Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Style At Home

For me, New Year is all about fresh starts and wiping the slate clean. As much as I love the festivities, once the decs have come down, I like to look at the house afresh to see what improvements can be made… and then start hatching plans for new decor projects. One thing I’ve learnt over the years is not to take on too much at once. Major renovations can be overwhelming so breaking work down into bite-sized jobs is the way I go, adding a big tick to the list once done. There’s plenty of easy DIY and speedy updates to inspire you in this issue, from ideas for home work spaces (page 52), to adding wow with wallpaper (page 60) and budget kitchen revamps (page 88). Happy New…

Swapping houses with my mum and dad was the best decision we made,’ says Emily. ‘As they wanted to downsize and we wanted to upsize, it made total sense. We both lived in 1930s houses five minutes apart in Stafford, but ours was a lot smaller with three bedrooms while my parents’ place had four bedrooms. I’d grown up on the street and loved the area, so we had both properties valued, used the same solicitor and then exchanged the money. It was great as we could move in our own time, swapping bits here and there, as well as sharing vans. Making our mark At first it was weird moving back into my childhood home and it took a while to feel like it was truly ours. We didn’t…

1 GO FOR HIDDEN STORAGE If you’ve got lots of make-up and hair-styling products to find storage for but don’t want everything out on display, then consider a hideaway option. Make use of a freestanding cupboard or a run of built-in wardrobes, kitting out the interior with a slimline worktop and rows of shelves for storing toiletries and equipment. When not in use, clutter will be neatly hidden away. 2 KEEP ESSENTIALS TO HAND Give your dressing table a clutter-free look by making use of adjoining wall space to store your most-used essentials. Inexpensive wooden spice racks are the perfect size for holding small bottles and hair-styling kit. Position on the wall within grabbing distance, fixing the lowest rack upside down so it can be used for hanging items. Bekvam…

Cosy up a cold hallway by painting walls a warm, earthy shade. Just a small area is enough to take the chill off, whether painting a single wall to create a focal point, or above a dado rail or panelling so that the colour sits at eye level.…

1 Keep extra bedding within reach Everyone loves an Ikea hack, and this one works twice as hard, offering hidden storage and a stylish headboard, all for around £100. Designed with hallways in mind, the Trones shoe cabinet storage is slimline and compact, but provides ample storage. Combine the boxes (nine should be enough for a double or king-size bed), securing them to the wall. Use them instead of a bedside cabinet, as well as for storing spare bed linen and extra blankets. Add a battery-operated wall light to each side and you have the perfect bedtime set-up. 2 ARRANGE A SEASONAL DISPLAY If your home is looking a little empty now the Christmas decs have been packed away, cheer it up with a seasonal arrangement of foliage. It doesn’t have to…

If the start of your new year was more of a limp than a leap, then Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2025 has arrived just in time to give you (and your decor) an optimistic lift! True Joy, a vibrant yellow, will help you press the reset button, giving you an aesthetic that’s energetic and joyful. And the good news is you only need a hint of it to provide that dopamine hit. More versatile than you might initially think, uplifting yellow works with blues, greens, oranges and browns, whether you choose earthy tones, bold brights or much calmer neutral shades.…

Refresh the space A new kitchen is on this year’s wish list for many of us. But if your finances can’t stretch to a full redo, there are plenty of ways you can improve your existing kitchen. Often, it’s just a matter of working with what you’ve got, bringing in a fresh colour or luxe material, upgrading fixtures and fittings and making small tweaks which can have a big impact for a low cost. Spruce up the island For an easy fix that won’t involve redoing the entire kitchen, try revamping the island instead. The island is a major focal point of any kitchen and painting it a standout colour or adding a luxe worktop can make a big difference to the overall aesthetic. Other options include replacing the back…

LOADED JACKETS WITH CHIPOTLE CHILLI BEEF SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS, COOK 30 MINS * 4 baking potatoes * 2tbsp olive oil * 1 large red onion, diced * 2 large garlic cloves, crushed * 1tbsp red wine vinegar * 2tbsp chipotle chilli paste * 3tbsp tomato puree * Small bunch coriander, stalks chopped, leaves torn * 400g beef mince * 100ml hot stock (any will do) * Knob of butter * Soured cream, to serve * Zest and juice of 1 lime * Parmesan cheese, grated, to serve 1 Preheat the oven 220C/Gas 7. Prick the potatoes all over with a fork then, 2 at a time, cook them in the microwave on full for 5 mins. Rub with a little oil and salt then transfer to the oven for…

