Shark has just announced a cordless spot cleaner that’ll tackle stains in seconds — this is how to get your hands on it before it (inevitably) sells out!

Shark has just announced a cordless spot cleaner that’ll tackle stains in seconds — this is how to get your hands on it before it (inevitably) sells out!

by | Sep 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

Vacuums, air purifiers, floor cleaners, fans, stain removers; there really isn’t anything Shark can’t do. This iconic brand offers appliances for every cleaning conundrum and has become a household name as a result. Now, they’re adding another to that list.

This week, Shark – the cleaning wizards that they are – has announced the upcoming launch of the Shark Stainforce Spot Cleaner HX100UKT, a lightweight, cordless spot cleaner and integrated cleaning caddy that’ll help you tackle everyday spills and stains as soon as they crop up. You simply need to grab the caddy, spray the dedicated cleaning solution, and watch the magic happen… no huge carpet cleaner required.

My insider sources have confirmed that the Shark Stainforce will be officially available to buy on September 11th, but you can sign up via a waitlist here, so you’ll be the first to be notified as soon as it’s available. I’d urge you to do this, too, as new Shark products have a tendency to sell out fast – especially when they’re this good.

Of course, the Shark StainForce isn’t the brand’s first foray into spot cleaning, as there are other Shark carpet cleaners and more compact spot cleaners on offer – including the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet Deep Carpet Cleaner with Spot Cleaner EX250UK, which I reviewed in my own home.

But the new Shark StainForce offers something these other models don’t. It’s completely cordless, compact, and incredibly easy to grab and go when you need to get rid of stains on your carpet or clean your sofa before it’s ruined.

In fact, it weighs just 1.4kg and comes with its own cleaning caddy, complete with different attachments and a space for Shark’s powerful stain-busting (and pet-friendly) cleaning solution. Plus, it’ll clean itself when you’re done.

Shark Stainforce Spot Cleaner HX100UKT on a white table next to four white face towels stacked on top of each other

(Image credit: Shark)

Talking about the new model, James Kitto, Northern Europe Managing Director at SharkNinja says, ‘Stains and spills can occur unexpectedly, whether you have kids, pets or you’re getting ready to host guests – we all know dealing with them can be a stressful task.’

He adds, ‘Shark StainForce is a truly innovative product: a cordless stain cleaner with dual-chemical activation, stain-grabbing suction and grab-and-go convenience. It’s designed to help consumers feel more in control, ready to tackle any stain.’

However, it is worth noting that you can’t use the new Shark StainForce Cordless Spot Cleaner on wool, so you’ll have to find another way to clean your wool carpets if you have them in your home.

Woman using the Shark Stainforce Spot Cleaner HX100UKT on a grey footstool with a stain and pet hair on it

(Image credit: Shark)

Nevertheless, I’ve been lucky enough to receive an early press sample of the StainForce, and I can honestly say that I’m a little bit obsessed. I’ve basically used it in every room in my house since it arrived on my doorstep – and I’ve only had it for a day. However, I’ll be writing up a full review of it soon, so I won’t give too much away just yet.

I would encourage anyone interested to sign up for the waitlist, though (even if you don’t end up buying it as soon as it launches), as I do think it’s going to sell out pretty quickly.

By signing up for updates now, you should also be eligible for an exclusive discount on the new model. And although it’s already a respectable price at just £169.99, there’s no denying that we all love getting money off.

But if you want something a little cheaper to clean your rugs or rid your home of stubborn stains, you could check out these alternatives.

So, will you be snapping up Shark’s new StainForce Spot Cleaner?

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Amazon is having a secret sale that has huge savings on refurbished coffee machines and air fryers

Amazon is having a secret sale that has huge savings on refurbished coffee machines and air fryers

by | Sep 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

Amazon has launched its first ever Second Chance Deal Days, which means you can shop high-quality returned and refurbished items at a fraction of the original cost – and these are the best home deals I’ve spotted.

When I want an Amazon deal, I typically wait for their Amazon Prime Day sales to snap up a bargain. But having launched today (3 September) and running until 9 September, the Second Chance Deal Days are another excellent opportunity to get a discount deal on some of the best products on the market.

