It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that the weather forecast this past week has been an unpleasant combination of wet and windy, and one area of your home that may be feeling the strain in particular is your gutters. If you’ve noticed your guttering is prone to clogging, then gutter mesh could be exactly what you need to fix it – and you can pick gutter mesh up for under £5 on Amazon.
Gutter mesh, otherwise known as gutter guards, is a handy, inexpensive measure that will help prevent your gutters from clogging, saving you time and money in the process. Did I also mention that they mean you don’t have to clean your gutters as often? A fabulous incentive in my book…
With the forecast set to get wetter and windier as we head deeper into the colder months, experts are urging homeowners to install gutter mesh now. Here’s how it may help you.
What is gutter mesh?
First things first, let’s uncover what gutter mesh actually is. Essentially, gutter mesh is a type of strong netting that sits in your gutter, catching debris while allowing water to flow through as intended.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
‘Gutter mesh is a fine mesh material that is placed over the top of a gutter to prevent debris from entering. This mesh allows rainwater to flow through the gutter, whilst creating a barrier from leaves, twigs and debris,’ says Jamie Heath, plumbing and drainage expert from Build & Plumb.
‘Gutter mesh keeps out debris and deters pests, like birds and insects, from nesting in your gutters, preventing clogs and overflowing water. A clogged gutter can prevent water from being channelled away from your home, causing your gutters to overflow and water to seep into your roof and walls. Roof leaks can result in wood rot and dampness, which over time can result in structural damage and costly repairs.’
Why you should install gutter mesh now
The main benefit of these mesh barriers is that they obviously stop blockages. It can be expensive to both unblock and in some instances, replace gutters, with cleaning charges ranging between £50 and £300 depending on the size of the job, according to Checkatrade.
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(Image credit: Getty Images)
Gutter mesh can increase the lifespan of your gutters as well as help to prevent pests and freezing, according to Jess Thomas, managing director of Drainage Central.
‘When debris causes blockages in your gutters, it can allow water to pool in them. This moisture can potentially increase the likelihood of the guttering becoming rusty if it is left for prolonged periods,’ Jess says.
‘If your gutter is filled with debris, water may not channel away properly. If the temperature drops, this can make the water freeze and prevent your gutter from channelling water away as it should.’
Preventing blockages will also stop potential leaks from entering your home, too. This is when blockages occur, water can leak into your home via the roof and walls, potentially causing damp, mould and condensation.
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby)
However, for your gutter mesh to work as it should, Jess emphasises the need to keep it well-maintained.
‘To properly maintain gutter mesh, you should regularly inspect the mesh for signs of damage and clean any buildup from the surface of the mesh. Some mesh may need to be removed a few times a year so that the gutters can be cleaned properly of any fine debris that has managed to get through. You should also still check that water can flow through the gutters by periodically flushing them, which can help to dislodge smaller debris,’ Jess recommends.
‘Gutter mesh is a good method to prevent some blockages, but not all. They can still become clogged by smaller debris, and should instead only be relied upon to reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning instead of eliminating this task. Moss can still grow on top of or through the guards, and they may not prevent debris like seeds or dirt from blocking the gutter.’
Blackspur
Blackspur Bb-Gm100 Gutter Mesh
Parkland
Parkland 5m Gutter Leaf Guard
Inefa
Inefa 3m Gutter Leaf Guard
Gutter mesh is an inexpensive and reliable method to prevent blockages and keep your gutters in good working order. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable installing it yourself, you should ask a trusted professional – after all, cleaning gutters is a cleaning job I wouldn’t do myself. But it’s a small price to pay for a home that’s well-protected against the elements.
For more than 10 years, I’ve led Apartment Therapy’s real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
Dark and moody kitchens have always been controversial, even though in recent years they’ve become much more commonplace in our homes. Years ago, striking navy and emerald green colour palettes hit the big time and inspired us to start opting for bolder schemes – a decision which doesn’t come lightly in a country where dreary weather often inspires brighter interior choices.
However, there is a trick to getting this kitchen colour scheme right, and it’s one that Victoria Beckham herself subscribes to. After getting a peek into her inner life in her new Netflix series, and a look into her anti-trend USA kitchen, I set out to find what interior choices she’s made in her London home, too.
