Buying the best wok will give you the perfect tool to cook authentic Asian dishes and quick and easy stir-fries. With a deep and wide design, woks have the perfect shape for tossing vegetables and rice in soy sauce, and if you place them on a flame, the heat will spread along the sides of the wok to create super speedy dishes.

Traditional woks work like cast iron, seasoning over time to create a natural layer of non-stick. More modern iterations include an actual layer of non-stick, and dishwasher-safe designs that won’t give you grief when doing the washing up.

Many of the best woks in our guide feature that non-stick layer, as well as oven-safe designs. A couple will even allow you to use metal utensils when stir-frying, which is perfect for crisping up your salmon skin or breaking up your eggs for fried rice. A wok is very different to some of the best non-stick frying pans, but often will come from the same great brands. That includes Tefal, Ninja, Typhoon, Stellar, and Salter.

How to choose the best wok

Like the best saucepan sets, most people will prefer a non-stick wok for the convenience of dishwasher cleaning. It’s less authentic than the carbon steel woks traditionally used in Chinese cooking, but non-stick will be able to withstand the high temperatures of the hob, even on full blast. You won’t get the same charring that you’d find with cast iron or steel, but non-stick pans are often lighter, too.

Choose a wok with a handle that makes you feel safe. Many metal handles will heat up after prolonged use, but if you opt for one with a keep-cool handle, you won’t be able to put the wok in the oven.

It’s not essential to have a lid for your wok, but if versatility is a concern, you can opt for a rounded lid to create high levels of steam to heat through noodles or cook your chicken all the way through. A glass lid will let you look in to see how your meal is coming along, and they may come with a vent to let out moisture and keep your wok from bubbling over.

1. Stellar Rocktanium Non-Stick Wok

Best wok overall

Width: 30cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Grab handle for easy lifting
• Sturdy non-stick design
• Not too heavy

Reasons to avoid: 

• None!

The Stellar Rocktanium Non-Stick Wok is the best wok for most homes. It’s a far cry from traditional designs, although you’ll find plenty in the rest of our roundup, but the non-stick design is very high quality and will withstand scratches. It can also take a lot of heat to replicate the flash-fried results you’re looking for.

What’s more, it’s oven-safe up to 210 degrees, and it’s got a very generous capacity thanks to the 30cm width. Despite the large design, it’s a good weight, and the curved handle is very easy to hold. Should you want to take it out of the oven, you can hold the handle on the other side of the wok to keep things sturdy. 

The flat bottom is suitable for all types of hobs, but the curved sides are ideal for authentically tossing your stir fry ingredients.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

2. Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK 28cm Wok

Best non-stick wok

Width: 28cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Can be used with metal utensils
• Oven safe up to very high temperatures
• Comes with a lid

Reasons to avoid: 

• Not the lightest

The Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK range continues to impress us with its hardy design. The Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK 28cm Wok is a little heavy, but it comes with a lid included to steam or keep the heat in, and this can also be used on the 28cm frying pans. 

We particularly enjoy the quality of the non-stick on this wok. It’s scratch-resistant and you can use metal utensils to stir your egg fried rice or chicken as it cooks. The range is also oven-safe up to 260 degrees. 

You can use this wok on hobs of all types, and because of the quality of the non-stick, you don’t need to use much oil to prevent food from sticking or burning to the base. It’s also covered by a ten-year guarantee.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

3. Samuel Groves Non-stick stainless-steel wok 32cm

Best premium wok

Width: 32cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? No
Reasons to buy: 

• Amazingly high quality
• Ergonomic riveted handle
• Grab handle for oven use

Reasons to avoid: 

• The most expensive option in our guide

Made right here in the UK, the luxurious Samuel Groves Non-stick stainless-steel wok is a treat from the second you take it out of its woven hessian bag. It’s oven-safe up to 230 degrees, but you’ll need to wash it by hand to keep the non-stick intact. 

It’s a premium pick, and the triple-ply stainless steel is a little on the heavy side if you plan on tossing your stir-fries. This does make it very sturdy though, and the riveted handle allows you to keep your distance from the action. Because it’s metal though, it will heat up when in use, so be careful to not hold the handle too close to the rivets when cooking. 

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

4. Kuhn Rikon Allround Wok

Best lightweight wok

Width: 24cm, 28cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Lightweight design
• Efficient induction-friendly base
• Three-layered non-stick

Reasons to avoid: 

• No lid

The lightest of the woks we tested, if you struggle to toss your vegetables to easily coat them in soy sauce or sesame oil, the Kuhn Rikon Allround Wok is a great choice. It’s got a solid and wide induction-friendly base, and three layers of non-stick protection. 

Because the handle is hollow, it will be much more efficient when it comes to keeping cool after even prolonged use.

You can put it through the dishwasher and the oven, up to 240 degrees. It comes in 28cm and a smaller 24cm width, great for single servings. 

