In my books, Urban Outfitters has always been a brand catering for teenagers – even back when I was one myself – and now the younger Gen Z generation of early 20-somethings.
It’s definitely never been my go-to for stylish, elevated lamps – up until this week that is, when I happened to be scrolling through the brand’s lighting offering and found myself swooning over a whole list of Urban Outfitters lamps, even though I’m a true millennial.
I have a minor obsession with lamps and lighting, even though I am pretty fussy at the same time so I don’t get impressed all that easily. And while I don’t really have much space left for any more lamps in my home – as I’ve said before when admiring the designer-look H&M Home table lamps – I can still window shop and live vicariously through the purchases of others, yourself included.
I have since moved house though, so there might just be a spot for one new living room lighting idea in my new abode, which makes me very happy – could it be an Urban Outfitters number?
(Image credit: Urban Outfitters)
A large portion of Urban Outfitters’ lighting range is very dopamine decor-esque, which includes funky lamps in shapes of food – there’s everything from ramen noodles to my personal favourite, the cherry.
But even if you’re not particularly into this quirky lighting trend and rather are after something a little more elevated and timeless, there are plenty of chic lamps to choose from, many of which champion some of the latest home decor trends, while others have more of a retro charm, taking inspiration from midcentury and 1970s designs.
These are my current top 6 picks of Urban Outfitters lamps I’ve got my eye on right now and feel seriously tempted by. The best part is that several of them are currently on sale.
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My top picks
Urban Outfitters
Kodhi Table Lamp
This lamp first came out in a blue and brown colourway which I spotted a few months back. But this chrome and butter yellow number is so chic – and it’s so petite, too.
Urban Outfitters
Kane Table Lamp
Is it just me or does this lamp look designer? It also comes in white but I love this super deep rusty shade and the retro shape of it reminiscent of the 70s.
Urban Outfitters
Codi Floor Lamp
When I first saw this side table-shaped floor lamp, I was immediately sold because it’s so innovative (I’ve never seen anything like it) yet it makes so much sense.
Urban Outfitters
Squiggle Table lamp
Wiggle-shaped lamps have been a big lighting trend since last year. And I’m sold on Urban Outfitters’ slightly irregular, chrome take on the look.
Urban Outfitters
Shell Lamp
First, it was large shell-shaped decorative bowls that were trending. Perhaps the natural progression of the look are shell-shaped lamps. I feel like this one is a need for me at this point.
Urban Outfitters
Verity Stone Lamp
If I didn’t know this lamp was from Urban Outfitters, I would have never guessed that it was. It looks so polished, sleek and elevated with the globe shaped bulb and stone base.
While Urban Outfitters is more of a new addition to my list of go-to places where to buy lighting, there are, of course, so many other high street brands with beautiful lamps, including the aforementioned H&M Home, M&S and Habitat among several others.
Where do you like to shop for stylish lamps and light fittings?
Home decoration today is no longer just about picking out pretty furniture or matching colours — it’s a creative expression of who you are and how you live. Whether it’s a cozy living room, a modern kitchen, or a minimal style bedroom, modern decoration reflects our values, lifestyles, and even our technological influences. The goal is to create an environment that not only looks stunning but also feels harmonious and functional.
Credit: https://depositphotos.com/
One of the biggest trends in contemporary decoration is minimalism. The minimalist style focuses on simplicity, clean lines, and the careful use of colors to create calm and clutter-free spaces. Neutral tones like beige, white, and gray dominate this trend, while natural materials such as wood, stone, and linen bring warmth and texture. Minimalist design doesn’t mean boring; it’s about emphasizing quality over quantity and allowing every element to serve a purpose.
On the other end of the spectrum, maximalism celebrates boldness and creativity. It embraces vibrant colors, layered textures, and a mix of patterns that tell a story. The key to mastering this style is balance, combining statement pieces and unique decorations without overwhelming the space. In recent years, maximalist interiors have made a comeback as people seek to personalize their homes and make them truly one-of-a-kind.
Technology has also become a major influence in decoration. Smart home devices, mood lighting, and AI-driven design tools allow decorators to plan, visualize, and execute ideas faster than ever. For example, an AI presentation maker to save time can be a great resource for decorators, designers and homeowners who need to create ideas before deciding on a final plan. Instead of spending hours creating vision boards manually, AI tools can automatically generate visually appealing designs that showcase color schemes, layouts, and design concepts in a professional way.
