Innehållsförteckning för January 2024 från Your Home

As a homes lover, there's so much to be excited about at the start of a new year – fresh trends, DIY projects, and perhaps even a house move. Whatever your home plans for 2024, you've picked up the right magazine to help you see them through! For decorating inspo, start on page 24 for our look at Dulux's colour of the year – the shade is calming, cocooning and oh-so chic! Plus find décor ideas to boost your mood on page 32, especially handy if you're prone to the winter blues. On page 96, we share new year's resolutions with a difference – these 10 goals will help you create the home of your dreams in 2024! Or, if a house move is on the cards, our expert homebuyer's…

HOW TO… throw a party for less There's nothing quite so fun as ringing in the new year at home with best friends and loved ones, and you don't have to spend a lot to be a great host. Here's how to throw the perfect party, without letting your budget spiral out of control! • Work out what you have left over from Christmas in terms of decorations, frozen food, paper products, tableware and so on – all these things can be put to good use for a New Year's Eve party. Check local sites like Facebook Marketplace in case anyone is trying to shift any useful Christmas items. And do an inventory of your serving bowls and dishes before spending on new ones. • Ask guests to contribute so…

Frequently asked questions… What are my rights if I buy online? If you purchase an item online, over the phone or by mail order then you have return rights covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations. This means you have 14 days after receiving the order to notify the seller that you want to return it to get a full refund. You then have a further 14 days to actually return it. This is applicable for anything, whether it's faulty or not, excluding perishable or personalised goods. You may need to pay delivery costs though. Do I need a receipt? Without a receipt or gift receipt, and if the item isn't faulty, it's usually tricky to get an exchange, credit note or refund. If it was a gift you could ask…

DECORATING IDEAS Keep it mindful Shades of blue and pale green are known to be among the best colours to decorate with in the bedroom, if you're looking to achieve a scheme that will make you feel relaxed and safe. Look to textiles to soften the space and introduce this calming colour palette in an instant, without breaking the bank. Bed linen, throws and blankets – or a stylish blind or curtain at the window – will quickly transform the space into the perfect retreat, promoting a better night's sleep and a more positive feel all round. As you embrace the start of a new year, it's time to re-energise yourself and your home to help you achieve your goals for 2024. Your surroundings play a big part in your…

After looking at numerous houses on the hunt for their first home together Nic and Chris Knowles stumbled across this place while out on a walk. ‘We had already decided on a new-build, as our DIY experience was limited to painting and putting up shelves, so we wanted to play to our strengths,’ explains Nic. ‘We saw the “For Sale” sign and wandered along the road to take a look. We were drawn to this place as there are only 16 homes on the site, so it's a really small development.' The three-storey townhouse design appealed to the couple, and they also liked the ‘broken-plan’ ground-floor layout, with double doors between the living area and kitchen providing a flexible space. Another factor helped seal the deal: ‘Someone had already put…

While living in a two-bedroom bungalow around the corner from their current house, Katie Page and her husband Michael always kept an eye out for potential places to buy. ‘We'd renovated everything and gone as far as we could with our property, and we really wanted something bigger to get our teeth into,’ Katie says. ‘We love the Brighton area, and both our businesses are based here, so we didn't want to go far.' The couple already had a toddler and were thinking about a second child, so were keen on a large garden as well as a guest room, but realised they'd need to go for a doer-upper. ‘We saw this house just around the corner and knew it had potential,’ explains Katie. ‘We can walk into the centre…

GET INSULATED Make sure your home is well insulated to cut heat-loss and reduce your energy bills ● If you moved into your home after 2007, you'll almost certainly have an Energy Performance Certificate with a rating from G (the lowest) to A (the highest). This also recommends ways to boost the rating by improving energy efficiency, often by topping up insulation. ● Up to a third of a property's heat is lost through poorly insulated walls, and you'll make significant long-term savings by tackling this problem. Insulating solid walls (generally in pre-1920s houses) is more expensive than cavity wall insulation, though the savings are greater. ● The loft can account for 25% per cent of your home's heat-loss and is far cheaper to insulate. Layer mineral wool insulation between…