But, these deals are a little more hidden than Amazon’s typical sales, so I’ve put together a guide for making the most out of this secret side of Amazon. From some of the best coffee machines to the best air fryers, here are a few of the best deals you can snap up during Amazon’s Second Chance Deal Days.

When shopping for Amazon returned or refurbished items, look for a tab that says ‘Save With Used’ when adding items to your trolley. This appears on the right-hand side of a laptop screen. Or if you’re using a mobile, scroll past the ‘buy now’ button to a heading called ‘Other sellers on Amazon’.

The first of its kind sale offers customers up to 50% off recommended retail prices on returned and refurbished items from brands such as Shark, De’Longhi and Tower. This discount is applied to your basket when you check out, so I’d recommend checking what discount has been applied before you buy.

Testing the De'Longhi Magnificia Plus at the test centre

The De’Longhi Magnifica S Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Machine

(Image credit: Future)

Amazon reports that last year, customers in the UK saved more than £110 million by shopping for returned and refurbished items from the site. The retail giant also says that two-thirds of Brits are now buying second-hand due to convenience and concerns of cost-of-living and the environment.

‘We’ve seen that once customers experience the value and quality of these products, they become confident second-chance shoppers, saving money along the way and helping to extend product lifecycles,’ says John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager.

‘Our dedicated teams check every returned product. Customers can be assured that any used product they buy meets our quality standards and comes with Amazon’s customer service and return policies.’

Currently, Amazon sells returned and refurbished products through two main channels: Amazon Resale and Amazon Renewed. Items sold via Amazon Resale go through a thorough inspection process and come with descriptions such as ‘Like New’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Good’, or ‘Acceptable’.

Amazon Renewed offers refurbished products sold by Amazon’s qualified selling partners. Each undergoes professional inspection, testing and cleaning and must meet Amazon Renewed’s requirements before being offered at competitive prices.

Have any deals caught your eye?

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Move over minimalist neutrals! IKEA’s new bold range shows the Scandis love colour and pattern

Move over minimalist neutrals! IKEA’s new bold range shows the Scandis love colour and pattern

by | Sep 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

Scandinavian aesthetic is usually associated with minimalism and neutral colours. But there is a much more colourful side to the Scandi style – and that’s exactly what the limited edition IKEA OMMJÄNGE collection is drawing on and celebrating.

Released this week, the range is inspired by the traditional and rather vibrant Swedish folklore of the 19th century filled with interesting patterns and shades of red, pink, yellow and blue. The collection is an alternative take on Scandinavian living room ideas and more.

My top picks

The super pared-back Scandinavian style is a more recent, modern approach. And even now, the Scandis still use colour and pattern in their own particular way.

‘Scandinavians have a long tradition of using patterns and colours, but their use has evolved over time,’ says Paulina Lundstrom, CEO of Swedish rug brand Pappelina. ‘The modern, pared-back neutral aesthetic that Scandinavia is now famous for gained traction in the past years, particularly with the rise of the Scandinavian design movement. This doesn’t mean that pattern and colour were absent, but their use became more intentional and subtle, in line with modern design principles.

‘So, while Scandinavian homes today are known for their natural, neutral look, there is still a tradition of incorporating pattern and colour, albeit in a more restrained manner.’

A dining area with a drop leaf table and matching blue chairs from the IKEA OMMJÄNGE collection

(Image credit: IKEA)

She adds, ‘Instead of overwhelming a room with colour, Scandinavians often introduce colour through accents like throws, pillows or rugs. Colour shades include cobalt blues, forest greens, and muted pinks or reds and different yellow shades.’ The shades of the IKEA OMMJÄNGE collection, basically.

Back in the 1800s in Sweden, living in compact rustic cabins, the living space also blended into the dining room and kitchen – the home was one open, shared space. And this tradition of living small is reflected in the OMMJÄNGE range, including its name which means ‘spending time together’.

A red stool with two two-tone storage baskets from the IKEA OMMJÄNGE range

(Image credit: IKEA)

IKEA has always been one of the go-to brands for small space solutions. So it’s not entirely surprising that there is a nod to this in the new collection, be it a drop-leaf dining table with a blue base or a storage bench with a patterned fabric insert.

If you like the idea of colourful Scandi pieces, there are plenty of other brands doing it, not just IKEA. Here are some of my top picks.

More colourful Scandi picks

Which piece from the new colourful IKEA collection is your favourite?

