Experts Ideas, Tips & Guides

Whether you have a busy calendar full of parties to attend or plan to host a gathering of your own sometime soon, it's never a bad idea to refresh your entertaining knowledge.

We've enjoyed an exciting season of Color of the Year announcements, from Behr's deep black-gray choice to Pantone's peachy pick to half a dozen brands in between.

Broken ornaments, tangled lights, dusty stockings—sometimes, pulling your holiday decor out of storage isn’t as enchanting as you intend it to be.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly abbreviated as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” are ubiquitous. They have also been associated with debilitating health impacts, such as cancer, birth defects, liver disease, kidney disease and more. This can make it overwhelming to know what can be done to protect yourself from the far-reaching effects of these substances. Even though scientists estimate that PFAS are present in the blood of 97 percent of Americans, that doesn’t mean that people are helpless. We’ve assembled some proven ideas from experts and advocates for how to decrease your personal risk, look out for your community and create change. 

As we look toward 2024 together, we're wondering what will be in store for the interior design world. While it’s impossible to predict the future, keeping a keen eye on trends is all part of the job for interior designers and home decor experts.

David Land

If you’ve ever thrown your brand-new jeans in the laundry only to find that they don’t fit as well or the fabric has faded, then you are likely aware that denim can be tricky to clean properly. While it may appear to be a tough fabric that can withstand a lot of wear and tear, the truth is that cleaning denim is a bit of a balancing act.

Zillow

CARSON DOWNING

As the year comes to a close and we look back on the biggest pop culture moments, Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album Guts is top of mind. After the success of her debut album Sour, expectations were high—and Rodrigo delivered.

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Blaine Moats

David Land

When you’re in a deep-cleaning frenzy, it can be tempting to tackle everything with soap. But soap isn’t the best fit for every item in your home, and it can even cause further damage in some cases. Here are some common household objects that shouldn’t be cleaned with soap (and how you can wash them instead).

On day 12 of advent we’re offering the chance to win a hand painted fern bin and tissue box from Master the Art, worth £180.

Believe it or not, 2024 is almost here. With a new year comes fresh home design trends. We had to ask: what’s in and what’s out? We turned to a few interior designers and architects for their 2024 home trends predictions. After all, they’re the closest thing to a Magic 8 ball of design.

Plants and interiors are what makes our hearts beat faster. We’re always on the lookout for what’s new in green decor, how plants inspire new technologies, materials and designs. That’s exactly what next month’s Maison&Objet is all about: the fair will show a revitalized future that combines technology and nature “TECH EDEN”. We have been at Maison&Objet many times (see  HERE and HERE), but from January 18-22 2024, they are launching a new program called “WHAT’S NEW? In Retail”. This helps professionals (independent boutiques, concept stores, distributors, department stores) to develop their business through workshops and merchandising solutions. Greenery, organic shapes, natural materials and well-being are obviously part of these “solutions” and we are excited to discover more next month.

Planning a major home building or renovation project can often lead to decision overwhelm, but one great way to narrow down your choices is by taking a look at what’s trending. 

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Designing your home is an exciting endeavor—that is until you realize just how many interior decorating styles there are. If you're firmly rooted in a particular style, happy designing. If you're feeling dizzy from the number of choices, don't fret.

If you're curious about whether your home's boiler room—which contains your furnace and water heater—can serve as a storage space for common household items, the answer in most cases is no, pros say.

If you live in a place that gets a fair amount of snow, is it important to have evergreen perennials? For many years we have debated this question around our editorial planning table, and the staff falls into two camps: those who say that ever-green perennials aren’t just for regions that receive little to no snow, and those who see no point in spending money on a category of plants that might be buried out of sight for more than three months.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly—or don’t. Decorating for the holidays the traditional way, with lights, wreaths, and a tree full of ornaments, isn’t for everyone.  If you want to bring the seasonal spirit into your home without dragging boxes of holiday knick-knacks out of storage, you’re in luck. There are plenty of ways to get your home feeling festive, and not a single bough of holly is necessary.  To learn how to execute a holiday-inspired home design—one without Santas or stockings—we tapped designer Gideon Mendelson for his expert advice.

There are thousands of good excuses to add a new member to your plant family, like maybe you had some recent casualties (RIP), or perhaps your other plants just look a little lonely. Regardless of what reason you come up with, you can look to 2024's trendy plants to decide which ones to add to your collection.

Our fifth advent prize draw comes with your chance to win a Deluxe Hedgehog House XXL, worth £124.99 from CJ Wildlife.

Cooler temperatures and calm breezes help keep evaporation to a minimum. It also keeps the turf cooler during the hottest parts of the day, which means less stress on the grass. If it’s not convenient to water in the morning, late afternoon is the next best time. Waiting to water until too late in the evening keeps lawns wet overnight, which can make the grass susceptible to diseases like fungus.

There are several spots around your home that generally get left out, or at the very least deprioritized, when it comes to designing—and one such area is the hallway.

Attractive, mature trees boost a property’s curb appeal, and offer shade and privacy for residents.

A is for annual membership of one of Ireland’s world class great gardens open to the public. Examples include Blarney Castle in Co Cork (12-month adult pass, €100, blarneycastle.ie); Mount Usher in Co Wicklow (€40, mountushergardens.ie); Killruddery in Co Wicklow; (killruddery.com from €60-€100); and Mount Congreve in Co Waterford (from €70, mountcongreve.com).

Countertops aren't something to overlook. A vital part of your kitchen's functionality and design, finding the right material, color, and design for the counterrs is so important. And while durability is a key factor, you also don't want your kitchen to look outdated.

Skunks are easy to identify from appearance—and smell! But these handsome mammals typically mind their own business and are more interested in excavating their dinner than in what you’re doing. “They’re primarily insectivores so they provide a useful ecological service, digging up insects in the soil,” says Sheldon Owen, PhD, wildlife extension specialist atWest Virginia University. “The issue is if they decide to den under your porch or crawlspace.”

If you've been eyeing a piece of leather furniture but are hesitant to commit or are interested in learning a bit more about the merits of leather before investing, the pros are here to help.

Oh, dear listeners…it’s the most glorious time of the year! No, not because it’s time to hang the stockings or trim the tree—because it’s time to make the 2024 gardening wish lists. This year Carol and Danielle have selected the 8 plants they are pining over most. You will hear about a brand-new perennial that few, if any, have seen before. And there’s also a new hydrangea with…brace yourselves…BLACK foliage!  The list also includes plants that our contributors have written extensively about, and we’ve just now sat up and paid attention. Listen now to hear about the plants we’ll be dreaming about as the flakes fly this winter.

Cobra, the garden machinery experts, are delighted to offer readers the chance to win a CS1024V Li-ion Cordless Chainsaw, worth over £115.

There’s no denying that flooring makes a massive impact on any interior design. Not only is it functional, but flooring sets the tone for the overall look of the space. The material, color, shape, and texture all play a role in how flooring will impact the design’s final look.

A festive wreath welcomes guests into your home and sets the tone for the rest of the decorations.