January is traditionally a time for new beginnings and good intentions, but instead of the usual health and fitness pledges, make this the year you tackle those home improvement projects you've been thinking about for ages. From learning a new skill to quitting bad habits, we've got plenty of clever tips and expert advice to help you tackle those DIY jobs and make your home look fabulous in 2024. 1 Level up your skills If ever there was a time to skill yourself up on the DIY front, it's now. Learning to do some simple jobs around the house can not only save you money, but it can also be really rewarding into the bargain. If you don't have a DIY-savvy parent or sibling who can pass on their knowledge,…

SAVE If you love a Bloody Mary, try a Virgin Mary instead TOP TIP Tell your friends you're going alcohol-free this month. They'll help you to stay on track and might even join you!…

BEST FOR HARD FLOORS This lightweight vacuum has an articulated neck and four castors, which make it easy to manoeuvre around obstacles, although the super-smooth action takes a bit of getting used to. It's designed for hard floors, so it's not suitable for cleaning carpets, but it gets right up to skirting boards and works lying nearly completely flat, so getting under furniture is a breeze. The head is quite small, so it's not ideal for larger areas of floor. It offers strong, continuous suction but only has a 20-minute run time. Emptying is easy and hygienic, and we like that some parts can be washed under a tap. BEST FOR PETS This stick vacuum is light, but well-balanced, and the rotating stick allows you to get around corners really…

BEFORE STEP INSIDE… WHO LIVES HERE? Tessa Bird, 41, a family photographer, my husband Robbie Henderson, a marketing manager, our children, Mya, eight, and Thea, six, and our French bulldog, Hank. We've lived in our 1930s semi in Addlestone, Surrey for five years, and share our reno progress on Instagram @thelatchet. WHAT WAS UPDATED? We removed the large understairs cupboard and added a smaller one, replaced the flooring, and put up statement wallpaper. WHY THE CHANGE? We had given the hallway a temporary makeover a few years ago, but decided it was time for a full redo to reflect the work we've put into decorating the rest of the house. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? Two weeks, from start to finish. TOTAL COST £1,069 After five years in their 1930s…

KITCHEN IDEAS DIY JOB ‘If you're looking to fit your own kitchen tap, the process itself is fairly straightforward. The key is making sure that your tap is the right type for your sink. You'll only be able to fit a mono mixer tap if you have a one-hole sink, for instance. Once you've got this figured out, there are a number of great tutorials out there that will make the fitting nice and smooth.' John Lawless, expert at Big Bathroom Shop If your sink and tap set-up is looking somewhat lacklustre, a smart new design will give your whole kitchen an instant update and a fresh look for the new year. Sinks come in lots of different materials and sizes to complement or contrast with your cabinets, while taps…

SHOPPING LIST ● Pallet wood ● crowbar or claw hammer ● sandpaper ● tape measure ● pencil ● jigsaw ● 1m × 25mm timber angle fillet ● wood glue ● wood screws ● combi drill ● wood stain or varnish ● paintbrush How to… 1 Begin by carefully prising the planks away from the pallet base using a crowbar or claw hammer. Once removed, take out any nails and sand the planks smooth. 2 From your pallet planks, cut four 25cm-long planks for the sides of the shelf, two 50cm-long planks for the front, and two 50cm-long planks for the back. 3 Measure the width of your planks. Now use the jigsaw to cut four internal supports from the timber angle fillet, each measuring twice the width of your planks.…

SHOPPING LIST ● Old coffee table or bench with metal frame ● screwdriver ● old rug, to fit your table or bench ● tape measure ● pencil ● 10mm-thick MDF sheet, to fit your table or bench ● jigsaw ● 200mm-thick upholstery foam, to fit your table or bench ● electric bread knife (optional) ● upholstery spray adhesive ● upholstery thread and needle ● scissors or craft knife ● staple gun How to… 1 Begin by carefully removing the table or bench top from the metal frame. Keep any screws safe, as you will need these later. 2 Measure the top of the frame and use a jigsaw to cut a sheet of MDF to the same size. 3 Cut a piece of upholstery foam to the same size as…

