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It may feel like unnecessary stress on top of what is already a fairly stressful life event, but decluttering effectively brings with it a whole host of worthwhile benefits. Less stuff means less to move, which saves you time, energy, and money, plus makes for a clutter-free start to life in your new home. ‘The biggest piece of advice and decluttering tips we give our clients when they’re moving is to only pack what you want, need, and will use at your new house....

However, there are some designs that will suit most homes, whatever their makeup, and which are timelessly elegant. Farmhouse kitchens, particularly those that lean towards modern farmhouse style, are amongst the most popular of American kitchen styles, and it’s obvious why: they are smart and so easy to live with. Talking about this kitchen, Lauren Wright, Senior Design Consultant at Roundhouse (opens in new tab) says: ‘The client tasked us with creating a timeless kitchen for her period style new-build property....

Contemporary yet natural materials have been used decisively to create a statement garden, while a series of spacious and contemporary ‘garden rooms’, where clean lines and simplicity dominate, offer serene and calming environments. The expert use of garden zoning offers multiple destinations for friends and family to gather. Garden designer Matt Keightley of Rosebank Landscaping (opens in new tab) is renowned for bold, minimalist design, obsessively focused on the intricacies of design detail – and this garden is no exception....

‘Aloe vera is known to be one of the most forgiving succulent plants to care for since it can withstand a variety of conditions – perfect for first-time plant owners or for those who are not able to tend to their plants as often,’ says Lindsay Pangborn, gardening expert at Bloomscape (opens in new tab). An attractive, slow-growing plant, aloe vera is easy to look after. Though native to warmer climes, it is surprisingly tolerant of drops in temperature, which makes it one of the best winter house plants....

Located at the heart of your kitchen, a bar countertop should complement the kitchen design, but it can still make a style statement of its own. Popular materials used in home bar ideas and for kitchen countertop ideas include granite, marble and wood, but there are a variety of stylish options to choose from that celebrate both the beauty and versatility of natural and manufactured materials. Bar countertop ideas Whether your kitchen ideas include extending your island countertop or creating contrast in your space with a different material, be inspired by our top bar countertop ideas, even if your home bar is just a bar cart....

As the grand duchess of bedroom ideas (opens in new tab), chandeliers are typified as lighting fixtures that hold lamps on a number of branches, although these individual bulbs (or, originally, candles) can often be concealed by elaborate caging. While most commonly thought of as a statement feature for communal spaces, there is no reason why your bedroom doesn’t deserve such an indulgence. ‘A bedroom is a great room to add a chandelier to, creating serious wow-factor,’ says Owen Pacey, Founder of Renaissance London (opens in new tab)....

Annuals are plants that germinate, flower and produce seeds in a year. They’re divided into hardy annuals, which will cope with cold weather, and half-hardies, which need protection from frost. Some tender perennials, plants originally from warm climates, tend to be treated as annuals and are often grouped together with true annuals in seed catalogs – these often need more heat in order to germinate and should be sown early in the year so that they have a long enough growing season to produce flowers....

Hanging baskets are some of the most eye-catching garden ideas, and are vital for adding interest to the vertical plane as part of your container gardening ideas. As well as brightening up walls and fences, they make fantastic pergola ideas, and create a striking first impression at the front of a house, so be sure to include them in your front garden ideas too. ‘In outdoor spaces, hanging baskets can add to a welcoming curb appeal or beautify a patio or entertaining area....

A few years ago, eyebrows were raised when the company released its (now iconic) Vintage Canvas – a linen cloth that had been painted before being washed several times to render it down to the texture of an artist’s canvas. Prior to that came the invention of stonewashed and embossed linens for interior design, none of which had ever been seen on the market before. And one of the first fabrics was Buffalo, a robust linen washed with large pumice stones to resemble beaten-up buffalo skin....

The bulk of a feather pillow and its weight when wet might also make you wonder if it can be safely washed in a machine, or if there are other methods you should use to keep it hygienic. We’ve put together a complete guide to answer your questions about cleaning feather pillows so you can include them among your laundry room ideas. Can you wash a feather pillow? Washing pillows doesn’t need to take place as often as washing the pillowcases used to protect them, but it should nevertheless be a regular job to maintain good hygiene standards....

