Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Your Home

As the new year comes into view, I can’t wait to get started on some décor updates in my home! Thankfully, we have lots to inspire this month, from the 2022 trends we are most excited about (p53) to the savvy ideas in our three real hallway makeovers (from p40). I just love the warm welcome that Chloe has created in her green entryway (and her low-cost trick for a bespoke stair runner). If you’re still looking for the perfect Christmas decorations, or need some last-minute gifts, then flip to page 30 for 90 budget-friendly decs and keep reading to page 36 for build-your-own-hamper ideas. The seasonal inspiration continues with our Trend Alert (p20), which is tailor-made for this time of year – rich reds and decadent purples that look…

Bo-ho buy I recently purchased a little table from a local charity shop for £7.50 and an end-roll of wallpaper for £1. I upcycled it using paint I already had and some wax to seal it. I also decoupaged the top and the drawer. I’m really pleased with the result – and all for £8.50. Sarah Swift, Stoke-on-Trent Michelle, Features Editor says: Using what you already have is a great way to refresh a find on a budget. Especially when it looks as lovely as this, Sarah! Perfectly panelled Inspired by beautiful interior images each month in Your Home, we set to work to create a panelled feature wall in our bedroom. We are delighted with the result and so pleased we challenged ourselves to do this. Victoria Gray, Durham…

Beldray wet and dry handheld vacuum cleaner, £30, Wilko Weighing less than 1kg, this cordless vacuum makes light work of cleaning up dust and debris around your home. Great on skirting, coving and shelves, it will return them to sparkling condition with the crevice and brush attachments, which you can use on wet spills as well. On a full charge, the vacuum lasted for about 20 minutes and was quiet too, though the suction could have been stronger as it took a few attempts to pick up dirt from a woollen rug. Shark cordless HandVac CH950UKT handheld vacuum £59, AO.com Lightweight and stylish, this vacuum earns its price tag. The motorised turbo tool is great at picking up pet hair off the carpet and sofa. However, some longer…

MINI TREND October Mist Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year for 2022, October Mist, is a refreshing shade of sage inspired by the silver-green stem of a flower. Introduce spring freshness into your home with this rejuvenating hue, which offers a soothing balance to navy or darker interiors in the form of a statement armchair, ceramic accessories and prints. It also harmonises well with neutral schemes, as seen here with this mellow striped bedding from IKEA. LET THERE BE LIGHT Illuminate your kitchen island or dining table with a pair of Amini large pendant lights from Iconic Lights, priced £56 each. The golden underside of the lamp will cast a warming glow across your space while the matt black exterior provides a chic style update. Hang low for an intimate…

O Christmas TREE Choose a look – classic, rustic or glam – or mix and match to dress your tree with eclectic charm Sparkle all THE WAY Glow-up and create a magical scene of twinkly lights and cosy candles Eat, drink & BE MERRY Dress to impress with special tableware and glitzy details for an unforgettable festive feast Not a creature WAS STIRRING Swap your usual cushions with a Yuletide design for a snug Christmas Eve Santa’s LITTLE HELPER Set-up your own workshop and create handmade gifts and decorations over the festive season Find more must-haves for your Christmas table on page 116.…

THE DETAILS WALLPAPER £80 PAINT £80 WOOD £35 CONSOLE TABLE £29 LIGHTING £36 ACCESSORIES £260 TOTAL £520 SHOPPING LIST Asteroid wallpaper in Muted Tones, £42 per roll, Lust Home. Walls painted in flat matt in Sunday Soul, £42 for 2.5L, Coat Paints. Panelling made from 2.1m x 32mm x 12mm smooth planed spruce stick timber, £2.27 each; coat hooks made from 0.81m x 0.41m x 9mm MDF, £10.47, both B&Q. Vittsjo laptop table, £29; Kvadratur brass wire pendant, £17; Solklint ceiling lamp, £19, Snabum door mat, £5; Skanderup rug, £49; Gradvis pink vase, £8; Bangbula hooks, £1.50 for two; Sjalsligt green ornaments, £15 for three; Fejka artificial potted plant, £6, all IKEA. Monochrome paper storage basket, £15; Elements 55cm round wall mirror, £22; for a similar throw try Jenson herringbone…