Create an everlasting display for your door, like Anthea's, with this simple wreath how-to SHOPPING LIST ● 30.5cm rattan grapevine wreath base ● secateurs or garden snips ● pliers ● florist wire ● selection of dried flowers, seed heads and grasses, such as: rose, amaranthus, hydrangea, hypericum, lavender, larkspur, statice, yarrow, pampas, bunny tails, oat, allium, teasel, honesty, old man's beard HOW TO… 1 Prepare and organise your longest stemmed florals to insert first. Carefully bunch these together, in bunches about the size of your hand, by winding florist's wire around the stems, then trim down stems where necessary using the secateurs. 2 Start intertwining some of the singular wispier foliage stems to the wreath base. For the more rigid ones you'll need to begin tightly securing them to the…

Last winter's sky-high fuel bills were a wake-up call for many of us, and with central heating and hot water accounting for over half the average home's energy use, making it more efficient and cheaper to run has become a top priority. Replacing the boiler is far from the only option – upgrading individual radiators and other heaters and improving insulation can make a substantial difference, too. From room-by-room solutions to installing the latest renewable systems, here's how to adopt the best possible heating plan. 1 SWITCH TO ELECTRIC RADIATORS Over 90% of British households have gas boilers with radiators. These radiators are filled with water that's heated by the boiler and travels through the pipework to each room, losing energy as it does so – an issue that's more prevalent…

Partner at Gascoines estate agents gascoines.co Partner at law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore ts-p.co.uk Property expert at propertyrescue.co.uk Director at Cheke & Co chartered surveyors chekes.co.uk What are the most important questions to ask when viewing a house? Luke Saywell, a partner at Gascoines who has been involved in the family business for 10 years, says… When viewing a house, it's easy to get swept up in the excitement but there are a few key questions to ask the agent or current owner before you make your decision. One potentially costly mistake is not asking about the boiler. Finding out the age of the boiler and the date of its last service will indicate if it needs replacing in the near future. Similarly, any work that's been done to…

Hot lines Disappointed by how boring our new multi-fuel burner looked against the wall, I decided to paint vertical lines of decreasing thickness in the same colour to add some style. I'm so pleased with the result – it really fits in with our 70s-inspired living room. Perri Dodgson, Northamptonshire Beth, creative designer, says: What a fab way to soften the impact of this dark feature in your bright room – so groovy! In the pink I recently moved into a new home, and I'm loving adding bright colours to my décor. This chest of drawers was my father's, and I decided to revamp it with a lick of paint and new knobs. A few months later I bought a bedside table from eBay and did the same! Annie Baker,…

Packing up bedding after seasonal guests? This clever vacuum tote is designed to hold the equivalent of two double duvets and two pillows. Get to those hard-to-dust spots with the long, fluffy fibres of this vibrant duster. It has a slim profile to easily squeeze between furniture and behind radiators, plus it's machine washable, so you can keep it as clean as it keeps your home. A duster refill is also available to buy separately, in case you need a spare when one of them is in the wash. Keep this dustpan and brush set close by to sweep up crumbs in a flash. The stylish beechwood design means you won't feel the need to hide it away in a cupboard.…

BEAT THE ENERGY price cap As Ofgem announces its latest price cap for 1st January-31st March, Andy Kerr, founder of energy experts BOXT, has this advice… The price cap is there to help prevent bills from sky-rocketing, but it's not the maximum a household will pay – you need to remain vigilant to avoid receiving an unexpectedly costly bill. Smart meters feed back to your supplier, so bills are more accurate. They also help you to understand your energy usage and identify ways to cut back. Although it's an upfront expense, upgrading your boiler could save you as much as £578 a year on bills, so is worth considering if you have an older model. To reduce energy usage, lower your thermostat by one degree, which will cut expenses by…

DECORATING IDEAS 1 A midnight blue tablescape will give your dinner party an indulgent, glamorous vibe. Lift it with gold and brass serveware 2 Add this sign to your ice bucket and encourage guests to top up their own fizz, leaving you free to mingle! 3 Get the party started from the moment guests walk in with a decorated hallway. Hang paper fans from banisters and group large honeycomb balls in pleasing clusters 4 Go for white crockery that you can use over and over, and mix it with something complementary that adds a little NYE sparkle, such as starry side plates 5 Gold, brass or bronze serveware will instantly lift a dining table scheme from everyday to something special 6 A sturdy tray is a hosting must-have – use…

SAVE Splash Spend ‘Animal motifs add personality and never fail to make me smile'…

