Keep cosy in your garden throughout all seasons with the best fire pits of 2021. While many fire pits are wood-powered, we have also included gas-fired fire pits for easy ignition and adjustable levels of heat. Of course, fire pits don’t quite rival the best patio heaters when it comes to keeping your hands toasty when it’s cold outside. What they do offer is a charming traditional feel and heaps of style, whether you want something sleek and modern or traditional.

Evening entertaining can still continue with the best fire pit, even though it’s getting colder once the sun goes down. In fact, a fire pit is one of the best ways to enjoy your garden as the leaves change colour and the best BBQ retreats back into the garden shed. Some fire pits even come with grill inserts to turn them into an impromptu cooking station, and even without this, you can happily toast marshmallows over even a little fire basket.

Other than fire pits we also included Kadai-style fire bowls to cradle your firewood at a decent height, to make use of your patio furniture. There are also fire baskets, which are a compact way of enjoying a fire pit and storing it when not in use.

The best fire pits of 2021

1. Waitrose Garden Nest iron fire pit bowl

Best decorative fire pit

Type: Compact fire bowl
What we like: The smart and stylish design
What we don’t like: Its lack of handles

Made of hammered rod twigs and with a removable steel bowl, this fire pit from Waitrose Garden is a compact crowd-pleaser. The design is striking and it will age well as it rusts. Because the bowl can be removed it’s easy to remove ash and wood after use, and the frame won’t gather and hold water thanks to its clever design.

This isn’t one for a roaring fire, but if you’re dealing with a smaller space it’s got everything you could ask for.

2. Fallen Fruits Square Steel Basket Firepit

Best budget fire pit

Type: Fire basket
What we like: The simple and striking design, and the price
What we don’t like: It’s a little small

Fire baskets are ideal for smaller spaces, and the Fallen Fruits Square Steel Basket Firepit is also best suited to those with a modest budget. At under £100, it’s a top choice for a roaring fire without the wide design of a mighty Kadai bowl.

The basket has a 360-degree view of the fire and thanks to its steel cutouts, it will give off lots of warmth and a nice glow. Even the container it comes in can be used as firewood, which is a great touch.

3. Crocus Collection Iron Disc Fire Pit Bowl with Tripod Base

Best Kadai-style fire pit

Type: Kadai-style
What we like: Its traditional design
What we don’t like: It’s 90cm wide, which is quite large for some

The Crocus Collection Iron Disc Fire Pit Bowl with Tripod Base is a 3-4mm thick sheet iron coated with fire-retardant paint. It’s also got sleek curved feet to elevate it from the ground, while maintaining that authentic design.

With a size of Ø90cm x H38cm and a bowl depth 24cm it is a generously sized fire put for those who want a traditional spectacle. The legs will heat with the bowl so it is best to place it on a slab of stone or concrete to prevent any damage to your garden or patio floor.

4. Cox & Cox Industrial Style Fire Pit

Best compact fire pit

Type: Compact brazier
What we like: The tall and narrow design
What we don’t like: Stock won’t arrive until early August, so it’s best to order now

Available in both small and regular sizes, this fire pit from Cox & Cox is a compact crowd-pleaser. The design is striking and it will age well as it rusts. Because the bowl can be carried and tipped out it’s easy to remove ash and wood after use, and the frame won’t gather and hold water thanks to its clever design.

This isn’t one for a roaring fire, but if you’re dealing with a smaller space it’s got everything you could ask for. It’s made of raw steel and has that rustic brazier-style design without losing the visibility of your fire as it burns.

5. IvyLine Outdoor Metal Industrial Fire Bowl

Best decorative fire pit

Type: Industrial bowl
What we like: The frost-resistant finish
What we don’t like: Its lack of base

Decorative design pairs with smart venting with the IvyLine Outdoor Metal Industrial Fire Bowl. It’s UV and frost resistant, making it a true all-rounder for summer and winter use. The rust finish also means it will age well.

This striking option enables airflow thanks to the industrial-style plate dimensions. Prepare for a well-stoked fire! Do be aware that the IvyLine Outdoor Metal Industrial Fire Bowl comes without a stand, so you’ll need to account for this in your garden planning.

