[Gifted review] Bringing the rich tones of autumn indoors doesn’t have to mean changing your whole decorating scheme. One well-chosen floral arrangement can introduce colour, texture and a seasonal focal point. Floralsilk’s Faux Autumn Mulberry and Dahlia Bouquet combines burgundy flowers, muted green peonies, eucalyptus and berries in a display that suits both autumn afternoons and cosy winter evenings.
This ready-made autumn arrangement brings together ten stems. Its appeal lies in the balance between generous flower heads and looser, branching foliage: there’s plenty to catch the eye, but enough variation to keep the display feeling relaxed.
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Flowers, foliage and berries with character
The premium quality burgundy dahlias provide the strongest accents of colour. Floralsilk combines its ECO Dahlia Spray with ECO Straw Flower and an artificial mulberry stem, carrying those deep red and mulberry shades through the bouquet.
Three muted green ECO peonies offset the darker flowers. Their softly ruffled heads introduce fullness and a quieter colour that gives the eye somewhere to rest. Against the burgundy blooms, their green tones take on an almost antique quality, with hints of olive and gold visible in the photographed arrangement.
Two types of lifelike artificial eucalyptus stems help shape the display. Traditional green eucalyptus brings rounded leaves and a softer outline, while burgundy long-leaf eucalyptus adds height, movement and autumn colour. These contrasting leaf shapes are an important part of the bouquet’s character.
Dark blue berries add another detail between the flowers and foliage. Their small, rounded shapes contrast with the layered petals and larger leaves, helping the arrangement feel varied rather than repetitive.
The overall effect is rich without being overly formal. Anyone building a collection of artificial autumn flowers could also take inspiration from this combination when creating their own displays.
Unpacking and arranging the bouquet
The bouquet arrives tied and wrapped in recyclable brown paper. Although the stems have already been selected and brought together, a little adjustment after unpacking will help show them at their best.
Floralsilk advises gently opening any flower heads compressed during delivery, lifting the leaves and adjusting the arrangement’s shape. The flexible stems can be bent to suit the height of your vase, giving you some control over the finished proportions. They can also be shortened with wire cutters if necessary, although bending them first preserves more options for future displays.
A tall vase supports the bouquet’s branching outline. Clear glass shows the stems, while an opaque ceramic or brushed gold vessel creates a more finished decorative statement. Gold is particularly effective alongside the burgundy flowers and muted green peonies.
A natural fit for autumn and winter
The bouquet’s vibrant colours capture the warmth of the season without relying on bright orange or themed decorations. Burgundy, muted green and gold-toned accents sit comfortably beside natural wood, cream upholstery and warm neutral walls.
It’s the perfect way to refresh your home décor with a few small changes. Rust cushions, an olive throw or artwork featuring rich ochre will pick up different elements of the arrangement without making everything feel matched.
The colours also carry naturally into winter. Paired with brass accessories and candlelight, the bouquet feels suitably seasonal, yet it isn’t explicitly Christmassy. It can remain on display after the festive decorations come down.
Why choose a faux flower arrangement?
A good faux arrangement offers a lasting alternative for anyone who enjoys the beauty of fresh blooms but prefers less upkeep. There’s no watering, flower food or regular replacement of fading flowers, and the display can be reused across several seasons.
Faux flowers also work in places where living plants might struggle, such as a darker hallway or an interior dining area. They don’t need daylight, although Floralsilk recommends avoiding direct sunlight to help limit fading.
Despite the familiar term “silk flowers”, Floralsilk explains that its artificial flowers are made using polyester and other man-made fibres. The decorative appeal comes from their colours, shapes and detailing rather than silk content.
They still need occasional care. Gentle dusting with a microfibre cloth or soft brush helps prevent build-up; washing or soaking the flowers could damage their construction. When storing the bouquet, choose a roomy container and protect the flower heads from being crushed.
Styling it around the home
The versatile bouquet can be used in home decor in various ways. In a hallway, the bouquet makes an immediate impression on a console table. Dark brown timber provides an attractive backdrop, allowing the gold-toned blooms and green foliage to stand out.
A brass-framed mirror, patterned runner or small piece of artwork can repeat its colours and make the display feel connected to the room. A gold-coloured vase adds another layer of warmth and conceals the stems for a more finished look.
With these supporting details in place, the flowers provide an effortless finishing touch that makes the entrance feel welcoming and thoughtfully furnished.
Add interest to a dining room
A dining room sideboard is another strong setting. Here, the arrangement adds height without taking up dining space. Olive upholstered chairs, burgundy details in a rug and warm metallic lighting complement the bouquet beautifully.
On the dining table itself, it becomes a dramatic centrepiece. Its height and spreading branches deserve consideration, though: it may interrupt conversation across the table, so moving it to a sideboard during meals could be more practical.
Bring colour into a living room
In a living room, the bouquet can be used for fall decor to enliven a coffee table or low cabinet. Rather than matching every accessory, repeat just one or two shades through cushions, a throw or a decorative bowl.
Burgundy or rust cushions on a cream sofa pick up the warmer flowers and leaves, while an olive throw echoes the foliage. This creates a coordinated effect while allowing the arrangement to remain the focal point.
Give the branches enough space to spread naturally. A crowded surface can diminish the impact of the bouquet’s silhouette, whereas a little clear space allows its colours and details to shine.
Brighten a kitchen table
On a kitchen table, the bouquet brings a decorative touch to an everyday setting. Pair it with simple linen placemats or a ceramic fruit bowl, leaving enough clear surface for the table to remain useful.
For an open-plan kitchen diner, placing the flowers in the dining area helps distinguish it from the working kitchen. The arrangement’s organic outline softens the straight lines of cabinetry and worktops, while its colours sit particularly well alongside sage green units, natural wood and brass fittings.
The verdict
Floralsilk’s Faux Autumn Mulberry and Dahlia Bouquet contains a beautiful collection of floral stems that provide a thoughtful mix of flowers, foliage and berries, with adjustable stems that make styling more versatile. Its rich palette and branching shape bring character to a room, providing an effortless finishing touch for an autumn and winter home.
Allow it enough space, choose a stable vase and let a few complementary furnishings echo its colours. Whether displayed on a hallway console, dining room sideboard or kitchen table, it brings warmth and a generous helping of autumn colour into the home.