Sustainability is another important aspect of modern decoration. People are becoming more conscious of the materials they use and the environmental impact of their choices. Upcycling old furniture, using eco-friendly paints, and opting for locally sourced materials not only help the planet but also add authenticity and charm to the space. Sustainable design is no longer a niche trend; it’s becoming the new standard for responsible living.
Unsplash+ In collaboration with Getty Images
Finally, personalization ties all these trends together. A well-decorated space should reflect the personality of the person behind it. From handmade crafts to digital art and customized lighting, every detail contributes to the overall atmosphere. The best decorators know how to blend aesthetics with emotion, transforming ordinary rooms into meaningful experiences.
In essence, decoration today is about finding the perfect balance between beauty, functionality, and innovation. Whether you prefer minimalist calm, maximalist flair, or a tech-savvy smart home, the right approach can turn any space into a masterpiece. And with digital tools like AI to save time, sharing and refining your vision has never been easier.
The need to use a fan in your home has evaporated as quickly as the evenings have got darker this season. But did you know that using a fan can be an effective tool against damp and condensation this winter?
While you may associate the best fans with hot summer days, these handy tools don’t become defunct in winter. Instead, they can be used to improve the air quality in your home and prevent dreaded damp and condensation.
If you’ve been racking your brains for ways to get rid of damp, then why not try getting your summer fan out of storage and using it to air your home out more effectively? Here’s how it works.
How to use a fan to air your home
Airing out your home is an effective way to reduce the amount of damp and condensation. You may have heard of the German ritual Lüften, which is the practice of opening your doors and windows for a short burst in the mornings to allow fresh air to circulate. This technique is sometimes referred to as burping your home, too.
This method is an effective way to reduce damp and condensation, and using a fan has a similar effect. If you’re wondering what fan to use, it will need to be a little more powerful than a small or desktop fan. The Meaco MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator (£99.99 at Amazon) is Ideal Home’s best-rated fan due to the fact that it is both powerful and energy efficient – making it a strong contender for helping to air a home.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
‘A fan can help by improving the airflow around your home. This, in turn, stops moist air from sitting on cold surfaces such as windows and walls, which is what causes condensation to form. By preventing condensation from forming, you’re removing one of the key factors that causes mould and damp in your home,’ says Nicholas Auckland, heating and energy expert at Trade Radiators.
Like you wouldn’t leave your windows and doors open all day to air your home, you shouldn’t leave your fan on all day. Instead, it’s best to use this hack when humidity is at its highest. A hygrometer is a handy tool to measure the humidity in your home, but there are also telltale signs.
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‘The best time to use a fan is right after cooking, bathing or doing laundry, when indoor humidity is at its highest. Angle it so the air moves across cold walls or windows and toward an open vent or window to push moisture outside. Let it run for a little while after these activities to properly air the space. It’s an affordable and practical fix for winter, especially in older or rented homes where installing permanent ventilation isn’t an option,’ says Eric Hargreaves, owner of Your Choice Builders.
Is this a good hack to use?
The problem with damp and condensation is often that there isn’t one solution, but rather a combination of measures that can be used effectively together. Using a fan is a helpful measure that should be employed with others, such as using one of the best dehumidifiers.
(Image credit: Future PLC/James French)
‘It can be a helpful solution if you have a major problem with stale, humid air, but it’s not really the best long-term solution as it doesn’t proactively remove moisture unless placed near an open window,’ says Nicholas.
‘A fan will improve airflow, but to really prevent condensation and mould, you need to extract moisture with something like a dehumidifier or an extractor fan. You also need to pair moisture removal with consistent heating, proper insulation, and regular ventilation to help keep humidity levels under control throughout winter.’
So while it is definitely worth getting your fan out of storage, you should also consider investing in one of these three dehumidifiers, which will also take moisture out of the air.
MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier / Air Purifier
This is Ideal Home‘s best-rated dehumidifier. It’s quiet, easy to use, works superbly and is very energy-efficient, complete with a timer, built-in HEPA air purifier, Wi-Fi connectivity and a Smart Laundry Mode.
Dryzone Dehumidifier & Air Purifier
This Dryzone dehumidifier and air purifier is great if you’re on a budget. It extracts 12L of water per day, while filtering dust, allergens and pet dander.
Pro Breeze 30L High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier
This dehumidifier can extract up to 30L of moisture from the air per day, giving it one of the highest extraction rates on the market. This makes it a great choice if you have a particularly damp property.
It’s always worth airing out your home in winter, but will you try adding a fan to this routine?
