Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews have sold their incredible £5.25million London home in a search for a bigger property for their family.

The couple, who have been married since 2018, share Theodore, six, Gigi, four, and Otto, two, have left their stunning two-storey Battersea home behind after agreeing that they need more than 4,000 sq ft for their family.

Here, we take a look at the former Made In Chelsea star’s home he shared with Vogue and their kids…

Spencer previously revealed how his interior plans for the property were shot down by his wife, who found his idea ‘uncomfortable’.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Spencer, 36, said: ‘I thought it would be cool to have this fun, New York studio vibe. Exposed brick, an orange resin floor, motorbikes indoors, supercool man cave stuff – but it was outgunned.’

Vogue, 39, wasn’t too pleased with the idea, hitting back: ‘I absolutely hated it. It was so uncomfortable. And then I had to pay to get wood flooring instead.’

The property clearly had some unique touches throughout, however, with a selection of colourful artwork by Irish artists including Chloe Early and Conor Harrington.

A bright orange sectional sofa also took centre stage in the house, adorned with turquoise striped cushions.

The couple also enjoyed family time in a huge 750 sq ft open plan kitchen and living room which opened up into a stunning terrace with outdoor furniture and a grill.

The primary bedroom of the property included an en-suite, with two additional bedrooms throughout the home.

The modern space also included a fully-equipped home gym for the fitness fanatic couple, as well as a home cinema.

The house hit the market for a cool £5.25 million as the couple, who also have a property in Vogue’s native Dublin, planned their move to a new forever home.

Spencer recently revealed that he won’t be leaving his huge fortune to his kids, saying them inheriting the huge amount of money could be detrimental.

‘Suffer is too strong a word, but it’s very important that my kids have to challenge themselves and experience things on their own,’ he stated.

‘There’s no point in doing well in life and then giving it all to your kids. It’s doing them a huge disservice.’

Spencer is the son of multimillionaire Eden Rock hotelier David Matthews. He attended the same school as Prince William – Eton College – where fees are currently £63,000 a year.

He has gone on to launch his own business, CleanCo, which sells alcohol-free spirits. Alongside the company, he has capitalised on the interest in him with podcasts and TV appearances. He has been a part of Celebrity MasterChef, The Jump, and Watchdog. Spencer is also an investor in his parent’s hotel, Eden Rock in the Caribbean.

Due to the multiple ventures, he has been able to amass quite the fortune – Spencer is estimated to be worth around £12.5 million according to The Sun.

Talking further about his decision, Spencer praised comedian Jimmy Carr, who became a father when his son Rockefeller was born in 2019, for his standpoint.

‘Jimmy quite eloquently talks about trust fund kids who are given everything, and he sees them as just being really unfortunate, actually and I would completely agree,’ he said.

The 52-year-old previously claimed on the Diary of a CEO podcast that children who inherit large sums of money are often ‘mentally tortured’.

‘Having stuff isn’t fun. Getting stuff is fun, right? It’s not the pursuit of happiness, it’s the happiness of the pursuit,’ he reasoned.

Spencer shared similar sentiments: ‘If you’re a young man who’s just given everything, or a young woman, who’s just given everything, you may not ever understand the need to work because you have what you think you want, and then, therefore, you won’t ever feel proud of yourself.

‘You won’t ever have a sense of achievement.’

Meanwhile, Vogue’s net worth is estimated to be over £3 million thanks to her various TV and radio gigs, her own tan range, Bare By Vogue, and a huge deal with Fairy which reportedly brought her in £1.4 million alone last year.

The couple have recently been forced to deny rumours that their marriage is over, with Vogue taking to social media to hit back at the ‘cruel’ claims.

Sharing a montage of them together, she wrote: ‘It’s with great sadness that I have to let you know that Spen and I are NOT breaking up!

‘I usually avoid addressing baseless and cruel rumours but this just keeps coming up. It’s disappointing to see this narrative being pushed almost daily when it’s absolutely not true and much more importantly, I don’t want my children hearing these lies in the playground.

‘We’re not sure what the angle is or where it’s coming from but the whole thing feels very strange and mean.’

She reassured fans that they are ‘very happily married and in love’ but wanted to ‘post the truth’ to put an end to the speculation.

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From affordable homeware to beauty essentials to accessories, Primark has long been one of the go-to high street destinations for affordability.

But there’s one lesser-known shop taking over UK streets and shopping centres alike that’s slowly becoming the talk of the town, stocking everything from lamps to kitchen accessories to storage solutions.

Ever heard of Miniso? Starting out in China as a chain specialising in household and consumer goods, it’s since expanded worldwide to include more than 6,000 shops across 100 countries.

In the UK alone, there are already 27 stores, including one on London’s Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Camden, as well as locations in Brighton, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Manchester and Leeds.

Plus, a new location on the bustling Princes Street in Edinburgh opened earlier this month, marking the first of its kind in Scotland.

So, what can you get at Miniso? Prices start as small as £1, including things like lemon-patterned wire storage baskets and dustproof containers, so if you’re looking to add a few trinkets to your home office, now’s your chance.

Need to up your cleaning game? There’s plenty in this realm on offer, including handsomely priced cleaning brushes and sponges, as well as Hello Kitty-themed teaspoons, bento boxes and cookie cutters for the wider kitchen cupboard.

Miniso is famed for its brand collaborations, with ranges including Sanrio, Barbie, Minions, Pokémon and Disney, as well as the popular ‘blind box,’ which gives shoppers the chance to purchase a goody bag with a bunch of mystery offerings, including the Shrek (£13.99), Sanrio characters (£11), and My Melody Afternoon Tea collections (£19).

As such, there’s been plenty of hype on social media about Miniso – with many fawning over the collabs in particular.

‘This store is literally the cutest thing I’ve ever been in,’ @freyaheath told her TikTok fans of her visit to the brand’s Trafford Centre location up in Manchester.

‘The little keyrings that they had – I wanted to buy them all. They also had these little figures you could get, and they did Toy Story, [Lilo and] Stitch, Disney Princess, Care Bears…they were just too cute.’

Elsewhere, @gothiquegirly filmed herself taking her partner to a Miniso store, joking: ‘me taking him to the pinkest, cutest, girliest store in the mall,’ while @rinawyd said: ‘buying everything my girlfriend touches from Miniso.’

Three words: take our money.

This article was originally published on October 16, 2024.

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When moving into a new home, figuring out what to do with the space you have can be a challenge.

But the internet is in a full blown meltdown over this nook in someone’s home, which is smaller than the width of a door frame.

The location of the property is unknown, but the room in question seems to be a bedroom, and the narrow corridor between the two wardrobes is a head-scratcher for even the most experienced interior designer.

A Redditor shared the image of the space in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, asking: ‘What should someone do with this space.’ It received a whopping 111,000 upvotes and 38,000 comments, as people tried desperately to come up with some use for it.

And, there were some pretty ingenious suggestions.

One Redditor, @i-deology, said: ‘Build a fake wall which is actually a secret door. And this is your little secret room if your house gets invaded, or the in-laws are in town.’

Then, @tokinUP added: ‘Put the secret door inside the closet’s side wall so the outside can be perfectly flush painted over drywall with furniture in front of it or something.’

There were also some pretty terrifying suggestions too. ‘Put a doll sitting in an old chair at the end of it,’ said @ODarrow, while another wrote: ‘Stand in it and scare people when they walk past.’

Others took the mick out of the current rental market, saying: ‘Bedroom for rent. Cosy space. £800/month. Lots of light.’

A designated crying corner, miniature bowling lanes, and putting greens were some more ideas floated in the comments section, while someone simply questioned how the decorator managed to paint the alcove without getting it on their front and back simultaneously.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, with a very narrow corridor of dead space that needs a purpose, don’t stress. Metro enlisted the brains of four interior designers to see what they would do with the strange space if given the chance.

A cosy reading area

Johanna Constantinou, interior trends expert at Tapi Carpets and Flooring says: ‘A mini reading nook is a great idea. Install a built-in cushioned bench or a small chair, add a plush runner or soft carpeting for warmth, and use floating bookshelves for storage.

‘String lights or a small wall sconce can create a relaxing ambience, making this a charming spot to get lost in a book.’

Try an ‘accent corner’

You’ve heard of accent wall, but what about an accent nook?

Paulina Wojas, interior designer at Stunning Chairs, suggests letting the nook simply have its moment. ‘Rather than using it as a functional area, it could be used as an accent corner, transforming a basic hallway into an aesthetically pleasing space,’ she explains.

‘Coat the walls in vibrant, on-trend colours that resonate with your taste. Opt for light tones to create the illusion of a bigger space or darker hues for a cosy aesthetic.

‘Introduce natural elements by adding plants or wooden features; opt for wood shelving for added texture and depth.’

Add some quirky seating

Deirdre McGettrick, home interiors expert and co-founder and CEO of Ufurnish.com suggests making it a seating area with a difference.

‘Knock out the wall for one of the wardrobes, then insert the equivalent of bleacher seats (steps) at basketball venues which incorporates storage and a seating area.

‘The wall with the remaining wardrobe would make a great canvas to do a mural on.’

And if you don’t fancy getting heavy handed with a hammer and knocking any walls down?

‘You can create the step effect right up to the window in the existing space, allowing for each step to pull out and have storage contained therein.’ 

A stylish storage solution

For interior designer Rossella Marzocchella, at Decor and Decor, it’s a perfect place for storage.

‘Use the space for a run of matching baskets or wooden crates,’ she tells Metro. ‘It’s a great spot for storing things you don’t need every day like seasonal accessories, spare toiletries, cleaning supplies, even rolls of wrapping paper.

‘Pick natural materials like rattan, wood or canvas to soften the edges of a tight space while deep storage baskets or crates will give the illusion it isn’t as long as it looks. Using crates with wheels, built-in handles or pull-out drawers also makes it far more user-friendly day to day.’

A secret space

Amy Wilson, interior designer at 247 Blinds, would take a similar approach, using the area for storage, but she suggests concealing the area too.

‘It presents a great opportunity for creating a secret, hidden storage area which could be stylishly concealed with full length curtains,’ she explains.

‘I would start by mounting a curtain pole just above the opening, extending it slightly wider than the gap itself as this will help the curtains to drape more naturally and not feel cramped.

‘Choose full length curtains which gently pool on the floor – this will not only hide the storage but also adds a touch of elegance.’

Knock down some walls

Architect Bill Webb, at Able Partners, suggests altering the space completely.

‘Create a pop-up lounge, by cutting out the cupboards and making a small pair of built-in armchairs with a slide-out storage unit that also acts as a table,’ he suggests.

‘This would allow the homeowner to enjoy the space by creating a sociable area for entertaining.

‘Alternatively, with a few added soft furnishings, the user could create a cosy reading nook to take advantage of the natural light.’

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On the hunt for the perfect spring bedding set? Dunelm is back at it again with the affordable interiors, and we need every single colour of these stunning sheets from the budget brand.

The perfect example of affordable homeware that looks luxe without the eye-watering price tag, Dunelm’s Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set has quickly become a viral best-seller from the brand, described as ‘like designer sheets’.

Even better? They cost just £40 for a double set, which includes a duvet cover and two pillowcases. Considering it looks like a luxury brand, we reckon that’s pretty good.

Dunelm Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set in Sage – Double

Ideal for creating a designer look on a budget, the Billie set features a gorgeous textured, matelassé design that makes it look far more expensive than it is. The double set also comes with two matching pillowcases.

shop £40

‘The best Duvet Cover set I have owned.’ Raved one impressed shopper. ‘I have previously bought sets from well-known stores and always been very happy with the quality and design of those, but this is the best one!

‘The design and quality is superb. Washes well with no ironing. I have the best night’s sleep and love the cushioned pattern.’

Ideal for creating a designer look on a budget, the Billie set features a gorgeously textured, matelassé design that makes it look far more expensive than it is.

Better still, it’s made from a 50% recycled polyester and 50% polycotton blend which makes it lightweight yet cosy, ensuring you don’t overheat when you snuggle up beneath it.  

But what really sets this Dunelm duvet set apart is its wide range of colours. Available in Ochre, Natural, Sage, Blue, Black, Emerald, Grey and White, you’re sure to find a hue to suit your bedroom.

We’ve currently got our eye on the Sage and Ochre shades, both bright, uplifting and ideal for spring homeware styling, but when winter rolls back around we’ll be picking up Emerald and Blue.

Perfect for those who want to make the job of changing the duvet just that little bit easier, fans are delighted by its no-iron material, which creates a put-together look without any hassle.

Better still, the duvet set is fully machine washable for easy cleaning and maintenance, complete with button fastenings to ensure the inner duvet stays put within the sheets.

Dunelm shoppers seem to be loving the sheets, too, with over 1400 rating it a full five stars, calling it the ‘best duvet set I have ever owned’ and ‘so luxurious’.

‘I really love this duvet set. The material is so soft and touchable, and the design is really interesting.’ Wrote one impressed five-star reviewer. ‘I bought the set in ‘sage’ but there is such a good choice of colours to suit everyone. The price is also very good for the amazing quality.’

