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IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

by | Jun 29, 2026 | Design Inspiration

If you’re hosting guests this summer, a comfortable sofa bed is a must-have to ensure happy, relaxed guests and right now, IKEA’s stylish LANDSKRONA sofa bed is £500 off.

IKEA is holding one of its biggest-ever summer sales, slashing prices on up to 500 outdoor and home essentials. But it is the inclusion of some of the best sofa beds that caught our eye. While sofa beds can be high-ticket items, they are an essential if you’re a household that frequently hosts.

So, if you’ve been looking to upgrade your guest bedroom ideas, it may be wise to make the most of the IKEA summer sale. Here’s everything you need to know about the LANDSKRONA sofa bed.

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Having spotted the LANDSKRONA Sofa Bed was reduced from £1,199 to £699, I immediately spoke to Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor and sofa bed expert Amy Lockwood to see if this was a good deal. Having tested countless IKEA sofa beds, she’s found the Swedish brand produces sofa beds that offer a great mix of style, comfort, and affordability.

‘Having spent the past five years testing some of the best sofa beds on the market, I’ve found that IKEA sofa beds are always great value for money. The fact that this sofa bed offers a double sleeping area – so it can sleep two guests at a time comfortably – and it has hidden storage makes it a great buy in my book,’ she told me.

The LANDSKRONA 3-seater sofa bed is made with thick grain leather on the exposed surfaces and treated fabric elsewhere. The hidden storage Amy mentions is underneath the seat, and is perfect for storing extra bed linen, duvets and pillows when not in use.

IKEA LANDSKRONA with white bedding on it.

(Image credit: IKEA)

IKEA states the sofa is firm and comfortable to sit on, while its built-in slats enhance sleeping comfort once pulled out. The sofa bed comes with a 10-year guarantee, and you have to buy the legs separately.

This is not the only IKEA sofa bed to catch our attention. The recent PS collection £550 sofa bed nailed its brief of ‘playful functionality’, serving up an effortlessly stylish design. Alternatively, the Habitat Kota Sofa Bed is an affordable, yet stylish design home editors love, with Amy even going as far as to say: ‘it’s hard to find a better value three-seater sofa bed than the Kota.’

IKEA Summer Sale is running until Sunday, 12 July, so don’t hesitate to snag a great deal now. Alternatively, I’ve rounded up a few more stylish sofa beds for under £500 you can shop online.

IKEA sofa beds are a great value for money, even when not on sale. If you’re looking for a bed that will house extra guests and look good, too (without costing a bomb), the LANDSKRONA is a great choice.

The 4 Best Full-Service Moving Companies in Utah Valley

The 4 Best Full-Service Moving Companies in Utah Valley

by | Jun 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Full-service moving means the crew handles everything. Packing, wrapping furniture, loading the moving truck, driving to the new address, and getting your things into the right rooms. The problem is that the phrase “full service” gets used loosely. Some companies advertise it but charge separately for blankets, wrapping, and packing. Others send an inexperienced crew that moves slowly and runs your hourly bill up. Almost none of them publish their rates upfront, which makes comparison nearly impossible until you’re already committed.

The four companies below actually deliver on full service. They cover Utah County, the Salt Lake Valley, and beyond. Each one handles the complete scope of a move, including local or international moves, and each one is worth understanding in detail before you make a call.

Moving house internationally

Utah Valley Movers

Utah Valley Movers stands out in a crowded market for one reason above all others: transparency. Most moving companies make you call for a quote, give you a wide range, and then finalize pricing on moving day when you have no leverage. Utah Valley Movers posts their rates publicly and sticks to them.

Here is exactly what they charge. With a moving truck, two movers run $175 per hour, three movers are $225 per hour, four movers are $260 per hour, and five movers are $300 per hour. If you already have a rental moving truck or container, labor-only pricing starts at $125 per hour for two movers and $165 per hour for three. Each additional mover beyond that adds $40 per hour. A travel fee may apply depending on distance, but that is disclosed upfront.

What is included in every move matters just as much as the rate. Utah Valley Movers covers free moving blankets and wraps, loading and unloading, packing your items into boxes, and basic moving insurance. No add-ons, no billing surprises for services that should be standard. When you see a competitor advertising a lower hourly rate, the first question to ask is whether blankets, wrapping, and packing are included. Often they are not, and the total moving costs end up being higher.

The service area covers all of Utah, from Logan down to St. George, plus fully licensed interstate moves for anyone leaving the state. Compared with the best national movers, that makes them a stronger fit for Utah-based customers who still need help with state-to-state relocations or cross-country moves beyond Utah. For specialty items like pianos and safes, they assess each request case by case rather than overpromising. If they cannot handle something safely, they will say so and refer you to a specialist, like Thresher Piano Movers for pianos.

