Advice

gree built in boot room storage with open storage showing coats, shoes and bags

I'm planning ahead for a boot room and these are the mistakes I've been warned about – I'm sharing them so you can avoid them too

By Sarah Harley published

Boot rooms can be hugely beneficial, but only if you design well. I've uncovered the main boot room mistakes so you can avoid wasting time, space and money

Rooms
wood flooring being installed in a room with a pack of wooden planks in the middle of the room

Below ground, the rules change – these are the flooring materials that work best in basements

By Gabriella Dyson published

Discover how to balance durability, moisture resistance and aesthetics when selecting basement flooring designed for life below ground level

Flooring
Pink bacteria 'serratia marcescens' close up

Why pink mould in your shower might not be as harmless as you think

By Joseph Mullane last updated

Ever noticed pink ‘mould’ or slime in your shower in the morning? We explain what it is, what causes it, how you can get rid of it, and how to prevent it coming back

Air Quality
Dark blue Shaker-style kitchen with a large central island and wooden worktops

Is a solid wood worktop the perfect partner for your latest kitchen project?

By Steve Jenkins published

Solid wood worktops offer timeless appeal, but are they the best fit for your space? Discover their benefits, limitations and what to consider before choosing

Kitchen
pale corian worktops with red kitchen cabinets below and wooden cabinets above as well as large bifold kitchen window above kitchen sink

Is a Corian worktop the ideal choice for your new kitchen? Experts reveal everything you need to know about this stylish surface

By Steve Jenkins published

Looking at different types of worktops and tempted by Corian? Find out what it has to offer and if it works for you

Kitchen
Contemporary blue kitchen with white acrylic worktops looking out through large sliding doors onto garden

Corian worktops look great, but aren't without their disadvantages – but are they enough to put you off?

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Kitchen experts run through some of the potential issues with Corian worktops, to help you decide if it's the right choice for you

Kitchen

Your Projects

Rear of the property showing the kitchen extension from the garden patio

‘What this home lacks in width, it makes up for in height' – step inside this ultra-modern home measuring just 3m wide

By Jennifer Grimble published

At less than three metres wide, this former shipbuilder’s cottage has been reborn as a beautiful, efficient retreat brimming with character and clever design features

House Tours
Inside the kitchen of a barn conversion

'It's the perfect place for us to relax' – inside a charming Cotswolds barn conversion where original features still shine

By Debbie Jeffery published

A Grade II-listed farm building in the Cotswolds has been transformed into a compact, characterful home that blends history with contemporary craft

House Tours
Exterior of the house which backs onto a garden and patio with plant pots and veranda

'It's a privilege to live in this beautiful environment' – step inside this zero-carbon oak frame home on a Devon eco-farm

By Teresa Conway published

Susie and her husband Robert built a modestly sized sustainable home to support their work on an idyllically situated organic farm

House Tours
Exterior of the house which is set on grass and in front of trees

Step inside this homely oak frame self-build with spectacular views of the Monmouthshire countryside

By Seán O'Connell published

Chris and Ann Preston turned a potentially disastrous survey in their favour by building an oak frame self-build home with a difference

House Tours
Exterior of the back of the house, showing the side extension, garden and patio area

How a timber-frame extension has successfully 'enhanced family life' in this colourful 1970s terrace

By Seán O'Connell published

The success of this Kent extension is down to clever design solutions and a combination of talents

House Tours
Exterior of house

‘This house is future-proofed to let us age disgracefully’ – tour this modern oak-framed home reborn from a run-down 18th-century barn

By Seán O'Connell published

Bringing a dilapidated barn back to life using sympathetic materials proved a winning move for these homeowners

House Tours

How To

Hand wearing a rubber glove cleaning a shower screen

Goodbye limescale and watermarks! Here's how to get a squeaky clean shower screen in two simple steps

By Megan Milstead published

Cleaning experts reveal the secret to a spotless shower screen

Bathroom
Contemporary white toilet with a background of white metro tiles and grey grout

Why fitting a toilet seat is a job you can do yourself for a quick bathroom upgrade

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Fitting a toilet seat is a task that any DIYer can take on, but they are not all the same. Get the insight on sizes, types of fittings and how to install