THE DETAILS PAINT £102 TILE STICKERS £14 COAT HOOKS £54 BENCH £150 LIGHT SHADES £24 CONSOLE TABLE £40 ACCESSORIES £189 TOTAL £573 SHOPPING LIST Stair risers painted in GoodHome Durable Matt Emulsion in Hyogo, £13 per 2.5L, B&Q; Mint Macaroon and Gentle Lavender, both £18 per 2.5L, both Dulux. Walls painted in Rich Black, £18 per 2.5L, Dulux. Wood stain in Dark Oak, £10 per 250ml, Ronseal. Bench, £150, Homebase. Light shades, £12 each, Matalan. Coat hooks, £17.99 each, HomeSense. Console table, £40, B&M. Floor tile stickers, £14 for 10, Dunelm. Blue trunk, £37.99, BTFY.com. Ashram eye cushion, £19, Furn.…

ADD WARM WOOD TONES, especially in a scheme with plenty of monochrome, as it has the potential to feel stark. BE BRAVE WITH CONTRAST HUES. Teal and green aren’t the most obvious pairing, but together they make more of a statement than one colour. USE EVERY INCH OF WALL SPACE. Every wall of my hallway and landing has something on it, be it a hook, print or a shelf, so no areas feel bare or unused. REPURPOSE EXISTING FURNITURE. Rather than replacing everything, think about how you could update it. I was going to get rid of my console table, but now it’s been repainted I love it.…

When Anthea first moved into this house, the bathroom was downstairs and there was a tiny shower room upstairs, which didn’t suit the family at all. ‘The shower was located next to a small bedroom, so it was easy to see that with a change of floorplan, we could use the bedroom space to create a large bathroom upstairs,’ explains Anthea. ‘My starting point was a piece of squared paper,’ Anthea says, adding ‘I always like to draw my designs out to scale to see if they’ll work.’ Anthea checked that the bedroom wall wasn’t load-bearing and then contracted a builder to take care of the entire project, including managing the plumbing, electrics and plastering. ‘Everyone in the house leads busy lives, so this seemed like the best approach to…

We all need a sanctuary we can escape to, tucked away from other people and the outside world: a sacred place to luxuriate in. For many of us, the bathroom is a welcome retreat, a place to find some privacy and headspace, so it’s important to make it as restful and cocooning as possible. Choose fittings that will enhance your bathing or showering experience, and introduce natural materials, pale pastel and earthy shades, plants and fragrances that complement each other to improve your wellbeing. BATH BOUQUET ‘One of the latest self-care trends on social media is hanging eucalyptus in the shower, known as a “bath bouquet”. The steam releases essential oils that have many health benefits, including de-stressing.’ Dominic Lees-Bell, Bathroom Expert at Drench Waxing lyrical ‘Shifting your mood is…

Elevate your dining table set-up or mantelpiece display by transforming copper pipe offcuts into a showstopping candelabra. Each flexible length can be bent into the chosen curve once, so it’ll hold its shape and support the taper candles. To accentuate the festive glow of the copper, place near a garland of wintry foliage, ensuring it’s well out of reach of the candle’s flame. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Copper pipe, 15mm diameter, at least 32cm ✔ Measuring tape ✔ Permanent marker ✔ Pipe cutter ✔ Flexible copper plumbing sticks x 4 ✔ Tea towel ✔ Copper T-joints, 15mm diameter x 3 ✔ Gorilla glue ✔ Copper elbow joints, 15mm diameter x 2 ✔ Transition fitting, 15-22mm x 5 1 Using a measuring tape and marker, mark the length of copper pipe at…

Workshop WEAVE YOUR MAGIC You can craft all sorts of homewares from willow, and this one-day workshop with expert, Louise Brown, will introduce you to a variety of projects. In the morning you’ll make a simple wreath from rods of willow, before moving on to a decorative fish using basic weaving techniques. In the afternoon you’ll weave a pretty herb pot to brighten up your windowsill. The Introduction to Basketmaking workshop is aimed at complete beginners, costs £75 to attend and takes place on 25th January at Martyr Worthy, Winchester. Sign up at louisebrownbasketmaker.co.uk. WARM GLOW Light up dark winter evenings by immersing yourself in the craft of candle making. It’s become hugely popular in recent months, and it’s easy to see why. In her stylish new book, Sarah Ditchfield,…

