Ideal Home

---

• Small Christmas tree ideas - save space without sacrificing festive style
• Kitchen Christmas decorating ideas to add festive cheer to cooking
• Mrs Hinch's new winter Tesco homeware range has landed in store
• Setting a Christmas table – a step by step guide to styling
• Creative mum's incredible Harry Potter-themed Christmas tree is completely magical
• Best patio heater 2021: for winter warming in your garden
• Christmas candle ideas - 15 ways to light up your home in style
• Poinsettia care tips – how to care for this festive favourite 
• Magimix Cook Expert review: a multi-cooker like no other
• Christmas place settings to take your festive table to the next level
• Best food processor 2021: 10 top kitchen helpers
• 5 ways to make your home feel more magical this Christmas
• Santa's Grotto ideas: how to create a grotto in your garden
• Cleaning fan reveals hack to get grout looking like new without scrubbing
• Simple Christmas table decor ideas for well-dressed dining
• Christmas table decoration ideas for a showstopper of a festive meal
• Christmas dining room decor ideas – perfect backdrops for festive dinners
• Budget bathroom ideas – 18 ways to update your washroom
• Real Aldi Christmas trees are back from just £14.99 – get one while you can!
• Where to get a sofa delivery by Christmas - you could be sitting pretty in just 24 hours!
• Outdated to wow! Tired bathroom gets a luxurious hotel-style makeover
• Crown Paints has created a colour palette inspired by the latest Disney film
• What is Facebook Portal and how does it work? Here's what you need to know...

Small Christmas tree ideas - save space without sacrificing festive style Posted: 03 Dec 2021 05:16 AM PST Image credit: Future PLC Giant Christmas trees certainly make an impact but, let’s face it, how many of us live in houses with room for a 12foot fir?! This year, embrace pretty and petite options with small Christmas tree ideas which make just as much of a statement as any overly tall tree which is clearly overcompensating for something. When deciding which of the many Christmas tree ideas you’re going for this holiday season, first consider what your small home actually needs. Do you have low ceilings? Is floor space lacking? Once you’ve figured this out, finding a tree becomes so much easier. Small Christmas tree ideas ‘When you are debating what size Christmas tree you want, it is absolutely vital that you take the correct measurements, not just from top to bottom, but also you need to see how big of an area you have,’ advise the experts at Christmas Tree World. ‘Having a tree that is too big can make your room feel full, whilst a tree that is too small can be underwhelming. Getting a tree that is the right size can be the perfect addition to your home and ramp up the festive feel.’ So wether you need a shorter tree, a tabletop option or something completely out of the box, read out to discover our favourite small Christmas tree ideas. 1. Choose a half tree Image credit: Wilko Perfect for narrow hallways, or awkward rooms, half Christmas trees from brands including Wilko, are a clever way to have an impressive looking fir in a small home. As well as fitting in neatly, you still have a full height and width tree to decorate, so you don’t have to sacrifice any of your favourite baubles because of a tree downsize. No-one really looks at the back of a tree anyway, but choose an oversized Christmas tree topper to give the illusion of extra dimension. 2. Find a contemporary solution Image credit: Habitat In a minimalist home, look for modern alternative Christmas tree ideas. A slimline wooden triangle becomes a cool geometric interpretation of the traditional fir. As well as taking up little space, a version like this option from Habitat, is perfect for really putting your prized decorations in full view. If you simply cannot sacrifice a tree topper, try attaching a 2-D star with a Command Strip. 3. Go short but shapely Image credit: Future PLC A small home doesn’t have to forgo looking at real Christmas trees. If low ceilings are an issue, choose a 3-4 foot tree. You can place on a stand and in a basket for a little extra height, but don’t try and raise things up to high as it will start to overwhelm the room and feel out of proportion. Shape is key here, so source a tree with plenty of branches and depth to it. Another bonus of a smaller tree such as this is that you can have all the benefits of a real tree, but at less cost and with less struggle to carry home and set up. 4. Focus on the baubles Image credit: Bloomingville If floor space is totally lacking, or you just prefer to be slightly alternative in your small home, then consider casting aside of preconceptions of what a Christmas tree really is. Reinvent your Christmas window decor ideas with a creative display. Forage for gently twisted slender tree branches and place in a tall, sturdy vase. Decorate with baubles as you would a traditional tree, but stick to your lighter decorations to prevent breakage. We also love this idea for adding a Christmas tree element into extra rooms of the house. 5. Create a mini forest Image credit: Layered Lounge Christmas mantel decor is always something to consider at this time of year, so why not kill two birds with one stone and add your tree in here? A selection of slim, miniature trees can be arrangement on your mantelpiece or shelving to not only add height but to create your very own winter wonderland forest. Make this work even harder by moving to your dining table when it’s time to start working on your Christmas table centrepiece. 6. Choose a slim shape Image credit: Wayfair If your home is just a tad small in terms of footprint, then it’s delightfully simple to find a small Christmas tree to fit. Several of the best artificial Christmas trees are, or come in, super slim options. Be mindful to measure the area you plan to put the Christmas tree in before purchasing, paying close attention to the diameter as you need to make sure family and friends will still be able to walk buy without knocking your baubles off. 7. Look to your walls Image credit: Ginger Ray One of our current favourite Christmas tree trends this year is also tailor made for smaller homes. ‘If you’re short on space, but big on Christmas, hang this effortlessly simple rustic ladder tree on a wall or door for an instant festive finish,’ say the team at Ginger Ray. ‘Embrace a touch of Scandi styling if you haven’t got room for a big tree. Don’t forget you can still customise it with foliage and Christmas decorations!’ You can even have a go at making your own, with some rope or ribbon, foraged twigs, and a picture hook. 8. Think laterally Image credit: Quince and Cook Yes, traditionally Christmas trees do tend to be rather vertical, but it’s always fun to turn things on their heads. Double up your Christmas tree with a unique hanging centrepiece for a quirky, space-saving alternative. Hang a branch using invisible fishing wire to either – strongly attached – pendant lighting, or heavy-duty Command hooks. Layer aith a length of fir and dress using paper decorations and light baubles. 9. Show off the silhouette Image credit: Cox and Cox ‘Ideal for those with limited space or wanting to take a step away from tradition and decorate in a minimalist fashion this festive season, a silhouette tree is the perfect blank canvas,’ says Dani Taylor, Product and Creative Director of Cox and Cox. ‘To make the most of this modern tree's versatility, hang with contrasting dramatic gold baubles, coordinating cool grey ornaments, or simply wind a set of fairy lights around the branches for a simple, but joyful look.’. 10. Focus on the height Image credit: Future PLC If you just don’t have the floor space for a huge tree then experiment with some contemporary designs that accommodate city dwellers and apartment settlers. This one has a long stem with a bushy head so diners can still enjoy the aesthetics of a traditional Christmas tree without it getting in the way. 11. Take it to the floor Image credit: Future PLC If the small Christmas tree you’ve found is extra wide and plump, then it’s worth forgoing a height-adding base. Keep the tree low to the ground to avoid any off proportions when there aren’t presents to fill the space. If you’re taking this route, be extra aware to spread decorations out evenly, as by placing all your large baubles towards the base could make the tree feel too bottom heavy. 12. Make it miniature Image credit: Future PLC Lots of mini Christmas trees have come on the market over recent years. They look festive on window ledges and compliment big Christmas trees. If you have a small home then opt for a handful of these dotted around instead of one large one to add a Christmassy feel to multiple rooms without taking up the space. 13. Switch up the location Image credit: Future PLC If you are worried about rearranging furniture for your fir then fear no more. We know that in a small home space is precious so rather than trying to fit your tree in a more central zone, place it in a corner position to increase the available square footage of the room. Learn how to decorate a Christmas tree professionally with lights and baubles to ensure that your fir remains the focal point, even if placed to one side. stick your tree in a corner that was otherwise sparse. A decorated, lit, fully sized plant will be handsome enough to be spotted behind an armchair or corner table. 14. Take it outside Image credit: Future PLC If you don’t have the space inside then utilise your porch and keep the tree in its natural habitat. Standing the timber outside the house will create lots of room for other mantlepiece and wall decorations inside, plus they are a merry welcome to guests popping over for Christmas nibbles. 15. Raise it up Image credit: Future PLC To free up foot space and some room for your dad dance moves, put your tree on a table and arrange your presents around the base. If you have one, a mirrored table reflects the tree to make it look bigger than it is. If not then just pick a pretty table top and cover it with ribbons and Christmas confetti. 16. Choose a modern mural Image credit: Future PLC A 2D tree won’t take up any room this Christmas and will keep guests talking! Super innovative and really fun – get kids to decorate them with glittery designs, play pin the conifer cone on the tree or ask family and friends to sign their names and treasure as a Christmas keep sake. How do you make a small Christmas tree look good? Small Christmas trees are having something of a moment, and there are all manner of ways to dress them so that they look their very best. Small versions are excellent for committing to a theme, perhaps a colourway, because you need fewer decorations to complete the look and make it feel finished. If using a real tree, a bit of extra height from a base or a pretty basket will add give it more presence and impact. How do you decorate a miniature tree? Decorate small Christmas trees as you would a larger version, just using fewer baubles, and making sure the ones you choose stay in proportion to the tree. ‘A lot of houses will hang ornaments on their Christmas tree haphazardly, causing it to look populated and a little bit claustrophobic,’ note the experts at Christmas Tree World. ‘You can easily avoid that by having a plan of what you want your Christmas tree to look like. You should spread out your decorations evenly, whilst also considering symmetry. Your decorations shouldn't just dangle at the edge of branches, make sure you are pushing larger baubles to the back of the tree where they will look best. The best decorations for the edge of branches are the longer decorations (e.g. icicles, candy canes etc). When the light reflects off them it gives the tree a warm and dazzling look from the inside out.’ What can I do instead of a Christmas tree? Instead of a Christmas tree this year, think outside of the box. Wall hanging versions are especially popular right now – either bought or homemade. Some alternative advent calendars are even in the shape of a tree, neatly taking its place, while checking off another to-do on the Christmas countdown. Wall murals are coming into play slowly but surely, too, but make sure that the type you choose won’t damage your walls upon removal. There are even more wacky ideas out there, from stacking books into a tree, shaping one out on the walls with washi tape, or arranging balloons into a Christmas tree shape. The post Small Christmas tree ideas - save space without sacrificing festive style appeared first on Ideal Home.

Kitchen Christmas decorating ideas to add festive cheer to cooking Posted: 03 Dec 2021 02:00 AM PST As the heart of our homes we spend a large portion of our time in the kitchen, especially at Christmas. Yet year after year, the room that serves us so well throughout the festive period gets forgotten when it comes to the decorating scheme. Not this year, thanks to our thoughtful kitchen Christmas decorating ideas – we are dressing kitchens to perfection. From decorative wreaths to statement christmas lighting ideas,  we’ve rounded up the perfect solutions to cheer up your hardworking kitchen. These simple Christmas decor ideas do the job without any hassle or demands on precious kitchen space this… Kitchen Christmas decorating ideas 1. Decorate the cooker Image credit: Future PLC As the main attraction of any kitchen the cooker is a the ideal focal point for your kitchen Christmas decorating ideas. A simple festive garland above the cooker surround frames the space beautifully. Interweaving fairy lights into the garland helps to make the display all the more captivating. If you have a wall rack for hanging pots and pans this can act as the prefect place to decorate with lights. 2. Unify an open-plan kitchen with coordinated foliage Image credit: Future PLC/ Chris Snook Keep it simple but uniformed to add an understated festive touch to your kitchen. Coordinate a festive scheme with fresh foliage adorning the kitchen counter, dining table and walls with a wreath. The simple presence of well-style greenery signifies a nod to extra decoration without having to embrace full-on Christmas decorations. This idea is particularly effective to unify an open-plan kitchen dining area. Not just for christmas either, you could choose seasonally relevant foliage to dress the kitchen, ensuring it’s always dressed to impress at all times. 3. Curate a merry Christmas display Image credit: Dunelm; Merry Neon Tube Light, £15 Just throughout the festive season choose to clear the kitchen shelves of cookbooks, tea and coffee canisters – freeing up valuable space to curate seasonal displays. From christmas figurines and paper decorations to statement neon LED lights, group a selection of decorations to style a fabulous festive shelfie. Swap out your everyday essentials for a festive alternative; such as Christmas tree shaped chopping boards and seasonal placemats. 4. Add ambience with candlelight Image credit: Lights4fun.co.uk Create ambience with candlelight. Christmas candle ideas, whether real or LED, offer more intimate and softer lighting for those spending time in the kitchen. LED lights are the obvious choice for safety, especially in a busy family kitchen but real candles offer a flickering flame that feels enchanting. Just be sure not to leave real candles left unattended. 5. Light up kitchens with striking stars Image credit: Dunelm; Wooden Star Lights, £20 set of 2 Create the ultimate Christmas shelfie with a selection of the best christmas lights. From draping strings of decorative fairy lights along the shelf edge to making space for large statement star lights, like these from Wooden LED stars form Dunelm. The battery-powered lights are ideal for kitchen shelves because they don’t require a mains plug. 6. Set up a drinks station Image credit: B&M Create a drinks serving station on a section of clear kitchen work surface, to keep all your finest serving ware on display – all grouped together. Add festive foliage and fairy lights to suitably decorate the set up. Whether you have to hideaway kitchen appliance for a few days or are fortunate to have a larger enough space clear already this idea is about dedicating an area to display your best Christmas drinksware and use the area as a serving station. Keep this area away from the food preparation area, to ensure the frequent re-fillers aren’t under the feet of the chefs. 7. Put your Christmas cards on show Image credit: Tesco The kitchen dresser is a prime place to show off all your Christmas cards, as they over spill the living room mantelpiece. A kitchen dresser also proves handy as a creative place to display Christmas card idea as a means of hiding what’s already in the dresser – so it instantly feels more festive. 8. Choose a mini tree Image credit: Armac Martin A create alternative tree idea for a kitchen is a miniature tree. The small but impactful tree welcomes a flavour of Christmas without taking up valuable space – which in a busy festive kitchen is invaluable. 9. Frame the window with foliage Image credit: Lights4fun.co.uk Garlands are not just for Christmas mantel decor ideas. A simple flourish of foliage can make all the difference when it comes to festive styling. None more so than when used at the highest point to frame the window, effortlessly elevating the decorating scheme. Use command hooks to secure the garland in place, to avoid it crashing down in the middle of festive food prep. 10. Welcome wreaths indoors Image credit: John Lewis & Partners Wreaths aren’t limited to front doors and blustering winds – bring them inside. Hanging a circular garland from your kitchen door will add instant Christmas cheer to a room – even if it’s otherwise undecorated  – and won’t take up precious space. 11. Bring on the baubles Image credit: Future PLC Wreaths hung from the ceiling and cabinet knobs make the perfect hanging spot for baubles, while cornices and pelmets can be adorned with holly and spruce. Select moisture-resistant, wipe-clean decorations and faux foliage to avoid wilting in the heat. 12. Display seasons greetings Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby Extend season’s greetings to all by writing a happy message on a chalkboard to display in the kitchen. A message board is a DIY Christmas decor idea that is easy to do but immensely impactful on the decor and vibes within the room. Surround the chalkboard with your best seasonal tableware. Christmas offers a great excuse to invest in cake tins and containers – they are perfect for adding a seasonal burst of colour to the space. 13. Bring in some natural foliage Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole This can look great all year round, but works especially well over Christmas. Holly, ivy and mistletoe suit a rustic kitchen to a tee, but equally would soften the edges of a very modern scheme. If you hate Christmas kitsch, this could be the look for you. 14. Serve up some edible decorations Image credit: FuturePLC/ Claudia Dulak With all the food that’s going round, you’ll have enough for a few decorations. Christmas cake, mince pies, sausage rolls and biscuits, will look that bit more inviting sitting on red table runners, and are sure to tempt any passing guests. Don’t forget to put out a few plates and napkins to catch crumbs. 15. Add festive ornaments Image credit: Future PLC/ Oliver Gordon Ornaments are fitting for the Christmas kitchen as they are small and discreet. Small trees, themed prints, wooden reindeer and bowls of baubles can be dotted on worktops, shelves and islands to ensure the Christmas theme runs throughout the house. 16. Set your festive table Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young If you’re dining around your kitchen table this Christmas, then decorate it extravagantly. The rest of the room will then require little or no other decoration, yet it feels sufficiently festive. We love a bold red that’s fun for both children or grown ups and works brilliantly with two kitchen colour schemes of the moment – navy and grey. 17. Go bold with a tree Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole If you have the luxury of unlimited space in your kitchen, then the best way to give it some Christmas cheer is by adding a tree. Place it near the dining table to be admired at meal times and decorate in colours that complement your kitchen. 18. Lighten the mood Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole Twinkling fairy lights strewn over fireplaces, cabinets and open shelving are an instant Christmas pick me up and will create a festive atmosphere during the evening. Hung up high, they are out of the way and a simple decoration but have a big impact in a busy room. Save energy by opting for eco-friendly LEDs. 19. Fill your kitchen with scents of the season Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles A fragranced candle will infuse your kitchen with mouthwatering aromas before the oven is even turned on! Cranberry, pomegranate and festive spices like clove work especially well. 20. Create a glamorous bar Image credit: Future PLC/ Jonathan Gooch Convert an existing storage space into a drinks station. Here, gleaming mirror-lined walls and sparkling glass shelves create a dazzling display space for coloured glassware and a selection of everyone’s favourite seasonal tipples. The built-in table makes a great drinks prep space as well as a handy nook for tucking in a bar stool. Keeping wine and spirits out on display rather than hidden away creates a warm and hospitable feel in a house full of guests. How can I decorate my kitchen for Christmas? A kitchen can be easily decorated for Christmas with small touches that welcome festive cheer. Displaying Christmas cards is an easy way to instantly add festive feel-good factor to kitchens, be it on a clear shelf or with a kitchen dresser. If your kitchen is an open-plan dining space adding a second tree helps to carry the decorating scheme through from room to room. Kitchen shelves provide the perfect platform to curate Christmas displays of garlands, lights and ornaments. Welcome Christmas characters and signature festive motifs to add personality to the space. The post Kitchen Christmas decorating ideas to add festive cheer to cooking appeared first on Ideal Home.

Mrs Hinch's new winter Tesco homeware range has landed in store Posted: 03 Dec 2021 01:00 AM PST As fans of Sophie, aka Mrs Hinch, we were pretty excited when her first homeware launched online and in Tesco stores earlier this year. Now the new winter buys have been added in time for Christmas. Sophie Hinchcliffe sprung to fame as a cleanfluencer on Instagram, showing us all how to get our homes looking our best with her clever hacks. However, her home soon became a source of chic grey bedroom ieas and grey living room ideas, as well as the best cleaning products to buy If you haven’t already got a touch of Mrs Hinch's style in your home with her Tesco home range, then now’s the time to take a look. The new pieces are rather gorgeous – and they're really affordable, too. You might expect that the range is entirely grey, however, there are metallic touches, along with brown pampas and some soft neutral colours too. With snuggly throws, lanterns and sweet little photo frames, you can update your home beautifully for Christmas. Mrs Hinch homeware range at Tesco Image credit: Tesco x Hinch The new collection is filled with  pretty accessories to update a sideboard from the ribbed vase to the star-shaped lanterns. Hinch knitted tassel throw Image credit: Tesco x Hinch Super snuggly, we love this throw for the sofa or a bed and those oversize tassels are a nice touch. It’s also ideal if you have guests staying for Christmas this year, as you could pop it in their room as an extra layer if it gets chilly. The Hinch knitted tassel throw in Dove Grey is priced at £25. Hinch heart photo frame Image credit: Tesco x Hinch This sweet picture frame is made from sustainably sourced wood and has a grey flocked back to it. What better way to display a picture of your loved ones this year? The Hinch heart photo frame is priced at £6. Hinch 3 heart tea lights Image credit: Tesco x Hinch Boasting fragrances of frosted jasmine and musk, these team lights are set in sweet miniature heart-shaped ceramic pots. The set of three heart tealights are ideal for dotting around the house – or as a gift for someone special, for just £7. Real pampas Image credit: Tesco x Hinch These 100% natural pampas grass stems are ideal for adding to existing floral displays or styled on their own and come in ivory or natural (shown here). Or, why not add them to your Christmas tree for an on-trend tree display? These aren’t available online yet, but you might be lucky and find them in your local store. Alongside the new addition to the range, you can also find a few favourites from the old collection available. Hinch Oversized Seersucker Silver Double Duvet Set Image credit: Tesco x Hinch Update your bedroom with Hinch Oversized Seersucker Silver Double Duvet Set, £26. We love that it doesn’t have to be ironed to look good, and at £26 you can’t go wrong. The duvet set also comes in fresh white for a crisp hotel bed look. Hinch In Drawer Organiser 3 Pack Image credit: Tesco x Hinch While they might not have the ‘ooh’ factor, these organisers are a great bedroom storage idea. It was important to Mrs Hinch that the organisers were sturdy and would keep their shape, so expect them to be nice and firm. The Hinch In Drawer Organiser 3 Pack will make drawers so neat you’ll save loads of time looking for odd socks. Follow Marie Kondo’s method and go dark socks on the left, fading to white socks on the right. What will you be adding to your basket? The post Mrs Hinch's new winter Tesco homeware range has landed in store appeared first on Ideal Home.

