One of the redeeming features of chilly weather is that it allows you to snuggle up in warm, cosy bedding, and I’ve just found the cutest set at Next. Their White Christmas Robin Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set (£50) is easily the most adorable set I’ve seen all winter, and it will keep you warm well into 2026.
If you’ve been wondering where to buy bedding this winter, I’d recommend keeping Next on your radar as the brand has dropped a huge range of stunning wintery designs. Plus, with many made from warm, fluffy fleece material, it feels like perfect timing since the temperatures have plummeted.
But the design I’m most taken with is easily the robins. A homage to the UK’s favourite bird (according to the RSPB), this bedding set is the perfect gift for yourself this winter.
Next
White Christmas Robin Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
This bedding set looks like robins hopping through the snow, and I’m sure you’ll agree it is an adorable image. This is soft and cosy, perfect for chilly winter nights.
Robins, also affectionately known as the gardener’s friend, are a welcome and delightful sight on a dreary winter’s day. It’s easy to see why so many of us want to know how to attract robins to our gardens, but I say: why stop there?
Next’s White Christmas Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set introduces this cheerful bird to your bedroom ideas in the most charming way. The bedding set could easily pass as a canvas, as it depicts little embroidered robins making footprints in the snowy white fleece material. This gives the bedding set a 3D element that makes it a standout in my opinion.
I’m also very intrigued by the fleece material used to make the bedding set. I’m no stranger to using brushed cotton bedding or fluffy bedding – Dunelm’s cult Teddy Duvet Cover and Pillow Case Set in Cream (£22) is currently on my bed- to keep warm during the winter. And I have to say, I believe fleece bedding will do the job just as effectively. After all, it’s always a trusty fleece I reach for when bracing the cold.
Next describes the soft, fluffy fleece material they use as feeling like being ‘wrapped in a warm hug on a chilly evening.’ Although the set currently only has one review, it is a five-star rating.
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(Image credit: Next)
‘I bought this new xmas bedding and it’s the best. It is the warmest and most snuggly teddy duvet and pillow case. It also looks so Christmasy,’ it says.
To save you the hassle, I’ve reviewed the reviews of Next’s other fleece bedding sets, and one thing seems to ring true – it’s soft, snuggly and warm.
Amongst the beautiful styles, the robins are without doubt my favourite. However, the rest of the collection is too good to miss, so I’ve rounded up a few more styles to shop.
Next
White Fleece Rosie the Rabbit Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
They have bunnies, too! This beautiful design nails the winter bedding look without appearing too festive – meaning you can use it well into the new year.
Next
Red Check Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
Tartan is having a real moment this winter. The heritage print is perfect for the season, while it’s cosy fleece material will keep you nice and toasty at night.
Next
Natural Bertie and Moose Christmas Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
If you love Christmas bedding, it doesn’t get much for festive than this. Featuring Bertie Bear and his moose friend, it’s a stylish bedding set for the whole family.
Investing in some decent fleece bedding will not only keep you warm this winter, but put a smile on your face, too, every time you look at the gaggle of robins hopping over your bedspread.
Homeowners are being urged to get their boilers serviced ASAP – if you don’t, you could risk voiding your home insurance policy.
Servicing your boiler every year is a vital home maintenance task and one that you should never skip. As well as ensuring it is still safe and working as efficiently as it can to heat your home, regular servicing and maintenance can also be included as a requirement in some home insurance policies.
So, I asked the experts exactly how your boiler servicing can impact your home insurance policy, to help you save energy, time and money this winter. This is everything they told me, so you don’t get left in the lurch.
How boiler servicing can impact your home insurance
‘It’s important for homeowners to be aware that many home insurance policies and boiler warranties ask for proof of annual professional servicing. If a major fault happens without that record, the policy or warranty could be invalid, leaving you to cover the cost of repairs yourself,’ explains Helen Phipps, home insurance expert at Compare the Market.
(Image credit: Future PLC/ James French)
Emergency repairs can cost hundreds of pounds, and in some instances of damage, your boiler may need to be replaced entirely, which can cost thousands. With the cost of living still high, many families are looking for ways to save money at home, and covering your own boiler repairs due to void insurance does not make the list.