The Faux Autumn Mulberry & Dahlia Bouquet is available from Floralsilk for £82. They also do a number of other stunning ready-made bouquets and wreaths, plus indvidual stems to put togeether your own arrangement.
Disclosure: This item was gifted for the purpose of this review, but all views and opinions are our own.
As Christmas decorations continue to sell out left, right, and centre and with Ideal Home’s own Christmas content outperforming all else, it seems that Christmas is on everyone’s mind at the moment. As a Room Decor Editor, I know most brands’ festive collections inside and out and there’s one adorable and nostalgic decoration style that I keep seeing everywhere – miniature Christmas houses. And there’s no one that does it better than Anthropologie.
This whimsical Christmas decor trend dates all the way back to 18th century Germany taking on the look of miniature snow-dusted Christmas village scenes. But these days, you don’t need to commit to a full-on Christmas village – you can incorporate just one or two holiday houses in your festive decorating scheme.
(Image credit: Future/Sara Hesikova)
I got to see Anthropologie’s Christmas collection IRL earlier this week – and I was struck by how many different Christmas village-inspired decorations the brand’s range has on offer to choose from. All equally as whimsical and cute as each other.
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Anthropologie
Ceramic Holiday House, Post Office
Anthropologie
Ceramic Holiday House, Paris Bakery
Anthropologie
Ceramic Holiday House, Pub
On Anthropologie’s website, the ceramic holiday houses are currently among the top three bestsellers in the Christmas category. Available in eight designs, each one depicts a different building or an establishment one might find in a village – from a bakery to a post office (my favourite), each priced between £38 and £46.
(Image credit: Anthropologie)
In addition to the ceramic Christmas decor ideas, Anthropologie also collaborated with Canadian illustrator Emily Taylor on a charming range of four light-up holiday houses made from card paper with the same price range as the ceramic ones.
Emily Taylor x Anthropologie
Light-Up Holiday House, Pet Hotel
Emily Taylor x Anthropologie
Light-Up Holiday House, Cocktail Bar
Emily Taylor x Anthropologie
Light-Up Holiday House
But the most adorable option, in my opinion, is the range of Christmassy house-shaped tableware you can get from Anthropologie. A German inn-shaped butter dish? Sign me up! A tea canister with a tea house design? Yes, please! These pieces are more practical than the simply decorative holiday houses, but they still deliver the same amount of whimsy (if not more).
Anthropologie
Elise Stoneware Tea For Two Set
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This tea set is not only adorable but also genius and space-saving. Boasting a tea parlour look, the set includes a teapot and two mugs, all of which feature a stackable design.
Quirky butter dishes have been the ‘it’ buy of this year. And this home decor trend continues well into the festive season. This is one of the cutest ones I’ve seen.
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When I saw this tea storage jar with a tea house design at the Anthropologie Regent Street store I nearly gasped. It’s just so damn cute! The roof lifts up so that you can easily fill it with your tea of choice.
Which mini Christmas house design from Anthropologie have you got your eye on?
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November has only just begun, but it’s already Christmas in Amanda Holden’s house! The TV personality and radio host has officially decked the halls, and she’s set the bar high when it comes to this year’s Christmas decor inspiration.
With an impressive entryway display, statement wreath and giant tree, Amanda certainly hasn’t held back. But, in my opinion, her festive look is the perfect example of a toned-down take on the trend I’ve been seeing everywhere this year.
So far, the general consensus seems to be that ‘more is more’ this holiday season, with maximalist trends like Merrymaxxing taking over. As the name suggests, this trend is all about bringing festive fun to your home, with the help of everything from tinsel tree skirts to funky Christmas bows. And while Amanda has adopted some of these decor ideas, her scheme ultimately shows that you can go all-out for Christmas, without appearing too kitsch.
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While there’s certainly nothing subtle about Amanda’s Christmas scheme, her use of festive foliage means that the overall feel is opulent and refined, rather than cluttered and chaotic. ‘Although everything is on a huge scale, the greenery stops it from feeling too over-the-top,’ explains Gareth Davies, Design Director at Classic Interiors.
‘Amanda has used these enormous arrangements of foliage around the front entrance. The greenery has lots of different textures, which makes the arrangements interesting even before you notice the ornaments,’ he adds. ‘And, because the decorations are built around natural-looking branches rather than endless baubles, they almost feel like an extension of the house itself.’
‘In this case, the foliage is not just there to make the space feel festive; it’s actually helping to frame the home,’ agrees Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys. ‘Greenery works hardest when it feels like an extension of the room itself rather than something that’s simply been added on for Christmas. Here, our eye naturally follows the garland up the staircase, which draws attention to one of the room’s best features’
Amanda’s clever use of foliage, along with her tight colour palette, has allowed her to embrace some of the fun Merrymaxxing motifs, in a way that stays true to her luxe style. ‘Amanda’s decorations are a brilliant example of why choosing a consistent colour palette can be much more effective than just buying lots of beautiful individual decorations,’ agrees Gareth.
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‘She has carried deep green, teal and gold tones from the front entrance right through to the enormous Christmas tree inside. Everything feels connected, even though the decorations themselves are quite different,’ he adds. And the decorations themselves are also something to behold.
As a staple of merrymaxxing, oversized ornaments have been around for the past few years, and they’re still going strong in this year’s Christmas decor trends, too. From bows, bells and statement reindeer, Amanda has effectively balanced the super-sized elements of her scheme to avoid overwhelm.
‘Supersized ornaments are having a serious moment. They’re brilliant because they bring the drama without blowing the budget. You just need a few of these big beauties and you’re halfway there.’ says Whinnie Williams, Interior Designer and Trends Forecaster for Balsam Hill. ‘But it all comes down to scale and layering. The visual weight of your foliage needs to balance the scale of your oversized item, not fight it.’
‘What stands out about Amanda’s Christmas styling is that she’s decorating with scale rather than quantity. It would have been easy to keep adding more and more decorations, but she’s shown a fair bit of restraint and that’s exactly why it works so well,’ adds Victoria. ‘The larger pieces have room to breathe, which makes the whole scheme feel more considered and, ultimately, more expensive.’
Recreate the look
Although Amanda had help from a professional floral artist to bring her festive vision to life, there’s no reason why you can’t steal Amanda’s style yourself.