Setting a Christmas table – a step by step guide to styling Posted: 03 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST Setting a Christmas table is a joyous job, but one we want to get right. We’ve seen the tablescaping trend go through the roof this year, but whether you’re looking to share your festive spread on social media or keep it for your eyes only, you’ll want to know how to lay the perfect Christmas table. After all, it’s the biggest meal of the year – an important time where many of us get together with friends and family, so you’ll want your Christmas table decoration ideas to be just as special as the moment itself. Setting a table: How to lay the perfect Christmas table If past table settings have included a random scattering of crackers and a tatty tablecloth, then it’s time to up your game. From Christmas place settings to simple table decor and flower arrangements, there are many ways you can create a Christmas table to be proud of. Read on for our tips and a sprinkling of tabletop magic… 1. Make preparation key Image credit: Dunelm It’s best to dress the table the night before Christmas. Why? So you have plenty of time to hunt down missing cutlery and crockery, to check glasses are free of watermarks, and it also means you won’t be thrown off if your guests arrive early. Not only that, but by preparing your table early it allows you more time to think about an overhead display, like these hanging paper decorations, or dressing the shelves and surfaces in the room to create a beautiful ambience. Buy now: Hanging paper decorations, from £2.50, Dunelm 2. Theme your table Image credit: George Home When you choose a theme for your table, you can really do as much or as little as you like. It could be you simply choose one key colour to pick up in your tablecloth, napkins and table arrangement, or you may want to go all out with a specific ‘look, whether it’s nature-inspired with lots of wood and greenery, or Art Deco opulence, such as this table above. From peacock feathers and gold-sprayed fruit, to earthy colours and Scandic-style decorations, the world is your oyster. So get creative and come up with a theme that not only suits your home, but calls to your imagination, too. Buy now: Rose-gold effect bowls, £12 for four, George Home  3. Add a show-stopping place setting Image credit: John Lewis & Partners Layering your table is key, so decide if you’re using a tablecloth or runner (or both), then pop a charger or beaded placemat for each place setting, topped with your choice of crockery and bowls. When it comes to your napkin, decide if you want to make a feature of it with some serious Christmas napkin folding origami (bows and Christmas tree designs are easy to fold), or whether you’d rather use an ornate napkin ring as shown above. 4. Show off an eye-catching centrepiece Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore Depending on the size of the table, you might already be struggling to fit on all your glasses and crockery. If that’s the case, avoid cluttering it up further with tealights and other decorations. However, it’s always worth squeezing in a Christmas table centrepiece idea. Just remember, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. A long planter with pillar candles nestled into moss keeps things simple, and the shape works well with a standard rectangular-shaped dining table. 5. Have fun with personalisation Image credit: Simon Brown Welcome your loved ones to the table with a handwritten place setting. This could be as simple as a card, or you could double up and create small gifts for your guests. Perhaps a small succulent with a chalkboard label bearing their name? Or a personalised bauble or cracker? Feel free to let your imagination run wild – just make sure, whatever you settle on, that it works with your overall theme. Oh, and one last thing – before everyone sits down to eat, make sure you share your carefully laid table with the world! Take a quick snap for Instagram, and add the hashtag #tablescape so that others can seek out your scheme for inspiration. It’s also a good term to search with if you’re looking for ideas. The post Setting a Christmas table – a step by step guide to styling appeared first on Ideal Home.

Creative mum's incredible Harry Potter-themed Christmas tree is completely magical Posted: 02 Dec 2021 11:00 PM PST Christmas is a magical time of year – and one mum has taken that literally by creating her very own Harry Potter-themed Christmas tree. The much-loved books and films have been brought to life, with decorations that include broomsticks, hand-made baubles and even a mini Dobbie the house-elf, all for just £92. If you’re all out of bauble display ideas or want an alternative Christmas tree, then you might want to take some inspiration from mum-of-three Louise Howard. Running her own party and balloon business in Bristol means that Louise is a dab hand at decorating and always has craft bits to hand. Harry Potter-themed Christmas tree ‘Last year, we created a Grinch tree, which we all loved,’ Louise told money-saving Black Friday app. ‘This year we were struggling to come up with an idea for a theme, until one of us suggested a Harry Potter tree.’ Image credit: Louise Howard Initially, Louise thought it was an amazing idea as the family all love Harry Potter, but then she started to have doubts about whether she could make the theme look festive. ‘I’d given all of my girls’ Harry Potter items to a friend for her kids' bedroom,’ she recalls. ‘So we had nothing except a 10-year-old Dobby mask from a World Book Day costume along with a pillowcase we’d used for his dress!’  Not to be defeated, Louise decided to use the mask and pillowcase and dress up an old Santa she had to make a mini Dobby, that sits at the base of the tree. To help keep costs down even further, Louise started by selling her decorations from last year's tree in order to pay for new ones. She also used their best artificial Christmas tree again. Image credit: Louise Howard ‘Our tree is actually 20 years old,’ says Louise. ‘I purchased it for my daughter’s first Christmas and she is 21 next month! I've used it every year and I would never change it unless I really have to.’ ‘It was originally from Woolworths and has been through three house moves with us. When I first met my husband he had always had a real tree and for the first year or two, he suggested we get a real one – now even he’s attached to it.’ The very first item that Louise bought for the tree was the topper – ‘I went straight on Amazon and purchased a sorting hat,’ she says. ‘Then I went to B&M and Home Bargains to see what Harry Potter things they had. I managed to get a few bits, but nothing much.’ ‘I almost just used the white and silver baubles we already had, but by this point, I’d already spent £38 on the sorting hat and some floating candle lights, so I decided to rein it in and keep it cheaper.’ Image credit: Louise Howard Louise found some gold and burgundy Gryffindor-theme colour baubles in B&M. She printed out some Harry Potter-themed clip art from Google onto sticker paper, cut them out and stuck them to the baubles. ‘I thought about other things that related to Harry Potter too,’ she says. ‘An owl and stag, letters, a broom, a Golden snitch and so on, and I started to source them. ‘ ‘The Range had a Harry Potter writing set, which I used for the envelopes, and that filled some quite big areas. I also printed some templates for chocolate frog boxes online and made them up, then I made some Ferrero Rocher chocolates into golden snitches (this could be done much cheaper with gold baubles though!),’ she adds. Image credit: Louise Howard Louise bought some gold poinsettias from Amazon and collected some acorns from a local park, which she sprayed gold. ‘I had lots of these, so again, they filled a lot of space,’ she says. ‘I also ordered little glass bottles with lids, which the children filled with different colour creams to make “potion bottles” that they stuck tiny labels to.’ ‘To fill the gaps without spending tons of money, I printed lots of images off Google, such as the signs of locations like Diagon Alley, and the newspaper articles from the films,’ she says. ‘I planned to laminate these and use them on the tree, but we didn't need to use them in the end.’ ‘All in all the whole tree cost £92, plus a mini Hogwarts Express train that I bought for £65 on Amazon. I’ll eventually sell the train, hat and baubles to fund next year’s tree. In fact, I've already had people message to say they will buy everything we have!’ The post Creative mum's incredible Harry Potter-themed Christmas tree is completely magical appeared first on Ideal Home.

Best patio heater 2021: for winter warming in your garden Posted: 02 Dec 2021 08:55 AM PST Find the best patio heater for your home to keep you warm and toasty in the winter evenings. If you’re feeling the winter blues and miss the great outdoors, investing in the best patio heater will win you your garden back, even when the sun has gone down. For many of us, there’s no better feeling than sitting outdoors in the evenings with some friends and a bottle of wine, but as the evenings get colder, that becomes a lot trickier. People depend on their patio heater to warm their hands and keep their feet toasty while sat out enjoying the stars. In our best patio heater guide we’ve included a range that will suit any home. Most patio heaters are electric, and to be honest, those are our favourites. They often use infrared technology to warm your hands and face directly, instead of just heating the air around you, and they also come in freestanding or tabletop designs. There are also the best gas patio heaters, which have the advantage of being completely plug-free. If your cosy space is right at the bottom of your garden, buying a gas patio heater will liberate you from your nearest plug socket to move your patio heater anywhere you need. Gas patio heaters also often look more commercial and chic, meaning they’re perfect for entertaining this winter. Check out our roundup of the best fire pits We’ve included a mix of the best patio heaters from online retailers in our guide, with ten top picks for freestanding, tabletop, and even wall-hanging patio heaters to suit any space. If you order a patio heater online right now we’re hoping that you’ll have it in time for the New Year, so you can enjoy some festive fireworks without freezing! How to choose the best patio heater Any patio heater you buy will need to be stored when not in use, meaning a mighty model will only suit those with a chunk of space on the shed, or a dedicated patio heater space in the garden. If you’re short on space and able to install, we suggest buying a wall-hanging patio heater to sit discreetly on your patio wall and keep you warm with the touch of a button. Speaking of buttons, you can find some of the best patio heaters with remote controls that will give you controls over your heater even from a distance. That’s ideal for those who want something to occupy a large space in the garden. Gas patio heaters are the classic heater you’ll recognise from trips to pub gardens, and they’re ideal for large crowds because they have pyramid shapes that contain the gas fuel neatly away. You can adjust the heat level completely with gas patio heaters because they come with fully adjustable dials. These patio heaters also offer a warm glow that acts as a patio light, as well as a warming feature. That’s perfect for making the most of every part of the garden. Electric patio heaters need to be plugged in, but they’re more energy-efficient than gas heaters. Gas heaters warm the air around them, whereas infrared electric models heat you up directly, which means there’s less energy lost in the whole process. The best patio heaters 2021 1. Swan Al Fresco SH16310N Column Patio Heater Best column patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: 79.4 x 47.2 x 32.2 cm Reasons to buy:  • It’s tall enough to warm chilly hands and faces • The base is sturdy and perfect for freestanding use • It will heat all around the table Reasons to avoid:  • The actual heating element isn’t the largest The Swan Al Fresco SH16310N Column Patio Heater is our top choice of the best patio heaters. It's got two temperature settings to choose from, either 1000W or 2000W, and the power cord is 1.8 metres for extending out into the garden.  This patio heater has a safety switch with a 360-degree tip-over, meaning it will automatically switch off when tilted to prevent any scorching or burning if it falls over.  We also think it’s tall enough to warm the hands and face, while still being a freestanding option that won’t need to sit on a tabletop. The best of both worlds!  2. Heatlab 2kW Outdoor Freestanding Electric Quartz Bulb Garden Patio Heaters Best overhead patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: L20 x W7 x H71 Reasons to buy:  • Its overhead is discreet and effective • A wide base • A range of settings available Reasons to avoid:  • Not the cheapest Affordable and designed for a crowd, the Heatlab 2kW Outdoor Freestanding Electric Quartz Bulb Garden Patio Heaters is 71cm tall and offers adjustable three heat settings of up to 2000W. Lower settings include a 650 watt and 1350 watt setting.  The wide base means this patio heater is stable and perfect for placing on a patio. It's also great for discreet use as the head can overlook your garden table while you drink or entertain. The set of two is great for entertaining.  3. Dellonda Propane Gas Pyramid Patio Heater Best gas patio heater Energy type: Gas Dimensions: H227 x W52cm Reasons to buy:  • It’s wireless, meaning you can take it to the end of the garden • Has that classic ‘pub garden’ look • Shield at the top keeps it from losing heat Reasons to avoid: • Gas is never as efficient as electric Gas patio heaters don't require an electrical cord, so they're perfect for taking far out into the garden. The Dellonda Propane Gas Pyramid Patio Heater is our top pick of the best gas patio heater as it's got in-built storage space for your gas tank.  The controls are available directly underneath the heater, and it has a wide and secure base perfect for entertaining.  4. Martello Infrared Table Top Patio Heater Best tabletop patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: L23 x W23 x H41cm Reasons to buy:  • Lightweight tabletop design • We love the look • Oscillating design Reasons to avoid:  • Tops out at 70oW If you want a patio heater to sit on your tabletop while you enjoy an evening meal, look no further than the reasonably priced and lightweight Martello Infrared Table Top Patio Heater. It has two heat lamps, each with 350 watts of power. You can operate the heater on one lamp or two, depending on which level of heat you need. At 41cm tall, it’s perfect for placing on the top of a table and even taking out and about on trips. The oscillation is perfect for those who like to entertain, but you don’t have to have it on oscillation mode if you’re sat out on your own. It’s not capable of heating a crowd, but it will be the little injection of warmth you need to sit out in the evening. 5. IPX4 Streamline Rotating Patio Heater Best rotating patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: D27 x H82 cm Reasons to buy:  • There’s enough heat for everyone • Will oscillate or focus on you • Perfect for corners Reasons to avoid: • Rotation is limited to 60 degrees The IPX4 Streamline Rotating Patio Heater makes sure everyone stays warm thanks to its rotation. The base spins 60 degrees, which means it’s perfect to place in a corner when hosting. There are two heat settings to choose from, and you can select this with the simple and accessible dial on top of the heater. This heater is 82cm tall, so it’s best suited to warming your legs and feet. While it oscillates, you can also set this function off and enjoy the heat all to yourself. 6. Swan Al Fresco SH16330N Portable Patio Heater Best tabletop patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: 68.2 x 35.7 x 29.6 cm Reasons to buy:  • It’s lightweight and easy to store • Energy-efficient Reasons to avoid:  • Not the most powerful patio heater out there Weighing just 8.79 kg, the Swan Al Fresco SH16330N Portable Patio Heater is a top choice for portability. You can place it under tables or on top of them, and the in-built handle makes transportation convenient.  The Swan Al Fresco SH16330N Portable Patio Heater has 1200W of power and comes with an aluminium reflector to make the most of the efficient carbon fibre heating element.  7. Opranic 2KW Electric Patio Heater Best infrared patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: W19 x D12.7 x H100.5 cm Reasons to buy:  • Five heat settings • Remote control Reasons to avoid: • Not the largest option out there The Opranic 2KW Electric Patio Heater has an aluminium body and knitted carbon flament. The infrared function means it's super efficient, only heating objects nearby and not the air itself.  This heater has 2000W of power and comes with a textile cover to keep it safe when not in use. There's also a safety function that automatically shuts the heater off when tipped. Opranic also claim that the IP34 certified heater has at least 10,000 hours of battery life. 8. ALUK 2000W Patio Heater Best hanging patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: W58.5cm x D58.5 x H35H Reasons to buy: • So discreet you’ll not even see it • Very easy to store Reasons to avoid: • You’ll need something to hook it up to For gazebos, pergolas or covered balconies, choose the ALUK 2000W Patio Heater. It's infrared, meaning you'll feel the heat directly when sitting underneath it. There’s also a remote control for easy operation and an aluminium frame to keep pergolas and balconies safe.  Given its small frame, the 2200W power is pretty impressive. 9. Swan Al Fresco SH16340N Wall Mounted Patio Heater Best wall mounted patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: 79 x 21 x 16.5 cm Reasons to buy:  • It can be a permanent feature in your garden • Will sit on the wall all year round Reasons to avoid:  • You will need to mount it The Swan Al Fresco SH16340N Wall Mounted Patio Heater can be mounted either vertically or horizontally on your patio wall for year-round use. It's waterproof and designed for any weather conditions, and the 1.8 metre power lead means it can be placed a good distance from your living space.  There's a remote control included, as well as an on/off button on the side of the heater itself, and there's a total of 1800W of power.  10. Herschel Havana Portable Electric Patio Heater Best portable patio heater Energy type: Electric Dimensions: H65 x W20cm Reasons to buy:  • Cheap to run and long bulb life • Two metre cable Reasons to avoid:  • 800W isn’t the most powerful Costing just 12p to run per hour, the Herschel Havana Portable Electric Patio Heater cuts down on costs thanks to its 800W of power. It may not warm you up as much as a more powerful patio heater, but it's a smaller option that offers 10,000 hours of bulb life. The cable length is 2 metres, making it perfectly portable for taking out into the garden or placing on the patio. It also gives off a nice warm glow.  What is the best type of patio heater? Patio heaters are available in both gas and electric models. Gas patio heaters are great because they don't require a lead to be plugged in, so you can take them to the bottom of the garden and enjoy all evening long.  See also: The best BBQs Electric patio heaters typically come cheaper and with more direct heat, especially when they use infrared heat. This heats surrounding objects directly, instead of the air around the heater itself. In our guide to the best patio heaters we’ve included small and large options. Some can be placed on top of or underneath tabletops, making them easy to carry around and great for smaller gatherings. There are also wall-mounted and hanging patio heaters available, which can be hooked up to gazebos and pergolas for prolonging evening drinks. How long do patio heaters last? The best patio heaters can last in excess of 10,000 hours. Most patio heaters indicate the lifespan of the heater bulb when buying, as well as the running cost per hour. If you opt for a gas patio heater the lifespan could be endless, because you’re always able to replace the gas tank and when the old one runs out. This is best suited for those who like to entertain, which is why you’ll often see gas patio heaters in pub gardens. The post Best patio heater 2021: for winter warming in your garden appeared first on Ideal Home.