Best for homeowners and renters anywhere in Utah who want published pricing, a bundled service package, and a crew that operates with accountability.

Best of Utah Moving

Best of Utah Moving has been operating out of Salt Lake City for 13 years and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. That kind of tenure in the moving industry is worth noting. Most international moving companies do not survive long enough to build the kind of review volume that Best of Utah has accumulated.

Their approach to pricing is similar to Utah Valley Movers in one important way: the rate you are quoted is the rate you pay. No last-minute add-ons, no vague estimates that expand on moving day. That consistency shows up repeatedly in their reviews, alongside specific callouts for crew members arriving on time, working efficiently, and treating belongings carefully. Choosing a reputable full-service moving company requires careful vetting to protect your belongings and your budget, so it still makes sense to compare the customer experience on third-party platforms like Yelp and Google instead of relying only on company websites.

The service menu here is broader than most local companies. Best of Utah handles residential and commercial moving services, full packing and unpacking, storage with climate-controlled options, interstate moving, and specialty items, including pianos and pool tables. For a family moving a large household, the ability to use one company for packing, transport, and short-term storage matters. It removes the coordination problem of having multiple vendors involved in the same move, especially when you need long-distance moving services from a single full-service mover. 

What is included in every move is important to know, and here the key basics are bundled, while packing materials and some additional services can affect the final scope. For shoppers comparing storage and packing services, that all-in-one setup can make the process more stress-free.

The service area covers the full Wasatch Front, including Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo, plus state-to-state, cross-country work across the western United States for customers who want experienced long-distance movers and a clear moving process. Customers with more complex moves can also ask whether the company offers related storage services or car shipping. Crews are vetted before they are assigned to jobs, and the company trains specifically in furniture protection, safe lifting, fragile-item handling, and custom crating, with a piano specialist referral available when needed

All Smiles Moving

All Smiles Moving was founded in 2020 by Mitchell Carrasco and Kendall Harris, two people who came out of the moving industry specifically because they wanted to do it differently. Higher wages for crews, more respect for the labor, and a client-first approach rather than a volume-first one. That origin story shows up in how the company actually operates.

They are based in Orem and serve Utah County and the greater Salt Lake Valley. The service list covers residential and commercial moves, full packing services, furniture disassembly and reassembly, piano and safe moving, junk removal, loading and unloading of rental moving trucks and storage containers, and long-distance interstate moves. That is a complete menu for a company of their size.

They are best for Utah County moves where you want a smaller, owner-operated company with a crew that takes pride in the job.

Wasatch Moving Company

Wasatch Moving Company is based in South Salt Lake and has completed more than 10,000 moves across the Wasatch Front. That volume of experience is meaningful in a practical way. A crew that has handled thousands of moves knows how to navigate tight stairwells, multi-story buildings, large sectionals that do not fit through doorways on the first attempt, and the thousand other variables that come up on actual moving days.

They position themselves as a full-service mover, with moving services that include residential and commercial work, local and long-distance relocations, professional packing, custom crating, specialty moving services for pianos, safes, and other difficult items, furniture assembly, and storage services. That range covers nearly every scenario a homeowner or small business would face, and customers using rental trucks or portable units are often comparing them with international van lines or moving container companies, not just local labor.

A few things to know before booking. Pricing is quoted directly by phone at (801) 335-5603 and is not published publicly, so you will need to call for an estimate. Reviews are positive overall, but mixed enough on the damage claims process and post-move follow-up that it is worth asking directly about their claims procedure before you commit, particularly if you are moving high-value items.

They serve the Salt Lake Valley, West Jordan, Park City, and surrounding areas. For straightforward local moves within that geography, their volume of experience and strong crew accountability make them a reliable choice.

Best for Salt Lake City and Wasatch Front moves where you want an experienced company with a large completed-move track record.

How to Choose the Right Full-Service Moving Company

The single biggest mistake people make when comparing movers is focusing on the hourly rate. That number tells you almost nothing on its own. What you actually need to compare is the total cost, which includes the hourly rate, what is included, how fast the crew works, and whether any hidden fees are added on the day of the move.

Start by asking every company the same set of questions. What is included in the rate? Blankets, wrapping, and packing from professional movers should be standard, along with custom crating and storage services when needed. If they are listed as extras, the advertised rate is lower than your actual bill. Ask whether a travel fee applies and how it is calculated. Ask what happens if something gets damaged, what the claims process looks like, and, if you are hiring interstate movers, whether they offer released value protection or full value protection before you commit. A company that fumbles that question or gets vague is telling you something.

Crew speed matters more than most people account for. A crew of two at $175 per hour that moves efficiently will cost less than a crew of two at $150 per hour that takes three extra hours. Read the reviews with that in mind. Look for specific language about pace, not just satisfaction. “They were done in four hours when I expected six” is more useful than “great experience.”