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

5. Typhoon Wok

Best authentic-style wok

Width: 28cm, 31cm
Oven-safe? No
Dishwasher-safe? No
Reasons to buy: 

• Authentic carbon steel design
• Low price
• Lightweight
• Easy to wipe clean

Reasons to avoid: 

• Not dishwasher safe

Typhoon specialises in world foods and cookware, so it’s no surprise that it’s the brand behind the most authentic wok in our guide. With a carbon steel design that’s easy to lift and flip, it’s got a riveted wooden handle that will keep your hand from getting too hot as you cook.

The Typhoon Wok is also a budget-friendly option, and it’s one of the largest we tested at 31cm wide and 9.5cm deep. The sloping sides are completed by a flat base that’s suitable on all hob types. You’ll have to clean it by hand, but it’s easy to do.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

6. BergHOFF Leo 28cm Non Stick Stir Fry Pan

Best wok for multi-tasking

Width: 28cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Sturdy lid with a pouring vent
• Can be used as a sauté pan
• Easy to clean

Reasons to avoid: 

• Quite flat base

We’re big fans of BergHOFF’s Leo range, and while it’s not labelled as a wok, the BergHOFF Leo 28cm Non Stick Stir Fry Pan is designed for the task of stir-frying. The handle is non-stick and ergonomic, as is the lid handle, and the non-stick is very easy to clean.

It is technically oven-safe, but only up to 160 degrees. Because it has a wider base and steep sides, it can easily step in to the task of being a sauté pan or even frying pan for multi-tasking in the kitchen. 

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

7. Tefal Unlimited ON Non- Stick Wok

Best wok for scratch-resistant non-stick

Width: 28cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Thermo-Signal cooking indicator
• Hardy non-stick that resists metal tools
• Thick, wide base

Reasons to avoid: 

• The handle is not the easiest to hold

The Tefal Unlimited ON Non- Stick Wok claims to be made of the UK’s longest-lasting non-stick. It’s got a very wide 17.5cm base, making it perfect for induction cooking, and you can use metal utensils on the scratch-resistant coating.

We really enjoyed the balance of the wok and the design is oven-safe up to 175 degrees. The handle is less grippy than some of our other top picks, but it does a hole to easily hook and display when not in use.

The Thermo-Signal indicator will change colour when the temperature of the Tefal Unlimited ON Non- Stick Wok is ready for searing, which is great for those who want to get a flash-fry perfect for a prawn fried rice.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

8. Salter Megastone Wok

Best wok for steaming

Width: 28cm
Oven-safe? No
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Very durable non-stick
• The matching pan set is one of our favourites
• You can use the lid for steaming and keeping food warm

Reasons to avoid: 

• Plastic handles can’t go in the oven

We enjoyed the Salter Megastone range when reviewing saucepans, and the megastone wok is no exception. The range is made of rough non-stick that’s durable enough to endure heavy use, and the handles are plastic coated, which will keep them from getting too hot when in use. This does mean they can’t go in the oven, but this isn’t essential when cooking with a wok anyway.

The glass lid has a steam vent which can be very useful when cooking fish or heating through noodles. It’s also great for cooking dishes with sauce without reducing the liquid down too much. 

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

9. Judge 35cm Non-Stick Wok Set

Best value wok set

Width: 25cm
Oven-safe? Yes
Dishwasher-safe? Yes
Reasons to buy: 

• Comes with all the extras you need
• Authentic-style lid
• Keep-cool handles

Reasons to avoid: 

• Cannot be used on induction hobs

At an impressive price, the Judge 35cm Non-Stick Wok Set is packed with value. It’s made of classic Chinese carbon steel and comes with plenty of accessories to keep your busy. That includes a serving trivet, seaming rack, turner, chopsticks, and a lid. The lid is curved and reminiscent of more traditional woks.

You can’t use it on induction hobs and the handles are coated with a stay-cool coating. While it is oven-safe (save for the wooden extras) it can only go up to 150 degrees, so be careful. 

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

How we tested the best woks

When testing we considered how fast the wok heated, and how evenly. After all, when cooking with a wok, you’re usually in a hurry to stir-fry a quick and healthy dinner.

Another factor we took seriously was the material used in construction. Carbon steel is the material of choice for most cooks, but these woks are becoming tricky to come by on the mass market, and have been replaced by durable non-stick that aims to replicate its lightweight design. However, you won’t be able to season your non-stick as any remnants will wash away after cooking.

The balance of the wok was a big factor, because it should be able to support itself when left on the hob. However, the handle should also be sturdy enough to flip the wok when cooking, without the bowl being too heavy.

The post Best wok 2021: the top 9 for speedy meals and stir-fries appeared first on Ideal Home.