Christmas candle ideas - 15 ways to light up your home in style Posted: 02 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST Image credit: Future PLC Get your festive decorating scheme off to a sparkling start with Christmas candle ideas to light up every room. Candlelight is an instant mood changer, creating a soft and cosy glow that makes any space feel warm and welcoming. Create instant atmosphere in a hallway or living room by dimming the overhead lights and lighting up a lantern or collection of candle votives to illuminate the space. Layering the lighting in several places is easier on the eye than one harsh overhead light and helps to create a cosy and relaxed ambience. Decorating a dining table with candles has become part of tradition and is an easy way Christmas table decoration idea, making it look extra festive. A candle centrepiece will create height and give the table a focal point, just make sure that candles aren't too tall so that guests can still see each other properly across the table. Christmas candle ideas for all rooms Whether it's Christmas candle ideas for the hallway, ways to illuminate a mantelpiece or console table in the living room or easy dining table centrepiece ideas, our festive selection will have your home aglow in no time. 1. Set up a candle winter 'shelfie' Image credit: Future PLC Create a warm and welcoming winter hallway to greet guests as they come in from the cold. A console table or wall shelf makes the perfect spot for a wintry display that will set the scene for further festivities inside. Style up your table with a collection of lanterns, jars and candle votives arranged in a cluster on the surface. Choose frosted glass, tin and copper finishes that will shimmer in the glow. Finish off by adding winter foliage and greenery to fill in the gaps, off-cuts of spruce from a Christmas tree are ideal. Work in other natural touches here and there, such as pine cones, nuts and sprigs of holly and berries. 2. Line the table with a colourful candle display Image credit: Maisons du Monde No Christmas table is complete without candles to create ambience and take the table from daytime into night, so including them in your dining set-up is a must. Classic red, white and green is always a festive winner, so use these colours as the basis of your scheme, starting with a cheery scarlet cloth for the backdrop. Create a Christmas table centrepiece idea with an extra-long garland of greenery running the length of the table, adding bright red apples, berries or pomegranates here and there to decorate. Finish off with tall red dinner candles to tie your colour theme together and add height to the arrangement, placing one at every setting. 3. Add festive chic with an on-trend buy Image credit: H&M Candle rings are this season's must have buy and they're one of the easiest ways of creating a Christmas centrepiece. Designs vary from smart brushed brass and metallics, to simple ceramic candle rings in white or black matt. Choose extra-tall dinner candles to create an elegant display. Keep to all-white candles or bold berry red for a more festive look, trimming the bottoms with a sharp knife so that they sit securely in the holder. Simply stylish on their own, or dress up by trailing berries and greenery around the circular base for a fancier look. 4. Enjoy dinner by candlelight Image credit: Next Set the mood for cosy Christmas suppers and entertaining after dark with a candlelit table. A Christmas flower arrangement idea with fresh flowers and festive foliage will look super-pretty and create a delicate aroma that will scent the room. Use a small bowl or dish, filling it with florists foam and then adding three tall, slim dinner candles. Then add your florals, opting for softly-coloured hydrangeas, winter roses or snowberries, and then filling in any gaps with sprigs of eucalyptus and fir. With any arrangement that includes candles and foliage, always make sure that your candles are at least 15-20cm above the greenery so that there's no danger of it catching light. 5. Go big with a sparkling arrangement on the table Image credit: Future PLC/Sussie Bell Create a glittering candle centrepiece that will give your Christmas dining room decor the 'wow' factor after dark. Gather together a selection of candle lanterns, candlesticks and votives in assorted heights and sizes. You'll need quite a few to add impact, so borrow them from other rooms if you can and replace after Christmas. Keep to a similar colour theme for best effect. Mercury glass candle holders like these will add extra sparkle, but an all-white display or another single colour will work equally well. Then simply cluster your candles together in a group, using a linen runner as a base, and starting with the largest then staggering the heights and sizes as you work along. 6. Wow with a focal point feature Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore Create a show-stopping display for a mantle with a sparkling line-up of candles. A simple idea, but with high-impact, a symmetrical arrangement like this makes an eye-catching display that turns the fireplace into a focal point. Red walls are the perfect backdrop for any Christmassy display, with white a great contrast colour. Get the look using tall white dinner candles in simple red glass holders, running them the length of the mantle for full effect. Add a rows of wreaths on the wall above to echo the symmetry. 7. Make leafy candle holders Image credit: Future PLC/Jo Henderson Recycle a collection of clear glass bottles to make elegant candle holders. Use to decorate a mantle lined up in a row, or cluster a few together as a table centrepiece. Dark grey walls make the perfect backdrop to show off a festive display like this. Start by filling your bottles with water to just below the neck and then carefully push a sprig of foliage, such as fir, ivy or eucalyptus into each bottle so it sits upright. Add tall green dinner candles to finish off. 8. Reflect in the glow Using a mantel mirror as a backdrop will reflect candlelight and add extra sparkle to any display. For a simple, rustic arrangement, fill a bowl with a selection of glittery baubles, festive pinecones and nuts. Arrange on a mantle with a couple of tall glass candlesticks positioned so that they are reflected in the glass. Add shimmering paper-wrapped parcels here and there and a string of fairy lights to create double the twinkle. 9. Set up a mini winter wonderland Image credit: Hobbycraft Create a winter village scene to decorate a sideboard or mantle. Mini house-shaped tea light holders are plentiful on the high street right now and grouped together in a vista they'll look magical when they're lit up after dark. Little ones will love them too. Group as many as you can together on your surface. Buy a few bottle brush trees and dot them here and there in the gaps and add a scattering of fake snow for a truly magical effect For an easier alternative to real candles, try battery-operated tea lights, they'll last for longer and you won't have to worry about leaving them unattended. 10. Make an easy table centrepiece Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore Use a regular window box planter to make a simple Christmas decor idea for a table centrepiece. A longline tub in galvanised metal or rustic terracotta is ideal for a long, rectangular dinner table or you could opt for a circular planter to create a similar display for a round table. Fill the planter with florists foam and then position your candles in a row, gently pushing them into the foam to keep secure. Sturdy pillar candles are ideal for a rustic display like this or you could use slim dinner candles and fill up the space with a few more. Finish off with a layer of moss to cover the foam and add a string of lights on the table top to give the display extra sparkle. 11. Delight guests with candle place settings Image credit: Future PLC/Maja Smend Try an easy place setting idea that looks super-special. Gather a collection of mini candle votives, together with an assortment of china. Choose a festive pattern or vintage floral pieces, don't worry if you don't have a matching collection, using mismatched pieces adds to the charm of a setting like this. Place a candle votive on a small side plate, with one at every setting. Wrap the votive with satin ribbon, tying it in a bow and adding a berry sprig and a few sparkly baubles. Pop a nightlight inside and light just before guests arrive. 12. Use foraged foliage for a DIY display Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Brown Instead of spending a fortune on a ready-made table centrepiece, make your own using foliage foraged from outdoors. A tabletop arrangement like this one can be used for festive dinner parties but also placed on a sideboard or console table to add a decorative sparkle in a hallway or living room. Start with a bowl filled with florists' foam, pushing stems of foliage into the foam all around the edges and letting them trail over for a lush effect. Position a simple metal candle ring on top of the foam, pushing it in to secure, add candles and then cover the top with a layer of moss dotted with pine cones and berries. 13. Create festive fragrance around the house Image credit: Laura Ashley While candles are a lovely visual mood setter, a gorgeous aroma can lift the senses too. At Christmas time, layer festive fragrances so that they’ll waft throughout the house. Team the best scented candles with room diffusers, essential oils and pot-pourri in scents that will complement each other. Try spicy cinnamon and clove, sandalwood and orange or eucalyptus and cedar. 14. Create a winter white arrangement Image credit: Future PLC/Mark Scott Combine candles with winter flowers and foliage for an easy mantle or window sill arrangement. Opt for a winter white and natural green colour theme for a simple but effective display. Place pillar candles at regularly spaced intervals along the length of your ledge. Fill a few mirrored votives with water and arrange them in-between the candles. Float your flower heads on top and then add a few strands of variegated ivy along the display, weaving it in and out of the candles and votives. Finish off by adding bunches of berries and and fruits at intervals. 15. Get your sparkle on Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole Give candle displays extra sparkle by arranging them on a mirrored tray. You'll double the effect as the flickering candlelight will be reflected, so it's the perfect mini display for a gloomy corner. Using a tray also makes it easier for you to lift and move the arrangement around, should you need a quick table topper in the dining room or hallway. Follow a quick trick that stylists use for a mini display like this and always use an odd number of items, rather than even. Odd numbers like three, five or seven are more visually appealing to the eye and help avoid too much symmetry. How can I make candles last for longer? Store candles in a cool place as cold candles burn slower so will last longer. Trim candle wicks before using, if the wick gets too tall the flame will also grow too tall and could leave black burn marks on candle holders. Stop used candles from smoking by wiping away any dust and trimming the wick to 0.5cm before lighting them. If the dust is ingrained, blast with a hairdryer on a cool setting for about 10 seconds, rinse the top of the candle in lukewarm water and dry. Keep candle holders free of wax by very carefully pushing the edges of the candles inwards as they melt. How can I make sure my candle displays are safe? One of the most important things to consider whenever you're using candles is safety. Only place candles on stable, heat-resistant surfaces in well-ventilated rooms and out of draughts and away from open windows. Make sure to place them away from anything that could catch fire and out of reach of children and pets. Always extinguish candles before leaving a room or going to sleep. Use a snuffer, as blowing them out can send sparks and hot wax flying. Extinguish a candle if it smokes or the flame is too high or flickers repeatedly because the candle isn't burning properly and safely. The post Christmas candle ideas - 15 ways to light up your home in style appeared first on Ideal Home.

Poinsettia care tips – how to care for this festive favourite  Posted: 02 Dec 2021 06:30 AM PST If we ask you to think of a Christmas plant it’s more than likely a poinsettia that will spring to mind – no surprise, since this most festive of florals has become a firm favourite at this time of year. This colourful flower is famous for sprinkling a little Christmas joy into our homes and making a perfect Christmas table decoration idea. If you’re wondering how best to keep your plant alive though, our poinsettia care tips provide an expert guide on how to care for your Christmas plant. Plant experts share advice to help expand a poinsettias lifespan – keeping this festive favourite healthy for longer. Known as the Mexican Flame Tree or Christmas Star, the poinsettia is synonymous with the festive season, with its brightly coloured, star-shaped leaves flowering in December and January. Its popularity is on the rise, too, according to floral experts Direct2Florist, who revealed that poinsettias are the Christmas flower that has seen the biggest increase in interest on Pinterest this year. ‘It's not a surprise to see poinsettia trending so much, but the enormous 985% interest on Pinterest shows just how popular this red-petalled plant is at Christmas,’ says Direct2Florist’s Wendy Rea. ‘Apart from the vibrant colours and star shape, one of the reasons poinsettia feels so festive is that it pairs beautifully with gold and green, so it's very easy to work them into any theme. An indispensable part of the season.’ Poinsettia care tips Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Wreford As beautiful as they are, however, keeping your plant looking its best right up to the big day can be tricky. Don’t fear, as we’ve got some advice to help you keep these stunning plants looking tip-top right through the seasonal period. 1. Choose carefully where you buy from It’s important to buy your poinsettia from a reputable store or garden centre, where the poinsettias will be cared for correctly. Be wary of outside shops or stalls as lower temperatures will reduce the shelf life of the plant. Inspect it carefully before buying; poinsettia are tender plants and will not last if they stand in the cold for any length of time. Check the compost before you buy, making sure it’s neither dripping wet nor totally dry, and look at the leaves and flowers – dense foliage and yellow-green budding flowers in-between the coloured bracts are a sure sign of quality. Transport it home quickly and keep it in a bright, warm spot. Your poinsettia will be happy at a temperature of around 20° C. It can be close to a radiator, but not in direct sunlight or near draughts – so keep away from open doors, windows and fireplaces. Lastly, be careful not to overwater it by leaving a pool of water in the bottom of the pot it's sitting in. Water only when the compost is starting to change colour and become lighter. 2. Remove dead leaves If your poinsettia is looking a little worse for wear, there are a few things you can try to help bring it flourish again. Remove any dead leaves from the pot, and continue to remove any leaves that fall off. If the stems of the plant have started to rot, cut them back far enough so that you can remove the dead parts. 3. Reposition your poinsettia Image credit: Polly Wreford You could also try changing its position. Place the poinsettia near a bright, south-facing window – as they are tropical plants they benefit from plenty of light. 4. Water enough, not too much Monitor how much you are watering your poinsettia, too, as it should be moist rather than soggy. How much water you will need will depend on the temperature and humidity level. When in doubt, skip the water. 5. Fertilise the soil Fertilise the poinsettia once a month after you've pruned it. As a rule of thumb, a poinsettia will require 1 or 2 tablespoons of fertiliser. Lastly, cover your poinsettia plant every night or move it to a dark cupboard overnight. For it to bloom again, a poinsettia requires 14 hours of complete darkness every night. Continue to cover your plant until the buds start to appear again. Image credit: The Big Poinsettia, £35, Bloom & Wild How do you care for a poinsettia plant indoors? ‘Arguably one of the most famous Euphorbias, Poinsettias are easily identified by their large, red, star-shaped bracts, often mistaken for its flowers. The flowers are actually the tiny yellow berry-like structures at the centre of each leaf bract, which are called cyathia. ‘The poinsettia is a very easy plant to care for, but will want high light, so a spot in a well-lit room would work,’ says Keira Kay, plant expert at Bloom & Wild. ‘It’ll need watering every 7-10 days, but be sure to check the soil has partially dried ahead of watering again. You can do this either using your finger to feel the soil or by picking the plant up – if it feels light, it's dry.’ ‘Excessive moisture and poor drainage can cause root and stem rot, which can kill the plant,’ Keira continues. ‘To avoid this, make sure you only add more water when the surface of the soil has almost (but not completely) dried out. And it's best to bottom water this plant, by placing it in a bowl or tray of tepid water for 10-15 mins, so that you can ensure the plant only takes up what it needs. This is a plant that will thrive in more humid conditions, so be sure to mist regularly to further the flowering cycle.’ How do you keep a poinsettia alive year round? Image credit: Polly Wreford If you plan on keeping the plant beyond the festive period, it'll want feeding monthly with potassium-rich plant food to encourage new flowers. ‘Prune back in the early spring and keep it at a slightly lower temperature (around 13-15 degrees),’ says Keira at Bloom & Wild. ‘Reduce the light it gets to 10-12 hrs per day to mimic the wintery shorter days.’ ‘You'll want to re-pot it in May and pop it in a cool location (around 18 degrees) for continued growth.’ Will you be displaying some striking poinsettias in your home this Christmas? Why do the leaves on my poinsettia keep falling off? ‘Leaf drop occurs as a result of overly warm or dry growing conditions,’ says Kiera. ‘To fix this, prune back any spent leaves and move it to a slightly cooler location, make sure it has enough water and mist it using a spray bottle to replicate humidity. Top Tip: Keep poinsettia plants away from pets The poinsettia plant's brightly coloured leaves contain a sap that is irritating to the tissues of the mouth and oesophagus, so if the leaves are ingested by your pet they can cause nausea and vomiting. However, it would take a large amount of the plant's material to actually cause significant poisoning. The post Poinsettia care tips – how to care for this festive favourite  appeared first on Ideal Home.

Magimix Cook Expert review: a multi-cooker like no other Posted: 02 Dec 2021 06:00 AM PST At over £1,000, the Magimix Cook Expert is a brilliant multi-cooking machine that will get daily use in your kitchen, but it comes at a high price. It comes with a food processor attachment and a cooker attachment, with a programmable base that can stir food as it cooks or even chop and blend fresh cooked soups, all in one pot. I’ve been putting the Magimix Cook Expert to the test for a few months ahead of writing this Magimix Cook Expert review and there’s not much this machine can’t do. As with many of the best blenders, the Cook Expert lives on an endless loop of sitting on my kitchen counters and going straight back into the dishwasher. Because it can do everything from steaming to proving bread, you’ll never run out of new things to do with this multi-cooker, but it’s also a machine that takes some getting used to. Ideal Home rated 4.5 out of 5 stars Reasons to buy: Very powerful blending Dishwasher-safe parts Food processor and cooker attachments Handy cookbook to help you adjust Cooks and stirs at the same time Can steam, chop, and even mix Reasons to avoid: The food processor attachment is not perfect It’s very expensive Scraping out ingredients is fiddly Bread will take adjusting to Magimix Cook Expert Buy direct at Magimix, £1,195 Specs   Power: 1700W   Capacity: 3.5 L metal bowl, 3.6 L food processor bowl   Pre-sets: 13 automatic programmes + 1 expert manual programme   Weight: 11.14 kg   Size: 38 x 33.5 x 39 cm   Included: Universal blade, Steamer basket & tray, Whisk, Heat-resistant spatula, three-layer food processor, 2 slicing discs, 2 grading discs Magimix Cook Expert: getting set up The Magimix Cook Expert comes with a lot of kit included. The base is hefty and sturdy, and comes in three colours: black, red, and silver. You get a metal cooking bowl with blades at the base, a food processor attachment with three different sized food processor bowls, and a container with four discs for slicing and grating. The cooking bowl has a steaming insert too, which comes in very handy for steaming vegetables or even making buns. Other extras include some weighing scales, and a spatula that’s designed to help you scrape ingredients out from around the blades at the bottom of the cooking bowl. Image credit: Magimix With the Magimix Cook Expert you can scroll across different cooking modes, from heating modes to blending modes, as well as an option for bread and mixing, and a manual mode to adjust heat, blade speed, and timings. Undeniably, this is a multi-cooker that will take some seriously getting used to, and once it was on my kitchen counters I wasn’t sure how best to get started. There is a Magimix cook expert cookbook that helps with picking up new recipes and inspiration, and I also joined a Magimix Cook Expert Facebook group where people posted their recipes and the different dishes they cooked in their Cook Experts, which helped when I wanted more options and wasn’t sure where to begin. Making soup The first thing I tried in the Magimix Cook Expert was soup. I was in the process of reviewing the best soup makers at the time, so I was keen to see how well it would compare. I followed a recipe from the Magimix book for tomato soup, adding some whole tomatoes, peppers, some onion and garlic, as well as some stock. Food prep was minimal, and I just had to twist on the lid to get the cooking process started. The blades at the bottom of the bowl in the Magimix Cook Expert are sharp, but you need to amp up the blending mode to get a proper blitz going. If you wanted to do a chunkier soup, you could absolutely turn the cook expert down. The soup mode was very easy to get going. I cooked my soup in just 30 minutes by bringing it to a simmering point and then blending continuously for a few minutes. One thing I like about the Magimix Cook Expert compared to a soup maker is that you can adjust your cooking modes far more. You can turn the blending speed down or the temperature up, or if you’re cooking ingredients like potato that need a longer time to cook before blending, you can easily extend the cooking time too. The blending was quite noisy, but my finished soup was unbelievably smooth and took absolutely no maintenance or oversight. I stirred in a little cream and some black pepper when the soup was fully complete, and it was then just a case of unscrewing the cooking bowl and pouring out my soup. One issue I had was the lack of a pouring spout, which meant I found it easier to ladle the soup out than pour it into my bowl, but you can also set a keep-warm mode to keep your soup warm if you’re not ready to eat it quite yet. Making porridge I spotted someone’s Magimix Cook Expert porridge recipe on the Facebook group and it looked interesting, so I gave it a go. I just added half a cup of oats, half a cup of water, and a generous splash of milk to my cook expert before setting the cooking on the manual mode. I put the heat up to 90 degrees and turned the stirring speed to 2A, which is intermittent low-pace stirring, before setting the timer at 10 minutes and pressing ‘Auto’ (which is the start button). Porridge is a great way to start the day, but it’s the kind of breakfast that needs constant supervision if you want to get it just right. I don’t like it too gloopy or thick, and I find that if you go straight in with warm or hot water when cooking your oats it can lead to a gritty texture. I was worried that the Magimix Cook Expert would blend the oats and lead to more of a paste than porridge consistency, but clearly it was very good at stirring without chopping the oats, because I was left with whole oats and a creamy consistency after the 10 minutes. The finished consistency was perfect for me, but I was concerned about pouring my oats out into a bowl because there is no spout. Because there wasn’t much porridge I was able to pout the majority of it out into my bowl, and then I had to go in with the spatula to remove the remnants from underneath the blades. It’s great that the Magimix Cook Expert comes with a specialist spatula that’s shaped perfectly to reach into the grooves at the bottom of the cooking pot, but this is still quite fiddly. I topped my porridge with some cinnamon apple which I’d cooked earlier and was left with a perfect winter breakfast with next-to-no supervision. I then switched the Magimix Cook Expert onto clean mode to prevent the remaining oats from sticking. Making bread I followed a recipe from the Magimix cookbook to make sundried tomato and olive bread rolls in the Cook Expert. Of all the things I tried in it, I was particularly skeptical of this, because I usually use one of the best stand mixers to knead my bread and develop gluten which will help the bread to rise and have a soft consistency. The Magimix Cook Expert can combine your dough ingredients, but it won’t knead them. Instead it will use the blades to slice through the bread, which won’t help in developing gluten fibres. Still, I was keen to see how it did, so I followed the recipe instructions and let my dough combine before leaving it to prove. Many people use their Cook Experts to heat their bread dough as it proves, but because of the blades at the bottom it will mean that your bread won’t prove in a classic bowl and may be tricky to remove from the blades. After a minute of mixing, I was left with a stretchy dough. I felt like it needed a lot more kneading, which warms the yeast and encourages it to develop. I left the bread to prove before adding my olives and sundried tomatoes for a second prove, and then broke up my dough into bread rolls. The Cook Expert won’t replace my bread maker any time soon, but it’s useful for combining baking ingredients. Because it was a seasonal bake I took some thread and tied it around my rolls to make pumpkin shapes, and left it to prove for a third time before baking. The bake was delicious, but I did find the consistency quite close when compared to bread I’ve made in the past with a stand mixer. In future, I think I’d knead my bread outside of the machine and then turn the cook expert into a medium heat for an hour to prove it inside the cooking pot. Cooking mash in the Magimix Cook Expert I’m a lover of mashed potato, but when you review the best air fryers and are constantly making homemade potato wedges, sometimes it’s nice to switch out ingredients. Instead of a mashed potato I used the Magimix Cook Expert to make a mashed cauliflower, which has very similar cooking instructions to potato mash. I first steamed my cauliflower florets by adding some water to the base of the cook expert and inserting the steaming basket and screwing the lid on. After half an hour my cauliflower was very soft and perfect for mashing. After adding it to the cooking bowl (after draining it) I used the manual setting to heat my mash while blending it on mode 12. I did this for 3 minutes, adding some butter, parmesan, and seasoning to my cauliflower. The result was very creamy and smoothly blended, and I had no concerns about ingredients going un-blended. The shape of the pot is excellent at directing ingredients down to the blades to integrate all of the ingredients. Mashed cauliflower: who knew? Using the food processor Steamed cabbage is one of my favourite sides when making a Sunday roast, so I added the finest shredding disc to the top of the medium food processing bowl and finely sliced my cabbage using the Magimix Cook Expert food processor. The Magimix Cook Expert food processor has three bowls: large, medium, and small. The disc slots on top of the large bowls, and there is a blade that also slots into this larger bowl as well as an attachment for whipping cream or egg whites. The smaller bowl has blades too, but you’ll find that you need different attachments to use each of the bowls, so it’s not necessarily the case that you can use any size bowl for any task. I was very happy with the fine consistency of my cabbage after I’d shredded it, and the result was mostly even. I added it to the steaming basket on my cook expert to go straight from the food processor to the cooking bowl. After steaming for 20 minutes, I was left with delicious cabbage all made in one smart machine. Cleaning the Magimix Cook Expert The Magimix Cook Expert is very easy to clean in the dishwasher. The food processor and cooking bowl attachments can all go in the dishwasher, which is such as relief when you’re cooking constantly in the same machine. Cleaning by hand is a little more fiddly because you need to use a scrubbing brush to reach under the blades. Thankfully, there is also a self-clean mode that can shift ingredients before they have the chance to stick to your cooking bowl. Just add some washing up liquid and warm water and start the mode to clean it. Then, pour out the water when it’s done. Should you buy the Magimix Cook Expert? The Magimix Cook Expert is very expensive, so it’s certainly an investment. It also takes a lot of adjusting to, but once you’ve picked up the key modes and the meaning of the different settings, there’s not much you can’t make in it. Aside from the recipes I showed in this review, I also used the Cook Expert to make cake, pasta sauce, and chop the ingredients for a stuffing. I used it almost every day, and it’s evident that this is a machine that’s built to last a lifetime. Cleaning is easy too, which is a big concern when you’re using an appliance regularly. As part of a new scheme from Magimix, you can get a £300 discount on the Cook Expert: ‘The Magimix trade-in will help those very attached to their current processor (old or new) to spread the love and pay it forward to those they feel will be worthy of their machine. In return, Magimix will give £300 off the ultimate cooking food processor – the Cook Expert.’ So, if you’re a Magimix lover who is considering upgrading, I would definitely recommend taking advantage of the scheme. About this review, and our reviewer Millie Fender is small appliances editor at Ideal Home. She reviews everything from coffee machines to air fryers from her own kitchen, meaning these tests have been carried out in the same conditions that you'll be using the machine. The Magimix Cook Expert was loaned to Millie by Magimix, and Millie tested for months month before writing this review. This gave her the chance to test all of its functions as well as cleaning and check for any troubleshooting. The post Magimix Cook Expert review: a multi-cooker like no other appeared first on Ideal Home.