What we found is an example of how to be super bold with dark colours – and of course, I shouldn’t have expected anything less from the Beckhams.
What first caught my eye about the Beckhams London kitchen, as shown in the above TikTok, is that it embodies a moody atmosphere. The dark base cabinets combined with dark worktops and a stainless steel splashback create a look that is anything but dreary – but it does require some confidence to recreate it.
Kitchen colour trends are constantly evolving, and while we’ve seen warmer-toned colours rise in popularity in 2025, there’s certainly still a place for cooler-toned bold shades like black. Regardless of whether you have a small kitchen or a large open-plan space, opting for a dark colour palette can reap many rewards, helping to create a cosy space that draws inwards, encouraging people to gather within it.
Keeping the walls white and removing wall cabinetry is a great example of introducing this look to a more classic kitchen scheme.
(Image credit: Future PLC)
There is, however, one trick to making a dark palette more accessible if you’re not quite ready to commit to an entirely bold layout – and the Beckhams have followed it.
Two-tone kitchen colour palettes are the key to marrying a moody look with a brighter, space-enhancing aesthetic. Positioning lighter coloured cabinetry on the walls and darker cabinetry on the floor helps to ground the look and simultaneously draw the eye towards the ceiling, making it feel bigger and brighter.
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Victoria Beckham’s choice of a stainless steel splashback acts as the perfect transition between the two opposing colours – a cool-toned metal that is practical for a cooking zone, but effortlessly stylish at the same time.
In a dark kitchen, adding depth and dimension through kitchen lighting ideas and clever decorative touches is key. The Beckhams have achieved this through under-cabinet task lighting that illuminates the stainless steel splashback, and this design choice is reflected through the back-lit open shelving.
To recreate the look in a contemporary kitchen scheme, opt for pared-back open shelving with under-shelf LED strip lights, and keep clutter to a minimum. If your style leans more traditional, adding lamps to a worktop and open shelves will create a warm glow against dark cabinetry.
Shop the look
ProCook
Stoneware Oven Dishes Set
Opting for stoneware in a dark shade will ensure it stays looking sleek.
Dunelm
Elements Salt and Pepper Mill
Interesting shapes are the key to adding dimension to a kitchen design – these salt and pepper mills fit the bill.
Joseph Joseph
Joseph Joseph Folio Icon Regular Chopping Boards & Storage Case, Set of 4, Silver/multi
Chopping boards are an essential, but opting for this style which will sit subtly on a worktop will add to a minimalist look.
ProCook
Professional Stainless Steel Frying Pan Set Uncoated 3 Piece
Stainless steel pans look the part but they’re also the perfect choice for keen chefs.
Dunelm
Amalfi Stoneware Utensil Pot
Keeping utensils close at hand will making cooking much easier; make sure you have the chicest vessel to store them in.
Dunelm
Edited Life Industrial Led Pendant Light
Adding a pendant light over an island will make a focal point out of the centre of the room. I love this sleek triangular style from Dunelm.
While Victoria Beckham’s London kitchen definitely leans more luxe, I love the trend-led inclusion of stainless steel. It’s the perfect example of how you can combine practicality and style within a kitchen surface.
You will feel something comforting as you step into the Bronze Apartment. Bogdanova Bureau has designed it in a way that light feels softer here. Every surface, from the oak floors to the travertine accents, carries a distinct warmth. It’s modern, yes, but not cold. Instead, it’s a home that hums with balance (one example is sculptural furniture paired with plush textures).
Let’s take a look inside a space that proves simplicity can feel incredibly rich.
The living, dining, and kitchen areas of the Bronze Apartment show how open-concept design can still feel intimate. Every line and surface here speaks the same calm language. The oak columns visually frame the space, while the chevron flooring pulls your eye through the room.
The living area is all about texture: a low, structured sofa in boucle, a dark ribbed coffee table for contrast, and a bronze throw that anchors the palette. The dining zone follows suit: sculptural chairs in warm caramel tones sit around a black, matte table. And then there’s the kitchen, sleek, minimal, and grounded by its black island with a pale oak countertop that softens the contrast.