Cox & Cox FRESH ELEGANCE Light neutrals keep your scheme looking timelessly stylish Next RUSTIC ROMANCE Spread the love with touchable materials and marbled finishes Oliver Bonas SUNNY DELIGHT Dream of warmer times with cheery stripes and jaunty motifs Matalan COUNTRY CHARM Update a traditional look with colourful brights…

1 ADD TIMBER PANELLING The area behind the bed is the perfect spot to unleash some decorative creativity and can transform a tired room without the expense of a full room redo. Try adding a run of half-height timber panelling painted a soothing shade teamed with a tonal-coloured wallpaper above. Add a narrow ledge on top for displaying pretty ornaments and prints. Hopper double bed frame, £499, DFS 2 MAKE A FABRIC BANNER Pretty-up the space with a colourful fabric wall hanging hung behind the bed in place of a headboard. Choose a fabric design that co-ordinates with bedding and soft furnishings – it should only require one width of fabric and a drop of around 1-2m and can be suspended from a curtain pole and brackets. Trim your panel…

Having mostly expressed my creative side through fashion, I’ve always been a fan of colour and pattern,’ says Angela. ‘But it was while on honeymoon in Italy and Croatia that my eyes were opened to the uplifting effects of great interior design. The Airbnbs we stayed in really showed me how interiors can have a positive influence on how you feel. Then when we moved here and we had the girls, I couldn’t wait to create a vibrant home for them to enjoy and remember. Upside-down layout Stuart and I sold up to buy a bigger house for our young family, finding a reasonably new detached property in a semi-rural location, which had been built by the neighbours after they sold off part of their garden. The house was about…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks ‘HANG A TIMELESS TICKING STRIPE WALLPAPER, THEN MIRROR THE PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE ROOM, WITH BED LINEN, THROWS AND RUGS’ STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

We’d been renting a two-bedroom flat in Manchester for some time, but life was so hectic and with our busy jobs my husband Michael and I were like passing ships,’ says Jamila. ‘Eventually we decided to move back to Yorkshire near our families and friends. As we only had a Juliet balcony before, garden space was a must and we wanted to be within walking distance of Harrogate. After viewing over 20 houses, we bought this three-bed semi, got new jobs and have never looked back. Dream room It was love at first sight with this house. Having the living room, kitchen and conservatory all open-plan for entertaining was a massive tick for us. It had been on the market a while, so we got it for under the asking…

When it comes to books, you can never have too many… but as any book lover will know, the problem of where to store them all can be a challenge. While it may be tempting to simply buy a bookcase and stash them in one designated spot, there are plenty of other ways you can work them into different room schemes or make your book storage a standout feature – whether it’s a big wall of books or a modular system you can expand as you wish. Deciding if you want fixed shelves or adjustable shelving can be a good place to start when thinking about book storage. Fixed shelves look neat and uniform, while adjustable shelving means that each shelf can be positioned to suit books of differing heights,…

‘THESE SQUISHY WOOLLY HEARTS WILL ADD A CUTE FINISHING TOUCH TO A COSY WINTER TABLE’ HEART DECORATIONS YOU WILL NEED * Wool * Thick card * Scissors * Bodkin 1 CUT OUT HEARTS Begin by cutting heart shapes from thick card – our hearts measured about 5cm across. Next, start winding wool around the heart shape, taking care to catch the loose end as you wind the wool, to secure it. 2 COVER THE SHAPE Continue to wind the wool over the heart until the whole card is covered and you have achieved a generously padded look. Snip off the wool then tuck the end into the back of the decoration by pushing in with a bodkin. 3 FINISH OFF If desired, you can add an extra element by winding a…

BEST OVERALL PROCOOK GUN METAL KETTLE CAPACITY 1.5ltrTYPE Upright jugCOLOURS Silver, Black, stainless steelFEATURES 360° swivel base, pop-up lidPRICE £69 ProCook makes some of our favourite affordable cookware, so we are very excited about the brand’s expansion into small appliances. This kettle is solidly excellent, with a good capacity, luxe design and a fair price point. You can also pick up a matching toaster of the same design for just over £100. There aren’t any fancy features (such as variable temperature controls or LED indicators), but for your money, what you’ll get in return is a solidly good kettle, with a fair capacity that’ll last you for some time. Our only quibble with the ProCook kettle? After testing we think it’s a little loud for making late-night cups of tea.…