Another added: ‘This duvet looks beautiful on the bed, washes and dries in no time, and no ironing is required. The best duvet I’ve ever had. I have 1 green one and 2 white ones as they are so good.’

‘I love this duvet set. I had just decorated my spare room, and this set looks beautiful in there! My guests complimented me on the set and asked where I had bought it from! It’s a really good quality.’ Wrote a third.

We may need this affordable Dunelm set in every colour…

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When moving into a new home, there’s one place you often find yourself: Ikea.

It’s a go-to when you’re searching for furniture that looks chic and doesn’t break the bank, but shopping here inevitably means spending untold hoursputting your flat pack finds together (the stress of which often results in an argument).

If this trade-off fills you with dread, you may want to listen up, as there’s alittle-known furniture shop where you can get bargain prices on all sorts of homeware pieces — with no assembly required.

TikToker Haylii Ann, 21, recently shared her trip to Furniture Outlet, a hidden gem with locations across Essex and South London.

Having recently bought her first home, Haylii ventured to her local branch in Colchester to kit the place out.

‘Everyone should know about this!,’ she captioned the video, which has racked up over 100,000 views. ‘Can also say I spent hours in here.’

In the clip, Haylii’s wanders around the giant warehouse packed with discounted furniture, telling the camera: ‘There is everything here – so many sofas, lights, lamps.’

Among the plethora of items on sale, she points out a minimalist white coffee table for £35, another for £45, and a TV stand priced at £49. In comparison, Ikea only has two coffee tables available for less than £50.

These aren’t just one-off items like in a charity shop or thrift store either, as Furniture Outlet sells sets of matching furniture, with items slashed from more than £700 down to £300.

Based on Haylii’s video, sofas seem to be around the £500 mark, while a dining table or a set of two matching chairs cost £129 each.

And the bargains don’t stop there, with the content creator picking out a gorgeous charcoal bedside table at just £39 alongside white wardrobes and cabinets for £119.

‘I love them,’ she comments. ‘Definitely gives the Ikea Pax wardrobes but without the price.’

Like at the Swedish retailer, everything available in Furniture Outlet stores can be taken home that same day, but the company also offers local delivery.

Where is Furniture Outlet?

While Haylii visited the Colchester branch of Furniture Outlet, which opened in May last year, there are a selection of others throughout the South East that might be closer to home for you.

The retailer – which keeps costs down by partnering directly with major manufacturers – currently has four locations throughout Essex, with Dagenham being the closest to London

However, this month the company will be opening another store in Charlton, near Greenwich, so it’ll be easier than ever for citydwellers to get their hands on the buys.

While you can also order online, it’s worth checking if you’re eligible for delivery before checking out, as only certain postcodes local to each warehouse are covered.

Is Furniture Outlet worth a visit?

Haylii certainly recommended the retailer, calling it ‘bl**dy brilliant’ and ‘a slay’.

Others in the comments agreed too, including @tahminaa_awais who said, ‘This store is amazing,’ and @_holliegracex who added: ‘This is insane for prices.’

When it came to Google reviews the outlet received similar praise, with one customer writing: ‘Reasonable prices and large collection. Better than other furniture shops.’

‘Absolutely incredible,’ said another, in particular for its ‘fabulous’ quality products.

As with any outlet store, there’s no guarantee you’ll find what you’re looking for – especially since new stock comes in daily here. If you’re prepared to take that risk and love a good bargain though, Furniture Outlet could end up being your new favourite treasure trove.

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In a world where renovation costs are constantly soaring, driven by inflation, labour shortages and rising material prices, many homeowners are coming up with budget-friendly ways to breathe new life into their homes.

Katie Brown, 35, and her partner Robin McGill, 38, have taken on this very challenge in their own property, transforming their outdated kitchen cabinetry for a remarkable £250, saving themselves thousands of pounds in the process.

When the couple bought their semi-detached Victorian property in Kettering in 2020, they knew that it would need updating.

‘It was structurally sound and had some of its original features,
such as the tiled hallway flooring, but it was really dated,’ says Katie. ‘I don’t think it had been touched since the 90s!’

Their plan was to slowly update the home themselves in their spare time, balancing their day jobs and caring for their two-year-old son William, while documenting their DIY venture on Katie’s Instagram account @sweethomeketteringa.

‘We’ve mainly painted and decorated, reintroducing Victorian features, such as picture rails in the living room, bigger ceiling roses and restoring fireplaces in all the bedrooms, along with new flooring,’ says Katie, who admits they were both complete DIY novices when they bought their home, with Robin even struggling to put up a shelf initially.

‘To keep costs down, we attempted most of the projects ourselves, reusing and recycling materials where possible and learning new skills along the way,’ she says.

And when it came to the outdated kitchen, their do-it-yourself approach was no different.

‘Originally, we thought we’d have to rip out the kitchen because we
weren’t fans of the style,’ says Katie.

‘But after seeing other homeowners updating cabinet door fronts on social media, we decided to cover the dated wood carving detail on the doors with a flat piece of MDF that was more to our style.’

‘It’s a solid wood kitchen with soft-close drawer mechanisms. It didn’t make sense to rip it out and replace it with something potentially worse,’ says Robin.

The couple started by identifying which cupboards weren’t required – there were too many cluttering up 
the room – ripping out as many as they could and then patching up the side panels.

Next, they measured up the front panels, ordering them ready-cut from cutmy.co.uk, and attaching them using a no-nail adhesive from Wickes.

After priming and caulking
the edges, they finished them in Rust-Oleum’s kitchen cupboard paint in Pinewoods. For the splashback and worktop, the couple initially wanted to keep the timber and replace the tiles.

However, on inspection they realised the tile edging was superglued on to the tiles and the worktop, and removing the tiles would cause significant damage. The cost of new worktops, as well, was enough for them to adjust their plans.

‘Instead, we painted them using Rust-Oleum’s Porcelain and Happy-as-a-Clam kitchen tile paint. It’s a great paint brand, you don’t even have to add a sealant,’ she says.

Using Frogtape, Katie marked out the zigzag pattern and restored the grout lines using a grout pen.

The couple did hire professionals to sand down the worktop, which had a thick orange varnish, but Robin added a top coat of Osmo oil himself to save money.

‘We won’t need to sand it down again, just re-oil it occasionally,’ he says. ‘But it’s not a labour intensive job – it only took about ten minutes.’

For the dated glass cabinet doors, Katie applied a ribbed glass film to modernise the look.

‘It was super-easy,’ she says. After cleaning the existing glass, she measured and cut the film to size, sprayed the sticky side with a soapy water solution and positioned it using a squeegee to remove any bubbles underneath.

Robin then trimmed off any excess film. ‘I think it only took about 15 minutes in total,’ says Katie.

Next on the job list was replacing the old carpet with a new child-friendly and room-appropriate flooring. ‘The carpet was laid directly on top of an uneven and cracked concrete sub-floor. If you rolled a marble it would roll all over the place,’ says Katie.

After receiving a quote for £800 to re-screed the floor, the couple opted to give it a go themselves, following YouTube and TikTok tutorials.

‘It wasn’t that difficult and only took us about two hours,’ says Robin.

They replaced the carpet with 
a good quality vinyl flooring purchased on sale from the local Kettering Carpet Supply – always mindful of their budget.

‘Our main aim was to create something bright, fun and inviting, but also hard-wearing and easy to clean and maintain having a young family,’ says Katie.

‘Each project has taken time, as we generally complete them pay-cheque to pay-cheque. Plus, we do around 95% of the work ourselves fitting it around work and family life. We love putting our own stamp on 
our property.

‘My main advice for those who want to give it a go themselves is to focus on preparation. Don’t skip the small steps because you’ll regret it later,’ 
she says.

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Would you dare to paint your dining room neon green? What about pop a bathtub in the garden? Maybe you’re a DIY genius who can transform your kitchen for under £1,000?

If you’ve got a knack for interior design, it’s time to put your talent in the spotlight.

In partnership with Metro, the ufurnish.com Home Awards 2025 are launching today, showcasing the homeowners, influencers, innovators, retailers and manufacturers transforming living spaces across the UK.

Last year’s winners included artist Daniel Bland and his Wonderland-esque hallway, and interior designer Sally Wort, whose yellow-drenched back garden, gave us us some serious interiors (or, rather, exteriors) envy.

From jaw-dropping before-and-after renovations to effortlessly stylish spaces on a budget, the awards recognise outstanding talent across 20 categories covering interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories.

Whether you’re adept with a drill, a keen gardener, or simply enjoy a good home makeover, this is your chance to open the door to your unique home.

Need some inspo? We’ve rounded up nine winners from last year’s awards to get those creative juices flowing.

Or at the very least, it’s a page of very pretty homes, which we love all the same.

Best dining room

Anna Jacobs (@AnnaLyseJacobs) wanted the dining room in her rental flat to look organic while exuding a New York loft-style edginess.

She utilised turquoise green lampshades from IKEA to soften the bright green paint and upcycled the dining table she was given by her landlord with black marble paint, saving it from the dump.

The end result? A ‘delicious’ space to eat in. We can’t disagree. Feast your eyes on that!

Best hallway

Daniel Bland’s (@BlandDesign) moody hallway is something we’d never get tired of looking at. Look at that painstakingly hand-painted checkerboard tile effect floor, how the glossy black paint on the bannister and stairs bounces off light, the gallery wall leaning up to the ceiling utilising unused space and guiding the eye. Those crystal-like pendant lights are sculptures within themselves.

Best garden

Sally Wort’s (@SallyDoesSassy) garden makes us happy with its playfulness. From the bright yellow table cloth on the picnic bench, to the disco balls hanging from above, novelty lettuce bowls, leopard print going from inside to outside and the waterproof covering ensuring that nothing gets wet, this is the perfect setting for a summer garden party.

Best interior Instagram

There’s a frame in Hannah Clarke’s (@Little_Edwardian_Semi) living room that says: ‘Yes Oui’. Yes to what? We can only assume DIY, colour, pattern and life, of course!

Even better is that Hannah’s tutorial-filled Instagram encourages many to embrace her brand of colourful maximalism and to create visually exciting and budget-friendly spaces of your own.

Best nursery and children’s bedroom

Augustine Atobatele’s children’s room (@Studio_Augustine) is as beautiful as it is functional. Part-sleep space, part-play space, and filled with hidden storage. Did you notice the subtle nod to Spiderman with the spider-web climbing frame built into the bed?

Best on a budget

Claire Douglas (@ClaireDouglasStyling) proves that bespoke and stylish can be budget-friendly. Claire kitted out a chic home by scouring Facebook marketplace for rare finds, foraging for branches and buying home accessories from charity shops, showing home styling on a shoestring budget doesn’t need to be boring.

Best living room

Glen Handley’s (@Inside.Number.Twelve) space showcases both glamour and earthy charm. Soft, textured furnishings, like the rust-checkered rug, enhance the cosy vibe, while the earthenware and cacti usher in more natural elements. The gallery wall and dripping gold paint coffee table add an artistic touch, and the sea green sofa ties it all together.

Best bedroom

You’d never believe it, but this cozy guest room designed by Rachel Byrne (@RaysMoneyPit) was once a garage. Now a sanctuary of rest, the calming green walls set a serene tone while pops of color add vibrancy and warmth.

Best bathroom

The bathroom is often considered an after-thought when it comes to decorating, which can lead to a lack of personal touches, outdated aesthetics and an overall less inviting space.

Not Nikki Shore’s (@Weeny_Victorian_House_In_Ware) art-deco, forest-inspired ensuite. This green and pink oasis proves the power a little pizzazz can bring to a room, no matter the area of your house.

Get involved

Do you have a stunning home transformation to share? Or do you love discovering beautiful interiors?

Whether you’re an entrant or a design enthusiast, this is your chance to celebrate the best in British home design, and vote for your favourite spaces in the Public Vote Category.

‘I’m thrilled to be partnering with Ufurnish for their awards,’ Metro’s editor-in-chief, Deborah Arthurs, said as the 2025 entries opened. ‘Ufurnish brings a fresh, innovative approach to the world of furniture and design and is a great fit for Metro and our audience, who are incredibly engaged with our interiors content and loyal readers of our successful Homes & Property sections. Our readers are always looking for new ideas and, as we expand our 360 coverage across all our platforms, we’re excited to bring them even more of what they love.’

Meet the judges

Deborah Arthurs – Editor-in-Chief of Metro and home & interiors enthusiast.

Barbara Chandler – One of the UK’s most respected interior journalists.

Roddy Clarke – Design writer for The Financial Times and Forbes

Max McMurdo – TV presenter, author and Dr of Sustainable Design

Eva Sonaike – Luxury homeware designer

Jayne Dowle – Award-winning homes and gardens journalist

Nicki Bamford-Bowes – Interior and furniture designer and BBC’s Interior Design Masters contestant

Deirdre McGettrick – Founder of interior technology platform ufurnish.com and founder of the ufurnish.com Home Awards.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

For years, Primark fans have begged for a nationwide Click and Collect option to make their shopping experience easier.

And now, the retailer has finally answered the call.

