2-Day Shipping on most products. Shop Now!

Curated Modern Home Decor
The Layer That Makes a Room Look Finished

The Layer That Makes a Room Look Finished

by | Oct 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration

A room can be beautifully put together and still feel slightly unfinished, and nine times out of ten the missing element is texture. A throw is the quiet fix: the layer that softens a sofa, breaks up a flat expanse of upholstery and makes a space look lived in rather than staged. It is the cheapest piece of soft furnishing in the room and often the one that does the most.

The catch is that most throws are either scratchy, synthetic and cheap-looking, or expensive and impractical. The sweet spot, soft to the touch, refined to look at and hard-wearing, is rarer than it should be.

Table of Contents

Why the Material Matters

With a throw, as with bedding, the material is the whole experience. It is draped over a sofa or the end of a bed and reached for constantly, so how it feels in the hand decides whether it gets used or just sits there for show.

The one worth knowing is bamboo. Spun from Moso bamboo, it is smooth and soft against the skin, naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, which is why a good bamboo throw feels cool and light rather than heavy and stifling when you actually curl up under it. It drapes beautifully too, falling in soft folds over an arm or across a bed rather than sitting stiffly, which is half of what makes a throw look good in the first place.

A Brand Getting It Right

Lost Loom, the family-run British brand better known for its luxury bamboo bedding, brings the same material thinking to its throws. Its range of Lost Loom blankets and throws runs from a plush diamond-knit blanket, with a soft drape and a comforting weight, to a woven tassel throw in a versatile medium weight, both kept to the quiet, tonal colours that make them easy to live with. They are made to layer into a scheme rather than fight it, which is exactly what you want from a throw.

Keep the Styling Simple

The styling rule for throws is restraint. One good throw, folded over an arm or laid loosely across the foot of a bed, does more than a pile of clashing ones. Keep to tonal, considered colours that sit with the rest of the room and let the texture do the talking. A refined throw in a calm shade reads as expensive; a busy, novelty one reads as clutter. Fold it with a little deliberate looseness rather than squaring it off, and let it look used rather than arranged.

There is a reason to feel good about choosing bamboo beyond how it feels. Conventional cotton is a thirsty crop, with WWF estimating that a single cotton T-shirt can take around 2,700 litres of water to produce, while bamboo grows quickly and densely on far less. If you want to check how responsibly a brand sources its fibre, bodies such as Textile Exchange track exactly that. It is a quiet bonus rather than the headline reason to buy, but a real one.

The Easiest Upgrade in the Room

If a room feels not quite finished, the fix is rarely a big one. A single, well-chosen throw in a soft bamboo adds the texture, warmth and sense of comfort that pulls a scheme together, for a fraction of the cost of anything else in the room. It is the smallest change with the biggest return, which is exactly why stylists reach for it first.

0

<!–
–>

John Lewis just launched the sofa bed every tidy home needs

John Lewis just launched the sofa bed every tidy home needs

by | Oct 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration




Add us as a preferred source on Google





Subscribe to our newsletter


John Lewis has just launched a very stylish new sofa bed, and I think it’s the overnight hosting solution every tidy home needs.

Why? Because it combines two clever features: a clean-lined, minimalist design and a super-useful storage area where you can stash unwanted clutter (like guest bedding) out of sight.

Plus, as of writing, you can still shop the John Lewis Loft Chaise Sofa Bed and have it delivered before Christmas, making it the perfect guest bed for hosting festive visitors in style.

Latest Videos FromIdeal Home

As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve spent the past five years testing some of the best sofa beds on the market. However, during that time I’ve encountered very few sofa beds with a feature I now see as essential: hidden storage.

Admittedly, when I first started testing sofa beds, it didn’t even cross my mind to consider if they had storage. But the minute I invested in a sofa bed of my own, I realised just how useful some hidden storage space can be. Especially if your sofa bed is going to take pride of place in your living room.

John Lewis Loft Chaise sofa bed

(Image credit: John Lewis)

After all, if your sofa bed is set up in a guest bedroom or home office, then you can just close the door when guests are staying and keep any mess they create hidden from view. But when your guest’s sleeping area is in the living room? That means guest bedding can quickly take over the room.