When it comes to managing household finances, it’s easy to see why you might think some insurances are dispensable. When buying a house you may be unsure about the associated expenses, and ask yourself, ‘do I need home insurance?’, especially if you’re looking to save money on any ‘unnecessary’ expenditures.

But before you decide to give any form of insurances a miss, it’s important to understand which ones will actually make you financially stronger, and the ones you can do without. We ask experts to qualify the home insurance policies everyone should have.

Do I need home insurance?

How many times have you thought, ‘I could save money by not taking out insurance…but do I need it?’ When it comes to home insurance the answer depends on which type of home insurance – buildings insurance or contents insurance.

Image credit: Future/ Colin Poole

‘If you’re a homeowner, legally you need buildings insurance as a condition of your mortgage,’ advises Ideal Home’s columnist and finance expert Kalpana Fitzpatrick. ‘Contents insurance is optional. But before you decide to forgo contents insurance, consider how much it would cost to replace your possessions if there was a theft, fire or even accidental damage.’

Contents insurance covers the cost of the belongings in your home, such as sofas and TVs etc. Having contents insurance means that should any accidental damage occur or a you’re the victim of a burglary, your possessions are covered by the insurance policy in place. While not having to pay a contents insurance premium can save you money, it might cost a whole lot more in the long run should any of the above occur.

‘One in four households do not have home contents insurance, leaving them at risk should they find themselves replacing high cost goods,*’ says Kalpana. ‘If you’re renting, then it’s still important to protect your possessions with contents insurance, although you will not need building insurance – that’s the landlord’s responsibility.’

Is it bad to not have home insurance?

Where you live will determine if it’s bad not to have home insurance in place. For instance Lizzie Schulz, Solicitor at Ashfords, explains; ‘If you own a freehold property, buildings insurance isn’t a legal requirement. But it will usually be required by a mortgage lender on purchase.’

‘If you don’t have a mortgage, then it’s usually up to you whether you have buildings insurance. In any event, you are responsible for any repairs to the property that aren’t covered by insurance.’

Lizzie goes on to say; ‘If you own a leasehold property (a common arrangement for flats), the responsibility to insure can vary. Your insuring obligations are set out in your lease, and you should seek advice if you are unsure.’

‘Usually, the landlord is responsible for repairing and insuring the structure. And the cost is distributed to the leaseholders by way of service charge. However, it is also common for a leaseholder to repair and insure parts of the building that are their legal responsibility. Whilst the landlord covers the communal parts of the building.’ This refers to buildings home insurance, rather than contents home insurance.

‘There is no requirement for a landlord to insure the building that is rented to tenants,’ Lizzie explains. ‘However, it is a common for a tenancy agreement to require that the landlord insures the building. Whether insurance is in place or not, landlords are legally required to repair any damage and keep the property in a reasonable condition at all times.’

Insurance checklist

Image credit: Future/ Nick Pope

There are a few golden rules to follow when it comes to any form of insurance. ‘Always be honest when buying insurance, otherwise your policy could be invalidated,’ advises Kalpana.

‘The cheapest policy may not always be the best one for you. Make sure you buy the right level of cover for your needs,’ she goes on to suggest. Check the excess amounts on your policy to ensure you are paying the right amount for what you can afford, and for what your insurance is in place to cover.

‘You can buy insurance policies using comparison sites, but it is also worth getting direct quotes for the best price. For insurance like car and home, note down the expiry date and shop around for a new deal before it ends. As auto-renewal prices are not always the best.’

‘If you are buying or renting a property, your solicitor is qualified to advise you on your insurance obligations,’ explains Lizzie Schulz, Solicitor at Ashfords. ‘They can direct you to reputable insurance brokers to get you started.’

*Association of British Insurers

The post Do I need home insurance? Experts explain the legal requirements appeared first on Ideal Home.

When refreshing your home, there’s nothing better than a new wallpaper to revive and reinvigorate your walls. The wallpaper trends coming up for 2022 offer so much scope in terms of styles, colourways and themes.

The love for wallpaper ideas has gone through varying periods of popularity over the years, but it’s very much having a moment right now. Largely thanks to homeowners becoming braver with decorating choices – our homes are bolder and more expressive.

‘Wallpaper is a key trend for 2022, and the insatiable appetite from consumers doesn’t look like abating any time soon,’ says David Harris, Design Director at Andrew Martin. ‘Whatever your taste, there is something everyone, from traditional florals and trompe l’oeil, to contemporary geometric and tropical patterns or animal motifs and architectural designs.  The usage is also bolder and braver. If you have the confidence, there are endless possibilities.’

Wallpaper trends 2022

‘One trend we have seen across the board and that we expect to continue, is clients’ confidence and willingness to be more playful with design,’ says Rosie Ward, Creative Director of Ward & Co. ‘As a result of spending more time at home, our clients are more on board with adventurous patterns, texture and bold colour, or play with scale and form.’

