The prettiest air fryer on the market just got upgraded – Our Place fixed the one thing holding the original back

The prettiest air fryer on the market just got upgraded – Our Place fixed the one thing holding the original back

Air fryers are not pretty things, on the whole, but Our Place’s new Wonder Oven Pro (available from today for £295) might just be able to change your mind on the aesthetic value of these ever-useful appliances.

When the brand’s first-ever take on one of the best air fryers, the Wonder Oven, was released in 2024 it kickstarted a trend for better looking appliances with wider colour options. As per my review, though its charms are hard to resist, it is very small and therefore suitable for one to two people only.

That’s where the Wonder Oven Pro comes in with a much bigger capacity and jazzed-up controls (compared to simple knobs on the original). Here’s a full look at this devilishly sleek new appliance from one of my favourite cookware and tableware brands.

Our Place is a brand best known for its colourful (and practical) Always Pans, which have a shape that make them so useful for everyday, multifunctional cooking. It’s also my go-to for tableware, as well as making my favourite pan ever: the Always Pan Titanium Pro.

Compared to its compact predecessor, the Wonder Oven Pro has a huge capacity to make use of for all kinds of at-home cooking – 30 whole litres of space!

This is designated across three racks inside the oven, which is similar to the popular style of toaster ovens you often find on worktops in North American kitchens. And there are eight cooking modes all in all: air fry, bake, roast, toast, grill, reheat, proof and dehydrate. That last one will be particularly handy as Christmas gets closer so that you can make candied orange slices at home all December long.

Our Place wonder oven pro

(Image credit: Our Place)

A very impressive upgraded user interface will be another big draw for anyone looking to upgrade their existing air fryer set up too. It features digital controls including a timer and adjustable temperature element as well as buttons for each of the aforementioned pre-set programs. These are great for anyone who is new to air frying to allow them to get to grips with timings.

As with its smaller counterpart, this oven also features a steamer element. Situated on the top lefthand corner, the steamer element should help inject moisture into your food during cooking rather than leaving it dry. It’s particularly good for foods like salmon and plenty of different veg.

Our Place wonder oven

(Image credit: Our Place)

One of my favourite things about the original Wonder Oven was the huge range of accessories that its kitted out with including an air fryer basket, which is perforated to allow your favourite foods to get that all-important crisp.

It’s the same story with the Wonder Oven Pro, which includes that same air fryer basket, a bake pan, wire racks and crumb tray. Also available to buy separately will be the brand’s Baker’s Kit and Chef’s Kit, which give this oven even more uses in your kitchen.

Of course, colour range is always a huge draw with any Our Place product and I’m sure that these three striking shades will be a hit with anyone looking to brighten up their worktops. Hopefully there are even more colours to come, too!

These are the 12 ‘cool girl’-coded Amazon buys that I’ve got my eye on

These are the 12 ‘cool girl’-coded Amazon buys that I’ve got my eye on

Amazon is everybody’s go-to place for shopping practical bits and bobs for the home to be with you as early as next day (or same day if you live in a large city!) – everything from clever storage solutions to kitchen appliances. But not many people realise the online retailer has so much stylish home decor to offer, too. You just need to know how to look for it – but to save you the trouble, I’ve done some digging to bring you 12 Amazon ‘cool girl’ buys to add to your basket.

You’d never be able to tell these pieces came from Amazon – and your guests won’t suspect it either. And with Amazon Prime Day currently taking place – ending tomorrow, on the 7th October – I’m keeping an especially close eye on these cool picks to elevate my home without breaking the bank.

I spend a considerable amount of time on Instagram for inspiration and to keep up with the latest home decor trends. It’s here that content creators with the most stylish homes share some of their top ‘cool girl’ Amazon finds, many of which come up repeatedly from one’s list to another.

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I’ve picked the best ones and have added a few of my own that I think are worth the investment. And I’d happily add any of them to my own home.

Do you know of any other cool girl Amazon buys that should be on my radar (and in my shopping basket)? I’d love to know if I’ve missed any.

