Indholdsfortegnelse for Mindful Home i Mindful Home

How does your home make you feel? Perhaps you feel anxious about the mountain of chores you’ve got to do? Frustrated that there just isn’t enough storage? Or annoyed by the lack of space? However you feel about your home, we’d put money on the fact that it doesn’t make you feel calm or content most of the time. And that’s because we put more demands on ourselves, and our homes, than ever before. Whether we’re rushing to fold the washing at the same time as cooking dinner, or we’re checking our emails while watching TV, we’ve become experts at multitasking in every aspect of our lives. In fact, so many of us now use our phones while we’re watching TV that channels are racing to develop interactive apps that…

invoking the elements Emphasise wood elements through furniture, bamboo, wooden accessories and houseplants. Represent water with water features like small water fountains, blue vases, and mirrors – but not in your bedroom or behind your desk. Draw out the earth element with rock crystals, salt lamps and clay or terracotta accessories. Use metal accents in vases, picture frames, light fixtures and tasteful accessories. Highlight the fire element with red shades, fireplaces, or candles – but be careful not to go overboard with scents, as this can hinder good energy.…

There’s so much information out there on minimalism that it’s hard to separate the good from the not-so-good. We’ve done the hard work for you. Below you’ll find some of the best resources on living a minimalist lifestyle – so you can get inspired to make the change. ZEN HABITS (ZENHABITS.NET) Leo Babauta shares musings on everything from morning routines that make early starts smoother, to the benefits of paring back your possessions to just the essentials. He also runs a habit programme, Sea Change, which motivates those who join it to make positive changes grounded in minimalism to their lives. THE MINIMALISTS (THEMINIMALISTS.COM) Run by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, The Minimalists is a long-running blog that gives advice and step-by-step guides to every area of minimalism. Log…

Bedrooms can become a dumping ground for clutter, because they are usually a space that guests rarely see. If you share your bedroom, try to tackle the decluttering together – you have shared ownership of the room so you should share the responsibility. Take a look at your bedroom. What kinds of clutter are you dealing with? Dirty or clean laundry can be a sign that you need to work on your chore routines. It also shows that you need space to put away clothes. Junk on bedside tables needs to be addressed. Do you really need these things immediately on waking, or can they have more efficient storage solutions? Pull out categories of clutter: shoes, clothes, underwear, books and so on. It will be less overwhelming and you get…

There’s a reason we fling open the curtains in the morning and crave a daylight fix after eight hours in an artificially lit office. All those kitchen extensions with bi-fold doors, open-plan living spaces and dormer-windowed loft conversions aren’t just about increasing the space in our homes, they’re about flooding it with natural light. In a world where we spend up to 90% of our waking hours indoors (according to the National Human Pattern Activity Survey), we’re searching for feel-good rays of sunshine on a grey day – even if that means looking at them through a window from the comfort of our sofa. We’re biologically hardwired to respond to the light around us, which means the decision to place a dressing table by the bedroom window, say, or light…

Are you always vowing to get fitter, but never seem to make it to the gym? Or do you really want to read more books, but then can’t quite find the time? With our busy lives, we’re all guilty of making excuses for not being able to find time for new activities and hobbies, but what if getting fitter or reading more could ultimately make you feel happier, calmer and more in control of your life? The great news is that almost everything you would love to do more of, from reading books and exercising to crafting and cooking, can be done in your home. And let’s be honest, we’re much more likely to commit to a potential hobby or pastime if we don’t have to go out, or even…

Despite our constantly ‘switched-on’ digital lives, we’re still in love with physical books. And it’s not just the joy of finding somewhere quiet to read them that we love, either – we’re talking surrounding ourselves with books to create libraries in our homes. There’s hard evidence singing the praises of home libraries. Children who come from homes with books do better in school, and in general life, than those without. A recent survey of 160,000 adults in 31 countries concluded that teens growing up in a home with a sizeable home library (at least 80 books) has a large effect on literacy in later life. The paper, titled Scholarly Culture: How Books in Adolescence Enhance Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Technology Skills in 31 Societies, discovered that teenagers with only lower…