The reviews themselves are worth scrutinizing carefully. Generic five-star ratings with one-line comments are easy to accumulate and hard to trust. What you want are reviews that name specific people, describe specific situations, and give you a picture of how the crew actually worked. That level of detail only shows up when a crew genuinely earned it.

Finally, think about timing. Moving companies book out faster than most people expect, particularly between May and September when demand is highest. If your move date is flexible, a mid-week slot in the off-season, October through April, typically gives you more scheduling options and sometimes lower rates. If your date is not flexible, call early. The best crews fill up first.

The Bottom Line

Full-service moving is worth the cost when you choose the right company. The difference between a good move and a bad one usually comes down to three things: pricing you understood before moving day, a crew that worked efficiently and carefully, and a company that communicated clearly throughout.

All four companies on this list deliver on those fundamentals. Utah Valley Movers is the strongest overall choice for anyone in Utah County or the broader state who wants published pricing, a fully bundled service package, and a crew with a consistent track record. Best of Utah Moving is the go-to for Salt Lake Valley moves that involve more complexity, whether that is storage, specialty items, or long-distance coordination. All Smiles Moving is the best option if you want a smaller, owner-operated company in Utah County where accountability runs straight to the top. Wasatch Moving Company is a solid choice for Wasatch Front moves backed by a large volume of completed jobs.

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IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

4 ways to shade plants during hot weather without moving them, according to garden experts – say goodbye to faded flowers and yellow leaves

by | Jun 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration

If you’ve spent the past week seeking shade, I can assure you that your garden plants have been, too. To protect plants from sun damage in hot weather, garden experts have revealed four ways to shade plants that can’t be moved during hot weather.

If the most recent heatwave has played havoc with your garden borders, leaving bedded plants crispy, yellow and lacking leaves, then it’s a wise idea to learn how to shade plants in hot weather, especially when you consider meteorologists have warned extreme heat is becoming more frequent.

If you’re growing hydrangeas, maples or even courgettes and tomatoes, here are four ways to keep them shaded and safe when the mercury spikes.

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1. Use shade fabric

The first thing experts recommend doing is using shade fabric – such as a piece of cloth, bedsheets or specialist shade netting (£7.40, Amazon) – and staking it over the plants you want to shade.

Shade netting covering a vegetable patch.

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Fotokava)

‘One of the easiest and most effective ways to protect delicate plants is by placing stakes around them and attaching garden netting or shade cloth. This creates a protective barrier that reduces the intensity of direct sunlight while still allowing plenty of air to circulate the plant. Unlike solid covers, netting helps prevent heat from becoming trapped, making it an ideal temporary solution during heatwaves,’ explains Amber Tunney, Horticultural Specialist at Cherry Lane Garden Centres.

‘Garden netting or purpose-made shade netting is one of the most practical ways to shield plants from excessive heat. It’s lightweight, simple to install and remove, reusable throughout the growing season and allows both airflow and filtered sunlight to reach plants. This balance helps protect vulnerable plants without depriving them of the light they still need to grow.’

2. Mulch

Ah mulch. We wax lyrical about mulching a garden because there are really so many benefits, especially when using our favourite Rocketgro Organic Mulch, £15 at Amazon. As well as improving soil quality, suppressing weeds and providing insulation in winter, mulch also acts as a layer of suncream for a plant’s roots in hot weather.

adding mulch to camellias

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘The best way to protect plant roots in the heat is to apply mulch to the surface of the soil, which can be done for plants growing in large containers, raised beds, beds and garden borders where plants can’t be moved,’ says Lucie Bradley, gardens and greenhouse expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.

‘Ideally, you need to apply a thick layer of organic mulch between 5 and 8cm deep, remembering to leave a small gap between the mulch and plant stems, tree trunks, etc., as placing mulch against these could cause dampness, which encourages pests and diseases. This depth of organic mulch will not only insulate the soil from the sun, but it will also help to reduce moisture loss and can actually reduce the root zone temperatures by up to 10 degrees Celsius during the hottest times of the day.

‘Some of the best mulches to use include well-rooted garden compost or manure, composted bark or wood chips or mineralised straw mulch such as ‘Strulch’.’

3. Use a parasol

Another garden shade idea that works effectively at shading plants is using a garden parasol or awning to shade your unmovable plants.

A small garden with a metal dining set and a cream parasol in the middle

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

‘For particularly vulnerable plants, positioning a garden parasol or creating a lightweight canopy over them can make a significant difference. Providing shade during the hottest hours, typically between late morning and mid-afternoon, helps prevent plants from becoming stressed while still allowing them to benefit from the gentler morning and evening sunshine,’ says Amber.