Habitat’s new lighting range is so good, your home will look effortlessly snug and stylish – 6 cosy picks that prove it

Habitat’s new lighting range is so good, your home will look effortlessly snug and stylish – 6 cosy picks that prove it

It’s a little-known secret that Habitat produces some of the most stylish lighting you can shop for on a budget, and their recent drop might be their best-looking yet. If you’re looking for cosy lighting to illuminate your autumn, you’ve landed in the right place.

If you’re looking to nail the year’s lighting trends, I’m not lying when I say Habitat is the first place you should look this season. Packed with cosy colourways, realtor shapes and even the odd wicker lamp, Habitat’s AW26 range is perfect for making your home stylish and snug.

Habitat’s range of new lamps looks so good, I simply couldn’t choose a favourite. So, I’ve rounded up my 6 top picks instead.

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This year, Burrowcore has quietly replaced Cottagecore as a cosy home decor trend. With lighting at its core, it’s all about making your interiors resemble the interiors of your favourite childhood storybook – think Beatrix Potter. Habitat’s latest lighting range, with their mix of natural materials and warm colourways, nails this trend.

If you’re looking to give your home an autumnal upgrade, I highly recommend any one of these six lighting options.

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Lidl’s £16 heated cushion could help you stay cosy without turning on the heating

Lidl’s £16 heated cushion could help you stay cosy without turning on the heating

Heated cushions aren’t exactly a new idea, but if you’re trying to stay cosy without immediately reaching for the central heating, then now may be the time to run to Lidl’s middle aisle.

The Sensiplast Heated Electric Cushion costs £16, making it a much more affordable option than some of the pricier heated cushions on the market, like the Stoov our Renovations Editor Sarah swears by when working from home.

Rather than warming the whole room, you can use it to add a little extra heat exactly where you need it – whether that’s behind your back, across your lap or under a blanket. After all, it won’t be long before Martin Lewis is reminding us to heat the person, not the room.

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The Lidl heated cushion

The cushion has six heat settings, so you can adjust the temperature to suit you, while an automatic switch-off kicks in after 90 minutes. The detachable control unit also makes it easier to remove the electrical components when it’s time to wash the cover.

And speaking of the cover, it’s made from a soft, fluffy 100% polyester and can be popped in the washing machine at 30°C. Measuring 40cm x 30cm, it’s compact enough to sit comfortably on a sofa or armchair without taking over.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t a cordless heated cushion, so you’ll need to have it plugged in while you’re using it. The 2.8m cable should give you plenty of flexibility, even if your nearest socket isn’t right next to the sofa.

We also haven’t tested this product so can’t speak to how effective it is in practice. That said, there’s a three-year warranty included, for a little extra peace of mind. Plus, if you’re a Lidl Plus member, there’s also 10% off the £16 price in store while stocks last.

Teal painted living room with a black fireplace and a grey sofa with cushions and a blanket on it

(Image credit: Future PLC/Siobhan Doran)

Just imagine: it’s a cold winter’s evening, your dinner is cooking, and your curtains are drawn. Every lamp you own is switched on, and your current TV fix is paused, waiting for you to sit. Your electric cushion is switched on to warm. You sit down and feel the warmth oozing up your back. Your feet are snuggly thanks to slippers, and the rest of your body is warmed under your throw. You’re feeling smug because your heating isn’t even on and you’re even spending £££s.

This find won’t be in store for long, so buy yours now before the cold snap hits and you regret it later.

This £10 Argos shoe rack is perfect for keeping muddy boots and wet jackets tidy this autumn

This £10 Argos shoe rack is perfect for keeping muddy boots and wet jackets tidy this autumn

It may only be the start of October, but my hallway is already working overtime. The damp mornings and drop in temperatures mean my soggy shoes and my (many) coats are cluttering up my entryway, and the narrow space desperately needs some organisation. And as I’m on a tight budget, the Living and Home 4 Tier Shoe Rack with Coat Hanger (£10 at Argos) naturally caught my eye.