“We live in a new-build and when we moved in, it was like having a blank canvas to play with. As it’s the first thing you see when entering the house, I knew I wanted the hallway to be a bright and happy space that shows off our personalities. I decided to paint the walls white to keep the area bright and then add a gallery wall to provide pops of colour. I’m a big fan of the Dalmatian trend at the moment, which is why I decided to add spots to the stairs. It was so easy to do – I painted the stairs white, bought some Dalmatian print wall decals (from Bairn Designs on Etsy) and stuck them to the vertical risers. The space is eclectic and cheerful…

“When we bought our 1930s house, the living room was very dated – patterned carpets, yellow curtains, nasty Anaglypta wallpaper and hideous gas fireplace. At first we painted the fireplace wall in Farrow &Ball’s Off Black, but the minute it was finished, I knew the whole room had to go dark. The decorator was sceptical until he saw the results! I love the almost chalky black finish, which has a decadent, masculine feel to it. We kept the fireplace and skirting white for contrast. It’s generally a very monochrome room but ideally I’d like to replace the rug with something that has a bit of colour. We’re looking to replace the sofas with something in dark velvet; as we now have a puppy as well as a child, the light…

“Previously the kitchen was a small square, hosting a large chimney breast and external door. M² Developments (msq-dev.com) removed the chimney breast and wall separating the original kitchen and dining room, and extended the kitchen in line with the dining room. We spent lots of time measuring to ensure we had space for an island and dining table without compromising on the space between the island and kitchen cabinets. The last thing you want is to open an oven door or dishwasher and bump into an island. Ideally, I wanted an eight-to ten-seat dining table, but I’ve had to compromise on one that we can extend and move when there’s more than six for tea. Cabinet-wise, making sure we had enough without overcrowding was key. Our house was built in…

“We live in a barn conversion that was rented out before, and this bathroom used to be extremely bland – white-on-white with a tiny mosaic border tile. Our revamp was done on a budget, so we kept the bath, fitted vanity and loo, then made panelling ourselves, using wood from B&Q, to frame the bath. Painting the new panelling and existing units in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue brought it all together, then I went for a real pop of colour with the Thibaut Jelly Fish Bloom paper. Our two-year-old daughter loves splashing about in the roll-top bath, which I painted in a colour-matched coral shade by Valspar, and the ceramic floor tiles can handle any overspill. My advice to anyone considering bold colour is to go with what…

“When we first moved into our one-bedroom flat, the walls in here were classic magnolia with a mocha brown feature wall behind the bed – okay, but not our style. After painting our lounge in Farrow and Ball’s Railings and loving it, I decided to go dark in the bedroom, too. I chose Down Pipe because it looks dark green in certain lights. Using a monochrome paint scheme gives the flexibility to change the feel of the room by switching the colour of the bedding, cushions and artwork. There was originally going to be a gallery wall above our bed, but once I’d put two pictures up, I decided I liked the simplicity. Our modern flat lacks architectural features but using dark paint has given the rooms character. I wanted…

STEP 1: GET COMFY Find a quiet spot in your house where you won’t be disturbed. Leave your phone in another room and make sure you’re dressed in comfy clothes – no skinny jeans for this one! STEP 2: FIND YOUR POSE There’s no right or wrong way to get in the zone. You might like sitting cross-legged on a cushion on the floor, upright in a chair or lying down. Try out a few positions and see what works best for you. STEP 3: BREATHE MORE DEEPLY Close your eyes and take ten deep breaths in through your nose and then out through your mouth. Concentrate on taking your breath all the way down into your abdomen. STEP 4: FOCUS ON YOUR SENSES As you continue to breathe deeply,…

PLANTS Plants are well-known for their health-giving properties. As well as filtering toxins in the air, they’re a great way to balance the energy of your home. Not so green-fingered? Opt for easy-to-care-for varieties like cacti, succulents, spider plants and devil’s ivy. Add plants to every room, including bathrooms and kitchens to spread the energy. PERSONAL TREASURES Feng shui isn’t about creating a minimalist haven – you should be filling your home with things you love and give you positive feelings. Hang bright, cheerful prints or your favourite photographs on your wall, and proudly display trinkets you love to look at. These invoke happy, warm memories that help create a happy home environment. FRAGRANCE Incense and essential oils like lavender, ylang ylang and rosemary have purifying properties and can evoke…