4. Let taller plants provide natural protection

With extreme heat predicted to become more common in the UK, it could be a wise idea to consider your future planting schemes so your most vulnerable plants are protected by taller, sun-tolerant plants.

Flower bed border between patio and lawn

(Image credit: Future PLC / Colin Poole)

‘If possible, use taller companion plants to cast shade over smaller, more delicate varieties. This natural layering helps lower leaf temperatures and reduces water loss through transpiration, while also protecting foliage from scorching. It’s a simple technique that works particularly well in mixed borders and vegetable gardens,’ says Amber.

What you need

When it comes to protecting your plants from hot weather, prevention is always better than cure. So, next time the temperature is set to spike, provide shade to your plants quickly, and they should survive the heatwave.

IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

This magical garden lighting trend looks straight out of a fairytale – this is where to snap up these whimsical lights for as little as £8

by | Jun 27, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Who wouldn’t want to turn their garden into a whimsical space straight out of a fairytale?! That’s exactly what adding mushroom solar garden lights, the latest garden lighting trend, to your outdoor space will do. And the best part is how affordable they are, with prices starting at just £8!

Adding whimsy to both interiors and outdoor spaces has been a major trend this year – and garden lighting ideas are the perfect way to do that as we’ve seen with the likes of Nigella Lawson creating magical garden lighting set-ups. Paired with the ever-popular mushroom motif, you have a match made in whimsical heaven.

The mushroom microtrend has grown in popularity over the last couple of years, taking over interiors at Christmas and becoming a hugely popular garden trend too. While you can add little metal mushroom stakes to your garden or even grow your own sculptural mushrooms, these little lights are one of the best ways I’ve seen this motif displayed in the garden. It feels very Alice in Wonderland without being gimmicky.

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A garden with mushroom stake lights from Lights4fun and lanterns set on the ground

(Image credit: Lights4fun)

I have spotted mushroom garden lights all over the high street, but Habitat and Lights4Fun have my favourite models that are both solar powered. Each set has a little solar panel that comes attached to the lights, so you can just leave the lights to do their own thing, and they’ll automatically glow in the dark once the sun sets.

One reviewer of the popular Habitat mini mushroom solar stake lights, selling for £10 at Argos, wrote, ‘I bought these lights to go round our new pond. The effect at nighttime is lovely as the lights are reflected in the water. This is my third set of lights and all are still working perfectly. Two sets are now over 3 years old and left out all year round.’

A garden with a rattan side table with a stack of books and a vase of flowers surrounded by mushroom stake lights from Lights4fun

(Image credit: Lights4fun)

Another customer that purchased the Lights4fun mini mushroom solar stake lights, currently on sale for £7.99, wrote, ‘These little solar lights are perfect. They give a soft white light and I have grouped them around large potted trees on the patio near the house. A real talking point!’

However, they’re not the only retailers selling these charming decorative lights. Here are my top picks to add some magical flair to your plant pots and borders.

My top picks

Whether you place these mushroom solar lights along your fence, in your borders or by a pond, they are sure to make your outdoor space look like an enchanting garden that’s out of this world. The only question left to answer is, which one of these mushroom lights will you be adding to basket?

IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

5 appliances experts say to unplug immediately – they make your home hotter and waste energy in a heatwave

by | Jun 27, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Experts have revealed the five household appliances to switch off during a heatwave to help your home stay cool and save money on your energy bills,

If you’ve been wondering whether you should switch off appliances during summer, the answer is yes, you should. Not only do vampire devices cause your bills to add up, but many appliances emit excess heat, which is never a good thing in periods of hot weather.

Turning off household appliances you’re not using is a great, free way to cool your home. These are the five the experts say to turn off now.

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1. Countertop appliances

While the best air fryers, microwaves, blenders and perhaps the viral Ninja Creami (£199.99 at Amazon), considering the weather, are great appliances to have on your countertops, they do produce unnecessary heat if not unplugged.

White tiled kitchen with wooden counter and a coffee machine on top of it

(Image credit: Future PLC)

‘The kitchen can easily become the hottest room in the house, especially when cooking or with larger appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers running. This can become unbearable during heatwaves, so there are some small steps you can take to help reduce room temperature,’ says appliance expert at AO.com, Katie Lillywhite.

‘Start with smaller worktop appliances, like microwaves, kettles, toasters and coffee machines. Some more modern varieties feature digital displays which can generate more heat alongside internal components. Switching them off at the outlet when they’re not in use can keep the space cooler.

2. Tumple dryers

You should also be avoiding your tumble dryer and drying clothes outside where possible. If you have a small garden or balcony, Argos Home’s £11 retractable line is great for small spaces.