Christmas place settings to take your festive table to the next level Posted: 02 Dec 2021 03:54 AM PST Image credit: Marks and Spencer With the dining room at the centre of the action over the festive season, all eyes will be on the table. Wow friends and family with Christmas place settings that look beautifully professional. Just get ready to see your table all over Instagram when people start posting about the day. Christmas table decoration ideas are having a serious moment this year, and place settings are the easiest way to pull together a stylish look for every guest to enjoy. Christmas place setting ideas From elegant, grown-up arrangements, to designs the whole family will love, read on to discover your new favourite ways to lay your table this December. 1. Provide a plant Image credit: Future PLC It’s fair to say that succulents are the plant of the moment. They’re just about unkillable, meaning that even if you’re completely lacking in green thumbs, you can probably keep one alive. Mini succulents on each place setting not only provide a contemporary take on festive foliage, but act as a thoughtful takeaway gift for your guests. Amp up the seasonal aspect by adding on some plant-safe glitter spray paint to match your Christmas dining room decor. 2. Add a retro touch Image credit: Future PLC Christmas is a time when we often look back to the past, and when doing this, we sometimes get a little drawn in. Retro-style Christmas decorations are having a definite moment and we’re all for it. A cute, quirky tree dec makes the perfect addition to your place settings. Either gift to your guests, or ask them to add to your tree after the meal so everyone feels included. When thinking out Christmas table centrepiece ideas, go equally as retro, with a classic white-iced Christmas cake and a classic Christmas garland. 3. Consider your materials Image credit: Lights4Fun Sometimes choosing a simple place setting can be just as effective as a more overtly decorative approach – particularly when you’re focusing on a material or texture. Look to nature for a relaxed and earthy inspiration. A thin round of wood becomes a perfect place mat, which is elevated with wonki ware and natural linen napkins. Wooden place holders complete the look. 4. Opt for elegance Image credit: Future PLC If you’re hosting purely for adults, or you just have an especially elegant theme running through your home, then add a sophisticated touch to your Christmas place settings. Learn how to fold napkins for Christmas to achieve a professional look, then drape on a slender sprig of eucalyptus or fir and top with a flower. For the floral element, ideally choose whatever you’re using in either your centrepiece or from your Christmas flower arrangement ideas – both for ease and to create a finished look. A simple silver bell becomes an ideal place holder – stamp with a pretty festive icon or just handwrite names in your neatest calligraphy. 5. Create cohesion Image credit: Marks & Spencer Place settings really don’t need to be complicated beasts. Once you have your centrepiece in mind, take out a few distinct elements to act as part of your place setting. Wire brush trees are a great example, and when guests take their seat, the trees can be moved back into the centre to become part of the dining table forest. Alternatively, baubles could be placed into an already filled centre bowl for a party effect. 6. Mix and match Image credit: Craft Editions More can most definitely be more at Christmas. If you can’t decide between adding a decoration or some nature to your place settings, then simply add both! Plain white crockery and tablecloths provide an ideal backdrop for going a little extra up on top. Remember to keep a thread of cohesion with your colourways – fruits or flowers matching embroidery or the decorations, for example. 7. Choose a rustic scheme Image credit: Dunelm Rustic Christmas decorating ideas all instantly conjure up a warm and welcoming feel, so bring this approach onto your dining table. Novelty crockery in woodland scenes are a great starting point for these place settings and this also means that they don’t need too many extras. A simple, wooden decoration adds that Scandi-style vibe. Make sure you stick to a warm palette of russets, golds and browns for a truly rustic theme. 8. Include personal Christmas trees Image credit: Future PLC We all love a miniature Christmas tree, but why not go even smaller with the tiniest sprig of fir wrapped in burlap? These sweet ‘trees’ make each place setting, and can either be given as a gift, or included into an arrangement elsewhere in the home once the meal is complete. 9. Add a pop of colour Image credit: Future PLC If your Christmas place setting is perfectly lovely but just feels as though it’s missing something, add a pop of festive red. Lay a sprig of real berries on each plate, ensuring none fall off in case they’re toxic. Alternatively, faux berries on a wire can be easily shaped into a pretty napkin holder or decoration. 10. Layer your crockery Image credit: Matalan Add a sense of occasion to your table by catering for every need. Instead of a single dinner plate, work your way right up from the table. Start with a large charger – always a place to add some fun, so choose a metallic or brightly coloured option. Next, add on your place mats (yes, we’re doing both – it’s Christmas, after all!). Pop on a dinner plate, side plate and top with a bowl which, since it’s unlikely to be used during the meal, can be filled with foliage or baubles for decoration, then taken away when it’s time to eat. After a quick rinse, the same bowls can be brought out again for dessert. 11. Be inspired by nature Image credit: Future PLC Bring the outdoors in with a whimsical setting inspired by winter walks. Seasonal foliage from the garden or florist, strewn along the centre of the table, makes a lovely alternative to a fabric table runner, while a ring of greenery around each plate creates the illusion of a lush, mossy place mat. Continue the theme with nature-motif place cards and gifts in little boxes, wrapped in beautiful marbled paper. 12. Take a simple approach Image credit: House of Fraser Leaving a wood table uncovered, exposing the grainy surface, conjures up a relaxed feel. Dress with a garland of fir with seasonal berries and add pared-back place settings to balance the look. 'Capture simple Scandi style with textured crockery and linen napkins,' says Lois Vincent, home design manager at House of Fraser. 'Name tags tied to pretty silver decorations can double up as party favours.' 13. Go for gold Image credit: Dobbies This lavish look evokes the grandeur of country houses, with its luxe linens, elegant glassware and touches of antique gold. 'Introduce elements from the British countryside, such as foliage reminiscent of hedgerows,' says Craig Roman, head of visual merchandising at Dobbies. 'Wildlife and garden-themed accessories complete the scheme, including partridge feathers, bird decorations and fruit.' 14. Have some fun Image credit: Future PLC Little ones will love this playful place setting, complete with house-shaped gift boxes – perfect for hiding sweets and mini baubles. With excitement at an all-time high at this time of the year, we advise keeping your finest crockery for adult-only occasions. Instead, layer festive paper plates on top of everyday white china to achieve a seasonal feel, while minimising the risk of breakages! 15. Choose a relaxed approach Image credit: Future PLC An informal place setting can look just as chic as a more elaborate look. Mixing styles is key: here, patterns and plains in an array of textures are linked by a co-ordinating colour palette. Stick to traditional Christmas table decor ideas, at least in terms of the colourways. Classic red, green and white scheme is complemented by a miniature evergreen centrepiece in a felt pot holder – there's nothing like the smell of fresh spruce to get your guests into the Christmas spirit. 16. Scent with fruit Image credit: Notonthehighstreet.com This sophisticated setting appeals to the senses as it smells as Christmassy as it looks. The scent of a clove-studded satsuma, teamed with twinkling tealights, creates an intimate mood. The fruit also makes a colourful statement amid a crisp all-white scheme. Silver cutlery adds simple elegance and a sprig of faux snowberries a decorative flourish, while an initialised bauble is a thoughtful favour. 17. Add a touch of nostalgia Image credit: Future PLC Glass cloches are everywhere at the moment and we love their nostalgic feel. If you fancy a change from traditional festive colours, you can't beat rich jewel shades for an opulent look. Practise your calligraphy and tie handwritten names to the top with luxurious silk ribbon, and place a stylishly wrapped gift underneath as a personalised alternative to traditional crackers. 18. Take a twist on tradition Image credit: Marks & Spencer Red and green hues never go out of style at Christmas, but for a contemporary twist on tradition, opt for frosted berry decorations and accessories in rustic wood or with metallic finishes. Recreate the look by embellishing the table with bowls of baubles, mini pine cones, elegant menus and fairy lights – those on invisible wires are our top tip for a sparkling table without clutter. How do you set up a nice Christmas table? A lovely Christmas table include enough place settings for all your guests, each with a personalised place holder, cutlery, glassware and crockery. A Christmas centrepiece is a must – either bang in the centre of the table, bud vases scattered along, or a draping fir garland running down the length. Ensure you leave room for candles, serving plates, platters, wine bottles and water jugs. Finally, remember not to overcrowd – guests still need enough space around their place setting to not feel overwhelmed. Where do Christmas crackers go on the table? Christmas crackers are a fun addition to any festive table. You can set one in the middle of each place setting or on a side plate, if you’re using one of the above ideas and don’t want to disrupt the effective. Another idea is to pile crackers into a large bowl or platter and allow guests to dig in whenever they want. If you have a large table, make sure there’s a bowl towards each end, so everyone feels included. How do you decorate a Christmas table on a budget? It’s so easy to decorate a Christmas table on a budget. You can use leftover decorations from your tree, or re-use displays from elsewhere in the home. Alternatively, you can forage for seasonal foliage for a striking – and budget! – approach that can last for much longer than the one meal. ‘Garland foliage such as fir can be stored in a zip lock bag with a drop of moisture and left somewhere cool to extend its shelf life,’ notes Ming Veevers Carter, Founder, Veevers Carter. ‘A garden shed would be ideal and will ensure your greenery keeps for roughly one month – you can reuse each piece when New Year's Eve rolls around.’ The post Christmas place settings to take your festive table to the next level appeared first on Ideal Home.

