaner feels semi-industrial. There is very little to go wrong. Harry also has extra features designed for pet owners. The HairoBrush is a small turbo brush designed to whip up pet hair. And the cleaner's large fabric filter has a built-in MicroFresh activated charcoal layer designed to tackle pet odours. Air is pulled through the HepaFlo bag, which captures even fine particles of dust, then cleaned with the activated charcoal filter for good measure. Harry comes with three other tools: crevice tool, soft dusting brush and upholstery nozzle with slide-on brush. If you clip them together, you can just about carry them all on board thanks to two slots on the back, next to the wheels. But the only way to store the HairoBrush when you're on the move is in the slot where you'd naturally dock the floorhead and wand. A second slot would have been good, so you could stow them at the same time. Also, the Harry vacuum cleaner is too big to sit on a stair. Cleaning power is impressive, however. The floor head was simple but very effective, and Harry the vacuum moved fairly well behind us. Our only criticism with this vacuum cleaner is that, as pet-owners, we'd have preferred a full-sized turbo brush. The HairoBrush is very effective at picking up hair but it seems too small to use as a floor head. Ideal Home's rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 9. SEBO Automatic X7Best upright vacuum cleaner for a professional clean
Cordless? No • Superb cleaning performance on floors Reasons to avoid: • Lacks manoeuvrability The automatic in the name of this upright vacuum cleaner comes from the built-in computer that measures brush action and automatically adjusts the cleaning head height. Move from hard floor to rug and back again and the bottom of the X7 moves up and down for improved performance. We tested the Pet ePower model, which features a smaller stair and upholstery turbo brush for pet hair and an activated charcoal filter to remove odours. It's a bagged vacuum cleaner with S-class filtration, which filters out tiny particles from the air it puts out, much like a HEPA filter. A button on the handle powers it up, but to tilt the handle back and start moving, you need to press the red brake with your foot. A light on the front of the floor head illuminates cleaning. The machine tilts back completely flat to go under furniture. If you click the body up into resting position, to pause or to reach for the wand, the SEBO's brush automatically lifts to protect the flooring. Annoyingly the brush keeps spinning and floor suction continues, which feels like a waste of energy. But we loved that the wand was ready to use immediately, with no fiddling around. Crevice tool and upholstery tool are on board, ready to use too. But there's no storage for the smaller powered turbo brush, dusting brush or the extra-long extension hose for stair cleaning. The extension hose daisy chains onto the built-in hose for a reach of more than 4m. It could stretch further but there's a risk of the cleaner toppling over. The power cable is 10m. Emptying this vacuum cleaner is easy thanks to the bags. And a clever cover on the side of the floorhead pops off so you can slide out the brush roller for easy cleaning. Handling is unusual: the SEBO vacuum cleaner feels solid and weighty in the hand. It wants to clean floors. A lot. It feels like a professional cleaner you'd get in a hotel. But it lacks the nippy manoeuvrability of more modern designs. Build quality is impressive though. The SEBO vacuum cleaner feels as though it could last decades. Ideal Home's rating: 4 out of 5 stars 10. iRobot Roomba 980Best robot vacuum
Cordless? Yes • The joy of a robot vacuum, with plenty of smart features Reasons to avoid: • Docking system can only be plugged in on one side Our top robot vacuum pick is the iRobot ROOMBA980. It’s immensely capable of picking up dirt and dust that you didn’t even know was lingering in your home, and it does all that (and more) with the press of a button. You can pair this vacuum with your smartphone and let it go, or monitor its progress as it maps its way around your home. The battery life is 120 minutes, and you can schedule cleaning for when you’re out of the house so you always have a sleek space to return to. How to buy the best vacuum cleanersOur video below will help you make sense of the options available. Alternatively, read through the buying advice after it to find out everything you need to know about which type of vacuum cleaner you want, how much you need to budget and what features to look out for. How much should I spend on a vacuum cleaner?Budget around £150 for a vacuum cleaner with decent cleaning power. But you can spend twice that or more that on premium models. More money can buy you more powerful cleaning and better tools for stuff like pet hair. Which type of vacuum cleaner is right for me?Upright vacuum cleaners are very ergonomic to push around, so they're ideal for cleaning large floor areas in open-plan kitchens. Their powerful, rotating brushbars are great for picking up hair from pets and humans in thick living room carpets. But they are tall and bulky to store and not so good for cleaning stairs. Cylinder vacuum cleaners are usually smaller and lighter, so they pack away better. The power cable is stored away neatly inside and hopefully there's onboard storage for tools. But they might not have a motorised brush head and capacity may be smaller.