Yellow kitchen cabinets next to a washing machine and tumble dryer stacked on top of each other

(Image credit: Future PLC/Bee Holmes)

‘Tumble dryers are among the greatest sources of indoor heat generated in UK households. Using tumble dryers produces a lot of warm air in the immediate environment, quickly making utility rooms, kitchens, and adjacent rooms very warm in no time,’ says Max Wilson, co-founder at Pocket Storage.

‘During times of heatwaves, it is worthwhile to make use of the weather and dry clothes outside whenever possible. It not only keeps your house cooler, but it also cuts back on your expenses.’

3. Standby electronics

Another big culprit for excessive heat is standby electronics. From TVs to game consoles, these all emit extra heat you don’t need during a heatwave.

A living room with Scandi-style wooden open shelving housing the TV and a large patterned ottoman used as a coffee table

(Image credit: Future PLC/Rachael Smith)

‘Many people underestimate how much heat everyday electronics generate, even in standby mode. Smart TV’s, games consoles and streaming boxes continually draw power and release low-level heat which can subtly raise room temperature when combined with other appliances,’ says Katie.

‘Try to keep them unplugged when not in use on hot days, as this will not only cut energy consumption but also reduce heat that can make a room feel stuffy.’

4. Chargers and adapters

During the most recent heatwave, I was kind of worried my phone was about to explode whilst charging. It is an old model, but I couldn’t believe the heat coming off it – and experts say you should avoid leaving them plugged in when you don’t need them.

mobile phone on desk in pink home office

(Image credit: Future PLC / Dominic Blackmore)

‘Mobile phone chargers, laptop chargers and adapters tend to remain connected to the wall socket at all times. If you’ve ever picked up an adapter that wasn’t in use, only to find out that it was still hot to the touch, it’s because it was still using some electricity,’ says Max.

‘As insignificant as the effect is by itself, their cumulative effects lead to energy wastage and generate unwanted heat. Unplugging them would be one way of saving some energy.’

5. Lights

Lastly, your lighting can be generating excess heat and wasting lighting. While layered lighting might be a popular lighting trend, ask yourself if you really need it during hot weather.

A dining nook with a built-in dining bench and another freestanding one with three pendant ceiling lights hanging above the table and two wall lights above it

(Image credit: Future PLC/Bee Holmes)

‘Lighting is something that is often overlooked as a means of generating unnecessary heat. Older bulbs, in particular, can give off a lot more heat when compared to LED alternatives. Be sure to keep lights switched off as much as possible throughout the day and consider swapping incandescent or halogen bulbs for LEDs,’ says Katie.

If you want to stay cool and save money, make sure you keep these appliances switched off when not in use.

IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

Gardeners are using electric toothbrushes to encourage their tomato plants to produce more tomatoes – here’s how the trick could earn you a bumper crop

by | Jun 27, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Here’s something I didn’t expect to see on my TikTok feed this week: an electric toothbrush being used on a tomato plant.

That’s right – gardeners are now using electric toothbrushes to vibrate the flowers on their tomato plants. I first saw the trick on @farmhouseinthefield’s TikTok video. It’s said to encourage the plants to produce more tomatoes – so if, like me, you’re growing your own tomatoes, you’re probably wondering whether this trick can actually produce a bumper crop.

I asked the experts whether an electric toothbrush can really make a tomato plant produce more tomatoes. There’s more credit to the idea than you’d think!

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Ripening tomatoes growing on tomato plants and marigold plants in container

(Image credit: Future PLC/Heather Young)

I asked pro gardeners to share some of the lessons they learned about growing tomatoes recently, and ‘vibrate the plants with an electric toothbrush’ wasn’t on the list.

It’s curious, then, that gardeners are now shouting about the trick on social media. In a nutshell, they’re holding an electric toothbrush (sometimes wrapped in a plastic bag) against the stems of their tomato plants so that the plants vibrate, too.

‘I believe the toothbrush trick is designed to mimic what’s known as buzz pollination – the vibration that bumblebees create when they land on flowers,’ says horticulture expert and The Plant Pod host Ross Dyke.

‘Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but they still need their pollen to be shaken loose and transferred within the flower. Outdoors, wind and insects usually take care of this, but in greenhouses or more sheltered conditions, an electric toothbrush can provide the gentle vibration needed to improve pollination. It won’t encourage the plant to produce more flowers, but it can help more of those flowers develop into tomatoes.’

Basil plant in pot next to tomato plant in pot as companion plants

(Image credit: Getty Images)

So, it isn’t a case of making the plant flower more – it’s more about making the most of the flowers that are already there and, crucially, encouraging them to turn into tomatoes.

‘To do this effectively, turn the toothbrush to its highest setting, and gently press the non-bristle side of the head or the base of the brush against the stem behind a flower,’ says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture. ‘You should see a small cloud of pollen puff out from the flower. Do this every few days as new flowers open on the plant.’