Following a trial where around a third of stores began offering the service on a limited range (and a rush of orders led the website to crash), it’s set to be launched across the country over the next few months.

Primark has confirmed it will offer Click and Collect in all 186 UK stores by summer, with 18 locations being added to the list last week as part of the staggered rollout.

Customers can browse and order from thousands of products across women’s, men’s, kids clothing and homeware on the Primark website, before picking up their items in store from two days later, at a time that suits them.

The service also gives shoppers access to buys they might not otherwise be able to get in their local store, including Primark’s new adaptive clothing range, specially designed around the needs of those living with a disability.

It’ll come as welcome news for the numerous X users who urged the brand to bring it to their local stores, with @abbigabbitalkswho writing: ‘Primark bringing click and collect?? Need that.’

‘Finally Primark are doing a proper click and collect,’ rejoiced @mxriepriv alongside a happy tears emoji, while @_akabambi added: ‘Primark offering click and collect is so dangerous for my bank account.’

Those who had tried the service sung its praises too.

‘Click and collect is game changing,’ said @JessCCorcoran. ‘No more fighting the folded shelves of either XS or XL.’

Kari Rodgers, UK Retail Director at Primark, commented: ‘We know that our customers love the convenience that Click and Collect offers, as well as the opportunity to access ranges otherwise only found in larger stores.

‘With the rollout now due to complete in time for summer, we hope this will help make summer holiday shopping that little bit easier.’

This follows a period of expansion from the brand, where £100 million was invested into upgrading existing stores and opening new ones.

As part of the plan, Primark Westfield Stratford will be doubled in size to a behemoth 81,000 sq ft – making it the second-biggest in the country – and branches in Epsom, Bury St. Edmunds, Teesside Park and Glasgow Fort are due to hit the high street.

The retail giant also announced its first-ever standalone homeware store, due to open in Belfast this month.

Fountain House will feature an even bigger assortment of Primark’s beloved interiors range at the same bargain prices, with reed diffusers for as little as 80p and towels from £1.80 alongside larger furniture items like £50 storage benches and £45 side tables.

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Holly Willoughby is back at it again – revealing another stunningcollection with everyone’s favourite homeware hub: Dunelm.

An extension of Holly’s previous Dunelm collections, this new homeware edit features everything from bedding and curtains to cushions, all boasting Holly’s signature striking floral patterns.

Floral motifs and botanical trails feature across the gorgeous collection, with a focus on fresh spring colours across soft, luxurious fabrics you’ll love filling your spaces with.

Think: spring florals, fresh hues, vines, petals and so much more. Plus, with prices starting at just £14, the range wont break the bank, either.

Holly Willoughby said: ‘The new collection I have been working on with Dunelm aims to bring nature into the home – creating a calming atmosphere.

Holly Willoughby Blossoming Trail 100% Cotton Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set

We love the look of this Blossoming Trail Duvet Cover Set, which features delicate floral trails in soft blush and cream tones, set against a sage green backdrop – perfect for creating a tranquil space. Its also been crafted from luxuriously soft 100% cotton with a generous 200 thread count.

shop from £50

‘The soft, natural tones are inspired by the world around us, and I’m really excited to be releasing a collection that people can add to their homes to truly unwind and feel at peace.’

We’ve got our eye on the Blossoming Trail 100% Cotton Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set, a stunning floral bedding set boasting hues of sage and fresh pink and cream petals, and crafted from luxuriously soft 100% cotton with a generous 200 thread count.

Another chic piece from the collection is the Lotus Garden Cushion. This beautiful, eye-catching design features herons and water lilies to bring a chic, exotic feel to your interiors.

Emma Anthony, Head of Design at Dunelm added: ‘We’re thrilled to work again with Holly on this latest collection.

‘The range perfectly reflects the beauty of spring and summer and is a true celebration of style and elegance – we’re so excited to see our customers embrace it in their homes.’

Ready to explore the collection for yourself? Explore our top picks from the Holly Willoughby x Dunelm edit below.

Holly Willoughby Exotic Bloom Pencil Pleat Curtains

These Exotic Bloom Pencil Pleat Curtains are the perfect way to bring a sophisticated touch to any room, featuring a fresh, hand-painted floral design in beautiful tones of blues and greens on a blue background.

shop from £55

Holly Willoughby Lotus Garden Cushion

Bring a touch of the exotic into your home with this Lotus Garden Cushion, a soft and vibrant addition to everything from the bed to the sofa. This cushion showcases bright, exotic birds and lush foliage, allowing you to bring the beauty of nature indoors.

shop £26

Holly Willoughby Floral Sketch 100% Cotton Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set

Give your bedding a refresh with the help of this Floral Sketch 100% Cotton Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set. Featuring a hand-sketched floral design in greens and pinks, and printed on a crisp white 200 thread count cotton percale, the reversible set is the perfect way to brighten up your interiors.

shop from £40

Holly Willoughby Blossoming Trail Sage 100% Cotton Oxford Pillowcase

Grab yourself an oxford pillowcase to match your bedding for just £15. Made from 100% cotton with a 200 thread count, this pillowcase boasts a sophisticated floral design in soft pinks on a warm sage background, ideal from bringing a sophisticated touch to your bedscape.

shop £15

Holly Willoughby Dramatic Bloom Pencil Pleat Curtains

Opt for loud prints with the Dramatic Bloom Pencil Pleat Curtains. Made from a luxurious velvet fabric, these curtains offer timeless elegance and durability, boasting large painted blooms rich in colour and detail for a dramatic look.

shop from £45

Holly Willoughby Dramatic Bloom Cushion

This sweet cushion features large, bright blooms with a velvet look and feel – perfect for bringing some life to your indoor spaces.

shop £26

We need everything.

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Dunelm is set to launch an unmissable sale ahead of Christmas with prices slashed by up to half price. 

The Dunelm sale will kickstart on Christmas Eve and see products reduced both online, as well as in store, so it is prime time to shop last minute Christmas gifts – even if they are for you. 

Dunelm is a popular shopping destination to buy home furniture, whether it is for the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or garden. 

So, if you are looking for insulating bedding to snuggle up in over the winter months, upgrade your home office, or give your lounge a new lease of life, the Dunelm sale is the prime time to do so. 

Plus, it is the ideal time to stock up on kitchenware essentials, or replace your worn out pots, pans, and other utensils. 

And, if you are hosting guests this Christmas it’s the ideal time to stock up on spare bath towels and crockery too. 

Though Dunelm’s sale lands on Christmas Eve, the store is offering speedy delivery options, including Click and Collect within two hours, so you still have time to wrap those gifts and relax with your favourite Christmas movie before the big day. 

With plenty of products reduced, we have whittled down our personal favourites in the Dunelm sale. 

Joy Embroidered Cushion

Add a touch of festive charm to your home with the Joy Embroidered Cushion. Featuring a colourful embroidered design with a joyful message (get it?), this rectangular cushion is a simple and low-cost way to brighten any room in the home. The soft fabric and plush filling make it both stylish and comfortable, ideal for brightening up sofas, armchairs, or beds this season.

BUY NOW FOR £8 (WAS £16)

Set of 3 Round Purity Baskets

The Set of 3 Round Purity Baskets is the perfect set to help organise the home. Designed with a clean, minimalist, Scandi-inspired aesthetic, these versatile woven baskets are perfect for storing everything from toys to laundry. These baskets are sturdy, durable, and practical. Plus, the nesting design ensures easy storage, even when not in use.They can be styled side by side, or in different rooms in the house.

BUY NOW FOR £15 (WAS £30)

Montreal 12 Piece Dinner Set

Elevate your dining experience with the Montreal 12 Piece Dinner Set, or invest in the basic essentials to fill your kitchen cupboards. This contemporary stoneware collection includes four dinner plates, four side plates, and four bowls, all finished in a sleek, modern design in a deep teal hue. The 12-piece set is not only chic, but durable and dishwasher-safe, which makes this a triple threat in our kitchenware collection.

BUY NOW FOR £42 (WAS £60)

Apollo Vintage Velvet 3 Seater Sofa

A sofa is the missing piece to make a house a home in my humble opinion. The Apollo Vintage Velvet 3 Seater Sofa offers comfort and luxury as this design has been upholstered in premium quality velvet. It boasts classic design features, such as plush cushioning for comfort and support, sturdy wooden legs. The set includes two back cushions, as well as two side cushions to prop up against the arm rest for optimum comfort and warmth. It comes in six shades to suit any colour scheme, and is perfect for curling up to watch your favourite festive film.

BUY NOW FOR £799.20 (WAS £999)

Egyptian Cotton Towel

Upgrade your bathroom essentials with the luxurious Egyptian Cotton Towel. Made from high-quality cotton for exceptional softness and absorbency, this towel is perfect for adding a spa-like touch to your routine. Available in a variety of colors, as well as sizes, it’s a must-have for your bathroom. Prices vary depending on the towel you purchase, but I am stocking up on the face cloth, hand towel, bath towel, as well as the supersize versions to achieve a hotel-like aesthetic in my home.

BUY NOW FOR £9.60 (WAS £12)

It goes without saying you have got to shop quickly so not to miss out on the sale prices.

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For over 40 years, Christmas-obsessed Lorraine Gordon has been collecting decorations – she now has so many, that decking the halls in her Surrey home takes around nine days.

‘I used to be a decorator, and I’ve collected them over years and years,’ Lorraine, 61, tells Metro. ‘I’m not very good at throwing things away.’

Every home she’s ever lived in gets the same treatment to mark the Yuletide season, and since 2020, daughter Mads, 26, has been recording the process for their 585,000 TikTok followers.

The videos are now beloved by fans, who liken the day Lorraine brings out the Christmas decorations to the first sighting of the Coca Cola Advert.

‘I do all the greenery first, and then all the lights and the large pieces. The rest of it takes forever,’ Lorraine adds. ‘We could do more, but I lose the will to live in the end.’

Naturally, over the years Lorraine has curated quite the collection – including multiple Swarovski crystals decorations, her favourites.

Each year, she’s gifted one by her immediate family – although she reveals they sometimes double up, as she now has a flurry of glass snowflakes.

She even decided to find a decoration from each of the years that her three children, Mads, Dev, 22, and Ash, 19, were born. Lorraine scoured eBay for the ornaments – for Mads, there’s one with her birth year, 1998, emblazed across it.

The family pick up decorations on their travels too. ‘We went to Salzburg last year and got some really nice quirky bits including a rustic bell, an icicle tree, and a star for the top of one of our trees,’ says Mads.

And while it might sound like the family spends lots of money curating their festive home, both Lorraine and Mads are firm believers in the idea that creating magic doesn’t need to be expensive.

‘We don’t spend as much as people think, buying most in the sales too. The cost comes in at £100 per year, perhaps less,’ Mads adds.

They’ll also make decorations to cut down on costs. This year, the family got creative and made some mince pie fairy lights, inspired by a similar design from luxury brand Fortnum & Mason. They’re big fans of places like B&M and The Range, too.

‘I buy Christmas lights in the summer or in the sales after Christmas, because they’re cheaper,’ Lorraine shares. ‘And if anything goes missing or breaks, we replace it early on in the year rather than towards the end.’

When it comes to actually decorating, Lorraine puts her children, as well as husband, Glynn, 58, to work – enlisting the brothers to help with the heavy lifting, including an extra large nutcracker.

‘There’s a set place for everything,’ Mads adds, noting that she and her siblings usually help with the three trees.

Towering over the rest of the decorations, the 7ft trees are plastic to cut down on waste, but they get spray painted in different colours each year to switch it up.

Lorraine even has some nods of Christmas in her home all year round. The family built and designed their house themselves, and made sure to include festive elements, like a log burning fireplace. There are even trees carved into the wooden bannisters up the stairs.

And, since Lorraine couldn’t decide what colour tiles she wanted in the kitchen, they decided to create a giant blackboard, where each year they design and paint a Christmas mural.

‘Our friends and family come over for festive drinks and games nights leading up to Christmas. They all think the decorations are amazing but have known my mum for years so expect nothing less,’ Mads adds.

Of course, what goes up, must come down, and Lorraine ensures her decorations are packed away by Epiphany on January 6, when Christmas traditionally ends, and after which it’s considered bad luck to have decorations up.

‘I’m a little bit superstitious,’ Lorraine concludes. ‘But I like to keep them up for longer to spread as much joy as possible.’

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It’s a tale as old as time: you crawl into bed, pull up the covers and are met with a saggy bit of empty sheet. You stretch out your feet only to be greeted with a folded mass of duvet gathered at the end. Anger overtakes tiredness. This is war.

Maybe it’s just me, but baggy duvets and lumpy sheets send me into an absolute tailspin when I get into bed, so I finally decided, after 26 years of bedtime irritation, to eradicate the problem altogether.

That’s right, I swapped my duvet-sheet duo for a Coverless Duvet from Night Lark and I have never felt satisfaction like it.

If the concept of a coverless duvet is a unfamiliar one then let me explain.