Best food processor 2021: 10 top kitchen helpers Posted: 02 Dec 2021 03:20 AM PST Buying the best food processor will save you hours when it comes to chopping and slicing in the kitchen. From a speedy coleslaw to hands-free pastry dough, the best food processor will power through all manner of ingredients to make meal prepping easier than ever. We love using food processors for chopping onions without all the eye-watering, and they are also great for making stuffing for your winter roast dinners. Because they often come with attachments to grate and slice as well as chop, you can also use a food processor to make a quick lunchtime salad or the topping for your cauliflower cheese. Each and every one of the best food processors in our guide has been tested by the Ideal Home team for even chopping, ease of use, and (of course) the cleaning process after you’re done. Although some food processors do take up a lot of counter space, especially the ones with attachments for blending or mini chopping, others will slot easily next to your toaster until you need it. The right one for you will depend on your cooking preferences. We’ve tried some masterful and mighty models from Kenwood and Sage that will last for years to come, and are perfect for family-sized meals, but some of the smaller options from Magic Bullet and Russell Hobbs will do more than enough to keep smaller households happy. A lot of these come with attachments to double up as the best blenders, but if you already have a blender you love and just want a food processor, we’ve included those too. The best food processor won’t need smart modes to make life easier, but you will benefit from having more than one speed to choose from. One of our top picks from Ninja has specific modes to chop and mix, whereas the Kenwood food processor has up to 8 speeds for you to choose from. Why do I need the best food processor? It seems like food processors just keep on coming out with more attachments and smart options – some can even be used as a blender, and you can even give your stand mixer a break with a food processor to make dough or whip up cream or mayonnaise. Mixing, whisking, whipping, emulsifying, kneading, mincing and even heating are possible with a good food processor. You'll be able to broaden your cooking repertoire and create more exciting, fresh meals from scratch that the whole family will love. Be warned, once you’ve tried homemade pesto, you may never go back to shop-bought again… Best food processors 2021 1. Kenwood FPM910 Best food processor overall Capacity: 4 litres Attachments: Blender, multimill, knife blades, multi chopping tools, citrus press, dough tool, dual whisk Reasons to buy: • The in-built scales make life so much easier • Lots of attachments included • Great range of blades Reasons to avoid: •That price is on the higher end Multi by name and by nature, if you want a food processor that handles almost every part of your prep, this is it. The Multipro Excel food processor comes with a huge amount of functionality and kit – so there's a tool for almost any food preparation job, but you'll have to find somewhere to put it all. As well as built-in scales and a weighing plate, it comes with several slicing and grating discs, knife blade, dough blade, whisk, folding tool, mini bowl, grinder, blender jug and even a citrus press for on-demand OJ. Most impressive is its four-litre main bowl – with the option of a 'mini' 1.6-litre bowl that fits inside. There are eight speeds for processing plus a pulse, as well as auto speed button that selects a setting for you. The range of blades will suit both the keen chef and those who like to batch cook. We found that some foods were most easily processed with the knife blade, while the julienne disc made short work of carrots and the slicing disc whizzed through rhubarb and leeks. An extra-wide feed tube accommodated every vegetable without much chopping beforehand. Other features of note are a 30-minute eco mode, and a storage box for the blades, ensuring that they stay as sharp as possible. The whisk tool and folding tool are especially clever in design – both slot onto the spindle in the centre of the bowl and work with the lid in place – meaning that the contents are whipped or mixed without any worktop mess. It's quick too – our egg whites took less than a couple of minutes to form firm peaks. Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars 2. Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro Blender Best food processor for everyday use Capacity: 1.9 litres Attachments: 2 chopping blades, fine & medium grating/slicing disc, recipe book Reasons to buy: • It’s reasonably priced • A great space-saver • Lightweight enough to store easily • Even slicing and grating Reasons to avoid: • Not as multi-functional as some of the other food processors out there Striking the balance between practical and versatile isn't the most straightforward thing for a food processor to do – extra accessories often find their way to the back of a cupboard. For busy households, it makes sense to have a machine that can tick off the basics – blending, slicing, grating, chopping and mixing – while being powerful enough to handle a variety of foods. The Easy Prep Pro answers this need nicely – it's more of a day-to-day appliance rather than one you haul out every so often. Plus it's lightweight and compact enough to move around the kitchen as required. Its two bowls – a main 1.9-litre and mini 700ml – plus matching chopping blades and two reversible slicing/grating discs, are all dishwasher safe. The mini bowl fits inside the main one, and, crucially, has a seal around the edge to stop food spilling out, so when we chopped herbs, there was only one bowl to wash, not two. A separate recipe book has some ideas to get you started, but as you might expect, most of them are basics, such as pesto, mayonnaise, coleslaw, bread and pizza. The Easy Prep Pro isn't perfect – its buttons are big and bulky, plus you have to hit the Off control rather than just the High or Low to stop it, which isn't terribly intuitive. There's also no dedicated storage for the discs or large chopping blade (though the mini bowl and blade store inside), meaning they could end up becoming blunt sooner than they should. In tests, it performed well – our carrot was grated uniformly, and we made a springy bread dough easily with the blade and a combination of the pulse and low settings. The machine whined and shook a little as the dough came together, and some crept inside the tool, but overall, our loaf rose well. It's good value, too. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars  3. Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK Best food processor blender combo Capacity: 1.8 litres Attachments: Blender, personal blender, reversible shredding/slicing disc, dough blade, chopping blade Reasons to buy: • Smart settings make the process hands-free • All the attachments you could need • Easy to clean after use Reasons to avoid: • If you just want a food processor there’s a blender-free option, too The Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK is a top pick for space-saving and multi-functionality. The base can be used to blend soups and smoothies in the large 2.1 litre jug or the personal-sized 700ml cup, and there’s also a 1.8-litre food processor attachment. The processor has a unique multi-layered blade that chops evenly, even when you’ve filled the food processor bowl, and there is also a reversible disc that shreds as well as slices. We would have liked another disc for larger slicing, because the slicing side of the disc is quite fine and not suitable for large shavings of cheese or vegetables. We also found that there was a little of whatever we sliced (be it courgette or cheddar) left at the very top of the blade, because the pusher doesn’t quite fit all the way down into the bowl. What the Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK does excel in is smart features. It has a blend, chop, puree, and mix setting, as well as a pulse button and three strengths for blending. These programs mean you can simply press to chop or mix depending on your desired outcome, and the process is pre-timed and hands-free. You could even get set on the crudites for your new pureed dip. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars  Read our full Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK review 4. Bosch MultiTalent 8 Food Processor Best food processor for value Capacity: 3.9 litres Attachments: 1.5 litre blender jug, shredding disk, slicing disk, citrus press, dough tool, whisk tool, carry case Reasons to buy: • It’s so multi-functional • Great value for money • Mini chopper attachment • Everything comes in a handy carry case Reasons to avoid:  • The attachments take up a lot of space, so prepare to make room for storage The Bosch MultiTalent 8 Food Processor is a capable food processor that packs in plenty of value for money. When we put it to the test we were impressed by how smooth it is to operate, and the huge range of attachments speak for themselves. This food processor comes with a decent blender attachment that held up well when making soups and smoothies. It also has a mini chopper attachment that’s perfect for making dressings, chopping garlic and herbs or tackling smaller quantities of ingredients. The whisk is a stand in for low-in stand mixers and held up well when making cake and brownies. There’s even a citrus juicer attachment. Other perks included the large bowl that could handle multiple punnets of mushrooms and more than enough onion for any meal. It’s got sturdy shredding, slicing and chopping disks that are held in place by a frame for no wobbling as you slice, and the insert into the feeding chute can also be used to measure liquids. Cleaning is easy as everything can go in the dishwasher, and we were impressed by the carry case that neatly tucked away all the attachments. You can also buy more attachments online, to make your MultiTalent even more multitalented! Ideal Home's rating: 5 out of 5 stars Read our full Bosch MultiTalent 8 Food Processor review 5. Magic Bullet Kitchen Express Best food processor for small kitchens Capacity: 850ml Attachments: Shredding/slicing disc, chopping bowl, personal blender, to-go blender cup and lid Reasons to buy: • It’s amazing value • Surprisingly powerful • Great for small spaces Reasons to avoid: • The small bowl won’t be suitable for large meals With a motor of just 250 watts, we were ready to write the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express off. In testing though, it seriously impressed us. For a start, the reversible disc really cuts back on space demands and works to slice and grate everything from carrot to cheese very fast indeed. The chopping blade is also stacked, meaning it has two layers and will slice through every layer of your veggies or dough, even when you really fill up that 850ml bowl. All attachments fit comfortable into the dishwasher, and while there is only an On, Off and Pulse setting, these are incredibly powerful and fast. Our one reservation was that there is no way of slowing down for rougher chops. For this, it’s best to use the pulse setting in short spurts. While it’s a great food processor, the blender is just as good (and worthy of a mention here). Again, the small motor really overperformed by making thick and creamy smoothie bowls out of tough ingredients including frozen strawberries, bananas and blueberries. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars  Read our full Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review 6. Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor Best budget food processor   Image credit: Russell Hobbs Capacity: 1.5 litre Attachments: Blender, dough hook, slicing/shredding disk, creaming disk Reasons to buy: • It’s reasonably priced • Not too big • Comes with a blender attachment • Intuitive controls Reasons to avoid: • The plastic construction does feel cheaper We’re all about value for money, and the Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor certainly delivers this. It’s not as shiny or multi-functional as some of the other food processors you can buy, but it held up well in our tests and comes in at well under £100. The Desire Food Processor has a 1.5 litre capacity bowl and a modest 600 watts of power, so it’s not best for those demanding tasks like kneading dough. What it does do very well is chopping and blending, and let’s face it, that’s what really matters in a food processor. We were able to create a thick and perfectly smooth tomato soup in the 1.5 litre blender pitcher, which comes included with the food processor, and it was able to shred, chop and slice carrots, onions and courgettes with surprising efficiency in our tests. The results were fine and even, although because you’re limited on speed options we did find it harder to create chunky chopped veg. The Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor has two speeds and a pulse setting, which is very high power and can create smooth sauces easily. It also features a creaming disk, which really impressed us when we used it to make mayonnaise, although it is better used with large quantities thanks to the wide base of the bowl. The stand is sturdy and has non-stick pads to keep your food processor from moving about. All of the attachments are dishwasher-safe, and clean up easily thanks to the plastic construction. The slicing and shredding disk is reversible, and there is also a dough hook included. It’s not as mighty as some of the other options in our lineup, but for a tiny fraction of the price this multi-tasker certainly delivers on value. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars  7. Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor Best compact food processor Capacity: 4 litres Attachments: Chopping blade, whisk, beater, grater disc, grating blades, storage caddy Reasons to buy: • A top choice for small kitchens • Easy to store and designed to be tidy • Colourful attachments add some fun Reasons to avoid: • The design takes some getting used to The Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor stood out to us because we loved its stand mixer counterpart – the Morphy Richards Mixstar – is one of the top mixers we’ve ever tried. The Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor is good too, but it’s a little less finessed. Everything comes stowed away inside a caddy that slots into the generous 4 litre food processor bowl. This lifts out for use and you can attach the blades or whisk to the central column, which then attaches to the handle that slots into the top of the machine. This handle is plugged in and then twisted into the bowl, which did take some getting used to. The chopping disc is clever, too. It has three blade attachments for grating and slicing, and these pop out for easy alternation. There was quite a large gap between the blades and top of the bowl in testing, meaning that not everything got shredded evenly. This bowl does have a huge capacity though, which was able to handle an entire cabbage for a coleslaw mix. While it’s great that everything is stored inside the bowl, you will need to find space for the handle if you want this to fit inside a cupboard or drawer. It’s one of the most space-efficient food processors on the market, so if that’s a priority for you then it’s a good pick. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars  8. Magimix 4200XL Best food processor for versatility Capacity: 3 litres Attachments: Dough blade, grating disc, whisk, 3 bowls, blendermix ring, egg whisk Reasons to buy: • Auto detection • Smart attachments • A sturdy classic that’s built to last Reasons to avoid: • It doesn’t have a blender jug If you've ever put off using your food processor for small or medium-sized amounts because of the mountain of washing up at the end of it, the 4200XL is the clever solution you've been looking for. It comes with three bowls that nest inside each other, meaning that you can whizz up herbs or mayonnaise in its mini bowl or shred veg in the midi one without having to wash the large main bowl. However, it's far more than the Russian doll of processors. What's just as special is that you don't have to pick the speed to use with each task, it'll do it for you. So no more second guessing yourself or over-processing. One other point of difference is a BlenderMix ring that helps to make soups and sauces smoother, and the ability to add accessories to expand its functions, although there's already a dough blade, knife blade, mini blade, a whisk, four discs, spatula and storage box. In tests, the 4200XL consistently produced excellent results regardless of the task. It sliced onions and celery evenly in the midi bowl (with none of it landing in the main bowl), turning a 10-minute chopping tasks into 30 seconds of processing. Then we were able to take the midi bowl out, slot the whisk into the main bowl and add three egg whites. After about five minutes, the whites were light and fluffy and had increased in volume to fill the bowl. It performed similarly well when using the blade in the main bowl to liquidise vegetable soup. The BlenderMix ring helped to deflect the liquid down towards the blade, rather than it splashing up into the processor lid, so that after two minutes it was smooth. Another advantage is that the bowl can blend hot liquids, so there was no need to cool the soup to room temperature before processing. A final reason to buy is that it's dishwasher-safe. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars  9. Bosch MultiTalent 3 MCM3100WGB Food Processor Best small food processor   Capacity: 2.3 litre Attachments: Dough blade, chopping blade, shredding disk Reasons to buy: • It’s perfect for small kitchens • Easy to use • A budget-friendly option Reasons to avoid: • Lacks the attachment options of other food processors This food processor takes up a smaller worktop footprint than most, is relatively light at 2.7kg and is shorter than many models, so can tuck neatly below wall units or in a cupboard with ease. It still manages to pack in four accessories that provide more than 20 everyday functions, from grating and slicing to kneading and whisking. The clever design also extends to smart storage with both blades and discs fitting inside the 2.3-litre bowl after use, and integral cable storage. Inside the bowl, there's enough space for making up to 800g of bread dough, whisking six egg whites or 300g of chopped vegetables. The food processor controls are simple – there are two variable speeds and a pulse (although it's confusingly labelled M, which stands for maximum speed) – and each tool or attachment intuitively locks into place. In tests, it combined bread dough quickly, but the force of kneading spun the machine on the worktop. It handled whipping egg whites, slicing courgettes and dicing onion superbly. All of the food processor parts are dishwasher-safe but were also straightforward to clean by hand. Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars  10. Sage The Kitchen Wizz Best food processor for keen cooks Capacity: 3.6 litres Attachments: Slicer, julienne blade, chipping blade, reversible shredding blade, whisk discs, dough blade, quad blade, mini blade Reasons to buy: • For serious home chefs • Very powerful induction motor • French fry cutting tool Reasons to avoid: • Comes at a high price point This food processor comes with a mighty 2,000W induction motor, stacked four-bladed chopping knife and a variable slicing disc with settings from a super-skinny 0.3mm to 8mm. It means business. Rather than relying on a standard array, some of the Kitchen Wizz Pro's eight tools are designed to suit a particular need – so there's a julienne disc for matchsticks, but also a French fry cutting disc for chips. Think of it like the difference between a full toolbox for DIY… and using a hammer for everything. All the food processor tools fit into a handy box after use, leaving just the main 3.7-litre bowl and mini bowl to be stored on the die-cast metal base. There's also an LED timer for counting down and up. The machine adjusts automatically to the food being processed, while a choice of small or large feed chute allows you to keep vegetables upright. This means you can control the flow of ingredients. During testing, the food processor’s dough blade mixed pizza dough to a good elastic consistency, while the quad blade easily emulsified thick, viscous mayonnaise and minced meat. The adjustable slicing disc meanwhile, created even slices of aubergine. The only downside is that the food processor parts are not all dishwasher-safe. Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars  How much should I spend on a food processor? Image credit: Cuisinart Food processors vary greatly in price and amount of accessories, so how much you spend will depend on how much you plan to use it and what it needs to be able to do. A basic machine can cost as little as £40, while food processors with built-in scales, timers and heating features can be priced from £500 upwards. If all you need is speedy chopping and you’re unlikely to use multiple attachments and bowls (or will struggle to store them), it's best to opt for a food processor under £100. However, keen cooks and those who like to make batches for the freezer will get more use from the extra kit. Some food processors may also be able to double up as a stand mixer, blender or mini chopper, making them a better value all-in-one buy. Where will you store your food processor? Decide where your food processor will live. If it'll be on display on the worktop, you may want to spend a little more on a model you're happy to have on display or that coordinates with your kitchen. Similarly, check the height as not all food processors are low enough to fit under kitchen wall cabinets. If you plan to store it in a cupboard, check how much it weighs. You may put off using it if it's too heavy or bulky to get out for smaller jobs. What should I look for in a food processor? Image credit: Magic Bullet   Which food processor accessories do I need? One of the defining features of modern food processors is how much kit they can potentially come with. Standard accessories include a chopping blade for dicing, mixing, mashing and puréeing. There will be a dough hook for kneading, which works by stretching the dough rather than slicing through it. Then there might be one or two discs with a spindle, which will shred, slice and grate cheese and vegetables. More expensive machines may come with a julienne disc for slicing potato or carrot into matchsticks, an adjustable slicing blade for different thicknesses and whipping/beating attachments. Other food processor accessories can include a blender jug, midi and/or mini bowls that nestle inside the main bowl and have their own blades to chop smaller quantities of nuts, herbs or chocolate with less washing-up. A citrus press may be included. What food processor bowl size do I need? The size of your food processor bowl will affect how much you can prep in one go. The largest can be up to four litres – ideal if you batch cook or have a big family – but for everyday jobs 1.8-2 litres should be enough. A wide feed chute is also a plus as it'll mean less initial prep for larger items, such as potatoes or courgettes. Look for a good-quality BPA-free plastic bowl and lid so they're robust enough not to have to be replaced in a few years. Is storage important? Storage is a key consideration if your food processor comes with lots of kit. Look for designs that allow you to store tools inside the bowl or that come with boxes or cases. Storing discs and blades in a dedicated box means they'll stay sharper and be more effective at chopping and shredding. Store them loose in a drawer and they’ll gradually become blunter from rubbing against other items. What speed settings do I need on my food processor? Variable speeds allow you to control how much you process your food and give greater versatility. For example, a pulse option is good for foods that only need rough chopping, such as nuts. Dough kneading, meanwhile, should always be done on a low food processor setting so it's stretched rather than spun around the bowl. How much power should a food processor have? Image credit: Russell Hobbs Use a food processor's wattage as a rough guide to its power. Remember that how a food processor is designed can have as much bearing on its performance. More watts won't always mean it's a better machine but anything over 650W should have enough muscle for most tasks. Are food processors easy to clean? Food processors might save on prep time but if they’re increasing washing-up duration by being awkward to clean, they’re not much help. Look for models where most or all parts can be popped in the dishwasher. Look out for crevices in the tools where food can become trapped. Some plastic parts and tools may be top rack-safe only, so check before you put them on a hot wash. See our guide on how to clean a blender or food processor for more guidance. Are food processors noisy? Food processors can be noisy – but some are more than others. Look for food processors with an induction motor for quieter processing. As a plus, induction motors also tend to be more reliable. The post Best food processor 2021: 10 top kitchen helpers appeared first on Ideal Home.

5 ways to make your home feel more magical this Christmas Posted: 02 Dec 2021 02:29 AM PST Christmas comes but once a year, although after last year this Christmas feels like a long time coming. Giving us all the more reason to make it your most magical one yet! Go all-out when it comes to decorating and hosting friends and family to make memories to treasure. As experts in all things homes (and indeed Christmas!), we knew we could call on John Lewis & Partners to help make Christmas 2021 the best it can possibly be. 5 ways to make Christmas more magical We’ve curated five easy ways for you to style your home with ease for the festive period this year, with help from our much-loved retailer. At John Lewis & Partners you can get everything you need to create an unforgettable Christmas for 2021. With a key Christmas trend to suit all decor styles, there’s something for all, so you can create your perfect festive scheme. 1. Set the scene with a stunning tree Image credit: John Lewis & Partners The tree is the pinnacle of any festive decorating scheme. Buying a classic, authentic-looking artificial fir tree is an investment that will last you through the years. How about the most famous tree of Christmas 2021? As the star of John Lewis & Partners’ latest seasonal advert, the ‘7ft Peruvian Pine Unlit Christmas Tree’ is our hero tree this year; and for good reason! The incredibly real-looking fir design boasts lighter green tips to resemble new growth, while the irregular and organic outline adds to the tree’s realism. Taking into account all budgets and spaces, John Lewis & Partners caters for all, with an extensive range of Christmas trees to shop online. Decorated with this year’s biggest trend, ‘Gemstone Forest’ – an unapologetic riot of rich colour – this tree looks utterly captivating, and will make this Christmas a memorable one. 2. Make a style statement with baubles Image credit: John Lewis & Partners Baubles and tree ornaments are going way beyond just being used on the tree for Christmas 2021. With a host of amazing colours, shapes and sizes on offer, it would be a waste not to make more of the humble bauble. From adding a flourish to door wreaths, to decorating the back of the chairs around the festive table, the styling possibilities are endless. John Lewis & Partners has a style to suit all, from elegant glass droplets to quirky felted animal designs; every Christmas taste is met with this year’s expertly curated bauble collection. 3. Go gold for the table Image credit: John Lewis & Partners Forget silverware, the best way to make a style statement this year is by going gold. Channeling the gifts of one of the wise men, gold is the gift of choice for your dining table. And best of all, it’s not just for Christmas as it’s a great option for any occasion when you want to add effortless style to your tablescaping. Sophisticated gold tableware is perfect for all decors, from glam to rustic, as this example from the country-style ‘Festive Field’ festive trend shows in the image above. Buy now: Plane Cutlery Set, 18 Piece/6 Place Settings, £60, John Lewis & Partners 4. Serve in style Image credit: John Lewis & Partners When you’ve gone to all the effort to prep the party food and buy the best bubbles it deserves to be served in style. It’s the little touches that can make a huge difference when it comes to presentation. From party canapés served on gold trays to exquisite glassware to serve festive refreshments – it’s all about serving it up with a flourish. With entertaining from home remaining a popular trend, good serving ware will prove a timeless investment. John Lewis & Partners offer an extensive collection of bar and serving dishes to suit all your hosting needs. 5. Dress bedrooms to impress guests Image credit: John Lewis & Partners A little effort goes a long way when it comes to making guests feel at home. Adding festive touches to your bedrooms will help to make this year’s long-awaited trip a more immersive one. John Lewis & Partners have Christmas bedding, cushions and accessories for bedside tables to ensure the guest rooms are dressed to perfection. Taken from the serene 'Snow Mountain' trend this bedding set sets the scene without overwhelming a bedroom decorating scheme.  Buy now: Stag Scene Double Duvet Set, £50, John Lewis & Partners This year, Christmas is all about making every moment count. John Lewis & Partners has everything you need to enjoy a season full of wonderful festive fun for all the family. The post 5 ways to make your home feel more magical this Christmas appeared first on Ideal Home.

Santa's Grotto ideas: how to create a grotto in your garden Posted: 02 Dec 2021 02:00 AM PST It’s the hottest ticket in town, booking to see the big man at Christmas time. But with Santa self-isolating last year that ticket is even harder to get this Christmas! Instead of missing out due to demand why not recreate the festive fun by setting up a solution at home, with a little help from our creative Santa’s grotto ideas We’ve conjured up lots of Christmas ideas for creating your very own festive Grotto in the garden. With a bit of creative thinking, some savvy buys and some easy DIY, you can come up with a truly magical setting on a budget. Our ideas for a backyard Santa’s Grottos show that Christmas starts at home this year… Santa’s Grotto ideas for your garden 1. Choose the perfect grotto location Image credit: Future PLC If you are lucky, you might have a relatively empty shed or summerhouse that you can transform into a winter wonderland location, perfect for Santa. Failing that, a garden canopy or pergola will protect your guests against the rain, and is easily spruced up with lighting and Christmas decoration. With an open pergola, using plastic sheeting as walls can also protect against the wind. If you don't own an existing garden canopy or pergola, however, a gazebo will work also. However, be sure to secure this effectively in case of strong winds. 2. Create an enchanting path Image credit: Future PLC/ Jonathan West Set the scene surrounding your DIY Santa’s grotto by using plenty of outdoor Christmas decor ideas to add festive magic to the exterior. Light pathways with lights to guide excitable little ones in the direction of your garden grotto. 3. Transform your trees Image credit: Dobbies Christmas isn't complete without a tree. The evergreen conifer is the classic Christmas tree, but any tree outside can be turned into a Christmas tree. Leafless or not, adding fairy lights and decorations can make even the barest tree seem festive. Oversized baubles designed for outdoor trees are also a nice addition. If you're happy to spray paint your tree white, this can also add to the ambience of a winter wonderland. If you don't have a tree you can decorate, creating your own using branches and old pallets is a fun activity to do with children, and also adds a rustic addition to a Christmas garden. 4. Dress grotto walls with fairy lights Image credit: Wayfair/ David Giles Whether you have chosen the dress a summerhouse or a gazebo for your Santa’s grotto idea fairy lights are your friend! The humble fairy light can make any setting all the more magical. Laurie Davidson interior stylist @lifeofaninteriorstylist suggests a great way to use fairy lights; ‘Hang fairy light nets around the walls, and invest in a few fun lights, such as reindeer or a light-up sleigh.’ 5. Add extra ambient lighting Image credit: Future PLC/ Mark Scott There is plenty of lighting to choose from for your Christmas Grotto. You don't even necessarily need to opt for Christmas lighting. As the name suggests, festoon lighting appears festive, however, it can be used year-round, whether it is for special occasions in a garden or a permanent fixture. These look great draped across fencing and trees or even hanging from a garden canopy. Lanterns are also a simple and effective way to add character and warmth to a Christmas garden. You can upcycle these yourself using old glass jars and bottles. Try using decorated green bottles – squint and they’ll resemble mini, glowing Christmas trees. Another way to create outdoor Christmas lighting is by attaching two empty hanging baskets together to form a ball shape. You can make these your own with spray paint, tinsel and fairy lights, to create large hanging Christmas baubles across your grotto. 6. Decorate your grotto Image credit: Future plc Decorating your Christmas garden allows you to be expressive and creating. Upcycling is a fantastic way to create a unique, sentimental setting, perfect for celebrating Christmas. Creating rustic decorations, such as reindeers from logs and branches gives a homely feel. This is also a great activity to do with your kids. Use a simple stool or log stumps as authentic seats for Santa, his elves and visitors, but don’t forget to add cushions for comfort. Use this simply but effective decorating idea of filling hurricane lanterns with Christmas baubles and instead of candles using LED fairy lights to add gentle illumination. 7. Set up a projector to play Christmas movies Image credit: Wayfair/ David Giles It wouldn’t be Christmas with a festive movie, so why not incorporate one into your Santa’s grotto idea. A projector and screen is an ideal solution to set up in an outdoor space, weather permitting. This suitably festive scene was styled by interior stylist Laurie Davidson, who knows all the tricks to setting the secene reay for Santa. Adding plenty of cosy layers ensures this space can be used even in the bleak mid winter. Cushions and beanbags add easy seating solutions for add to sit comfortably while visiting Santa or simply enjoying a festive film. 8. Welcome warmth Image credit: Future plc/  Tim Young Don't let the cold weather put you off creating your Santa’s Grotto. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without crisp, dark nights – we just need to be creative with ways to stay warm. It’s worth investing in a little outdoor heating. Not only can braziers and the best fire pits keep your guests and yourself warm, but they are also very Christmassy. Despite being mainly used in the summertime, fire pits can recreate a cosy Christmas fireplace outdoors. Outdoor heaters are also effective at providing warmth, however, don't have the same visual and rustic effect as an open flame. Of course, be sure to keep the fire pit at least 10 feet away from your home, and away from flammable materials. Make sure children and pets are protected with a fire guard. 9. Set up a hot chocolate station Image credit: Future PLC/ David Brittain Ensure all are suitable warm inside and out by serving delicious hot drinks. Hot chocolate is the ultimate sweet hot drink for little ones. Mulled wine is also the perfect drink for your Christmas grotto. It can be made easily, with red wine, brown sugar, star anise, orange and lemon. It also keeps your gets warm and toasty and your guests can help themselves from the mixture. Washing mince pies down with mulled wine is also recommended. 10. Serve a feast for your grotto guests Image credit: Emma Lee As Christmas is a time for celebration, hosts don't want to spend the entire evening cooking and serving. Also due to the cold weather, smaller entrees and Christmas treats are more suitable for eating in a Christmas garden grotto, rather than a Christmas dinner. Serving a buffet, with hors d'oeuvre and canapes give you and your guests flexibility, and enable you to minimise contact and respect social distancing. Christmas appetizers can be anything from pigs in blankets, to hummus and flatbread. Whether you're an experienced cook or not, plenty of retailers stock platters of Christmas snacks, giving the host one less thing to worry about. 11. Fashion festive fun and games Image credit: Future PLC Make the most of your garden and create a Christmas-themed Easter hunt. Hiding mini presents and treats throughout your garden and proving clues for kids will keep them entertained. Having Santa make an appearance will also go down well if any guests are willing to dress up. If the adults want to get in on the fun, charades is also a classic Christmas game. Christmas carols are a must for any Christmas gathering, with karaoke adding extra entertainment. Secret Santa is also a great way to provide suspense and fun to swapping presents, without having to buy gifts for everyone. How do you make a Santa’s Grotto? ‘The first thing to consider is whether you want your garden grotto to be covered or open to the elements’ says Laurie Davidson interior stylist @lifeofaninteriorstylist on Instagram. ‘A gazebo with weights to stop it blowing in windy weather and some patio heaters inside makes a cosy garden grotto, and you can fill it with lights, outdoor rugs and plenty of comfortable seating.’ ‘Make sure the sides of the gazebo reach the floor, so there’s no gaps, to keep it chill-free. Why not put a hot chocolate station inside, along with plenty of beanbags and even a projector and screen so you can watch Christmas movies? If you’re having your grotto without a gazebo, a firepit will create a magical place to toast s’mores and you can enjoy all the fairy lights dotted around your garden. String them overhead to create a sparkly ‘roof’ and bring your summer garden furniture into winter with fluffy sheepskins and Christmas-print cushions and blankets. How can I make my house like a Christmas grotto? ‘Lights, lights and more lights’ exclaims stylist Laurie. ‘Having a sparkly room will make it all the more magical, so hang fairy light nets around the walls, and invest in a few fun lights, such as reindeer or a light-up sleigh. You could also consider setting up a little ‘den’ or ‘elf’s hideaway’ in your room, whether it’s a tent or teepee-style design that you decorate with fairy lights, soft pillows and some festive accessories, like stockings for Santa and even a mini Christmas-list writing station.’ The post Santa's Grotto ideas: how to create a grotto in your garden appeared first on Ideal Home.