Whether you’re creating a feature wall or creating an entirely new scheme, read on to discover the now and next in wallpaper trends.

1. Blooming florals

Image credit: Pondering Peonies Duck Egg Wallpaper, £99 per roll, Woodchip & Magnolia x Fearne Cotton 

‘Florals for wallpaper? Groundbreaking. No but really, they just work,’ says Nina Tarnowski, Founder of Woodchip & Magnolia. ‘They can also be adapted to suit any space or design style. Always consider the size of the room when making florals work in your space. The bigger the space, the bigger you can go with the bloom. For more compact rooms, stick to the smaller, more intricate designs to make the space look bigger.’

2. Wood effect

Image credit: Bavaria, £49,99 per sqm, Naturewall

Bring a hint of the natural world into any room of the room with wallpaper disguised to look like bare wooden walls.

‘The desire to be more connected to nature has increased over the past year, with the importance highlighted of its benefit on wellbeing,’ says Olivia Crosher, interior designer at Naturewall. ‘People are wanting to add the warmth and depth found in natural colours and materials to their interiors to make their homes comfortable, calming, and relaxing environments.’

3. Restorative prints

Image credit: Restore in Midnight, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown

Wallpaper trends are about more than what’s stylish and cool – it’s a reflection of our values and where we are in the world.

‘When designing our Wallpaper of the Year 2022, we really took our time to consider what is important to us and what we have valued over the past year,’ says Maryanne Cartwright, Design Manager of Graham & Brown. ‘As time seemed to slow, we had a moment of self-reflection to consider the environment around us from the protective shells of our homes, we discovered the importance of self-care.’

‘Through the limited access to the outdoors, we have truly appreciated the importance of nature, and the natural calmness that we find in the elements. This led us to the creation of Restore, its wild and trailing detailing references the natural habitat reclaiming the urban spaces, questioning our impact on the environment and a need to reconnect with natures healing qualities.”

4. Graphic design

Image credit: Collection L’Atelier in Assemblage, £116.80 per roll Casamance

Art-inspired prints are a recurring trend in wallpaper design, and this year the graphic, abstract style is leading the pack.

The trend of abstract cut-out design has changed and morphed quite a bit since its take off in popularity a few years ago,’ says Jess, designer and data analyst at Hovia. ‘We are seeing creators experiment with different materials now, such as wood, paint, canvas, and weaving. Over time this trend has evolved from a digital style to more tactile designs with focus on textures and textiles.’

5. Trompe l’oeil

Image credit: Library in Multi, £143 for a pack of 2 rolls, Andrew Martin

Trompe l’oeil, the french term meaning to trick the eye, is essentially a 2-D painting or print that creates the illusion of being 3-D. This type of design has been more regularly seen in murals and wall panels rather than full wallcoverings, but for 2022 it’s taking over all four walls. That said, you can always think about how to wallpaper a feature wall if you want to make a single wall statement.

Choose a print which reflects the purpose of the room it’s covering, such as shelves of books in a home office, plants in a morning room, or an ocean inspired effect in a bathroom.

6. Fun in the cloakroom

Image credit: Coral in Lapis, £76 per roll, Missprint

Your cloakroom is often the only bathroom guests will see and it’s not somewhere anyone spends a huge amount of time, so take this opportunity to show off your style and push your boundaries while you’re at it.

‘Cloakrooms are ideal for embracing unique style and making a statement,’ says Rebecca Drury, Co-Founder, MissPrint. ‘Ensuring big impact in small spaces, colourful and patterned wallpaper is ideal, from bold geometric designs to large-scale botanical prints. Colour blocking will also come through as a bold way to inject some colour into a room or combining a mix of patterns and prints.’

7. mural

Image credit: Wintermorgen, £166, Wallpaper Direct

‘We’re seeing a resurgence of one of the oldest decorative treatments, the mural,’ says Melanie Adams, Global Manager of Wallpaper Direct. ‘These larger scale wallcoverings enable you to set the scene and effortlessly add character and personality to your space.’

‘Murals come in all shapes, sizes and themes from historical interpretations to contemporary wall art and with many designers incorporating into their wallpaper collections, are becoming much more accessible.’

8. Sporting style

Image credit: Round The Island in Indigo, £135 per roll, Mulberry Home

Statement wallpapers are always very much on trend, but one of the newest variations on this is by introducing a bit of whimsy. Wallpapers depicting sports and country pursuits will be a popular choice over the next year. Bonus – you absolutely do not have to play or follow the sport to appreciate or use the designs.

‘With a spirit of individuality, sporting pursuit designs follow the 2022 wallpaper trend,’ says Ann Grafton, Managing and Creative Director, Mulberry Home.