WE ARE Naomi Wilson, 33, a photographer and content creator @mamasparrowblog, my husband, Paul, 53, an aerospace engineer, and our two children, Edith, five, and Henry, three, as well as Salvador the cat and Ludo the dog. OUR HOME IS A semi-detached, three-bedroom house built in 1824, in Herefordshire. MY BEST BARGAIN IS Our Tetrad sofa, which I found for £50. MY ADVICE IS Don’t get bogged down by interior trends and go for a timeless look instead. OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE Carpeting the sitting room. So many stains!…

Fan assist This option has heating elements in the top and/or bottom of the oven and a fan at the back, and is available in both electric and gas ovens. Fan oven Fan ovens have a heating element at the back of the oven with a fan that distributes the heat. They are always electric. Conventional oven These use top and bottom heating elements that radiate heat evenly throughout the oven. Pyrolitic cleaning This program heats the oven to around 500°C, which burns off grease so you just have to wipe away the ash that’s left. Catalytic cleaning A special lining absorbs grease while cooking, then breaks it down when heated above 200°C, leaving you to wipe off any excess.…

While many people’s idea of a lockdown project was baking banana bread or catching up with box sets, Caroline Fawcett and her partner, Jim Langdon, were rather more ambitious. The couple, who have four children between them, have been busy turning a rundown former Conservative club in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, into a family home, doing the bulk of the work themselves and on a tight budget. ‘The building dates back to 1834 and had been empty for 15 years when we bought it in July 2020,’ says Caroline, a GP. ‘Fortunately, it came with planning permission to be converted into a single five-bedroom dwelling although we had to tweak the plans slightly as the area where we now have our kitchen was earmarked for a garage.’ Once…

1 Turn off your central heating and isolate your radiator by turning off the valves at both ends. For a manual valve, turn clockwise until you can’t turn it anymore, or to zero on a thermostatic valve. For a lockshield valve, pull off the plastic shield and use a spanner to turn the shaft clockwise. 2 Place a washing-up bowl under the valves to capture any excess water that may drip out. Use an adjustable spanner to loosen one of the cap nuts that connects your radiator to the valve. You may need a second spanner to hold the valve body securely and cloths on hand to mop up if you have any larger spills. 3 Open the bleed valve at the top of the radiator, loosening the connecting cap…

HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET Nature’s way Dunelm’s Winter Solstice range takes inspiration from the natural world in its prints and shapes. ‘This enchanting woodland story brings natural textures, such as wicker and wood, with bold bottle greens and highlights of burnt oranges and antique metals,’ says Design Director Debbie Drake. MAIN IMAGE Isla velvet cocktail chair, £139; deer scene tapestry cushion, £10; single pelt sheepskin rug, £35; pack of 7 Winter Solstice paper fans, £8, all Dunelm. Home comforts Transform your bedroom into a boutique suite with DFS’ Hero range. Senior Designer, Lauren Harris, says: ‘Recreate the aesthetic by opting for neutral walls and flooring, then introduce rich colours and textures through the layering of accessories.’ Hero Bed double bedframe, £899; Hero Bed bench stool, £329, both DFS GREEN…

SAVE ON feeling good As resolution season comes back round, take a longer-term view for your health and wellbeing aims. Out with costly gym memberships and diet sign-ups and in with these holistic hacks to get that feel-good factor without spending a penny. Lace up your trainers and get exercising. Create a tailored approach to your fitness with the EXi app, which is free to download on most smartphones. Whether you’re taking on the Couch to 5K or trying out weight training, this NHS-approved app provides a free 12-week programme for your preferred style of exercise. Retrain your mind. Get the most out of your day with Headspace. The free version of the app comes with meditations and exercises to learn the essentials of mindfulness. You can develop tools to…

It’s the season of decadence, so stoke up the cosiness in your home décor with the rich shades of spiced mulled wine. Just like a glass of red, this look is all about creating depth and drama to warm you and your guests’ hearts. Pull out all the stops and welcome visitors with the rich shades of plum, damson and crimson. As more versatile takes on traditional red, these deeper tones will see you through to your New Year celebrations and beyond. Choose ruby and garnet shades for your paint and tiles, which complement darker woods, sheepskin rugs and cream soft furnishings, for an effortlessly comforting scheme. For a subtle approach, introduce these plummy shades with your choice of soft furnishings, baubles and dinnerware. To prevent your scheme feeling flat,…