Cleaning fan reveals hack to get grout looking like new without scrubbing Posted: 01 Dec 2021 11:00 PM PST Scrubbing dirt out of the grout on a tiled floor is one of the worst cleaning tasks. However, a cleaning fan has revealed her degreaser grout cleaning hack that promises to leave floors sparkling with minimal effort. Most guides on how to clean grout nearly always involve a little scrubbing with a brush. However, savvy US-based cleaning fan, Azure MacCannell, revealed in a video on TikTok that degreaser helps her get the job done without any scrubbing. Image credit: Colin Poole Degreaser grout cleaning hack ‘I accidentally spilt this degreaser on my floor and discovered that it cleans my grout without even scrubbing,’ Azure MacCannell explains in the video. She demonstrated by pouring the degreaser on the floor and used a brush to quickly run over the grout with it. ‘I pour it on. Just let it sit for a minute, and wipe it off,’ she says as she wipes the degreaser off with a mop. In a flash, the slightly grimy grout looks like new, with all the black marks that had built up removed. Azure even compares it to an area where she didn’t use the degreaser and the difference is clear to see. Image credit: Polly Eltes In the video, Azure uses a degreaser by Healthier Home which is currently only available to purchase in the US. However, Elbow Grease, priced at £1 on Amazon should also do the trick as one of the best cleaning products out there. Can you use a degreaser to clean grout? Heather Barrigan, a cleaning expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk says that it is perfectly safe to clean a floor with a degreaser and your best mop. However, she warns that it should be applied before any other cleaning products and used sparingly. Image credit: Future plc / Colin Poole ‘Before the application, you should make sure you clear the floor of any debris, then dilute the solution in accordance with the product instructions,’ she says. ‘Once diluted, it can then be added to the floor sporadically, as too much too soon may cause damage to the floor.’ ‘If you have porcelain tiles, you may want to use a more watered down solution, as too much degreaser may cause damage to the surface of the tile,’ she adds. Tim Richards, Director of Tiling at Wickes agrees adding that ‘where degreaser can work well for some glazed tiles, this technique can also be damaging for un-glazed or porous tiles.’ So do make sure you do your homework before trying this hack on your own tiles and grout. The post Cleaning fan reveals hack to get grout looking like new without scrubbing appeared first on Ideal Home.

Simple Christmas table decor ideas for well-dressed dining Posted: 01 Dec 2021 07:00 AM PST With so much to think about in the run-up to Christmas, why make life more complicated with an overly-fussy table arrangement? Simple Christmas table decor ideas that are easy to put together will save you time and energy on the big day, so you can better enjoy the festivities with family and friends. From easy to arrange table centrepiece ideas to simple place settings and chair decorations, there are lots of fuss-free tricks and Christmas table decoration ideas to make your dining room decor look extra special without taking too much time and effort. Simple Christmas table decor ideas 'Now that we can host loved ones once again, people are taking extra care over presentation for long-awaited moments shared with friends and family,' say the expert tablescapers at Lay London. 'Christmas tables should be joyful and fun, with a little glamour. And never underestimate the excitement of leaving little keepsakes for guests on the table. As it's the festive season, you might add velvet bow napkin ties, candy-stripe bags of humbugs or ribbon-tied baubles at each place. No matter how small, guests will feel gleeful at their surprise, festive token.' 1. Create a relaxed, rustic setting Image credit: Future PLC/Brent Darby Go for a stylish but simple scheme by dressing up key basics that you already have. A classic linen-striped table runner feels suitably festive with the addition of jolly red charger plates at each setting. And adding sparkly red candles as part of the centrepiece ties the colour theme together. While the Christmas table centrepiece looks striking, it's actually super-easy to put together. Just cluster together a collection of candlesticks in assorted colours and sizes and stand them on a rustic, low-sided basket. Using a tray or basket allows the centrepiece to be lifted off the table more easily when space is needed for serving dishes. 2. Make an easy table centrepiece Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore For a quick and easy table centrepiece, try using a simple door wreath, perhaps one that you have from a previous Christmas. It's a great way of re-using decorations and is perfectly-sized if your dining table is on the small size. Just add a few extra sprigs of foliage or baubles if it needs sprucing up. Position a couple of candles in the centre of your wreath, to give the display extra sparkle. For safety, make sure that the candles are at least 15-20cm above the foliage to avoid the materials catching fire. Alternatively, use LED candles that mimic the look of real – try Lights4fun for a selection. 3. Add a fruity, festive fragrance Image credit: Tori Murphy Make simple Christmas place settings look extra special with a few extra additions. Tie ticking-striped napkins with co-ordinating ribbon in plush velvet and set one at each place. Tuck in a sprig of fragrant rosemary, together with a cinnamon stick and slice of dried citrus fruit, that will add Christmas colour and a delicious aroma too. Fill the centre of the table with platters of festive fruits, such as nectarines and satsumas, pomegranates and fresh figs. Add nuts, berries and dates, filling in any gaps with extra sprigs of foliage and greenery. 4. Fill the table with foraged fare Image credit: The Cotswold Company Create a Christmas flower arrangement idea for a tablescape display using foliage and greenery. It can be foraged from the garden or bought cheaply at a florist or garden centre. Go for lush ferns and trailing ivy to add colour, with sprigs of holly and mistletoe or festive spruce and eucalyptus. A simple linen cloth make a lovely, natural backdrop that will set off greenery beautifully. Tablescapes need height, so add a couple of sturdy wooden candlesticks to create a central focal point. Next get your tableware in position, with mats, dinner plates and glasses at each setting. Then it's just a matter of filling in with foliage, weaving greenery in and out so that it runs the length of the table. 5. Dress up plain white dinnerware Image credit: B&Q Make super-easy place settings by popping a posy of greenery on each dinner plate. Simple white dinnerware and napkins are great for everyday dining, but easy to dress up for occasions as white will go with pretty much any colour scheme. Fold napkins into a neat rectangle, tucking over the edge to create a pocket. Tuck your cutlery inside – gold adds a touch of luxe – and then add a paper luggage tag so you can write your guest's names on in a fancy font. 6. Make a simple centrepiece Image credit: Future PLC/Brent Derby Keep table decorations as quick and easy as possible, so you've more time to enjoy the festivities. Put together an easy centrepiece with a Scandi flavour. Fill a simple enamel pitcher or stoneware jug with armfuls of baby's breath and berry-loaded foliage, then trim with mini decorations in matching red and white. Swap fussy table linen and fiddly decorations in favour of a rustic wooden serving board positioned centrally on the table. It makes a great resting spot for dinnerware and glasses or for serving dishes and platters when the festive fare is handed around. 7. Keep it casual for Christmas lunch Image credit: Future PLC/Brent Derby More guests around the dinner table, means that extra chairs from around the house come into play. Make seats more comfortable by adding cushions, seat pads and a couple of cosy throws. Go for mix and match fabrics in a cheery colour that will tie your festive colour scheme together. Decorate the backs of chairs by tying on sprigs of berries and fir, with a length of ribbon or twine. Decorate with mini baubles or tree ornaments and add gift tags with guests names stamped onto them. 8. Double-up with festive tableware Image credit: Future PLC/Brent Derby Make everyday dinnerware go further when you have extra guests over at Christmas. Combine plain white china with a bright colour or set of festive-patterned tableware, for a jolly mix and match feel that will give you double the amount of crockery. Pop a mini gift for your guests at each place setting for a special start to the meal. Wrap in co-ordinating giftwrap and tie with satin ribbon with a berry sprig topper as a pretty finishing touch. 9. Give a neutral scheme subtle sparkle Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore If traditional reds and greens aren't your style, opt for soft gold and white to give a neutral dining scheme a little extra sparkle. Burnished golds and frosted finishes create more of a subtle shimmer and soft sheen that isn't as harsh as polished surfaces and high-shine metallics. Decorate the table with mercury glass votives and tall gold candlesticks that will create a soft and cosy glow after dark. Keep to frosted foliage, soft-sheen eucalyptus and snow-tipped fir trees decked with twinkling fairylights. Warm white bulbs like these are easier on the eyes than cool white bulbs. 10. Pretty-up place settings with winter florals Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore Make simple but extra-special place settings by adding winter foliage to decorate the table. Spray a couple of small terracotta planters gold and fill with mini potted snowdrops or white cyclamen, standing one planter at each setting. Layer up dinnerware in a stack at each place and pop a white linen napkin on top, adding a stem of gypsophila to decorate. Tie with a paper parcel label around each inscribed with your guest's name in gold pen. 11. Create a sparkly hanging centrepiece Image credit: Next Leave more space for festive fare by opting for an overhead centrepiece rather than a tabletop arrangement. Use a large branch or wooden pole that stretches the full length of your table and suspend it from the ceiling on sturdy hooks. Decorate your branch with battery-operated fairy lights so you don't have to worry about finding a place to plug them in. Decorating with Christmas lights is the perfect way to add festive sparkle. Finish off by festooning it with a garland of greenery, coiling it around to create a swagged effect and then hanging on a few more lightweight decorations here and there. 12. Line the table with a garland Image credit: Layered Lounge Scale back the decorations for a super-simple look that still looks ultra chic. Mix evergreen fir with rustic linens, white stoneware and pale wood for a scheme that goes together naturally. In place of a table centrepiece, use a long garland of greenery, either real or faux running the length of the table. Add height to your arrangement with a row of shiny brass candlesticks nestled in amongst the foliage. Use a mix of tall and short sizes for variation, with simple white dinner candles to echo the simple scheme. Finish off with a few wooden bead strings and paper snow flakes dotted along the table. 13. Choose a relaxed colour theme Image credit: Maisons du Monde Make your festive decorations a continuation of your existing colour scheme. Dress up natural wood and sage green by bringing in garlands of shimmering eucalyptus and accents of taupe and bronze on the dining table to add sparkle and shine. Keep the look relaxed and informal with mismatched dining chairs in natural wood and green paintwork, with a country-style cloth to cover the table. Make garlands twinkle by weaving in strings of fairy lights to take your dining scheme from daytime to night. 14. Swag chairs with greenery Image credit: Future PLC It's the simple finishing touches that make any Christmas scheme look special. With chair backs facing guests as they enter the Christmas dining room decor, why not dress them up so that they look prettier, in colours to complement your table scheme. Loop swags of greenery over the backs, off-cuts of spruce from the Christmas tree are ideal, tied with satin ribbon and a couple of sparkly baubles. 15. Set up a festive tabletop scene Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore Make a simple snow globe centrepiece to decorate the dining table. A glass domed cake stand is ideal or try a couple of large glass bell jars if you don't have one to hand. Spread a layer of salt or fake snow over the base of your stand to create a frosty backdrop, then arrange a collection of mini light-up houses on top to create a winter wonderland effect. Use battery-operated tea lights inside the houses to light your display up after dark. How do you decorate a simple Christmas table? Think about how you'd like your Christmas table to look first. Whether it's traditional red and green with lashings of holly and berries, or a white and silver winter wonderland with frosted baubles and candlelight. To keep things simple and save time, choose a colour theme that suits the decor that you already have, so you'll have plenty of decorations and trimmings that you can grab to dress up the table. Simple centrepieces are an easy way of adding a decorative finishing touch to your table. Display some of your favourite baubles and decorations in a bowl or on a cake stand to add height to the arrangement. Or fill the centre of your table with an array of pillar candles, arranged on a wooden serving board with a couple of sprigs of holly and berries dotted here and there to add colour. How do you set a Christmas table? Start with a tablecloth. While you may not use them for everyday meals, they're a good idea for Christmas lunch as they'll protect the table from hot serving dishes and spills. A plain white sheet makes an inexpensive alternative if you don't have a cloth that's large enough for Christmas festivities. Dress it up with a length of wintry wallpaper or festive wrapping paper along the middle as a runner. Then add colourful place mats, festive dinnerware and glasses to dress it up. The post Simple Christmas table decor ideas for well-dressed dining appeared first on Ideal Home.

Christmas table decoration ideas for a showstopper of a festive meal Posted: 01 Dec 2021 06:46 AM PST The table is where one of the biggest events of the festivities comes into play, so make sure yours is looking the part. From elegant place settings to all-out party Christmas table decoration ideas, there’s a style to suit every home for the holidays. Get ready to welcome friends and family in this year and display all of your fabulous Christmas ideas – just be prepared for the food to take second place. Christmas table decoration ideas ‘Tablescaping is a great way to express your personality and inject individuality into the home at Christmas,’ says Rosie Ward, Creative Director at Ward & Co. ‘This year, many of us are hoping to go big with our festive scenery, pulling out all the stops as we finally get to enjoy time together and celebrate around the table.’ 1. Add a personalised touch Image credit: Future PLC We’re all used to place settings at formal gatherings, but make sure you enhance the sense of occasion by including them at your Christmas table. If you’re having drinks before dinner, or will be moving to another room after eating, then consider attaching the name tags to ribbons. These tags can be quickly and easily handmade in line with your Christmas dining room ideas design. Once your guests have been seated, encourage them to tie the ribbon around the base of their glass as a helpful way to identify glassware as people start to move around the home. 2. Make impact with simplicity Image credit: Neptune Berries and pomegranate brighten a simple table setting. Use clementines and physalis if you prefer zesty orange tones. These fruits will add impact to plain white china and neutral table linens. Fruits and berries make a wonderful addition to any other rustic Christmas decorating ideas which you may be using. 3. Use festive flatware Image credit: George Home Layer Christmas-themes crockery for each place setting – a festive jumper-style snowflake design will never date! Team these with tartan placemats and crisp white table linen, both of which you can continue using well after the festivities are over. To add a touch of texture and personality, make sure you think about coasters and placemats just as you do the crockery and glassware. 4. Combine flames with fresh produce Image credit: Future PLC ‘Let there be light!,’ say the teams at Nyetimber and Lay London. ‘A simple way to elevate the table at home is with glowing candles or lanterns. Tall, glowing dinner candles in varying heights on the table adds a party mood. A colour-combo of candles can look sumptuous and liven up a simpler setting.’ Similarly, the flowers and foliage you choose can have a real impact. ‘Flowers make the table sing. These could be sprawling, banquet-like vines, or vases of blossomy hydrangeas in snow white. By picking out colours in the tableware for the florals, it really brings the scheme together. A quick cheat is having bowls of pomegranates or clementines on the table, for pops of bright colour.’ 5. Choose an Art-Deco style Image credit: Future PLC The Art Deco look brings glamour to seasonal styling. Think flapper feathers and bugle beads, soft velvet ribbons and cool Jazz Age patterns, brimming with holiday spirit. ‘A dramatic blue tablescape is perfect for those that dine on Christmas evening, or could also work well for a New Year's Eve party,’ adds Rosie Ward. 6. Go greener Image credit: Toast Presents are always a lovey touch to bring to a Christmas table but now, more than ever, it’s time to look at more eco-friendly ideas. ‘I like to bring warmth to the table with a Furoshiki table gift at each placing, which are the perfect alternative to crackers and can be re-used infinite times, making them a more sustainable option,’ says Judith Harris, Head of House & Home at TOAST. ‘Never underestimate the excitement of leaving little keepsakes for guests on the table,’ say the teams at Nyetimer and Lay London. ‘As it's the festive season, you might add velvet bow napkin ties, candy-stripe bags of humbugs or ribbon-tied baubles at each place. No matter how small, guests will feel gleeful at their surprise, festive token.’ 7. Make it work harder Image credit: Marks & Spencer If you’re decorating your table for Christmas, then it seems rather a shame to only use it for the one meal. Of course, many people adapt it slightly to use for a New Year’s setting, but that’s not all you can do. Bring a true sense of occasion to your home, and add something extra to your Christmas countdown by setting the dining table for a festive breakfast, too. Some themed crockery can take the place of any more impressive or delicate centrepiece you’re bringing in the main event. Keep things simple so it’s easy to switch out when it’s time to prep for turkey time. 8. Welcome the outside in Image credit: Future plc/ Dan Duchars Bring a hint of greenery to the table. More than ever we're looking for ways to connect with nature. Create a Christmas scene of natural joy, filled with gathered greenery made into beautiful arrangements along the dinner table. String clustered bundles of sweetly scented herbs and foliage above the table using garden twine, that can scale the full length of the table to add both decoration and scent. Uses potted plants and thoughtfully placed sprigs on place settings to tie in further elements of nature at the table. 9. Set the tone with a muted palette Image credit: Future plc/ Dan Duchars Style a table filled with foliage and earthy toned textures to create a welcoming grounded essence to your festive celebrations. A muted colour palette helps to avoid overwhelming the scene, providing an understated elegant decorating scheme. Lay the table with considered crockery and glassware, interspersed with draped and potted festive foliage, buds and sprigs. Simple, sophisticated and stylish. 10. Decorate with warm and inviting shades Image credit: Future plc/ Max Attenborough Draw guests to the table with an alluring pull of festive shades. Get in the mood for entertaining with a dining room decorated in rich mulberry, gold and spice colours to conjure up the essence and spirit of Christmas. Dress the table with simple dinnerware and create a runner of foliage down the middle to add a comforting touch of nature. 11. Make your own crackers Image credit: Future plc A little goes a long way when it come to decorating the Christmas table. This year why not make your own crackers? To save on budget and waste, because both are much-needed at this time of the year. Plus, who doesn’t love having a go at Christmas craft ideas? Aside from the bang of pulling a cracker, there’s nothing you’ll miss from making your own. Simply place a treat inside a cardboard roll, wrap crepe paper or even fabric scraps around, then tie the ends with ribbon. You could even write your own jokes for inside, simply ask Google for the best cracker jokes. 12. Set up a drinks station Image credit: Future plc/  Max Attenborough Whatever the situation is for Christmas this year, one thing’s for sure…drinks will be required. Whether a Zoom celebration or a small number gathered still go all out and set up a dedicated drinks station. Concoct classic cocktails with the help of a stylish home bar. Blend cocktails beautifully in delicate glass beakers with the aid of a handy mixologist set. Your Christmas party ideas have only just begun… 13. Welcome nature to the table Image credit: Future plc/ Max Attenborough Embrace the beauty of nature, beyond that of foliage and fresh flowers. Plump for seasonal fruits to help add a touch of colour to place settings. With so many colours derived from nature, it’s a fabulous way to tie in all the accent colours that may already be present around the table, from textiles to stoneware. Plus a simple staged fruit for place settings is far more cost-effective than many other alternatives. 14. Add finesse with statement foliage Image credit: Future plc Don’t underestimate the power of flowers, and they don’t have to be overly festive to still make the right impression. We’ve opted for beautiful hydrangea blooms to make a bold centrepiece that isn’t particularly festive, and yet it works. Whatever foliage you favour keep it in the same colour palette as your decorating scheme to tie it in seamlessly. Sprigs of the same flowers are intertwined into the tree and on the metal wreath to create a co-ordinated look. 15. Enhance with reflective materials Image credit: Future plc/ Maxwell Attenborough Choose vessels that enhance your chosen foliage. Here warm sprigs of orange, yellow and pink flowers are off-set by a simple brass vase – adding a simple touch of glam to the table. While metallics also help to pick up light, reflecting a warming ambience around the surrounding table. so simple, yet so effective. ‘When it comes to creating your arrangement, remember not to add too much height and therefore block your guests' views,’ says Ming Veevers Carter, Founder, Veevers Carter. ‘When organising your arrangement, sit down in a chair so you can see clearly and gauge the right height.’ 16. Dot homemade candle bowls around the table Image credit: Future plc/ Dan Duchars Create your own festive lighting with candle bowls. Half fill a footed glass bowl with water and add floating candles. Place in a shallow glass dish and arrange sprigs of rosemary, snowberries and larch cones to create a woodland centrepiece. 17. Adorn the table with homemade mini trees Image credit: Future plc Make a thoroughly festive statement by adorning the table with mini trees on place settings. You can cheat this effect by making homemade mini trees. Simply take cuttings of branches from a real fir tree, and placing it in a tea light votive. If you have a real tree as your main tree you can easily snip branches from the back, they won’t be missed.  Add a further touch of personality by dressing the ‘trees’ with mini baubles. 18. Look to the north for decor inspiration Image credit: Future plc/ Paul Raeside Use cool wintery colours and icy glassware for a relaxed Scandi-style Christmas table. Stack white and smoky grey plates topped with gorgeous glass bell jars filled with treats or rustic star-shaped decorations, alternating the two colours around the table. For informal dining and a pared-back look, eschew a tablecloth in favour of a rustic linen table runner and matching napkins in a textured taupe. Finish the scheme with frosted glasses wreathed in eucalyptus, foraged berries and woodland finds. 19. Keep it classic with country style Image credit: Future plc/ David Brittain Mix traditionally festive colours of red and green with cute country-style touches for a warm Christmas look. Start by dressing the table in tartan and plain tablecloths for colour and texture. Add natural rush placemats, wood-handled cutlery and a mix of pretty candle holders for a natural theme and stack patterned plates with a contrasting colour to add interest. Finally, create a name holder from threading nuts, herbs and berries into a garland and dress a cracker in an embroidered linen napkin. 20. Pick a traditional colour palette Image credit: Future plc/ Simon Scarboro Give your dining room Nordic charm with crisp stripes and checks in red and white. Add snow-white highlights with ceramics and candles. Bring it all together with the gleam of glass and silver, and scarlet-berried greenery. Use striped ribbon to tie decorations to guests' chairs and dress the table with a red and white striped cloth. Top sparkling silver place mats with gingham check napkins and go for white tableware with green and red decoration and cranberry-coloured glassware. Make it all shimmer and shine with plenty of candlelight. 21. Go for striking shades of blue Image credit: Future plc/ Paul Raeside Mix rose gold metallics and soft velvet in midnight jewel tones for an effortless yet luxe Christmas table setting. Inky indigo tableware contrasts perfectly with warm copper. Choose a cutlery set with a streamlined minimal design to really show of the beauty of the burnished metal and match to a hammered-effect copper coaster and button details on the table runner. 22. Get creative with cookies Image credit: Future plc/ Jan Baldwin Create a charming Christmas table centrepiece with a playful biscuit tree. Here, elaborately iced festive treats are strung with ribbon and hung from the branches of a vintage metal stand – a mug tree or jewellery stand will serve just as well. Wreath the base in fresh foliage and add a touch of sparkle with gold accents on champagne glass and a nut dish. It's a lovely way to decorate your table between sit-down dinners. 23. Simply set the scene with white and foliage Image credit: Robert Welch For any Christmas table, a smart white backdrop will give the room a real sense of occasion and sophistication. Ensuring your staple table elements are pristine gives you a perfect base to build upon. A neutral base also ensures that key dining elements, such as cutlery place settings and serveware are highlighted within the scheme. Flowers, foliage and candles in complementary colours will help to create an eye-catching centrepiece, and really bring a sense of the season indoors, without being obtrusive. Faux options can be just as stunning as fresh foliage and also allow you to enjoy the decorations for longer. Try pairing the soft green tones of faux eucalyptus intertwined with dark berries, thistles and subtle fairy lights. 24. Warm your cockles Image credit: Future plc/ David Brittain Celebrate the completion of a bracing winter walk with a hot drinks table set up outside. A batch of hot toddy adds a deep ruby glow to the table, labelled with the tempting 'Alice in Wonderland' invitation. Keep some extra boiling water in a cheering thermos for top ups and pile up the fruit and nuts for a quick pick-me-up before supper. Decorate the table with fresh fruit, foliage and feathers for a hint of rustic country charm. 25. Embrace Victoriana Image credit: Future plc/ Jan Baldwin Go all out and create a dessert side table laden with sweet treats and spicy mulled wine in homage to the great Victorian Christmas tradition. To set the scene in a neutral dining room, create a festive focal point with a homemade garland of pecan nuts and an oversized bauble. Add a miniature tree, decorated in the same nut brown colours to one end of the table and choose vintage inspired tableware to complete the look. 26. Give a nod to Narnia Image credit: Paul Raeside Be inspired by the majesty of a winter snowscape with a white and silver Christmas table scheme. Create Narnia-inspired centrepieces with glass hurricane lanterns, miniature fir trees and heaps of fake snow. Play with scale by filling different sizes and create a tangle of silver winterberries down the centre of the table. Finish the look with frosted glass and grey candlesticks dotted around. 27. Go dark and dramatic Image credit: Paul Raeside Make the most of a dark stone table top to create a striking monochrome scheme with blush accents. Mix black and white patterned plates with marble serving platters and a soft grey charger plate to add to the contrasting tones. Choose modern amber glassware in a simple design, shell pink napkins and copper touches for a luxurious twinkle. A small wrapped gift makes a thoughtful name setting and finishes the look. How do you lay a table for Christmas? Interior designer and influencer, Louise Roe, lets us in on her step-by-step guide. Use one item to kick-start an idea – Whether that's an old candlestick, some bright wine glasses, or even a vintage gravy boat! It's a great way to build a theme Think about the table in layers – I like to start with the tablecloth, then add the plates and glasses, and finally the flowers. Get personal – Custom, bespoke pieces on a tabletop really make a meal extra special. Having a family member's name engraved, or a special phrase or message, is such a beautiful touch when hosting.I always plan around the place settings themselves, which I love to personalise to each of my guests, using items from my Personalised Picks edit on eBay. Think outside the box – don't just shop in the tabletop section, but decorations and toys work too. I stole a few of my daughter’s wooden Nutcracker soldiers to add to each place setting last Christmas! Baubles dotted around the centre of the table look fabulous too. Don't hide the napkins – Be creative with how you show them off – fold them on top of the plate, inside the glass, or tie a little ribbon around them – that's my favourite look. Keep vases low – It's important guests can see each other across the table, so cut flowers shorter. It actually looks best having colour lower to the table. I love a mix of jam jars and little coloured vases. Make it seasonal, but with a twist – I love using colours from the time of year, but not making it too predictable. For example, one festive tabletop is a mix of tonal greens. I'm a maximalist, so more is more – You really can't go wrong, just have fun. How do you make a Christmas tablescape? ‘Christmas tables should be joyful and fun, with a little glamour.,’ say the teams at Nyetimber and Lay London. ‘You can create an exciting colour scheme for the table beyond the classic 'green and red' and add a festive feel by mixing in golden tones and velvet textures. “Tablescaping” has become a widely known term and a popular trend, with creativity at the table flourishing thanks to everyone spending more time at home. Now that we can host loved ones once again, people are taking extra care over presentation for long-awaited moments shared with friends and family.’ What’s trending for Christmas this year? One of the biggest looks of the year has to be the Scandi style. ‘Less is more – Scandi is the perfect theme for the low key host due to its limited colour palette and minimal accessories,’ says Rosie Ward. You can utilise items you likely already have in your cupboards and fill in the gaps with locally sourced or faux foliage. Festive greenery should be the star of the show. You can easily forage for sprigs in the garden, on a walk or use offcuts from the Christmas tree. Two or three shorter pieces can be arranged together down the centre of the table to create the look of one single garland, just make sure to hide any cut ends within the foliage.’ ‘Pine cones make a lovely addition and can be nestled amongst the foliage to build volume and texture. Think 'hygge' and fill your space with cosy light and earthy tones. A natural linen tablecloth can be layered with rattan placemats or charger plates and simple clear crystal wear. Intersperse cream or white candles amongst the foliage and consider using a mixture of taller candlesticks, tealights and chunky pillar candles to create drama and variety.’ The post Christmas table decoration ideas for a showstopper of a festive meal appeared first on Ideal Home.