6. Esschert Design Fallen Fruits Oxidised Woodland Globe

Best fire globe

Type: Fire globe
What we like: That beautiful design
What we don’t like: Hard to tend to the fire

The Esschert Design Fallen Fruits Oxidised Woodland Globe is a gorgeous oxidized-style fire globe with all the charm of a woodland forest. It’s in two pieces: a laser-cut top and a sturdy fire pit bottom (that can be used alone if you’re not in the mood for a feature point).

We can just imagine the gorgeous glow this design will cast in your garden, but it’s definitely not one for those who are short on storage space or who want easy access to the fire for toasting marshmallows.

7. Elementi Concrete Propane Fire Pit Table

Best gas fire pit 

Type: Gas fire pit
What we like: The design is perfect for entertaining on patios
What we don’t like: That steep price

If you want all the joy of a fire pit without the fiddly ignition, opt for a gas fire pit. This Concrete Propane Fire Pit Table from Elementi is a great option for entertaining and it can go on your patio. The gas is discreetly tucked away and it will burn clean because there’s no smoke involved.

At 68cm wide this is a decent size gas fire pit, so gather round with your patio furniture and enjoy the glow.

8. Crocus Rusty Square Fire Basket

Best fire basket

Type: Fire basket
What we like: The laser-cut steel design
What we don’t like: Close to the ground

Sturdy and simple, this fire basket comes oxidised and is made of laser-cut steel that looks great and circulates the air for a well-fed fire. It’s safe to use because of the deep design, and with a width of 60cm and a height of 45cm, it’s a pretty generous option without being tricky to store. You could even use it as storage in the off-season.

This design is a little close to the ground, so be careful about placing it on a prized lawn.

How to choose the best fire pit 2021

Some fire pits are style statements in and of themselves. There are some beautiful fire globes with cutouts that will cast shadows across your lawn, or simple matte black bowls for a more dramatic look.

If budget is a consideration, it’s perfectly possible to buy a fire pit for around £30. Some are a lot more expensive though, with larger and more sturdy designs that will see you through summers to come.

Different types of fire pit include chimineas, which have a (you guessed it) chimney shape, and fire pits, which have a more traditional bowl-style design. Some can even be fitted with a grill for multipurpose use – just stick on some sausages and you’ve got an easy alfresco meal.

Will a fire pit damage my patio?

Most fire pits aren’t safe to place on a patio. Not only can their heat discolour your patio, but they can also potentially burn or crack any slabs or wood because they burn so hot and are often low-lying. That said, there are some fire pits that can be placed safely on a patio. A gas fire pit table is designed to elevate the heat source well away from the ground. 

If in doubt, it’s best to place your fire pit on the lawn. If you do want to place it on the slabs, some retailers advise placing a tile between the fire pit and the patio itself so the patio isn’t damaged. 

Will a fire pit burn my lawn?

Fire pits are definitely better for your lawn than a campfire. If you’ve spent time carefully cultivating your lawn though, you don’t want to risk any burning. Fire pits could well burn the grass, because while the heat is elevated away from the ground itself the grass does sit quite close.

To avoid this opt for something on a taller stand that removes your fire pit from the ground as much as possible. You could also place a slab of tile or stone under the fire pit, which will not only stabilise it but will create a barrier between the bowl and the grass.

The post Best fire pits 2021: eight top gas and wood-fired fire bowls appeared first on Ideal Home.

No matter the size of a household shoes by the front door is always problematic. Taking shoes off the minute you get in and leaving them strewn in the hallway is a trip hazard waiting to happen. Not to mention a complete eyesore, bringing down your hallway decor idea no end. That’s where hallway shoe storage ideas can be come to the rescue.

We like to think we’ll put shoes back in their rightful place after we take them off straight from the front door – do we really do that?! I only ask because I know at any one time I would have at least four pairs by my own front door, despite my best intentions of putting them away after every wear (that was before I installed a storage hallway idea of course). Having storage immediately by the front door solves the problem there and then.

Hallway shoe storage ideas

Look for stylish furniture solutions where you have the space or bespoke built-in storage if you have the budget. Ensure whatever hallway shoe storage idea you choose doesn’t make your space feel restricted.

1. Elevate storage off the floor

Image credit: Future PLC/ Jo Henderson

Choose wall-mounted furniture to elevate storage taking up valuable floor space, extra handy for a small hallway idea. Freeing up the space below the units helps to create a sense of space by being able to see the floor, helping to make even the tightest of hallways feel more spacious.

Keep the colour coordinated, like in this white hallway idea, so that the storage blends in seamless with the flow of the space. Choose to add subtle hints of colour or interest with the addition of decorative accessories and a runner.

2. Repurpose a wicker hamper

Image credit: Future PLC/ Georgia Burns

This brilliantly imaginative hallway idea provides a fashionable shoe storage solution. An attractive wicker hamper is upcycled to become a storage box. Concealing shoes immediately inside the front door. You could buy a basket to do the job, but we rather like the idea of reusing a hamper for good use – with sustainability in mind.

A simple wicker basket adds a touch of country-style to the decor, while being a multifunctional storage option.

3. Make storage multifunctional

Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore

Wall-mount a row of simple storage that can double up as a handy shelf, that aid in concealing the presence of any storage to a certain degree. Use the ledge for trinkets, keys and fresh flowers to give your hallway decor a more personal feel.

Image credit: Dominic Blackmore

Simple pull out compartments allow easy storage for pairs of shoes to stand upright, so they are easily popped in and out.

4. Make a fashion statement with a display unit

Image credit: Habitat

In a well decorated hallway don’t let the storage let you down in the style stakes. This slimline tallboy unit is simple yet sleek enough to feel at home with the thoughtful decor. The three racks provide plentiful storage to keep a few pairs of shoes handy by the front door. It might mean you only want to put your best on show, because they are part of the display.

The top half of the unit allows for storing coats, hats, scarves and shopping bags. To curate more of a display this unit features a stack of beautiful trunks and a trailing house plant idea.

5. Incorporate seating

Image credit: Oak Furnitureland, Canterbury Hallway Stand

Make the storage multipurpose by choosing a storage bench. This handy choice provides somewhere to rest and remove your shoes, then a place underneath to pop them neatly once removed. Because the cubby holes are internal they shoes are only visible from the end, meaning they won’t make the hallway look untidy at any point.

The bench seating provides the perfect spot to add accent colours via cushions and upholstered seat pad.

6. Blend into the background

Image credit: IKEA

Choose modular storage solutions to accommodate all your outerwear, from shoes and coats to umbrellas and hats. To make the plentiful storage feel less imposing in a compact or narrow hallway idea stick to a uniform colour palette. If the storage unit coordinates with the hallway colour scheme it will seamlessly blend into the wall to prevent it overwhelming the space.

IKEA have a wealth of budget-friendly designs to create a bespoke storage solution for your home.

7. Label baskets for a simple solution

Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore

Keep a busy family household in check with a simple baskets to solve shoe storage dilemmas. Assign each member of the family their own dedicated basket, to ensure shoes are easy to find and never muddled up. Simply pop a luggage tag on each one to personalise them and pop in a convenient place beside the front door.

Choose to add a pop of colour or pattern to your hallway decor with your choice of baskets. You could opt for a more robust rubber design if you’re more likely to throw wellies and muddy outdoor shoes into the mix.

8. Dedicate the space under the stairs

Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole

Save floor space by using the ‘wasted space’ under the stairs. This area is so often not utilised to full potential, or if used it is most likely a cupboard that acts as a dumping ground for all sorts of clutter. Putting up floating shelves provides an organised storage system – just as it is or even within a cupboard.

Bring order to the space with simple shelves, wall hooks and storage baskets to ensure everything has a place.

9. Keep storage behind closed doors

Image credit: Nest; String Storage Unit

If you have space dedicate one wall solely to storage with a wall-mounted solution that lives behind closed doors. The door will prevent the hallway from feeling cluttered, but it’s still important to keep it in an orderly fashion behind closed doors. Once that slips it soon mounts up in an overwhelming pile of shoes and coats etc.

This handy String wall unit caters for all storage needs, creating a dedicated zone for each item.

10. Style with an alternative piece of furniture

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Brittain

Choose a piece of furniture that is in equal measure practical and pretty, to conceal your shoe storage in style. A sideboard or console is the most common furniture choice for hallways, but why not think outside the box and opt for a chest of drawers, to allow for additional storage in the top smaller drawers – such as house keys and car keys.

11. Colour code a family shoe collection

Image credit: Dominic Blackmore

Make it fun with pops of colour. In a busy household there will be double the amount of wayward shoes to keep in order. Add a sideboard with a mix of open shelving and baskets to make access easy and simple for all the family. Add colourful baskets to create a system for storage; a most-worn, seasaonl or school shoes – depending on your needs.

12. Coordinate cabinets

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Brittain

Keep your furniture choices in check by coordinating larger pieces with smaller wall-hung units to create a sense of cohesion. Too many different styles would run the risk of making the already limited space feel chaotic over overcrowding, with too much going on.

In this hallways the already busy hallway wallpaper idea is tempered with matching white units to allow the decorated wall to be the most dominant feature in the room.

13. Build modular storage around seating

Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore

Hallway bench seats are a practical and visually pleasing addition to any hallway, but designs are often not cheap. Turn to IKEA for cheap modular options and fix them to the wall yourself, for a budget DIY and decorating option. Create your own seating and storage area to style a hallway space on a budget.

14. Build bespoke units on a landing area

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles

When space is really tight every inch of landing idea and hallway becomes valuable. Building bespoke storage to solve the problem is a smart way to use the space to its full potential. Choose to build a vertical stack of pigeon hole-style compartments to house your households shoe collection. Like this example shows, you have the option to incorporate excess cupboards in the space near the ceiling.

You only really need hooks for coats, although adding doors will of course conceal items – making the space look less cluttered. The design is all budget dependant.

15. Line them up in a large layout

Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole

In a generous hallway size you may not choose to invest in shoe storage at all. In this instance merely keeping shoes lined up and in-check along the skirting helps to ensure the look is one of order. Keep the heels at the wall to avoid shoes being strewn in the middle of the floor, making even a large hallway look untidy and less presentable.

16. Make it moveable with baskets

Image credit: Future PLC

An element of moveable hallway shoe storage means transporting shoes up and down the stairs is easier. A handy basket designed to fit perfectly onto the stairs, many retailers supply these ideal store and carry solutions, ensures no shoes are left or accessories are left on the stairs – preventing a trip hazard.

How do you organise shoes in a hallway?

The key to organising shoes in a hallway is to avoid too many pairs at once. Minimise the amount of shoes you have to organise by returning shoes back to wardrobes and cupboards, keeping only a few pairs handy at any one time. Tall storage units are ideal for small hallway areas, to use vertical space rather than taking up valuable floorspace.

Modular storage solutions help to bring order to walls in a busy hallway, dedicating clear zones for shoes, coats and other garments of outerwear.

How do you store minimal space for shoes?

To store minimal space for shoes in a narrow or compact hallway look for slimline solutions. You can purchase a number of tallboy units that are slim in width, so avoid taking much floorspace, yet tall in height to use vertical space. Choosing wall-mounted storage units will help to keep the floor space, helping to make the storage feel less imposing on the hallway space.

How should shoes be stored on stairs?

It’s tempting to save avoid storing shoes on the stairs, to prevent any potential accidents. BUT you can source specially designed baskets, made to fit the shape of the stairs to make them the ideal size. You can build bespoke storage in behind the space underneath the stairs to provide smart storage solution.

The post Hallway Shoe Storage Ideas – smart solutions to keep an entrance way neat appeared first on Ideal Home.

Minimalists should look away now, as this colourful hallway makeover is one for the maximalists out there. Everywhere you look there is something new to see, it’s hard to believe that this incredible revamp was achieved on a small budget.

Halloween and Christmas festivities have placed revamping hallway ideas high on the to-do list, and this space is bursting with unique inspiration. Kim (@miss_mustard_design on Instagram) from Lancashire took her downstairs hallway, stairs and landing from tired and drab to a vibrant, pattern-filled space.

Colourful hallway makeover

‘My style is what I’d describe as “enthusiastically colour-driven maximalism with a mix of eclectic modern vintage”,’ Kim told furniture company Swyft Home.

‘This transformation was so therapeutic and I thrive off design, pattern-clashing and bold dramatic colours.’

Before

Image credit: @miss_mustard_design

Working to a budget can be stressful for some, but for Kim, it was a walk in the park. ‘I thrive working under pressure with big transformation reveals at very little cost,’ she says.