‘The biggest takeaway from Amanda’s scheme is that a few oversized decorations will often create far more impact than lots of smaller ornaments dotted around the room,’ says Victoria. ‘When you pair those statement pieces with plenty of greenery, the overall look feels layered and luxurious without feeling cluttered or overdone.’
So have a go at experimenting with scale and layering this Christmas. Just remember to keep your colour scheme tight and practise intentional restraint, rather than throwing everything at your home at once. These festive buys will help you get started.
Cox & Cox
Large Green Velvet Bow
Habitat
Habitat Luxe Green Cedar Foliage Christmas Garland
Garden Trading
Christmas Decorative Stag Ornament
George Home
Gold Christmas Bells – Set of 3
Dunelm
Artificial Light Up Silver & Navy Bauble Blue Foliage Wreath, 55cm
Lights4fun
1.5m Pre Lit Led Outdoor Fir Garland
Has Amanda inspired you to transform your home into a winter wonderland? Or is it still too early in your eyes?
There’s something about well-thought-out bedroom storage that instantly calms the mind, and if you’re in need of inspiration, presenter Kate Lawler’s is worth a look.
Kate, who first shot to fame after becoming the first female winner of Big Brother back in 2002, frequently shares glimpses of her life on her Instagram account, and it was here I spotted how her bedroom storage ideas help create a cosy, relaxing bedroom that’s perfect for winter.
So, in order to achieve the same style in my own room, I asked interior design experts how good bedroom storage can make our bedrooms more comfortable, calming spaces. This is what they said.
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Who doesn’t love a pretty storage example? And celebrity Instagram accounts happen to be one of the best places to find it. Clodagh McKenna’s mirror and built-in storage even manage to make her bedroom look bigger!
‘I love this kind of wall-to-wall storage, because it’s instantly part of the furniture – quite literally! It fits perfectly into a room, doesn’t stick out at an awkward angle, and looks chic. It’s the perfect way to utilise all the space you have for a wardrobe and make it look part of the room. The Scandi-inspired design comes through with its functionality and minimalism, but it’s not cold and sterile like some minimalist wardrobes, thanks to the warm, green-toned beige. It ticks my boxes for wall-to-wall storage,’ says Laura Rich, interior designer at Furniturebox.
‘There’s nothing more calming than a bedroom where everything has a place to go, and wall-to-wall storage like this hides away all the clutter, so you’re not lying in bed staring at a pile of clothes on a chair. The flat, seamless doors keep the look clean and uninterrupted, which prevents overwhelming visual clutter, and the slim brass handles add a touch of warmth.’
Kate’s use of beige, while not the most popular colour trend, also contributes to making the bedroom look cosy.
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‘It’s warm and neutral without being cold or clinical, and the brown undertones give it a bit of depth. It also lets everything else in the room do the talking – the soft carpet, the upholstered bed, her accessories – so the room still has plenty of personality. It shows you don’t need a complicated colour scheme to make a space feel layered and welcoming,’ says Rob Cash, Showroom Owner at Kutchenhaus.
‘People are moving away from the cool greys and bright whites we saw so much of and going for warmer, earthier neutrals instead. Shades like stone, sand and light brown feel modern, but they’re also comforting, and they won’t date in a few years.’
How to achieve a calm, cosy bedroom
If you want to try decorating with neutrals or trying built-in storage, Kate’s bedroom is a good source of inspiration because it’s evidence that tidy equals relaxing and is relatively easy to achieve.
All you need to do is opt for integrated storage and warm colour tones. However, if you don’t have the capacity to rip out your current storage, here are a few other ways you can make your bedroom cosy, tidy and relaxing.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young)
‘Layering is everything – especially as we move even more towards tactile materials inspired by nature. Mix up your textures with linen bedding, a wool or bouclé throw, velvet cushions, and a soft rug underfoot, especially if you have hard floors,’ says Laura.
‘Lighting is a big one too; ditch the ‘big light’ in the evenings and go for bedside lamps, wall lights, or even a dimmer switch for a warm, gentle glow. Live plants are a lovely way to bring life and calm into the room, as Kate’s shown.
‘Keep surfaces as clear as possible, though, because a tidy room genuinely makes for a tidier mind, but a large plant like a monster is a great statement without introducing visual clutter. Consider personal touches in a bedroom, like a favourite print, a candle, or a stack of books by the bed, so it feels like yours and not a hotel room!’
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These organisers are excellent at whipping your wardrobes into shape.
M&S
Glass Small Table Lamp
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Lastly, a warm-toned bedside lamp is essential for creating a cosy feel.
If you want a cosy and relaxing bedroom, remember a clutter-free space paired with warm, neutral colours does wonders.
Lidl is selling a 7ft Christmas tree for under £40. It’s perfect for serving up maximum festive spirit on a budget.
It’s true that the best artificial Christmas trees can be expensive. The best and most realistic models can easily set you back hundreds of pounds. And while many of us would like the best Christmas decor, this isn’t always financially viable.
At just £39.99, this is one of the most affordable 7ft Christmas trees I’ve seen. It’s even beating the bargain B&Q 7ft Valais Christmas tree (£50) on price, and I was impressed enough with that one alone.
But not only is the Livarno tree more than £10 cheaper than the B&Q tree, but it also has more branch tips. Branch tips contribute to how lifelike and ‘bushy’ your tree looks, and the more a tree has, the more realistic it tends to look. For example, the B&Q Valais tree has 1007 branch tips, while Lidl’s has 1160. So, while it won’t look as lifelike as high-end trees (like our best-rated tree, the John Lewis Cotswold Tree, which has 4725 tips), it is more likely to look lifelike than B&Q’s tree.
Lidl describes its tree as a ‘detailed replica with dense branches.’ It’s made up via a three-part folding design, which makes storage easier when the tree is not in use. It also comes with a three-year warranty. While Lidl has described the tree as 7ft, within its description the tree is listed as being 210cm or 6ft 11”.
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Nassima Rothacker)
The tree comes with a metal stand and floor-friendly caps to keep it upright, although you probably want to cover the base with one of this year’s pretty Christmas tree skirts to try and maintain the illusion of a real tree.
