Indholdsfortegnelse for Dec-22 i Your Home

EDITOR'S LETTER The most wonderful time of the year is here, and we've hundreds of tips and tricks to help you have the best-ever Christmas for less! To get yourself in the festive spirit, begin with Deck the Halls (p44), where we show you how to dress your home on a budget with some DIY floristry forage for the evergreen pieces yourself and you've got free showstoppers! Scan the QR codes to watch the video how-tos, including this suspended centrepiece (below) – making it is easier than you'd think. Start ticking gifts off your list with our round-up of thrifty present ideas on page 23 – there's something for everyone, from just £1.25. Find tips and tricks to keep December stress-free on page 14 and, if you're hosting friends and…

HOW TO… have a more eco-friendly Christmas Amid all the festivities and piles of presents, it's easy to get carried away and forget the environmental impact of our choices – not to mention the cost, too. Here are just a few ways to save money while being a bit more eco-conscious… • According to a 2021 YouGov survey, the average Briton will spend £388 on presents. When it comes to gift giving, consider quality over quantity, and ask yourself whether the person will actually use it. Why not get creative and make some festive baked goods for people? Turn to page 104 for Christmas baking inspiration. Or you could show indie shops some love? Our Shop Small feature highlights some of best independent shops on page 130 – this issue…

Beat the festive stress From November onwards, we're constantly reminded about the number of shopping days left until Christmas, which can increase your stress levels, if you're already rushing to get everything done. From food shopping to gift buying, here are our top tips to reduce those anxiety levels before the big day… 1 MAKE A PLAN It helps to have things written down, so make a list of all the people you need to buy presents for, and another for the Christmas food and essentials. You can use classic pen and paper, a computer spreadsheet, or an app on your phone, whichever method works for you and makes you feel more in control. 2 SET A BUDGET To avoid the worry of overspending, work out how much money you…

Scan me! Find hundreds more festive ideas on our website Gifts for A LITTLE ME-TIME Encourage loved ones to relax and unwind with these thoughtful self-care treats GREAT FOR VEGANS GREAT FOR YOUR WiSHLiST Gifts for THE HOME LOVER All the best high-street buys for interiors-obsessed friends and family GREAT FOR KiDS TOO! Gifts for GORGEOUS GARDENERS From beginners to green-fingered growers, we have the perfect pressies for horticulturists Gifts for FOOD AND DRINK FANS From tasty treats to cooking kits, try these inspiring presents for the foodie in your life GREAT FOR A GOURMET Gifts for FURRY FRIENDS Make sure your pets don't miss out! Give them their own special gift on the big day GREAT FOR CUTE KiTTiES Gifts for FAMILY FUN Unique gifts to entertain the kids – big and small – over…

Give a warm WELCOME Create an eye-catching display at your front door to get guests in the festive spirit as soon as they arrive. Warm white fairy lights will bring a magical twinkle a the long evenings draw in – add them tc wreaths hung on the door or wrap them around trees and garlands. Make the most of windows by displaying tea light holders in Christmas-inspired shapes, while a lantern or two placed beside a welcoming door mat will create a warm, inviting ambiance. Add a playful touch with a festive friend, such as a stag, robin, penguin, or even Santa himself, to stand proudly at your entranceway for all to see. Top tip! ‘Dress your entrance with pre-lit wreaths and garlands – the faux foliage will add sophisticated…

The beauty of a classic bathroom is that it ages gracefully and, provided that it's well maintained, it should look just as fresh in 10 years’ time as it does today. Traditional designs aren't just for period properties either, they'll also bring character and elegance to properties built in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s – and in new-build homes too. Whether you're starting with a blank canvas, you're updating an existing scheme or you want to enhance original features, there's plenty of choice, even if your budget is tight. Tile style ‘Patterned tiles with a matt finish are a go-to. The intricate patterns and muted colour palettes work together to create a look that's reminiscent of times gone by.’ Kamila Swiatecka, the Head of Marketing & Brand at Tile…

