A few well-placed throws can work wonders for adding a stylish touch to our homes. Whether draped beautifully across a sofa or for dressing a freshly-made bed, a throw can add decoration, texture and – most importantly – provide some extra warmth when you need it the most. Plus, throws are an easy way to switch up your home decor as the seasons change.
Related: Browse our best sofas guide for inspiration if you are redecorating your living room
Similar to cushions, throws are one of the easiest ways to instantly breathe new life into existing decor. What gives throws the edge over cushions is the added value, they can be as practical as they are pretty. Feeling chilly sat binge-watching boxsets? Simply pull a throw over yourself to instantly feel the benefits – whatever the season. Not to mention a new throw is one of the most inexpensive and versatile ways to keep up-to-date with new trends for decorating homes. Simply swapping the soft furnishings, in any room, can welcome an instant new look.
With new season autumn and winter collections hitting the stores, we’re seeing a flourish of fabulous new throws to choose from. From autumnal on-trend colours to decorative patterned throws, we’ve picked some super-stylish and budget-friendly throw blankets to add personality to our homes. Shop them all below…
From making banana bread to whipping up homemade loaves, baking has been off-the-scale this year. And with The Great British Bake Off returning to our screens, it’s safe to say homemade treats will be trending once again.
As a nation we love both baking and bagging bargains! The lovely folk at Aldi have catered brilliantly for both passions, with the return of this year’s affordable baking SpecialBuys range.
Which includes the classic stand mixer, returning with the same £49.99 price tag. The dynamic baking accessory is joined by baking tins and plenty of helpful baking accessories. The Classic Stand Mixer is available from Sunday, 19th September online and in-store from the 23rd.
The show-stopper from the kitchen collection has the be this Classic Stand Mixer.
Perfect for mixing, kneading and stirring gorgeous, fluffy dough to perfection this is a kitchen accessory of every baker’s dreams. The pro tool features three different heads, including balloon whisk, beater and dough hook.
And it boasts eight speed levels and a pulse function, allowing budding bakers to tailor it to the desired consistency for the ultimate mixing experience.
Having a stand mixer takes all the hard work out of whipping up meringues, cake batters and frosting – doing the job in a fraction of the time.
The iconic ‘branded’ design we see in many celebrity kitchens is more than double the price – making this a great affordable buy. This chic design is available in Gunmetal, Frosted Pearl and, for the first time, Rose Pink – meaning there’s a shade to suit pretty much every kitchen decor.
Order online Sunday 19th September 2021: Classic Stand Mixer, £49.99, Aldi, or shop in store from September 23rd
Bread maker
Last summer you getting hold of a bread maker was next to impossible as the country when bread baking crazy. If you missed out on adding one to your kitchen, you are in luck as Aldi has added a breadmaker to its baking range offering.
Priced at a modest £49.99, the bread maker is £30 cheaper than the alternative best bread makers. It is equipped with pre-set menus, budding bakers can prepare everything from a variety of breads, chapattis or even pizza dough.
Buy online Sunday 14th September: Bread maker, £49.99, Aldi
Aldi baking range 2020
Last year the range included pretty pastel melamine mixing bowls our fingers are crossed these will be returning to an Aldi near us later this year.
Melamine mixing bowls
Image credit: Aldi
This Speciabuy offering is the icing on the cake, quite literally! The range comprises all manner of baking accessories to whip up any cake creation you desire.
We love the pretty pastel-coloured Melamine Mixing Bowl Set. A must-have for every kitchen the £12.99 set comprises four nested bowls. Available in sweet shades of duck egg or dusty pink.
Whipping up tasty homemade bakes has never been easier thanks to the new baking range.
This week, Changing Rooms took us to Fareham as Laurence LB, Russell and Jordan gave two tired and rooms a bright and bold makeover. The 2LG interior designers transformed a drab living room belonging to hi-fi loving Keith and partner Kath, with a modern take on cottagecore.
One striking design feature was the use of lime green colour-banding around the room. As living room paint ideas go, zingy green is very brave – so was it a stroke of genius or totally bonkers?
Before
Image credit: Channel 4/Dulux
This was one of the best transformations we’ve seen so far. Previously, the living room was having a bit of an identity crisis, with shiny wallpaper, lots of black furniture sucking up light, and a decorative skull.
Russell and Jordan’s vintage armchairs, tongue and groove wall and green-tiled fireplace are all ticking our boxes. And the citrus on the walls? It helps to ground the space, making the room feel more fun and cosy come evening, compared to plain white.
Ideal Home Digital Editor Tamara Kelly liked the concept, but wasn’t so sure about the choice of carpet. ‘I loved the idea of painting the lower half of the room to draw the eye down, in effect pushing the ceiling away to make the room feel bigger,’ says Tamara.