After seven years in their three-bedroom Gateshead semi, Gemma and Andrew Cronnie moved house on a bit of a whim. ‘It was Christmas 2019 when Andrew suggested it,’ says Gemma, ‘and by the end of January we’d moved into a brand-new, four-bedroom detached house. I’d grown up in new-build homes and used to work for a developer, so I knew what to expect.’ Having shortlisted 35 house types across the region, the pair returned to the first Bellway estate they’d visited in Killingworth, Newcastle. ‘We’re party people so loved the layout, with its open-plan kitchen-diner and living area at the rear,’ says Gemma. ‘The house was already built so we part-exchanged and moved in within 20 days.’ THE PROJECT Having decorated the front sitting room in orange, yellow and green,…

When Clare Blacklaw, her husband, Steven, and their three children moved into their three-bedroom, new-build rental in Edinburgh in 2017, it was all-white and crying out for some character. As it’s a rented home, they could only make cosmetic changes that can be easily removed when they decide to leave the property. So, with some creative paintwork and budget-friendly updates, the couple gave their hallway a low-cost and easily reversible makeover for some much-needed warmth. THE PROJECT The property was a blank canvas with plain, white walls and a dull, grey carpet, which made for an underwhelming and frosty welcome whenever anybody entered. Clare was keen to create a space that felt inviting to the family and their guests when they came in the house. She wanted a hallway full…

When Chloe moved into her new house in Loughton, the hallway was one of the last jobs to be considered. Although the existing floral wallpaper was not to Chloe’s taste, redecorating wasn’t a priority compared to the bathroom and kitchen. Eventually, however, the hallway started looking worse for wear, with tears on the stair carpet, which was also badly stained. ‘We had spoken so many times about updating the hallway because we’re not fans of floral prints but there was always a more pressing job to do instead,’ she says. ‘But the time finally came when the carpet started to come away and look badly worn.’ THE PROJECT The couple looked to the rest of the house for inspiration for their scheme. ‘We wanted the hallway to be in keeping…

THE DETAILS PAINT £179 STAIR RUNNER £396 FLOORING £462 SHELVING £111 CARPET £144 TOTAL £1,292 SHOPPING LIST Putney Wall clock, £125, Newgate. Markfrost table lamp, £13; Blekklint table lamp, £19; Fejka fern plant, £12; Fejka eucalyptus, £7; Lerboda hanging frames, £6; Vindtunnel candle, £5.50; Storstad scented candles, £11 for three, all IKEA. Camden wool runners, £99 each; Coretta wall shelf, £49, both MADE. com. Ero Green velvet drum pendant, £65, Oliver Bonas. Hallway walls painted in claypaint in Hobgoblin, £47 for 2.5L, Earthborn. Stair and landing walls painted in modern emulsion in Calke Green, £53 for 2.5L; woodwork painted in modern eggshell in Calke Green, £73 for 2.5L, both Farrow & Ball. TH113 Smoked sawn oak strip herringbone flooring, £66 per sq m, V4 Wood Flooring. Paul Klee poster, £8.95;…

THE HOMEOWNER Anthea O’Neil, 53, a deputy headteacher, on Instagram@a_leopard_in_every_room. She lives with partner, David Griffiths, 53, who works for Virgin Media, and son, Jacob, 24, a landscape gardener. THE HOUSE A three-bedroom Victorian semi in Addlestone, Surrey. THE PROBLEM The main bathroom was downstairs, and there was a small shower room upstairs. We wanted to incorporate both upstairs. THE SOLUTION We knocked through the small shower room upstairs into the bedroom next door to create a larger main bathroom.…

Bring nature into your bathroom by introducing plants that will thrive in the humid atmosphere while purifying the air. 1 Snake plants (pictured below left) also known as Mother in Law’s Tongue, have leaves that grow upwards so take up minimal floor or shelf space 2 Air plants draw nutrients from the air, light and water through tiny vessels in their leaves, and don’t need soil, making them incredibly easy to care for 3 Boston ferns are lush and bushy so need plenty of room to grow. Use a hanging planter if you’ve run out of shelving 4 Ivy is fast-growing and trailing. Position it up high to make the most of long drops 5 Spider plants are virtually impossible to kill and produce offshoots that can be propagated into…