Denmark has been top of the UN’s World Happiness Report time and time again since it began, with its Scandinavian neighbours Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland not too far behind. A big part of this is because of the various benefits Danish citizens enjoy: a strong welfare state, free healthcare and education, good holiday entitlement and generous maternity and paternity policies. But much can be said for the Danes’ hygge approach to life, too. Homes built with hygge in mind are places to de-stress after a hard day at work. Friends and family come together for hyggeligt gatherings – from picnics in the park to casual dinners hosted at home. And with hygge-inducing outdoor activities like walking and cycling popular, the Danes are getting their share of fresh air and…

Clutter is simply having more stuff than we use, need or have space for. For someone who regularly wears and loves high heels, 15 pairs may not be clutter; for someone who never does, even one pair is. It isn’t the same as untidiness, although when a home is cluttered, it is virtually impossible to keep tidy. And often it accumulates over a period, so you may not notice just how bad it’s become until a transitional time such as moving house or redecorating. why declutter? Besides being difficult to live amongst physically, dealing with clutter on a daily basis can affect other areas of your life and be very draining on a personal level. If simple admin tasks mean long hunts for relevant documents, or you end up missing…

Take into account your use of the room. Our homes are personal, and the way we use a room is as well. Your living room might be the heart of the house, where you relax and spend family time, or you may centre your social time around the kitchen, meaning that the living room is a more formal space or only used in the evening. When you begin your decluttering journey in the living room, take a moment to observe where the pinch points are. Where does clutter accumulate and what does this clutter consist of? Depending on how you best work, put some music on and start the hard work. Begin by removing items that do not belong in the living room. When you are faced with a tricky…

A child’s room is their safe space, and the things children surround themselves with are often attached with high emotional significance, even if we can’t see it. Thanks to generous relatives, we and our children can get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of ‘stuff ’. Playtime in a room can be spent looking for one thing hidden among clutter and things they truly don’t care about. You undoubtedly will encounter a certain level of reluctance when decluttering with children, but there are a number of ways to combat this. You can usually declutter on behalf of children under the age of three. You know their favourites, and can hide or hold on to items for a while to ensure they won’t be missed. Older children should be included in decluttering…

We’ve all seen them. Those people who seem astonishingly organised. People who can instantly lay their hands on a pack of batteries, an elastic band or some leftover euros, because they know the exact location of every little thing in their home. Well, it’s those people, let us tell you, who are doing it right. Having an organised home – where everything has a place to live and is always living there – comes with benefits that extend far beyond being able to find things quickly. In order to achieve this almighty feat, we’re breaking it down for you, from storage solutions to sensible shopping. So follow our simple guide, and take control of your home, before your home takes control of you. how an organised home can make your…

Unless you’re living in a cold home, you might not realise the impact it can have on your health, both physically and mentally. Those living in homes heated to under 18°C, especially the elderly, have an increased risk of health issues like heart attacks, strokes, flu and falls, and it’s also dangerous for those with heart or lung diseases. A review of fuel poverty by Public Health England in 2014 referenced two studies that found links between cold homes and poor mental health. In one, an increase in room temperature was associated with a reduced likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety (Warm Front, Sheffield Hallam University Centre for Regional Social and Economic Research, 2008). In another, young people in cold homes were more at risk of developing multiple symptoms of…

No matter the size, shape or location of your home, it’s the single part of the world where you have complete control of your surroundings. One of the biggest joys of moving in to a new place is the anticipation of decorating, and the prospect of starting from scratch to create a space that works perfectly for you. With excitement, many people dive straight onto Pinterest for décor inspiration. While this can be useful, your first step should really be with yourself. How do you want to feel in your space? What will you be doing there? A mindful home is one where you feel connected to nature, where your mind has space to breathe, and where you can focus on the present moment. We’ve gathered four simple ways to…