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Primark’s £1.50 pretty storage crates are so good, I picked up 4 and I’m planning to buy more

Primark’s £1.50 pretty storage crates are so good, I picked up 4 and I’m planning to buy more

by | Sep 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

Primark has been selling its colourful collapsible storage crates for a few years, but the mini £1.50 versions are one of the most underrated storage solutions on the high street.

Since they first launched, I’ve steadily built up a collection of four small crates and two of the £3 medium-sized crates. I started out thinking the larger ones would be the most useful for organising my wardrobe and home, but it’s actually the small ones I keep going back for more of.

The Primark collapsible crates basically do what they say on the tin: they’re plastic crates that can be clicked into place and folded flat when not in use. They’re available in a range of colours; the small version is currently sold in 6 colours from beige through to dark blue, and 3 multi-coloured versions.

I originally picked up one of the medium-sized crates to store handbags and scarves in my wardrobe as a simple bedroom storage idea. The small version was an impulse purchase; I just thought it looked cute and had no plans for it beyond that. Three years later, shockingly, it’s that impulse buy that stood the test of time.

The small versions are in almost every room of my flat, and I’m planning to invest in more to tidy up my dressing table and organise my desk. Currently, I use them to hold the tea supplies on my pantry shelves, to contain stock cubes and seasonings in my kitchen cabinet, and to organise all my lotions and potions in the bathroom.

Primark storage crates in a white kitchen cabinet

(Image credit: Future / Rebecca Knight)

What won me over to the small crates was that they were just the right size to keep all those messy little extra bits I didn’t know what to do with together. Plus, in a range of colours, they are one of the prettiest storage solutions I’ve come across.

I’ve tried other storage baskets and boxes before, but not only were they not great to look at, but many of them had rounded edges or slanting sides, taking up unnecessary extra space. The small storage crates have a clean boxy shape that sits flush against a cabinet wall and each other to maximise the available space.

Image 1 of 2

Colourful Primark storage crates in green and pink holding tea supplies on blue shelves
(Image credit: Future / Rebecca Knight)

While the Primark small crates are my favourite for their £1.50 price tag, they’re not the only ones available. Sostrene Greene, Hay, La Redoute, Amazon and so many others all have an impressive range of collapsible crates. While I love the small Primark versions, I’ve been less impressed with the sturdiness of the medium size, so I would recommend spending a little more to guarantee it lasts for as long as possible.

How to use collapsible storage crates

I’m not the only fan of a folding storage crate; they’re rated by experts, too, for their versatility and the ease with which you can colour-code things.

‘Small folding storage crates are incredibly versatile for keeping a home organised. I always recommend choosing a few sizes, small, medium, and large, so you can tackle clutter in every corner of the house,’ explains Chris Hutton a storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore.

‘For example, small crates are perfect for bathroom drawers or under-shelf storage, keeping toiletries or cleaning supplies neatly contained. Medium crates work well for pantries or cupboards, storing tins, snacks, or children’s toys. And large crates are ideal for laundry rooms or for corralling larger items like blankets, shoes, or sports gear.’

‘The best way to use them is to assign each crate a purpose and keep them visible but tidy. Colour-coding can also make it easy to identify what’s inside without having to rummage.’

This is exactly how I use my crates, each one holds a different category of ‘things’, be that tea supplies, seasonings or post-shower products. It makes the house look tidy and makes finding things so much easier.

Have you used folding storage crates around your home?

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Primark’s £1.50 pretty storage crates are so good, I picked up 4 and I’m planning to buy more

Primark’s £1.50 pretty storage crates are so good, I picked up 4 and I’m planning to buy more to tidy up my whole home for under £15

by | Sep 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

Primark has been selling its colourful collapsible storage crates for a few years, but the mini £1.50 versions are one of the most underrated storage solutions on the high street.

Since they first launched, I’ve steadily built up a collection of four small crates and two of the £3 medium-sized crates. I started out thinking the larger ones would be the most useful for organising my wardrobe and home, but it’s actually the small ones I keep going back for more of.

The Primark collapsible crates basically do what they say on the tin: they’re plastic crates that can be clicked into place and folded flat when not in use. They’re available in a range of colours; the small version is currently sold in 6 colours from beige through to dark blue, and 3 multi-coloured versions.

