How do you satisfy your decor requirements with budget constraints? Creating a beautiful and functional playroom that will cater to your child’s needs is no easy feat, but it is not impossible. Thankfully, that’s where we come in: our team has a big brood of kids between us, so the playroom ideas below are written from experience. And we know that playrooms don’t just have to be for play – like the best playroom ideas and kids’ room ideas, they can be lovely calming spaces where kids can wind down, hang out with you and, eventually, do their homework....

As anyone who has been through the process of searching for kitchen cabinet colors will attest, choosing the right color for kitchen cabinets can be a minefield with endless choices and subtle nuances to understand and overcome. ‘The color palette in your home should flow into your kitchen just as it would in any other room, but that doesn’t mean to say that your kitchen should stay as one color,’ says George Miller, home designer at Neptune Fulham....

Mattress covers can be fixed or removable and you can also buy separate mattress covers, aka mattress protectors. Many modern foam mattresses have zip-off covers that are designed to go into a washing machine at around 104ºF, so you can make space to clean them part of your laundry room ideas. Zipping them back on can be tricky, particularly if your mattress is king size or bigger, but once on, they stay in position perfectly and mean you don’t need to buy an additional mattress cover....

One of the easiest ways to make a room feel festive when organizing your Christmas decor ideas is with tabletop Christmas trees. Ideal if space is limited and you do not have room for a big tree, or for creating a show-stopping tablescape for Christmas table decor ideas, there are so many clever and creative ways to decorate with Christmas tabletop trees. Whether you introduce a mini tree to your dining table, fill a hallway console with tree greenery, or use fake foliage or paper trees to add a fun touch to a sideboard, you will instantly bring transformative color and festive cheer into your space....

There are, however, rules to stick to when decorating with blue if you want to get your space just right. Here, we break them down to give you the key to interior design success. Decorating with blue: interior designers’ expert tricks Get decorating with blue spot on by choosing the right tone for your rooms, and picking complementary colors that really work to make the most of your chosen blue....

When planning your bed ideas, thinking cleverly about the area that surrounds your double bed will ensure you make the most out of the space available in a smaller room. From beautiful tall headboards to innovative storage solutions, you do not have to compromise on style or personality for small bedroom ideas. Double bed ideas for small rooms Beds for small rooms need to strike the perfect balance between style and practicality....

What’s more, these ancient grains and grasses add abundant flavor, texture and depth to very simple dishes, everlasting them out of the ordinary. These recipes aim to demonstrate something of the grain family’s versatility. It’s impossible not to love healthy food that’s packed with flavor, and these amazing grain recipes work perfectly with roasted veg, such as pumpkin and squash recipes. Toasted millet tabbouleh with heirloom tomatoes Serves 4 as a side dish or light lunch This bright and versatile salad goes very well with lamb, chicken or fish....

Pumpkins and lanterns on your porch are a given, but there are myriad ways to dress them up to make them unique, fun and stylish. Be sure to scare your guests at eye level too, with door wraps and wreaths, as well as cobweb garlands and hanging decorations. Halloween door decor ideas From petrifyingly perfect pumpkins to floating witching hats, we’ve gathered together some spookily stylish Halloween door ideas and asked decorating experts for their tips on creating an eerie entrance to your home that complements your other outdoor Halloween decor....

Including wallpaper among your hallway ideas not only helps bring visual interest to transient spaces, they are also a vehicle for showcasing your personality. Occupying only a small part of your home and one that is used for short periods of time, hallways are also the perfect location for those big patterns that might feel overwhelming elsewhere – so think big with wallpaper ideas in these spaces. Hallway wallpaper ideas From entrance halls festooned with florals to clever optical illusions that will make compact corridors feel bigger, we’ve put together some stunning hallway wallpaper ideas inspiration and asked the experts to share their top tips....

Whatever the answer, your seating is key. The living room is where we lounge in front of the fireplace, curl up with a book, and chat with our loved ones and guests. If your living room is on the small side, chances are you will have already factored in furniture that makes the best use of the limited space. That’s fine for everyday living, but what about the occasions when you need to seat more people?...