‘We wanted to create a moody, atmospheric space here and opted for an inky blue-black from Farrow & Ball, mixed up at a local decorating centre’ It’s not difficult to imagine Kath Wilson and Ryan Walters’ home in Swindon alive with the chatter of friends and family over Christmas and New Year. ‘The festive season is a huge deal in my house,’ says Kath, and she’s transformed her home into the perfect setting for it. Her confident mix of dark hues and candy pinks provides a stylish backdrop for the seasonal foliage and glam gold details she loves to fill it with during the holidays. Although the house was dated when they moved in, Kath and Ryan were instantly smitten with the character and period details: the feature fireplace in…

WE ARE Heather Lynch, 32. I work in document control for oil and gas, and I live here with my husband, Thomas, 34, an electrician, our son, Ezra, four, and our cats, Tink, Belle, Zeus, Boo, Drago, Theodore, Mickey, Napoleon and Thorin. OUR HOME IS A three-bedroom Victorian house, built in 1898. We’ve lived here since 2014. MY TOP TIP Don’t be scared to build your own furniture and make it work for you. Even if you can’t take it on yourself, you can get a joiner to do it cheaply.…

Nut roast toastie PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes + 1 hour for relish SERVES 2 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 2 tbsp olive oil ✔ 2 red onions, sliced ✔ 2 garlic cloves, sliced ✔ 4 tsp fresh thyme ✔ Salt, to season ✔ 50g caster sugar ✔ 20ml red wine vinegar ✔ 2 tbsp vegan mayo ✔ 4 slices sourdough bread ✔ 200g nut roast, sliced ✔ 100g vegan cheese, grated DIRECTIONS ■ Set a saucepan on a low heat and add the oil, onions, garlic, thyme and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions are soft and sticky, but not browned. ■ Add the sugar and vinegar and continue to cook until the onions reach a sticky jam-like consistency. Remove from the heat and then…

We’re reading… NIFTY, £12.99 Discover money-saving tips, fun DIY projects and ideas to maximise space from Buzzfeed’s NIFTY. This guide will help keep every space in your home clean and tidy, no matter how small. We’re following… @number30eight Charlie’s style is joyful, maximalist and fun. With hard work and an artist’s eye she’s transformed a beige box into a world of colour – it’s incredibly eclectic! She mixes interior styles that are bursting with lovely personal touches. We’re going to… The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair, 25th-30th January This event specialises in decorative antiques and design up to the 1970s, and works of art from all eras, with 150 exhibitors at Battersea Park. Admission priced at £10.…

HOW TO... clean your kitchen naturally After a hectic hosting season, your kitchen probably needs some TLC. Avoid chemical-heavy cleaners and follow our top tips… • If you have a stainless-steel hob that needs a refresh, spray white vinegar on it (extra bonus points if you refill an old spray bottle). Leave to soak for a few minutes, then wipe away the gunk with a sponge. The acid in the vinegar helps to break down grease. It can also be used to clean grates and burner caps – simply soak them in a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water while you’re cleaning the hob then scrub with an old toothbrush. This method can also be used on induction hobs – but don’t be tempted to use bicarbonate of soda, as…

Frequently asked questions ... What does health insurance include? It covers you for non-routine tests, treatment and surgery, as an inpatient, for acute conditions (serious but curable and generally short-term) that appear after your policy begins. Anything chronic, long-term or preexisting is usually excluded. It can also pay for hospital stays, nursing care, consultations, therapy and any medicines not available on the NHS. Do I need it? Everyone is different so you’ll need to consider if the monthly cost is affordable and worth it. For many people the NHS is sufficient. The main advantage of private healthcare is that you tend to have a broader choice of times and locations for any referred treatment. Would I be covered by my employer? Some companies offer private healthcare as part of their…

