We have all gone a bit mad for house plants in the past few years, especially with our homes becoming spaces to work as well as live and relax. There are many benefits to adding indoor plants to rooms in your home, not least that they can soften and enhance the look of a space, but are even said to improve sleep in the case of bedroom feng shui. But have you also considered that through careful choice and placement of feng shui plants for specific spaces in the house, you can improve the flow of positive energy in your life?...

‘When it comes to interior design layouts, I love dividing larger spaces using glazed partitions as it allows the light to flow freely while separating various areas for different usage and privacy without closing them off completely,’ says Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors. Glass partition walls – why choose a glazed partition? Broken-plan living room ideas and kitchens are the new, post-pandemic, practical alternative to open-concept layouts. ‘While open-plan living rooms and kitchens looks great, it throws up a few problems such as noise and a lack of coziness and warmth,’ says Mike Stiff, director of Stiff + Trevillion (opens in new tab) architects, which uses glazing in many projects....

What are the basics of interior design? The basic interior design principals are the layer of decoration on the interior of a space within a building, be it residential or commercial. The whole purpose of interior design is to create a room or rooms, which answer the needs of the individuals living in them whilst reflecting their personalities with good design, space and functionality. A well-planned and well-designed interior design scheme not only looks beautiful but should also improve your quality of life....

Preserving a pumpkin with vinegar is one of the best ways of protecting your pumpkins, both carved and uncarved, from the unavoidable effects of oxidization for longer, meaning that you can enjoy fall decor ideas and, later, Halloween decorating ideas – for longer. While knowing when you should put pumpkins out is the first line of defence against premature pumpkin rot, read on to find out how you can bolster these efforts with a common household solution....

To get into the holiday spirit and start to feel those festive tingles, we asked some of our favorite designers and creatives to share their Christmas traditions and the special ways that they deck their oh-so stylish halls… Interior designers Veere Greeney (opens in new tab), Sophie Ashby (opens in new tab) and Flora Soames (opens in new tab) are joined by singer-songwriter turned homewares designer Paloma Faith (opens in new tab), shoe designer Olivia Morris (opens in new tab) and the delightful influencer behind Hill House Vintage, Paula Sutton (opens in new tab)....

That’s the formal plant introductions dealt with – what you need to know next is that this easy-going, easy growing succulent is one of the best winter houseplants. ‘String of pearls are one of our long-reigning favorites. Their incredible adaptations and unusual appearance means they’ll always have a place on our shelves,’ says Alice Bailey, co-founder of Forest (opens in new tab), which designed a house plant show garden at last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show....

Like a well-designed master bedroom, the best guest bedroom ideas feel comfortable and inviting, while also inducing a sense of relaxation. Unlike a main bedroom, though, the guest room isn’t a full-time space, which opens it up to opportunity for fun and surprise. How to decorate a guest bedroom Creating a space where relaxation and intrigue co-exist takes considered effort, but that’s precisely what designer Lauren Sullivan of WellXDesign (opens in new tab) set out to do in the spare room of her client’s Virginia home....

New research from Miracle-Gro (www.lovethegarden.com (opens in new tab)) has shown that, whilst 39% of Brits have enjoyed baking up a storm in the kitchen, nearly three quarters (74.6%) of us have been gardening more than usual this summer. See: The six tools that every gardener should have in their shed A combination of wanting to spend more time with family, getting outside to enjoy the sunshine and enjoying some exercise has all been satisfied by green-fingered growers....

How you grow a fig tree is up to you. You might plant yours in a container, which can be brought inside to overwinter, or you might live in a warm location where the tree will grow tall and flourish, providing shade and ornamental interest in your yard. It can take two to three years for a fig tree to become sufficiently established and bear fruit, but for lovers of this delicate but richly flavored crop, the wait is well worth it – a fig tree consistently ranks as one of the best fruit trees....