Coziness can come from the colors you select, the finishes you pick, the materials you introduce and even the decorative accessories you display and there are a whole host of ways to create the warming ambience you desire. We asked interior designers to share the secrets of making a room cozy on a budget and they’ve suggested strategies that can work for spaces around your home and whatever your preferred aesthetic....

When working out the best way to decorate a small space on a budget, and making a small room look bigger and more inviting, Nic Shacklock from Online-Bedrooms says, ‘opening up a small room is all about tricking the eye and creating the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is.’ Small room ideas have moved on from simply letting lots of natural light in and using white paint, thinking carefully about color, proportion and scale can allow for you to use many of the same decorating techniques that are applied to larger spaces....

While a deck may be on the top of every homeowner’s wishlist, building a deck is actually a rather complicated task. But don’t let that deter you, with plenty of planning, lots of advice and an enthusiastic helper there’s no reason why you can’t try it yourself along with building deck stairs. And of course, once you’ve decided to tackle the deck build without calling in a professional, you’ll be keen to understand how to install deck railing ideas....

Learning how to clean outdoor cushions isn’t terribly tricky but it differs a little from cleaning a couch and there are a few tips and tricks that will help keep them looking box-fresh throughout the summer. ‘Whenever you buy outdoor cushions, keep a note of the cleaning instructions, as different brands and fabrics will have different recommendations. Label instructions and laundry symbols wear off with time, so note them down and keep them handy in your utility room or by the washing machine,’ advises Sarah Dempsey, cleaning expert at MyJobQuote (opens in new tab)....

In the yard, mosquito repellent plants can help in the task of creating an unwelcoming environment for these bloodsuckers, and there are a host of other measures you can take both outside and in your home to keep them away. We’ve rounded up the top tactics for getting rid of mosquitoes here, and asked the experts to share their expertise, too. How to get rid of mosquitoes There are over 200 types of mosquito in the continental United States and US territories, according to the CDC (opens in new tab) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)....

Garden fence ideas can also enhance the resale value of your property while blocking out unwanted noise and keeping children and pets safely on your side. Well-chosen materials will enhance your fence decorating ideas, and provide an ideal backdrop for plants, as well as protecting the garden from the extremes of winter weather. There are all sorts of materials to choose from for your fence and one of the most popular and affordable is the chain link fence....

If you know how to remove a tree stump, you might also know that a stump left in might take the opportunity to reshoot. In this case, you will need to remove of the root system as is possible. ‘Always take care when trying to kill or remove tree roots. If you want to cut up the root system to kill it, be aware that it could be wrapped around underground pipes or cables,’ says Fiona Jenkins, gardening expert at MyJobQuote (opens in new tab)....

A pristine lawn can make all the difference to the appearance of your backyard and is a year round feature of your garden to enjoy. If you choose the best fast-growing grass seed you can quickly see the results. An important element of how to plant grass seed is getting the timing right, so make sure you first know when to plant grass seed in your zone to get off to a good start, and give the grass seed the best chance of germinating and producing healthy green blades....

With their flouncy blooms and heavenly fragrance, climbing roses are some of the most evocative, romantic plants, and should be the star of your rose garden ideas. Knowing how to prune roses correctly is a crucial aspect of caring for them. But climbing roses need to be treated a little differently to shrub roses, in order to encourage them to grow to the desired height and spread. ‘It is important to prune climbing roses to keep the rose plant in an overall good condition by encouraging strong vigor, form, and flower production,’ says Kristen Smith, new plants coordinator and rose product manager at Star Roses and Plants (opens in new tab)....

While most professionals recommend removing old tiles before re-tiling and grouting tiles to achieve a sound and stable sub-surface, there are times when tiling straight on top is by far the quickest solution. Leaving you more time to check out dreamy new bathroom tile ideas and kitchen tile ideas. Tiling over tiles is a job you can absolutely tackle yourself, if you prefer not to get a pro tiler in....