Author: News Room
Psychedelic patterns, plush carpets, and syncopated beats are among the pop-culture elements plucked from the 1970s that continue to captivate global audiences with the same nostalgia-packed power that crackling vinyl has over a new generation finding its groove. But 70s design in the Land Down Under saw a modernism largely inspired by coastal living, creature comforts, and a flowering of colorful, artistic expression a little less rigid than some of their western counterparts. Family-owned furniture brand King Living has produced some of Australia’s most memorable home furnishings, namely, the Award Sofa, which celebrated the company’s most significant seating launch in…
Home financing has a new look these days. The classic recipe—save up, grab a 30-year mortgage, pay it off slowly—is getting a makeover. Lenders are wrestling with tech breakthroughs, shifting buyer demands, and a bumpy economy, and the result is a wave of fresh ideas. Let’s unpack the trends shaping where this industry is headed. Digital Tools Take Over First up, technology’s stealing the show. Digital mortgage platforms have turned a slog of paperwork into a few taps on your phone. Companies like Quicken Loans let you apply, upload pay stubs, and lock in a rate without leaving your couch.…
As soon as the weather ever so slightly warms up, everyone’s mind turns to the great outdoors. If you have a garden or any form of an outdoor space, be it a balcony or a patio, it’s also the prime time to start thinking about kitting out that space in time for the impending sunshine and warm temps. But to make the task of finding the best outdoor furniture as easy as possible for you, I’ve searched high and low to find the best places where to buy garden furniture so that you don’t have to.Whether you’re after a new…
The White Company has unveiled its summer shop, and they’re championing one of 2025’s biggest emerging summer trends.Mediterranean-inspired styles have accounted for some of the hottest home decor trends of recent years, and this year our sights have been set on the Greek Isles – call it Mamma Mia core if you want. Coastal living rooms and coastal bedrooms are nothing new, but the White Company’s summer shop feels like a fresh way to embody this classic style.With fresh blue stripes, crisp linens and rustic rattan diningware, these are my top picks from The White Company summer shop – and…
At the tail end of last year, one of my favourite celebrity chefs Nigella Lawson shared that one of her ultimate kitchen appliances is a rice cooker, which she says she uses at least three times a week for quick, tasty lunches and dinners.Following in her footsteps, I had to test out this rice cooker from much-loved kitchen brand Lakeland to see whether it was worth the extra investment over just one of the best saucepans. Here’s why I’ve cleared a spot for it on my worktop.At a glanceWith this product, you get perfectly turned-out white or brown rice every…
If you’re looking to give your patio, conservatory or balcony a revamp this summer, then Lidl has just the thing for you. As part of their big Garden Event, they’ve launched wooden decking tiles to spruce up your outdoor space on a budget.The Livarno Home Wooden Decking Tiles (£16.99) are both a purse-friendly and practical solution to giving your patio ideas a makeover without the need for a full renovation. And in a sleek dark wooden colourway, they’ll make a stylish addition to a garden.The Livarno Home Wooden Decking Tiles are a great example of budget garden ideas, that can…
As the weather warms up, it’s impossible to resist the lure of the outdoors and the need to tackle maintenance tasks like how to clean porcelain patio tiles. After a winter without use, your patio tiles could probably do with a scrub to restore them to their former glory.How you clean a patio will depend on the material of the pavers you have. Porcelain patio tiles are one of the best materials for paving because of their durability and how easy they are to maintain. They should be cleaned every few months through the summer to keep them in top…
Most everyday objects go largely unnoticed – switch plates, coat hooks, salt shakers. Functional and familiar, they’ve often remained unchanged for decades, serving their purpose without much thought. But every so often, a design comes along that challenges convention. CIRCUIT, a fruit bowl designed by Swiss designer Renaud Defrancesco, does just that, reimagining both materiality and function. Inspired by marble runs, it transforms a simple storage vessel into a dynamic display of freshness. Available in two shapes (O and S) and crafted from cork, oak, and maple wood, CIRCUIT rethinks the traditional fruit bowl, where produce is often piled together,…
Ninja air fryers are endlessly popular for good reason. They cook food quickly and well, are packed with innovative features and are easy to use. As Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, I think Ninja is far and away the air fryer brand to beat.You can’t escape that it is also one of the most expensive. The priciest model will set you back a huge £269.99, though it’s no coincidence that this is the product that I’ve rated better than any other in our list of the best air fryers for years now (a fact you can read all about in…
Mothers’ Day, also known as Mothering Sunday, falls on 30 March this year in the UK. Celebrated since the Middle Ages, the original purpose of the day was to enable people who’d had to move away from their hometown to return and visit their mother church, as well as their family. The date moves around, as it falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent which is also variable. The traditional Mothers’ Day gift is flowers, usually daffodils or other spring blooms. This year, though, why not go a bit more creative with our bright, modern home decor ideas? 1. Monochrome…