BATHROOM IDEAS SERENE SCHEME Whether you want to embrace the period charm of your old property or are keen to add some character to your new-build home, the cottagecore look is a popular trend to follow, particularly when it comes to bathroom design. With our modern lives feeling busier than ever, having a tranquil space we can relax and unwind in is important, and what better way than to draw inspiration from serene country life? The key here is to look for traditional-style fixtures and fittings, and pair with timeless floral prints and a natural palette of warm, cosy colours. ‘A cottage bathroom should evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. Look for materials that diffuse light an create a relaxing ambience. Matt is preferable to gloss.' Emma Joyce, Brand Manager at…

DELICATE BALANCE You don't have to choose between delicate and bold hues in your home – you can have both! Like Nic, use different intensities of the same colours throughout, depending on the room. In Nic's home, dark green and mustard give the living room a cocooning vibe, while pastel versions of these colours make the bedroom feel light and bright…

Combine carefully considered statement pieces and tactile textures to get Katie's uncluttered interior style TIME TO INVEST For this look, rather than stocking up on lots of small accessories, splash out on key hero items that you'll keep for years – like Katie's chandelier, hanging chair and carved sideboard – to inject personality without adding lots of clutter…

Give your home a celebratory feel all year round, like Anthea, with glitzy accessories and glam animal prints DISCO DÉCOR You don't have to save the glitz for special occasions only. Dot metallic touches around your home to give it an opulent look every day – think gilt candle holders, door handles, mirrors, lamps, wall hooks, frames, and even disco balls!…

STRONG AS A BOX This sturdy storage seat measures 76cm wide and comes flat packed for easy self-assembly. Also available in grey Ashby large storage chest in White, £69, House and Homestyle SOFT OPTION The padding on this storage bench makes for a relaxing rest, and the modern design sits comfortably with virtually all décor styles Bench FSR63-W with cushion, £79.95, SoBuy CLEAN AND CLASSiC Keep your room clutter free with this ottoman bench, made with a solid pine seat and painted panelled pine sides Habitat Bournemouth storage bench, £150, Argos…

FOOD & DRINK Smoked salmon pancakes YOU WILL NEED ✔ 100g plain flour ✔ 1 large egg ✔ ½ tsp baking powder ✔ 100ml whole milk ✔ pinch of salt ✔ 150g crème fraîche ✔ 1 tbsp Tracklements strong horseradish cream ✔ zest and juice of ½ lemon ✔ sunflower or vegetable oil ✔ 200g smoked salmon ✔ dill fronds to garnish DIRECTIONS ■ Combine the flour, egg, baking powder, milk and a pinch of salt in a bowl, and whisk to a smooth batter. ■ In another bowl, mix together the crème fraîche, strong horseradish cream, lemon juice and zest, and stir to combine. ■ Set a frying pan over a medium heat and wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper. When hot, drop a dessert spoonful of batter…

CUT OUT & KEEP! Chicken and parsnip cobbler ■ PREPARATION TIME 25 minutes ■ COOKING TIME 35 minutes ■ SERVES 2 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 12g dried porcini mushrooms ✔ 2 leeks ✔ 1 carrot ✔ 1 celery stick ✔ 1 chicken stock cube ✔ olive oil ✔ 250g diced chicken leg ✔ bouquet garni ✔ 400g parsnips ✔ 1 lemon, juice and zest ✔ 150g plain flour ✔ 1 tsp baking powder ✔ salt ✔ 1 egg ✔ 200g crème fraîche ✔ fresh parsley DIRECTIONS ■ Soak the mushrooms in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain, squeeze out any remaining water and roughly chop. ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Thickly slice the leeks and carrot; thinly slice the celery. Dissolve the stock cube in 400ml…

TOP TIP This recipe uses frozen banana, which is a great way to reduce food waste – just peel and pop them in the freezer when they're about to turn I'm vegan friendly! How to make ■ PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes ■ SERVES 4 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 432g tin pineapple slices ✔ 20g fresh ginger, peeled and grated ✔ 1 frozen banana, roughly sliced ✔ 180g spinach ✔ 100ml unsweetened almond milk DIRECTIONS ■ Drain the pineapple slices but reserve the juice. If you want to garnish your drink, remove 1 pineapple slice and pat dry. ■ Pan-fry the pineapple slice in a dry pan, set over a medium heat, for 1 minute each side until golden and starting to caramelise. Chop and reserve for garnish. ■ Place the…

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