There are more reliable ways you can encourage a tomato plant to produce more flowers and tomatoes, though. Pinching out tomato side shoots is one of them, but it’s also a good idea to feed them this month.

Tomato plant in pot on wooden decking

(Image credit: Getty Images / Angie Cottingham)

‘Focusing on plant health and nutrition is likely to deliver far greater results than reaching for an electric toothbrush,’ Ross says. ‘My go-to product is Maximato from Envii, which has been specifically developed for tomatoes and provides the nutrients and beneficial microbes needed to support strong growth, abundant flowering and healthy fruit development.’

Ross also cites plenty of sunshine and consistent watering as key stepping stones to plenty of harvests (especially if you’re growing tomatoes in hanging baskets or pots).

Tomato growing essentials

If you’re growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, the electric toothbrush trick is a brilliant way to keep them pollinated (and more tomatoes!).
Why the Right Pillow Temperature and Fit Can Transform Your Sleep Quality

Why the Right Pillow Temperature and Fit Can Transform Your Sleep Quality

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Sleep is one of the most underrated pillars of good health. We talk endlessly about diet and exercise, but somehow the tools that shape our nightly rest often get overlooked. One of those tools, your pillow, plays a much bigger role than most people realize. It is not just about softness or fluffiness. The temperature your pillow maintains and how well it conforms to your unique shape can be the difference between waking up refreshed or dragging yourself through the day.

The Overlooked Science of Pillow Temperature

Your body temperature naturally drops as you fall asleep. This is part of your circadian rhythm, a biological process your body uses to signal that it is time to rest. When your pillow traps heat near your head and neck, it works against this natural process. You may find yourself flipping to the cool side multiple times a night, a universal experience that most people laugh off without realizing it is actually a sign of a real problem.

A pillow that retains heat disrupts your sleep cycle. Even if you do not fully wake up, your body registers the discomfort and shifts out of deep, restorative sleep stages. Over time, this kind of sleep fragmentation leaves you feeling tired, irritable, and mentally foggy. Hot sleepers, in particular, know this frustration well.

This is where temperature-regulating pillow technology becomes genuinely important. Materials designed to draw heat away from the body rather than hold it in support your body’s natural cooling process. Gel-infused foams, breathable fabric covers, and open-cell structures all contribute to maintaining a cooler surface throughout the night.

One Size Has Never Fit All

Here is something most people never think about: the right pillow thickness for one person can be completely wrong for another. A side sleeper needs significant loft to keep their spine aligned. A back sleeper needs moderate support. A stomach sleeper often does best with a much thinner pillow. Yet most traditional pillows come in fixed loft levels and leave users to simply guess whether they have made the right choice.

Adjustable fill is a game-changing concept in sleep health. When you can add or remove filling to customize the height and firmness of your pillow, you gain real control over your sleep posture. Proper spinal alignment is not just about comfort. It directly affects whether you wake up with neck pain, shoulder tension, or morning headaches. Misalignment during sleep builds up stress in the muscles and joints that only becomes more noticeable over time.

A Cooling Adjustable Pillow brings both of these solutions together, combining temperature regulation and personalized loft in a single product. For anyone who has spent years settling for good enough when it comes to sleep accessories, this kind of combination is a meaningful upgrade worth considering.

Who Benefits Most From These Features?

Large bedroom with cosy carpeted floor

Honestly, almost everyone can benefit. But certain groups tend to feel the difference most dramatically.

Hot sleepers who consistently overheat during the night often wake up multiple times without understanding why temperature is the underlying culprit. A cooling pillow can significantly reduce those disruptions and improve overall sleep continuity.

People with neck or shoulder pain frequently caused or worsened by poor pillow support benefit enormously from being able to dial in the exact loft that keeps their spine neutral. Physical therapists and chiropractors often point to pillow height as a major contributing factor in chronic neck discomfort.

Couples who have completely different sleep preferences can each have a pillow tuned to their own body type and sleeping habits without any compromise involved.

Older adults who are more sensitive to temperature changes and more susceptible to joint discomfort often find that the right pillow makes a visible difference in how they feel each morning.

The Connection Between Pillow Choice and Long-Term Health

Sleep is not just about rest. It is the time when your body repairs tissue, consolidates memories, regulates hormones, and strengthens the immune system. Every night spent in poor sleep, whether due to heat discomfort, poor posture, or general restlessness, is a night of partial recovery rather than full recovery.

Over weeks and months, this adds up in ways people rarely connect back to their sleep environment. Poor sleep is linked to weight gain, mood disorders, reduced cognitive function, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The good news is that improving sleep quality does not always require dramatic lifestyle changes. Sometimes the simplest adjustments make the biggest difference, and replacing a poorly suited pillow is one of the lowest-effort, highest-impact changes a person can make.