Night Lark Seersucker Coverless Duvet Set – Double, 4.5 Tog

This seersucker Coverless Duvet comes with two pillowcases to create the perfect, cohesive look. Snuggly yet utterly practical, the duvet is easy to pop in the washing machine when needed, totally transforming laundry and sheet-change day.

shop £65

The Night Lark Coverless Duvet is quite simply your snuggliest, airiest duvet yet, but with a super-soft built-in cover, meaning you never have to wrestle with the duvet cover ever again.

That’s right, no bagging, no balling, no putting the duvet cover over your head and holding the corners and shaking everything down for 5-7 business days.

Then, when it needs a refresh, simply pop the coverless duvet in the washing machine to get it clean, followed by a tumble or air dry. What could be easier or more pleasant?

Because yes, these coverless duvets are pleasant with a capital P.

First impressions of the coverless duvet

I snapped up the Seersucker Coverless Duvet Set in the Summer 4.5 Tog as I like a duvet I can use all year round in our hot flat. At first touch I was shocked by how utterly soft the outer cover was, and the seersucker effect looked gorgeous, too, fitting in perfectly with the room’s cosy aesthetic.

The set came with the duvet and two matching pillowcases, which was also super handy.

Copping a feel of the duvet instantly showed me how smooth and airy the inner filling was – soft and as light as feathers and totally luxe.

This is because the Coverless Duvet is filled with innovative Smartfil fibres made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. These hypoallergenic and ultra-compressible fibres are designed to retain their shape and quality, wash after wash.

The in-built cover is also crafted with peachskin microfibre which is feather-soft to the touch for maximum comfort and finished with a hand-sewn bound edge. Simply gorgeous.

How did the coverless duvet perform?

I worried at first that the duvet would be far too light, but as soon as I got myself under it, I was proven totally wrong.

There’s something properly special about the innovative duvet filling, which got me instantly toasty, while the outer cover remained lightweight on my skin to keep me from overheating.

And let me tell you, the feeling of pulling that duvet up under my chin and feeling a consistent level of filling all the way down my body had me doing a laying-down happy dance. Pure, unadulterated bliss.

I slept beautifully, too, not feeling the need to rip the sheets from my partner or stick a leg out for feeling too hot. It was the ultimate Goldilocks night of sleep.

How much does the coverless duvet cost?

For a double, summer tog coverless duvet you can expect to pay around the £65-£80 mark on average, and just slightly more for the 10.5 tog. I got the Seersucker Coverless Duvet Set in a King-size with two pillowcases which costs £75.

Considering the quality and eco-conscious nature of the set, not forgetting the fact that you’re getting a duvet and cover in one, I think the price is pretty decent.

I’ve paid around that for a double duvet cover set alone, so think that it’s definitely a reasonable price for what it is.

In conclusion…

You’ve probably gathered at this rate that I simply love my Night Lark Coverless Duvet.

It’s luxe-feeling, it’s utterly soft and squidgy, it’s undeniably cosy and it’s incredibly practical. Honestly, the idea of not having to change my duvet cover again makes me teary.

This one for me is a straight up 10/10.

But don’t just take my word for it – hundreds upon hundreds of shoppers have been loving the Night Lark Coverless Duvets, too, describing them as ‘like sleeping under a white cloud’ and ‘the best’.

One five-star reviewer wrote: ‘Best thing I’ve brought all year, amazing quality and washes brilliantly.’

‘The best duvet ever! So soft and it’s like being snuggled by a giant marshmallow! I will definitely be purchasing another soon!’ Added another.

A third raved: ‘Just bliss to sleep under and is probably the best duvet I’ve ever had. So wonderful to be able to wash the whole duvet and not struggle with trying to put on duvet covers. It dries so quickly too. Just wonderful.’

Convinced? We thought you’d be. Explore some more styles from Night Lark’s Coverless Duvet selection below and find your new obsession.

Night Lark Tufted Dots Coverless Duvet Set – Double, 4.5 Tog

shop £75

Night Lark Linen Print Coverless Duvet – Double, 4.5 Tog

shop £65

Night Lark Gingham Print Coverless Duvet – Double, 4.5 Tog

shop £80

Night Lark Wild Tigers Coverless Duvet – Double, 10.5 Tog

shop £80

Night Lark Midnight Bloom Coverless Duvet Set – Double, 10.5 Tog

shop £80

Night Lark Junior – Space Adventure – Children's Coverless Duvet Set – Single, 4.5 Tog

shop £52.50

I told you they were gorgeous…

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There’s only one thing that tops a night in under a cosy blanket, and that’s a night in under a heated blanket.

A staple on the Christmas gifting lists of the many (including my mum’s, who will be buying one for both my grandma and grandpa), the electric throw is on the way to becoming the night-in must-have country-wide – trumping cosy pjs and thick duvets.

And the one we’ll be buying in droves? The Dunelm Dreamland IntelliHeat Velvet Plush Heated Throw.

Super-sized and seriously soft, this heated throw has an insanely plush feel that makes it perfect for solo snuggling or sharing. But the softness is only the half of it.

Dunelm Dreamland IntelliHeat Velvet Plush Heated Throw

This oh-so clever throw boasts six temperature settings to get you properly cosy, heating up in as little as five minutes for near-instant warmth. This is all controlled by the Intelliheat detachable controls which are easy to use and find your perfect mode. Take your pick from six colours to suit you or your giftee.

Shop £69

This oh-so clever plug-in throw boasts six temperature settings to get you properly cosy, heating up in as little as five minutes for near-instant warmth. This is all controlled by the Intelliheat detachable controls which are easy to use and find your perfect mode.

Better still, for total peace of mind, it’s also got a one, three and nine hour auto shut off timer, which is perfect for the forgetful and paranoid among us, allowing you to set the perfect heating time and forget about switching it off when you’re done.

Love a heated sleep? This blanket has you covered.

And there’s no need to panic when it’s in need of a wash: you can detach the remote, pop it in the washing machine and dry it in the tumble drier if needed. Totally simple.

Energy consumption conscious? There’s no need with the Dunelm Dreamland IntelliHeat Velvet Plush Heated Throw, as this cosy living room staple costs from just one penny to run. In fact, many reviewers have noted that they’ve switched off the heating in favour of this cosy throw – a far cheaper alternative to cranking up the radiators.

There’s no surprise then that shoppers simply can’t get enough of the electric throw, calling it ‘perfect’, ‘a fantastic investment’ and ‘very soft and luxurious’.

‘So happy!’ Raved one five-star reviewer. ‘It’s beautiful and soft! I use it when I am sitting down in the day instead of putting heating on. Love it!’

Another added: ‘Lovely and warm, can tell the difference with the different heat settings. Also has a timer which is great. Don’t need to put the heating on for the whole of the house saving money.’

‘Best thing I have bought in a long time, toasty warm, saves putting the heating on, already paid for itself.’ Wrote a third.

We may need one of these for every room in the house…

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With 178.5K posts on TikTok, #tinyhomes has long been a fascination in internet culture.

As the housing market becomes increasingly tumultuous, the younger generation is increasingly turning to alternative ways of living to save cash, whether that looks like refurbishing an old canal boat or living in an old VW van.

Married couple Destiny and Brianna DeJesus have gone viral for doing just that.

Branding themselves as ‘2 wives 1 pup in a Tiny Home’, they’ve accumulated 2,660 Instagram followers on @lezgo_tiny, sharing the inside-out of their day-to-day lives living in a tiny home on wheels.

First meeting in 2016, the pair moved into an apartment in Texas together after two years of dating.

However, their rent quickly catapulted, increasing from $740 (£585) to $1,400 (£1,108) in four years. As such, they became increasingly interested in exploring the concept of home ownership.

This, though, proved an expensive option: the pair wanted the flexibility to travel, with Destiny writing in an article with Insider that ‘we weren’t interested in spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to put down roots in a single location.’

And so, their 399-square-foot tiny home on wheels was purchased for $90,000 (£71,230).

But it isn’t as cheap as it seems: taking a loan out to cover the cost of buying outright, the couple will likely be paying almost $100,000 (£79,000) including interest.

‘This price doesn’t include how much we pay to rent the land we park on, utilities and maintenance’, Destiny added, noting that house removal companies can often prove expensive, with the couple having shelled out in excess of $2,000 (£1,582) to move their tiny home from Los Angeles to Portland.

‘Our next move will likely cost us over $8,000 (£6,331) to go from Portland to Texas’, Destiny writes.

Maintaining a tiny home can come with unexpected costs, too. The pair recently had to replace their shower door with a curtain after it randomly shattered.

‘Just another friendly reminder that tiny house living is far from glamorous’, the pair wrote, sharing a video of their floor littered with smashed glass from the shower.

In an attempt to cut costs ahead of another move, the pair opted for a shower curtain as a temporary solution.

In another similar situation, their door suffered from the rainy weather and needed a swift replacement.

‘Bc the house didn’t come with any type of awning, the door is now swelling, causing it to be hard af to close so we purchased an awning from Amazon to help,’ the couple shared in another Instagram post.

But, all in all, Destiny and Brianna are thriving in their tiny home lives. ‘We wouldn’t trade it for any other lifestyle,’ the pair wrote.

‘It’s been one of the most challenging things either one of us has done.

‘Things break and need to be repaired, money has to be spent.

‘But we chose this life, so we’ve dedicated our page to teaching people about the real deal when it comes to going tiny.

‘At the end of the day, we need to see more people of colour in this movement.’

This article was originally published on June 30, 2023.

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From affordable homeware to beauty essentials to accessories, Primark has long been one of the go-to high street destinations for affordability.

But there’s one lesser-known shop taking over UK streets and shopping centres alike that’s slowly becoming the talk of the town, stocking everything from lamps to kitchen accessories to storage solutions.

Ever heard of Miniso? Starting out in China as a chain specialising in household and consumer goods, it’s since expanded worldwide to include more than 6,000 shops across 100 countries.

In the UK alone, there are already 27 stores, including one on London’s Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Camden, as well as locations in Brighton, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Manchester and Leeds.

Plus, a new location on the bustling Princes Street in Edinburgh opened earlier this month, marking the first of its kind in Scotland.

So, what can you get at Miniso? Prices start as small as £1, including things like lemon-patterned wire storage baskets and dustproof containers, so if you’re looking to add a few trinkets to your home office, now’s your chance.

Need to up your cleaning game? There’s plenty in this realm on offer, including handsomely priced cleaning brushes and sponges, as well as Hello Kitty-themed teaspoons, bento boxes and cookie cutters for the wider kitchen cupboard.

The spookiest season of the year is almost here, and there are Halloween offers in the likes of ghost string lights (£4), pumpkin ceramic cups (£2.25), bunting (£2.50) and even a paint-your-own cat head sweet jar (£2.25).  

Miniso is famed for its brand collaborations, with ranges including Sanrio, Barbie, Minions, Pokémon and Disney, as well as the popular ‘blind box,’ which gives shoppers the chance to purchase a goody bag with a bunch of mystery offerings, including the Shrek (£13.99), Sanrio characters (£11), and My Melody Afternoon Tea collections (£19).

As such, there’s been plenty of hype on social media about Miniso – with many fawning over the collabs in particular.

‘This store is literally the cutest thing I’ve ever been in,’ @freyaheath told her TikTok fans of her visit to the brand’s Trafford Centre location up in Manchester.

‘The little keyrings that they had – I wanted to buy them all. They also had these little figures you could get, and they did Toy Story, [Lilo and] Stitch, Disney Princess, Care Bears…they were just too cute.’

Elsewhere, @gothiquegirly filmed herself taking her partner to a Miniso store, joking: ‘me taking him to the pinkest, cutest, girliest store in the mall,’ while @rinawyd said: ‘buying everything my girlfriend touches from Miniso.’

Three words: take our money.

This article was originally published on October 16, 2024.

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If you’re looking to give your home a little spruce up ahead of cosy season then Dunelm, and their amazing selection of unmissable Special Buys, are here to help.

Ranging from homeware essentials to décor must-haves, their oh-so affordable selection has been specially collated to help your re-design your interiors without breaking the bank.

And have we got our eye on a good few of their bits…

From bedding to living room furniture, lighting to pillows, you’ll find it all and more at Dunelm (and you won’t have to pay out the nose to get it, either!).

Sofia Drinks Trolley

Perfect for displaying your festive tipples as the season draws in, this sleek drinks trolley boasts a two-tiered design with a metal frame, accompanied by tempered glass shelves that add a touch of luxe to your drinks displays.

shop £59

One item we’re particularly excited about is the Sofia Drinks Trolley, yours for an incredibly affordable £59.

Perfect for displaying your festive tipples as the season draws in, this sleek drinks trolley boasts a two-tiered design with a metal frame, accompanied by tempered glass shelves that add a touch of luxe to your drinks displays.

Whether you’re showing off your favourite spirits, glassware, cocktail essentials or the works, you’re guaranteed an art-deco look that’s as practical as it is sleek, with wheels at one end to offer easy mobility.

After the perfect soft furnishings for your bedroom as the colder nights roll in? The Soft & Cool Blanket is currently 30% off and helps to regulate airflow for a cosy yet comfortable cool night of sleep.

Better yet, it’s got a super-sleek minimal quilted design that looks effortlessly sophisticated in any room, also available in a range of homely hues.