Nothing says ‘welcome to our home’ like a beautifully decorated hallway. In our dreams (and Pinterest pin-boards), the ideal entrance is bright and airy, complete with perfectly positioned coat hooks and an artfully curated gallery wall. The reality is often more along the lines of a dark, narrow passage, with too many doorways and a shoe mountain to rival Ben Nevis. Navigating guests into your inner sanctum may require carabiners and crampons. If this is your current situ, fear not. With a little jiggery-pokery (okay, Kondo-grade clearout) and some smart decorating tricks, the dingiest of hallways can be morphed into a welcoming space that makes you feel happy to be home. While the general rule that there’s no such thing as too much storage holds true, in a spatially challenged…

Open-plan living may be trendier than gold pineapples and flamingoes combined, but the smart DIYer leaves one or two walls intact. And here’s why. You may yearn for a sociable hub that brings the whole family together but, trust us, one day (maybe every day), having a quiet sanctuary to escape the hustle will seem heaven sent. It’s also a room where the kids can crank the telly up to full volume without ruining your coffee break, not forgetting the number-one role of the living room: sofa-surfing your way through a Netflix binge. Plan the layout of your living room by establishing a focal point. The beautifully framed fireplace is a popular contender, preferably with a real wood-burner (much more efficient than an open fire). A stunning piece of art…

The main motivation for combining cooking and dining is to be more sociable. The dream is mummy and/or daddy blissfully knocking up the spag bol, while their little cherubs work earnestly on their homework at the dining table. Or, even more compelling, knocking up the cocktails while glamorous friends gather in awe of your Tom Cruise skills. Bliss! So, how to make the fantasy come true? The most obvious requirement is space. There are many ways to shoehorn dining facilities into a kitchen, from clever drop-down tables (try Ikea) to simple bar stools at an island. But if you want a room filled with Boden catalogue grade bonhomie, there needs to be plenty of room to manoeuvre in both kitchen and dining area. It’s hard to feel #blessed when you…

Above all, your family bathroom needs to be practical. There must be storage, especially if dozens of plastic toys are still a part of the bathtime routine. And all surfaces must be easy to clean and devoid of nasty little germ-trapping crevices. However, this does not mean it has to be personality free and lacking in street style. Family bathrooms, whether or not you are sprogged-up, should uplift the spirit in the morning, and help you to relax and unwind at the end of the day. According to design experts, the key to a successful bathroom is space. A bit of a blow given that the average UK family bathroom shimmies in at a paltry two metres square. Recognising that the daily benefits are worth sacrificing occasional-use guest accommodation, many…

Once upon a time in the bathroom world, it was all about hotel style: a statement bathtub, bling brassware, fluffy white towels and chic metro tiles. A decade on and we’re escaping to more rustic retreats. Inspired by the spas of Bali, treatment rooms found in sheds, and a focus on creating tranquil spaces at home, the bathroom has become our own wellbeing sanctuary. And it’s a much more natural affair. “There have been lots of conversations about wellness and mindfulness,” says Sarah O’Sullivan, partner and designer at the Home Design Studio, John Lewis & Partners (johnlewis.com), “and how we can bring this into our home, including in the bathroom. We’re all looking for that sanctuary to unwind in, a place to detach and do those mindful rituals to help…

“Mismatched, boring and uninspiring is how I’d describe our old bedroom, with the worst ‘fitted’ wardrobes ever. I wanted it to be little sanctuary. Colour-wise, I chose Pea Green from Little Greene for its harmonious feel, and made the bed a feature. I kept my vintage dressing table, added a vintage chair, and a pelmet over the new curtains in a nod to the 1970s. Hanging the pendants either side of the bed gives the effect of the wall being framed. It anchors the space and means I don’t need a large bedside table to accommodate a lamp. The wardrobes are Ikea’s Pax system that I had a builder plaster around to make them seamless like fitted wardrobes. Then they were painted in the same Pea Green before fitting brass…