In the workspace of the Bronze Apartment, the floating desk keeps the area light and uncluttered. Simultaneously, the travertine-textured wall adds sophistication. The design secret here lies in restraint. There’s nothing unnecessary, yet everything feels intentional. The neutral palette softens the daylight, the built-in storage keeps the visual noise away, and the sculptural lamp adds personality.
The bedroom in The Bronze Apartment is pure understated luxury. It’s soft, tactile, and perfectly balanced. A muted headboard and tailored bedding set the tone for calm, while the graphic pillows inject personality. The palette stays loyal to warm neutrals, punctuated by bronze accents that catch the light in all the right ways. Finally, a small vanity corner adds intimacy.
In the children’s bedroom, the windmill mural instantly sets a cheerful tone. This adds movement and lightness to the space without overpowering it. The built-in bed, tucked under a house-shaped alcove, creates a cozy little world of its own.
This children’s bedroom in the Bronze Apartment is soft and serene. The palette leans into pale blush and cream tones, giving the room a gentle warmth. A channel-tufted headboard and tailored bedding keep the look refined. The long built-in desk under the window makes perfect use of natural light.
This bathroom is bold and beautifully unexpected. Graphic black-and-white tiles meet a striking cobalt wall. This creates a dramatic contrast. The terrazzo vanity adds texture and depth, while matte black fixtures tie the whole look together.
The second bathroom in the Bronze Apartment uses soft backlighting to create a gentle glow. Warm travertine stone flows from floor to sink, and the floating vanity and brushed bronze fixtures keep the space minimal.
Heating experts have revealed that installing a radiator shelf can have a positive impact on your energy bills and heat your home more efficiently, despite the common misconception that these shelves have the opposite effect.
There’s no getting away from the fact that bills are increasing, and we all want to save energy at home. There are plenty of ways to ensure your heating is working as efficiently as it can be, from scheduling a boiler service to knowing how to bleed a radiator. But one thing you may not know is that a radiator shelf can be helpful, too.
According to the pros, a radiator shelf can help redirect heat into a room, which is especially helpful if a radiator is positioned below a window. This is everything you need to know.
What are the benefits of installing a radiator shelf?
You’ll probably be aware of the radiator shelf as an aesthetic addition or storage solution for your home. They’re often found within small hallways or living rooms as a clever way to make the most out of your space. But aesthetics aside, these shelves can have a positive effect on heating your home.
(Image credit: Future PLC / Caroline Mardon)
‘Building a shelf above and in line with your radiator is one way to increase warm air circulation throughout a space as it redirects the air forward into the room, rather than rising up to the ceiling and dispersing,’ explains Stephen Hankinson, Heating Expert at Electric Radiators Direct.
‘This can lead to quicker, more even heating, reducing the demand on your boiler or heating system. As a result, the room reaches a comfortable temperature faster, meaning your heating doesn’t have to work as hard or for as long, helping to lower your overall energy consumption and cut down on heating bills.’
Not only this, but a radiator shelf can also prevent heat damage to your walls and furniture, and expensive items such as your TV.
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‘If you’ve got a flat-screen TV mounted above your radiator, a shelf isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s essential. Rising heat can be damaging to the electrics and screen over time, potentially shortening the lifespan of your TV. A well-placed radiator shelf helps deflect that warmth away, offering crucial protection,’ says Nick Duggan, managing director of The Radiator Centre.
‘From a design perspective, a radiator shelf transforms a purely practical fixture into a considered part of the room. It creates a smart visual line, breaks up blank wall space and offers a handy surface for styling with home accessories.’
(Image credit: Future PLC / Caroline Mardon)
While radiator shelves serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, there is the belief that they can make a radiator work less efficiently. A shelf positioned too close to the radiator can indeed restrict the heat flow, and therefore efficiency, of a radiator. However, a well-positioned shelf will improve it.
‘There are no hard rules for this modification, however, as a general rule, leave at least 10 to 15cm between your radiator and the bottom-most shelf to allow for convection heat to distribute around the room. As well as this, ensure heat-resistant materials such as solid wood are used for your shelf to avoid heat damage or warping,’ says Stephen.