Looking to discover some of Dunelm’s Special Buys for yourself? Explore our top picks from their selection below. Go on, treat yourself.

Recycled Plastic 48L Hipster Laundry Basket

This eco-friendly hipster laundry basket, made from recycled and recyclable plastic, boasts a 48L capacity. Its oval shape with an inward curve and integral handles ensures easy carrying. Strong, durable, and easy to clean, it’s the perfect addition to any home.

shop £5 (save

Soft & Cool Blanket

This Soft & Cool Blanket is currently 30% off and helps to regulate airflow for a cosy yet comfortable cool night of sleep. Better yet, it’s got a super-sleek minimal quilted design that looks effortlessly sophisticated in any room, also available in a range of sleek hues.

shop £17.50(save £7.50)

Ribbed Geometric Striped Shaggy Rug

Treat your floors to this gorgeous striped shaggy rug, available in a number of sizes (all at unbeatable prices). This versatile rug features a chic geometric design and a plush shaggy polyester pile that feels amazing underfoot, an excellent choice for higher-traffic areas like the living room or bedroom.

shop £39 – £99

Keates Corner Shelved Floor Lamp

This space-saving lamp doubles up as a handy shelving unit – giving you the best of both for the price of one. Designed to seamlessly fit into any corner of your home, the Keates floor lamp features three sturdy shelves, while the built in lamp offers convenient lighting, easily controlled using the on/off foot switch.

shop £55

Boucle Throw 130cm x 170cm

Whether you're snuggling up on the sofa or cosying up in bed, a gorgeous throw like this boucle one is a must for when the temperature drops. It's been designed with a medium weight for just the right amount of warmth, with a chic textured boucle texture and tassels for an oh-so-snuggly feel you'll love.

shop £10

Minky Heated Indoor Clothes Airer, 12m

Take control of wet laundry this winter with the help of this utterly affordable Minky Clothes Airer, now just £60. This heated indoor clothes airer costs less than 4p an hour to run and offers 12 metres of drying space. Suitable to hold up to 16kg capacity, the airer is easy to fold for compact storage and comes complete with a 230 watt power output.

shop £60

Mushroom Forest Outdoor Step Doormat

This whimsical outdoor doormat is set to look gorgeous on your doorstep this season. It features an adorable mushroom forest design that perfectly captures an autumnal aesthetic, while the anti-slip backing ensures it stays securely in place even on rainy days.

shop £4

Portobella Eltham Velvet Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set – Double

After the most elegant yet oh-so cosy bedding to get you through the winter months? This gorgeous Portobella Eltham bedding set has been crafted from plush matte velvet on both sides for unrivalled warmth, while the sleek floral design brings a cosy vibe to your bedroom you'll love.

shop £46

Woodland Hares Stainless Steel Travel Cup

If you're after a new coffee cup to bring out with you each day then you'll want to get your hands around this adorable Woodland Hares travel cup, complete with adorable woodland friends. Crafted from stainless steel, it keeps your drinks hot for hours, making it perfect enjoying your favourite brews while on the go.

shop £8

100% Cotton Soft Towel

Available in a selection of neutral hues, these towels are set to become a great, budget-friendly addition to your towel collection. Crafted from 100% cotton, these towels deliver exceptional absorbency and long-lasting comfort, not only feeling incredibly gentle against your skin but remaining durable enough for everyday use.

shop £2 – £6

Yes, we’re aware of the green theme…

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Millennials have become synonymous with avocados, decried as the generation who threw away all their money on buying brunch instead of property.

But those of us do have a home of our own, or indeed rent a place where we can decorate how we wish, millennial-coded interests are seeping in.

That’s because avo green and its lighter counterparts are making their way into young people’s interiors choices, particularly in the bathroom.

Wild sage, lemon, peach, sorbet, mint, and avocado are becoming popular among this cohort, and even Gen Z is now harking back to the tastes popular in the 70s.

According to DIY retailer Wickes, more than a quarter of 24-to-34-year-olds (27%) picked avocado as the colour they would most like to use in a bathroom upgrade, while 28% would go for a pastel blue suite – another popular option during the decade that brought us Watergate, Pong, and disco – and 10% of this age group would like to see 1970s panelling make a comeback.

This retro shade is clearly having a moment, as Pinterest’s Autumn report unveiled a 350% increase in searches of ‘dark green bathroom’ and a whopping 2,670% rise in ‘green home decor’ more generally. But not everyone is pleased.

Commenters on Reddit certainly buying it, with, @Xenozip3371Alpha calling the trend ‘hideous’, adding: ‘It’s diarrhoea green.’

Another, @PmMeLowCarbRecipes, quipped: ‘Young people have stopped buying avocado toast and managed to save up and buy their avocado house’, while a third, @Alundra828, asked: ‘Is there no end to the depths this country will sink?’

Not everyone was a naysayer though, and some enjoy the vintage look.

‘I think it looks really cute,’ wrote @boeingcrashsiteboeingcrashsite. ‘Although I admit I’m a sucker for a kitschy interior’.

Echoing the sentiment, @Dry_Sandwich_860, added: ‘Good. Sick of everything looking like it’s from Ikea’.

According to Tim Richards, Head of Bathrooms at Wickes, although the controversial avocado green shade is making a comeback, it’s not as you once knew it.

He tells Metro: ‘The new trend identified doesn’t mean the return of matching basins and baths: today’s avocado-inspired bathrooms are employing the retro green theme with a much lighter touch, often using coloured furniture, tiles and paint as well as natural elements to channel the 70s vibes.’ 

As with the millennial obsession with house plants (what else can we own, right?), there’s method in the madness, and Tim explains that there’s a deeper reason why this cohort is flocking to these colours.

‘Millennials are seeking a green that reflects peace and nature in the bathroom to give that feel of serenity to help relax after a busy day through use of this modern twist on a 70s classic,’ he explains.

Want to work the trend but don’t want your loo to look like a throwback to your nana’s house?

Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan, British design historian, professor of design history and TV presenter, comments: ‘Like disco, flares and prawn cocktail, there’s nothing that screams the 1970s quite like avocado green bathrooms – and for anyone who lived through the decade, it’s understandable that they don’t particularly fancy seeing it again.

‘Fortunately, this new avocado bathroom trend that’s struck a chord with 20 and 30-somethings is far more subtle. Lighting plays a large part in this, with smart lighting and dimmers to suit every occasion and make what was once a glaringly green room an atmospheric and serene space.’

She also advises mixing colours and textures to make the space ‘warmer, more welcoming, and a reflection of [your] style’, adding: ‘I’m glad brighter colours are staging a comeback. Who wants gloomy grey when a splash of green or blue will lift your spirits?’

Go wild with disco balls, bright shades, bold materials and quirky prints. But perhaps give shag pile carpets a miss in the lavvy; that’s a 70s decor trend best left in the past.

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While it’s nice to make sure you’re warm and tasty through the colder months using a heater, so often they ones available at an affordable price can be just a bit… ugly. Except, that is, for this one from Dunelm.

An autumn aesthetics’ dream, the Dunelm 1500W Small Square Olive Heater is an adorable square-shaped retro mini-heater made to blend into your cosy home surroundings, designed with style and functionality in mind.

Small but mighty, the compact heater is perfect for those lacking in space and storage, slotting into any small nook and crannie to be brought out when the cold weather rears its nippy head.

Prefect for heating your feet as you work from home or warming your living spaces when the temperature drops, the £30 Dunelm Small Square Olive Heater boasts a 1500W heat setting that’s sure to keep you cosy all day.

Dunelm 1500W Small Square Olive Heater

Prefect for heating your feet as you work from home or warming your living spaces when the temperature drops, the Dunelm Small Square Olive Heater boasts a 1500W heat setting that’s sure to keep you cosy all day.

shop £30

It features a chic square design in matte olive, finished with four small feet and a matching middle dial, a retro design set to look chic and stylish in any space.

Better yet, it’s utterly cheap to run, coming in from 33p per hour, meaning that whether you’re keeping it on throughout the day or enjoying its snuggly heat through the night, you can rest assured you wont be slammed with an eye-watering bill when the month comes to an end.

And for even more peace of mind, the clever heater boasts overheating protection and a safety tip-over switch to ensure your heater stays safe.

Complete with a power indicator light and adjustable thermostat to help you access your perfect temperature, this adorable £30 heater truly is a real find.

Shoppers love the heater too, writing of it’s ‘excellent value’ and ‘very effective’ heating abilities.

‘Great little heater for smaller enclosed rooms.’ Raved one five-star reviewer. ‘We picked it up when our boiler stopped working suddenly in November and this served us nicely for a few days while it was being replaced.

‘You can very quickly notice the difference in a small to medium room with a door closed.’

Another wrote: ‘Exceptionally good quality heater with instant heat and warms the room in no time. 51p running cost an hour at current energy prices means cheaper than heating system by far.’

‘I did a lot of research when choosing my cheap to run heater. This one looks great with its unusual olive colour and boxy retro style.’ Added a third. ‘It is quiet, heats up quickly and can be set to maintain the room temperature required. Excellent price too!’

We’re already feeling cosy just thinking about it…

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You know things are changing in your life when you once would get excited about spending money on a night out… and now? Treating yourself to a new lamp, rug or bedding is more the vibe.

Take the Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set from just £32. Shoppers have been going mad for it, saying how it’s ‘exceptional quality’, ‘luxurious’ and ‘stunning’ it is.

Best of all? You don’t need to iron it either, thanks to its crepe-design – and that’s a massive win if you ask us.

The Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set is perfect for any bedroom style, thanks to the beautiful semi-plain geometric design.

Crafted from 100% polyester, the reverse is made from a soft and crisp polycotton blend, ensuring ultimate comfort.

Better yet, this set includes standard pillowcase (one for a single duvet set, and two for double, king and super king sized sets), and is fully machine washable for easy care. We should also mention how the button fastening secures the duvet easily, make it easy for those old and young to do.

Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set

This duvet set comes in an attractive pinsonic design, Made with a 100% polyester face, and soft polycotton reverse – it's not only machine washable, but there's a matching oxford pillowcase available too.

Buy Now from £32 – £52

For those of us who are looking to make minor improvements to our bedroom on a budget, then look no further.

In fact, over 1300 people have reviewed the gorgeous bedding set, and it’s gained an impressive 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Dumelm website too.

One five-star reviewer called ‘Nanny Barb’ said: ‘I have been looking for a pure white patterned quilt cover for a while and found the nicer ones were far too expensive for me. But then I saw this in DUNELM just gorgeous, perfect, love it.’

Boola followed suit in praising the Bille set and added: ‘Very pleased with this set. Looks great and the best part is, you don’t even have to iron it!’

Now that’s what we call a lazy gal hack!

‘This is stunning adds a touch of class to any bedroom,’ mentioned Katrina, with Judy H also saying: ‘Beautiful bedding. I now have this set in two colours. Blue and green. Both look fab in each of the two share rooms.’

With eight gorgeous hues to choose from, that’s more than one a week if you really fancy switching up your bedding – or just can’t decide between shades like most in the reviews section.

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From affordable homeware to beauty essentials to accessories, Primark has long been one of the go-to high street destinations for affordability.

But there’s one lesser-known shop taking over UK streets and shopping centres alike that’s slowly becoming the talk of the town, stocking everything from lamps to kitchen accessories to storage solutions.

Ever heard of Miniso? Starting out in China as a chain specialising in household and consumer goods, it’s since expanded worldwide to include more than 6,000 shops across 100 countries.

In the UK alone, there are already 26 stores, including one on London’s Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Camden, as well as locations in Brighton, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Manchester and Leeds.

And there’s more to come yet, as the brand has submitted plans to open a store on the bustling Princes Street in Edinburgh, which would mark the first of its kind in Scotland.  

So, what can you get at Miniso? Prices start as small as £1, including things like lemon-patterned wire storage baskets and dustproof containers, so if you’re looking to add a few trinkets to your home office, now’s your chance.

Need to up your cleaning game? There’s plenty in this realm on offer, including handsomely priced cleaning brushes and sponges, as well as Hello Kitty-themed teaspoons, bento boxes and cookie cutters for the wider kitchen cupboard.

If you’re already looking to plan ahead for the spookiest season of the year, there are Halloween offers in the likes of ghost string lights (£4), pumpkin ceramic cups (£2.25), bunting (£2.50) and even a paint-your-own cat head sweet jar (£2.25).  

Miniso is famed for its brand collaborations, with ranges including Sanrio, Barbie, Minions, Pokémon and Disney, as well as the popular ‘blind box,’ which gives shoppers the chance to purchase a goody bag with a bunch of mystery offerings, including the Shrek (£13.99), Sanrio characters (£11), and My Melody Afternoon Tea collections (£19).

As such, there’s been plenty of hype on social media about Miniso – with many fawning over the collabs in particular.

‘This store is literally the cutest thing I’ve ever been in,’ @freyaheath told her TikTok fans of her visit to the brand’s Trafford Centre location up in Manchester.

‘The little keyrings that they had – I wanted to buy them all. They also had these little figures you could get, and they did Toy Story, [Lilo and] Stitch, Disney Princess, Care Bears…they were just too cute.’