Classic chic Effortlessly stylish, this look is party perfect for both modern and more traditional homes, so you can celebrate in elegance, whatever the setting Get the look Use shimmering silver to create that classic party look with plenty of sparkle for the festive season. Simple yet elegant, this scheme will work perfectly for a special dinner party, as well as for a glass of Champagne or two when the clock strikes midnight. Give your get-together a modern edge with touches of black – use it with cutlery, dinnerware or candlesticks to create a stark contrast against your white and silver backdrop. Ramp up the party décor with white and metallic silver balloons, as well as chic tassel bunting to create that party vibe in an instant. What to serve……

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Gemma Cronnie, 37, an animator (@thegemdrewhouse). I live in a four-bedroom, detached new-build in Killingworth, Newcastle with my husband, Andrew, 32, a videographer, and our miniature schnauzers, Ellie and Tilly. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The existing grey laminate flooring was kept, but we painted the walls and added wallpaper to half height, as well as creating new coat hooks. WHY THE CHANGE? It was a new-build box and very white with no character. It felt sterile, cold and unwelcoming, and didn’t reflect us and our modern style at all. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? Being self-employed, I did it over four days when I didn’t have much work on. The wallpapering took a day. TOTAL COST £520…

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Chloe Simmons, 52, and I run a legal consultancy business. I live in a four-bedroom house in Loughton, Essex, with my husband, Iain, 50, a lawyer; our son, Arthur, 13; and black golden doodle, Roku. WHAT WAS UPDATED? We repainted all the walls and the steps in a warm green shade, and ripped up the old carpet and replaced it with a runner. WHY THE CHANGE? The hallway stairs were so grubby and desperately needed recarpeting, so we took the opportunity to revamp the whole area. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took us about four weeks in total because we did all of the painting ourselves in the evenings. But we got there in the end. TOTAL COST £1,292…

Embrace the promise that a new year brings with these stylish updates that will breathe fresh life and character into your home. We’ve pulled together three trends that are set to be popular for the months ahead. Rejuvenate your décor with the soothing tones of Bright skies; step daringly into a technicolour makeover inspired by Bold maximalism; and discover Sustainable vintage, which combines cherished retro finds with eco-friendly modern items for a handpicked, carefully curated feel. Turn over to discover these trends in detail and to decide which one (or more) you’ll introduce into your home… Bright skies Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2022, Bright Skies is an airy, light blue hue that symbolises optimism and hope for the year ahead. A breath of fresh air in a neutral scheme,…

Ex-display copper-leaf bath, £1,000, Color 1 Design. For similar wall tiles try the Marais Green tile, £45.60 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore. Crosswater MPRO Matt Black floor-standing bath shower mixer, £719.28, Sanctuary Bathrooms. Crosswater MPRO Matt Black wall-mounted basin tap, £229.94; for a similar radiator try Zehnder Ribbon towel radiator, £272.41, both UK Bathrooms. For similar basins try Orchard Eden countertop basin, £58.99, Victoria Plum. Kwarto solid sheesham vanity unit, £419; Kwarto sheesham mirror, £165, both Tikamoon. Cohen pendant lights, £119, Heals. Mosslanda black picture ledge, £5, IKEA. Wooden bath rack, £29.99; Acacia wood bench, £89.99; Acacia wood towel ladder, £89.99, all Zara Home. For similar flooring try Cuba Anthracite floor tiles, £14 per sq m, Homebase. Jungle-print hand towel, £6, Matalan TOTAL COST: £4,058…

NAME CARDS SHOPPING LIST ✔ Ivory card A6, 60 Pack ✔ Gold Biodegradable Flaky Glitter Shaker, 20g, both Hobbycraft ✔ Small circular object ✔ Scissors ✔ Pencil and eraser ✔ Black fine liner pen ✔ Glue stick 1 Begin by folding your card in half widthways. Then on the inside of the card mark a series of semi-circles along one short edge using a small circler object as a template (we used a pen lid but you could use a five pence piece). Cut out along your marked line as smoothly as possible. 2 Using a pencil, lightly mark a line about halfway down the front of the card and then sketch out the name until you have your text looking how you want it. Then draw over your text…

Q I love the idea of having bold wallpaper, but how do I go about choosing the right one for my space? Helen Pooley-Thomas, Watford A Chelsea Clark, Head of Brand at Lust Home, says… Your house should be as interesting as you are, so we’re all for breaking the interior design rules and going wild with prints, patterns and bold colours. Liven up a downstairs toilet, add a feature wall to a bedroom or living room, or go all out and wallpaper hallways, stairs and landings for maximum impact. If a bold wallpaper is a new choice for you and you don’t want to decorate the whole room, try an accent wall to transform your space. This doesn’t have to mean the whole area: you can make a feature…