What features should I look for in the best vacuum cleaner? Image credit: Vax 1. Vacuum cleaner filters – what do I look for?When buying a vacuum cleaner look for HEPA or S-class filters if you have allergies, as these are designed to retain tiny particles like pollen and dust mite faeces. Sealed HEPA filters are most effective as all air goes through the filter, while washable filters will save you money on replacements. 2. Bagged versus bagless vacuum cleaners – which is better?Vacuum cleaner bags cost money but a well-designed bag keeps dust contained. Bagless saves money on consumables, but emptying the dust container can be a pain and not good if the person who does the vacuuming has dust allergies. Cyclonic bagless designs promise suction that's consistent even when the container is nearly full, because the dirt is flung to the sides while the air passes through the middle. 3. Are there special vacuum cleaners for pet hair?Most vacuum cleaners have motorised turbo brushes that pick up pet hair effectively. Special pet models are optimised for this and often also have a mini turbo brush for cleaning furniture and the car. 4. How important is vacuum cleaner hose and cable length?A long vacuum cleaner hose is important if you have stairs. The length of the two together dictates reach: a long reach means you rarely need to unplug and move to a new socket. 5. What vacuum cleaner tools do I need?A vacuum cleaner crevice tool and a brush for upholstery/dusting are handy as a bare minimum but our pet peeve is vacuum cleaners that don't incorporate tool storage. The tools need to be on hand or they're of no use. 6. Can you explain a vacuum cleaner’s EU label?The European Union has set a limit on vacuum cleaner power, so new models are more eco-friendly than ever. The compulsory label will give you ratings not just for energy efficiency but also cleaning performance on hard floors and carpets, how much dust is emitted and noise levels. The post Best vacuum cleaners 2021: which to buy in the Black Friday sales appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Before & after: This dated living room had a moody makeover in charcoal blue Posted: 02 Nov 2021 05:00 AM PDT We say the kitchen is the heart of the home but we spend a lot of time in our living rooms. The style of the decor in this hard-working room should always match its owner – and one DIYer has made hers tell her story. Rosie Stanton had an uninspiring living area in desperate need of some luxurious living room ideas. She gave the dated room a total overhaul. Now, it’s an elegant charcoal blue living room perfect for cosy evenings at home. Before Image credit: @no44.house You can check out the whole process (and admire her cute dog, Basil) on her Instagram @no44.house. Rosie told Jacobs & Dalton about how she revived the space with moody blue living room ideas. She also installed new flooring, a new fireplace and built-in cabinets. Rosie explains that she did a lot of work on the bones of the house before getting started. This meant it felt like a blank canvas. Another dramatic part of the transformation is the use of modern white window treatment ideas. Th shutters really make the most of the natural light. ‘We wanted it to feel cosier than other rooms in the house as this is where we spend most of our evenings,’ says Rosie. Charcoal blue living room after Image credit: @no44.house She describes her style as ‘an eclectic mix of lux, industrial and urban modern.’ Her personal design style can be felt through the use of opulent textures such as velvet. The brass tones in the table lamp and the modern coffee table are a nod to a more industrial aesthetic. We’re also loving the accent colour brought in through the mustard and blue cushions, and the choice of a statement rug. If you love the look but couldn’t go for such a bold hue, look at colours that go with grey. ‘The walls are painted in Paint and Paper Library in the colour squid ink. This was the perfect shade for us,’ says Rosie.  