‘A boiler should be serviced annually to make sure it is running at its full potential. It’s a good idea to schedule your boiler service during the summer when the boiler is largely inactive. Annual inspections allow engineers to spot components that may be showing signs of wear and replace them before they fail,’ says Martyn Bridges, Director of External Affairs at Worcester Bosch.
‘Many people prefer to protect themselves from unexpected costs by taking out boiler cover-type insurance, which includes an annual service and breakdowns to ensure it is performing at its best.’
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(Image credit: Future PLC/ Katie Lee)
You’ll need to check your home insurance as not all policies cover boiler maintenance and repairs. In this instance, you can opt for home emergency cover or specific boiler insurance.
‘A breakdown can leave you suddenly without heating or hot water, but with the right policy in place, you can avoid unexpected repair costs, access qualified engineers quickly, and keep your home running smoothly. Much like building insurance, boiler cover does require you to keep on top of regular maintenance – so keeping on top of your boiler servicing is just as important as having cover in place,’ says Nathan Blackler, Go.Compare home insurance spokesperson said.
WZ
WZ Radiator Bleed Key – Pack of 2
Bleeding your radiators releases any trapped air from their pipes, helping your home heat more efficiently. Why not complete this important task alongside your boiler servicing?
Insurance aside, it’s always a good idea to keep on top of your boiler servicing. It ensures your boiler is working as efficiently as possible, saving you money in the long run.
Refresh your home with simple styling tricks that boost light, open up space and elevate your décor—no major renovation needed.
Start with a New Perspective
Credit: Sona
When you walk into your home, it should feel calm, open and inspiring. But when life gets busy, it’s easy for rooms to lose their spark. The good news is that you don’t need to embark on a full remodel to bring everything back to life. With a few smart styling choices, you can reshape how your home feels, boosting light, improving flow and adding fresh touches of style.
Let Light Lead the Way
Light has an incredible power to shift the atmosphere of any room. Begin by paying attention to how natural light enters the space at different times of the day. If your windows are covered by heavy or dated curtains, swapping them for something lighter instantly changes the mood.
Use Lighting Layers Thoughtfully
Think beyond ceiling lights. Soft table lamps, slender floor lamps and subtle wall lights help you create pockets of warmth that make a room feel more inviting. Mixing different types of lighting allows you to tailor the ambience to the moment—bright for busy mornings, gentler for evenings at home.
A Touch of Luxury with Electric Window Blinds
If you’re ready for an upgrade that feels both modern and effortless, consider bringing electric window blinds into your home, such as Sona’s custom-made blinds. They give windows a cleaner, more streamlined look while making it incredibly easy to control light throughout the day. With smooth, quiet automation and the option to integrate them into a smart-home system, they add a layer of sophistication that transforms both comfort and style.
Create More Space Without Moving Walls
Space isn’t just about square footage — it’s about how a room is arranged and how it flows. When you step back and rethink your layout, you can uncover hidden potential you didn’t realise you had.
Rethink Your Layout
Start by looking at how you move through the room. Are there pieces of furniture blocking pathways? Are certain corners underused? Try angling furniture differently, floating a sofa away from the wall or moving pieces that feel oversized. A small shift can completely change how open the room feels.
Declutter with Purpose
A fresh space doesn’t mean stripping the room bare; it means keeping only the pieces that add value or joy. Clear surfaces, organise shelves, and make room for breathing space. When the visual noise is gone, the whole room feels lighter and more intentional.
Style That Speaks to You
Style is where your personality has the most room to shine. The goal isn’t to make your home look like a showroom; it’s about creating spaces that feel beautifully lived in and thoughtfully pulled together.
Update with Small but Impactful Decor
You don’t need grand gestures. A new rug can ground a space, fresh cushions can introduce pattern, and a textured throw can add warmth. Art is another powerful way to shift the energy of a room. Choose a piece that reflects your taste, whether that’s abstract shapes, soft coastal scenes or striking black‑and‑white photography.
Play with Colour and Contrast
If your room feels flat, experiment with colour in subtle ways. A muted feature wall, a pair of rich-toned lampshades or even a colourful vase can bring depth without overwhelming the space. Contrast – light against dark, soft against structured – gives your home a designer edge without requiring drastic changes.
Bring It All Together
As you layer light, reorganise furniture and introduce stylish touches, your home begins to feel renewed. These small shifts create a big difference, helping each room look brighter, feel more spacious and carry a style that feels uniquely yours.