I write about storage and organisation enough to know that people with consistently tidy hallways always have some shoe and coat storage. However, I’ve just moved house and am pretty strapped for money and space in my new, narrow hallway, so buying two separate items, a shoe rack and a coat rack, doesn’t really make sense to me.

That’s why I’ve been looking for a small-space-friendly shoe storage solution that offers the best of both worlds and keeps my coats tidy, dry, and within reach when I need them, too. And I think Argos has nailed it.

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Of course, the elephant in the room is that this shoe-and-coat-rack combo isn’t a thing of beauty like the many aesthetic shoe racks on the market. But in a hallway, I always think it’s better to favour practicality over prettiness.

Functional pieces like the Living and Home 4 Tier Shoe Rack with Coat Hanger are typically designed to solve the problems we all face in small, cluttered hallways, and they’re often much cheaper because they don’t have extra bells and whistles.

Autumnal hallway with sage green wall panelling and an autumnal wreath, and the white front door open next to an olive tree

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

After all, for just £10, this clever Argos storage solution has four tiers for your shoes – or even your handbag and storage baskets – and then eight double hooks for you to hang coats, hats, bags, and keys.

In my home, the hooks are also perfect for hanging my dog’s harness and leads, so I can just grab them on the way out the door.

If you have a few more people in your home and want to add an extra tier, you can also buy the slightly larger Living and Home 5 Tier Shoe Rack with Coat Hanger (£11 at Argos) for an extra pound.

hallway with a storage bench covered in cushions and throws, next to boots on the floor and on a boot rack

(Image credit: Future PLC)

Or if the black colourway is the issue, you can buy the exact same four-tier setup in white for £11, too. And, in my eyes, this is a bargain price for a storage solution that’ll disappear into the background – especially as you should be able to wipe clean the metal frame if your muddy shoes or wet coat dirty it up.

The beauty of simple-but-effective storage racks like this is that they’re also incredibly versatile and can be used in so many different areas of your home. You could use it to tidy up your under-the-stairs cupboard, or even pop it in a spare room to organise those excess coats, accessories and shoes that don’t quite fit in your main wardrobe.

But it’s worth noting that this shoe-and-coat-rack combo is new to Argos, so I can’t comment on its sturdiness or ease of assembly. So, if you’d rather buy an alternative with impressive reviews, I’ve popped some below.

Shop budget shoe-and-coat rack storage

Who says small hallways can’t be organised?

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Your bookshelf deserves better lighting – these 6 lamps will make your books the star

Your bookshelf deserves better lighting – these 6 lamps will make your books the star

Now that the autumn season has officially arrived, the weather is very slowly starting to turn and cool down. But the days are certainly getting shorter and the mornings and evenings are becoming darker and darker. That’s why this time of year is perfect for investing in some new lighting – to that end, one dark corner of your home you might be forgetting about is your bookshelf. But these bookshelf lights can easily fix that.

This past week, searches for ‘bookshelf ideas’ have increased by over 5000% according to Google Trends, while Pinterest reports that ‘bookshelf ideas’ are currently trending on the platform, too. The likes of ‘BookTok’ and the ‘bookshelf wealth’ home decor trend are rising in popularity as a more analogue way of life is becoming favoured once again.

A terracotta-painted living room with a built-in L-shaped bookshelf and a tub accent chair in front of it

(Image credit: Future PLC/Anna Stathaki)

So if you, too, have an extensive book collection and your bookshelves could use a little glow up, then going for one (or more) of these bookshelf lamps will turn this part of your home into a standout feature – not to mention that it’s a great cosy living room idea, considering the dark evenings we have ahead of us. We might as well embrace the cosy spirit in style.

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Bookshelf light top picks

Shelf wall lights

Alternatively, if you want to create smaller shelf arrangements with your books and some decorative items, these two-in-one shelf wall lights make for the perfect investment and addition to any room. These are my top three favourite designs.

During the autumn and winter months, adding the right kind of lighting to your home is more important than ever. Lighting is something that can make a space feel instantly warm, inviting and cosy. And these bookshelf lights will certainly help with that.

Are you getting one for your bookshelf?