That’s why I think a sofa bed with storage is *always* worth shouting about, and the new John Lewis Loft chaise sofa bed is one such find. Its modern silhouette may be clean-lined and fuss-free, but its under-seat storage area can keep things clean and tidy in practical terms, too.

John Lewis Loft Chaise sofa bed

(Image credit: John Lewis)

Now, I’m fully aware that at £1199, this sofa bed isn’t cheap. Even with the 20% discount that’s available to new and existing My John Lewis members until Sunday 1st of November 2026, the John Lewis Loft Chaise Sofa Bed is still an investment.

I think its stylish design and laid-back build make it worth the money, but if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly hosting solution, I’ve rounded up some affordable alternatives below.

All in all, I think the new John Lewis Loft Chaise Sofa Bed offers something a little bit different than the options already on the market, and I, for one, would be very happy to put my feet up on it and snuggle up in comfort.

I *might* even let my guests enjoy it when they come to visit this Christmas!

Primark’s traditional Christmas serveware looks like something my grandma would own in the best way

Primark’s traditional Christmas serveware looks like something my grandma would own in the best way

by | Oct 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration




Add us as a preferred source on Google





Subscribe to our newsletter


Despite the fact the clocks have only just turned back, many of us are already thinking about our Christmas dinners. Whether you’ve put in your order with your local butcher for a turkey, or pre-booked your festive Christmas shop delivery, now is a great time to get organised.

But have you thought about investing in the best Christmas cookware? Cookware and servingware that doubles up as decor will instantly make your festive tablescape all the more charming, and right now, Primark’s jingle bell-inspired buys are perfect for setting this scene on a budget.

I’m planning to invest in the Christmas Bell Lidded Ramekin (£18). These charming oven-safe pieces of cookware are ideal for serving your seasonal veggies or roasties on the dinner table this Christmas.

Latest Videos FromIdeal Home

Complete with bold red stripes, subtle gold finishes and, of course, a looping garland made up of green foliage and gold bells, the ramekin has been clearly inspired by traditional festive motifs. There is something that feels inherently nostalgic about this design. It looks like something my grandparents would own in the most charming way possible. These are the 6 future family favourite dishes I’d recommend checking out at your local Primark.

While Pirmark does offer a click and collect service, not all of us have a store local to us. If this is the case for you, here’s some festive cookware I’ve fallen in love with that you can shop online.

Alternatives

Embrace tradtion via your Christmas cookware this year. It will make your dining table look and feel all the more cosy.

Ninja just launched the UK’s first ‘split-zone’ multi-cooker – it finally solves this longstanding issue with older slow cookers

Ninja just launched the UK’s first ‘split-zone’ multi-cooker – it finally solves this longstanding issue with older slow cookers

by | Oct 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration




Add us as a preferred source on Google





Subscribe to our newsletter


Ninja is adding an incredibly versatile new slow multi-cooker to its roster of bestselling products and I’m confident you’ve never seen a kitchen appliance like this before. The new Ninja MultiPot XL 11-in-1 Multi-Cooker is available to buy now for £259.99. I predict it’s going to be a big hit in the run up to Christmas.

I’ve been trying out this cooker, which features three interchangeable cooking pots, for the past few weeks – even using it to cater for a dinner party of nine people. And I’ve been thoroughly impressed with every setting I’ve tried including the rice and pasta modes and the slow cooking options. It’s main USP? It solves the age-old problem of only being able to cook one element of a meal at a time in your slow cooker.

Here’s a closer look at what the MultiPot can do and how it differs from all of the best multi-cookers that have come before it.

The multi-zoned design of this cooker means it has a lot in common with Ideal Home’s top-rated air fryer: the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer. That means instead of being stuck with one way to cook, you’re armed with three different ways to bring a meal together.

The first is using the huge ‘MegaZone’ pot, which has a 7-litre capacity. That means you could comfortably cook 8 portions of food in one go. Or, the more versatile option is using the appliance’s two swappable inner pots, which sit side by side and allow you to cook two different dishes using two different settings and temperatures.