Image credit: @no44.house ‘It’s dark without being too heavy and it also changes in the light throughout the day. We also chose a very luxurious, dark green-blue velvet sofa which really adds some drama and sets off the wall colour beautifully,’ she says. Using a similar shade on the sofa and the wall looks fabulous – taking a bold colour and just going for it works brilliantly. The post Before & after: This dated living room had a moody makeover in charcoal blue appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Posted: 02 Nov 2021 04:39 AM PDT Aldi fans, assemble. The Aldi cast iron cookware is back, and we want all of it. The sell-out cookware is available in three contemporary colours – black, greige and a brand-new teal. Given that the most expensive piece costs just £29.99, Aldi’s new kitchen ideas are a fraction of the price of luxury rivals, namely Le Creuset and Staub.  Image credit: Aldi The best-selling Aldi cast-iron range now comes with even more options. It’s oven-safe up to 250 degrees and will be fine used on all hobs, including induction hobs. The new collection also has a clean enamel coating on both the interior and exterior to reduce time spent scrubbing. We think the Cast Iron Roaster (£24.99, pictured below) looks so good it wouldn’t look out of place among your Christmas table decoration ideas and trimmings on Christmas day. It’s currently marked as ‘delayed, coming soon’ on the Aldi site, so keep an eye on it. The cast iron roaster is perfect for taking mid-week dinners straight from the oven to the dining table for ease. A similar Le Creuset cast iron roasting dish would cost £180.  Image credit: Aldi  Black 26cm Shallow Casserole Dish | £24.99 If you’re cooking a big dish for lots of people, opt for the 30cm Cast Iron Shallow Casserole Dish (£29.99). Alternatively, you could go for the 26cm Oval Cast Iron Casserole Dish (£24.99). Another firm favourite is Aldi’s Cast Iron Skillet (£14.99 – also delayed but coming soon), perfect on the hob, under the grill and in the oven. There’s also the Cast Iron Griddle Tray (£14.99) available in a square or rectangle shape. These griddle trays will add those signature sear marks to meat, fish and vegetables and lock in flavour while helping any additional fat to drain away. Given how well it sold last time, we predict it will fly off the shelves, so don’t delay if you want to cash in on this new cookware.  Image credit: Aldi How does Aldi and Le Creuset cookware compare in price?The Aldi cast iron cookware offers a saving of just under £700 if you’re buying one of each of the new products. This is when compared with comparable buys from the iconic French cookware brand. Thanks to these Aldi Specialbuys cooking with cast iron just got a whole lot more affordable. Not to stir the pot, but you need to be quick – once they're gone, they're gone. The post Aldi's sell-out cast iron cookware range to rival Le Creuset is back – in black, grey and brand-new teal appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| TV never looked so good – check out Sky Glass, a new smart TV you can personalise to suit your style Posted: 02 Nov 2021 02:00 AM PDT Although we might not like to admit it, most of us would have struggled to have made it through the last year or so without our TVs. Providing the whole family with much-needed entertainment night after night, they also became our home-gyms, our comforting friend delivering down-time after busy days, and our lines of communication to the world outside our homes. With the TV so central to our lives, why should we have to compromise on style and how lovely our living spaces (and exteriors) look when it comes to accepting a mess of multiple boxes, screens and satellite dishes with all their sprouting cables and leads? Well now you don't have to with Sky Glass, the first TV with Sky built in, meaning no box, no dish and no fuss. Choose a colour to suit your style Image credit: Sky Elegantly designed and available in three simple sizes to suit your space, (small 43″, medium 55″ or large 65″) Sky Glass comes in five unique colourways, including Ocean blue, Ceramic white, Racing green, Dusky pink or Anthracite black, and all with a matching remote. Choose your TV in a shade that seamlessly blends into the style and decor of your home, whether you’re a minimalist at heart or love bolder, colourful spaces. Then, for extra personalisation, you can even match the customisable speaker fascias, too. Curb the clutter Image credit: Sky Streamlining your living space of cables, set-top boxes and multiple remotes, Sky Glass has all your favourite apps and streaming platforms in one place, with just a single power lead and even better, a single remote. With such a simple set-up, it's as easy as plugging in, pairing with your wifi, and you're good to go in no time. Installing it in the perfect spot is easy too, with a clever integrated mounting bracket that means it can be hung elegantly on your wall by a trusted professional. Or you can position it on a sleek, colour-matched stand, if you'd prefer. A carbon neutral first