‘I love the challenging task of working within a budget to create an incredible glow-up. My whole house consists of my own handy work and creativity, and I’m constantly making dramatic changes for less money.’

Although the old hallway design had features such as panelled walls, patterned carpet and pink-coloured wallpaper, it was far from the colour-clashing space with bold wall panelling ideas Kim was after.

Image credit: @miss_mustard_design

The dark woodwork and lack-lustre decor made the hallway feel drab and tired. But now the panelled walls have been painted a vibrant orange.

The old stair carpet has been swapped for candy-pink paint and a runner. Even the bannisters have had a lick of paint and feature leopard-print details.

The walls are bare no more, with an array of prints, plates and mirrors leading the way upstairs. To make sure the hall is perfectly lit, there’s a wall light, floor lamp and a glitter ball overhead – talk about original hallway lighting ideas.

Image credit: @miss_mustard_design

‘I often head to local vintage stores and charity shops to do some treasure-spotting,’ says Kim. ‘It’s amazing what a bit of spray paint can do! Everything can be transformed into a show-stopping statement piece of decor with a bit of love and attention.’

Upstairs, the maximalist treatment continues, with bright-coloured skirting and door frames, jungle-themed wallpaper and stripy carpet.

So, how can lovers of this style of decor emulate Kim’s interior? ‘I’d recommend gathering samples of materials to create a tactile mood board, so you can get a sense and feel of the space you want to transform,’ she says.

Image credit: @miss_mustard_design

‘Paint large colour swatches on the walls in different areas, as each one will react differently depending on the lighting, so it can be quite misleading.’

‘Fabric swatches are always a good idea,’ Kim continues, ‘as then you can sense the mood the material creates. Recreating my design style would be a case of indulging in maximalist soft furnishings, bold colour and pattern with quirky gold statement accessories.’

Image credit: @miss_mustard_design

You can see those gold touches downstairs, with the arch at the bottom of the stairs painted gold. It’s certainly not a hallway that you’d describe as subtle, with every a sea of hallway wallpaper ideas and colour designed to grab your attention.

‘I think you should go with your own personal design style and what you love, rather than being influenced by other people’s style and design,’ says Kim. ‘Interiors are such a personal decision. My house is a complete mix-up of everything we love – dramatic pattern and bold colour that reflects us as a family and our personalities.’

Would you be confident to use this much pattern and colour in your home?

The post This colourful hallway makeover makes a bold first impression – it’s stunning! appeared first on Ideal Home.

A tenner for a pint, anyone? It sounds unimaginable, but that’s how much a pint of ale would cost you if the price of beer had been increasing at the same rate as house prices over the last 50 years.

It’s not that we need in-depth property advice to know that house prices have grown at an unsustainable pace in recent decades, but recent research by Atom bank puts this astronomical house price growth into a fascinating new perspective. House price inflation has outpaced general inflation by almost four times in the UK. If this was the case for consumer goods – and our wages – we would be seeing very different prices as normal in 2021.

Image credit: Future PLC

The £1,448 duvet and the £90k average salary

Yes, this is how much a regular double duvet would cost in 2021 if duvets had increased in price at the same rate as house prices over the past half-century – £1,448. Now that’s food for thought. The average gallon of petrol would cost us £19.73, compared to the current £5 average. Even the cost of basic food items would be huge – nearly £10 per kilo of bananas, for example. Currently, an average pack of five bananas weighing in at around 900 grams costs around £1.

However, if our wages had kept pace with house price inflation, perhaps these prices wouldn’t seem quite so shocking. The average salary in 1971 stood at £1,664, and, back then, you would’ve needed an average of three times this salary saved up to buy a house. Things couldn’t be more different now – the average UK salary of £29,600 requires house buyers to save over eight times that amount to be able to buy a home. Had our salaries increased at the same rate as house prices, the average Briton would be earning £96,579, a figure currently out of reach for the majority of people.

Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes

These figures put into stark perspective just how expensive houses in the UK have become – a situation that has worsened considerably during the Covid pandemic, with housing supply scarce, which has driven up prices to record highs. Paul Elliot, Head of Mortgages, at Atom bank, is hopeful that at least ‘as the stamp duty holiday peters out, the initial urgency that was present will naturally slow, leading to a reduction in the unprecedented growth experienced.’ Fingers crossed.

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