“We live in an early 1900s semi, and my office is the smallest of five bedrooms. It was my husband’s office but, on a whim, I decided we should swap. As it’s a space that’s just for me, I went wild with colour and pattern. I took inspiration for my palette from various items I planned to use, including a rug, table lamp and storage trolley. I created a feature on each wall using different decorating techniques. On this one, I painted stripes using a laser level and masking tape, and this became the base for my ever-changing gallery wall. I work here pretty much every day. When designing a home office, be brave with décor, especially if you’re using it as a creative space. Change things around regularly so…

It’s no secret we’re in a climate emergency. The way we consume things like fashion, food and homewares is unsustainable. According to research by the Reuse Network (reuse-network.org.uk), ten million household items are sent to landfill every single year. But what if we were to do things a little differently and learn to love our things for longer? Upcycling is not a new concept in itself. Taking something that has seen better days and giving it a new lease of life has long been used by people as a creative way of making do or making something completely unique. For Elizabeth Morris (@ElizabethDotDesign on Instagram), it was something she was aware of from a young age: “Throughout my childhood, my mum was often updating items around the house, repurposing furniture…

pattern FOUNDATION ROW: Ch 125, 1 tr in 4th ch from hook, 1 tr in each st to end, turn. (123 sts) ROW 1: ch 3, (counts as 1 tr and 1ch), skip 1 st, *1 tr in next 19 sts, ch 1, skip 1 st**; rep from * to ** 5 times more, 1 tr in last st (in top of turning ch), turn. NOTE: Each ch1-sp also counts as 1 st, so when you reach a ch1-sp you will work 1 tr into this, just as you would if it were a stitch (insert your hook into the space when you are working the stitch and not into the chain itself). ROW 2: ch 2 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr in next 18 sts (working 1st tr…

When you think of a mindful, healthy home, what is it you picture? For us, it’s a home free of clutter, decorated simply but tastefully, and filled with things we love. We’re well aware that a clean, bright home where everything has its place makes us feel better, and thanks to the rise of minimalism and decluttering – made popular by Marie Kondo – we’re more mindful than ever in the West about how our homes make us feel. Some of the biggest trends of modern times are inspired by Eastern countries like China and Japan. You’ve probably heard of wabi sabi, the Japanese idea of embracing imperfection. It’s commonly associated with kintsugi, the practice of mending broken pottery with gold. In our homes, it’s the mismatched living room furniture…

The Western world has a rich tradition of trends in the home. Even now, people in the UK still live with the remnants of Victorian home life, like keeping separate front rooms despite the growing popularity of open-plan living. We’ve also clung to other trends from that period: bold prints seen in floral wallpaper, and beautiful Victorian patterned floor tiles are back in people’s homes as we decorate with maximalism in mind, and the recent move towards dark interiors also draws parallels from the era. It’s not just 19th-century Britain we draw on in our home lives, though. More prominently, we’re looking to the likes of the United States and its love of open-plan living to create social spaces that allow us to better host at home. And while low-cost,…

Do you feel like you have too much stuff? When kitchen cupboards are full to the brim, children’s toys litter the floor, and paperwork covers every surface, you might also find yourself coincidentally feeling overwhelmed by the tasks, obligations and choices of day-to-day life. When burnout starts to rear its ugly head, simplifying might be the solution to a too-busy lifestyle – and what better place to start than in your home? The saying ‘a messy home is a messy mind’ might be clichéd, but it’s true: our surroundings have a big impact on how we feel and how we think. Do you feel relaxed when you’re surrounded by mess? Can you focus when your desk is cluttered at work? We’re guessing the answer to both those questions is no.…

Strong bin bags for obvious rubbish and recycling. At least four different boxes marked ‘Charity’, ‘Friends’, ‘Sell’, and ‘Keep’. (When you’ve filled them, be sure to action these boxes promptly rather than leaving them sitting there for weeks. Anything you keep also needs to be put away properly). A shredder for personal paperwork that you no longer need. A file with different sections (car, home insurance and so on), so important documents can be filed immediately rather than shifted around. A suitcase, clothes protector bags and scented sachets for seasonal wardrobe decluttering.…