One small point about hard, semi-hard, blue and semi-soft cheeses: if you make any of these recipes for vegetarians, do check beforehand their personal stance on eating cheeses made with animal rennet. It is easier than ever to buy, for example, Cheddar, Stilton and camembert cheeses that are made with a non-animal substitute, so always check the label before buying if this could be an issue. Other than our original pizza recipes, these are our favorite cheese dishes....

While you’ll see plenty of social media ‘hacks’ that suggest using a sugar water mix to revitalize a Christmas tree’s natural sap, plant experts explain that this not only doesn’t work, but could even kill your Christmas tree more quickly. ‘Christmas tree care is not something that needs to be overcomplicated,’ says Rachel Crow, garden editor for Homes & Gardens. ‘That is one thing many experts agree on and adding sugar, while done in good faith, could just be causing your tree more grief....

As the first sight you’ll likely see as you walk through the door, this space can host anything from family photographs to softly glowing lamps that welcome you into their warmth. If you’re looking to inject personality into your hallway ideas, this is the place to do it – but you’ll need to think a little about functionality too. ‘Console tables make a functional addition to any space, offering a place to display family photos and heirlooms, but somewhere to safely store keys and letters too,’ says Paul Deckland, Buying Director at The Cotswold Company (opens in new tab)....

Fall decor ideas are fabulous for bringing atmosphere to the indoors, but outdoor fall decor ideas can be just as effective, especially when displayed on the front door. The warm, rich tones of fall immediately conjure a feeling of coziness, and decorating your door with russet, orange and ochre hues will add all the autumnal shades that work so well in the season’s soft light. Fall front door decor ideas – for a warm welcome From gorgeous gourd displays and pumpkin towers to fall wreath ideas and hanging baskets, we’ve rounded up some of the prettiest fall front door decor ideas for the ultimate inspiration for your own display....

There may be additional issues to tackle along the way, including a lack of daylight and, in some, awkward dimensions, yet there are plenty of ways to make it a destination, including small hallway ideas, hallway color schemes, wall decor choices, furniture, flooring, and more. Here we’ve selected the best to stimulate your own choices, and asked the experts to contribute their advice. Hallway ideas – 32 exceptional looks There are so many reasons for making the effort with the hallway....

Aloe plant care is relatively simple with the houseplant often thriving on relative neglect. Despite this, however, it can be easy to over- or underwater these simple succulents resulting in drooping shoots and less than instagrammable browning and rot. Here, we chat to plant chair experts to hear their tips on when to water an aloe plant, how to tell when an aloe plant needs water, and what to do if you overwater your aloe plant....

Like the best evergreen shrubs, the butterfly bush provides plenty of interest. It’s perfect for adding impact to the back of borders, creating privacy and disguising less-than-lovely views. It can provide a wide range of late summer color in shades varying from white, lilac, magenta and even orange and yellow, and as one of the best fast-growing shrubs, it won’t leave you waiting too long, either. It’s worth knowing, however, that the butterfly bush is on our list of invasive plants....

Firstly, it’s important to fix a ceiling leak as soon as possible – and not just for aesthetic reasons. In most cases, fixing a ceiling with water damage is a job best left to the professionals. However, small repairs are generally pretty manageable. ‘Worst case scenario, the whole ceiling will need to be torn out and replaced by a professional, however, assuming the water damage is minor and hasn’t compromised the structural integrity of your ceiling, it can usually be dried out and repainted’, says water damage restoration expert, Diana Rodriguez-Zaba of ServiceMaster Restoration (opens in new tab)....

The troublesome plant starts to germinate when the temperature rises above 55℉, and sunshine starts hitting the moist soil. Come spring and moving into summer the fast-growing weeds will outgrow other lawn grasses, then die away in winter leaving bare spots ruining any chances of making your lawn green and thick. How to get rid of crabgrass naturally Follow these steps to get rid of crabgrass naturally. 1. Maintain a healthy lawn Bill Pope, owner of Unlimited Lawn Care (opens in new tab) explains that getting rid of crabgrass needs to start with prevention by maintaining a healthy lawn....

These vivid flowers have been grown in our gardens for centuries – their common name ’larkspur’ dates back to Tudor times. They are mostly hardy perennials, thriving for years, dying back to a rootstock each winter, but there are also annual and biennial varieties available. Delphiniums grace herbaceous borders and cottage garden medleys, mingling beautifully with other traditional choices such as roses, peonies, campanula, and lupins. Delphiniums can be raised from seed as part of your flower bed ideas, with some varieties flowering in their first year....