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Norway £39.99, I don’t imagine you’ll easily mistake this tree for a real fir. But it is a brilliant budget alternative if you can’t afford to spend a fortune on Christmas trees this year. I personally opted for an affordable tree a few years ago (Habitat’s 5ft Fibre Optic Warm White Star Christmas Tree, £30 at Argos) and love it. By the time the lights are switched on and it’s been adorned with my favourite baubles and tinsel, I really don’t care how realistic it looks. In fact, I love its cosy lights.
Lidl’s tree lands in stores today (5 November), and due to its affordable price, it’s likely to sell quite quickly. If you are unable to get your hands on one, here are a few more trees we recommend.
B&Q
7ft Valais Natural Effect Hinged Full Artificial Christmas Tree – Green
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This 7ft tree is on offer as part of B&Q's Black Friday sale event. Be quick, it won't be on sale for long!","brand":"B&Q","name":"7ft Valais Natural Effect Hinged Full Artificial Christmas Tree – Green","urlStyle":"","layout":"hero","noFollow":true,"noAffiliateTracking":false,"promoLabel":"","price":50,"salePrice":null,"currency":"GBP","linkLayout":"text","sponsored":false,"hawkProductNameMatchedCode":"","review":{"cons":[],"id":"","name":"","pros":[],"rating":0,"strapline":"","url":""},"id":"","externalId":"26a1f71fcacf5f6cc6adc7f6951aab3b840155e9","lastCheckedPriceDate":"","link":{"url":"https:\/\/go.linkby.com\/JQKREZTH\/departments\/7ft-valais-natural-effect-hinged-full-artificial-christmas-tree-green\/5063022906526_BQ.prd","linkText":"\u00a350 at B&Q","editorialMerchantName":"\u00a350 at B&Q","merchantName":"go.linkby.com"}}}}}” data-link=”https://go.linkby.com/JQKREZTH/departments/7ft-valais-natural-effect-hinged-full-artificial-christmas-tree-green/5063022906526_BQ.prd” data-link-merchant=”go.linkby.com” data-link-text=”£50 at B&Q” data-merchant-name=”go.linkby.com” data-model-brand=”B&Q” data-model-name=”B&Q 7ft Valais Natural Effect Hinged Full Artificial Christmas Tree – Green” data-name=”Product Block merchantlink widget” data-render-type=”fte” data-show-fallback=”button” data-widget-type=”merchantlink” class=”ecom-root”>
This 7ft tree is on offer as part of B&Q’s Black Friday sale event. Be quick, it won’t be on sale for long!
Habitat
Habitat 5ft Fibre Optic Warm White Star Christmas Tree
<aside data-article-category="all-rooms" data-block-layout="hero" data-block-type="featured-product" data-editorial-currency="GBP" data-editorial-merchant-name="£30 at Habitat" data-hawk-json="{"product":{"variants":{"Default":{"image":{"copyright":"","height":880,"id":"mHTD2qFA8ffNWjnTPfTknC","mimeType":"image\/webp","mos":"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/v2\/t:0,l:356,cw:880,ch:880,q:80\/mHTD2qFA8ffNWjnTPfTknC.webp","role":"","width":1500,"credit":"Habitat","alt":"Habitat, Habitat 5ft Fibre Optic Warm White Star Christmas Tree","caption":"","crop":{"label":"1:1","left":356,"top":0,"cropWidth":880,"cropHeight":880,"quality":80}},"strapline":"
I have this tree in my 1-bed flat and it fits beautifully. While I won't mistake it for a real tree, it is good quality and the lights look beautiful.","brand":"Habitat","name":"Habitat 5ft Fibre Optic Warm White Star Christmas Tree","urlStyle":"","layout":"hero","noFollow":true,"noAffiliateTracking":false,"promoLabel":"","price":null,"salePrice":null,"currency":"GBP","linkLayout":"text","sponsored":false,"hawkProductNameMatchedCode":"","review":{"cons":[],"id":"","name":"","pros":[],"rating":0,"strapline":"","url":""},"id":"","lastCheckedPriceDate":"","link":{"url":"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/click-100624752-15618761?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https:\/\/www.argos.co.uk\/product\/9206111?","linkText":"\u00a330 at Habitat","editorialMerchantName":"\u00a330 at Habitat","merchantName":"Argos","merchantId":535,"merchantNetwork":"CJ","merchantUrl":"argos.co.uk"}}}}}” data-link=”https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100624752-15618761?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9206111?” data-link-merchant=”Argos” data-link-text=”£30 at Habitat” data-merchant-id=”535″ data-merchant-name=”Argos” data-merchant-network=”CJ” data-merchant-url=”argos.co.uk” data-model-brand=”Habitat” data-model-name=”Habitat Habitat 5ft Fibre Optic Warm White Star Christmas Tree” data-name=”Product Block merchantlink widget” data-render-type=”fte” data-show-fallback=”button” data-widget-type=”merchantlink” class=”ecom-root”>
I have this tree in my 1-bed flat and it fits beautifully. While I won’t mistake it for a real tree, it is good quality and the lights look beautiful.
This is Ideal Home's best-rated budget tree. It's incredibly affordable and can easily be jazzed up with the right decorations.","brand":"Habitat","name":"Habitat 6ft Imperial Christmas Tree","urlStyle":"","layout":"hero","noFollow":true,"noAffiliateTracking":false,"promoLabel":"","price":null,"salePrice":null,"currency":"GBP","linkLayout":"text","sponsored":false,"hawkProductNameMatchedCode":"","review":{"cons":[],"id":"","name":"","pros":[],"rating":0,"strapline":"","url":""},"id":"","lastCheckedPriceDate":"","link":{"url":"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/click-100624752-15618761?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https:\/\/www.argos.co.uk\/product\/2328986?","linkText":"\u00a318 at Habitat","editorialMerchantName":"\u00a318 at Habitat","merchantName":"Argos","merchantId":535,"merchantNetwork":"CJ","merchantUrl":"argos.co.uk"}}}}}” data-link=”https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100624752-15618761?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2328986?” data-link-merchant=”Argos” data-link-text=”£18 at Habitat” data-merchant-id=”535″ data-merchant-name=”Argos” data-merchant-network=”CJ” data-merchant-url=”argos.co.uk” data-model-brand=”Habitat” data-model-name=”Habitat Habitat 6ft Imperial Christmas Tree” data-name=”Product Block merchantlink widget” data-render-type=”fte” data-show-fallback=”button” data-widget-type=”merchantlink” class=”ecom-root”>
This is Ideal Home’s best-rated budget tree. It’s incredibly affordable and can easily be jazzed up with the right decorations.