‘When we started searching for a new home, this one stood out to me immediately,’ says Jess Culpin, though her husband, Mitch, wasn't quite as keen to begin with. ‘He wasn't too sure based on the Rightmove details but soon changed his mind once we viewed it.’ The couple were searching for a family home in Leicestershire – one that had a cosy feel, the potential to put their stamp on it, and room enough for their young family to enjoy for years to come. Happily, this property ticked many of these boxes. ‘The driveway was a massive selling point for Mitch,’ says Jess. ‘He's quite optimistic that he will be able to fill it with nice cars one day.’ Jess, on the other hand, was captivated by the property's…

3 WAYS WITH… Brussels sprouts Love them or hate them, this veggie is synonymous with Christmas dinner – but you can do so much more with them To make a speedy stir-fry, boil 250g of halved Brussels sprouts until softened. Drain and rinse under cold water. Pat dry and set aside. Add some vegetable oil to a wok over a medium-high heat. Add 1 finely sliced leek and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the sprouts, stir-fry for 2 minutes more, then add 2 finely sliced garlic cloves, 2cm finely sliced ginger and 1 finely sliced chilli. Stir-fry for a further minute, then add 1 grated carrot, 1 tbsp soy sauce and 2 tsp honey. Add 150g straight-to-wok noodles and stir-fry until combined. For pesto with a twist, blend 100g shredded leafy…

LET'S Party SIDE-SHOW Delights TIME TO Toast THE MAIN Event SWEET Treats…

When Tiffany and Oily Warren, and their two daughters, Millie and Sophie, moved into a 150-year-old farmhouse in Somerset, they knew it needed upgrading ‘We were particularly concerned about keeping our energy costs down as it was a draughty, old property, so we set about a mix of improvements,’ they say. ‘Top of the list was replacing the oil-fired boiler with something more efficient and better for the environment.’ Olly, who works in the heating industry, suggested they go for a biomass boiler fuelled by wood pellets, which provides a renewable and sustainable source of heat. Made from compressed sawdust, the pellets are fed automatically into the boiler, which works in the same way as a conventional boiler. Although it was expensive to install, the Warrens received help with the…

Did our festive food guide on page 109 whet your appetite? Treat yourself or someone special to a tasty gift from these foodie indies Caleño Drinks Caleño is a range of tropical, non-alcoholic spirits that bottles up the vibes of Colombia Ellie Webb NEXT MONTH Shop our top cabincore picks calenodrinks.com Russell & Atwell We're a Birmingham-based, fresh, chilled chocolate business using delicious, high-quality and sustainable ingredients Steve Russell and Giles Atwell russellandatwell.com Single Variety Co. I seek out the tastiest varieties for each of our jams, then cook them insmall batches to capture the freshness ifiuaugiuttjajigiu EHESSZs Nicola Simons singlevariety.co.uk; 0117 452 5303…

FOR STOCKISTS SEE p126 HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET John Lewis & Partners With a colour palette of candy cane red and brilliant white, the Jolly General Store collection will delight traditionalists as well as trendsetters. Lisa Cherry, Lead Christmas Buyer, says ‘This year's Christmas themes are a celebration of local living, highlighting the importance of community in towns and villages. This theme evokes the local general store, filled with everything from hardware to groceries.’ Prints charming Make a statement and bring joy to your home with DFS's collaboration with quintessential British brand Cath kidston. Choose from a range of well-loved and recognisable prints across sumptuous beds, sofas and armchairs. Cath Kidston Flounce Strawberry Garden double bedframe in Azure Combination, £1,199; Cath Kidston Keep Kind scatter cushion, £45, both DFS…