Ninja MultiPot 10-in-1 Multi-Cooker testing

(Image credit: Future)

Even better, the lid of the cooker is split into two, to allow you to use each pot independently. It also means you can use this cooker for more interactive dishes when hosting, like hotpot or serving up a buffet.

The MultiPot doesn’t have a pressure cooker setting if you want more of a classic multi-cooker – the recently released Ninja HyperHeat ticks that box instead – but the versatility of the interchangeable pots is something I’ve never seen before as a Kitchen Appliances Editor.

The dual-function ability will be a highlight for many for easy family dinners. All in all, the 11 programs for this cooker are: slow cook, sear/sauté, bake, sauce, rice, pasta, mixed rice, sous vide, simmer, hotpot and keep warm.

With this cooker, you can easily cook the carb-based element of your dinner in one side (like rice or pasta) while you use the other to bring together your protein and vegetables – and set it off to all finish at just the right time, too.

So far, I’ve tested the rice setting on this cooker with great results and used the slow cooker setting with the dual pots for pulled pork in one section and chicken in another for fillings for tacos when hosting.

But that’s barely scratching the surface at what you can try with this cooker. The sear/sauté function is a gamechanger for browning meat or crisping other ingredients before you begin slow cooking and was one of the highlights of testing the Ninja PossibleCooker for me so I’m excited to try it out again. The hotpot element, which is a food trend that’s taken off in the UK over the last few years, is another thing I’m looking forward to testing.

Ninja MultiPot cooker

(Image credit: Ninja)

The ceramic non-stick pot also owes itself greatly to the bake mode, which I want to try out with a sticky toffee pudding or a set of brownies next. Making sweet treats in a slow cooker can open up a whole new world!

After trying it out, I think the multi-zone cooking element is going be a huge hit with Ninja fans. Can you see the appeal in the MultiPot design?

TOPICS

Aldi’s beautiful £9 snowglobe candles are back for 2026 – they went viral on social media last year, and I’m buying two while I still can

Aldi’s beautiful £9 snowglobe candles are back for 2026 – they went viral on social media last year, and I’m buying two while I still can

by | Oct 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration




Add us as a preferred source on Google





Subscribe to our newsletter


Aldi’s festive Specialbuys are beginning to drop in stores, and one in particular that has caught my attention is the decorative snow globe candle, which is available in two scents and will make your home look and smell amazing.

Every year, the Ideal Home team waits in anticipation to see the Aldi 2026 Christmas Specialbuys, and following a sneak peek of the upcoming products, it is the return of the Christmas candles that has us excited.

Landing in stores on Thursday (29 October), Aldi’s Christmas candles are some of the best to shop if you’re looking for the best candles on a budget. Not to mention, their intricately designed vessels make these candles striking pieces of decor in their own right.

Latest Videos FromIdeal Home

This year’s Christmas trends have seen a return to traditional, even nostalgic decorating and what fits the bill better than a festive snow globe? Shaking a festive snow globe and watching the white flakes flutter within the glass vessel was always a more likely scenario of spotting snow during Christmastime as a child than waiting for the real thing.

Because of this, Aldi’s snow globe candles make an excellent stocking filler, gift or piece of decor for yourself to unlock childhood festive memories. At £8.99, Aldi’s candles are incredibly affordable while retaining a high-end look. The globe sits on the wooden lid and is available in two different styles depending on what fragrance you choose.

The two festive scents available are either orange, clove and cinnamon or eucalyptus, pine and musk. If you want a classic, spicy yet festive fragrance, the orange, clove and cinnamon candle is your ideal choice. The snow globe depicts a fawn, nestled in an evergreen forest.

Aldi snow globe candles on a pink background.

(Image credit: Aldi)

Meanwhile, the eucalyptus, pine and musk offers a fresher Christmas tree fragrance. Its snow globe offers a cosy scene, depicting a Scandi-style home, towering pine trees and even a Christmas tree attached to a sleigh. Plus, these candles offer up to 41 hours of burn time.

These snow globe candles are not the only Aldi festive candles that have caught our eye this year. For the first time, Aldi dropped a £25 scented candle advent calendar, which offers a range of different scents that smell delicious – in particular, the Hot Cocoa and Iced Berries fragrances.

As always, Aldi’s Specialbuys are only available in store. So, if you want to get your hands on one, I suggest heading to your nearest store sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment. Alternatively, here are a few more stunning festive candles I’ve spotted that you can shop for online.

The snow globe candles are only available while stocks last, so if you want to get you hands on one, head to your local Aldi as soon as you can!

Home Office Ideas: How to Create a Stylish Workspace That’s Comfortable Too

Home Office Ideas: How to Create a Stylish Workspace That’s Comfortable Too

by | Oct 27, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Working from home is part of everyday life for plenty of people now, yet the home office is still one of the most neglected rooms in the house. A laptop on the dining table might do for a day or two, but it rarely works for the long term. The good news is that a well-designed workspace doesn’t need a dedicated room or a big budget. It just needs a little planning, a few smart choices and an eye for what works in a real home.

Table of Contents

Start with the right spot

Before choosing furniture, think about where the desk will go. A spare room is ideal, but a quiet corner of a bedroom, a landing or the space under the stairs can work just as well. Aim for somewhere with natural light and as few interruptions as possible, and use a bookcase, folding screen or tall plant to mark the area out from the rest of the room. Having a defined zone makes it easier to switch into work mode, and just as importantly, to switch off again at the end of the day.

Choose a chair that supports you

If there’s one piece worth spending on, it’s the chair. A seat that looks good but offers little support will quickly become uncomfortable, whereas ergonomic office chairs are designed to keep the body properly supported through a long day. Look for adjustable seat height so your feet sit flat on the floor, lumbar support that follows the curve of your lower back and armrests that let your shoulders relax. Breathable fabrics such as mesh help if you tend to run warm.

The best news is that comfort and style are no longer a trade-off. Today’s designs come in muted shades such as sage, charcoal, soft grey and warm oatmeal, so they sit happily alongside the rest of the room.

Pick a desk that suits the space

The ideal desk has room for a screen, a keyboard and a notebook, with a little clear space left over so the area doesn’t feel cramped. In smaller homes, a slimline writing desk, a wall-mounted fold-down design or a console table used as a workstation can all make the most of limited floor space. If standing for part of the day appeals, a height-adjustable desk is a worthwhile upgrade. Whatever the style, elbows should rest at around 90 degrees when typing, and the top of the screen should sit roughly at eye level.

Don’t forget the second seat

Most homes need more than one place to sit and work. A reading nook, a guest desk or a window seat that doubles as a second workstation will all see regular use, and the seating in these spots often gets less attention than it deserves. When choosing extra office chairs for these areas, the same principles apply: adjustability, decent support and a finish that suits the room. A beautifully styled main desk can be undone by a second seat that leaves you aching, so it pays to treat every place to sit as part of one considered scheme.

Get the lighting right

Good lighting makes a big difference to both comfort and mood. If possible, position the desk to the side of a window rather than facing it, which gives plenty of daylight without glare on the screen. For darker afternoons, add a task lamp with adjustable brightness, and use softer lamps elsewhere in the room so the space feels warm rather than clinical.

Keep clutter under control

A tidy desk helps you think clearly, and the right storage makes all the difference. Closed cabinets, drawers and lidded boxes keep paperwork out of sight, while open shelving gives you a place for books and favourite objects. If the office shares a room with the rest of the home, a cupboard with doors that close lets you hide the whole setup when work is done. Cable clips and trays are inexpensive ways to keep wires out of view, and they make a surprising difference to how calm the room feels.

Add colour and personality

A home office shouldn’t feel like a corner of the workplace. Soft, nature-inspired colours such as olive green, dusty blue and warm terracotta create a calm backdrop, while a framed print, a trailing plant or a favourite rug adds personality. Plants are particularly good for a workspace, softening hard edges and giving your eyes somewhere to rest between screens.

A final word

A great home office isn’t about spending the most money or having the most space. It’s about creating somewhere that feels good to sit, works for the way you spend your day and sits comfortably within the rest of your home. Start with the basics of a supportive chair, a desk at the right height and decent light, then layer in storage, colour and the little personal touches that make the space feel like yours.

0

<!–
–>