Elsewhere, @gothiquegirly filmed herself taking her partner to a Miniso store, joking: ‘me taking him to the pinkest, cutest, girliest store in the mall,’ while @rinawyd said: ‘buying everything my girlfriend touches from Miniso.’

Three words: take our money.

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It’s official: Chilly season is upon us and it’s time to start nesting. But where best to shop cosy autumn essentials without breaking the bank?

Dunelm, of course.

The budget-friendly homeware heroes have just dropped their new snuggly selection suited to the oncoming chilly season and it’s absolutely crammed with soft and cosy home essentials we need right now.

From reversible throws and foot warmers, to heated blankets and cuddle cushions, Dunelm are on a mission to transform our homes into winter-ready havens on a budget.

Think: Cable textured bedspreads we could’ve plucked from the set of Gilmore Girls, ‘dupe’ slipper boots for just £12 and teddy electric blankets (have you ever heard of anything so heavenly?).

Truly, there’s so much to love in Dunelm’s autumn selection – and it’s all incredibly affordable, too.

Ready to get properly cosy? Explore our top picks from the autumn range below.

Teddy Bear Extra Cosy Marl Reversible Throw

Whether you're snuggling up on the sofa or cosying up in bed, a teddy throw is a must for when the temperature drops. This one from Dunelm has been designed with a heavier weight for even more warmth than before, with a chic textured marl on one side and a plain, velvety smooth fabric on the other.

shop £22

Ladies Microsuede Boots

Treat yourself to these utterly chic Microsuede Boots for just £12, perfect for slipping around the house in style. These boots boast a fluffy lining for extra comfort, as well as an ankle-height design perfect for staying warm and cosy even on the chilliest of days.

shop £12

Fogarty Soft Touch 15 Tog Winter Duvet – double

Upgrade to a brand new and oh-so snuggly winter duvet with this Fogarty Soft Touch duvet from Dunelm. Generously filled with polyester hollowfibre and finished with a sumptuously soft embossed microfibre cover, this 15 tog duvet will keep you warm and snuggly through chilly nights in bed and cosy days on the sofa.

shop £42

Blakely Cable Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set – double

Snap up a timelessly stylish new duvet set and transform your home into an autumn haven without breaking the bank with this gorgeous set from Dunelm. This Blakely Cable set features a sophisticated cable textured design with a soft microfibre reverse, ensuring your bed doesn't just look amazing, but feels utterly soft and cosy, too.

shop £35

Borg Heatable Foot Warmer

Hate getting cold feet during the winter months? Then this cosy borg foot warmer is an absolute must. This cosy essential features a removable microwaveable heat pack that slips beneath the feet, as well as fluffy borg interior to give your feet the perfect soft and warm environment to relax in.

shop £15

Teddy Electric Blanket

Transform your bed into a warm and cosy haven with the help of this Teddy Electric Blanket. Fully heatable, this teddy electric blanket allows you to set your perfect temperature and slip into soft and warm teddy comfort each and every night. Better yet, it's also machine washable for easy care and long-lasting enjoyment.

shop £40

Kitty the Cat Oversized Hoodie

Whether you're spending the day at your desk or relaxing on the sofa, an oversized hoodie like this one from Dunelm is an essential for ensuring you stay warm and cosy at home. It's been crafted from ultra-soft fleece for unrivaled warmth, while the generous one-size-fits-most fit ensures ultimate comfort. It's even got a roomy front pocket for everything from the TV remote to extra snacks.

shop £16

Sam the Sausage Dog Long Hot Water Bottle

Sore shoulder? Aching back? A long hot water bottle is the perfect way to target parts of your body a standard hot water bottle struggles to reach. This charming hot water bottle features an adorable Sam the Sausage Dog design, boasting an elongated rectangle shape that makes it perfect for providing larger areas with warmth or cosying up in bed.

shop £10

Cinnamon and Sandalwood Multi Wick Candle

Create a relaxing autumn ambiance with the help of this sleek and affordable multi wick candle from Dunelm. With a long, 28 hour burn time, this stunning candle set in a brown glass pot will fill any room of the house with a serene cinnamon and sandalwood scent, perfect for achieving that cosy autumn vibe.

shop £7

Cuddle Cushion with Heatable Pad

The ultimate cosy companion for those chilly nights, this cuddle cushion is a must-have for keeping warm and comfortable in bed. Crafted from luxurious, ultra-soft teddy fabric, this large cuddle cushion makes achieving the perfect cosying up position easy, while the removable heat pad radiates a soothing warmth that's perfect for those long, chilly nights.

shop £35

Dunelm has us feel all warm and cosy…

As prize draws go, this one is pretty impressive.

Enter for £10 (or buy a bundle of entries for £25 to £150) and walk away with a house worth millions, with no stamp duty, mortgage or solicitors fees to pay.

The Omaze Million Pound House Draw draw began in 2020, with ticket sales raising money for charities like Marie Curie and the RNLI.

Winners have bagged luxury mansions across the country, from a £3 million semi-detached in Islington, London, to a James Bond-esque property on the north Devon coast.

But most winners barely even step over the threshold – they prefer to have the cash, an option stated in the terms and conditions of the draw. You can put the house on the market, which almost every new home owner has decided to do.

The Mail recently pointed out, that of the 14 luxury properties that had been won by August 2023, just three were still being lived in – 10 of them had been sold on, while one was being rented out. 

And the trend has continued this year. Lisa Morgan, from Merseyside, said she is dealing with ‘the best dilemma in the world’ over what to do with the £4.5 million house in Cornwall shewon this year.

Rachel Reid, who won a £3 million house in Surrey said that she’ll ‘most likely sell it to bank the cash.’ Adding: ‘The huge amount of money will change our lives, and the lives of our children forever.’

And Chris Milnes, who won a £3 million home in Dorset, said he’ll be cashing in, rather than moving in, so he can ‘give my children the start in life I never had’.

But when Eliza Yahioglu, 57, learnt that she’d won the mega prize, she decided to take a different route. She up-rooted her life, and moved in.

Eliza was living in London, with her husband, Gokhan, and their children, Carl, 24, and Leyla, 21, when she discovered she’s won a picturesque farmhouse over 200 miles away in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

‘I was on holiday celebrating my birthday when we found out,’ she said. ‘So many thoughts went running through my head when we got the video call to say we’d won.

‘I just couldn’t believe Jo from the Omaze TV adverts was standing outside my front door.

‘I was convinced there must’ve been a mistake and they’d called the wrong person, then I started to realise something really big was happening – all of that in 30 seconds – it was crazy!’

Like all past winners, Eliza had the option to either live in the beautifully renovated 17th century mansion, or rent it out or sell it.

She said: ‘As soon as I walked through the front door, it stopped being a house and immediately became our home.

‘The house was amazing, even nicer than it looked in pictures.’

So, after she ‘instantly fell in love with it’, Eliza knew she had to keep it.

It also meant that Eliza could finally achieve a long-held dream: ‘I’ve lived in London for almost 40 years, but I’m a proud Yorkshire lass at heart. Some of my family are still based up here.

‘We’d always dreamed of having a place in Yorkshire one day, close to what I’ve always called home – now that dream has come true!

‘I’ve loved returning home to my Yorkshire roots, my accent definitely comes back stronger as soon as I hit the A1!

‘It’s so nice that my children get to have a genuine connection to the area where I grew up – that’s been a wonderful experience.’

It’s meant that Eliza and Gokhan had to leave their life in London, to start afresh in Harrogate, where they now live full time, although they still own their property in the capital.

They’ve now been living in their Omaze home since August 2023.

Eliza said: ‘I can’t believe it’s been a year already, it feels like only yesterday – it’s still sinking in now if I’m honest.

‘I still come downstairs some mornings and do a double take because I can’t believe I’m actually standing in my kitchen, it’s still very surreal at times!’

And Eliza loves hosting in her new pad, located close to the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

‘We’ve loved having friends come up and stay with us, as well as letting them use it with their families too – it’s a home that’s built for sharing,’ says Eliza.

‘We had 16 people here for Christmas, thank goodness it came with an Aga to cope with all the Yorkshire puddings!

‘The kids have stayed here with all their friends from university – the house looked pristine after they’d left so they’re welcome back anytime! We all just love it up here!’

The couple also plan on having people affected by blood cancer to use the house in between treatments, as the £1,950,000 raised for this particular draw went to Blood Cancer UK.

She added: ‘It was very special to see how much was raised – it was such an incredible amount of money.

‘We’re planning on having people and families affected by blood cancer to come and stay – they can have the place all to themselves and just get away from it all.’

Now, the family are continuing to become part of the local community: ‘Everyone in the area has been so welcoming, we love all our neighbours.

‘We absolutely adore the local pub The Queen’s Head in Kettlesing – the landlords Louise and Glen are real legends, even giving us a lift home after a long lunch!’

And keeping the house – rather than opting for cash – is a decision Eliza doesn’t regret.

‘Winning something so valuable in bricks and mortar is brilliant – I joke that I’d have burned through the money if I’d won it in cash!’ she says.

‘This house is something we can all enjoy together as a family – and is a lasting legacy for my children – it’s something that will help their futures.

‘The win means I’ve already been able to help my son get on the property ladder. I’m also looking forward to retirement even more now.

‘Some people I speak to say they thought Omaze was a scam, but I assure them and anyone else that it’s definitely real.’

Although Eliza does admit that winning a home on her birthday, meant her husband had to pull out all the stops to top it this year.

‘My husband had a tough job topping,’ she said. ‘Although the weekend in Stockholm was a lovely one.

‘The ABBA museum almost swung it!’

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It may still be summer, but as Autumn races on we’re already thinking about when time rolls on to September – and investing in some essentials to embrace the cosy season.

Autumn brings open fires, dinner by candlelight and all things pumpkin-spiced – it’s quite possibly the most atmospheric season of all.

If you’re looking to get in the mood for the new season and want to dip your toe into an autumn mood, fragrance is the way to go, whether that’s a spritz of new perfume or a new scented candle or room spray.

There’s no denying the power of fragrance. Almost four in five Brits (78%) say that they are conscious about their home scent and the impression it creates for visitors, whilst over two-thirds (70%) of people say that they notice scent when entering people’s homes, according to stats from NEXT.

So what should we look for when selecting a new scent? “When it comes to choosing a scent for your home, looking at the individual notes within the product is key. It’s particularly important to find base notes that you love,’ a home fragrance expert at NEXT explains.

‘These are the notes that will last the longest and you will find that they linger in your home. These tend to be deep, rich scents – often woody or oud.’

If you’re planning a pre-seasonal refresh, these are the warm, spicy and comforting scents we’ll be stocking up on.

Our Favourite Autumn Fragrances

Home

La Jolíe Muse Moroccan Amber Scented Candle

This beautiful scented candle won't only fill you home with a rich amber scents fused with Moroccan spices, it will also look stunning in your home. This gorgeous candle also comes in other autumnal scents like Cedearwood and Cypress, Pumpkin Chai and Woody Jasmine in an array of stylish colours.

Buy Now for £21.99 at amazon

Cashmere & Black Amber

Clean Living have a range of candles and diffusers that are non-toxic and is formulated with natural ingredients – soya and rapeseed wax – for a clean burn. Cashmere and Blackc Amber is a soft and luxurious fragrance that will fill your home with an autumnal aroma.

Buy Now for £39.99 at clean living

Warmth 100ml Diffuser

M&S's Apocathary range has some realy lovely scents to choose from, including Warmth, which in our opinion smells very similar to Santal 33 from Le Labo. This designer-like fragrance is rich and spicy, and, unsuprisingly, full of warmth.

Buy Now for £17 AT MARKS AND SPENCER

Paddywax Soy Wax Blend Candle in Glass Jar

This vintage-style candle from Paddywax Apothecary has a delicous smokey and spicy scent with notes of amber, cinnamon and sandalwood.

Buy Now for £19.89 AT AMAZON

Rituals Home Diffuser: The Ritual of Mehr

Those looking for an uplifiting autumn scent, you've found it. This delicious room spray scent combines sweet orange, cedar wood, and warming spices which all help to give your mood a boost.

Buy Now for £30.90 at amazon

Beauty

Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '71 Perfume Mist

Sol de Janeiro perfume mists are our of our favourite beauty launches for quite some time and this heady mix of caramlised vanilla and toasted macadamia nut is a sweet and soft fragrance that's perfect for the autumn months. At just £24 they're a steal compared to usual fragrances, but they still offer a long-lasting scent.

Buy Now for £24 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum

This classic YSL perfume is a great scent to transition from summer to autumn, with base notes of white musks, vanilla extract and top notes of tangerine, neroli and lavender.

Buy Now for £69 AT NEXT

Maison Margiela Autumn Vibes Eau de Toilette

This gentle and woody fragrance is an ideal choice for autumn – the clue's in the name. With a fresh scent and modern bottle, it makes a great gift for anyone with an autumn birthday, too.

Buy Now for £60 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

We’re mentally unpacking jumpers, shopping for knee-high boots and swapping our normal latte for a pumpkin-spiced version.

