It may be a cliche, but windows really are the eyes of your home and the way you dress them can make or break your room scheme.
Not only does the design you choose need to be attractive, it will ultimately dictate the light that’s cast into the space, so a versatile window dressing is your best option. Take away all the inspiration you need with our window treatment ideas.
When it comes to window dressing ideas for bedrooms, blackout curtains are a popular option as they are lined to prevent extra light pouring into the room and spoiling your sleep. Similarly, roller blinds with a blackout lining are another great choice for bedroom windows.
Venetian blinds are a smart idea for kitchens and bathrooms, with varieties including metal, plastic and wood. These can be tilted to let more or less light in and for extra privacy, plus, they are easy to wipe clean. For conservatories, vertical blinds are a practical solution, but can look a little dated and roller blinds are often chosen in favour for a contemporary look.
For French doors or patio doors, thermal curtains are a good idea to keep your room cosy and warm. A stiffer curtain fabric will create an elegant drape, however, lighter voile curtains are ideal for teaming with blinds at windows that require a little extra privacy.
Alternatively, shutter blinds are a stylish selection with a continental feel. They’re available in many contemporary shades and materials to suit your scheme and similarly to blinds and curtains, can be made to measure to fit your windows.
Image credit: Hillarys
DIY SOS designer and official ‘Friend of Ideal Home’ Sophie Robinson has blown our socks off with this genius combo of floral patterned blinds and geometric print curtains. It’s a pairing that you might question on paper, but which looks AMAZING in the flesh.
Sophie describes herself as a ‘self-confessed colour lover, cushion hugger and pattern clasher’ and explains that ‘this room ticks all three boxes, giving a high-energy appeal that’s the antithesis of polite beige.’
Stylist’s tip: Short curtains only really work in cute country cottages – go floor-length wherever possible
Image credit: ILIV, Blinds in Botaniska in Teal, from £22 per m
For an unfussy alternative to curtains, we always recommend looking to window blind ideas – and Roman blinds are possibly the smartest. Fabric panels are softly pleated for a tailored look with blinds positioned inside a window recess or on the outside. Try lining and trimming blinds in a contrast colour fabric for a chic look.
‘You need way less fabric for a blind than you do for curtains,’ says interior stylist Charlotte Boyd, ‘so you can splash out on a more luxurious fabric to really make a statement.’
Image credit: Villa Nova, Curtains made in Broderie fabric in Spring, £37 per m
Don’t cover up gorgeous French doors or a lovely view outside. Fix up a curtain pole that extends beyond the windows on both sides so that curtains can be pulled back out of the way.
‘Consider if the window is worth celebrating or disguising,’ says interior designer Helen Harry, ‘some are way too beautiful to be completely covered over by window dressings. I also look at the natural light, the view and the amount of privacy needed.’
Image credit: Hillarys
We know we shouldn’t have favourites. But this is ours.
Mad About The House blogger Kate Watson-Smyth has won us over with this combination of soft pink blinds and dramatic dark grey walls. She’s had a bit of fun, too – hello and nice to meet you, pineapple floor lamp!
Kate says of her handiwork: ‘This trend is all about making and breaking the rules, contrasting hard and soft, mixing vintage and modern and refined sophistication with a rough and ready edge.’
Stylist’s tip: Millennial pink is a great neutral that isn’t just for the girls.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Davide Lovatti
In rooms where you choose a window treatment based on practicality, such as shutters on the lower half of a living room window to offer privacy, it’s best to choose a timeless white design.
To add the colour and decoration you can frame the window with curtains that are there more to add decoration – you might not ever need to draw them, but they become essential to soften the look and add pattern or colour to your decorating scheme.
Image credit: Swift Blinds
Skylight windows are a brilliant way of opening up and allowing more light into a loft space. But to ensure a good night’s sleep and to make sure that roof spaces don’t get excessively hot, some kind of window covering is essential.
These blackout roof blinds fit snuggly to the window to provide darkness day or night and come in a range of fabrics and frame colours.
Buy now: Luna blackout roof blinds in shadow black with silver frame, from £19, Swift Direct Blinds
A dainty cafe curtain or half curtain is the perfect solution for a kitchen window. A voile fabric in a pretty print to coordinate with your kitchen scheme like this feather print fabric is ideal.
This style of window dressing still lets in plenty of light but provides a little privacy if your kitchen window is at the front of the house where passers by may be able to look in. Cafe rods that fit easily into the window recess can be picked up for just a few pounds.
Stylist’s tip: Make your own cafe blind by cutting a long strip of voile fabric the length of your window, then hem the bottom edge and create a channel the width of your rod at the top.
