In just a few swift years, TikTok has become one of the biggest players when it comes to influencing interior trends. And the latest big thing involves a dartboard to store your jewellery and trinkets – and I have to agree it’s a fabulous idea for small spaces.
One of my favourite parts of my job is spotting ingenious DIY projects across social media, and the current viral dartboard jewellery holder hack has me actively looking for a dartboard every time I step into my local charity shops.
If, like me, you’re short on space, this TikTok hack consists of using a dartboard and pins to create vertical hanging space for your trinkets. The result is a delicious combination of quirky and stylish. Here’s how to do it at home.
Anyone who lives in a small home or flat will be perfectly aware of the absolute Godsend that vertical storage space is. Making the most of the often empty upward space along your walls gives you back more floor and surface space in return.
If you’re a person who owns a lot of jewellery and trinkets, then more often than not you’ll accumulate lots of little dishes and pots holding your worldly belongings. If you’ve run out of ideas for how to organise jewellery, this hack is for you.
Of course, the alternative is to unleash one of the best decluttering methods and get rid of items you no longer need. But if you’re like me, you won’t want to do that. Plus, the beauty of this hack is that it looks more beautiful when filled with pretty pieces of jewellery.
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‘People are turning their jewellery into part of their interiors. It’s no longer about hiding your accessories in a box, it’s about curating a space to reflect your personal style. Jewellery is art now, and the display is part of the story,’ comments Arwa Hassan, in-house style director at PRYA.
‘What’s brilliant about this trend is its creativity and accessibility. You can pick up a vintage dart board or tennis racket from a charity shop and instantly give it new life. Use the strings of a racket to hang delicate chains, layer chunky gold pieces around the frame, and mix old with new.’
I’ve also seen this trend work beautifully with a chessboard, whereby chess pieces are glued to the board and then hung vertically on the wall. The pieces then act as pegs to hang small items such as your house keys, sunglasses and small bags – a great idea if you always find yourself losing them.
‘I think it’s a really creative way to display jewellery and make that display into a feature of the room, a real statement, rather than something purely utilitarian as a lot of jewellery storage solutions can be. But at the same time, it’s also a great and fun way to upcycle an unused dartboard, avoiding unnecessary waste, which I’m definitely here for,’ says Sara Hesikova, Room Decor Editor at Ideal Home.
The TikTok dartboard hack is a clever way to breathe new life into an old board and make the most of vertical spaces. This space-saving hack is effortlessly cool, however, if you’re looking to create something a little more chic, I’d recommend trying the method out with a chessboard for a quirky yet classic finished piece.
WINMAU
Winmau Diamond Bristle Dartboard One Colour 3011
If you don’t manage to find a dartboard in your local thrift shop or have one to dig out of the loft, you can find them for a decent price on amazon.
Amazon Basics
Amazon Basics Hardware Nail Assortment Kit
The multi-pack has nails of different sizes – handy if the items you want to hang vary in bulk.
Swarovski
Swarovski Attract Adjustable Necklace
Now you just need an excuse to add more jewellery to your collection…
I know this hack will be keeping me occupied on a rainy October weekend. Will you give it a try too?
As Apartment Therapy’s Executive Home Director, I head up our decorating, trends, and designer coverage. I studied Media Studies at UVa and Journalism at Columbia and have worked in media for more than a decade. I love homes, heels, the history of art, and hockey — but not necessarily in that order.
When most people hear “affordable housing,” they tend to think about numbers – income brackets, rental caps, and government programs. But what if we started thinking about it from a design perspective instead? Affordable housing isn’t just a policy discussion; it’s also a design challenge and an opportunity to create spaces that are functional, beautiful, and accessible to everyone. In a time when housing insecurity continues to rise, design has the power to make affordable living both dignified and desirable.
Rethinking What “Affordable” Means in Design
Credit: Envato
Affordability isn’t only about how much rent costs. It’s also about how efficiently a space functions. Smart design can help residents save on utilities, make the most of limited square footage, and enjoy a higher quality of life, all without requiring a luxury budget.
This is where interior design meets social impact. The best affordable housing developments recognize that good design should not be a privilege. When every square inch counts, thoughtful choices in layout, lighting, and materials can make small apartments feel spacious and welcoming. For example, multi-purpose furniture, open shelving, and natural light can completely transform the feel of a compact unit.