Your kitchen should work for you. Ask yourself what you use it for. Do your children do homework there, or do you entertain in the kitchen? Keeping the kitchen decluttered, clean and tidy is a challenge as so many activities can take place there. Take a look at your kitchen. Are the countertops full of gadgets you rarely use, or are you struggling under mountains of washing up? This may seem overwhelming but start with one area at a time – one drawer, one cupboard – and give yourself time to sort properly. Organise like with like and ask yourself: is this a duplicate? A cluttered kitchen means you cannot find that one thing you need to make dinner, and you may end up buying another one when at the…

There are so many benefits to having a clean home. It keeps you physically healthy, reduces stress and allows your mind to breathe. But did you also know that there can be benefits to the process of cleaning itself? Engaging in mindful cleaning combines meditation and housework in one, enabling you to relax, unwind and tune in to the present, all while getting your chores done. Cleaning can have a profound impact on both your physical and mental health. The main reason why we clean, of course, is to get rid of germs. The cleaner our space, the fewer germs we’ll have lurking around, and the less likely we are to get sick. This is especially important if you have babies or young children – little hands crawling on the…

Whether you’re revamping your family home, you’ve just moved in with your partner or you’re sharing with friends, gather the household together for a decorating brainstorm and tackle your project as a team. A study by the Happiness Research Institute found that one of the key emotions linked to our home happiness is pride. If everyone involved makes design decisions, picks up a paintbrush and shops around for the perfect cushions, the sense of pride in the end result will be greater and shared by all. Investing time into your home allows you to form a closer connection with the space, making it feel more like ‘home’ and therefore more like a mindful haven. The very thought may fill you with dread, but letting your kids help decorate can come…

If you’ve ever tried meditation or mindfulness, then you’ll probably have been asked to clear all of your thoughts by concentrating on each of your senses in turn. The idea is to focus on what you can feel, hear, taste, smell and see in that particular moment. By acknowledging what our five senses are experiencing, we’re said to let go of unwanted thoughts and bring ourselves back into the here and now. But achieving this kind of clarity in day-to-day life is easier said than done, especially when there are piles of washing to be done and meals to be cooked. Luckily, by making small changes to the way we interact with our homes, we can create spaces that will soothe each of our five senses. Making your home somewhere…

Our homes are becoming greener in every sense. Scroll through Instagram and you’ll see spider plants hanging above baths, cheese plants given quirky names, and carefully curated collections of succulents. “Our lives are becoming faster; we want (and get) instant gratification for the things we do online,” says Judith de Graaff of urbanjunglebloggers.com and co-author of Urban Jungle: Living & Styling with Plants. “But taking care of houseplants keeps us grounded and slows us down. We learn patience as plants don’t grow a new flower in seconds, taking weeks or even months to bloom or grow a new leaf.” Instagrammer Mimi Jenkins of @plantlovinghome believes there’s something about having living greenery within the house: “It just gives you a feel-good factor, especially when not much plant life is surviving outside.”…

“The front door leads into our hallway but we rarely use that entrance, even for guests, as all our parking is to the side of the house. A few years ago we went open plan, blocking up redundant doorways from the hallway in the process and leaving a big bare wall. I collected lots of mostly black and white photos of family, past and present, and then used black frames to create a gallery wall. It shows the interesting lives and characters in my family: military uniforms, fashion shows, weddings, my late mother through the decades, and photos of our children. I believe that your house should tell your story, not look fresh from a catalogue. Inspired by a Lisa Giles painting, I painted the wall bright green. The other…

“We purposefully sought out a 1970s home – I love their big, boxy rooms and large windows – but this ground floor room was too small and gloomy, so we extended it by three metres, going double-height, and adding windows on three sides. Full-width bi-fold doors open onto the garden. I’m a fan of mid-century design, thus the ceiling in the new section of the lounge is teak panelling, and I created a new 1950s-style fireplace using Staffordshire blue bricks and an asymmetrical chimney breast. The flooring is reclaimed Afzelia wood parquet. This all made the perfect backdrop for my mid-century furniture and ceramics. The walls are Conch Parade by Valspar.” Instagram: @bo.fentum.design; bofentumdesign.com…