Image credit: Hillarys
This look was conceived by Daniela Tasca-York, winner of 2017’s Great Interior Design Challenge. If you watched the show, you might recall her penchant for curtains. Even the lack of actual windows didn’t hold her back.
This light and luxe look combines curtains of different fabric weights and similar cool creamy tones. With the glam factor upped by metallic furniture. Marble-effect wallpaper and a deep-pile rug, this scheme wouldn’t look out of place in an LA condo.
Stylist’s tip: With this tailored look, it’s important to get the length of the curtains just right. Avoid mistakes by buying made to measure.
Image credit: Curtains2go
Make a feature of a classic bay window with a combination of blinds, to accentuate the shape of the bay, and elegant drapes to highlight the height of the room.
‘Pattern adds interest, but it doesn’t have to be garish or loud. It can be subtle and calming, yet interesting and textured,’ says interior designer Helen Harry on how to dress a bay window.
Buy now: Clarissa Hulse curtains in Dill Ochre, from £46.64, Curtains2go
Image credit: Blinds2go
Picture windows and bi-fold doors look stunning, but glare from the sun can be a problem on very hot days. This clever design features a sunscreen to the rear to reduce glare and give daytime privacy, plus a blackout roller blind to the front for night time shading, all installed on one set of easy brackets.
Buy now: Double roller Ore roller blind in grey, from £16.90, Blinds2go
Image credit: California Shutters, Cafe-style shutters in white from £168 per sq m
For a window treatment that won’t date, try classic wooden shutters. Ideal for period properties, shutters look stylish indoors and when viewed from the exterior of the property.
‘Café style shutters are a good option, giving privacy, plus letting natural light in too,’ says interior designer Helen Harry. ‘Shutters can be pricey, so I’d always go for white for longevity.’
Image credit: Terrys
Try this trick if you want to make a narrow set of doors feel wider or a small window appear bigger. Choose a pole wider than the window, so that curtains can be stacked back on each side – having most of the window frame on show creates the illusion of width. Likewise, fixing the pole slightly above the frame will make windows appear taller too.
Buy now: Buckland lined curtains in natural, from £86.99, Terrys
Image credit: Hillarys
Here’s one for all the countryphiles out there.
Stylist Emily Henson has put together a look that she describes as ‘soothing and relaxing, cosy and nurturing’. The elegant double pinch-pleat curtains frame blinds in smart stripes to classy and classic effect, and the layering continues with a generous pile of cushions and throws on the sofa.
Who wouldn’t want to snuggle down in that room?
Stylist’s tip: Linen curtains are a classic choice that won’t date. If you’re planning to splash out on curtains, they’re a good way to go.
Image credit: Hillarys, Evelyn Nectarine roller blind, from £55
Fancy curtains and fussy blinds aren’t the best choice of window covering for a busy kitchen. Aside from the fire risk, heavy materials retain cooking smells and can be damaged by steamy conditions.
These blinds have a moisture-resistant easy-clean finish and come in a range of patterned fabrics including this pretty watercolour design. The range includes matching roller blinds and skylight blinds for a chic co-ordinated look.
Image credit: Future PLC
Tab top curtains in a subtle print are a laid-back solution to dressing large bay windows. They’re easy to make yourself as you don’t need to attach curtain rings or hooks. They’re also easy to remove when you fancy a change as you just need to untie the tabs and swap to a new design. This style of window dressing works best with lightweight or sheer fabrics. Tab top curtains offer a similar look and are available readymade from many retailers.
Stylist’s tip: Select a pole in a coordinating colour to the windows and walls so it doesn’t detract from the soft nature of the curtains.
Image credit: Blinds2go
If space either side of a window is tight, opt for a neat roller blind fixed to the frame or inside a recess. Create wow by choosing a bold colour, lively pattern or a striking pictorial scene.
‘Keep it simple and don’t drown the window in layers of fussy blinds or curtains,’ says interior stylist Charlotte Boyd. ‘A simple roller blind fixed above or on the window (or even right up against the ceiling) won’t block out too much light.’
Buy now: Wilderness blackout roller blind in topaz linen, from £35.45, Blinds 2go
Image credit: Hillarys, Serenity Powder voile curtains and Roman blinds, from £125
Replace weighty winter curtains and blinds with lightweight voiles and floaty sheers over the warmer summer months. An easy way of brightening up a room, sheer fabrics will let natural light in while still providing plenty of privacy.
Stylist’s tip: Choose a simple wave curtain heading that will make curtains fall in soft, floaty waves, teamed with a softly pleated blind for a relaxed, laidback look.