Christmas dining room decor ideas – perfect backdrops for festive dinners Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:29 AM PST Image credit: Future PLC The dining room really comes into its own over the festive season. Using considered Christmas dining room decor ideas you can transform your day-to-day space into something truly magical for friends and family to gather around. From the table itself, to shelving and lighting, you can use these Christmas ideas to dress your dining room beautifully for the season. It may not make up for any cooking mishaps which are bound to happen, but at least you’ll be in perfectly festive surroundings, whatever happens! Christmas dining room ideas Whether you just want to add a few Yuletide touches, or are looking for a more all-encompassing change, read on to discover our favourite ways to upgrade your dining room this December. 1. Hang a branch to create a hanging centrepiece Image credit: Future PLC Turn this year’s Christmas table decoration idea on its head – leaving space for festive fare by opting for an overhead centrepiece. Make sure the decorations are lightweight and hang from an existing light fixture, or fix to the ceiling using Command ceiling hooks and clear fishing wire. Using a piece of wood with its natural undulations allows you to hang baubles from all different lengths, creating a more naturalistic and relaxed finish. 2. Create a cohesive scheme Image credit: Future PLC When dressing your Christmas dining room remember that, although important, it’s not all about the table. Make sure you include the other large pieces of furniture, such as dressers, cabinets and sideboards in your decorating. Christmas mantel decor can be linked in, too. An easy way to integrate multiple pieces is by having a cohesive thread linking them all. For the festive season, an easy and pretty option is to continue whatever greenery you’re using on the table onto these other pieces. Sp if you have a eucalyptus garland on the table, add a jug of the foliage on a dresser, or a wreath hanging from a sideboard. 3. Choose a lengthy option Image credit: Future PLC Size isn’t everything. But it can make a difference! For the majority of the year you’re unlikely to need an especially large dining table, but if you’re hosting for the extended family at Christmas, then things change. Extendable tables are a godsend for when you have a large influx of guests, just make sure that the room can still comfortably fit the table when at its full length. Integrate your Christmas dining room with another space that you can make use of over the rest of the year, when the table is smaller. Choose something easy to move out. Perhaps a small yoga area, a little oasis for houseplants, or a beanbag lounge area for the kids to read and relax. 4. Accessorise with seasonal shades Image credit: Neptune Choosing a strong colour scheme in your Christmas dining room not only makes finding pieces and decorating it much easier, but it creates a warmer, more finished space. One must-have item can usually dictate this colour for you. Perhaps a cushion, a water jug or simply your absolute favourite bauble. Choose a couple of complementary shades and use your accessories to layer the colour throughout. This is also a great option for people who love hosting, as changing the scheme of the room can simply come down to switching out a few small pieces for each different event. 5. Stick to a dominant material Image credit: Future PLC Colours aren’t the only way to create a cohesive look in your dining room. Texture and material are equally as useful. Since the focal point of these spaces is, more often than not, the dining table, use this as your jumping off point. A rustic wood table can be echoed in your Christmas decorations throughout the room. Woven wreaths, naturalistic displays and wooden decorations all tie in to the table to create a considered room. 6. Add a festive glow Image credit: Lights4Fun Nothing quite adds atmosphere to a Christmas dining room than the use of lighting. Candles and Christmas lights create a sense of occasion, as well as making the room appear warmer, and creating extra sparkly details. Weave fairy lights into centrepieces, garlands, wreaths and anywhere which needs a little extra something. If tying in with greenery, choose versions with green or clear wire so it blends in with the foliage. 7. Create a festive splash in an open-plan living space Image credit: Lizzie Orme If you have an open plan living space you can still add an extra festive flourish in the dining area. Capitalise on the proximity to the Christmas tree and keep the rest of the decorations simple. A crystal reindeer as the table centrepiece and foliage over the mantlepiece keeps this space festive but elegant. 8. Keep the trimmings simple Image credit: Polly Eltes Sometimes less is more, especially when it comes to hosting a laid-back rustic Christmas. When choosing your simple Christmas table decor ideas, consider simple sprigs of seasonal foliage, crackers and a large bowl filled with baubles is just enough to set the scene without overpowering the table with decoration. 9. Tie in a colour scheme with bows on the back of chairs Image credit: D. Blackmore Ribbons on the back of chairs are a simple and cost effective way to add a little pizzazz to the dining table come Christmas time. These are an easy way to tie your decorations into your Christmas colour schemes. 10. Delight guests with a balloon display Image credit: David Brittain While balloons might not be a typical Christmas decoration, if you have opted for a snow themed decor they are surprisingly effective decoration that will delight dinner guests. A combination of white pearlescent helium balloons and see-through ones filled with confetti add to the snowy effect. Attach a garland of stars instead of the typical balloon string to add to the magic. 11. Hang a centre-piece from the ceiling Image credit: Future PLC/ David Brittain Christmas table centrepiece ideas don’t need to be purely about the table. Create a natural chandelier out of foraged foliate and hang above the dining room table for a naturally festive look to coordinate your table centrepiece. Finish the look with a relaxed tartan table cloth and old milk bottles with berries and roses scattered along the middle of the table 12. Put up a Christmas tree Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson If you are a family who prefers to open their presents after Christmas dinner, why not bundle all the festivities into the dining room. Decorate a real tree with paper lanterns and wooden decorations to match a rustic dining table covered with wooden tea light holders. 13. Fill a chandelier with foliage Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby Bring the outside in and decorating with seasonal foliage. We’re not just talking holly and mistletoe. Weave sprigs of pine and eucalyptus through chandeliers, on sideboards and along the table for a fresh and festive look. 14. Cast a rosy glow with scattered tea lights Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore A Christmas Eve dinner calls for demure and subtle lighting. Dim the bright overhead lights, and scatter tea lights in mismatched silver holders across the table and sideboard. The more the merrier, but if you’re also adding in foliage, go safe not sorry and look to battery powered LED tealights rather than the real deal. 15. Take a break from tradition with red roses Image credit: Future PLC/Jonathan Gooch If you want to create a splash on the dinner table a striking floral centrepiece will draw the eye, but remember to keep it low so your guests can see each other across the table. A bowl of poinsettias will always look festive and colourful. However, why not take a break from tradition and opt for a display of red roses. 16. Hang traditional wreaths over a mantlepiece Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore Christmas wreath ideas aren’t just for the front door. Transform a chimney breast into a festive feature wall with three wreaths. In this dining room, rather than opting for a traditional red and green theme, more autumnal colours such as copper and amber have been used to compliment the existing room decor. 17. Create a Christmas scene on the mantelpiece Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore Sometimes only a jolly red will do when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Opt for a candy came red that will pop in your living room and bring a smile to adults and children alike. If you have a fireplace in your dining room, take full advantage of it by recreating a vibrant red Christmas village scene out of wooden decorations. Small lanterns spelling out Xmas on the table are a playful finishing touch. How can I decorate my dining room for the holidays? Decorate your dining nearly as liberally as you will when considering your Christmas living room decor. After all, the main event of Christmas dinner takes place here, so it needs to look good. That said, practicalities need to be taken into account. Christmas trees are lovely if there is space, but really work out if people can move around easily to get to their seats or leave the room. Similarly, layer up the table, but only once you’ve worked out how much space you need for your serving plates and platters. How do you set up a Christmas dinner table? Set up a Christmas dinner table as you would for any other large formal dining event in your home. All the key place setting elements must be there – place mats, coasters, cutlery, water jugs, candles and so on. To add that festive touch, a pretty Christmas centrepiece or garland harks nicely to the season. Similarly, place a small present, candy cane or personalised bauble at each place setting. The post Christmas dining room decor ideas – perfect backdrops for festive dinners appeared first on Ideal Home.

Budget bathroom ideas – 18 ways to update your washroom Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:23 AM PST Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme Bathrooms are one of the most used rooms within our homes, so naturally they need refreshing from time to time. Our budget bathroom ideas will help you give yours a brand new look, without turning into a full redo. Whether it’s giving the en suite a refresh, updating the downstairs loo, or turning the family bathroom from drab to fab, we’ve got plenty of bathroom ideas to set you on your way. But giving your bathroom a new look, doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take weeks to complete, our ideas (plus tips from the experts) are all simple tweaks, tricks and clever ideas that won’t break the bank. Budget bathroom ideas 1. Make a shelf display Image credit: Future Plc/ Simon Whitmore Treat your bathroom just like you would any other room in the house and don’t forget the plants and accessories. Pop a wooden shelf up on the wall for a place to not only keep your prettier toiletries and smellies, but also for a place to display framed prints, collected treasures and of course a house plant or two. 2. Bring in accents of on-trend matt black Image credit: Future Plc/Lizzie Orme Whilst brass hardware continues to be a huge trend, we’re seeing more and more home owners choose black as their accent colour and we are all for it! As most bathrooms tend to be a serene and simple white, adding in touches of black is an easy way to really pack a punch as it will pop against the background. Swap out tired taps and rusty radiators and replace with smart, matt black options instead. 3. Opt for an oversized mirror Image credit: Future Plc/ Colin Poole The more natural light you can achieve in your bathroom, the better, making it much easier to apply your make-up and giving the whole space a more open and inviting feel. So if windows are small (or even if they’re not!) choosing the biggest mirror you can fit on your wall, will then allow it to bounce the natural light coming in, to more spots around the room, all the while making the space feel bigger. Choosing a window-style mirror like this one breaks up the wall a bit too. 4. Add a splash of bright colour Image credit: Future Plc/Lizzie Orme You might find that your bathroom suite is perfectly ok and actually its the just the accessories that need lifting, in which case, you’re in luck- this is the fun bit! Adding in pops of colour with accessories is easy and super affordable too. A shade like sunny yellow is going to work really well in a monochrome bathroom so choose towels, bath mats, plant pots and even shampoo bottles in this happy shade and let your room be transformed before your eyes. Yellow not your colour? Try a teal, pale pink or even lilac! 5. Save space in the loo with a caddy Image credit: B&M Cloakrooms often lack space for toiletries. This handy caddy attaches to the wall and has a rail for a towel too, so the basin remains uncluttered, hoorah! Attaching a slim shelf to the wall above will also provide you with space for your prettier trinkets too. 6. Double up on bathroom storage Image credit: Future Plc Add tall cabinets either side of a vanity unit in a bathroom. Not only will they frame the unit nicely, but they’ll provide lots of extra storage. These cabinets started life as simple Ikea bookcases but have been given a smart lick of paint and fluted glass film, too. 7. Add a bit of bling Image credit: Primark Yes the bathroom is a very practical room where washing is the main event, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a bit of sparkle in there too! Decant the hand soap into a smart glass dispenser, pop the family’s toothbrush collection into a matching tumbler and dig out that bar of real soap you were gifted last Christmas and pop it on a pretty glass plate, and ta-dah! A posh spa-hotel bathroom CAN be yours! 8. Try a table in the bathroom Image credit: Future Plc/ David Giles Finding the right vanity unit for a bathroom can be tricky, but actually almost any piece of furniture can be upcycled to house your basin. Here an old school desk has had a hole cut in it to make space for the plumbing and pipes. 9. Change your grout Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole Dirty old grout getting you down? Then update it. Instead of a plain white grout, pick a colour that contrasts with your wall tiles – so if you have a white metro tile, try a black or a grey grout. Not only does it seriously up the style stakes, it’s also much easier to keep looking clean. Happy days! 10. Hang an on-trend mirror Image credit: Future PLC/ James French If space in your bathroom is tight (or even if it’s not!) a mirror will make a room seem larger and boost natural light. Ideally place it opposite the window. Go for a black frame or Crittall-style window effect for a contemporary look, and accentuate with monochrome accessories. 11. Paper the walls Image credit: Future PLC/ Claire Lloyd Davies Far cheaper than tiling, bathroom wallpaper can add stunning pops of colour and take familiar coloured tiles to a whole new level, as seen here. Our biggest tip is not to paper walls that are directly behind the bath or basin, as any splashes might cause damage. You’ll also need to seal the paper with decorator’s varnish once you’ve hung it. 12. Jazz up a plain window with film Image credit: The Window Film Company The perfect solution to ensure privacy in your bathroom without having to forgo natural light, window film is cheaper and easier to install than shutters. Plus it allows you to have way more fun with pattern. Simply cut to size and apply to the glass in seconds. Buy now: Chevron white print on frost, £66 per sq m, The Window Film Company 13. Switch old taps for shiny new ones Image credit: Future PLC/ David Parmiter For a super-glamorous bathroom refresh, update hardware such as taps, shower heads and light fittings from tired chrome to beautiful brass or gold. Paul Bailey, UK Leader and Category Specialist for Grohe at LIXIL EMENA says, ‘If looking to create a spa-like aesthetic, brassware in rich metallic finishes can help add warmth to a room and create a luxurious and comforting environment. Coloured brassware finishes are growing in the market and becoming available at all price points so this can be a cost-effective way of creating a spa-like design.’ Or give your existing ones a good going-over using a limescale remover. 14. Treat yourself to colourful towels Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole Towels function just as cushions and throws do in a living room. So if you’re looking for a quick way to add colour or pattern, they’re your go-to. If you decide to mix and match pattern, stick to the same colour palette for cohesion. 15. Create a tropical oasis Image credit:Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme Adding a cluster of house plants to a bathroom is an easy way to freshen up a scheme. Many will thrive in the humid atmosphere and they’ll help clean toxins from the air, too. Try low-maintenance plants such as aloe vera or ferns. You could also add a few faux plants for variety. Or for full tropical jungle oasis, pull together as much green as you can muster – botanical leaf-print tiles, textured green glass accessories and emerald green tiles will all take a bathroom from drab to fab. 16. Upcycle a vanity unit Image credit: Future PLC/ Dave Burton Create a focal piece that will impress the neighbours by upcycling a vanity unit from an old table or cabinet into a cool washstand. It’s surprisingly easy and you’ll be producing something truly unique that expresses your style. Use it to hide away bathroom clutter. 17. Tile a pretty splashback Image credit:Future PLC/Lizzie Orme Statement tiles behind a basin will provide an eye-catching splashback that won’t break the bank or take very long to create. If your bathroom is fairly plain, choose a patterned option to add extra interest. We’re fans of this mix-and-match patchwork approach. 18. Lay a vinyl floor Image credit: Future PLC/ Jeremy Lawrence If you’re blessed with a plain white bathroom, but you’re getting a bit bored, you could consider looking at bathroom flooring ideas. Vinyl is super affordable (you can easily find designs for less than £10 per m) and simple to fit yourself. You can even lay it over existing tiles, provided the grout lines aren’t too deep. How can I improve my bathroom on a budget? ‘A bathroom should be a place of tranquillity, providing a moment where you can truly relax and unwind. A simple bathroom improvement that doesn't need to break the bank, includes a fresh lick of grey paint – creating a calming ambience’, says Will Thompson, Head of Product Marketing at Valspar Paint If the ideas above haven’t yet sparked your imagination and you want to go further with your refresh, think about where the money your spend could go furthest. Helen Dennett, UK Marketing Communications Manager at Mermaid Panels says, ‘Sometimes, bathrooms require a little more than a lick of paint to refresh the space, but this can become costly. However, there's a simple way to breathe new life into the bathroom on a budget. Bathroom panels like Mermaid's Elite range are a cost-effective way to achieve this – they are 100% waterproof and can be used seamlessly, wall-to-wall to really transform your bathroom, or simply within splash zones such as within your shower enclosure.’ How do you update an outdated bathroom? ‘Some simple things you can do to update an outdated bathroom is create a monochromatic effect by painting the walls the same colour as the floors – using a colour you love, like a rich 'Long Water' teal,’ says Will. ‘ You can also spruce up your accessories by painting loo roll holders, ageing towel bars or old bathroom radiators. Do your research to ensure you're using the right paint  – Valspar's V500 Kitchen and Bathroom paint is specifically made to deal with mould, so ideal for bathrooms'. As well as thinking about how your bathroom looks, you might be thinking about how your bathroom operates too. With new smart technologies appearing in the bathroom market regularly, it might be that your shower experience needs updating too. Paul Bailey, UK Leader and Category Specialist for Grohe at LIXIL EMENA explains, ‘Shower heads that offer a selection of different sprays can be purchased and retrofit onto your existing shower system as an affordable way to enhance your shower experience. Gentle rain sprays that mimic the sensation of showering under a waterfall and even pulsating massage sprays are available to help deliver a more relaxing and indulgent shower, with very little cost or installation effort needed.’ How much should I spend on a bathroom renovation? ‘When planning your bathroom renovation, it’s always advisable to decide at the outset where you’d like to spend more budget on where you’d like to save- as it could be a false economy to cut corners,’ advises Sally Hough, Marketing Manager, Bathrooms to Love ‘Investing in some key pieces that are likely to have a lot of use, such as a spacious quality showering area which will have some heavy use in a large household, is a sensible option. Or perhaps you love a long luxurious bath, so investing in a quality freestanding bath makes sense’ Sally goes to to say, ‘Plumbing considerations are obviously key, and can absorb a lot of budget, so if you current bathroom layout of water and waste pipes works well, then stick to this existing layout to save on costs.’ How can I make a small bathroom feel bigger? ‘To increase the size of your bathroom, try avoid white ceilings and opt for different tones to break up the monotony of the space. To do this, you can use different shades of the same colour on the bathroom ceiling – like Moon Shadow, or Grey Morn, which will also make the room feel airy, fresh and sophisticated,’ advises Will. Sally advises, ‘During the planning stages, really analyse whether or not you need a bigger bathroom space. Often simply reconfiguring the space or using clever design tricks can make a big difference. For example, consider moving doors or re-hanging them to provide better flow of the space- or perhaps even look at installing a pocket door so that it’s totally out of the way’       The post Budget bathroom ideas – 18 ways to update your washroom appeared first on Ideal Home.