A TV that doesn't cost the earth, Sky Glass is the world’s first TV to be certified as a CarbonNeutralⓇ product, having been sustainably designed by bringing 3 devices in 1 and with low power features built in, such as auto-switch off. Not only is it more efficient to choose a TV with everything built in, it is the only TV to arrive in recyclable packaging with is free from single-use plastic. And when it comes to the price? Well just like you would pay for your mobile phone, you can choose a package to suit your lifestyle, with flexible and affordable monthly payments, making it a great value style statement to have in your home. Find out more and buy today at Sky.com/glass. The post TV never looked so good – check out Sky Glass, a new smart TV you can personalise to suit your style appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Black Friday air fryer deals 2021: early savings on Ninja, Tefal and more Posted: 02 Nov 2021 01:30 AM PDT Black Friday air fryer deals are just around the corner, and we’re already seeing some early Black Friday air fryer deals dropping on some of the best air fryers now that sale season has started. If you’ve been holding off on investing, we’re here to tell you that air frying is more than just a trend. In fact, once you’ve got used to having your air fryer around, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Not only do they save time with speedy pre-heats, they also cut back on costs by only heating a small drawer as opposed to an entire oven. And while air fryers aren’t quite the same as deep fat fryers, they do a decent job of replicating the crispy results with a lot less oil.
Many of the top brands on the market regularly offer discounts on their air fryers, but as it’s the shopping event of the year, Black Friday air fryer deals are usually the ones to hold out for. Last year we saw discounts of up to 50% on brands such as Philips and Ninja, and we also saw a lot of Amazon lightning deals on air fryer brands such as Cosori and Instant. Today’s early Black Friday air fryer deals Tower T17039 Vortx 5-in-1 Digital Air Fryer Oven: was £119.99, now £98 at Amazon  Ninja Air Fryer Max: was £149.99, now £126 at Amazon  Philips Essential Air Fryer Extra Large: was £230, now £139 at Amazon (save £91)
Where to find the best Black Friday air fryer deals
Last year we saw many of the best air fryer deals at Amazon.co.uk, where lightning deals on top brands were selling out in record time. There are also bound to be some great savings at Very, Robert Dyas, Littlewoods, AO.com, and Currys.
Black Friday Ninja air fryer dealsNinja makes some of the best air fryers on the market, and we’re particularly big fans of the Dual Zone, which has two independent drawers to cook meat and veg, or starter and main, simultaneously. Ninja also can be found on regular promotions, so we’re expecting some amazing Black Friday Ninja air fryer deals. Our handy price widgets will pull in the lowest price air fryers from Ninja, so all you need to do is pick the model that’s right for you. Tefal Black Friday air fryer deals Image credit: Tefal Tefal’s alternative take on air frying features an unique and innovative paddle that stirs food as it cooks. Use it for stir-fry, curries, or keeping chips crispy. In our Tefal YV970840 Actifry Genius XL 2in1 review we were particularly impressed by the chips it made, and how easy it was to use both layers for different kinds of cooking. Black Friday Tower air fryer dealsThe Tower Vortex 5-in-1 Digital Air Fryer is one of our favourites for making roast dinners, because it comes with a rotisserie insert to cook chicken to perfection. It has removable drawers that are easy to clean, and allow you to cook multiple elements of a meal in one go. We found it functioned best as a mini oven, with the ability to air fry, convection cook, and roast. How much can I save with an air fryer deal?