Pamper your pet Say goodbye to the dog-eared blanket and threadbare cat bed… our furry friends are now dictating the decor, with pet-centric homeware and luxury labels offering seriously stylish buys that are sure to please even the choosiest of pets (and paw-rents). 3 of the best DOORMATS…

When my husband Russell and I were house-hunting, we knew we wanted space, period features and plenty of natural light,’ says Elinor. ‘And when we found what we wanted, it felt like home straight away. We’d been exploring different areas and hadn’t chosen anywhere specific, as it was more about getting the right property. By complete coincidence, I was born close to where we ended up settling, and it was lovely to find a place where I already had memories and an emotional connection. First impressions I made up my mind as soon as I arrived outside this house. I’d already studied the floor plans, and it just looked so pretty that I knew immediately this was “the one”. The decor inside was very dull, colourless and old-fashioned. The bathrooms…

1 CREATE RUSTIC CLADDING Timber panelling is an eye-catching treatment that will make rooms look and feel more cosy, and is a great cover-up for less-than perfect walls. Instead of buying new wood, using reclaimed timber will add bags more charm. Salvaged floorboards or old scaffolding boards are perfect for cladding – just make sure wood is free from rot and damage, and remove any old nails and screws first. 2 UPCYCLE OLD CRATES Wooden wine boxes and fruit crates are another good resource that can be used for upcycling projects. Make use of delivery boxes, ask local suppliers, or check freecycling sites to see what’s on offer. A couple of sturdy crates (joined together and fixed to the wall) makes brilliant cubbyhole storage. Alternatively, use an upended crate as…

Utilise the fifth wall Papering the ceiling in a high room can make the space feel cosier. It’s a great way to add style and design detail in a kitchen where you want the walls to be scrubbable and paper-free. Give it a twist… Frame the wallpaper by painting the coving in a dark colour picked from the wallpaper’s pattern. Add paper panels Bring light relief to plainly-painted walls by adding panels of pictorial wallpaper along the upper section of wall. Frame the panels with mitred timber mouldings and paint to match the wall colour. Give it a twist… Mix it up with different patterned wallpapers in each panel – just keep to complementary colourways. Elevate shelving This idea works for a glazed dresser or open shelving to lift a…

Picking the right rug for your living room can really transform the space, and as the sofa is a key piece of furniture, the rug you choose has to complement it. Try a dark colour ‘Choosing a rug that is darker in colour than the sofa can anchor the room, making it feel cosy and grounded,’ says Daniel Prendergast at The Rug Seller. ‘It gives a sense of warmth, especially in larger spaces and creates a good contrast against a lighter sofa, although if the room is on the smaller side, a dark rug can make it feel smaller. Darker rugs are better at not showing marks, so this is another consideration when the rug is in front of a sofa.’ Plump for a lighter rug ‘A lighter rug can…

With the festive season now behind us, it’s time to pack up those decorations, storing the most precious baubles wrapped in bubble wrap or paper. The house can always feel a little bare once the tree is down and cards and garlands no longer adorn the hallway, but take it as an opportunity to give floors a good sweep or hoover and picture frames and mirrors a good dust. Light candles in fresh scents to give your home a cosy glow, but with a more spring-like fragrance. Update your address book with any amendments from the holiday period and turn Christmas cards into gift labels for next year, recycling the offcuts. Organise pictures and prints Now that the rush and frenzy of Christmas is over, embrace the slower pace and…

STEAMED CITRUS SPONGES MAKES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 30 MINS * 120g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing * 120g caster sugar * 2 eggs 120g self-raising flour * 4tbsp dried breadcrumbs * Zest 1 orange, plus 4 orange slices for the bottom of the moulds * 2½tbsp golden syrup * 2tbsp pistachios, chopped * Cream, to serve YOU WILL NEED * 4 x 150ml dariole moulds, buttered 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. In a medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, eggs and flour with an electric mixer until just combined. Stir in the breadcrumbs and orange zest. 2 Divide the golden syrup between the moulds, then add a slice of orange to each one. Pour an even amount of the sponge mixture into each mould.…