Ensure your Christmas lunch prep is as stress-free as possible with our round up of time-saving and handy kitchen gadgets and utensils 1. Keep your worktops and chopping boards tidy with this set of bowls. Dropped sides make it easier to tip prepped ingredients into your pans Uppfylld preparation bowl, £2.50 for 3, IKEA 2. Prevent tears when chopping onions with a manual food chopper – it can also be used for nuts, chocolate and dried fruit for your festive showstoppers Food chopper, £18, ProCook 3. This multitasking tool will make light work of cutting bacon, chicken and even stripping herbs OXO Good Grips kitchen and herb scissors, £16.49, Amazon 4. Avoid awkward fiddling when it comes to slicing garlic and ditch your knife for this chopping tool. The storage…

CONSUMER NEWS HOW TO… earn as you shop Frequently asked questions… How much can I earn? That depends on what and how much you buy, but most people make a few hundred pounds per year. Is there a fee? Basic accounts on Quidco and TopCashback are free, although both also offer a premium membership for a fee. A paid-for account offers extra incentives, such as improved cashback rates and special promotions. Money is collected from your earnings to pay for membership, rather than an as upfront fee. Quidco Premium costs £1 of your cashback each month while TopCashback Plus is up to £5 of your earnings each year. USEFUL CONTACTS • For more information head to moneysavingexpert.com. • The two biggest cashback sites are quidco.com and topcashback.co.uk. • Find more…

SUGAR & spice Add a sprinkling of festive spirit to your showstoppers with John Lewis & Partners’ beautiful Christmassy bakeware collection. Stir, pour and mix your way to success with the classic red-and-white pieces, which you'll love to get out every December. For baking ideas, including vegan gingerbread and fruity mince pies, turn to page 104. BE OUR GUEST If you're welcoming visitors for the festive season, small touches, such as extra toiletries, can make their stay even more special. Dunelm's range of bathroom extras look incredibly chic while still being budget-friendly. Timeless tableware Add a glitzy touch to your tablescape with simple updates, such as a new tablecloth and napkins. Why not try your hand at faux calligraphy with our how-to guide on page 75, then apply your iP!…

Top tip Go to yourhomestyle.uk to download and print the templates for the garland, wreath and mini trees MISTLETOE GARLAND SHOPPING LIST ✔ A4 felt sheets in light teal, teal and dark teal ✔ Small, sharp scissors ✔ 1.5m twine ✔ Fabric glue ✔ 1cm felt pompoms in white, light grey and cream 1 Use the mistletoe leaf template to cut out four leaves from each of the light teal, teal, and dark teal felt sheets. Place the felt leaves in pairs, with some of the leaves flipped and the colours mixed up. You want the pairs to be slightly misaligned so that both leaves are visible. 2 Take the length of twine and use a double knot to tie the stalk ends of the leaves together, spacing them 10cm…

SHOPPING LIST ✔ Wooden tree ornament ✔ White acrylic paint ✔ Paintbrush (any size) ✔ Pot of water ✔ Paper ✔ Pencil ✔ 3m Posca Pens in Navy, Sky Blue, Green, Red, White, Silver, Black (or to match with your festive décor MERRY BERRIES 1 Take the green pen and draw 4 curved lines working around the shape. Draw teardrop shapes along the stem and at the end of the stem to create your foliage. Try and keep an equal distance between your initial shapes so that the design looks balanced. Colour in the teardrop shapes with the green pen to finish your first painterly motif. 2 Now add 4 more curved lines between your foliage shapes and draw small curved lines working off the larger lines to paint a…

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes plus chilling COOKING TIME 20 minutes per kilo plus 70 minutes SERVES 4-6 Roast turkey with a chilli, sage and clementine butter YOU WILL NEED ✔ 250g softened butter ✔ 1 large red chilli, deseeded and finely diced ✔ 12 sage leaves, finely shredded ✔ 2 garlic cloves ✔ 2 clementines, zested and juiced ✔ Gressingham Free Range Bronze Turkey DIRECTIONS ■ Prepare the clementine butter the day before cooking the turkey by adding the softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beating in the chilli, sage, garlic, clementine zest and juice. Transfer the butter onto a sheet of baking parchment and roll Into a log shape, then set it in the fridge until firm. ■ To cook the turkey, preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan…