As more people try to save money at home, heating bathrooms is not always at the top of the priority list. If you have been turning your bathroom heating off in favor of warming up your living room more quickly, then finding some ways to harness heat and keep the space comfortable is a great alternative. Here, experts have explained seven ways to keep a bathroom warm without heating so you can focus your efforts on more livable spaces....

A ribbon wreath can be made to suit your interior design scheme, front door color, or the event you are celebrating, whether fall or Easter, but can also be a lovely decoration for a child’s bedroom, or even made as a gift for birthdays or Christmas. Super easy to make, this ribbon wreath has been created with just two ingredients: a wreath base and some ribbon. Choose warm colors for your ribbon wreath to suit fall wreath ideas, for making a Halloween wreath or for your Thanksgiving wreath ideas....

Learn how to make wreath bows and you can also use them to adorn other seasonal decorations, such as Christmas trees. You can even add them to gifts and flower arrangements. If you choose to make a fall wreath using this bow, then add a wreath bow in a different color to update it for your Thanksgiving wreath ideas, and again when you make a Christmas wreath… and so on into spring....

An added bonus is the gentle scent from the anise and rosemary. Other herbs and fruits to try are lavender, lemon, limes and even spray roses. These dried orange slice decorations can be made from easily sourced from craft stores or you can dry orange slices yourself at home easily. How to make orange slice gift decorations Or, of course, you can add them to home accessories, from candle sconces to garlands....

Removing wallpaper may be the first step in your project but, after that, measuring correctly is essential. ‘Wallpapering a room is such an easy way to bring an instant splash of color and personality,’ says Kate French, creative director at Dado (opens in new tab), ‘and there is such a wealth of designs available, from large-scale bold prints to smaller scale stripes and florals; serene and soft neutrals to more vibrant pops of color....

What constitutes a small garden is debatable to homeowners, yet chances are most of us have a more compact plot than we would like. However, there are countless small garden ideas and solutions to maximize limited outdoor space. And lest we forget – a small garden requires much less time and tools to maintain. To create the small and idyllic garden of your dreams, first think about how you want to enhance the outdoor space you have to suit your style of living without making it cramped or cluttered....

Whether you have an old chair in hiding in the attic or just picked up a tired (but promising) piece at an antique store, it’s refreshingly easy to bring wicker pieces back to life with modern paint ideas. This is how to repaint wicker furniture quickly – so you can spend less time painting – and more time enjoying this ever-enduring interior design trend. How to repaint wicker furniture With an expert’s help, you can ensure your tired wicker furniture looks as good as new....

A wormery doesn’t take up much space at all – in fact you can even keep one under your kitchen sink – and will help your plants to thrive. If you are looking into how to make compost it is well worth adding a wormery to your plans, and do your bit to help the environment, too. Using a wormery for compost – the benefits If you are considering permaculture gardening then a wormery is a must....

Don’t get me wrong, this was a big purchase as these machines often do not come cheap. Or at least the size I needed for my home didn’t. I spent a few hours researching the best dehumidifiers to figure out which was the best for me before finally committing to the investment. Luckily, it all paid off! Here are all the reasons I would never live without my dehumidifier again, and why I think you need one too....

‘My style differs from project to project depending on the client’s personality, but my schemes are usually focused around bringing in warm, relaxing color and a lack of orthodoxy in furnishings, a meeting of antique and new that will make you immediately want to live in and explore the space,’ says Kathryn. ‘One of my favorite colors to bring into a scheme is red. I love decorating with red for its vibrancy – it evokes passion and adds bright excitement to a space....

Less is more, so be careful not to over design. Bear in mind too that very modern designs can sometimes feel stark and clinical, so balance this by introducing warmth with plenty of texture, wood and layered lighting to add interest. The use of texture is vital when it comes to living room ideas, and no more so than in a modern living room. Shiny, flat glass looks wonderful against rough stone, while steel, used sparingly creates a sleek, modern contrast....