Image credit: Channel 4/Dulux
‘Including the door into the paint effect was genius, making it disappear into the wall. For me, the colour was too bright – not rich enough to ground the overall look.
‘But ultimately it was the flooring that let it down. The lime walls made the carpet look dirty and sludgy. It just didn’t deliver, when it had so much promise.’
Perhaps a rich navy might could have worked better, following on with the same colour on the wood panelling. Given that we tend to spend time in the living room in the evenings when the room is under electric light, darker paints can be a really cool feature.
Image credit: Channel 4/Dulux
News Editor Rebecca Knight points out that the colour-banding is a brilliant option for anyone decorating on a budget. ‘I like the painting on the bottom half of the wall idea, and how the drinks cart has been blended into it.
‘I mean, it’s a smart way to skimp on paint/wallpaper costs. However, the curtains have really torn me – I can’t quite decide if carrying the colour onto them is brilliant or a step too far,’ says Rebecca.
We can’t call it – love the idea, maybe just in a slightly softer hue.
When the owners bought this three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Bristol, they felt it was a little bland and in need of an injection of character and warmth.
‘We’d been looking to buy for about three years and began to feel disheartened as sale after sale fell through,’ explains one of the owners. With competition for properties in the area rife, the couple had a fight on their hands to not only find their dream house, but also to make the winning bid on it! This house alone had 18 separate bids. When they actually secured it, the new owners were overjoyed.
House exterior
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
Set in a Victorian terrace, this property’s classic exterior gives nothing away with regards to the decor inside, but the owners fell in love with it as soon as they saw it.
‘The fact that many of the house’s features remained intact really appealed to us. There’s the original coving and deep skirting, and a period fireplace in the living room that’s perfect for displaying candles! It had been renovated by the previous owners, so the house was a perfect blank canvas and only required cosmetic work.’
Living room
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
The couple updated the walls with a soft, chalky grey which fits the period property without compromising the couple’s chosen minimalist style. Framed artwork has been hung on the wall in clusters – rather than singly or in uniform lines – to create a personal gallery-like feel.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
‘I’ve always loved period properties,’ says the owner. ‘With their sense of history, their character and the stories behind them.’ This living room, with its alcoves, ceiling mouldings and cast-iron fireplace certainly fits the brief – these features have seen plenty of things!
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
‘I’m very influenced by Scandinavian design and have been fortunate enough to travel in the area extensively,’ says the owner. ‘I light candles every evening, which really helps me to relax. I’ve also sourced several sheepskin rugs, which lend warmth and texture and remind me of home.’ The cat looks pretty happy with the scheme, too!
Kitchen
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
Although the kitchen was newly installed the owners changed the handles and replaced the laminate worktop with solid wood. ‘It’s ash, but the rich tone of the wood oil we soaked it in to protect it makes it look more like oak. This gives the space a more up-market feel,’ they say. As the owner’s previous home had a galley kitchen, they find this sociable space a real luxury.
Dining room
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
The dining room is relaxed in style, with an eclectic mix of smart and sophisticated furniture. ‘One of my best buys were the Bertoia wirework chairs, which I bought locally – they look great at each end of our dining table.’
Another highlight was the decision to get a local joiner to install cabinets in the alcoves’ says the owner of the brilliant alcove idea. As well as providing storage, the shelves above the cabinets are perfect for displaying special pieces, such as the sewing machines.
‘I inherited my first Singer sewing machine from my grandmother and am now always on the lookout for more,’ says the owner.
Master bedroom
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
The owners decided to pair neutral bedding with simple side tables and understated lamps for a pared back look. However, there are touches of luxury in this calming white bedroom idea. ‘We splashed out on an upholstered bed because it worked so well with our monochrome theme.’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
A white linen curtain idea helps to keep the room looking clean and fresh, while fresh flowers on the window sill bring colour into the space in a very natural way. An elegant armchair, draped with soft furnishings makes for a peaceful corner to read or wind down.
Guest bedroom
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
As the owners wanted to create an inviting, uncluttered guest space, they kept things simple with bedside lamps and a subtle display on an intriguing vintage table.
‘I love to source classic vintage pieces rather than follow current trends,’ says the owner. ‘Lots of the furniture I like was designed in the 40s, 50s and 60s, but has a timeless quality that doesn’t date.’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
The couple prefer to save up for statement pieces that they know will last them a lifetime, whether that means designer furniture or original mid-century modern classics, like the pieces seen here.
‘I love that our home serves as a sanctuary – we can truly relax and unwind here.
This house tour originally appeared in Style at Home, January 2017.