Image credit: SurfaceView
Ditch drab neutrals that blend into the background and make a statement with a bold, standout design. Surface View’s bespoke roller blinds are custom made from a range of unique imagery that includes fine art prints and striking photography.
Stylist’s tip: Choose a ‘wow’ fabric and it’s like hanging a piece of art at the window,’ says interior stylist Charlotte Boyd.
Image credit: Loom and Last
Unsure about pattern? A subtle stripe or plain textured weave will always look classic and can easily be incorporated into a new colour scheme. Weaves also have the advantage of being slightly thicker than standard fabrics so are more insulating.
‘Bold patterns might draw your eye and make more of a feature of a window, but they will date more quickly, says interior stylist Charlotte Boyd, ‘and you might tire of them sooner – fine if you like to redecorate every few years, but not ideal if you’re thinking “this is it” for the next 15 years.’
Buy now: Blackout lined eyelet curtain in Aurea Red, £27.50 per m, Loom & Last
Image credit: Next
Build a bench seat into a window recess so you can make the most of a glorious view outdoors. Keep the window treatment neat and tailored by opting for an unfussy pleated blind that can be pulled up out of the way without obscuring too much of the glass.
Buy now: Cotton blackout Roman blind in dark natural, from £40, Next
Image credit: Future PLC
Roman blinds and roll-up varieties are a simple yet stylish solution for conservatory windows. They can be hung over each panel of glass and can be tied at different heights depending where the sun hits to create shade and prevent the room from getting too hot.
Lighter colours will maintain a feeling of space and reflect heat, or why not choose a blind fabric to coordinate with other textiles in the room, such as upholstered furniture and accessories? This style offers such simplicity, you could even make one yourself with this simple how to make a Roman blind tutorial.
Stylist’s tip: For a luxe feel in a bedroom, try a real or faux silk or for a traditional look, opt for a crisp linen in stone or cream.
California Shutters
The traditional shutter is an inspired and effortlessly stylish choice of window dressing and has become increasingly accessible. There are many different styles on offer, including full window shutters, the half cafe design and full solid shutters to completely block out light – ideal for bedrooms.
For kitchens and bathrooms, opt for waterproof vinyl shutters to ensure water and humidity doesn’t damage your purchase over time. If you’re looking for value for money, crafted shutters are the way to go as these are made from medium density fibreboard, where as hardwood is the classic choice.
Stylist’s tip: Paint your shutters in a bold shade for a statement window dressing that coordinates with your unique room scheme.
A modern take on traditional lace curtains, sheer curtains made from voile or chiffon fabric are an excellent option for dressing windows in rooms that you want to allow light into, but don’t want passers by to be able to see in like glazed outside doors or cloakrooms.
Use a narrow rod that fits the frame so it’s virtually invisible and hem curtains just below the glass. Fit the curtains a pane or two from the top to let in light above where people can see in.
Stylist’s tip: Use a voile fabric with a subtle embroidered detail for a frosted effect – perfect for windows at the front of the house or bathrooms.
Image credit: Future PLC
Soft waves of fabric create a smart but simple finish that’s easy on the eye. A wide Tempo heading pleat makes curtains fall in soft, regular waves, so they will always look just right. Team it with a sleek, modern suspension rail that the curtains glide below and let the curtains sit flush with the floor so they’ll look neat open or closed.
Stylist’s tip: A cut-velvet pattern adds a luxurious edge to this otherwise pared-down window treatment.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
A clever double pole design means you can hang both a sheer and a curtain around the bay window, but draw them independently. Brackets normally get in the way of curtain rings being pulled around a bay, but this design uses passing rings that allow the curtains to be drawn all the way round.
A standard heading tape left ungathered on both curtains creates a soft, informal effect. Keep the sheers sill-length for a neat finish and go for floor-length curtains to create real impact in a bay.
Stylist’s tip: Team a bold, modern, floral curtain fabric with a floral patterned voile for a modern take on a curtain and sheer.
Image credit: Future PLC
For a contemporary take on a traditional curtain finish, use a flat pelmet layered over voile curtains sporting coordinating tie-backs. This style provides a neat finish to your windows as it hides curtain poles and other fixings.
Recreate the look of a sophisticated hotel bedroom by selecting pillows to match your pelmet and tie-back fabric. Opt for a simple geometric print with a Moroccan vibe to echo the design of an ornately shaped pelmet, but keep colours fresh and neutral for a modern look.
Stylist’s tip: Install a venetian blind behind the pelmet for extra privacy and to keep light out of the bedroom when required.
Image credit: Future PLC
If you have a sequence of large windows in a room, choose single curtains instead of pairs hung centrally to give a contemporary, laid-back look. Omit holdbacks for a further relaxed feel, instead opting for a lightweight fabric such as linen as it gathers and drapes beautifully.
Allow plenty of length on the curtains so they pool on the floor to complete the look.
Stylist’s tip: Use a narrow chrome pole with small curtain rings so as not to overpower the overall effect. Small curtain rings will also allow you to gather the curtains more tightly to let in more light in the absence of tie-backs.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
Printed Roman blinds layered with plain curtains are an elegant way to dress a bedroom window. Go for a bold pattern that coordinates with your room scheme and choose a complementary plain fabric for the curtains.
Combine with pretty tie backs for added detail to your window dressing. If your blind isn’t made from black-out material, or you’re especially sensitive to the light on bright mornings, the curtains can be drawn in addition to the blind at night time. For a contemporary look, choose a sleek metal pole and curtains with coordinating eyelets.
Stylist’s tip: Hang your blind within the window recess and install the curtain pole on the outside leaving a good gap above the top of the blind to provide a soft framing effect.
A curtain with a leading edge is a real show stopper. A contrasting fabric from the back of the curtain is continued to the front, and simple holdbacks allow even more of it to be on show when the curtains are open. Use a simple pencil pleat and an unfussy pole to keep all the attention on the curtains themselves.
You can enhance the effect of this stunning treatment by choosing a pole that’s slightly wider than the window, which tricks the eye into thinking that the window is bigger than it really is and allows you to hold the curtains back without blocking light.
Stylist’s tip: A satin-finish fabric for the leading edge gives it even more attention-grabbing shimmer.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
A fabric with a pretty illustration is a great way to dress up a window with an uninspiring view. Use plain fabric for two-thirds of the length, with the panelled pattern on the lower third. Create visual separation between the two with a ribbon braid, finishing off with a trim below.
An eyelet heading on a pole means the fabric won’t fold up, so the illustration can be seen clearly. Keep the curtains to sill height so they hang properly, draw easily and don’t block heat from the radiator.
Stylist’s tips: Choose a plain fabric in a paler contrasting colour and trim the join to make the print stand out.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young
Add layers to dress windows to the max. Voile fabric panels featuring bold floral prints in coordinating colours have been layered to create beautiful sheer curtains that still let the light through. To further the eclectic feel, hang using a narrow iron pole and small curtain rings to match and a tieback for the perfect finishing touch.
First things first, begin by cleaning your windows before you start dressing them. Get rid of those cobwebs and sticky finger prints with a thorough wipe down so that they sparkle on the inside and out.
There are many different varieties of curtains to choose from, it’s easy to get a little bamboozled. How will you be dressing your windows? Let us know your thoughts!
Additional words: Amy Cutmore
The post Window treatment ideas – 31 ways to dress with curtains, blinds and shutters appeared first on Ideal Home.
On the hunt for the best cordless vacuum cleaners? We’ve tried 12 of the top stick vacuums on the market from Beko, Dyson, Shark, Bosch, Halo, Miele, and Vax, to bring you our complete roundup. While they all look the part, not every cordless vacuum is up to the task of keeping your floors spotless. That said, we would happily replace even the best vacuum cleaners with a corded model when they’re as powerful and easy to use as the models in this guide. And they’re increasingly rivalling corded alternatives in terms of power and long-lasting battery life, too.
Many of the best cordless vacuum cleaners in our guide come in at under £200, which is about as little as you can expect to pay and still get a decent vacuum for your money. Splash out a little more though, and you can get models with pet attachments, smart LCD controls, extended battery lives, and impressive power. All of the cordless vacuums in our guide are ideal for nipping around the house when you’re in a hurry, and can be lifted up the stairs with no need to unplug and re-plug once you get to the next floor. While most of the best cordless vacuum cleaners in our guide come with bagless designs, we’ve also included some bagged options for those who are sensitive to dust or who simply don’t want to deal with the dirt when emptying the vacuum.
With a great balance between value and high performance, the Shark IZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is our top pick of the best cordless vacuums. We have voted the Dyson V11 Absolute as the best cordless vacuum cleaner in 2021 if money is no object. The Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 is our favourite budget vacuum cleaner.
Best cordless vacuum overall
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.7 litres
Weight: 4.58 kg
Reasons to buy:
• Double up on batteries
• Shift from carpet to hard floors with ease
• Power designed for deep-cleaning
Reasons to avoid:
• It won’t stand upright
The Shark IZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is a new drop from Shark, and it really blew us away when we put it to the test. First off, the PowerFins function means that rubber fins reach deep into carpets to pick up dust, crumbs, and scary amounts of deep-rooted pet hair with each and every pass. This is particularly good on carpet, but if you want to toggle to use on hard floors, you can use the smart display panel to switch over to a different floor type. That requires no switching out attachments, and there’s no need to even bend over.
We loved how easy it is to store this vacuum. It has a hinge in the middle which, with the press of a button, bends the stick forward to fold it in on itself securely. It will stand unsupported when packed away, but you can’t leave it standing up unsupported when you’re midway through using.
The control panel at the top of the Shark IZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner shows power levels and allows you to switch from Eco mode to regular and max power. It’s advertised to have 60 minutes of battery life, but that’s on Eco mode. On the regular setting we found that it lasted just over half an hour, which was still plenty impressive.
Best cordless vacuum on a budget
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.6L
Weight: 3.1kg
Reasons to buy:
• Comfortable to use
• Impressive on high and low power modes
• Removable battery for east charging
Reasons to avoid:
• Small bin capacity
This stick-style cordless vacuum cleaner has a slight design difference to most of the vacuums in our guide: the cyclone cylinder sits sideways. But the thing that really stands out is its comfy grip. It’s perfectly shaped and has a soft touch. It feels nice enough in the hand that its 3.1kg weight doesn’t feel too heavy.
Buttons are under your thumb and responsive. One turns it on and off, another cycles between the two power settings (it remembers which one you were on last time) and the third turns on the floorhead’s powered brush and headlights.
It boasts triple filtration and runtime is quoted as 45 minutes but it will be much less on high power, using the floorhead. Its vacuuming was impressive on both power settings.
Tools are impressive too. It comes with a crevice nozzle and dusting brush, both of which are well designed. But at the time of writing it also came with a free Cordless ProKit 2 accessory pack.
This gives you an extendible, flexible crevice nozzle for tricky gaps, an upholstery tool, a stiff brush for tough dirt and a stretch hose so you can use the tools without the weight of the cleaner in your hand. The toolkit comes with a fabric storage bag too, but it would have been great if this could clip to the Vax.
The battery comes off and docks in a charger. And the Vax comes with a wall mount, so you can hang it up when not in use. Meanwhile, the 0.6-litre capacity dust canister isn’t large but it comes off easily and then is straightforward to empty.
We were really impressed with the Vax’s comfort, array of tools and cleaning performance for a mid-priced machine.
Ideal Home’s rating 5 out of 5 stars
Best cordless vacuum for power
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.7ltrs
Weight: 2.97kg
Reasons to buy:
• Impressive runtime
• Very powerful
• Easy to empty
Reasons to avoid:
• A bit hefty
The Dyson V11 Absolute promises twice the suction (at the cleaner head) of any cordless vacuum cleaner. But it also costs twice as much as competitors. So is it worth the money?
We found that the 60-minute battery life holds true as advertised. Not only did it pick up the dirt we could see, it managed to catch a lot of invisible dust from carpets and even hard floors. We love the look, which is as high-quality as you would expect from an expensive Dyson vac. It doesn’t take the number one spot because it’s undeniably expensive compared to some other five-star options.
Attachments include a fluffy hard floor roller and four smaller accessories. The fluffy roller did well on wooden floors, but what we loved was the high torque floorhead which cuts back on power when working on hard floors and automatically increases it on carpets. You can monitor this with the bright display, which also shows how many minutes are left in your current mode. Not quite done? Just switch to a lower setting to make the most of your vacuum life.
Capacity is higher than ever and it’s easy to empty. But the run time and power controls are the stars of the show. If money’s no object, buy the V11: you won’t be disappointed.
Ideal Home’s rating 5 out of 5 stars
Best cordless vacuum cleaner and mop combo
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.55 litres
Weight: 6.6kg
Reasons to buy:
• Quiet use
• Smart LCD display
• Mop attachment
Reasons to avoid:
• Heavy and not the cheapest
A mop and cordless vacuum rolled into one, the Roidmi RS60 has a high-quality, weighty feel that isn’t burdensome, but does feel like it’s designed to last. Other attachments include a mattress cleaner, soft roller, and crevice tool. There’s even a pet brush, which is designed to literally suck up the hair from your pet as you brush it. A smart idea, if you can get your cat or dog to cooperate.
It has a medium-sized dustbin of 0.55 litres, which does require regular emptying, but is easy to eject once you’ve removed the stick attachment. One of the most impressive things was the battery life, which lasted over an hour in testing, making it more than adequate for large homes.
The LCD display shows which of the three power modes you’ve opted for, and when you’re done cleaning, it even displays the amount of calories burned. The on button is lower down than the button that you use to switch modes, which we did find a little fiddly, but it’s useful if you switch between different power modes on a regular basis. While it’s not cheap, it’s a quality pick.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Roidmi RS60 review
Best cordless vacuum cleaner for large homes
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 1.7ltrs
Weight: 3.5kg
Reasons to buy:
• Powerful suction
• Easy to manoever
• Large dust tank and floorhead
Reasons to avoid:
• Not great on rugs
The Dyson V11 Outsize has re-engineered the Absolute to include a 150% larger bin, 25% bigger cleaner head, with up to 60 minutes of runtime. It also offers 20% more suction compared to the V10, which was a popular model just a couple of years ago.
Our reviewer was impressed from the start since the vac arrived in packaging made from recyclable cardboard, and how easy it was to assemble. It also already arrives with 20% of it’s 60-minute battery life so if you just can’t wait to take the V11 Outsize for a walk around the home, then this allows you to do just that. We found that this battery life – when fully charged – was more than suffice for whipping around a 2-bed terraced home. You also have the ability to adjust the cleaning modes which can make a difference to the battery life, and noise level.
It performed exceptionally well on large rugs and hard flooring (with the soft roller head attached). The suction is really good and the larger floorhead helps to cover more ground, quickly. Turning to a smaller rug with a 60cm dia, however, the cordless vac either wanted to move it around or just grind to a halt.
Using with the attachments such as the mini motorized tool and combination tool were useful around the home, across all levels, but there are 11 tools in total to opt for to give you yet more freedom to clean. There is no way to store these attachments on board the stick vacuum cleaner, however, so finding some suitable cupboard space for this would be useful. And lifting up the vac to use as a handheld is slightly heavier than previous models because of the enlarged dust tank although it’s not too uncomfortable.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best designed cordless vacuum cleaner
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.4ltrs
Weight: 3.2kg
Reasons to buy:
• Impressive design details
• Versatile attachments
• Easy to mount on the dock
Reasons to avoid:
• Tricky to empty the bin
The Bissell ICON 25V really impressed us. It performs really well and the design includes impressive attention to detail.
Bright headlights on the floorhead illuminate cleaning. Run time is up to 50 minutes but it will be much less on high power. There are three power levels and the medium one is fine most of the time, but the vac doesn’t remember your last setting, it always starts at top whack, which reduces battery life.
The floorhead claims to beat the problem of hair tangles and we certainly didn’t manage to get it badly tangled. It’s also smaller than the Shark Anti Hair Wrap IZ251UKT floorhead. The 0.4 litre bin isn’t the easiest to empty but it’s ok.
Weighing in at 3.2kg, the design is a top-heavy stick that converts to handheld. It comes with just one tool, a crevice nozzle that converts to a brush. That’s great: you only really need those two tools. Though ironically the designers have given you space to store multiple tools at the charging dock.
We were even bowled over by tiny design details. For example, built into the inside of the dock is a little spirit level, to make it very easy to mount the dock level. Another one: the tip of the crevice tool lights up when it’s in use. We could go on. It’s a mid-priced cleaner but the performance and design combine to impress.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best cordless vacuum cleaner for pet hair
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.5ltrs
Weight: 3.6kg
Reasons to buy:
• Sleek and modern design
• Very versatile
• Easy to convert
Reasons to avoid:
• Not the best battery life
Miele’s first cordless claims to be powerful enough to be your only vacuum cleaner. It’s also supremely convertible: you can rearrange the pieces to convert from an upright cleaner (bottom-heavy, perfect when you’re just vacuuming floors, stands up by itself) to a stick cleaner (top-heavy, very manoeuvrable) to a handheld.
It comes with three tools: crevice nozzle, dusting brush, flat upholstery tool. We weren’t convinced that you need the pet turbo brush unless your furniture is plagued with pet hair. But a second battery might be worthwhile.
The Miele Triflex HX1 Cat&Dog is easy to use, well designed and impressively powerful on floors and more. It really offers the cleaning power you’d expect from a corded cleaner. But the ‘up to 60 minutes’ run time is 34 minutes if you’re using the floorhead (which you probably are) and just 17 minutes at top power. Fortunately the lower power setting is good enough and 34 minutes is long enough for a couple of rooms.
You wouldn’t be able to vacuum a whole house thoroughly on one charge. You’d need a second battery or to clean little and often. Its 0.5-litre capacity is on the small side too. You’ll need to empty the dirt canister regularly, but this is easy and isn’t messy.
The Miele Triflex HX1 gives Dysons a run for their money. We missed the Dyson V11 Absolute’s charging dock and fluffy hard floor roller, but the Miele’s convertibility and sheer cleaning power won us over. If you don’t mind the price, the HX1 is a great buy. If you want the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair, we’ve also got another dedicated guide.
Ideal Home’s rating 4 out of 5 stars
Best cordless vacuum cleaner for small homes
Image credit: Dyson
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.1Ltr
Weight: 1.5kg
Reasons to buy:
• Lightweight
• Glides across hard floors
• Impressive power
Reasons to avoid:
• Not for carpets
The Dyson Micro 1.5kg is part of a new fleet of cordless vacuum cleaners from Dyson. It’s the lightest and smallest cordless vacuum in this guide, and with an entry-level price when compared to other Dyson models. The vacuum is very powerful, and we were impressed with the way hair didn’t get stuck around the roller brush.
Attachments include a soft roller cleaner head, mini motorised tool, and combination tool. While there is no roller for carpets, the mini motorised tool worked well on rugs and car upholstery in testing. We found that the battery life was just shy of half an hour, which is a way off Dyson’s 50 minute promise, but because the vacuum glides so effortlessly across floors, it made quick work of kitchen floors and hallway dirt and dust.
While it’s probably not a top pick for large homes thanks to the small size of the dustbin, the Dyson Micro is well suited to flats and would also be a great pick for those who have an upright or canister vacuums for their heavy duty cleans, but want something for those midweek sweeps that can sit pretty when not in use.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full Dyson Micro 1.5kg review
Best cordless vacuum cleaner for affordable power
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.6Ltrs
Weight: 3kg
Reasons to buy:
• Great for quick cleans and small homes
• Reminds us of the Dyson, at a much lower price
• The trigger doesn’t need to be held down
Reasons to avoid:
• No charging wall bracket included
The Vax Blade 32V’s cyclonic stick design is reminiscent of Dyson handhelds, but the chamber is horizontal. Tip it to one side and press a button to empty. Twist the other side to remove the washable filter.
Handling is similar to the Dyson V11 Absolute in terms of size, feel and excellent manoeuvrability. But it comes with just one big brush head and two detail tools (a brush and a crevice tool). Fewer tools then, less to store, but we miss the Dyson V11 Absolute’s soft head for hard floors.
The trigger is under your thumb and you just press it once, you don’t have to hold it down. Lights indicate charge and there are two extra buttons: one turns boost mode off (the default is on, which increases suction but halves battery life), the other makes the brush bar spin (the default is off).
Cleaning is impressive. It could replace the main vacuum cleaner in a small home and is superb for stairs and quick clean-ups.
Again it’s too top-heavy to stand up on its own. It comes with a very simple wall bracket that doesn’t include the charger – you’ll have to plug it in each time.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best cordless vacuum for battery life
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.8Ltrs
Weight: 2.9kg
Reasons to buy:
• Decent tool selection
• Pivots to reach under furniture
• One of the most powerful vacuums we’ve tested
Reasons to avoid:
• Switching out brush rolls is fiddly
The Beko Powerclean has a similar design to some of the best Shark vacuum cleaners, featuring an elbow feature that can bend down to reach under furniture without making you reach so far. It’s immensely powerful, too. There are three strength modes, but we found that we hardly needed to use the stronger settings because the lower mode was more than capable of tackling most messes.
With the Beko Powerclean, you get a good range of attachments, including the crevice tool, carpet and hard floor brushes, mini motorised brush head, flexible extension, and dusting tool. Switching out the tools is easy enough, but you need to twist a little screw attachment to remove the brush rolls and switch between hard floor and carpet. This takes a minute or so, but we also experienced that both carpet and hard floor attachments were versatile enough to do a good sweep of the entire home without switching.
The vacuum has a stand included, with a groove to hold the vacuum handle and charge it when not in use. Charging takes three hours, and the battery life is about 45 minutes. Controls work with a thumb trigger, and above this are the plus and minus buttons you’ll need to adjust strength.
From the LED headlights to the incredibly strong suction the Beko Powerclean VRT94929VI Cordless Vacuum Cleaner seriously wowed us. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to find it in stock.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Beko Powerclean VRT94929VI Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review
Best workhorse cordless vacuum
Bagged or bagless? Bagless
Dust tank capacity: 0.4Ltrs
Weight: 4.1kg
Reasons to buy:
• Great for tangle-free cleaning
• Easy storage
• Plenty of attachments
Reasons to avoid:
• Lacking in maneuverability
The Shark Anti Hair Wrap IZ251UKT is big and heavy (4.1kg) enough that you might forget it’s cordless. So although it’s a top-heavy stick design, you won’t be waving it around. But you’ll also forget because the cleaning power is impressive. Its multi-stage powered floorhead whips up dust and hairs brilliantly and boasts ok headlights.
Battery life is up to 40 minutes and we tested the pet version that comes with two batteries, so you can double it. It also comes with a host of accessories, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing: where are you supposed to store them? There’s a crevice nozzle, brush, upholstery tool, an adjustable thin wand that’s good for getting behind radiators and under furniture, and because it’s the pet model a small motorised turbo brush too.
The bulky floorhead does a great job of cleaning: the combination of powered brushes seems to lift everything. They’re also designed not to get tangled with long hairs and our test bore this out. There are two power settings under your thumb, one for hard floors and one for carpets. But you can also pull a trigger with your index finger for a temporary power boost.
Just as impressive was storage: push a button halfway down the tube and the whole vac folds in half so you can stow it away in a cupboard.
It makes a good handheld vac too, and the dust canister is easy to empty once you remove the tube to convert it. But with the tube, we found the machine too heavy for it to feel easy in the hand for cobwebs.
In all, with two batteries and powerful cleaning, it makes a good replacement for a corded upright cleaner. You don’t have to plug it in but it’s not really lighter or more manoeuvrable than a corded model.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner
Bagged or bagless? Bagged
Dust tank capacity: 1.6Ltrs
Weight: 2.6kg
Reasons to buy:
• Very lightweight
• Generous tank size
• Ideal dustbin for those who want a bagged vacuum
Reasons to avoid:
• Fiddly to control
This new contender has an unusual design, with a lightweight (2.6kg) carbon fibre body and curvaceous styling. The handle is unusually positioned at the top too.
It’s a stick-style cleaner with a powered floorhead (no headlights) and two tools: a crevice nozzle and a dusting brush. They push on to the cleaner with the tube for cobwebs and awkward corners, or straight onto the body for use as a handheld vac.
It’s a bagged cleaner with a decent capacity of 1.6 litres. It comes with 53 compostable paper bags, enough to last years. The run time is up to 60 minutes, but will be much less on high power, using the floorhead.
The controls are good. A power button under your thumb turns it on and it always starts at the middle one of the three power settings. You press the other yellow button to cycle between them. This works well as you rarely need the top setting and the low setting is a bit weedy.
The thin blue button in between turns the powered brushes of the floorhead on. Every time you turn the vac on, you have to push this again. That’s a bit annoying.
Also annoying is the way the floorhead easily clicks to lock at 90 degrees… this top-heavy cleaner can’t stand up by itself, so what’s the point? It’s annoying when it happens mid-cleaning.
But the floorhead cleans well, with and without the brushes spinning. And we love the fact that the Halo Capsule is lightweight. Even the charger is petite. It leaves us wishing that the tube was in two pieces, so that the whole cleaner could pack down into a small kitchen cupboard: that would be novel.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Image credit: Vax
Budget around £150 for a good-quality cordless with decent cleaning power. But you can spend more than three times as much on premium models. More money can buy you powerful suction, longer battery life or better tools.
Some of the best cordless vacuums we tested came in at the £250 mark. If you can afford it though, it’s worth spending the extra money. More power and longer battery lives will pay off in the long-run, and the convenience of a cordless vacuum won’t be outweighed by limited power.
Bagged vs bagless?
It’s a tricky choice. On the one hand, bagless vacuums reduce the environmental impact and the expense of buying vacuum bags, only to throw them away. However, removing dirt from a bagless vacuum isn’t without its challenges. Hair can get wrapped around the filter and you’ll likely let off a bit of a dust cloud. Of course, brands like Dyson are constantly developing solutions to this. The new Dyson range has ejector technology that makes emptying the dustbin completely hands-free. For this tech though, you will have to pay.
Charging your cordless vacuum
It can take anywhere from three to six hours to charge a cordless vacuum in-between uses. If you plan on using it as your main vacuum cleaner, you need to opt for one with the battery life to make it through your home before you have to recharge, or you’ll have to go back later for different rooms.
Some cordless vacuums come with replaceable batteries, meaning you can switch out for a new, fully-charged battery if the one you’re using dies. We did text every vacuum in this guide for battery life, the most successful being the Dyson V11 Absolute with a mighty 60 minutes.
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