9. Architectural inspiration

Image credit: Hey! Manhattan in Weathered Cedar, coming soon to Mini Moderns

Instead of travelling, we’re bringing other cities into our homes for 2022. Last year, the look was very much far-flung, holiday-inspired tropical destinations, but now that the world’s opening up again, we’re looking towards busy, cosmopolitan regions. Choose a graphic interpretation of a skyline for a contemporary effect.

‘This wallpaper is an unapologetically personal paean to their favourite city,’ say the experts at Mini Moderns. ‘Look closely at the abstract forms to discover two bridges, a couple of famous skyscrapers and an endless stream of traffic making its way uptown. The torn paper aesthetic lends an energy and immediacy to the design, capturing the vitality of the city.’

10. Bathroom wallpaper

Image credit: Matki

Bathrooms are a wonderful place to add wallpaper for a fun hit of colour and print in a typically neutral and plain area.

“We are going to see a move away from cool greys and sleek whites in the bathroom towards warmer, bolder and more vibrant tones,’ says says Rebecca Drury, Co-Founder, MissPrint.

When choosing which of the bathroom wallpaper ideas you’re going to use, make sure to consider waterproof wallpaper if using over a bath or around a shower, but washable and wipeable should be enough if covering areas out of the splash zone.

Wallpaper trends from 2021 that are still going strong

As much as we love the newest and freshest wallpaper trends, there are a few designs from last year which are still popular. Anyway, remember that what’s most important is finding a wallpaper that you and your home love, rather than what the newest design trend is.

These are our favourite trends from 2021 which going to continue being popular in the year to come.

1. Modern wallpaper borders

Image credit: Woodchip & Magnolia, Garden of Eden Grey Border, £99

Woodchip & Magnolia are bringing back the retro trend for wallpaper borders. Introduce a striking, contemporary take on the retro 80’s wallpaper trend with a captivating wallpaper border, to break up walls and add an element of fun to a decorating scheme.

”We’re bringing back the much-loved 80’s wallpaper border trend, but with a contemporary twist’ says Nina Tarnowski of Woodchip & Magnolia. ‘These supersized mural-style borders can transform and elevate any interior, from invigorating rainforests to tranquil landscapes, each design transports you to another world.’

Image credit: Woodchip & Magnolia, Nidra Moss Green Border, £99

You can use a statement wallpaper border at any height, but they are most effective when pasted inline with traditional architectural design details

Nina adding, ‘With so many decorating possibilities, they work wonders placed in the centre of the wall displayed like a piece of art, or higher up as a scene you might admire whilst lying in bed or the bathtub. Our newest technology now means they have the best moisture-resistant properties, meaning you can pop one along your kitchen as an eye-catching splashback or place a serene scene in the bathroom for an oasis of calm.’

2. Artistic lines

Image credit: Black and White Pose Mural, from £30 per sqm, Wallsauce

Line drawing and abstract Picasso-style portraits have been popular for the last few seasons, but very much with a focus on accessories. This year that bold trend is moving to walls, with Wallsauce reporting the designs as a key seller for 2021. Not for the faint hearted this bold and beautiful wallpaper trend is an expression of self.

Line art designs range from large-scale murals to smaller face prints to suit all rooms. ‘We think that this line art wallpaper would look amazing on the largest wall in a bathroom paired with sage-green painted walls’ says Wallsauce. ‘Add a monochrome tribal patterned bathmat, tasseled towels and tropical leafy green plants to go with this unique face wallpaper.’

3. Textured walls

Image credit: Astrea, £140 per m, Fermoie

Textured wallpaper is seeing a huge comeback this year, whether it’s sumptuous upholstery or tactile soft furnishings – homes need to be layered with texture. We want the decoration to speak to us, literally as if whispering ‘touch me, I’m irresistible’.

Many fabric and wallpaper specialists are working to combine the two mediums. The results are beautifully decorative surfaces that are neither one nor the other, they become a decoration in their own right. One such company doing so is Fermoie, with a paper backing service available on all Fermoie fabrics, the perfect way to bring walls to life alongside soft furnishings.

Image credit: Ashanti Wallpaper, £448 per roll, Andrew Martin

‘Add interest with textured wallcoverings. Grasscloth, cork or paper backed silks define a design direction so simply. They add immediate depth and can demonstrate Parisian Glamour or Saville Row sophistication at a stroke,’ explains Martin Waller at Andrew Martin.

‘Gone are the days of just printing on paper, you can now embellish corks, grass-cloths and silks with pretty much any design.’

Is wallpaper popular again?

Wallpaper never quite left, but it’s certainly risen in terms of popularity over the past couple of years. Part of the reason for this is that there are simply so many innovations in design that you can find whatever it is you’re after in terms of texture, colour or pattern. Whatever it is you’re looking for, there are a few rules of thumb which can help you cut through how many options there are available. ‘Wallpaper has a huge impact on the mood of a room so it’s key to get the design right,’ says Martin Waller from Andrew Martin. ‘When choosing wallpaper, consider the size of a room. Smaller scale patterns work well in big rooms, but can overwhelm smaller spaces. Larger scale patterns work well in most rooms but think about lighting, as this can affect the look of wallpaper and make a colour appear lighter or darker.’