While not every air fryer will have a great saving come the big event, last year we saw savings of around 50% on some of our favourite models. Ninja offered at least £20 off most of its air fryers, and for more premium picks such as the Foodi Multi Cooker, we saw savings of £50 for air frying, slow cooking, roasting, and a lot more. Some of the best Black Friday air fryer deals can typically be found on air fryers that have been in the market for a year or two, so while we’re not sure if Cosori’s latest Premium air fryer will be hitting everyone’s baskets, it’s likely that we’ll see extra low prices on the classic Cosori CP358-AF, which is still a great option. When will Black Friday air fryer deals start?Last year we saw a lot of retailers dropping their prices well in advance of Black Friday itself. This year, Black Friday will take place on the 26th of November, but if last year is anything to go by, we’re expecting retailers like Amazon to lead the way with a few lightning deals a good week in advance. Is it worth waiting to make your purchase? Last year one of the best Black Friday air fryer deals, a £70 saving on the Ninja Foodi Max, was sold out before Black Friday had even started, so if you see a deal that looks unbeatable, it’s worth snapping it up fast! We’re keeping this page updated ith all the deals as and when they drop, so if in doubt, check in here to find out whether we think a deal is worth the investment.
What air fryer should I buy? Image credit: Swan If you’re new to air frying and want something budget-friendly to get you started, we recommend the Instant Vortex Mini air fryer. While it’s small it’s also affordable, and it comes in a range of fun colours. This air fryer really shows what the hype is all about, but if you go for a cheaper brand that comes in at around £20, you may not get to experience all the added cooking functions and sensitive temperature controls that make us love air frying in the first place. Premium air fryers can cost as much as £300, so Black Friday is a great excuse to upgrade to something that’s capable of keeping up with busy family life if you see a breakout deal. After all, many air fryer owners are such big fans that one air fryer is not enough! One solution to this is the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, which is Ninja’s two-drawer air fryer that retails for an RRP of £199.99. While we don’t know if it will go on sale this Black Friday, it dropped to a record low price on this year’s Prime Day, so we’d be surprised if it didn’t go on a further sellout promotion. The post Black Friday air fryer deals 2021: early savings on Ninja, Tefal and more appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Farrow and Ball paint could add £3,000 to the value of your home Posted: 02 Nov 2021 12:00 AM PDT Are eco home improvements worth it if you’re selling a house? Yes, they definitely are, according to recent research. While until recently, property advice for sellers rarely included eco improvement because of their reputation for being too niche, a recent survey of 2,000 potential homeowners by the loan comparison website, Money.co.uk shows that giving your home a green refurbishment could add over £29,000 to the value of your property. The research compares the average cost of popular green home improvements with how much buyers are prepared to pay for them. The results are more than encouraging. Don’t worry – this doesn’t mean you’d have to spend tens of thousands of expensive insulation or heat pumps. It turns out that some of the simplest – and cheapest – upgrades are best where it comes to increasing your house value. Farrow & Ball paint adds £3k your house valueOne of the most striking findings in the survey is the fact that home buyers are truly on board with the concept of low-VOC paint. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are found in high concentrations in many commercially sold paints and have been proved to be bad for our health and the environment. Many companies are now moving away from standard paint manufacturing in favour of methods that reduce the need for using VOCs. Farrow & Ball paint is a very good example of low VOC paint, which only adds to its iconic status as one of the best paint options for both modern and traditional homes.  Image credit: Farrow & Ball The survey found that highlighting the fact you’ve painted your home with Farrow & Ball (or another low-VOC paint) increases the perceived value of your home by almost £3,000, which means buyers are prepared to pay that amount extra just for the knowledge that they will be moving into a house painted with a more environmentally-friendly paint. Consider that it costs on average just £96 to update your house with low-VOC paint, and this home improvement is even more worth it. Other eco home improvements that add valuePaint, of course, is not the only home improvement that buyers value highly. Draft-proofing your home, which will only cost about £200, also adds around £3,000 in value. If you’re looking for the cheapest eco-home improvement that will add value, it’s installing an energy metre – it will only cost you around £50, but home buyers are prepared to pay £2,796 extra for one. Replacing all your lightbulbs with energy-saving ones will cost around £175, but will add on average £2,294 in value. LED lightbulbs are one of the best energy-saving tips for any home, but it’s even more attractive if you’re selling, it turns out.