A duplex looks simple on paper. Split the block, build two homes, done. In reality, you’re designing two separate lives that share a wall, a street frontage and usually a driveway, and the decisions you make early shape how both homes feel for decades.
Whether you plan to live in one side and rent or sell the other, house extended family, or develop purely as an investment, the planning stage is where a good duplex is won or lost. Here’s what to think through before anyone draws a final plan.
Table of Contents
Start with the block, not the floor plan
It’s tempting to fall in love with a floor plan you’ve seen online, but the block decides almost everything. Frontage width, orientation, slope, easements, trees and the position of the sewer line all limit what’s possible.
Orientation is the big one. On a block facing north to the street, both homes can usually get decent northern light into their living areas. On an east or west facing block, a side-by-side duplex often means one home gets the better deal unless the design works hard to balance it.
Walk the site at different times of day. Notice where the afternoon sun lands, which neighbours overlook you, and where noise comes from.
Side by side or front and back?
Side-by-side duplexes are the most common layout in Sydney suburbs. Each home gets its own frontage, its own garage and usually a similar sized yard. They’re generally easier to sell as two equal products.
Front-and-back layouts can make sense on deep, narrow blocks. The rear home often gets more privacy and a quieter yard, while the front home gets the street appeal. The trade-off is the long driveway, which eats into landscaping and needs careful thought about lighting, drainage and how it feels to walk down at night.
The best layout is simply the one that suits your block and your end goal.
Designing for privacy between the two homes
Privacy is the thing people underestimate most. Two households a wall apart need to feel like they have their own homes.
A few design moves make a real difference:
Mirror the floor plans thoughtfully. Put living areas next to living areas and bedrooms next to bedrooms where you can, rather than one side’s kitchen backing onto the other side’s main bedroom.
Use the garages and wet areas as buffers. Laundries, bathrooms, robes and garages along the party wall soak up a lot of noise.
Stagger windows and outdoor spaces. If both alfresco areas sit side by side with nothing between them, nobody gets a private dinner outside. A garden wall, a planter box with decent screening plants, or simply offsetting the two areas goes a long way.
Specify the party wall properly. Fire and acoustic separation between the dwellings is a compliance requirement, but going beyond the minimum on acoustic insulation is often money well spent for comfort and resale.
Getting light into both sides
Duplexes are typically narrower than a freestanding home, so natural light needs planning rather than hoping. Highlight windows, skylights and well-placed courtyards can bring light into the middle of a long floor plan without compromising privacy.
Raking ceilings or a void over the living area can make a narrow home feel far more generous. Upstairs, a light well over the stair is a simple trick that brightens the whole core of the house. Every skylight and void needs careful waterproofing and insulation, so raise them with your builder early rather than adding them late.
Materials and façade: one building or two?
Some owners want the two homes to read as one cohesive building, with matching brick, render and roof lines. Others prefer each side to have its own identity, with different cladding colours or entry details, so buyers or tenants feel they’re getting something individual.
A middle path often works best. Keep the overall form, roofing and main materials consistent so the building looks considered from the street, then let entries, front doors, letterboxes and landscaping give each home its own personality.
Inside, choose finishes that are durable and easy to maintain, especially if one or both sides will be rented. Hard-wearing flooring, quality tapware and sensible benchtop choices will age better than trend-led finishes that date quickly.
Budget tips that actually help
Building two homes at once lets you share site costs, structure and trades, but a duplex budget can still blow out if the planning is loose.
Lock in your design before you build. Changes during construction cost more on a duplex because they often affect both homes.
Repeat where it makes sense. Mirrored or near-identical layouts simplify ordering, framing and services.
Don’t skimp on the invisible stuff. Drainage, waterproofing, insulation and acoustic separation aren’t glamorous, but they’re expensive to fix later.
Allow for site costs. Demolition, excavation, retaining, tree removal and service connections can be significant, and they’re easy to underestimate when you’re focused on the homes themselves.
Keep a contingency. Every build has surprises, especially on older blocks with unknown ground conditions.
Approvals in NSW: CDC or DA
In NSW, a dual occupancy can usually go down one of two approval paths.
A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is the faster route where your project meets set planning standards, such as those under the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code. It’s assessed against clear rules, often by a private certifier, and suits straightforward designs on compliant blocks.
A Development Application (DA) goes through your local council and is assessed on merit. It takes longer and can involve neighbour notification, but it gives more flexibility if your design or site doesn’t tick every CDC box. Blocks with heritage considerations, flood or bushfire constraints, or unusual shapes often end up on the DA path.
Which route applies depends on your zoning, lot size, frontage and the specifics of the design. Rules also change, so get current advice for your particular block before committing to a design. Experienced dual occupancy home builders can usually tell you fairly quickly which pathway looks likely and what that means for your timeline.
Bringing it together
A well-planned duplex should feel like two genuine homes, each with its own light, privacy and sense of arrival. Get the block analysis, layout and approvals sorted early, spend wisely on the things you can’t see, and give each side a bit of personality. Do that, and you’ll end up with homes people actually want to live in, whether that’s you, your family or the next owners.
Whether you’re preparing to sell your home or simply want to make it more attractive and comfortable, thoughtful interior improvements can make a noticeable difference. From refreshing a tired kitchen to updating your colour scheme, relatively simple changes can help create a more welcoming property that appeals to potential buyers.
However, not every home improvement will increase your property’s market value, and expensive renovations don’t always deliver the best return. The key is to focus on practical upgrades that improve functionality, presentation and energy efficiency without spending more than you’re likely to recover.
Here are four interior design and home improvement ideas worth considering if you want to enhance your home’s appeal and potentially increase its value.
Table of Contents
Renovate Your Kitchen
Kitchen renovations are among the top home improvement projects that can make your property sell for more than its asking price. This is because many potential buyers prioritize the kitchen when looking for a suitable home. The following kitchen upgrades can help boost your home’s worth:
Refinish and reface the existing cabinets: Giving your current cabinets a fresh coat of stain or paint and adding new hardware can cost-effectively elevate your kitchen’s look while raising your property’s overall value
Upgrade the countertops: Updating to quartz, laminate, or granite countertops improves your space’s aesthetic appeal and makes your home sell for more
Invest in new appliances: Upgrading your kitchen appliances may be able to get you a higher ROI when selling
Add a kitchen island: It serves as a multi-functional space that can also provide more counter space and storage when fitted with drawers
If you own an old home, you should be wary of asbestos when renovating. Asbestos was commonly used in kitchens in homes built before the 1980s. Since asbestos resists heat, fire, and moisture, manufacturers mixed it into many building products and appliances.