If you live in East London or near enough to be able to come down to The Mix by Bert & May, I recommend you do so. Tile brand Bert & May just opened The Mix, a permanent collaborative retail space this month, featuring a host of other brands which including a beautiful Farrow & Ball pop-up. If you’re looking for paint ideas that don’t cost a fortune to make a big impact, then this is the place to go.
I visited The Mix this week, located in a warehouse building at 67 Vyner Street in East London’s Bethnal Green area. It might look dark and industrial on the outside, but inside it’s a cosy, warm and super stylish space.
The colour scheme for the whole space was chosen by Farrow & Ball’s colour curator, Joa Studholme. When I spoke to her, she said that she was going for a cosy look, but she also wanted to reflect the creative and youthful edge that East London is known for. That involved including paint inspiration for anyone working on a tight budget.
(Image credit: Beth Davis)
‘I spend quite a lot of time in people’s houses, helping them choose colors,’ Joa says. ‘And I have lots of very young clients, and they can’t afford to paint their whole house. So here it shows you how to paint just one feature – like the door, for example, just paint something – to add a little twist. The pillars are only half painted across the space, and all these little quirks.’
While the space uses a combination of paint all over. All the ideas can be taken in isolation as inspiration for how you can stretch one tin of paint to add colour throughout the whole house as your red thread. Like Joa says, not all of us have the time or the money to redecorate our whole home in Farrow and Ball paint.
(Image credit: Future/Sara Hesikova)
If you’re only picking one shade to decorate your home, the space also offers plenty of bold suggestions. There are quite a few different Farrow & Ball paint shades used here including some of the most popular Farrow & Ball colours and this year’s newly launched shades.
Starting with the brand’s pop-up space, the main wall is painted half in the new Marmelo shade on the top and Broccoli Brown on the bottom with a stripe in Reduced Green running through the middle, separating the two block colours.
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An organic-shaped table in the middle of the space is painted in the more vibrant Bancha green shade, while a moodier green tone called Douter was used on the screen separating the Farrow & Ball pop-up from the rest of the space.
(Image credit: Beth Davis)
But the real statement was created in the centre of The Mix using a fiery orange Bamboozle shade where it was perfectly paired with tiles from Bert & May and fabrics from Ottoline used on ottomans and a banquette bench.
Farrow & Ball
Marmelo Estate Emulsion Paint 2.5L
Farrow & Ball
Broccoli Brown Estate Emulsion Paint 2.5L
Broccoli Brown is one of the 12 shades Farrow & Ball launched this year. And with brown and earthy shades in general rising in popularity, it’s not surprising it’s getting a lot of love.
Farrow & Ball
Reduced Green Estate Emulsion Paint 2.5L
Green is one of the most popular paint colours in the country which explains why Farrow & Ball’s green shade offering keeps growing. This one is so moody and dark that it looks green to some, and brown to others.
Farrow & Ball
Douter Estate Emulsion Paint 2.5L
Taking inspiration from the colour of tarnished brass of traditional candle snuffers as explained by Joa herself, this is a beautiful sophisticated green shade.
Farrow & Ball
Bancha Estate Emulsion Paint 2.5L
Olive green shades have been very popular as of late. And seeing Farrow & Ball’s take on olive covering the table of the pop up space, I’m fully on board.
Farrow & Ball
Bamboozle Estate Emulsion Paint 2.5L
If you really want to make a statement, this fiery orange shade is the one for you.
While you can’t purchase Farrow & Ball paint and wallpapers directly from The Mix, it’s a perfect place to go and explore the range of colours and wallpapers on offer.
You can also order paint sample pots and book colour consultations with the Farrow & Ball team at the venue. It’s the perfect place to pop by and remind yourself that even with just a tester pot or a small tin of paint you can completely change the look and feel of a room.
In September, Next went viral for its super cute (and super Christmassy) gingerbread tree skirt. If you missed out on the chance to add the decoration to your basket, don’t worry, as I’ve just found a perfect alternative – a £35 snowy tree skirt from Next.
The original Next gingerbread tree skirt depicted a row of painted houses, designed to look like decorated gingerbread biscuits, and it took social media by storm, selling out almost instantly. While we were hoping it would come back in stock before Christmas, a spokesperson for Next has confirmed that the viral design will not be restocked.
However, I spotted that alongside the viral gingerbread design, Next are offering a snowy version of the tree skirt. It’s just as adorable as its viral sibling, also featuring a row of houses, intricately adorned with cut-out windows, snowflakes, and mini Christmas trees. It’s the perfect way to hide the base of one of the best artificial Christmas trees in festive style.