With clever design choices rather than major renovations, you can refresh your home in a way that feels authentic, modern and full of life.
We’ve had wind, rain, and even snow this week; there’s no denying that temperatures have suddenly plummeted, and if you worried about protecting your plants from the cold and frost, garden experts have revealed an unusual hack to keep them safe – and it involves putting bottles of warm water around your garden.
When it comes to protecting plants from frost and cold weather, your best bet is following the 4-degree rule for plants. This rule states that gardeners should start protecting their plants when the temperatures drop below 4°C.
Plant cells can become damaged or even destroyed by frost, which is why it is so important to protect your tender plants. One way to do this is by placing bottles of warm water near the plants you want to protect. Here’s how it works.
How to use bottles of warm water to protect plants
‘Placing two or three water bottles filled with warm water around plants can help quickly melt the frost off the top. Repeat this step morning and night to help your plants survive the frosty weather,’ explains Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Amberley Castle)
This hack works a bit like how a hot water bottle heats us when we’re cold. Placing a bottle of warm water near a vulnerable plant will warm the air around it as it slowly cools. And doing this first thing in the morning and at night will help protect your plants during the coldest parts of the day.
However, you should be mindful to only use water from the hot tap, rather than boiling water from the kettle, as boiling water could damage the container, as well as harming you or your plant if spilt.
‘Place this container of hot water close to your plant but not touching the foliage, as you don’t want any condensation which forms on the outside surface of the container to touch your plant, as the leaves could then freeze,’ adds Lucie Bradley, garden and greenhouse expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.
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‘So that the heat released by the water isn’t quickly lost as the air rises, cover the plant as well, using garden fleece (£8.59 at Amazon) for example, anchored securely around the base so there are no gaps to allow the heat to escape.’
‘Although using warm water in this way will lift the temperature around your plant, it is only a temporary solution and not a long-term solution to keep plants protected,’ says Lucie.
‘However, it only works effectively when combined with covering your plants too to contain as much warmth as possible. It also needs you to replace the water when it has cooled, so although cost-effective, it can work out to be time-consuming.’
(Image credit: Future PLC/Katie Lee Photography)
It is certainly an easy method, and only requires water from your tap and an old bottle from your recycling bin, but if you are looking for a longer-term solution, or don’t fancy bracing the cold first thing in the morning, there are better alternatives. From planting cold-loving plants in the first place to placing a thick layer of mulch around your plants, there are plenty of ways to keep your plants safe.
‘For containers too large to relocate, insulation becomes essential. Wrapping pots in a layer of straw or bubble wrap helps reduce heat loss, and adding a fleece cover gives an extra barrier against cold snaps,’ says Amber Tunney, Horticultural Specialist at Cherry Lane Garden Centres.
‘Larger in-ground plants may also benefit from physical shielding. Drive a few stakes into the soil around vulnerable specimens and wrap horticultural fleece around the frame to create a simple protective jacket. For individual plants that need a little extra help within a border, a homemade cloche can be invaluable: shape a cylinder of chicken wire, fill it with leaves or straw, and secure it over the plant to provide both insulation and airflow.’
Gardening Express
Pack of Three – Extra Thick (30gsm) Medium Frost Protection Fleece Plant Jacket With Drawstring Closing Cord
A good quality horitcutural fleece provides insulation to your plants while still allowing light air and moisture to reach them.
Gardening Naturally
Haxnicks 2 X King Size Victorian Bell Garden Cloche
A cloche can also be used to protect plants against frost, extreme weather, pests and even pets.
YouGarden
YouGarden 2 X 100l Strulch Mulch Straw Mulch in 9kg Bags
Mulch is excellent at regulating soil temperatures, which can help keep your plant and its roots insulated during winter months. This mulch also repels slugs and snails.
If the sudden cold snap has left you unprepared to protect your tender plants, can you see yourself using bottles of warm water to keep them safe?
I don’t know about you, but I’m a big board game fan. But few board games are as innately aesthetically pleasing as backgammon; chess is a close second. So it’s perhaps not so surprising that many have taken to using chic, well-made and well-designed backgammon or chess sets as home decor to adorn their living rooms with.
I’ve been seeing this home decor trend pop up in many stylish people’s homes – with backgammon sets taking the spotlight. When the H&M Home x Palm Heights collection launched this summer, the pretty bright yellow £40 backgammon set was one of the first pieces to sell out, within hours of release.