Real Aldi Christmas trees are back from just £14.99 – get one while you can! Posted: 01 Dec 2021 02:00 AM PST Aldi has bought back its real Nordmann Fir Christmas trees –while stocks last. Grown sustainably on a plantation in the heart of Aberdeenshire, the Aldi Christmas trees are priced from just £14.99. Aldi's, small potted, medium and large Nordman Fir Christmas trees are available in-store while stocks last! Last year Aldi saw record sales of the British grown trees, with sales up by 25 per cent. This year the store expects the trees to sell-out even faster thanks to the real Christmas trees being half the price of competitors such as B&Q. This is the seventh year that Aldi has partnered with Lovania Nurseries, who will be supplying approximately 54,000 Nordman Firs in the lead up to the festive period. Real Aldi Christmas trees Aldi's hand-selected Nordman Fir Christmas trees will return to stores across the UK, with prices starting at only £14.99 for a medium tree (5-6ft) and £24.99 for a large tree (6-7ft). New for this year is the Pot Grown Nordman Fir Christmas Tree priced at £18.99. The little tree stands at just 3-4 ft high, it is small but mighty and can be looked after in the garden until next year. However, if space is still tight Bloom & Wild’s mini Christmas trees are a great alternative. Image credit: Aldi Nordmann Firs are famous for their strong needle retention, beautiful fresh scent and big, bushy branches. These qualities make the bargain Aldi trees outstanding value. ‘Thanks to our long-standing relationship with Lovania Nurseries, Aldi customers will soon be able to pick up a real Nordman Fir Christmas tree at everyday low prices.’ ‘Each tree is handpicked by the experts at Lovania before being carefully wrapped and delivered to store, so that our customers can be sure they are buying a tree of the highest quality, with that nostalgic fresh pine scent that is so firmly associated with the festive season’ said Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland. Caring for real Nordmann Fir trees ‘Nordmann Fir trees take at least seven years to grow, compared to around five for a Norway spruce.’ explains Lee Chambers, Head of Sales at Lovania Nurseries. ‘These extra few years allow the tree to develop its beautiful, dark green foliage and strong branches.’   To maintain the life-span of your Nordmann Fir, experts recommend cutting between one and two inches from the trunk of the tree. Do this as soon as you reach home, and stand it in a bucket of water overnight. By doing this you’ll allow for moisture to reach the branches much quicker. Helping to keep it fresher for longer. With Christmas decorating ideas already well underway these discounts couldn’t be better timed! Pick up your bargain real tree this week in Aldi. The post Real Aldi Christmas trees are back from just £14.99 – get one while you can! appeared first on Ideal Home.

Where to get a sofa delivery by Christmas - you could be sitting pretty in just 24 hours! Posted: 01 Dec 2021 02:00 AM PST Looking for a sofa with Christmas delivery? The colder weather is here, and that can only mean one thing; mince pies, mulled wine, and a whole host of festive visitors on the horizon! However, if the excitement of being able to entertain once more has now given way to the realisation that your home’s seating arrangements aren’t quite fit for purpose, you may well be wondering where you can get a new sofa in time for Christmas. We’ve pulled together our tried and tested favourite seating in our guide to the best sofas, but, Father Christmas operates on a strict timeframe, and with both sofas and sofa beds renowned for having long lead times – think 12-16 weeks on average – that doesn’t necessarily gel with the festive hosting you might have planned. But fear not, we’ve rounded up a list of our favourite furniture retailers that are still offering sofa delivery for Christmas – and many a lot sooner, with multiple options available in just 24 hours! Phew. At least that’s one thing to cross off the Christmas to-do list. The Barker and Stonehouse Purcell sofa can still be delivered well before Christmas Where to get a sofa delivery by Christmas Furniture Choice | 3-5 day delivery Furniture Choice is currently offering a good selection of sofa models with delivery in just 3-5 working days. Prices are also super affordable, with two-seater sofas starting from just £299, three-seaters from as little as £350, and recliner sofas available for under £500 – perfect for kicking back after Christmas lunch. View Deal Furniture Village | 7 or 14 day delivery A good selection of sofas – and sofa beds – available in just 7 or 14 days means that sofa shopping at the Furniture Village allows plenty of time to get seating sorted before the family descends for some festive fun. View Deal Barker and Stonehouse | 14 day delivery Barker and Stonehouse’s ready-to-deliver sofas can be with you in just two weeks, so as long as you order before the 12th of December you can treat yourself to a contemporary velvet three-seater, stylish scalloped cocktail sofa, or statement leather Chesterfield well before the big day. View Deal John Lewis | 7 day delivery John Lewis has a good selection of sofas with delivery by Christmas available, including options that can be with you in just 7 days. If you need a sofa that can work a little harder to make guests comfortable this festive season, then there are plenty of sofa beds you can buy in time for Christmas too. View Deal MADE | 7 day delivery In our experience, MADE’s delivery estimates can sometimes be a bit hit and miss, but the brand now has a wide selection of its contemporary sofas flagged as ‘express’ delivery, meaning seating is expected to arrive with you in under a week.  Just be aware that different upholstery options can have very different lead times. View Deal Oak furnitureland | 7 day delivery Oak furnitureland currently has a good selection of sofas available for delivery in just 7 days, including compact two-seaters, three-seaters, chaise options, and modular corner sofas that have room for all the family this Christmas. View Deal Snug | 24 hour delivery Sofa-in-a-box brand Snug offers stylish sofas and sofa beds with 24-hour next day delivery available Tuesday to Saturday as long as you order before 1pm. The super-simple to assemble flat-packed designs also make for stress-free delivery to rooms with awkward access. View Deal Swyft | 24 hour delivery Swyft offers flat-packed sofas and sofa beds that can be delivered in just 24 hours when you book before 3pm for next day delivery. We’ve done plenty of testing out of the brand’s range in our Swyft Model 03 sofa review and Swyft Model 04 sofa bed reviews, and if it’s quick and easy convenience you’re after we think they’re perfect for Christmas seating in a hurry! View Deal   Swyft sofa delivery by Christmas   If you need some more inspiration to help you choose the best sofa for your living room, then you’ll find plenty of help in our dedicated living rooms hub, including modern living room ideas, small living room ideas and – all importantly! – how to get your sofa measurements right, as well as some useful advice on your consumer rights when buying a sofa. The post Where to get a sofa delivery by Christmas - you could be sitting pretty in just 24 hours! appeared first on Ideal Home.

Outdated to wow! Tired bathroom gets a luxurious hotel-style makeover Posted: 01 Dec 2021 01:00 AM PST When they first viewed this house the buyers could see that the bathroom was a good size but that it required a complete update. A few months after getting the keys, they revamped the space with spectacular results. ‘There was an issue with the position of the waste pipes from the new bath, so we had to build extra box space to accommodate a new layout for the pipes’ recalls the owner. Before: Tired looking bathroom Photography: Anna Urban ‘Planning in advance is key and preparing yourself for delays’ they advise. ‘We had a two-month delay on the taps but our motto is good things are worth waiting for! If you can, buy your items as far in advance of the works as possible – this probably would have taken 10 days instead of two months if not for all the delays.’ But the new bathroom really was worth the wait… After: Luxurious hotel-style bathroom Image credit: Future PLC/ James French Wow, what a difference! 'Our bathroom reflects our love and appreciation of luxury interior design and modern glamour’ explains the homeowner. ‘We always wanted a hotel-like feel in the bathroom, and now staying at home feels like we've already checked in!' Design detail 1: Gloss chevron tiles Image credit: Future PLC/ James French The couple incorporated hexagonal matt black chevron wall tiles to create a more unusual pattern for the basin wall. A black gloss storage unit beneath adds to the hotel-chic feel. Design detail 2: Double mirrors Image credit: Future PLC/ James French A pair of mirrors with an unusual circular lighting design feature create a luxurious feel above the black marble basins and gold taps. ‘I love having a bath in here or doing my make-up in front of these mirrors’ exclaims the homeowner. ‘The fact that there are two of everything has even made brushing our teeth more sociable!’ Design detail 3: Gold taps Image credit: Future PLC/ James French Since their heyday in the 1970s, gold taps are back on the list of interior design must-haves for bathrooms. 'I've been a fan of gold taps for quite some time. My previous bath had gold hardware which I loved, so I knew how good they would look here. They make a real statement'. Wall mounted taps give more control over placement making it possible to create more space between the tap and basin. The waterfall effect of the water also creates an at-home spa feel. Design detail 4: Contemporary bath tub Image credit: Future PLC/ James French The modern egg shaped bath tub is the height of luxury. ‘We sacrificed having a shower, but we've got a separate shower room on the top floor, so it wasn’t essential.’ Marble floor tiles create a sense of luxury and drama – there are also cheaper, marble imitation tiles available if your budget doesn't stretch to the real deal. Design detail 5: Gold filler tap Image credit: Future PLC/ James French The couple choose a fabulous matching gold filler tap for the bath as well as a gold trim in between the tiles, which adds drama and opulence, as well as helping individual tiles to stand out. ‘Installation and plastering cost us around £1,700. We saved £1,000 by gutting the old bathroom, painting and tiling the mosaic wall ourselves.' The post Outdated to wow! Tired bathroom gets a luxurious hotel-style makeover appeared first on Ideal Home.

Crown Paints has created a colour palette inspired by the latest Disney film Posted: 30 Nov 2021 11:00 PM PST Picking paint colours can be incredibly hard. But Crown Paints has made things a whole lot easier with its new curation of palettes inspired by the vibrant world of Disney’s latest film Encanto. So, if you’re looking for some fun children’s room ideas, or want to give a tired hallway a revamp, the Crown Paints Encanto collection is a great place to start. Disney’s Encanto hit cinemas on November 24th. It tells the story of a remarkable family living in a place called Encanto. This magical world, high up in the Colombian mountains, is brimming with vibrant colours. Image credit: Crown Paints Crown Paints Encanto collection The leading paint manufacturers at Crown Paints have distilled the vibrant colours of Encanto into a set of paint hues. There are deep blues, mustard yellows and even a few neutrals (phew!). The palettes Crown Paints has curated are inspired by protagonist Mirabel, plus the three other main characters Antonio, Isabela, and Julieta. In the film, the use of colour reflects their individual characters. Image credit: Crown Paints Mirabel’s palette has dark and daring shades like Dark Navy, while Antonio’s is an array of gentle, natural tones inspired by the rainforest. From Gentle Olive to Khaki Twist, these green hues would work brilliantly if you wanted to incorporate a jungle mural into your boys’ bedroom ideas. Elsewhere, there are sunny yellows, like Mustard Jar and Sunrise. These are sure to brighten up other areas of the home, making for great hallway ideas. Neutral lovers will be happy to see there are some earthy tones like Picnic Basket and Powdered Clay. Perfect if you want to create a calm and soothing living space. Image credit: Crown Paint It can be overwhelming when you need to narrow down your options when it comes to paint colour. But Crown’s carefully selected range of paints inspired by the movie will help to create something uplifting and magical. Will you be giving your kids’ rooms or playrooms a Disney-themed revamp? The post Crown Paints has created a colour palette inspired by the latest Disney film appeared first on Ideal Home.

What is Facebook Portal and how does it work? Here's what you need to know... Posted: 30 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST Whether you’ve heard of Facebook Portal or not, pretty much everyone these days is well versed with video calling. That is, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two years. From catching up with friends and family or organising meetings when everyone is working from home, video calling has become to go-to form of communication when you want a more personal touch. Video calling is by no means a new way of speaking to people. Skype, Apple’s FaceTime and Zoom have been around for 18, 11 and 10 years respectively. But with Portal – originally launched by Facebook two years ago – the social media conglomerate’s version aims to make video calling an easier, smoother and altogether more enjoyable experience. What is Facebook Portal and how does it work? Image credit: Facebook Buy now: Facebook Portal Go, £149, Amazon In a nutshell, Facebook Portal is a video calling hub with built-in Alexa smart assistant. As Facebook – or as it’s now known, Meta – owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, they can all be accessed in various ways through a Portal device, but to use it, you need to have either a Facebook or WhatsApp account. There are four different devices to choose from, all with their various benefits, depending on your needs. Using Portal, you can make calls using WhatsApp, Facebook Messsenger or Zoom, with your call appearing on their phone, tablet, or – if they also have one – their Portal device. And when you’re not using it to call someone, Facebook Portal doesn’t just sit there with a blank, black screen. It can be used as a digital photo frame, displaying your favourite albums from your Facebook or Instagram account. What’s so good about Facebook Portal? The majority of video calling these days is done on smartphones or tablets. Aside from the awkwardness of having to hold your phone in one position throughout a call – invariably showing you at the most unflattering angles – the quality of calls on a mobile device are usually peppered with views of the ceiling and can even involve chasing small children around a room just so they can say hello to their grandparents. Portal frees your hands up from holding a screen when chatting to loved ones. It also has an ingenious wide-angled AI-powered camera that automatically zooms in or pans out to keep everyone in the frame. If you move when on a call, the camera will automatically follow you, even panning out to make sure it’s getting everything in the frame and no action is missed. It’s also super useful if – following the pandemic – you’re working from home a lot more. Using a Portal for work video calls frees up your laptop or desktop computer, allowing you to speak to colleagues without toggling between endless tabs. Image credit: Facebook Buy now: Facebook Portal TV, £79, Amazon What types of Facebook Portal are there? Portal comes in four formats: Portal, Portal TV, Portal Go and Portal+. The first two devices were launched originally back in 2019, while the latter two were added to the collection this year. The standard Facebook Portal device is mains operated and looks like a digital photo frame with a 10″ screen. Portal Go is a wireless version, again with a 10″ screen that you can move from room-to-room. Portal TV is a small device, rather like a web cam, that sits either above or below your TV screen and connects to your television, converting it into a large video screen. Finally Portal+ is a supersize stand-alone device with a larger 14″ tilting display. All four have the same connectivity, allowing you to call anyone with a Facebook or WhatsApp account. Prices range from £79 for the Portal TV, right up to £299 for the Portal+, but they’re often are available with as much as 50% off, so keep an eye out for discounts if you’re keen to invest in one (or more). What about security? Facebook is no stranger to scrutiny with regards to people’s personal security, so the company has been very careful to include a number of safety features to ensure peace of mind with Portal in your home. For starters, the flick of a switch disables the microphone and camera, while all four devices also feature an integrated camera cover so you know for sure that you’re safe from view. A red light beside the lens makes it clear when both are disabled. Meanwhile, like WhatsApp, all calls have the option of end-to-end encryption, meaning that they can’t be listened to, recorded or hacked into. Related: Best wireless security cameras – the top wifi cameras for keeping your home safe Image credit: Facebook Buy now: Facebook Portal, £79, Amazon Is there a monthly fee for Facebook Portal? Thankfully, no. Once you have bought the device, Portal is completely free to use, provided you have a Facebook or WhatsApp account (but again, these too are free of charge). Can you watch TV and Netflix on Facebook Portal? Yes and no. Portal TV is the only device you can stream content on. Portal TV lets you watch shows and video content via the company’s video-on-demand service, Facebook Watch. You can watch these in tandem with a call so you and the person you’re speaking to can comment on them. Other streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video are available on Portal TV, as are music streaming services like Spotify and Deezer. With Portal TV you can also watch movies, tv shows or videos in tandem with friends and family, seeing their reactions in real time. If for whatever reason you can’t be together, it’s the next best thing. Image credit: Facebook Buy now: Facebook Portal+, £299, Amazon What other benefits are there? Much like Messenger and Instagram, Portal has a host of augmented reality effects to avail of through the Photo Booth feature. You can be a kitten, a bunny rabbit, play games… all via Messenger calls. The oh-so-clever Story Time feature is perfect for reading your child a bedtime story with a difference. Choose from a selection of stories to tell and watch the story come to life around you as you speak. Built-in Alexa allows you to call up your favourite music, check the weather, set timers and control your other smart home devices. Facebook Portal is available now from Amazon and Currys, priced from £149. The post What is Facebook Portal and how does it work? Here's what you need to know... appeared first on Ideal Home.

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