If there is asbestos present, and you suspect you inhaled a significant amount of asbestos dust in previous renovations, you should see a doctor and a lawyer. A lawyer from a reputable lung cancer law firm can advise you on how to document the exposure and file for compensation in case you or another family member is found with lung cancer down the road.
Before committing to a complete kitchen renovation, consider whether smaller improvements could achieve a similar visual effect. Repainting existing cabinets, replacing dated handles, updating the splashback and improving lighting can transform the appearance of a tired kitchen without the expense of replacing everything. If the existing layout works well and the units are structurally sound, retaining them may offer better value than starting from scratch. It’s also worth choosing finishes with broad appeal rather than highly personalised designs, particularly if you’re planning to sell soon.
Replace Your Furniture & Styling
The way you furnish and style your home can significantly influence how prospective buyers perceive it. Although replacing freestanding furniture won’t usually increase your property’s actual market value, attractive, well-presented rooms can make your home more appealing and help buyers imagine themselves living there.
You don’t necessarily need to invest in expensive new furniture to make an impact. Instead, focus on simple improvements that make your interiors feel fresh, comfortable and spacious.
Update tired furniture: Consider reupholstering worn chairs, replacing dated furniture handles or refreshing wooden pieces with paint to give them a new lease of life.
Choose appropriately sized furniture: Oversized sofas and bulky cabinets can make rooms feel smaller than they are. Well-proportioned furniture helps highlight the available space and creates a more balanced layout.
Improve furniture arrangements: Position sofas, chairs and tables to create comfortable seating areas and clear pathways through each room.
Introduce attractive accessories: Fresh cushions, throws, rugs and carefully chosen decorative pieces can make a room feel more inviting without requiring a substantial investment.
Reduce clutter: Removing unnecessary furniture and personal possessions helps rooms feel larger, brighter and easier for potential buyers to visualise as their own.
If you’re preparing to sell, concentrate on presenting your existing furniture in the best possible way before spending money on replacements. Thoughtful styling and furniture arrangements can improve first impressions, strengthen your property’s appeal and potentially help attract more buyer interest.
Paint Your Property’s Interiors
Painting your interiors is crucial when preparing your house for the market. It not only boosts your property’s appeal but also adds to its value. The best areas to paint for increased home value include:
Entryway
Kitchen and bathroom
Accent walls
Ceilings
Closets
Outdated wallpapers and more
Color choice is a major consideration when painting your home to increase value. When choosing paint colours, think about how the rooms connect and how much natural light they receive. Warm whites, soft greiges and gentle earthy neutrals can create a welcoming backdrop that works with different furniture styles. However, neutral doesn’t have to mean colourless. A carefully chosen muted green, dusty blue or subtle accent colour can introduce personality without overwhelming the space. Whatever colours you choose, good preparation and a professional-looking finish are just as important as the shades themselves.
Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
Energy efficiency is an increasingly important consideration for homeowners and prospective buyers, particularly when household running costs are high. Improvements such as better insulation, efficient heating controls and upgraded windows can make a property more comfortable and less expensive to run. Some upgrades may also improve its market appeal, although the effect on resale value will depend on the property and the cost of the work involved. Before investing in major improvements, consider which measures will deliver the greatest practical benefit for your particular home.
To make your home more energy-efficient, consider the following upgrades:
Energy-efficient windows and doors: Investing in energy-rated doors and windows not only enhances your property’s thermal performance but could also boost its resale value
Solar panels: Installing solar panels in your home cuts your energy costs and carbon footprint. These savings translate to increased property value
Energy-rated appliances: Energy-efficient appliances not only make your home more attractive to potential buyers but also contribute to increased property value. When selecting appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, central air conditioners, and more, check the energy rating labels
Insulate your home: Adding insulation to your home increases comfort while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and heating and cooling expenses
Upgrade to LED lighting: Replacing traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs with energy-efficient LED alternatives is a simple, affordable way to reduce electricity consumption. LEDs also last considerably longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Consider installing dimmer switches and motion sensors in suitable areas to avoid unnecessary energy use.
Install a smart thermostat: Smart thermostats and programmable heating controls allow you to manage your home’s temperature more efficiently. Features such as heating schedules, remote adjustments and room-by-room temperature control can help reduce wasted energy while maintaining a comfortable living environment.
Draught-proof your home: Small gaps around windows, external doors, skirting boards and other openings can allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter. Adding appropriate draught seals, weatherstripping and door brushes is a relatively inexpensive way to improve comfort and reduce heating costs without undertaking major renovations.
Upgrade your heating and cooling systems: If your existing heating or cooling equipment is old or inefficient, upgrading to a modern, appropriately sized system could reduce energy consumption and improve comfort. Depending on your property and location, options might include a high-efficiency boiler, an air-source heat pump or an energy-efficient air conditioning system. Consider installation costs, insulation levels and your home’s existing heating arrangements before choosing a replacement.
Improve your window treatments: Thermal curtains, insulating blinds and well-fitted shutters can help reduce heat loss through windows during colder months. In warmer weather, suitable blinds and curtains can also limit excessive solar heat gain, helping maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. These additions can improve a room’s appearance while providing a relatively affordable energy-saving benefit.
Which Home Improvements Should You Prioritise?
Before spending money on home improvements, take a realistic look at your property’s current condition and the expectations of buyers in your local area.
Start by addressing obvious maintenance problems, such as damaged flooring, peeling paint, broken fittings or signs of damp. These issues can make a property appear poorly maintained and may discourage buyers, even if the rest of the interior looks attractive.
Next, focus on improvements that offer a noticeable visual or practical benefit without requiring a major investment. Fresh paint, improved lighting, tidy storage and a well-presented kitchen can all help create a positive first impression.
More expensive projects, such as replacing windows or completely renovating a kitchen, deserve careful consideration. Compare the likely costs with the value of similar properties nearby, and consider asking a local estate agent which improvements buyers are most likely to appreciate.