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You’ll have seen it following you around Instagram during the recent spell of hot weather: The bamboo bedding that feels like 1,000 thread count and keeps you cooler than cotton.

And did you catch that it’s more sustainable too?

It reads on paper like the miracle cure for sleepless nights.

And after all, dreams of Sferra sateen cotton fizzled out rapidly when mortgages tripled and the cost of a bottle of olive oil reached a tenner.

But bamboo bedding, if the claims are to be believed, can give you that luxury feel for a fraction of the price of high-end cotton.

So, how does it fare in reality?

We put bamboo bedding to the test on one of the hottest July nights in the UK all year, following a day that had tipped the thermometer at just under 32c. The night had not cooled and it was stifling in our south-facing bedroom.

The bedding was a set from Pretty You, consisting of a sheet, duvet cover and two pillowcases in Silver Grey, with a 300-thread count that the company say feels like 1,000 thread count cotton.

The scene was set, as usual, for a less-than peaceful night: A four-year-old who thrashes her legs around in her sleep and heats up like a three-bar radiator. A restless man who tosses and turns like a spawning salmon, yanking the duvet over to his side at every turn and waking the rest of us up (who knew duvets could be so noisy until you have babies?). And me, who lies awake for hours, attempting to swivel like a corkscrew when I roll over so as not to disturb the duvet for anyone else.

The first surprise was removing the bedding from the packaging. I’d been told that the fibres of bamboo are rounder and smoother than cotton, giving threads a seriously silky feel that feels softer and silkier cotton. But that hadn’t prepared me for just how luxurious this bedding would feel. It was cool, light and very smooth to the touch – much more like silk than cotton. It flowed like water between my fingers. I’d thought of bamboo as more of a functional material – my bamboo T-shirts and socks are more akin to regular cotton. This was nothing like it. Think more of a luxe silk robe and you’ll be on the right lines.

I’d feared the Silver Grey might have a too blueish tone, but I was wrong: the silky, dove grey fabric had a soft, lustrous, warm glow in the (searing) evening sun.

On the bed, the fabric draped well and made a very neat bed (pre-washing, of course, they had the factory-finish that made them wrinkle free. Post washing they retained a smooth look, though a light iron restores them to silky perfection).

It was a luxurious, hotel-like feel; the boudoir of dreams, in a sweaty SE24 semi.

The proof though, was in the sleeping. And here, I was pretty blown away.

I love luxury cotton sheets – and that won’t change. I’m always to be found lifting the corners of hotel beds, trying to work out where a particularly luxurious sheet might have been made – and usually finding it has a £500+ price tag.

But the Pretty You bamboo set – at £165 for the Super King – was a game changer. And not only due to the price. Feather light, for this summer’s night, I could have the comfort of a duvet or sheet – I prefer to sleep with the weight of something over me – without feeling the heat.

The fabric of the sheet ( which I must mention was deep enough to fit easily on my mattress) is so soft, it invites you to run your feet over the ripples. It feels lke being sheathed in silk.

Unlike my previously ‘loud’ duvet cover – with rustling so loud it would cause the other to wake up – when one turns over under silky bamboo, it is silent.

And instead of the duvet being yanked over to the other person’s side when they turn, one person can turn over under this fabric and simply slide under it – the silky bamboo fabric glides over the body rather than becoming tangled up. No more twisted sheets, found in creased heaps at the end of the bed in the morning.

We tested the bedding with a light bamboo summer duvet (from £90) for the full breathable effect. The bamboo duvet is noticeably lighter and far cooler than the synthetic one I’d had on the bed or my usual down duvet – and (I realise I may sound fixated) completely silent, unlike some feather duvets, which create a rustling noise. It comes with corner ties to ensure the duvet stays put within the cover.

The first night I used the bedding was the best night I’d had in months. Not only did it feel indulgent to slip in between the sheets, but we all slept noticeably better – including the four-year-old who stretched out on the silvery sheets, hair fanned out on her new silky pillow, like a princess, if princesses sleep in the starfish position.

Bamboo has better heat and moisture-wicking properties than cotton, and this set certainly felt cool and dry all night.

The combination of the ultra-luxury look and feel, the cool, silky feel on the skin and the silent, sweat-free night it offered meant I am a complete convert.

Even those among us who don’t seem to care about the intricacies of bedding (what a blissfully ignorant life some lead) couldn’t help but notice the difference. It really is that good.

The summer duvet no doubt contributed to the cooler night, helping with the lightness of feel and the airflow. With dust sensitivities in the family, the fact it is hypoallergenic is a plus. I’ll be investing in their middle weight duvet to add to this summer one for the winter months.

The only downside was having to take it off to wash it and replace it with my now rather lacklustre-seeming (and admittedly not 1,000 thread count) duvet set. Hotel effect: gone.

After this test, there is no doubt I will be buying sets for all the beds in the house – but first, I’ll be buying myself a back-up set.

Buy Bamboo bedding set here from £110.

A couple saved £23,000 by building a garden office shed from scratch, using recycled materials they’d saved from a skip. 

Graham Anderson, 35, and his wife, Rachel, 34, were working from their spare bedroom – but decided they needed more space with their two children running around.

‘We realised we had a growing family of two infant boys – a one-year-old and a four-year-old – and we were working from home in one bedroom. So wanted to free up at that bedroom and have other space.’ said Graham. 

The couple – who are both architects – set about designing and transforming an unused patch of land at the bottom of their garden to use as a workspace.

‘It’s a completely new build from scratch’ said Graham, an architectural technologist, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, ‘We just worked with the amount of garden we wanted to use and we wanted it to also be a sunroom as well.’

Graham, alongside his father-in-law, also called Graham, then spent a year constructing and building their new hub.

The two Grahams spent their weekends putting together the shed for over a year. Graham Anderson said said: ‘The main interesting component is that we used a lot of recycled materials to be as economical as possible.’

They made an effort to source their materials from free online ads.

‘It was quite arduous – spending a lot of time collecting stuff, keeping an eye out for the right types of insulation, working with unknown quantities and we just managed to make it work without much wastage really.’ said Graham.

They found the insulation for the roof in a skip using Gumtree, the front window they got from an unwanted window re-seller, and the timber was reclaimed with help from the Southampton Wood Recycling Project.

‘It’s a low energy building as there are lots of layers of membranes which are all taped up and super well-insulated so it’s relatively warm in the winter.’ Graham said

Next to the office, they designed and built a shaded patio area with a bench for social functions.

Their frugal decision making meant they were able to build their summer cabin for just £12k in total – £23k less than the £35k Graham estimates the build would have cost them had they got someone to do it for them.

‘Building the garden office as a self-build project was greatly satisfying but also financially essential, we would not have been able to afford to do it otherwise.’ said Graham ‘It’s lucky we had the knowledge and skills to get hands on make it a reality’.

Graham and Rachel now use the space at least three times a week to work from home. Their children also like to use the space to play with their lego.

‘Because we’re both architects we didn’t want to just buy an old shed so we were always going to design it ourselves and save as much money as possible.’

Graham entered his shed into the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2024 competition for a ‘bit of fun’ but says it’s a ‘nice feeling’ to be shortlisted in the ‘Cabin/Summerhouse’ category.

‘I’m not thinking too far ahead about winning the whole thing though.’ He said. 

You can vote for Graham’s build here.

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Esther Fresco doesn’t believe there’s only one career for everyone, so after years of being a high-flier in the fashion industry, she decided to turn her life upside down and start again.

‘I started to feel that the fashion and textile industry was polluting the world, and people were wanting cheaper and cheaper, clothes,’ she says. ‘There’s a challenge for the fashion world to make clothes more green, and get away from fast fashion, but I decided I wanted to channel my creativity elsewhere.’

So two years ago, Fresco one morning turned to her husband Marcel Trijselaar, who worked in IT, and said: ‘We’ve had one career, why don’t we have another one? Why don’t we leave our home in Holland and go somewhere warm, and renovate a property, and become B&B owners? A slower life, a nicer climate…what do you think?’.

Trijselaar thought it sounded idyllic, so the couple began looking all over the South of France for a house they could buy, and turn into a project. Fresco wanted to use her extensive knowledge of fabrics, colours, and shapes, and bring all of that to the renovation. This wouldn’t be simply a place for guests to lay their head, it would be stylish, modern yet cosy, too. ‘We wanted to buy a big home with land,’ says Fresco, ‘and after looking for a long time, we pulled up to a house which was up on a hill of lavender fields, 20 minutes walk from the village of Montcuq, and we thought…”this could be the one”.’

What made this the property, which dates from 1803, the one for which the Dutch couple were willing to uproot their life, and invest their savings? ‘We thought it was beautiful from the outside,’ says Fresco. ‘The style in this area is simple, big, square, white Quercy-stoned houses just like kids sketch when they’re young. I like light, simple, fabrics and natural colours so I felt my aesthetic could work well with the architectural style. If I can be creative with clothes, I can be creative with a renovation, too. Also, the landscape is gorgeous.’

The house – named Domaine Lapèze – needed a huge amount of work to turn it into a guest house that people would want to stay in on holiday. ‘Since we bought the house two years ago, there hasn’t been a day that we haven’t worked on it,’ says Fresco. ‘We did everything ourselves except for the extremely specialist jobs.’ There are now three chic B&B rooms, with wine-inspired names: Malbec, the type of wine for which the area is famous, has views over the valley, while Merlot and Muscat look over the gardens.

A gite, named Le Cabernet, lies within the grounds with its own private terrace and has benefited from Esther’s keen eye, with muted, earthy colours and simple, elegant design flourishes. French doors with delicate white curtains open over views of the countryside. A wood stove makes it cosy even in cooler weather.

A new studio apartment is also being built, which should be available to stay in in 2025. As well as building a new outdoor swimming pool, one of the aspects of the house the couple is proudest of is their work on the five hectares of land. ‘We had a vegetable garden in the Netherlands, so I wanted one here too,’ says Fresco. ‘We grow pumpkins, cucumbers and tomatoes, which I give to our guests to cook with. We have flowers blossoming from early spring to winter, and we have lavender, oleander, rosemary, basil, coriander, and then a whole orchard of figs, walnuts, apples, pears and plums.’

Adjusting to their new existence in the Lot region in the South of France, away from their native Holland, has been made easier by the couple’s kind and helpful neighbours, and Fresco’s mother enjoying travelling over to help work in the garden. ‘I am also now able to speak conversational French, I am learning every day,’ says Fresco.

Enjoying the house is for the couple, and their guests, all about balancing peace and quiet, with the liveliness of the nearby village. ‘We feel we’re not somewhere out in the countryside half an hour drive from the nearest bakery,’ says Fresco. ‘No, we’re on a beautiful, quiet hill but we can walk to the lively village of Montcuq in 20 minutes, or drive there in three. It’s known in the region as a good place for some nice restaurants, a small pub, a pizzeria, and a really great market. I remember the first time I visited the market and I felt like I was in a French movie. You sit and drink your coffee and watch people selling straw hats next to the lovely veggies and high-quality sausages. The food is really great around here, which is partly why Marcel and I like it so much.’

The majority of guests Fresco receives at the house are couples, or groups of friends. There aren’t any small children, as guests must be over 16. ‘Yesterday we had a group of female friends on a trip from Spain,’ says Fresco, ‘and often we get people from Paris, Toulouse or Bordeaux for a few days, as well as people from Belgium, Holland, and lots from the UK.’

Fresco recently received the highest possible praise from the Mayor, too. ‘He said we have the nicest house and best view in the area,’ she says. They say they feel at home in this slow but vibrant part of Southern France, and have no regrets about the move.

So what does the future hold for the couple and their French dream? ‘We have a small vineyard near the house, which is a real jungle,’ says Fresco. ‘But we are transforming it into a proper space where we can grow lots of grapes. So hopefully soon there will be something extra nice to drink here with the local cheese and fresh baguette…’.

Where is Montcuq? Directions, what’s nearby and best way to travel

If Esther and Marcel’s blissful adventure has convinced you to check out the relatively undiscovered jewel in the South of France, here’s all you need to know about getting there.

It’s easiest to fly into either the Toulouse, Bergerac or Bordeaux airports, with Toulouse closest at around 1hr 20m drive from Montcuq, Bergerac around 1hr 30m and Bordeaux a two-hour drive away.

As public transport is limited around the Montcuq region, it’s advisable to hire a car to explore the local area.

Another good option is to hire (or take) your own e-bikes, or use old fashioned pedal power. Roads are quiet and countryside beautiful to explore, with plenty of villages to stop off at to refresh and refuel.

Nearby (30m by car) is the impressive town of Cahors, with a spectacular cathedral and Gothic and Romanesque architecture.

Visit domaine-lapeze.com to see more or to book a stay.

Kimberly Hart-Simpson doesn’t follow interiors trends. The sportswear-themed styling of her ‘upside-down’ house is completely unique and cost her less than £1,000 to create.

The Corrie actress lived in the same cutting-edge regeneration housing project in Salford, Greater Manchester, ten years ago and loved it, promising herself she’d return one day.

So, when looking through adverts on Gumtree she saw a house opposite her old home that was available to rent, Kimberly jumped at the chance.