Are wallpaper borders out of style 2022?

Wallpaper borders are not completely out of style, but they have been updated. There are a couple of trends for this year which involve borders. The first is an inversion of the traditional border, by keeping your room either painted or painted in a single bold colour, with a border made from a strip of wallpaper. The alternative is by painting the wallpaper border instead. For a cool, modern look choose a contrasting shade. If you’re after a more calm style, choose a complementary tone to that used in the wallpaper.

What colour wallpaper is in for 2022?

There are a range of on trend wallpapers for this year, but one is head and shoulders above the rest. This normally goes off the back of the various ‘Colour of the Year’ announcements from paint companies, and for 2022 light blue was the only direction to go in. Dulux names a pale blue called ‘Bright Sky’ as their choice, while Graham & Brown went for a mid blue named ‘Breathe’.’When choosing our Colour of the Year we considered sustainability and the need to take a breath, this soothing mid blue hue invokes a cool calmness in almost any room creating a space for reflection,’ says Maryanne Cartwright, Design Manager at Graham & Brown.

The post Wallpaper trends 2022 – the styles that are already the talk of the town appeared first on Ideal Home.

If you’re considering investing in one of the best boiling water taps for your kitchen, then our expert buying advice is here to help. While they’re not always the cheapest, the best hot water taps and boiling water taps will transform the way you cook. Boiling water is stored underneath the sink, and will be available to top up your tea or some instant noodles with just the touch of a button.

A lot of the boiling water taps in our guide come with designs that can simply replace your kitchen tap, without the need to fit a new hole into your worktop. They come with taps for cold water, hot water, and one that will deliver boiling water.

In our best boiling water tap guide, we’ve included 7 of the best models on the market from Grohe, Qettle, Quooker, InSinkErator, Franke, and Perrin & Rowe. Some will include water filters, and all come with top-of-the-range safety features to keep you and your family safe when you’ve got a boiling water tap in your kitchen.

In many ways, boiling water taps and hot water taps are safer than even the best kettle. They have switches that can’t be confused with the cold or hot water taps, and lights that only show when the boiling water mode is activated. 

Boiling water tap, or hot water tap?

One of the biggest factors when buying is whether to get a tap that delivers true boiling water at 100°C or one that’s a fraction cooler, also known as an ‘instant hot water tap’.

A couple of degrees makes little difference if you’re filling a saucepan to cook pasta or making up a hot water bottle, but true 100°C water is better for everything from making tea straight from the tap to sterilising baby bottles.

Throughout this buyer’s guide, we’ve outlined the water temperatures each tap delivers and called the water from the ones that are lower than 100°C ‘near-boiling’. You could also call it ‘kettle hot’.

Best boiling water tap 2021

1. Grohe Red Duo

Best near-boiling water tap

Delivers: Hot, cold and filtered near-boiling water
Temperature: 99°C
Tank capacity: 3 or 5.5 litres
Design: L, C or U spout; multiple finishes
Reasons to buy:

• Great child lock
• A-rated energy efficiency
• Small boiler footprint

Reasons to avoid:

• Not 100°C

Grohe Red taps are rated A for energy efficiency thanks to a titanium boiler with excellent insulation. It takes very little energy to keep the water at the required temperature. Water is dispensed at 99°C.

What sets Grohe Red apart is its child lock, tested and certified by renowned German Safety Testing body TÜV. You must press two icons to start the near-boiling water: one then the other. And the outside of the spout is safe to touch.

The second you take your finger off the button, the water stops. However there is a pot-filling function that delivers up to 3 litres of near-boiling water in 60 seconds without keeping your finger on the button. Testers have remarked that it runs slower than expected and it’s true that that’s half the speed of your regular hot tap.

Add a mixing valve and you can also mix near-boiling and cold to make warm water. Your kitchen probably has a hot water supply but a clever feature uses a little of the near-boiling water initially to boost its temperature when you run warm water, just until the hot supply is up to temperature. No more wasting water before doing the dishes as you wait for it to warm up.

The M-size boiler (37cm high) has a 3 litre capacity while the L-size (49cm high) boils up to 5.5 litres. Both have a 21cm diameter, so a small footprint.

Water is filtered before it enters the boiler and Grohe has recently launched cartridges that filter out impurities but add essential minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

2. Franke Minerva Electronic 4-in-1

Best space-saving boiling water tap

Delivers: Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered boiling water
Temperature: 100°C
Tank capacity: 5 litres
Design: L or J spout; multiple finishes
Reasons to buy:

• True 100°C boiling water
• Handy pre-set controls
• Large boiler fits behind plinth

Reasons to avoid

• Quite pricey

The Franke Minerva Electronic 4-in-1 delivers boiling water at 100°C. We especially like the way its large boiler can be hidden behind a plinth. Its pre-set touch controls are especially user-friendly.