Designers working in the affordable housing sector often talk about “livability”—a word that combines comfort, beauty, and practicality. It’s not about following trends but about creating homes that adapt to their residents’ needs over time.
The Role of Design in Community Building
Good design doesn’t end at the front door. Affordable housing that promotes community connection is proven to have longer-lasting positive effects on residents. Shared green spaces, communal gardens, or simple, well-lit walkways can all help foster a sense of belonging.
Urban design can play a transformative role here. By blending affordable units into mixed-income neighborhoods and ensuring they meet the same design standards as market-rate housing, developers can combat stigma and promote inclusion. The visual continuity between “affordable” and “market-rate” housing sends a subtle yet powerful message: everyone deserves to live in a well-designed space.
Sustainable Design on a Budget
Credit: P.Cartwright / Shutterstock
Sustainability and affordability often go hand in hand, even though they might seem at odds at first. Energy-efficient lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and recycled materials can all reduce long-term costs for residents. Many affordable housing projects now include solar panels, green roofs, or passive heating and cooling systems.
Designers are reimagining what it means to live sustainably without inflating costs. Using locally sourced materials, modular furniture, and reclaimed wood not only reduces environmental impact but also brings character and warmth into a home. A well-placed skylight, for instance, can reduce the need for artificial lighting while improving the ambiance dramatically.
Affordable housing shouldn’t mean cutting corners. It’s about cutting waste – of space, resources, and opportunity.
The Emotional Impact of Interior Design
The psychology of space is often overlooked in the affordable housing conversation. The colors on the walls, the height of the ceilings, and even the placement of windows can influence mood and behavior. People thrive in environments that feel open, bright, and harmonious.
Designing for emotional well-being doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be as simple as choosing lighter paint colors to make rooms feel larger or integrating natural textures to add warmth. Research shows that residents who feel comfortable and proud of their homes are more likely to maintain them and engage positively with their community.
Aesthetics are not an afterthought, they are essential to human dignity. When design respects the people it serves, it contributes to social stability and individual well-being.
How Section 8 Housing Fits into the Design Conversation
One of the most well-known affordable housing programs in the United States is Section 8, which provides rental assistance to low-income families. While it’s often viewed through an administrative or policy lens, there’s a growing conversation around how design can enhance the Section 8 experience for residents and landlords alike.
Many developers and property owners underestimate how design quality impacts tenant satisfaction and long-term property value. Well-designed homes featured on a Section 8 housing list can inspire confidence among renters and landlords alike, showing that affordable housing can be both functional and visually appealing.
Design-forward affordable housing can challenge outdated stereotypes. When Section 8 housing is designed with care – using modern layouts, energy-efficient appliances, and welcoming aesthetics – it not only improves residents’ lives but also revitalizes entire neighborhoods.
Small Spaces, Big Impact
With urban centers facing housing shortages, compact living has become a necessity rather than a choice. But small doesn’t have to mean cramped. Designers are rethinking micro-apartments, using creative solutions like foldable furniture, sliding partitions, and vertical storage to make small units feel open and flexible.
Color and light play major roles in these spaces. Reflective surfaces, mirrors, and neutral palettes can expand visual boundaries. Even a strategically placed rug or piece of wall art can create zones within an open-plan area, making it feel more organized and livable.
In affordable housing projects, every design decision counts twice: once for its immediate aesthetic value and again for its contribution to usability and cost efficiency.
Partnering Design and Policy
The future of affordable housing lies in collaboration. Policymakers, developers, and designers must work together to balance cost and creativity. Too often, design is treated as a luxury add-on rather than a central component of project planning. But as more architects and designers enter the affordable housing space, that mindset is changing.
Cities like Portland and Minneapolis are pioneering new models where design is integrated from the ground up. They’re proving that with the right policies and creative design, affordable housing can be beautiful, sustainable, and community-driven.
Anyone interested in the latest updates on affordable housing can follow Section 8 information for key changes and news that impact both renters and property owners.
The Designer’s Responsibility
Ultimately, the design side of affordable housing is about empathy. It asks designers to understand the real lives of residents – their routines, challenges, and aspirations – and to create spaces that support them. It’s about using design not as decoration, but as a tool for equity.
Designers have the power to normalize affordable housing as an essential part of the urban fabric rather than something set apart. When good design is accessible to everyone, we all benefit—from healthier communities to more resilient cities.