In fact, even relatively more expensive eco improvements are still worth it financially. Transforming your garden into a biodiverse garden will cost you around £500, but can add £2,522 to the value of your home. The most expensive addition on the survey’s list – a tankless water heater – will set you back £900, but is perceived by buyers as being worth an impressive 3,163. In other words, you can easily spend only a few hundred but recoup many thousands on selling your house if you invest in eco home improvements. Far from being niche, they are highly sought after by buyers.
The post Farrow and Ball paint could add £3,000 to the value of your home appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| Christmas card ideas – creative ways to display season's greetings around the home Posted: 01 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PDT Sending season’s greetings is a tradition that never goes out of style. Each day brings a new flurry being posted through the door, from old and new friends and family, constantly reminding you that it’s time to send out yours too! Style it out this year by looking for Christmas cards ideas to display, rather than simply filling every available surface. At first they get lined up along the mantelpiece, but you soon find yourself running out of space. Or perhaps you don’t have a mantelpiece so from the off you’re trying to think of an inspiring way to display your cards. Well look no further than the below ideas to make sure each and every card takes pride of place in your home. Christmas card ideas: ways to displayFrom buying card holders to fashion a display to making your own DIY one with lengths of ribbon, there’s a wealth of creative way to show off Christmas cards. We explore some of the most creative Christmas card ideas to show them off in our homes. 1. Drape ribbon over the back of doors Image credit: Future/ Joanna Henderson Doors are the ideal blank canvas to welcome a splash of yule time decorating and festive sentiments. Cut lengths of ribbon, choosing one to suit your wider Christmas decorating colour scheme, and pin them to the top of the door. A simple drawing pin will do the trick and be unseen to the eye, because it’s on the top of the door – plus it won’t leave any holes visible once removed. Let the ribbons hang down the back of the door, you can choose to white tack these in place to stop the ribbons moving if the door is used – but if it remains open you should find the weight of the clipped cards will keep them in place. 2. Make your own DIY card holder Image credit: Future/ Joanna Henderson Create your own DIY card holder for displaying your festive best – all you need is a hoop and some ribbon. Choose a gold hoop, or simple paint a decorative one, to give the display a festive theme and simply cut to length strips of ribbon to dress the hoop. The ribbon lengths form the ‘ladder-like-runs’ to peg your cards to to. Add a sprig of foliage for a stylish finishing touch and hang securely on a wall to show off your cards galore. 3. Arrange cards in a Christmas tree shape Image credit: Future/ David Giles Using white tac, Washi tape or masking tape, attach your Christmas cards to the wall or door in a triangle shape, replicating a Christmas tree. Try to use smaller cards at the top, getting progressively larger in size towards the bottom. Place a cut out star or star decoration at the top of the display to really give it that Christmas tree feel. 4. Line the shelves Image credit: Tesco Fill a dresser or kitchen cabinet with seasonal cards to welcome a festive touch to the kitchen. The shelves provide the perfect tiered levels to stagger a display, with the potential to hang cards from each one – as the shelf spaces starts to run out. Add faux foliage and simple decorations on each Shelf to enhance the festive look. 5. Peg cards to a vase arrangement Image credit: Future Create a simple seasonal vase arrangement using woodland twigs in a generous vase to hang baubles, fairy lights or Christmas cards from the branches. To attach cards to the branches simply use mini wooden pegs to enhance the rustic feel. Dried twigs is an arrangement that requires no upkeep – no water needed, making it perfect for the lengthy festive period. 6. Tuck them into a window mirror Image credit: Future/ James Mitchell Make a hall mirror idea feel festive by tucking Christmas cards in around the edges. This work brilliantly with a mirror window, where the panes naturally provide a gap to place cards in gently. Alternatively, invest in an old pair of shutters that you can tuck Christmas cards into for a festive centrepiece. 7. Style on-trend shutters Image credit: Future Perfect for the cottagecore trend, this idea shows how distressed painted shutters can provide the perfect place to create a charming card display. A distressed green is the ideal complimentary festive shade to add a splash of background colour to enhance the festive display. Whether using functioning shutters on a window, or sourcing vintage shutters purely for decoration this idea is sure to accommodate all your Christmas cards. 