The tap automatically switches to child safety mode when not in use. Pressing the electronic dial on one side wakes the tap from its safety standby mode and it glows white. Then twist to select a mode: it glows red for filtered 100°C boiling water and blue for cold filtered water.

Once you’ve picked a mode, two taps of the dial deliver either 30 seconds of filtered 100°C boiling water or 15 seconds of filtered cold water. Three taps of the dial deliver either 60 seconds of filtered 100°C boiling water or 30 seconds of filtered cold water. With these automated settings, you can let go once it’s triggered. Press again if you want to stop early.

Water flow can also be controlled manually by turning and holding the dial to give more or less water than the pre-set options. A separate lever on the other side delivers regular hot and cold water.

The boiler’s capacity is large at 5 litres, but with an innovative boxy design that has a large footprint but is just 15cm high, so it fits behind the plinth of your kitchen cupboard. Everything else under the counter, including the water filter, is in a smaller box. Installation is simple and plug-and-play.

3. Quooker Fusion

Best boiling water tap for add-on features

Delivers: Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered boiling water
Temperature: 100°C
Tank capacity: 3 or 7 litres
Design: C or U spout; various finishes
Reasons to buy:

• True 100°C boiling water
• Optional huge capacity
• Option to add chilled and carbonated water

Reasons to avoid:

• Add-ons are pricey
• Big boiler option takes up more space

The Dutch-designed Quooker was the first ever boiling water tap. It delivers true 100°C boiling water. If money’s no object, you can double down and add a Quooker Cube, which dispenses sparkling and still chilled water from the same tap too.

The Fusion’s control is an easy-to-grip textured metal ring just above the lever. You push the ring down twice to unlock (that’s the childproofing) then turn it to control. An LED light ring glows red to indicate that you’re on boiling water mode.

Push the ring down once and it lights up blue for filtered cold water. This is also how you dispense chilled and carbonated water if you have the Cube add-on.

Flow of boiling water is similar to the Grohe at around 3 litres a minute, showing that boiling water taps just don’t flow as fast as regular hot water. The boiler capacity is either 3 litres (considerably more than a kettle) or a supersized 7 litres.

The Fusion has a contemporary look but there’s a Fusion Classic with more detailing that’s better suited to traditional kitchens and a Flex that has a handy pull-out hose (used only for regular hot and cold water).

4. Franke Omni 4-in-1 Boiling Water Tap

Best boiling water tap the full 100°C

Delivers: Boiling, hot, and cold water
Temperature: 100°C
Tank capacity: 4.2 litres
Design: C or Swan Neck, stainless steel
Reasons to buy:

• Up to 5 bar pressure
• 3 year guarantee
• Filtered water function

Reasons to avoid:

• No safety light

Franke is a premium pick of the best boiling water taps. The Omni has four modes: cold, hot, boiling, and filtered. It’s available in stainless steel and a range of other metallic shades.

At 4.7 litres, the Franke Omni has a medium-size boiling water capacity that will be perfect for those who want lots of tea on tap, but don’t have the space to fit a larger boiler.

Going up to 100°C boiling water, you can pick from C or Swan Neck designs. It has a minimum 1.5 bar design and goes up to 5 bar pressure. The spring-loaded lever requires a push to activate, but there’s no light that shows when the boiling water mode is activated. 

5. Qettle Signature Modern

Best-value boiling water tap

Delivers: Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered boiling water
Temperature: 100°C
Tank capacity: 2, 4 or 7 litres
Design: J spout; multiple finishes
Reasons to buy:

• Great value
• True 100°C boiling water
• Optional huge capacity

Reasons to avoid:

• Design less fancy than some premium models
• Big boiler option takes up more space

It’s hard to fault the Qettle for one good reason: price. It dispenses true 100°C boiling water plus filtered drinking water, as well as regular hot and cold, yet it costs less than rival taps. Its filter cartridges are more affordable than rivals too.

The design is nice enough too. The spout has a J shape, it comes in a range of metal finishes and you can choose between Modern for a contemporary kitchen or Classic, with its white lever handles and subtly flared base. But it doesn’t have the fancy design details and glowing lights of premium boiling water taps.

The Qettle’s affordability is down to a clever design with four different waterways. That means there’s no electronic components to switch between sources (read: less to go wrong). The boiler comes in three sizes – 2, 4 or 7 litres – and the taps are stainless steel and engineered in the UK.

Safety-wise, you have to depress a button and hold it down to turn the dial to dispense boiling water, to prevent mistakes (rather like the button for turning a shower temperature up high). There’s also an optional safety cover to keep little hands off it altogether. The spout is insulated, so cool to touch.