Conclusion: Beauty and Accessibility Can Coexist
Affordable housing doesn’t have to be plain, sterile, or uniform. It can be modern, functional, and inspiring. As more designers engage in this space, we’re starting to see what’s possible when creativity meets compassion.
Every home, regardless of its price tag, deserves thoughtful design. By bridging the gap between affordability and aesthetics, we can redefine what it means to live beautifully and sustainably. Affordable housing, after all, isn’t just a social mission. It’s a design opportunity that can reshape how we think about home itself.
H&M Home’s Christmas collection just landed online and in selected stores – and let me tell you, it’s a good one. It’s perhaps one of my favourite Christmas ranges I’ve seen this year, at least thus far.
So what’s so special about it? For one thing, I love that it’s an elegant, timeless yet contemporary range that’s not over the top, as many Christmas collections can be. And despite its timeless feel, the collection doesn’t just hit several of the biggest Christmas trends of this year but also many home decor trends that have been dominating the majority of 2025.
I’m a big fan of H&M’s homeware in general, especially the H&M lamps, which I regularly lust over but sadly don’t really have any space for. I love that the brand’s holiday range doesn’t feel separate from the main homeware collection – on the contrary, it’s merely a more festive continuation of the existing range. And these are the pieces that have caught my eye and that I think will be the most popular, too.
Festive bistro tableware
(Image credit: H&M)
A few months ago, H&M Home launched a tableware collection inspired by the bistro kitchen trend, recreating the look of Parisian bistros and cafes with black and white tableware.
And for Christmas, H&M expanded the range with a red and white colourway that also features festive slogans like ‘The Holiday Club’ across a serving platter or ‘Jingle’ and ‘Fa La La’ on top of small side plates.
H&M Home
Large porcelain serving plate
Even the writing on this is reminiscent of an old Hollywood movie – what’s not to love?!
H&M Home
Small porcelain plates, Set of 4
These little side plates are both fun with their various slogans and super chic in a very Parisian way.
H&M Home
Porcelain cup
Inscribed with ‘Happy Holidays greeting on the side, this stylish coffee (or tea) cup also reveals a little heart on the bottom once you finish your drink of choice.
And it’s available in many different shades too – from deep chocolate brown as seen on things like this ceramic Christmas tree that looks like it’s made from melting chocolate to a softer brown as seen on this striped ruffled Christmas tree skirt which might just be the prettiest and most stylish tree skirt I’ve seen this year.
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H&M Home
Frilled Christmas tree skirt
Stripes, ruffles and brown – could this tree skirt get any dreamier?! It also comes in a red and white striped version though if that’s more your vibe.
H&M Home
Christmas decoration
Between the dark brown shade and glossy glaze, this ceramic tree-shaped decoration looks like melting chocolate. But it also comes in white.
H&M Home
Printed cotton cushion cover
Christmas bows are not going anywhere this festive season, and this cushion cover (along with many other pieces from the range) are a testament to that.
Christmas candle holders
(Image credit: H&M)
In recent years, the focus on layered, warm and atmospheric lighting in our homes has grown. H&M Home knows this very well, given the brand’s stellar range of lamps and light fixtures. But for this Christmas, H&M is drawing attention to the cinematic drama and warmth of candlelight by offering a wide and super stylish range of candle and tealight holders, as well as candelabras.
H&M Home
Cityscape tealight holder
Also available in a silver-coloured version, this tealight holder will create beautiful and charming light effects when your tealight is lit in the darkness of winter evenings.
H&M Home
Cityscape candle holder
Alternatively, you can incorporate the cityscape motif – a running one throughout the H&M Home Christmas collection – with this ceramic dinner candle holder.
H&M Home
Tealight carousel
Also available in a gold colourway, this tealight holder comes with a carousel of bows which is set in motion by the heat of the candle.
A few extra bits I predict will be popular
H&M Home
Printed coir doormat
H&M Home
Pom-pom Christmas decoration
Tinsel is making a comeback this Christmas. And different brands are introducing different takes on the look – these tinsel pom-pom decorations from H&M are among my faves. And they’re available in four different colours.
H&M Home
Metallic tapered candles, set of 6
Chrome furniture and home decor are among the biggest interior trends of the year. And I love how H&M turned that look into these metallic tapered candles. They are also available in a gold colourway, but I’m obsessed with this silver/chrome.