ENERGY-SAVING shutters If you're looking for ways to save money on energy bills this winter, plantation shutters might be just the thing you need. By adding an extra layer of insulation to your windows, these full-sized shutters from Thomas Sanderson prevent cold draughts from entering and warm air from escaping. They'll also keep your home cooler during the summer… Oh, and they look super stylish too! DECK THE DOORS Make your festive foliage the star of the show with this gold metal Christmas tree wreath hanger, £9.99 from Ginger Ray. Measuring in at 30cm, it's big enough to support the weight of even large, heavy wreaths and there's no need for nails or screws. It's perfect if you're renting or you simply want a chic, fuss-free way to display your…

Q How can I decorate my home for the festive season without breaking the bank? Natalie Yassin, Reading A Maxine Brady, interior stylist (on Instagram @maxinebradystyling), says… You can craft decorations for next to nothing. With a little imagination and some help from Mother Nature, you can decorate your home for Christmas so it looks magical without costing a fortune. On winter walks, start foraging for natural decorations that you can use for the festive season. For example, twigs can be tied together with twine and transformed into wooden stars, while branches look stylish when placed in a vase and adorned with baubles and tinsel. Pine cones can be hung on your Christmas tree like baubles or used as simple name place Settings. Alternatively, go bold by making a flower…

Every letter featured wins a prize!* Thanks to Mason Cash, our star letter has won bakeware and accessories worth £50, while each runner-up receives a selection of mixing, bowls, trays and utensils worth £25. Find out more about the full Mason Cash range at masoncash.co.uk. On display I thought you might like to see my autumn ‘shelfie’! I love to change my shelves to celebrate each new season – this season is a special favourite of mine with all the lovely colours it brings. Ann Hollis, via email Beth, Deputy Art Editor, says: I love the creativity of this, Ann – small updates can make such a big difference to your décor! Makeover magic I moved into my forever home in April 2021 and I've spent the time since renovating,…

Christmas advent calendar house, £20, JoJo Maman Bébé This calendar house will delight the little ones, with the fun festive scene sure to brighten up even the darkest morning. The boxes for the 23rd and 24th are larger, but all are big enough to hide chocolates or small toys in. Made from reinforced cardboard, this calendar feels sturdy – although take care letting small children take out the boxes, as it can be a bit top-heavy. Fabric Christmas advent calendar kit, £14.99, Ginger Ray You'll want to hang this calendar in a prime position, thanks to its sweet festive illustrations. Tuck treats into the 24 pockets – though they're a little shallow, so make sure they're not too big as they could fall out. In comparison to other reusable fabric…

Welcome to Scandi-land Pare back the ultra-sweet delights of a Christmas candyland with Nordic designs featuring classic reds, whites, and simple kraft paper Scan me! Find hundreds more festive ideas on our website Winter Moody midnight blues and delicate snowflakes make for a sophisticated Christmas scheme. Add twinkling stars and moon motifs for a frosty finish Woodland fairy tale Bring the outdoors in this winter with a natural palette bursting with rich, earthy colours and textures paired with cute animal designs Unlit Sherwood tree, £229; Community Garden glitter autumn leaf spray, £10; Community Garden tapestry red squirrel £15; Community Garden Green butterfly clip-on tree decoration, £5; Community Garden furry hedgehog, £18; Community Garden owl decoration, £12; Community Garden Berries gift wrap, £4.50 for 3m; poly-rattan round storage basket, £30, all…