Qettle offers an optional add-on for dispensing chilled water. Sparkling water is literally in the pipeline: they plan to introduce that option early in 2022.

Buy direct at Qettle.com

6. InSinkErator 4N1 Touch Tap

Best discreet near-boiling water tap

Delivers: Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered near-boiling water
Temperature: 88-99°C
Tank capacity: 2.5 litres
Design: J, U or L spout; multiple finishes
Reasons to buy:

• Good looking
• Compact boiler
• Option to add chilled water

Reasons to avoid:

• Not 100°C
• Small capacity

InSinkErator boiling water taps are endorsed by multi-award winning interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE as a “no brainer… perfect for anyone with a busy kitchen and lifestyle”. The Italian-made taps look great but the fact that they don’t dispense at 100°C will put some buyers off.

The boiler features a digital, adjustable thermostat that lets you set the water temperature from 88°C to 99°C. The boiler is compact at 2.5 litres; it’s a shame you can’t pick a larger one.

The easy-to-grip hot water handle has a push-lever safety locking mechanism. This ensures the flow of water stops immediately as soon as the lever is released.

Touch controls mean you can do clever stuff like tap the InSinkErator for 30 seconds of filtered water at ambient temperature, perfect for filling a water bottle. There’s also an optional add-on for filtered, chilled water at 3-10°C.

Our favourite design touch is the fact that it’s so discreet: it looks like a normal, two-lever kitchen tap but there’s a subtle button on the front.

Buy direct at InSinkErator

7. Perrin & Rowe Armstrong 3 in 1 Instant Hot Water Tap

Best traditional near-boiling water tap

Delivers: Hot, cold and filtered near-boiling water
Temperature: 75–98°C
Tank capacity: 2.4 litres
Design: J spout; multiple finishes
Reasons to buy:

• Exquisite build quality
• Compact boiler
• Operates at low water pressures

Reasons to avoid:

• Not 100°C
• Small capacity

This polished brass tap is part of Perrin & Rowe’s award-winning Armstrong range, hand-crafted in the UK. Build quality is exquisite with thicker plating than industry standards and the dual-lever design doesn’t look like a hi-tech tap at all.

It dispenses filtered, near-boiling water as well as regular hot and cold water. Capacity is small at 2.4 litres but at least that means that the boiler under the counter isn’t too bulky. You can set the temperature between 75°C and 98°C.

There is an anti-scald locking mechanism to prevent youngsters using it. The tap operates from as low as 1.5 bar pressure, which stands out as some rivals require a higher mains water pressure.

Buy direct at Perrin & Rowe

What is the running cost of a boiling water tap?

Fortune Brands

Energy consumption is genuinely low. All the brands here that have quoted energy costs put it at 3-10p a day to keep the water in the tank hot, thanks to insulation. Compare this with boiling a kettle, forgetting and reboiling. Or boiling more than you need accidentally. You might even save energy.

Running costs include replacing the filter cartridge every six months. These range in price with the affordable Qettle being the cheapest for cartridges too.

Take a look at more kitchen essentials with the best coffee machines

Are boiling water taps safe?

If you’re considering investing in the best boiling water tap, you’ll want to know if it’s a safe and worthwhile investment. We spoke to Anne Kaarlela, Marketing Communications and Customer Service Manager for InSinkErator to find out if boiling water taps are genuinely safe.

“InSinkErator specialist kitchen taps benefit from a self-closing, easy to grip, steaming hot water handle with push-lever safety locking mechanism. This ensures the flow of water stops immediately as soon as the lever is released, so it is inherently safe as well as eliminating the risk of leaving steaming hot water running. 

Using a steaming hot water tap, or combination tap, is a safe way to heat hot water for use in the kitchen. It makes the kitchen worry free as it eliminates the kettle and its trailing cord, hot cooking zones or naked flames from a gas hob. It also makes everyday tasks much quicker, convenient and efficient, while eliminating the time and energy lost waiting for the kettle to boil and saving precious worktop space.”

Take a look at the best slow cookers for more top picks

How do boiling water taps work?

Boiling water taps vary in how they work, but for most, they will connect to the plumbing of your kitchen taps to fit a miniature boiler underneath the sink. This will create a constant supply of hot water, on-tap.

“InSinkErator taps fit easily under all sinks and simply need an electrical connection. They require space under the sink in order to mount the tank, along with a small filtration unit. However, minimal space is needed under the sink.”

A boiling water tank will pass regular cold water through a filter before heating it to the desired temperature. “To dispense the steaming hot water, users must push the safety lever down and pull the handle towards themselves. Once the handle is released, the flow of steaming hot water stops.”

The post Best boiling water taps 2021: how to pick the right one for your kitchen appeared first on Ideal Home.