Of course, there are so many more lovely pieces championing everything from the popular Christmas bow trend to sweets-shaped tableware. Which is why I recommend having a look through the whole collection at your leisure.
There’s been a slew of alternatives to the Always Pan (£125 from Our Place) released in recent months, but this version from Tesco is by far the cheapest if you can grab it at the Clubcard price. Though it has to be said that the quality of the alternatives we have tried so far, including the Lakeland Only Pan (which we’ve reviewed) and the M&S All in One Saucepan (which we awarded 4.5 stars in our review), has been impressive.
Here’s a full look at Tesco’s version and how it differs from the other lookalikes we’ve tried.
This cream pan from Tesco is a dead ringer for the Our Place Always Pan in Steam. It also features a built-in steamer and utensil, like the more expensive original.
ORIGINAL
Our Place
Always Pan 2.0
The original pan that spawned all of these alternatives is the Always Pan from Our Place, which is available in an array of gorgeous colours. But my favourite from the brand is the unbeatable (in my opinion) Titanium version.
HIGHLY RATED
Lakeland
Only Pan
This is one of the pans of this type that we’ve already tried and tested here at Ideal Home with our expert reviewer and home economist marking it 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars. High praise!
The USP of these all-in-one pans is that they can, in theory, replace multiple pieces of cookware in your kitchen. Deeper and with more pronounced sides than a usual frying pan, it means you can use this sort of cookware to shallow fry as well as even boil vegetables, adding an element of versatility to busy or cramped kitchens.
Both of these All in One products from Tesco have sizeable capacities. The pan can hold 4 litres while the stockpot rises to 6.
(Image credit: Tesco/Future)
The pan and pot are both made from aluminium, while the steamer elements are made of stainless steel. The bamboo spoon is an added extra with both that means you shouldn’t need to pick anything else up to get started with this cookware set.
With both the pan and matching pot available with a Clubcard for just £61 as opposed to the original Our Place set which will set you back £200, it’s fair to say this Tesco version is offering a real steal for those who love a high street lookalike!
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If you’re battling damp patches, condensation or drying your clothes indoors in the colder weather, Aldi might just have the answer, in the form of a 2-litre dehumidifier.
With the cost of living and energy bills still on everyone’s minds, dehumidifiers have become a smart and affordable way to make homes feel drier without having to turn up the thermostat.
And if you haven’t invested in one of the best dehumidifiers yet, you’ll save a bomb with this absolute bargain, priced at £39.99, which promises to quietly pull moisture from the air to keep your space dry, comfortable and mould-free.
Although like all of Aldi’s Specialbuys, when it’s gone, it’s gone, and with the chilly weather already settling in, I can predict this steal won’t stay on shelves for long.
(Image credit: Aldi)
With an official launch date of 23rd October, along with lots of other winter must-haves to follow, this dehumidifier will be a lifesaver as the colder, wetter months creep in, with its compact and portable design, two-litre water tank and ability to work in rooms up to 15 square metres.
Add to that, it’s the perfect device to help speed up drying your laundry indoors, which can take an age in the wintertime. And I swear by a dehumidifier for doing just this. Although you’d usually have to fork out a lot more for the privilege.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Its small stature is ideal for smaller homes and flats, and perfect for anyone looking for an affordable way to cut down on indoor humidity without spending hundreds on a premium model.
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This bargain of a dehumidifier is guaranteed to sell out fast, though, so I recommend getting down to the middle aisle as soon as you possibly can!
However, if you’re late to the party and didn’t get your hands on one, there are plenty of other great dehumidifiers that get my seal of approval.
Shop these alternative dehumidifiers
MeacoDry Arete Two Dehumidifier
Meaco Arete Two is the best dehumidifier we’ve tested, because it’s quiet, easy to use and is very energy-efficient. Its Smart Laundry Mode is also brilliant at drying wet washing indoors.
Pro Breeze 30L Pro Breeze 30L High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier
Pro Breeze’s 30L High Capacity Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode is one of the highest extraction rates on the market.
EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier
EcoAir’s DD1 Simple MK3 dessicant dehumidifier is a great option for unheated rooms during the winter months. It still performs brilliantly in normal conditions too, making quick work of drying wet washing.
Remember, Aldi’s SpecialBuys are known for vanishing fast, and with the weather about to turn chilly, this particular budget buy won’t hang around for long!