This December, create a stylish scheme without breaking the budget by using DIY foliage decorations as your starting point. Make showstopping displays for free with foraged materials, then bring in your treasured ornaments, plus a scattering of new ones, for a timeless look that feels up to date for 2022. Follow our video guides to make an eco-friendly wreath, garland, hanging centrepiece and candle decorations — scan the QR codes with your smartphone to go directly to the step-by-step tutorials — then take your styling cues from these pages. The results will be tree-mendous! ON MANTEL: Small gold bristle tree, £6.49; Large gold bristle tree, £T99r-Gisela Graham Geometric burgundy red glass candle holder, £14; Geometric sage green glass-candle holder, £14; Geometric small burgundy red glass candle holder, £10; Geometric small…

KITCHEN IDEAS Whether it's mince pies and coffee with the neighbours, or a glitzy do with your nearest * and dearest, you might find yourself hosting a lot over the Christmas period. But any sociable features that your kitchen boasts can be used whatever season it is. As well as layout and appliances, it's important to consider storage and the atmosphere you'd like to create. If you have an open-plan kitchen, you can also use flexible furniture to zone the space for get-togethers. Take a seat ‘It's always nice to greet your guests without rushing them straight to the dining area. Bar-style seating around a kitchen island is the perfect way to provide them with a relaxed welcome, while allowing you stay present as you host and prepare the meal.’…

Whether you stand them on a mantelpiece or sit them on a shelf, these wooden stars make a big impact. Their natural charm, contrasting varnish pattern and sheer size will ensure they catch everyone's eye this festive season. But perhaps best of all, these decorations cost almost nothing to make. All it takes is a few tools, a little time, an old pallet and the following step-by-step instructions… SHOPPING LIST ✔ Pallet ✔ pallet buster or crowbar ✔ sandpaper or electric sander ✔ paintbrushes x 2 ✔ varnish x 2 (light and dark) ✔ masking tape ✔ tape measure ✔ pencil ✔ wood saw ✔ sheet of A4 or A3 paper ✔ protractor ✔ wood glue ✔ felt backing ✔ scalpel or craft knife 1 Carefully dismantle the pallet using…

Workshop PLAY MARBLES Marmor Paperie is on a mission to breathe new life into the traditional art of marbling. Join them for a 90-minute workshop in Deptford, London, and learn to make a stunning, one-of-a-kind keepsake bauble to hang on your tree. Priced at £46, the session will teach you marbling skills you can use to create lots more projects at home. There are evening workshops being held on 8th and 15th December, marmorpaperie.co.uk. SPRUCE THINGS UP Get in the Christmas spirit and make cushions, quilts and an advent calendar for your own home, or to give as thoughtful gifts. Jo Colwill's book, Christmas at Cowslip, showcases beautiful quilting projects for all skill levels, using everything from simple patchwork to advanced piecing and appliqué techniques. You can use up scraps…

PREPARATION COOKING TIME MAKES 22-2s MAKES 22-24 Vegan stollen bites YOU WILL NEED ✔ 150ml plant-based milk ✔ 1 tbsp lemon juice ✔ 280g self-raising flour or gluten-free self-raising flour ✔ 1 tsp baking powder ✔ pinch of salt ✔ 90g vegan butter, cold and cubed ✔ 1 tsp vanilla essence ✔ 1 tsp almond essence ✔ 3 tbsp apple sauce or mashed banana ✔ 50g caster sugar ✔ 90g ground almonds ✔ 140g vegan marzipan, chilled and grated ✔ 100g mixed dried fruits with peel ✔ icing sugar, for dusting DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6 and line 2 or 3 large baking trays with baking paper. ■ Add the plant-based milk and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl and stir. Leave for 5…

With the coldest months of winter on the way, there's no better time to think about upgrading your heating. By switching to a new, more efficient system – whether it's a radiator, stove, underfloor heating or a portable heater – you could save energy and money. You'll need to think carefully about what type of fuel you want your new heating to run on, as well as the look and feel you want it to have. With everything from ultra-modern radiators to traditional wood burners, there are options for every style and budget… 1 REPLACE TRADITIONAL RADIATORS Radiators are a great way to improve your home's heating efficiency and they come in a huge variety of styles, sizes, colours and finishes, so you're bound to find one that complements or contrasts…

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