A Few Practical Tips for Better Sleep

Grey velvet sleigh bed in a bedroom interior

Experiment with loft gradually if your pillow allows adjustment. Start with a medium fill, sleep for a few nights, then add or remove material based on how your neck and shoulders feel each morning.

Pay attention to your sleep position. If you change positions throughout the night, aim for a middle-ground loft that works reasonably well across multiple positions.

Keep your sleep environment cool. A cooling pillow works best in combination with breathable bedding and a room temperature between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the range most sleep experts recommend.

Replace pillows regularly. Even high-quality pillows lose their supportive properties over time. It is worth inspecting yours every 12 to 18 months to determine if replacement is needed.

Final Thoughts

Sleep quality is deeply personal. What works perfectly for one person may be completely wrong for another. The good news is that we now have more thoughtful options available than ever before. A cooling adjustable pillow represents a shift toward sleep accessories that actually adapt to the individual rather than asking the individual to adapt to the product.

If you have never paid close attention to your pillow’s role in your sleep quality, now is a great time to start. The impact might genuinely surprise you.

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IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

Ninja just dropped its most stylish colourway across a whole new range – it’s the ultimate chic neutral

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Ninja‘s most stylish colourway, Stone Gold, is having a serious moment right now with the extension of the sellout colour across a huge range of bestselling products. From the Swirl to compact, small-kitchen friendly best Ninja air fryers, the kitchen giant has really outdone itself with this effortlessly luxurious shade.

First released this time last year, this gorgeous neutral shade went seriously viral on TikTok. I was watching out for more stock of the Ninja Dual Zone in this exact colour for months and months until it finally reappeared in October.

If you were one of the lucky few who picked up that stylish colour way back then, or if you just love the look of the range now, then you can finally shop Ninja’s other bestsellers in it too, including brand new products thanks to these exclusives that debuted just for Amazon Prime Day. Here’s a look at what’s available.

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Since working on Ideal Home, I’ve seen Ninja release many special-edition colours to coincide with Prime Day and Black Friday. The most memorable include the range with copper accents which is now a permanent fixture on Amazon due to its popularity.

There’s even more colour choice on offer for Ninja’s most fun kitchen buys – notably the Slushi and the Creami, which got a pastel make over last year as well as two-tone options inspired by frozen drinks and desserts.

Ninja Stone Gold Colourway

(Image credit: Ninja)

It’s not clear yet whether this beige colour will become a permanent addition to Ninja’s colourway line up or whether it’s only available during Amazon‘s sales events so if this is the shade for you, I’d recommend snapping it up fast!

IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

5 easy ways to cool a living room quickly without air conditioning, according to pros – feel comfortable even during extreme heat

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Usually, a living room is the best place in the home to engage in some leisure time. But with the June heatwave having reached almost unbearable temperatures this week, if your living room is hot and stuffy, I can imagine you’re avoiding it. However, experts have revealed five tips to cool your living room without air conditioning, so you can enjoy it all summer long.

Sadly, the best portable air conditioners are selling out fast, and while air coolers make an excellent alternative, it’s a good idea to learn some handy tips to cool a home without relying on an AC unit.

So, I reached out to the experts to find out how to turn your living room ideas into a cooler space during a heatwave. This is what they said.

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1. Check your furniture placement

First things first, you should consider where your sofa and bulky furniture items, such as armchairs, are positioned in your living room. Because a lesser-known furniture trick is that by moving your furniture away from walls and windows, you can improve airflow, which contributes to cooling.

White painted living room with a bright blue sofa and round pouffe on the floor in front of it, on a jute rug

(Image credit: Future PLC/Brent Darby)

‘One of the biggest mistakes I see is placing large furniture directly in front of windows or too close to natural light sources,’ Ellie Brown, Interior Designer at Oak&More, explains.

‘Natural light is important, but so is airflow. During warmer weather, blocking the movement of air around windows can make rooms feel noticeably stuffier. Many homeowners place sofas directly in front of bay windows because it feels like the most practical use of space. But allowing light and air to move freely through the room often creates a much more comfortable environment.’

2. Turn off appliances

‘Obviously, we’ve all still got households to run during a heatwave, but appliances like tumble dryers, dishwashers, ovens and even gaming PCs generate extra heat, which can really add up, especially in smaller homes or flats,’ says Angus Struthers, Managing Director at BOXT.

‘It’s worth avoiding these kinds of heat-producing appliances during the hottest part of the afternoon, especially in smaller homes or flats where heat builds up quickly.’

A living room with a TV media unit, bookcases on either side of it filled with books and a round coffee table

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

In a living room, there are plenty of appliances that can cause excess heat in your home. From TVs to stereo systems, consoles, smart home devices, and even lighting. To prevent overheating and save money on your energy bills, ensure all your living room appliances are unplugged when not in use.