Now with Addison Ross, the homeware brand known for its bobbin salt and pepper mills and wireless lamps, launching its own range of beautiful backgammon sets this month, it’s clear this is a living room trend that’s here to stay.
(Image credit: Addison Ross)
‘For us, launching backgammon now is about more than a game – it’s about encouraging those moments of connection and creating beautiful objects that bring joy into everyday living,’ say Sarah and David Ross, co-founders of Addison Ross. ‘Backgammon is a beloved family game that we’ve played for years, so launching our own backgammon collection felt incredibly natural – almost like inviting every Addison Ross customer to pull up a chair in our family living room.’
And with the festive season coming up, there’s never been a better time to invest in a stylish backgammon or chess set – whether it’s to gift to a loved one or treat yourself and play with your family and friends over Christmas and the hosting season leading up to it.
Top backgammon set picks
Addison Ross
Tartan Lacquer Backgammon Set
From the four different backgammon set designs Addison Ross just launched, it was difficult picking a favourite. But for now, I’m settling on this blue and green one with a tartan-print cover.
Not Another Bill
Backgammon Roll
If you’re short on space, you can also opt for a more space-saving design that still doesn’t sacrifice on style, much like this backgammon roll from Not Another Bill. And it comes in six different but equally lovely colourways.
Printworks
Backgammon set
If ever in doubt when looking for stylish-looking board games, go to Printworks. And backgammon sets are no exception – this set is the perfect example. As well as available through its own website, you can shop Printworks chess backgammon sets through H&M (like in this case), Selfridges and more.
Not Another Bill
Backgammon Set
Why go for one colour when you can have two in one, like in this backgammon set? While this set is technically targeted at children, even the brand itself encourages adults alike to enjoy this game set themselves.
John Lewis
Wood Backgammon Game
If you’re after something a little simpler then this plain wood set from John Lewis feels quite Scandi chic. And you get little hints of colour through the blues on the inside.
Printworks
Art of Backgammon
Etsy is another place you can score a Printworks backgammon set. And this one is especially bold and colourful – and it even looks like a coffee table book when closed.
Why are backgammon and chess sets trending?
Most of the backgammon sets favoured for decor use tend to be on the bolder, more colourful side – as both the Addison Ross sets and the aforementioned sellout H&M Home x Palm Heights one exemplify. But why are backgammon and chess sets specifically becoming so popular right now?
‘They have been popping up everywhere, especially in living rooms that lean toward a curated, collected feel,’ says Sienna Brooks, Flitch interior stylist. ‘People are looking for pieces that signal personality and analogue pleasure in a very digital world, and these games deliver that beautifully. They also tap into the current interest in vintage-inspired items, craftsmanship and materials like stone, wood and lacquer.’
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(Image credit: Future PLC/Alison Lovett)
Sarah and David at Addison Ross add, ‘We were seeing chess and backgammon sets increasingly used as decorative objects. There’s also been a real resurgence in board games as part of home life, and we think it speaks to something deeper happening culturally. People are genuinely craving connection – with friends, with family, and with each other in ways that don’t involve screens.’
Top chess set picks
Manopoulos
Bauhaus Wooden Chess Set
A chess set inspired by the Bauhaus art movement from the beginning of the 20th century? Yes, please!
Printworks
Poseidon lacquered chess board game set
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Printworks is a brand that never disappoints. And their chess sets are just as beautiful as their backgammon ones.
Marble Hives
Green Onyx Marble Chess Set
If a more traditional, vintage-style aesthetic is your cup of tea, may I suggest a chess set made with green onyx and marble? I’m obsessed with this one from Etsy!
How to style them in your home
A chic backgammon or chess set is the perfect addition to any living room which looks especially great styled on either a coffee table or a sideboard as Sienna at Flitch explains.
‘A well made set adds instant character, acting as both a sculptural object and a subtle invitation to slow down. A chess or backgammon set looks great on a coffee table paired with a low stack of art books and a small vase to keep things balanced. They also work well on a sideboard or console where the board can remain set up without getting in the way of everyday life. If the design is especially striking, placing it on an ottoman tray in the sitting room can turn it into a quiet focal point that softens the whole space.’
Are you going to be adding a set to your shopping basket?
