Times are tough right now. But that doesn’t mean your home has to look tough as old boots. While the world is going through the most, there are ways to give your house a little bit of renovation love on the cheap. We’ve told you all about reupholstering chairs and upcycling things for your backyard inspo. We’ve even shown you how to pave your own flagstone walkway. But let’s take things a bit further. If you want to get serious and add some spice to your decorating life – and get your glutes going while you do it – you’re in the right place. No, seriously. Stick with us, we’re saving the best ..read more

Get your grow on. Use old furniture as pots if you haven’t got acres of space and live off the land (or containers) with this backyard inspo for super simple summer veggies to grow.  When the days begin to lengthen and the sun comes out of its winter slumber it’s time to get your grow on to feed the family. No garden? No problem. You can recycle or repurpose any old containers to start growing your own, just don’t forget to drill a few drainage holes in the bottom and away you go. You don’t even have to use containers. There’s plenty of backyard inspo to get you going if you just look. Up ..read more

If you are asked what a safe home means to you, how would you answer it?  Did you instantly think of a steel gate in front of your home’s yard, or do you ponder on the push-button security panel from your old home that is now rusted?  Do you even know what a smart home is? Top tip: It is not a home that is going to Harvard.  Time to let go of these ancient things, send them to the museum to be used as second-hand furniture relics of an era long gone. Because of innovations in technology, home security and general household management has improved dramatically. You know the kind ..read more

You’ve probably heard it before, so we won’t bore you with the details about why getting enough sleep is good for you. We all know that we should do it, but life stuff can make it hard. Having kids to look after, a partner that snores, stressing over the state of *vague gesture in the air* all of this stuff. Getting enough sleep is a real struggle nowadays. Not getting enough sleep at night can lead to anxiety, stress, add to your hangriness and affect your health. There are many factors that affect our sleep, like the foods we eat, unconformable sleeping environment, and the activities that w ..read more

You wake up as the birds are chirping, you wander out to your garden and you pick some fresh veggies for lunch or dinner. Sound a bit Stepford, doesn’t it? It doesn’t have to be. Gardening is way more forgiving than many people think. Or rather, plants are far more determined not to die, despite how hard you might try to destroy them. They’ve existed this long without evolving communication skills, haven’t they? If you don’t have a garden yet and you’re looking for some backyard inspo, let’s get down to basics. You don’t need anything fancy at all to get going, so if you’ve been putting off ge ..read more

If you haven’t started dreaming about living off the land and being self-sustaining at least once during lockdown, then you have missed out. We know already that gardening is good for your well-being all-round, but it can be good for bragging rights, too. Not that we’re encouraging you to grow the largest potato known to man (although, think of all the ways in which one single potato can add to your waistline – worth it), but smart planting some summer crops can actually stretch quite far for feeding a family. And hey, do you know how good it feels to put stuff on the table for dinner saying t ..read more

Upcycling doesn't have to be complicated. You just have to think differently about what you've got. These ideas are super simple, yet super smart.   Socks with holes? Use them as cute coverings   Old crates are great for creating extra storage   Looks ambitious, isn't - just roll it in and give it a sanding   Any old thing can be a planter   And you can plant anything in whatever you are upcycling   Old bits of wood make a great focal point   Trun a  plastic milk bottle into a bird feeder   Wrap gifts in old newspaper   Old soccer balls as plan ..read more

When last have you bought a new microwave? With a lifespan of around seven years on average, you might be in the market for a brand new microwave right now.   Some microwaves are built to last as long as ten years and some might even sneak across that lifespan if they don't get used all that often. But with everyone spending more time at home, your trusty old appliance has probably been given more of a workout than usual recently, right? Even if your microwave is tough as old boots and spluttering on past the 10-year mark, it might be worth considering a new investment with the vast ..read more

Decorating a small space can be a nightmare. Too much and it looks cluttered. Too little and it looks like nobody lives there or you’re taking the Marie Kondo trend far too seriously (nothing wrong if you are, but if it’s not the look you’re going for, it’s not ideal). Adding personality to tiny living spaces without looking like you have used the debug cheat mode in The Sims is a challenge. But as with most things in life, it is all about perception, all you have to do is work the right angles. Draw the eyes up If fashion is your vibe, you’ll be familiar with the phrase “elongating the neck ..read more

Backyard ispo can be tricky business. You start off all positive and motivated, convinced you’re going to set up the perfect outdoor dining area where you can spend all summer. Before you know it, you feel like you’re falling down a pit of despair, consumed by envoy rather backyard inspo. Backyard inspo: Setting up the perfect outdoor dining area.  Don’t be so hard on yourself. Those glossy magazines are lovely, but are they realistic for everyone? Of course not. The thing about backyard dining areas is that the more rustic they are, the better. Unless you have far too much time on your h ..read more