8. String up with a beaded garland Image credit: Future Plc Bead garlands are a delicate alternative to tinsel or an evergreen garland. Bedazzle a mantle piece with a strand of beads, and peg your Christmas cards to each loop as shown above. Or hang then down the wall like a beaded curtain with cards clipped to the strands. 9. Swap out your picture ledges Image credit: Future/ Alun Callender If you have picture ledges at home consider swapping our your usual prints for Christmas cards. This display has taken advantage of a row of wooden ledges for the cards. Make sure you select a mix of different size and shape cards for an interesting mix. 10. Hang from the staircase Image credit: Future/ Simon Whitmore Make the most of a staircase by hanging them with Christmas cards. Choose a wide strip of ribbon and tie it to the banister in a big bow at the top and bottom, leave a long strip of ribbon running between the two. Attach the Christmas cards to the ribbon using bulldog clips in a complementary colour. Cluster the cards together for a full looking display. 11. Adorn a decorative display on wrapping paper Image credit: Future/ Ben Anders Get creative with the way you display your Christmas cards by opting for this quirky DIY effort using wrapping paper as a decorative backdrop. Use Washi tape to hang a piece of your favourite wrapping paper on a focal wall. Next fashion a tree shape using ribbon and stick on hooks. Either drape your Christmas cards and Christmas decorations through said ribbon, or stick cards into place with blu-tack. Voila! 12. Hang from ribbon Image credit: Future Ribbon of all widths and colours can be hung pretty much anywhere, whether its along the banisters, from the back of doors or just along a spare bit of wall. From there you can either staple, paper clip or peg your cards onto the ribbon – either in a neat, organised fashion, or more loosely and angled. Tying cute bows at the top of each ribbon length also adds to the look. 13. In a frame or pinboard Image credit: Future/ Pixeleyes Photography Either use a pin board with a pretty frame and pin each card in a random, layered fashion or tie string across the frame and peg each card in a line to the string. The frames can then be lent on a shelf, mantelpiece or ledge and work in any sizes. You can even have one in each room and colour code your cards to match a room or scheme. 14. Peg to a twig tree Image credit: Future/ Ben Anders If you’re able to forage a fallen branch, or even just a few twigs, arranged in a vase or jar, they then become the perfect place to hang your Christmas cards from with pretty ribbons or twine. Or if the twigs are slim enough, use mini pegs to attached each card and then hang mini decorations in between each one too. 15. Make a card wreath Image credit: Future Wire ring card holders are a great way to create a wreath of cards that can they be hung from a door or propped up on a shelf. Just slot your cards between each wire shape, and either layer up the cards crossing over each other, or leave space between so you can see each card in full. A few hung together looks really effective and a great alternative to a fresh wreath. 16. Use a wire card holder Image credit: Future/ Carolyn Barber Using a wire card holder means you only need a shallow space to place it, and then its super easy to display your cards in varying heights and shapes. Put smaller ones in the middle, larger ones at the back and the rest can be placed alongside and in front. It can also be used again for birthdays, and other celebrations through-out the year. 17. Display in a hamper Image credit: Future If you’re short on space, but still want to display your cards together, then making a feature of them layered up in a wicker hamper will allow you show off the prettiest ones but still keep them altogether. Intertwine with lights and ribbons for a twinkling display. 18. Show off with foliage Image credit: Future Plc This card display is the perfect way to add some extra decoration to an evergreen display in your home. Rather than splashing out on extra baubles or pine cones, add another dimension to the greenery by simply pegging your Christmas cards on. Pretty and cost effective. Now you’ve seen our creative Christmas card ideas you’ll be ready for when the festive mail starts to arrive! The post Christmas card ideas – creative ways to display season's greetings around the home appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
![Shark Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner [ICZ300UKT] Anti Hair Wrap, PowerFins, Powered Lift-Away, Pet Hair, Blue](https://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/56/2021/07/Shark-ICZ300UKT-IH.jpg)
| You are subscribed to email updates from Ideal Home. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment