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Michelle Keegan’s latest furniture collection with Very nails the Scandi cool aesthetic – 6 stylish buys that will upgrade your home for autumn

Michelle Keegan’s latest furniture collection with Very nails the Scandi cool aesthetic – 6 stylish buys that will upgrade your home for autumn

by | Sep 7, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Michelle Keegan’s latest collection with Very has dropped, and if you were looking for furniture that nails the cosy, Scandi look this autumn, you’ve landed in the right place.

The actress launched her homeware and fashion lines with retailer Very back in 2017, and ever since, Michelle Keegan Home has been serving up the actress’s takes on the latest home decor trends.

Her most recent furniture launch celebrates a warm autumn colour palette paired with stunning Scandi-style design. Here are my top picks.

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Michelle Keegan Home Esta dining table with cream boucle chairs.

(Image credit: Michelle Keegan Home/ Very)

Michelle Keegan, while known for her roles on Coronation Street, Our Girl and Netflix’s Fool Me Once, is also well-known for her quiet luxury interior style, which she and husband Mark share on their home Instagram account @wrightyhome.

While we’ve previously been impressed with Michelle’s crisp white colour schemes and trendy, curved white sofa, her latest collection with Very, very much leans into cosy autumn aesthetics.

For example, the Esta 120cm Round Dining Table (£299), which is also my top pick, has a minimalist, Scandi design (as you would expect from Michelle), but is decked out in darker, richer autumnal colours. I particularly like the use of dark wood for the base of the table as it makes it look so expensive.

Here are the rest of my top picks…

Which pick is your favourite?

This Kitchen Was Straight Out of the ’70s Until a Cozy All-White Redo

This Kitchen Was Straight Out of the ’70s Until a Cozy All-White Redo

by | Sep 6, 2026 | Design Inspiration, Style


A few things to love from the ’70s, design-wise? Macrame, rattan, funky patterns — even conversation pits. A few things that certainly aren’t missed from the decade? Orange-toned everything, fluorescent lighting, and bland laminate countertops.Unfortunately, Jenessa Weaver’s 1977 kitchen had several not-so-fun-or-funky ’70s details, and she was looking for a change. So she enlisted the help of her childhood best friend, Alysha, designer and owner of Camp Interiors.
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Cloud Capping is making white ceilings cool again – the trending paint technique experts are using to make rooms feel bigger and brighter

Cloud Capping is making white ceilings cool again – the trending paint technique experts are using to make rooms feel bigger and brighter

by | Sep 6, 2026 | Design Inspiration

The classic white ceiling has been out of fashion for the past few years, while the colour drenching trend has reigned supreme as the ‘it’ paint idea. But colour experts say the tide is starting to turn this autumn, and cloud capping is the increasingly popular paint trend that will make your home feel bigger and brighter.

This is not to say colour drenching is going anywhere. It Isn’t. But experts have noticed that more and more of us opting to cloud cap our ceilings, whereby we paint our ceilings a white or neutral hue instead of drenching the room in one shade.

The end result feels brighter and lighter, and it stops a room from feeling too enclosed. I asked paint experts how to decide whether cloud capping is right for your home, as we welcome white ceilings back into the trend cycle.

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What is cloud capping?

Many will argue that a white ceiling has always been a classic design choice, but in recent years it has looked a little dated compared to the drenching, colour capping and double drench trends that have dominated social media feeds. That said, a classic white ceiling is timeless and can definitely be given a 2026 update.

Green living room with white ceiling.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ James French)

‘Cloud capping is a lovely evolution of the colour-drenching approach,’ explains Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux. ‘Rather than taking one colour across every surface, you use your chosen shade across the walls, doors, skirting boards and other architectural details, then ‘cap’ the room with soft white or pale neutral cloud colour that perfectly complements the colour on the ceiling.

‘The result is wonderfully cohesive because you’re not breaking up the walls and woodwork with lots of contrasting colours, but the lighter ceiling introduces a sense of openness overhead.

‘For example, an earthy green such as Overtly Olive paired with a soft billowy white like Gentle Fawn above can give you that enveloping feeling while still keeping the room light and balanced. Think of it almost like a little patch of sky above the room; it gives all that immersive colour somewhere to breathe.’

Cloud capping doesn’t automatically mean going for a brilliant white ceiling (although you can do that if you prefer. To give this classic white paint idea a 2026 update, you should opt for softer, warmer whites and neutrals – just like a fluffy cloud!

Beige hallway with white ceiling.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Douglas Gibb)

‘There’s this long-held idea that a brilliant white ceiling will make a room feel lighter and bigger, but decorating is all about contrast,’ says Tash Bradley, director of interior design at Lick and author of Master The Art Of Colour, available at Amazon.

‘Put a very stark white ceiling above a beautiful coloured wall, and suddenly you create this really strong visual line where the wall stops and the ceiling begins. It can actually make you more aware of the ceiling height and make the wall colour appear darker by comparison.

‘With Cloud Capping, we’re choosing a complementary white instead, a softer white with an undertone that relates to the colour on the walls.

‘That subtle relationship between the two colours means your eye travels much more gently from the wall to the ceiling. Rather than having this abrupt stop, it feels almost as though your wall colour gradually lifts into this beautiful soft cloud above you.’

Is colour capping replacing colour drenching?

If you’ve been wondering whether you should colour drench a room or try cloud capping, just know neither is more stylish than the other – they simply serve different purposes.

Navy living room with white ceiling and exposed beams.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Douglas Gibb)

‘Colour drenching is wonderful when you want to completely cocoon a room in colour, but not everybody wants that enveloping feeling, particularly when they’re introducing richer, deeper shades for autumn,’ says Tash.

‘Cloud Capping gives you a beautiful middle ground. You still paint the walls, woodwork, skirting boards and doors in the same colour, so you get that seamless, contemporary look we love from colour drenching, but instead of continuing the colour across the ceiling, you ‘cap’ the room with a soft, complementary white.

‘I think that’s why it feels particularly relevant going into autumn. We naturally start gravitating towards warmer, earthier and more comforting colours at this time of year, but Cloud Capping allows you to embrace those richer shades without necessarily wrapping the entire room in them. The soft ceiling gives the colour breathing space and creates this lovely sense of lift above you.’

Marianne agrees, stating: ‘I wouldn’t say cloud capping is replacing colour drenching; it’s simply giving us another way to be confident and creative with colour. Colour drenching is brilliant when you want a completely immersive, cocooning effect, whereas cloud capping offers some of that same impact while keeping the room feeling a little lighter and more open.’

Is cloud capping right for your home?

If you have a small room or low ceilings, you should absolutely consider cloud capping. This way, you can still get the benefits of a cosy autumn colour palette, without making your room feel cramped.

‘A pale ceiling can do a lot of clever visual work. It reflects more light around the room and creates a sense of height and openness, which can be particularly useful in smaller rooms or spaces that don’t receive lots of natural daylight,’ adds Marianne.

Warm yellow dining room with lots of house plants and white ceiling.

(Image credit: Future PLC)

The beauty of cloud capping a room is that this technique works with every shade. Again, you just need to choose the right shade of white. ‘The secret to successful Cloud Capping is choosing a complementary white that feels like a natural extension of the wall colour, rather than a stark contrast,’ explains Tash.

‘When the ceiling colour is visually connected to the walls, the eye moves effortlessly around the room, creating a beautifully harmonious finish that’s full of colour yet still light and balanced. The white needs to be sympathetic to the undertones of the colour beneath it.

‘So if you’re decorating with a warm earthy red (Red 03) or a soft plaster pink (Pink 01 or Taupe 03, I’d look for a warmer white with a pink undertone White 06). With softer blues and greens, you might choose a white with a subtle grey White 02, or Yellow White 03 or 05 undertone depending on the particular shade.

‘That’s where the magic happens. You don’t necessarily consciously notice the undertone in the white, but you feel that the two colours belong together.

‘The only combination I’d generally avoid is a really rich, nuanced wall colour paired with a cold, brilliant white ceiling. The contrast can feel too stark and disconnected, which completely defeats the softness we’re trying to achieve.’

Shop white paint

Ditch the brilliant white emulsion and embrace cloud capping whith stunning and sophisticated white shades.

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One of this year’s biggest colour trends is here to stay – Graham & Brown names its colour of the year 2027

One of this year’s biggest colour trends is here to stay – Graham & Brown names its colour of the year 2027

by | Sep 3, 2026 | Design Inspiration

At last! My favourite season is here – and no, I don’t mean autumn. I’m talking about the time of year that paint and interior brands announce their colours of the year. Last night, Graham & Brown revealed Rose Earth as its colour of the year for 2027 and officially kicked the season off.

Getting to know all the different brands’ colours of the year (also known as COTYs) is largely how I discover and determine the biggest colour trends that are going to shape the new year. And as Graham & Brown chose a warm, earthy pink shade with subtle brown undertones as its year-defining colour, it’s clear that this already trending hue is here to stay at least for another year.

Dusky pink has been one of the ‘new neutrals’ replacing the likes of beige in 2026, while plaster pink is the new go-to colour for kitchens. And according to Graham & Brown, this is not going to change anytime soon as the brand predicts we’ll all still be obsessed with shades like Rose Earth well into 2027.

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This paint idea was inspired by the natural mineral pigments found in clay deposits in Italy – and this connection to a natural material and a shade traditionally found in nature is exactly what makes this shade feel warm and comforting while also being more playful and exciting than a more traditional warm and earthy neutral like beige or taupe.

Swatches of Graham & Brown's design and colour of the year 2027 at the brand's showroom

(Image credit: Future/Sara Hesikova)

‘I’ve long been a fan of earthy pinks – I’ve used these tones in both my home office and my bedroom – so I was immediately drawn to Rose Earth,’ says Heather Young, Ideal Home‘s Editor in Chief who was also present at yesterday’s reveal.

‘I find it a very calming colour that brings warmth and feels grounded. The beauty of it is that it sits happily with lots of different shades so it’s supremely usable – something I think is really important when selecting a colour of the year.’

I’ve been seeing people use shades like this one to colour drench entire rooms. But given the versatility of the colour, it can also be paired with other colours – be it a burgundy like Graham & Brown’s 2026 colour of the year, Divine Damson or one of the brand’s newly launched shades like the dark green called Sue’s Jumper as pink and green is generally one of the best colour combinations.

Graham & Brown Design of the Year 2027

A pink bedroom with dado rail wall panelling and fireplace painted in Graham & Brown's Rose Earth pink shade and the upper wall covered in the Roselle Grove wallpaper

(Image credit: Graham & Brown)

While I’m always most interested in the brand’s colour of the year to help me determine the following year’s biggest colour trends, for Graham & Brown, the design of the year is always the main event. And this year, it’s all about the new Roselle Grove design depicting large-scale florals and botanicals inspired by English gardens.

The Roselle Grove wallpaper blends Indian chintz dating back to the 16th century with a very traditional English aesthetic popular in the Victorian times, creating a very ‘grandma chic’ look which is set to be a major home decor trend in itself. While the main design comes in a dusky pink shade, coordinating with the Rose Earth COTY, it’s also available in three other colourways.

Graham & Brown Mural of the Year 2027

A bedroom with walls covered in Graham & Brown's Red Rose County mural with an upholstered brown velvet bed

(Image credit: Graham & Brown)

As Graham & Brown celebrates its 80th anniversary, the brand also reveals a mural of the year with a design that’s very distinct from the wallpaper design.

Depicting a scenic view, the Red Rose County design is inspired by the rolling Lancashire landscape, the home of the Graham & Brown brand. At the same time, it’s very reminiscent of views you might encounter in Italy’s Tuscany. And again, this mural design, too, comes in four different colourways to choose from.

Are you thinking of embracing earthy pink shades in your home? Or are you going to wait for more colours of the year to drop before you commit?

I’ve been looking forward to H&M Home’s Kelly Wearstler collaboration all year – these are the 6 pieces I’m most excited about

I’ve been looking forward to H&M Home’s Kelly Wearstler collaboration all year – these are the 6 pieces I’m most excited about

by | Sep 3, 2026 | Design Inspiration

At last! The H&M Home x Kelly Wearstler collection is finally here and available to shop! The highly anticipated collaboration between the high street brand and the American interior designer first debuted back in April at Milan Design Week, and it was announced even before then. But the pieces look so cool that the extremely long wait might actually be worth it.

The range includes 29 products with prices starting from £19.99, spanning everything from decor like candleholders to table lamps and even pieces of furniture. The focus of the collection is on modular pieces, including modular sofas.

Three of the Cyma vases from the H&M Home x Kelly Wearstler collection filled with flowers and placed on pink pillars set against a pink wall

(Image credit: H&M)

I don’t think they’re necessarily the best modular sofas to invest your money in, since a modular sofa should future-proof your home and you should be able to add new modules to it in the future which I doubt will be the case with this like one-off range. However, I’m a big fan of the Ortra modular coffee table – or sofa table, as it’s been called – and the Noxen stools which can form a larger bench.

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Aside from modularity, the defining characteristic of most of the pieces is their sculptural shape and quality – interesting, sculptural shapes and pieces can be found across most of the interiors Kelly’s designed. Even though all the products have a practical purpose – be it a vase for flowers or a lamp to light the room – each of them looks like a piece of art in its own right. When styled together, the variety and contrast of natural materials becomes evident – from wood to marble, metal to ceramics.

The Morra ceramic table lamp on a red marble side table and a modular chair from the H&M Home x Kelly Wearstler collection

(Image credit: H&M)

H&M’s designer collaborations are famous for selling out pretty much as soon as they drop, like with last summer’s H&M X Palm Heights hotel collab. Given the amount of buzz and anticipation there’s been around Kelly’s collection for the high street retailer, I’m sure these pieces will fly off the shelves.

These are the 6 pieces I’ve got my eye on and would recommend investing in asap.

My top picks

I love a good collaboration. And it seems we’re in the midst of a collab season as Dunelm’s collection with artist Yinka Ilori dropped just in July, while both Tan France’s partnership with Castlery and MADE’s range with the Barbican launched last month. It’s looking like the H&M Home x Kelly Wearstler range is the perfect cherry on top.

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Matt Baker’s latest lighting choice proves Tiffany lamps are back – experts reveal how to make this vintage style work

Matt Baker’s latest lighting choice proves Tiffany lamps are back – experts reveal how to make this vintage style work

by | Sep 3, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Countryfile’s Matt Baker has revealed he is a fan of this vintage lighting trend on a recent Instagram post, and lighting experts say it’s a great way to embrace the Art Deco revival, which has been a huge part of 2026’s home decor trends.

While you probably know Matt for his work on Countryfile, The One Show and Blue Peter, the presenter shares glimpses of his life on his Instagram account, and it is here that we spotted his gorgeous Tiffany lamp in the background of a video.

Tiffany lamps are the vintage lighting trend that has been making a comeback over the past couple of years, and Matt’s suits his country kitchen perfectly. Here’s how you can get the look, too.

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In a video where Matt shows his parents a copy of his new book, My Dogs and Me, there is a beautiful cream Tiffany light twinkling in the background. In a way, it sets the scene perfectly.

‘Matt’s Art Nouveau Tiffany lamp fits really well in his room,’ comments Jamie Moxey, a buyer and lighting specialist at Dusk Lighting. ‘The wider space is very country/traditional, featuring a lot of natural wood, rattan and greenery above his mantle. The lamp fits in nicely as an Art Deco touch in a country kitchen, adding a luxurious note to the space.’

Last year, experts told me Tiffany lamps were making a comeback as retro lighting styles, particularly Art Deco, are back in vogue. Not to mention the fact that Tiffany lamps are a symbol of craftsmanship, with their intricate designs adding plenty of charm and personality to a home.

Tiffany lamp in windowsill.

(Image credit: Alamy/ David Cheshire)

‘What I love about Matt’s is that it doesn’t seem out of place or overly traditional,’ says Julia Barnes, product director at ValueLights. ‘The green in the stained glass works really well with the plants and other natural tones around it, so although the lamp itself is quite decorative, it feels like it belongs. It’s also a great example of how you don’t need a completely vintage interior to make this style of lighting work.’

‘Tiffany-style lamps take inspiration from those beautiful leaded-glass designs, with all the colour, pattern, and detail that people have loved for more than a century. There’s something special about the glow you get through coloured glass.

‘Once you switch the lamp on, all those different shades come to life and give off a lovely, warm light that instantly makes a room feel cosier. When it’s switched off, you’ve still got something incredibly decorative to look at, which is why these lamps can feel almost like a piece of art in the room.’

How to style Tiffany lamps in modern homes

While Matt’s Tiffany lamp is perfectly suited to his rustic, farmhouse kitchen, this lighting style can also be adopted in more contemporary homes. So, if you love Tiffany lamps but assume they wouldn’t work in your new build, you can think again.

Tiffany lamp on a desk.

(Image credit: Alamy/ Peter Steiner)

‘Tiffany lamps can be styled very easily in most modern homes,’ explains lighting specialist Jamie. ‘Minimalist briefs can use more simplistic Tiffany Lamps as a showcase item to build a room around.

‘Alternatively, in colour-drenching or maximalist aesthetics, a Tiffany Lamp can create a jewel tone that echoes the rest of the space. Tiffany lamps have the benefit of coming in a variety of styles and patterns; natural patterns fit biophilic design, geometric patterns to support urban looks.

‘Today a lot of interior design projects aim to avoid mass-produced, flat-pack furniture; Tiffany lamps act as an antidote, bringing a touch of artisanal class to the space.’

Julia agrees, stating that sometimes Tiffany lamps can work better in contemporary homes, rather than surrounded by antiques.

‘If you love the Tiffany look, but your home is more modern, don’t feel like you suddenly need to fill the room with antiques. Personally, I think these lamps look their best when there’s a bit of contrast. Style one alongside a contemporary sofa, a simple side table or more modern furniture and let the lamp be the piece that brings in the colour and character,’ she says.

‘You can also use the colours in the glass as your starting point. Pick out a green, amber or red and bring little touches of that shade into cushions, artwork or accessories around the room. You don’t need to match everything perfectly; just having those small connections will make the lamp feel at home in the space.’

Shop the look

Have you been charmed by this retro lighting trend?

Designing a Modern Kitchen That Balances High-Tech Features With Timeless Style

Designing a Modern Kitchen That Balances High-Tech Features With Timeless Style

by | Sep 2, 2026 | Design Inspiration

The kitchen has evolved far beyond a simple space for meal preparation. Today, it serves as the beating heart of the home, a place where families gather, entertain, and unwind. Modern Australian households are increasingly demanding kitchens that are not only visually stunning but also highly functional for everyday living. With over 60 percent of renovating homeowners now investing in smart appliances and connected household devices, the challenge lies in integrating these advanced technologies without compromising on a timeless, elegant aesthetic. Achieving this balance requires careful planning, smart design choices, and a dedicated focus on both form and function.

Table of Contents

Mastering Layout and Spatial Flow

A successful kitchen design always starts with a solid foundation. Whether you are building from scratch or updating a classic home, the physical footprint of your space dictates how everything comes together seamlessly. A major trend right now is the inclusion of multi-functional kitchen islands, which currently feature in over 70 percent of new or renovated Australian kitchens. These large central hubs double as preparation stations, casual dining spaces, and hidden storage areas, acting as the primary anchor for the entire room.

When planning these open spaces, it is vital to ensure that your large appliances do not disrupt the visual harmony of the room. By exploring foundational kitchen remodel ideas and layout principles, you can ensure that the physical footprint of your new appliances perfectly complements your cabinetry. Properly mapped sightlines, generous bench space, and carefully planned walkways make the difference between a kitchen that feels cramped and cluttered, and one that feels effortlessly chic and welcoming.

Integrating Smart Appliances Seamlessly

The days of bulky, obtrusive white goods dominating the room are long gone. Contemporary kitchen layouts favour a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, utilising clean edges and appliances that blend effortlessly into the background. Finding options that merge sophisticated design with advanced functionality is absolutely essential for a cohesive look. For example, incorporating Mitsubishi fridges into your design provides a premium, reflective look in stunning finishes like Diamond Black or Argent Silver, all while offering advanced space-saving features.

Thanks to Vacuum Insulation Panel technology, these specific types of modern appliances maintain a significantly slimmer overall profile. This makes them much easier to build into custom cabinetry without sacrificing the vital internal capacity required by a busy modern household. To further maintain a streamlined, highly functional look in your kitchen, consider these practical design strategies:

  • Opt for flush-mount or integrated installations that allow appliances to sit perfectly level with your surrounding cabinetry.
  • Choose models featuring non-plumbed automatic ice makers, which allow the refrigerator to be placed anywhere in the layout without requiring a direct, hard-wired water line.
  • Select intuitive multi-drawer designs that organise fresh food efficiently and prevent the messy, cluttered look of crammed, disorganised shelves.

Sustainability, Efficiency, and Food Preservation

A truly modern kitchen is not just about looks, as it must also actively support a sustainable, environmentally conscious lifestyle. Australians currently waste approximately 7.6 million tonnes of food annually, costing the average household between $2,500 and $2,700 each year. High-tech appliances are stepping up to tackle this critical issue through innovative preservation methods. Modern features like sub-zero chilling cases keep perishables fresh for much longer without freezing them solid. Meanwhile, specialised LED lighting systems inside vegetable drawers are scientifically designed to slow down the wilting process and preserve essential nutritional value.

Beyond food preservation, energy efficiency is a major consideration for both the natural environment and your household budget. Upgrading to smarter, greener technology provides tangible, long-term financial benefits. In fact, official Australian government energy guidelines note that each additional star rating reduces a product’s energy use by 15 to 30 percent over its lifespan. This means that a stylish, high-tech kitchen can also be a highly efficient one, actively reducing both your household carbon footprint and your quarterly electricity bills.

Conclusion

Creating a kitchen that perfectly balances high-tech features with timeless style is an achievable and highly rewarding goal. By prioritising a cohesive, open-plan layout, selecting sleek appliances that blend effortlessly into your custom cabinetry, and focusing on sustainable technologies, you can design a space that looks beautiful today and performs brilliantly for many years to come. The modern kitchen is a powerful testament to how intelligent, thoughtful design can elevate our daily lives, making every meal prep and social gathering a truly enjoyable, stress-free experience.

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I fell in love with this checked Dunelm sideboard the moment I laid my eyes on it at the brand’s A/W 2026 collection preview – and it finally dropped

I fell in love with this checked Dunelm sideboard the moment I laid my eyes on it at the brand’s A/W 2026 collection preview – and it finally dropped

by | Sep 2, 2026 | Design Inspiration

At the beginning of July, Dunelm held an exclusive preview of its autumn/winter 2026 collection. Ever since then I’ve been waiting for the Dunelm gingham sideboard, the standout piece of the range, to launch. Finally, the Dunelm Posie gingham sideboard landed on the brand’s website at the end of last week – but I have a feeling it will quickly sell out.

The Posie sideboard is definitely one of the standout Dunelm autumn 2026 buys that I recommend snapping up fast. Since it’s such a distinctive design, I predict it will prove very popular with customers. Reminiscent of last season’s Dunelm chequerboard side table, the Posie sideboard is covered in a similar checked pattern, hand-painted using chestnut-toned wood stain rather than paint – what a great idea for an easy DIY project!

Checks and ginghams are always popular during the autumn season. But this year, it’s one of the biggest autumn home decor trends that both homeware and fashion brands are focusing on. Meanwhile, the antique brass-style drop pull knobs are a great nod to the current tassel trend I’m seeing in the most stylish homes lately.

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The sideboard is selling for £599 which might sound like a lot – but considering it’s made with genuine mango hardwood, that’s actually a reasonable price.

Dunelm Posie gingham sideboard against a panelled wall with a vase of dried hydrangeas on top and framed wall art above it

(Image credit: Dunelm)

The design is finished with tapered, turned legs made from the same wood which give the sideboard a vintage-style look. Dunelm’s autumn collection consists of a few different looks, one of which is ‘Vintage Emporium’ – this is the style that the Posie sideboard and the check ruffle easy fit lampshade – which our Editorial Assistant, Maddie Balcombe was enchanted by – are part of.

The Dunelm Posie gingham sideboard with a vase of faux flowers on top at the brand's autumn/winter 2026 press preview

(Image credit: Future/Sara Hesikova)

The Vintage Emporium look is described as cottagecore nostalgia meets charming, eclectic touches and whimsy. It’s defined by a ‘more is more’ approach which sees mix-and-match patterns and textures.

It’s encouraged to pair the checked pattern of the Posie sideboard with other patterns, textures and whimsical touches for a cosy yet playful result.

Get the full look

If I was to get just one thing from the new Dunelm autumn collection – and had the space – this standout sideboard would be it. Although, I’m not going to lie, the Salvage enamel nibble bowls are also great – and I’ve already bought two of those for my home…

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Microwave speed with air fryer crispiness? Ninja’s new 2-in-1 appliance sounds almost too good to be true

Microwave speed with air fryer crispiness? Ninja’s new 2-in-1 appliance sounds almost too good to be true

by | Sep 2, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Ninja has a shiny new release for those looking to save on worktop space: the 3-in-1 CRISPI Microwave, Air Fryer & Oven (now available for £359.99).

It’s the latest in a line of multi-hyphenate appliances which combine the two most convenient products in a kitchen: the speed of the best air fryers meeting the ease for reheating leftovers of the best microwaves.

Despite sounding great on paper, as Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, I’ve so far been disappointed in the microwave/air fryer hybrids we’ve tried so far. Here’s why I’m hoping this new iteration of the best Ninja air fryers is going to be the exception to the rule.

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If you own a Ninja air fryer already, you’ll know that this is the brand to go for if you want to maximise cooking power. With temperatures up to 240°C, that certainly looks like an advantage that will carry over with this clever combination buy.

Though this is advertised as a 3-in-1 (air fryer, microwave, oven) there are actually a whopping 13 functions available on the interface of the appliance. Eight of those are for microwaving to your hearts content, and 5 of them will be very familiar to those who love their existing Ninja air fryer.

Ninja air fryer microwave

(Image credit: Ninja)

Those five settings are: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Air Roast, Air Bake and Air Broil (which is the American term for grill). I own the Ninja Double Stack and the high heat and power of the Max Crisp setting means it’s never out of use in my household.

Using the microwave and air fryer elements separately is one thing, but the setting that has me most intrigued is Fusion Crisp. This button allows you to whip up ‘fast meals with a crisp finish’.

Once pressed, your device will begin by microwaving your food and then move onto auto finishing with air frying. That should, in theory, allow you to ‘go from frozen to crispy in minutes’. If it works well, this should make this microwave air fryer the most time-efficient buy in your kitchen.

Ninja crispi

(Image credit: Ninja)

Another winning feature of the original Ninja Crispi is present within this new version too: the introduction of glassware to help with efficient meal prep. With a 5.2 litre capacity and a matching lid, it’s perfect for saving on washing up. Capacity-wise, it can fit a 3kg chicken, according to Ninja, making enough food for up to eight people at a time.

Simply cook in it within the Crispi and then pop any leftovers straight into the fridge when you’re finished. And though it doesn’t come as standard, it looks as if you’ll also be able to separately invest in a steamer lid too – perfect for veggies, rice, dumplings and more.

Though it was released today (the 2nd of September), Ninja will always send their products ahead of time to reviewers. At the time of writing, this 3-in-1 has already gleaned a 4.7 star rating from 160 user reviews, which is a promising sign.

Our review of this innovative new Ninja is currently in the works so that we can let you know whether it’s Ideal Home approved for your home. Could you see this type of appliance working in your kitchen?

IKEA permanently slashes prices on hundreds of products – including these cult furniture buys

IKEA permanently slashes prices on hundreds of products – including these cult furniture buys

by | Sep 2, 2026 | Design Inspiration

If you thought IKEA was already affordable, I have good news, as the Swedish retailer has just permanently slashed the prices of some of its most popular products.

Whether you’re putting an IKEA DIY hack into practice or following the latest home decor trends on a budget, IKEA is undoubtedly a go-to brand for many in the interiors world. And now, IKEA is dropping the prices of its bestsellers; it’s become even more affordable.

With cult products such as the KALLAX shelving unit, HEMNES daybed and the retro DIVYLINGE chair all seeing a reduction in price, here’s everything we know about IKEA’s New Lower Prices, and how it can save you money this autumn.

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IKEA’s New Lower Prices

A white bedroom with a pink bed and an IKEA KALLAX storage unit used as a bench with storage baskets placed at the foot of the bed

(Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)

Officially launching on Friday 28 August this year, IKEA’S New Lower Prices are, as IKEA states, not a sale, but the new normal. They have rounded up everything from some of their most recognisable furniture designs to everyday essentials to make shopping from your home more affordable.

If you’ve been worried about rising energy costs, increasing food prices and the general cost of living, it is quite refreshing to see a brand committed to doing the opposite. New Lower Prices will be available both in stores and online. Here are some of the best deals I’ve spotted since the launch.

Whether you’re giving your home an upgrade this autumn, sending a loved one off to university or moving home yourself, IKEA is helping to make furnishing a home more affordable. We can’t fault that.

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