The aim isn’t necessarily to create the most luxurious home on the street, but to make sensible improvements that suit the property’s style, condition and likely market.
Improvement
Typical investment
Main benefit
Repainting walls
Low
Fresher appearance and broader buyer appeal
Updating furniture and styling
Low–medium
Better presentation
Refreshing kitchen cabinets
Low–medium
Modernised kitchen without full replacement
Replacing kitchen worktops
Medium
Improved appearance and practicality
Improving insulation
Low–high
Greater comfort and potentially lower energy bills
Replacing windows
High
Better thermal performance and appearance
Installing solar panels
High
Potential long-term energy savings
If your property needs several updates, it’s worth identifying the most urgent work first rather than concentrating exclusively on cosmetic changes. Our guide to handling a home that needs too much work explores how to prioritise repairs and improvements.
Endnote
Improving your home’s appeal and potential resale value doesn’t always require an extensive renovation or a large budget. Sometimes, relatively modest changes, such as repainting tired walls, refreshing kitchen cabinets or rearranging furniture, can make a surprisingly noticeable difference.
The most worthwhile improvements are those that address genuine shortcomings, enhance everyday comfort and make the property more attractive to prospective buyers. Before investing in expensive upgrades, consider your budget, the condition of your home and what buyers in your area are likely to value.
By concentrating on practical, well-planned improvements rather than unnecessary spending, you can create a home that’s more enjoyable to live in today and better presented when it’s time to sell.
M&S has just dropped its winter collection of super-soft faux fur bedding, and if last year is any indication, I think this cosy, luxurious bedding set will sell out in record time.
A reversible bedding set with soft fleece on one side and luxurious faux fur on the other, as far as I’m concerned, this duvet set is the *ultimate* cosy bedtime treat.
What’s more, the M&S Supersoft Faux Fur Bedding Set is now just £28 for a single. Personally, I think that’s a lot of good reasons to snap up this bedtime treat before it flies off the shelves.
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M&S
Supersoft Faux Fur Bedding Set
As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve spent the last five years testing bedding from all the major (and minor) high street names, and when it comes to where to buy bedding, M&S is always one of my top recommendations.
But the brand’s Supersoft Faux Fur bedding is in another league. When it launched last year, it was the first time I’d ever seen a faux fur *duvet cover*, and as the cold weather hit, I wasn’t surprised to see it fly off the shelves.
(Image credit: M&S)
And it seems I wasn’t alone in being impressed by it. If my memory serves me correctly, by the end of November last year, stock of this luxurious bedding set was already sold out online.
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‘Lovely snuggly bedding, warm and comfy!’ raves one five-star reviewer on the M&S website. ‘Very cosy and so, so soft.’ ‘Beautifully soft and cosy duvet set,’ confirms another happy owner. ‘It’s a very nice colour too, exactly what I hoped for.’
‘Absolutely amazing quality,’ sums up another five-star review, ‘feels so cosy with the winter weather coming around. Really recommend.’
(Image credit: M&S)
What’s more, this year it isn’t just the faux fur duvet set on offer. M&S already has plenty of other cosy fleece and super soft faux fur bedding hitting the shelves, and I have no doubt there’s more to come.
I’ve rounded up some of the best winter buys below, but if this luxe snuggly bedding catches your eye, I recommend moving fast whilst it’s still in stock.
Most renovation plans start with what you can see: a new pendant over the kitchen island, recessed lights in the living room, extra outlets along a home office wall, maybe a charger in the garage. What rarely makes the mood board is the gray metal box in the basement or garage that has to feed all of it. If that box is old, full or undersized, even the best fixture plan can run into trouble before the first wire is pulled. This guide explains what an electrical panel upgrade actually involves, how to tell whether your home needs one, and how to fit it into the rest of a remodel.
Table of Contents
What Is an Electrical Panel Upgrade?
An electrical panel upgrade replaces the main service panel and the connection that feeds it, so a home can safely carry its present and future loads. It does not rewire the branch circuits inside the walls. That narrow scope makes it easy to plan around, because each step is sequenced and has to clear a check before the next one starts.
Service size is the main decision. Homes are typically served at 100, 200 or 400 amps, and 200 amps is treated as the modern standard for single-family homes. A larger service gives you room for added lighting circuits, a kitchen refresh, a workshop or an EV charger without constantly trading one load against another.
What Are the Signs Your Home Needs One?
Look for these before you finalize a renovation plan:
A fuse box instead of breakers
No spare breaker slots for new circuits
Breakers that trip frequently
Flickering lights
Buzzing from the panel
A panel that feels warm to the touch
Any one of these is worth a professional look, and several together are a strong hint. They matter most when you are adding lighting, outlets or fixtures, because every new circuit needs somewhere to land. A panel with no open slots forces compromises, and a panel that already runs warm is not the place to add more demand.
How Does the Upgrade Work, Step by Step?
Guides from electricians such as Veteran Electric break the job into four stages: assessment, permitting, installation and inspection. The order matters, and your remodel schedule should respect it.
Stage
What happens
Assessment
Load calculation, service entrance and grounding reviewed
Permitting
Permit pulled and utility meter work arranged
Installation
New panel, meter socket and grounding, typically one day
Inspection
City or county sign-off before power is restored
The assessment comes first because a load calculation adds up what the home actually draws, so the service size comes from numbers instead of guesses. Most residential panel upgrades finish in a single day. Older wiring found along the way, such as aluminum or knob-and-tube, is normally flagged and quoted separately from the panel work, so it helps to know in advance that a renovation behind the walls may uncover it.
Which Code Requirements Show Up During the Work?
Electrical work runs on written procedure. The rulebook is the National Electrical Code (NEC), revised every three years, with the 2023 edition the most recent full edition adopted in many jurisdictions. You do not need to memorize it, but a few rules explain why your electrician does certain things the same way every time.
Surge protection is one. Since the 2020 edition, NEC section 230.67 has required a surge-protective device for services supplying dwelling units, including when a service is replaced. Whole-home units are hardwired at the panel and are typically rated 50kA to 80kA. If you have invested in new lighting controls, smart fixtures or a home theater, that protection sits upstream of all of it.