‘My back garden now backs on to my old back garden,’ she says. ‘I always wanted to move back to the area. The houses have really funky designs – the bedrooms are downstairs, the kitchens in the middle, and the living room’s on the top floor.’

Being single and self-employed makes it tricky to get on the housing ladder, says Kimberly, so for now she is happy to rent. ‘I don’t care too much, it’s still my home,’ she says. 


The house is decorated with two of her favourite brands, Nike and Adidas, using second-hand T-shirts from the British Heart Foundation to make bespoke, colourful blankets, cushion covers and throws. A lover of all things second-hand – only buying new when absolutely necessary – Kimberly is an ambassador for the charity and champions its Reuse Revolution.

‘It’s not about saying everyone has to buy second-hand,’ she says. ‘That might not be for everybody. But there are small changes that we can make collectively that will make the biggest impact. Plus, the money you are spending in a charity shop goes on to change people’s lives so it’s the gift that keeps on giving when buying second-hand. And charity shops are fun – you will probably find unique items for your home.’

The house is a new design inside an old terrace building, changing the layout to make it more suitable to modern living. A terrace has been added on the first floor and lightwells have been installed where chimneys once were. There are clever space-saving solutions everywhere, such as a sunken bath that is hidden beneath the floorboards until it’s needed.

The kitchen/dining area is the hub of Kimberly’s home, with a gorgeous dining table and chairs bought second-hand from the British Heart Foundation. Handily, the charity will do home deliveries.

‘I’ve got some second-hand hoodies which I’m going to be using to upholster the seats,’ says the star, 37, who played Corrie’s Nicky Wheatley. ‘It’s dead easy to upcycle.’

The centre bowl on the table is vintage and the room features a set of Corrie caricatures bought second-hand on Facebook Marketplace.

‘I bought them because my dad was a massive Corrie fan and I wanted them around to remind me of him,’ she says. ‘I got on the show years later.’

Grouped with these pictures are porcelain dogs – more charity shop finds – and vintage Mandy annuals, from the girls comic book series.

The sofa is ex-display from Fellini Home while the Nike-themed coffee table was £25 in a charity shop. The glass panel was smashed in the middle but Kimberly found some scrap wood and built a new centre section. ‘Now
I love it even more than the glass and
saved it from landfill.’

Kimberly’s love of sportswear brands goes back to her childhood.

‘When I was in school they were the brands I wanted to wear but couldn’t afford and I didn’t want to put the pressure on my mum to buy them. Now that I’m older, they are a “congratulations” to me.

‘When it comes to my home I’m not inspired by anyone else – no one has the taste of me and you won’t forget my house. It feels like a cross between being in a JD Sports shop, a shoebox and a music video.’

Upstairs in the cute and cosy living room, the centrepiece is an AMC Furniture sofa covered with a throw and cushions that Kimberly made from second-hand sports T-shirts. Her passion for upcycling branded clothing has led to her setting up her own company, Hart-Work, (hart-work.com) which breathes new life into pieces destined for landfill. ‘Having my own business in upcycling, I want to live by what my brand suggests we should all do,’ she says.

An Adidas trainer built in Lego, along with a neon logo light, one of several in the house, also feature in the living room. An elegant lamp base in the shape of a woman was a charity shop find, and when Kimberly posted a picture of her new purchase on Instagram (@kimberly_h_s), one of her 140,000 followers contacted her, saying how happy she was to see her late nan’s lamp had a new home.

‘My brand addiction continues in the bedroom,’ says Kimberly. The back of the bed has a giant, flat backdrop in repurposed fabric from the British Heart Foundation, the world’s largest eBay charity retailer, emblazoned with a neon logo.

Bedside tables were from a car boot sale and 3D-printed house plant holders are shaped like trainers.

There are two bedrooms, the second one being used as a wardrobe for Kimberly’s huge collection of clothing. She estimates 95 per cent of her clothes were bought second-hand.

‘A lot of things in my house I’ve had to make myself because they don’t exist in the world,’ she says. ‘It adds my personality to the space and makes it very much my vibe.’

At times the house feels like an art gallery, or a museum. There is always something unique to look at.

By upcycling and reusing, Kimberly says, it cost less than £1,000 to decorate all three floors. ‘It’s not a mature 37 year-old’s house,’ she smiles. ‘But I am 37 and I am mature – and I’m very proud to call this my home.’

If Kimberly’s house has you inspired, you can visit the British Heart Foundation website and eBay page to give to a good cause and find treasures of your own.

A mum-of-three has transformed her council house into a fun throwback Noughties paradise complete with iconic Bratz dolls designs.

Influencer Jemma Murphy, from Solihull, spent just £1,500 on the transformation despite the council threatening her with a hefty financial penalty.

The 34-year-old lives in the three-bedroom semi-detached house with her three children, which she began renting in June 2021 for £800 per month.

For the first year of living in her home, Jemma was banned from making any changes to the décor of the property, because it was a new build.

A year of living with the white walls was akin to living in a ‘padded cell’, said Jemma, and after that year was up, she was determined to put her own stamp on the house to reflect her personality.

Since 2022, the mum has been spending ten hours per week designing her home, decorating and painting walls and ceilings by herself.

She’s still adding features despite her council saying that if she creates her dream Hello Kitty kitchen she will need to pay £7,000 in damages.

Despite transforming it into a Y2K Bratz paradise, Jemma must ensure that the house is returned back to a neutral blank canvas when she leaves.

Jemma said: ‘I think because it’s a brand new estate and the houses that are for sale are going for £350-£700k they’ve been a little restrictive about amendments.

‘They’ve said if I want to fund changing the cupboard doors myself I can, but classed paint as unhygienic and vinyl as damaging.’

Despite the amount the mum-of-three has already spent, she also had plans to design a Hello Kitty themed kitchen.

‘I spent around £300 on the bathroom, which I think is good,’ she said.

‘I usually spend a lot of time looking on Facebook marketplace for vintage items, as that’s what I love.’

‘The bathroom is probably my favourite space in the house because it’s fully complete and looks just how I wanted it to.’

‘Plus is not a usual design and is nice to relax.’

Her favourite addition to her home recently has been her Hello Kitty cake pop maker.

This complete redecoration has been tricky for the mum, who wants it just as she envisions in her head.

‘The painting process was by far the hardest as I was doing it free-hand, and I ended up needing to use a make-up brush,’ she explained.

‘I would define my decor style as 90s and early Y2K. I love pastel colours, but I also have elements of goth in the house too. It’s very nostalgic.’

Jemma, who says her family are supportive and help with the work, has shared her home transformation online where she has won some praise.

The video went viral, taking off on TikTok, when Jemma shared her bathroom design.

She said that she didn’t expect her video to have so much success and the comments have been very supportive of her decor choices.

TikToker Ells wrote: ‘If this isn’t my bathroom when I’m older I don’t want it.’

‘My inner child is screaming,’ added Kovoshedoll.

‘The warmest comments that I’ve received include people saying that I’m helping them heal inner children,’ Jemma said.

‘Some people say they love the design so much they want to move in.’

But her design choices aren’t for everyone.

She added: ‘Some people comment online criticising my design, it’s usually men, saying that I’ve ruined the new-build and council house.

‘My mum and dad are all for it, they’re very supportive and help me with decorating the home too.’

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Ever thought about ditching the 9-5 and hitting the road?

While you might have fleetingly considered it, one woman made it her reality.

Penny Djordjevic, 49, gave up everything to live on a school bus with her husband Pete and their four dogs.

Now, the trio live a nomadic lifestyle, traveling around Australia and carrying out seasonal work. 

Their adventures began eight years ago when, fed up with the daily grind, they ditched their jobs and sold all their possessions. Initially, they lived on a smaller bus, which they affectionately named Billie.

Penny, originally from Queensland, said: ‘We wanted a change so we sold everything including our house, business and furniture.

‘We bought Billie the bus, a Toyota Coaster and added our own touch with our artwork on the interior.’

After five years of travelling, they bought a 32-plot in Queensland and parked up permanently before upgrading to their current home – a 12-metre school bus which they bought for $10,500 (around £5,250) from Facebook Marketplace. 

They then spent around 700 renovating it, using recycled and upcycled materials. 

The walls are lined with plywood from shipping containers and they made furniture from second-hand fence panelling.

Penny says there are a few drawbacks to school bus life, including lack of storage and the features of a regular house, such as having no air con during the hot Australian summer.

‘I miss having a normal-sized fridge. We use a camping fridge which does the job nicely but it would be nice to have shelves.’ she says.

‘I also miss having a freezer and a big TV to watch movies on. Watching on our phones or laptops doesn’t have the same effect.’

The worst thing though, she says, is the toilet situation.

‘Going to the loo at night can be a disadvantage because we have an outside toilet and shower. In summer it’s not a problem but in winter when it’s cold, windy and raining we have to make a very quick trip.’

Despite all that, Penny says she wouldn’t change her life. 

‘We can travel whenever we want and don’t have to worry about costly home repairs, endless gardening or troublesome neighbours.’

The couple also own a food van which they take to local markets and festivals. They carry out farm work so they can support themselves while exploring Australia.

They plan to paint a mural on the outside of the bus and set up an awning to create some extra shade.

‘We love our lifestyle. Bus life is fantastic. It’s super cosy, easy to maintain and keep clean, can be mobile if we choose and is a great living space for us.’

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Sprucing up a rental properly can be a bit of a pain – especially if you’re obsessed with interior design. But we’ve found a great way around it.

While many of us are bound to grey carpets, white walls and dated glossy kitchen units, it isn’t necessarily the be-all and end-all.

Metro.co.uk spoke to some interior design experts about how they’d recommend decking out a rental to make it look unique and well-thought-out, and this one tip will change the game for you.

Introduce battery-operated mood lighting

Rhys Parry, an interior designer at Porcelanosa, works on a range of high-end kitchens and bathrooms, and has a wealth of tips.

Rhys is a huge advocate for mood lighting. He tells us: ‘The most effective way to create mood lighting isn’t to flood the room with various light sources, but to pinpoint different zones such as the kitchen table, a piece of art hung on the wall or a console table in the hallway and allow space for darkness to create a visual contrast.’

The design expert explains: ‘People would typically associate these great pops of light with wired fixtures, but this doesn’t need to be the case – renters don’t have to miss out now. There are so many amazing battery-operated options available, from picture lights to wall sconces.’

Rhys also suggests introducing battery-powered lighting to your kitchen, if things are looking a little dull and drab in there.

‘So many rented kitchens are poorly lit, and adding in cabinet lighting, spotlights and LED strips can really elevate things. Good lighting is a must when I’m designing kitchens.

‘These are cheap to buy and easy to install – and no electricians are needed. You can choose from ones which plug into a wall socket or again, battery-operated ones. They also double as mood lighting to create a warm and inviting space as many come with warm, neutral and cool options.’

If you’ve been watching BBC’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr this year, then you’ll be familiar with Roisin Quinn, who won the series.

The BBC star has since released her own gorgeous collection with LaRedoute, filled with statement furnishings.

She’s given some of her top tips for spicing up your rentals too.

Can’t afford a new kitchen? Vinyl it all

‘If you hate the colour of your cabinets, vinyl them! It can be stripped back and taken away, and really transforms your space,’ she says.

If you’re not a fan of your kitchen tiles either, Roisin has a hack for that too.

‘You can get self-adhesive self-removable tiles, which are easy to install. All you need is a Stanley knife. If you still don’t like the look of it, you can go in with a grout pen on the adhesive tiles, which will give it a more expensive, elevated look.’

Change up your handles for instant modernisation

Another quick way to give homes a modern touch is by changing the door handles. 

Rhys tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Many rented properties are included with stainless steel kitchen door handles, which makes total sense as they are hardwearing and stain-resistant, but also bring a utilitarian and sterile feel into our homes

‘Consider changing the door handles for something with a bit more character to suit your style and ergonomics.

‘My top tip is to be aware that mounting holes can vary per handle, so measure twice and purchase once.’

Ditch the table and chairs for a breakfast bar

If you want to save space, Roisin recommends adding in a breakfast bar.

She reveals: ‘It just gives a new element to your space. If you’ve got an open kitchen, dining and living area that’s quite small, and you don’t want a huge table in the way, put a breakfast bar in.

‘On Interior Design Masters, I created one from scratch for our rental and it only had two small screws in the wall.

‘If this isn’t possible, you can buy one from places such as IKEA, and pop it up against the end of your kitchen units.’

Don’t have a picturesque view, or just fancy a stylish touch? Film it up

Rhys has put his own tip into play for this one, applying window film to any spots which lack privacy, or don’t have a gorgeous view.

He says: ‘Window views can be the highlight of many homes and a deciding factor for some renters. If your view isn’t picturesque or lacks privacy, consider using window film.

‘They are relatively easy to install, and even easier to remove. One-way film can provide the well-needed privacy you desire whilst not isolating you from the outside world.’

Rhys adds: ‘However, if your view is a 7ft brick wall directly in front of the window, or a delightful view of bins in a back alley – which is what I see from my guest bedroom – consider patterned or a stained glass look to create a feature of the aforementioned sight!’

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