DIY
Plumbing parts on floor in front of white toilet in bathroom with square grey wall and floor tiles

Want to know how to fit a toilet? Our step-by-step guide to installing a toilet yourself

By Ben Field last updated

Update the look of your bathroom, or replace a faulty fixture with our step-by-step guide to fitting a toilet

DIY
Pantry moth

This common pantry pest could be munching on your food supplies – here's how to protect your kitchen

By Megan Milstead published

Find out how to get rid of pantry moths before they take over your kitchen cupboards

Kitchen
Woman in yellow rubber gloves spraying solution onto white tiles and grout and cleaning with a blue kitchen scrubber

Want to know how to remove mould from grout? These 10 tried and tested methods have the answer

By Natasha Brinsmead last updated

Nasty black stains left you wondering how to remove mould from grout? We've been busy looking into the most effective methods to eliminate the problem

Kitchen
Back of women pulling down patterned wallpaper together

Removing wallpaper? Follow our step-by-step guide for flawless results

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Removing wallpaper can be tedious, but our expert advice will help you tackle the task quickly and effectively

DIY

Ideas

Bold kitchen with mustard yellow walls and deep green cabinetry. A glass-fronted wall cupboard displays colourful crockery and a yellow teapot.

The stylish colour tricks designers use in small kitchens

By Gabriella Dyson published

In a compact kitchen, square footage may be limited, but your colour palette doesn’t have to be

Kitchen
bathroom with walk in shower, vanity unit with drawers, drawer unit and large shower niche

Bathroom storage ideas that will help you find a home for everything — even when space is tight

By Sarah Harley last updated

From nifty niches to hidden hideaways, we've rounded up 12 bathroom storage ideas to suit homes of all different shapes and sizes

Bathroom
Bedroom with extended patterned cushioned headboard idea

12 headboard ideas to make this staple feature the star of your bedroom

By Megan Milstead published

Don’t let your headboard go unnoticed. Explore beautiful ideas to make your bedroom shine, along with styling tips and practical advice from interior designers

Bedroom
Built in storage idea where a bookcase wraps around a door frame

12 built-in storage ideas to make your home feel effortlessly organised

By Megan Milstead last updated

Discover the best ways to integrate built-in storage and enjoy a clutter-free, organised home

Home Improvements

Buying Guides

Gloved hand holding reciprocating saw cutting nails in a timber frame against a bright blue sky

The best reciprocating saws for effortless demolition, fast cuts, and impressive performance

By Hugh Metcalf last updated

The best reciprocating saws are handy tools to have for use around your next build or DIY project. Here are 5 of the best

Tools
Person holding a silver caulk gun adding grey sealant between white bath and cream tiles

Check out our top-rated best bathroom sealants, perfect for stopping leaks, preventing mould and sealing gaps

By Jack Woodfield last updated

We've rounded up the best bathroom sealants for waterproof protection, flexible sealing and smart professional-quality finishing

Bathroom
Black manual hand sander with yellow sandpaper lying top of a piece of pine wood on light wooden floor

Check out the best hand sanders for wood to help make your sanding projects easier and faster

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Investing in a budget-friendly manually-powered hand sander will bring added precision and control when sanding wood. Here are 6 of our top picks

Tools
brass toggle light switch on wall with plant and books next to it

Looking for the best light switches for your home? We've rounded up a range of options to suit all design schemes and budgets

By Natasha Brinsmead, Steve Jenkins last updated

Stop searching in the dark for the best light switches. Here's our list of choices for adding easy control, energy efficiency, and style to your interiors

Lighting
bathroom with double vanity unit and pendant lights either side of mirror with lights

Looking for the best bathroom lighting? We've rounded up some ideas to help you illuminate your bathroom stylishly — and safely

By Sarah Harley last updated

The best bathroom lighting should not only meet regulations, but also bring your bathroom design to life. Here's some of our favourite picks to help you choose

Bathroom
Dehumidifier in a bedroom with a 50% humidity level

The 8 best dehumidifiers – combat condensation and mould, plus dry laundry quickly with our tried-and-tested favourites

By Natasha Brinsmead last updated

The best dehumidifiers help eliminate condensation, prevent damp and mould, dry your laundry and even cut energy bills. Here's our tried and tested favourites

Dehumidifier