EV charging is another. Under NEC Article 625, charging equipment counts as a continuous load, which means its branch circuit is sized at 125 percent of the charger’s rated load. A charger is often the single biggest new demand a homeowner adds, so it is worth raising during the assessment instead of after the panel is installed.
The same logic of safe, repeatable steps applies to the work itself. A circuit is de-energized and verified dead before anyone touches it, and the crew calls out hazards before they become problems. Those habits are why a tidy panel is a good sign about the job as a whole.
Who Signs Off Before the Power Comes Back On?
The city or county inspector signs off on the work, and the local electric utility handles the meter disconnect and reconnect around it. A licensed electrician normally coordinates that visit, pulls the permit and books the inspection as part of the job, so you are not left scheduling three parties on your own.
Permitting is not uniform across the Kansas City metro. Requirements differ among Clay, Platte and Jackson counties and on the Kansas side of the state line, and much of the local housing dates to the mid 1900s. If your house is one of those older homes, local rules and original wiring are both worth asking about early.
Power is not permanently restored until the inspection clears. Assessment, permit, installation and inspection cannot be shuffled, which is the plainest kind of checklist and the reason a well-run job feels uneventful.
How Should You Sequence a Panel Upgrade With a Remodel?
Timing is where homeowners save the most hassle. A few practical guidelines:
Do the assessment first. Before you order fixtures or lock in a layout, have the load calculation done so you know what the service can support.
Upgrade the panel before the walls close. If a renovation will open drywall anyway, that is the moment to add circuits for lighting, outlets and appliances.
Ask for the scope in writing. A careful electrician starts every job with an assessment and puts the scope in writing before work begins, instead of quoting a flat rate sight unseen. That written scope tells you the objective, the steps and what is and is not included before anything is touched.
Plan for one day without power. Most upgrades finish in a day, but the home will be without electricity while the work is underway, so schedule around refrigerators, work from home days and any contractors on site.
Keep the inspection date on the calendar. Painters, flooring crews and cabinet installers can work around it, but power is only restored for good after sign-off.
Make the Panel Part of the Design
A panel upgrade is a small project in the story of a remodel, but it follows the same pattern as every good renovation: assess, plan, build, verify. Treat it as part of the design instead of an afterthought, and the lighting, outlets and fixtures you choose have a solid foundation. Before you commit to the next big upgrade at home, open the panel door, count the open slots and ask whether the box behind the walls is ready for the plans on your wish list.
In a period home with original sash windows, curtains, blinds and shutters do more than decorate a room. They also change how much heat escapes through the window.
That is not guesswork. Researchers have measured how much heat curtains, blinds and shutters stop from escaping through a traditional sash window. This guide sets out what they found, so you can choose a dressing for both looks and comfort.
Table of Contents
What the Research Tested
The main study was carried out for English Heritage, now Historic England, by Glasgow Caledonian University. Researchers fitted different dressings to an 1880s timber sash window and measured the heat lost through it. The results were published in 2009.
Historic Environment Scotland publishes its own figures, and they do not always match. Where the two differ, both are given below, because results depend on the dressing, how it fits and the window it is tested on.
Curtains
In the English Heritage tests, heavy curtains cut heat loss through the whole window, including the frame, by 41%.
Historic Environment Scotland gives a lower figure. It says heavy, lined curtains can reduce heat loss by 14%, and describes them as a good alternative to shutters.
Both sources agree on timing. Curtains help most when they are closed at night.
Blinds
The type of blind made a large difference in the tests. Measured across the whole window, the researchers found:
A plain roller blind cut heat loss by 38%
A “thermal” honeycomb blind cut heat loss by 51%
A roller blind with a reflective, low-emissivity film facing the window cut heat loss by 57%
Fit matters too. The report notes that when the blind was fitted tightly, the window’s heat loss fell further than with a loose fit.
The direction of the film also matters. A blind with the reflective film facing into the room performed less well than one with the film facing the window.
Shutters
Shutters gave the best whole-window result of the dressings tested on their own, just ahead of the reflective blind. In the English Heritage study, shutters cut heat loss through the whole window by 58%. The shutters tested were three-panel shutters made from plywood, fitted with draught strip around their edges for a tight fit.
Historic Environment Scotland puts the saving from timber shutters at 51%. It calls using shutters one of the best ways to reduce heat loss at night.
Its advice depends on what your home still has:
if your shutters are ill-fitting, consider having them restored
if the original shutters have been removed, it is possible to have new shutters made
The best results came from using more than one layer. In the English Heritage tests, a low-emissivity blind used with shutters reduced heat loss through the glass by 83%.
Historic Environment Scotland reports a similar pattern. It says heat loss can be reduced by more than 75% when secondary glazing is used with blinds and shutters.
Start With Draughts
The dressing tests measured heat lost through the glass and frame. Draughts around the sashes are a separate problem, and Historic Environment Scotland describes draught-proofing as the most effective way of keeping warmth in, and says it should be your first goal.
It explains that draught-proofing a sash window involves removing a small amount of timber from the frame and replacing it with tubing, brushes or small metal fins. It lists lower heat loss, better noise insulation and less dust among the benefits, with no change to how the windows look. It also cautions that slender frames may be weakened by the work.
A specialist in timber sash windows can check the frames before any work starts.
Going Further: Secondary Glazing
If you want more than a dressing can offer, secondary glazing adds a second pane on the inside of the window. Historic Environment Scotland says it can reduce heat loss by 63%, and that it can be removed in warmer months when it is not needed.
In the English Heritage tests, low-emissivity secondary glazing cut heat loss through the whole window by 58%. Used with shutters, the saving rose to 62%. The report advises that secondary glazing should be closed tight in cold weather to limit condensation on the original window.
Before You Make Changes
Keep some ventilation. Historic Environment Scotland says some ventilation is good, both to limit condensation and to keep open fires, stoves and gas appliances safe.
Listed buildings. In England, the Planning Portal says listed building consent is needed for any significant works, internal or external. Check with your local planning authority before fitting shutters or secondary glazing.
Leasehold. The Planning Portal also notes that a leaseholder may first need permission from the landlord or management company.
Choosing the Right Dressing
The research gives a clear order of results. Curtains and plain blinds help, insulating and reflective blinds help more, and shutters gave the best whole-window result of the dressings tested on their own. Both sources say dressings help most when they are closed at night.