I originally picked up one of the medium-sized crates to store handbags and scarves in my wardrobe as a simple bedroom storage idea. The small version was an impulse purchase; I just thought it looked cute and had no plans for it beyond that. Three years later, shockingly, it’s that impulse buy that stood the test of time.

The small versions are in almost every room of my flat, and I’m planning to invest in more to tidy up my dressing table and organise my desk. Currently, I use them to hold the tea supplies on my pantry shelves, to contain stock cubes and seasonings in my kitchen cabinet, and to organise all my lotions and potions in the bathroom.

Primark storage crates in a white kitchen cabinet

(Image credit: Future / Rebecca Knight)

What won me over to the small crates was that they were just the right size to keep all those messy little extra bits I didn’t know what to do with together. Plus, in a range of colours, they are one of the prettiest storage solutions I’ve come across.

I’ve tried other storage baskets and boxes before, but not only were they not great to look at, but many of them had rounded edges or slanting sides, taking up unnecessary extra space. The small storage crates have a clean boxy shape that sits flush against a cabinet wall and each other to maximise the available space.

Image 1 of 2

Colourful Primark storage crates in green and pink holding tea supplies on blue shelves
(Image credit: Future / Rebecca Knight)

While the Primark small crates are my favourite for their £1.50 price tag, they’re not the only ones available. Sostrene Greene, Hay, La Redoute, Amazon and so many others all have an impressive range of collapsible crates. While I love the small Primark versions, I’ve been less impressed with the sturdiness of the medium size, so I would recommend spending a little more to guarantee it lasts for as long as possible.

How to use collapsible storage crates

I’m not the only fan of a folding storage crate; they’re rated by experts, too, for their versatility and the ease with which you can colour-code things.

‘Small folding storage crates are incredibly versatile for keeping a home organised. I always recommend choosing a few sizes, small, medium, and large, so you can tackle clutter in every corner of the house,’ explains Chris Hutton a storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore.

‘For example, small crates are perfect for bathroom drawers or under-shelf storage, keeping toiletries or cleaning supplies neatly contained. Medium crates work well for pantries or cupboards, storing tins, snacks, or children’s toys. And large crates are ideal for laundry rooms or for corralling larger items like blankets, shoes, or sports gear.’

‘The best way to use them is to assign each crate a purpose and keep them visible but tidy. Colour-coding can also make it easy to identify what’s inside without having to rummage.’

This is exactly how I use my crates, each one holds a different category of ‘things’, be that tea supplies, seasonings or post-shower products. It makes the house look tidy and makes finding things so much easier.

Have you used folding storage crates around your home?

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This $20 IKEA Decor Gem Doubles as the Cutest Display Case

This $20 IKEA Decor Gem Doubles as the Cutest Display Case

by | Sep 2, 2025 | Design Inspiration, DIY, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

If you haven’t been introduced to the Labubu craze, are you living under a rock? 

I feel like these trendy bag charms have taken my feed by storm, and I can’t escape them. The blind box creatures (you don’t know which character you’ll unwrap until after you purchase) come in a variety of collectible styles, with varying levels of rarity. 

Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of people switch out their Labubu charms to match their bags or outfits depending on the day. While I love a good cohesive outfit, this results in more clutter no one has any room for.

When I came across this TikTok video by @adrianwidjy, I thought it was a genius way to display your collection and turn what could be a mess into a cute piece of wall art. 

How to Make a Labubu Display Case Using an IKEA Frame 

In the video, the creator removes the wood backing on a 35×35-centimeter Sannahed frame from IKEA to create a deeper space that fits up to eight Labubus. This IKEA gem comes in a variety of neutral colors like white, black, tan and brown. This ensures two things: that the frames will match whatever other decor you have in your room and that your colorful Labubus will really pop. 

In the U.S., the Sannahed frame comes in either 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 inches or 9 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches. You could arrange your Labubus like how the creator does it in the video, or one commenter suggests adding faux flowers or other mementos to fill in the space. I’d probably purchase some scrapbook paper to add a background to my frame so you can’t see the original backing. 

As a Labubu appreciator, I think this display case is the perfect way to show off your collection  even if you don’t want to hang them on your bag. The Sannahed frame also makes a great showcase for other items if you’ve got knickknacks hanging around that haven’t yet found their proper place.