Next
Snowy Lit Wooden Christmas Tree Skirt
With a muted colour palette of white, blue and taupe, this wooden Christmas village will work perfectly in minimal or Scandi-style Christmas schemes, or even as a way to offset a more colourful scheme.
Plus, the soft string of warm lights shining through the windows will draw the eye down and show that you have really considered every little decorative detail, from the top to the bottom of your tree.
Priced at just £35, the tree skirt is made from a sturdy wood, preventing any wear and tear that might come with reusing an item like this each year. The string of fairy lights come included too, already attached to the back of the skirt to give off a golden glow from windows. All you have to do is buy the batteries. Then, when the new year begins, simply fold the skirt in on itself and stash away for next year.
(Image credit: Next Home)
It’s 180cm long, and 27cm high, so the skirt might not be long enough to wrap all around the base of your tree. But, it can look just as effective when placed at the front of your base, surrounded with presents. Try pairing it with complementary baubles, warm fairy lights and subtle wrapping paper for a cohesive approach to Christmas.
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If you want to get your hands on this simple yet effective tree skirt in time for Christmas, be quick. With the gingerbread version completely sold out and not restocking, we won’t be surprised if this snowy skirt is next to fly off the shelves.
Shop alternatives
Next’s gingerbread version might be out of stock for good, but there are plenty of options that give off a similar look and feel. So, if you prefer the sold out design, why not add one of these to your basket?
British Gas and Samsung have teamed up to launch a unique new energy tariff, designed to help customers save on their energy bills this winter – and three customers will also win a year’s supply of free energy.
As energy bills have risen yet again, it’s at the forefront of many of our minds to save energy at home, which is why a big part of my job is to find new and useful ways to save. And with this latest tariff, customers can have half-price electricity over the weekend.
Customers who own Samsung appliances and sign up for the Samsung Weekend Saver Fix will be rewarded with half-price electricity between 11 am and 4 pm every Saturday. This is everything you need to know, plus how to sign up.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme)
If you’ve been umming and ahing about whether to fix your energy tariff, this new Samsung Weekend Saver Fix could be your deciding factor. If you own any Samsung appliances or are willing to buy one before 31 October 2026, you are eligible to sign up to the tariff.
Eligible appliances include all Samsung washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges/freezers, dishwashers, ovens and vacuums. The offer is also available on selected mobile devices, including Galaxy Smartphones, Galaxy Book, Galaxy Tab, TV and AV models, projectors and gaming monitors and selected residential air conditioning and air source heat pumps.
British Gas customers with a smart meter already have half-price electricity on Sundays between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm. Now, with the Samsung Weekend Saver Fix tariff, they can enjoy half-price electricity on Saturday, too, doubling their savings across the weekend.
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Maxwell Attenborough)
To celebrate the partnership with Samsung, British Gas is offering customers who sign up to the tariff the chance to win free energy for their household for the year. This amounts to £1,7755 in savings, which is the average energy usage for an average household. To enter, you must have signed up between 3 November and 31 December 2025. The draw winners will each receive £1,755 as a one-off payment via PayPal only.
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‘We know many households will be monitoring their energy usage as we approach winter. As well as providing excellent value through this new tariff, this collaboration with British Gas helps our customers take the guesswork out of understanding how much energy their home is using,’ says Deborah Honig, Chief Customer Officer at Samsung UK.
‘Appliances can be alerted to run when energy is cheaper, all controlled through our SmartThings app, which connects to over 340 brands. We know energy monitoring is one of the main reasons why UK consumers choose a connected home and are using AI, and we are proud to partner with British Gas to provide even more value to our customers through this tariff.’
To conclude, the Samsung Weekend Saver Fix tariff is open to new and existing UK customers who have a smart electricity credit meter, a Samsung Account and own or buy an eligible Samsung product before 31 October 2026.
Best Samsung buys
Samsung
Samsung Jet 95 Pro 210w Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner With Pet Tool
We loved this vacuum cleaner in our review. It acts as both a vacuum and a mop interchangeably, so you can achieve shining floors with ease.
Samsung
Samsung Series 5 Freestanding Washing Machine
This washing machine has thousands of positive reviews. The smart panel remembers your family’s washing habits and suggest modes to use, and let’s you know via an app when the cycle is finished. It has an A-rated energy performance meaning it is good for the envrionment and your energy bills.
Our reviewer was left impressed by this high-end robot vacuum that comes integrated with a mop and steam sanitisation. It also uses AI to recognise different types of flooring and identify objects.