3. Block the heat at the window

If you have a south-facing living room, you’ll probably already be aware of using thermal curtains and blinds to block out heat and sun glare. During a heatwave, it is a good idea to keep your curtains drawn during the hottest part of the day to keep heat out. Using blackout or thermal curtains does this job more effectively.

A living room with two-toned curtains and a pink velvet sofa

(Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Wreford)

‘For me, this is always the first step: stop the heat getting in. I keep blinds or curtains closed on any windows getting direct sun during the day. Something like Duette blinds works really well because of the honeycomb design as it traps air and acts as an extra layer of insulation at the window, which helps keep rooms noticeably cooler,’ says Simon Browne, product expert at Luxaflex.

4. Consider fan placement

Even if you have one of the best fans at your disposal, if you position it wrong, all you will do is blow hot air around your living room.

tower fan in a living room - Kate Korolova - GettyImages-2165422561

(Image credit: Getty Images/Kate Korolova)

‘With hotter days, many households also rely more heavily on fans. While fans are far cheaper to run than air conditioning, their placement still matters. A fan placed near an open window during the hottest part of the day can actually pull warm air inside, making the room feel hotter. Positioning fans to circulate cooler air in the evening or directing airflow across your body rather than the whole room can keep you comfortable without unnecessary energy use,’ says Stuart Middleton, consumer energy expert at So Energy.

You can also place a frozen bottle of water or a bowl of ice in front of your fan to create your own air conditioning effect. As the air is blown over the ice, it evaporates, cooling the air around it.

5. Check windows and doors are sealed properly

Lastly, if your living room is constantly getting too hot, despite your best efforts, you should check to see whether heat can enter through any window or door seals.

Cream painted living room with a grey sofa and a wooden coffee table on top of a grey rug

(Image credit: Future PLC/Anna Stathaki)

‘If a room never seems to stay cool, even after you’ve kept external windows and doors shut, it’s worth checking the actual windows and doors. Old windows, warped doors, failed seals, or poor glazing can all let warm air in. A well-fitted window or external door should help control the temperature indoors. If there are draughts in winter, there’s a good chance heat is getting in during summer too,’ says Darren Coates, windows, doors and roofing expert at SolarFrame.

Air conditioning alternatives

If you haven’t been able to get your hands on a portable AC, these tips can help cool your living, making it a more comfortable area of the home this summer.

IKEA’s just slashed £500 off this stylish three-seater sofa bed – its clever underbed storage makes it a perfect choice for summer hosting

Costco just slashed the price of the Ninja Swirl and Slushi in time for the heatwave – I predict a sellout on these viral fan favourites

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Design Inspiration

If you’re planning on entertaining in the summer heat, then you might be wondering how you can incorporate some kind of cooling drink or dessert into your hosting plans. Right now at Costco, you can buy two Ninja bestsellers that would make it a lot easier: the Slushi (for £219.99, down from £299.99) and the Creami Swirl & Scoop (also £219.99, down from £349.99).

I’ve reviewed both of these viral buys, and I can confirm that they add such a fun element to having people over for drinks or dinner, with the chance for your guests to pour their own frozen drinks or create their own sweet treats for dessert.

Here’s how you can get your hands on these products for these super low prices, as well as alternative places to shop if you don’t want to sign up for a Costco membership.

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I’ve seen plenty of Costco deals floating around online but I’ve never had one make me want to invest in a membership as much as these super-low Ninja prices. So I did some investigating into how you can acquire a membership and the requirements you need to meet.

There are two tiers to Costco membership that allows you in shop in their warehouses: Gold Star and Business. To qualify, you have to follow a pretty stringent list of requirements, which you can view on the Costco website.

If you, like me, don’t qualify under any of these terms, then all is not lost. You can still purchase an all-online membership for £42 a year for which there is no entry requirements. It does mean you won’t be able to see the inside of an actual Costco store, however (another dream dashed for me).

Testing the Ninja Swirl at home

(Image credit: Future)

But you will be able to take advantage of these sensational Ninja prices and shop a huge variety of other Costco products across the year, too.

If you’d rather not add another subscription onto your plate, then that’s understandable. Right now, there’s a host of places you can find top-rated Ninja products on sale thanks to Amazon Prime Day, which is running until midnight on the 26th of June, as well as counter sales from rival retailers slashing their prices.

I’d strongly recommend checking out the sales ongoing at Ninja itself, as well as John Lewis and Currys.

Testing the Ninja Slushi at home

(Image credit: Future)

The Slushi and the Swirl are easily the two most fun appliances I’ve ever tested and they will provide endless summer entertainment if you decide to install one in your home.

And Costco membership or not, now’s a great time to shop for something that can help you through the heatwave whilst also providing joy on the weekends!

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