WE ARE I’m Kath Wilson and I live here with my partner Ryan Walters. We both work locally in hospitality. OUR HOME IS A three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Swindon. I LEARNED TO Be braver. I’ve developed a real love of interiors – next time around, I’ll be so much more confident. MY BEST BARGAIN Has to be my Facebook Marketplace fireplace surround, a steal at only £10. MY FAVOURITE ROOM The lounge. It was the first space we tackled and is still the spot I’m most drawn to. NEXT TO DO The remaining two bedrooms. They’re currently no-go zones but we have grand plans for these. Keep up to date with our progress on my Instagram@littleterracedhouseonthehill.…

‘This house had stacks of potential, so my plan was to renovate it with heritage styling to reflect the period of the property’ When it comes to decorating for the festive season, Naomi Wilson loves to dress her home from top-to-bottom with trees. ‘I would have one in every room if I could! This year we have six,’ she says. ‘I love the way the pine trees scent my home. They give our cottage a magic feel that reminds me of Narnia.’ It’s no surprise Naomi loves bringing the outside in, both over Christmas and all year round – it was the rural location of this former gardener’s cottage that drew the couple to it. ‘We wanted to buy a larger house in a rural location with lots of space…

Whether the Christmas dinner pushes your cooker to its limits or you’re after a new model to modernise your kitchen, you’ve come to the right place: our guide to built-in ovens. As an appliance you are likely to use every day, it’s important to choose an oven that suits you and your family’s needs. With the rising popularity in streamlined kitchen designs, as well as homeowners wanting to maximise space in the kitchen, a built-in oven offers a sleek and space-saving solution. ‘When thinking about buying a new oven, consider your lifestyle and how the oven can help make your life easier. Make a list of important features you’ll need and how often you think you’ll need them, as well as the types of meals you cook and how many…

Watercress and cream cheese choux buns PREPARATION TIME 25 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes MAKES 20 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 125ml whole milk ✔ Salt ✔ 40g unsalted butter ✔ 55g plain flour ✔ 2 eggs For the filling ✔ 200g cream cheese ✔ Small handful of watercress, finely chopped DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Line a baking tray with parchment. ■ Pour the milk into a saucepan and add a pinch of salt. Gently bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and set aside. ■ In a separate saucepan, melt the butter before adding the flour and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula to combine fully. Keep stirring continuously for a few minutes to cook out the flour. Gradually add the…

‘We get orders for replacement cupboard doors and additional units that an experienced DIYer who has a tape measure, spirit level and a drill or screwdriver would certainly be able to fit themselves. Basic tiling and installing splashbacks are also simple enough, as long as you have a little experience and use the right tools. We do recommend hiring a professional fitter for a full kitchen installation, however.’ Charlotte Deprez, National Showroom Sales Manager, MKM Building Supplies…

As you walk around your home, there are likely to be time-worn fittings, scuffed flooring and other DIY tasks that don’t quite get ticked off the to-do list. Yet these smaller improvements are an opportunity to perk up your place and have you falling back in love with your home. From sprucing up your hallway to updating your fixtures and fittings, these mini renovations can be done in as little as a few hours, but you will appreciate their impact for years to come. 1 PAINT YOUR KITCHEN UNITS Give your kitchen a whole new look by cracking open a paint tin and coating the units and furniture in colour. Much cheaper than new cabinets, there are a wide range of paint finishes that will enhance your scheme. Go high-shine…

If you’re after a stylish tiled floor or would like to tile a greeting across your hallway to welcome guests with, this handy guide from B&Q will take you through the steps to elevate your flooring. When tiling your room, start from a central point and work your way to each corner, one corner at a time. You’ll want to be able to exit the room without walking across your freshly laid tiles, so plan ahead and work into the further corners of the room first so that you finish by the door. If you’re tiling a room you’ll need to access regularly, such as a bathroom or kitchen, consider tiling one half of the room and then 1 Starting at the position you’ve marked out, use a gauging trowel…