“We kept the solid oak kitchen that was here when we bought the house – a ten-year-old new-build. It was beautifully handmade, solid and the layout worked. To breathe new life into it, we painted the units in French Grey Pale and the island in Dark Lead by Little Greene. We also replaced the busy worktops with sleek quartz and solid European oak. I kept the overall palette neutral and timeless, then added a splash of colour with the bright pink velvet sofa from Sofa.com. It’s a great space for busy family life, but also perfect for parties. The one downside is trying to keep the kitchen tidy when we’re entertaining, but the sink is tucked away in the corner so at least the dirty dishes don’t get stacked on…

“We live in the principle wing of a Victorian country house. Originally this room had a separate toilet opposite and the décor was dated. We joined the loo room and bathroom together to make a bigger space. There’s now a walk-in shower where the loo was and the toilet has moved into the bathroom, which is much more practical when you have children. I wanted a classic bathroom that wouldn’t date, so marble ticks that box. I’d seen the hexagon tiles in Berners Tavern in Soho and tracked them down to Fired Earth. While the style is very much my domain, it does work well for all the family – we have three sons – the underfloor heating is a dream and everybody loves the bath. Water does go everywhere…

The space above your headboard is prime decoration real estate: the perfect chance to show off your picture gallery game, go mad with macramé or unroll a panel of your favourite (but too expensive to go all-out) wallpaper. Use Command Strips for speed and the sake of your walls, especially if you rent, and don’t be afraid to try ideas out. Only you, and your partner, will suffer your artistic fails, and even wallpaper is easy to switch out if you buy Peel and Stick (try Spoonflower). The master bedroom is often the last room we decorate, behind the kids’ rooms, kitchen and, definitely, the bathroom. To be fair, we’ve got our eyes shut for 90% of the time we’re in there, so it’s not surprising it gets left until…

With a record high of 58% of employees in the UK being offered flexible working at the end of 2019, the pressure is on to carve out office space in the home. Or is it? According to a customer survey by John Lewis & Partners, 19% of respondents admitted to working from their living room rather than a dedicated home office, rising to 30% for those with children. And it’s not just because precious few of us have a room going spare. The truth is, it’s far nicer to tap away at the laptop in a large, sunny lounge than holed up in a north-facing, junk-filled room. Wireless internet and portable screens mean we can hot-desk around the home depending on the time of day, who is in residence or…

“I live in a four-bedroom 1960s house in East Sussex with my husband and two children. I had a desk in the spare bedroom but felt shut off from the rest of the house, and it was hard to keep an eye on the children when they used the computer. We had space in our kitchen-diner so decided to dedicate a working area here instead. We can all use the space without feeling tucked away. The only con is that it needs to be kept relatively tidy otherwise it can make the room look messy! We used wood panelling as a backdrop then added rustic touches to tie it all in with the rest of the kitchen. I use it every day. It’s important to make a work space inspiring,…

pattern cushion Cast on 73 sts. ROW 1: K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end. Row 1 forms moss stitch pattern. Repeat this row until 5 rows have been worked. Beg with a K row, work in st st until work measures 30cm from cast on edge, ending on a RS row. front ROW 1 (RS): K1, *P7, K1, rep from * to end. ROW 2: P1, *K7, P1, rep from * to end. ROW 3: K2, *P5, K3, rep from * to last 7 sts, P5, K2. ROW 4: P2, *K5, P3, rep from * to last 7 sts, K5, P2. ROW 5: K3, *P3, K5, rep from * to last 6 sts, P3, K3 ROW 6: P3, *K3, P5, rep from * to last 6 sts, K3,…

Lavender is an incredibly useful plant to have in your window box or garden. The name comes from the Latin word ‘lavare’, which means ‘to wash’, and the plant has long been used to treat ailments such as toothache, insect bites and minor burns. However, in addition to its beautiful smell, perhaps its most well-known benefit is its ability to help us to de-stress and sleep soundly. According to research, lavender slows down the nervous system, decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure, helping you to fall asleep. These little lavender bags are really quick to make, and ideal for popping under pillows, freshening up your wardrobe or drawers, or giving them as sweet little favours for bridesmaids. Simply scrunch every once in a while to release more of the…