If you are still uh-hmming and ahhing about investing in a radiator shelf, here are three stylish options to help you get the ball rolling.
A wooden shelf is a timless choice, providing both classic and rustic appeal.
Scallop Wooden Border
This scalloped butter yellow shelf is both practical and perfectly on-trend, too.
Argos Home Loft Living Radiator Table – Oak
Subtle and sleek, this stylish radiator shelf will blend seamlessly into your interiors.
When positioned correctly, a radiator shelf can be both functional and stylish, improving the appearance of your room decor while also contributing to an efficient heating system.
Mattresses are expensive. That’s a fact. If you’ve considered buying one recently, you’ll know that a decent sleep surface can easily set you back a few thousand pounds.
But have you ever wondered what the most expensive mattress on the market is?
As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve spent the last four years testing some of the best mattresses in the business, and I’ve just tracked down the most expensive mattress in the UK. Its price tag might well make your jaw drop.
However, we cap our mattress testing at what we consider to be a ‘reasonable’ amount of money to spend on a new mattress. But what if your budget were unlimited?
I’ve crunched the numbers, and in the UK, the most expensive mattress money can buy is the Vispring Diamond Majesty mattress. As of writing, it costs a cool £85,585.
At least if you opt for the largest 7ft large emperor size, that is. If you can restrain yourself to a standard double – and really, why would you if you had that kind of budget! – a Vispring Diamond Majesty will set you back a mere £45,310.
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(Image credit: Vispring)
So are expensive mattresses worth it? Yes, up to a point. A more expensive mattress usually tends to mean better materials, more durable construction, and a deeper mattress, which equals more support.
But what makes the Vispring Diamond Majesty more expensive than any other mattress you can buy in the UK, you may wonder.
For a start, it contains a *lot* of very expensive materials. The most notable is ultra-rare Vicuña fleece. Not encountered a Vicuña wandering around the English countryside? Me neither.
But according to the World of Wool Trade, a Vicuña fleece is a ‘luxurious, rare, and expensive type of wool that comes from the wild vicuña, a species of alpaca found in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina’. According to the experts, this is ‘one of the finest and softest wools in the world’.
(Image credit: Cristogatin)
Added to that, the mattress also features Austrian horsetail, Shetland wool blended with cashmere, silk, and bamboo, and British lambswool. There are also three layers of pocket springs to form the support system.
What’s perhaps even more jaw-dropping is the fact that this Vispring mattress isn’t necessarily the *most* expensive mattress you can buy.
It’s the most expensive mattress that has its price publicly available, but the likes of Swedish brand Hästens – widely recognised as one of the most expensive mattress brands in the world – has a roster of mattresses with prices only available on application.
Rumour has it that the brand’s most expensive mattress – the Hästens Grand Vividus – costs nearly £300,000. Most notably, it’s the mattress that rapper Drake has in the master bedroom of his 50,000 square foot mansion in Toronto, as featured in Architectural Digest.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)
However, if you want to get in on the luxury mattress market without shelling out the equivalent of a mortgage deposit, luckily, there are more affordable ways to get your hands on a designer mattress.
I’ve rounded up three of Vispring’s more affordable alternatives to the Diamond Majesty mattress below.
Shop alternatives
Furniture Village
Vispring Elite Mattress
Furniture Village offers the Vispring Elite mattress, which is available in soft, medium, and firm tensions, and features pocket spring support with coir, British wool, and cotton comfort layers. It’s currenly on sale, making it the most affordable Vispring mattress I’ve found.
John Lewis
Vispring Chiswick Pocket Spring Mattress
Available at John Lewis, this handcrafted Vispring pocket spring mattress is also filled with wool and cotton. These materials make for brilliant breathability and good temperature regulation throughout the seasons.
Barker and Stonehouse
Vispring Baronet Superb Mattress
Barker and Stonehouse’s Vispring Baronet Superb mattress is also on sale. Again, this pocket spring mattress is packed with naturally fire-retardant, chemical-free British wool.
