A stellar lineup of some of 2021’s most spectacular Christmas trees.

The post 5 stella Christmas trees in popular cities appeared first on The Travel Magazine.

It sounds simple enough but when it comes to home insurance, the specifics of what does home insurance cover is often confusing. Principally home insurance is divided into two main categories – buildings insurance and contents insurance. Both are insurances for the home and it can be easy to mix the two up when talking about them both as ‘home insurance’. 

However the two are actually very different, as our experts explain. We’ll clarify the difference between the two types of home insurance cover that every household needs.

What does home insurance cover?

Image credit: Future PLC

‘Home insurance is divided into two main categories – buildings insurance and contents insurance,’ explains Sarah Applegate, Data Lead at Aviva General Insurance. While both cover homes, the two are not to be confused because they both do very different things. ‘Buildings insurance is different to home contents insurance,’ Sarah explains. ‘Buildings insurance covers the elements which make up the main structure of the home. Contents insurance is designed to cover the possessions within your home. These include things such as furniture and furnishings, clothes, TVs and tech equipment.’

Ask yourself, ‘do I need home insurance to cover my property or just my belongings?’ If you’re not the freeholder of the property, you most likely won’t need buildings insurance – contents insurance should be sufficient.

‘Most home insurance policies, with any provider, operate in similar ways and cover broadly the same items,’ Sarah advises.  ‘But policies do vary from one insurance provider to another, so it’s always best to read the small print and know what to look out for.’ 

‘It’s always worth checking with your provider. If you have any queries or concerns, it’s always sensible to check the terms of your policy or speak to your insurer.’ 

Does home insurance cover water leaks?

‘Both types of home insurance – buildings and contents – normally cover the damage caused by water leaks,’ Sarah explains. ‘Aviva claims data shows that ‘escapes of water’ are one of the most common causes of claim amongst home insurance customers.’

‘Home insurance covers the damage caused by a water leak and often covers reasonable costs to remove any part of the internal structure of the home needed to find the source of the leak. So in other words, if a plumber needs to cut through a ceiling or remove tiles to get to a leaking pipe, this is often covered.’ The insurer may also cover the costs of ‘making good’ after the leak has been fixed. As always, it’s worth checking the small print.

Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson

Will home insurance cover plumbing?

Water leaks and plumbing emergencies are not one the same thing. As Sarah explains, ‘Home insurance usually covers the damage caused by water leaks. This could be water from a burst pipe, but it won’t necessarily cover plumbing emergencies or boiler breakdowns as standard.’

‘Standard home insurance is different to “home emergency cover”. This would provide cover in the event of a plumbing emergency, such as a blocked drain or toilet. Boilers are also sometimes covered as part of this home emergency add-on. Some insurers offer home emergency cover as an optional extra to their home buildings or contents cover – or as a standalone product.’

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from rain?

‘Home insurance can cover water damage from rain, but it is dependent on how that rain water entered the property,’ warns Ryan Fulthorpe, home insurance expert at gocompare.com*. ‘If, due to poor upkeep and maintenance of the property rain water is able to damage the property, then Insurers may class this as wear and tear and not cover this incident.’

‘However if the rain water has come in through a storm event with wind removing roof tiles leaving the property unprotected this could be an incident covered under your policy.’

Is there a home insurance that covers everything?

‘Home insurance providers offer an array of product offerings,’ explains Ryan. ‘The best way to make sure you are getting the cover you need is to use a price comparison website, like GoCompare. This allows you to compare insurance offerings to select the cover that is right for the individual circumstances.’

Does home insurance cover bad workmanship?

‘It’ss unlikely damage caused by bad workmanship be that, maintenance, repairs, or renovation will be covered under your buildings and contents insurance,’ says Ryan. ‘However the contractors should have liability insurance to cover anything that goes wrong.’

‘If it is damage caused by DIY, accidental damage cover may cover the incident but do check with the insurer.’

Does house insurance cover garden walls?

Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes

‘With the garden falling within the boundaries of your home buildings insurance it will usually cover the structures within that, therefore including garden walls,’ Ryan explains. ‘Consumers can check their policy documentation to understand any possible exclusions or speak directly to insurers.’

Like with all things home and insurance related, get everything in writing for clarity. Should any claims arise in the future – you’re covered. 

*Ideal Home and Go Compare are part of Future plc.

The post What does home insurance cover? Different home insurance covers explained appeared first on Ideal Home.

Ahh, the trusty hot water bottle. Whether you’re someone who is always cold or you’re forever reaching for your current (albeit old) hot water bottle to soothe cramps or aches and pains, these are the top options that are all stylish and super functional. Plus, don’t forget that a hot water bottle makes a great gift idea for pretty much anyone – who wouldn’t want to unwrap an actual bundle of warmth? It goes without us saying that the ones on our list below are especially great.

Searching for more buys to help you unwind? Check out our best mattress guide and replace yours with one of these top-selling buys

We’ve searched high and low for stylish hot water bottles that you’ll want to display on your bed – because why buy a plain one when you can go all out? There are plenty of options out there now, from faux fur hot water bottles to knitted hot water bottles and even personalised options. See our top picks and put your kettle on.

Otherwise, something as simple as the best pillow might do the trick

Whether you’re replacing your old hot water bottle and only need a cover, or perhaps you’re looking for a hot water bottle to target something specific? We’ve spotted hot water bottles that are designed to wrap around your neck and aid relaxation, others that are made for soothing period pains and even a few personalised hot water bottles for style and warmth. Get yours now whilst the weather is cold, to use at home in bed or to take on a chilly camping trip or staycation.

The best hot water bottles to buy

1. The White Company’s Super-Soft Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle

The best luxury hot water bottle

Image credit: The White Company

This ultra-luxurious option from The White Company is wrapped in a faux fur long pile fabric to conceal the heat – and to look lovely whilst keeping you warm. It’s super soft and it comes in four colourways from Dove Grey to Mink, Almond and a Natural colour. The bottle nestled inside is made of natural rubber, and the cover is machine washable for ease of use. Whether for using yourself or gifting to someone special, it ticks all our boxes.

2. Dunelm Teddy Bear Cream Long Hot Water Bottle

The best long hot water bottle

Image credit: Dunelm

Fill this long hot water bottle and drape it over your shoulders to aid relaxation – and to soothe your muscles. Alternatively, it’s great for placing over your stomach to soothe cramps, or for perching across your feet to keep your toes warm. All in all: it’s pretty versatile thanks to its shape. It also comes with a teddy bear boucle-like fabric wrapped around it, to act as a thick barrier between the hot rubber bottle and your skin. When necessary, this cover can be machine washed and line dried.

3. High Fibre Design Hand Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cover

The knitted hot water bottle of dreams

Image credit: High Fibre Design

This adorable hot water bottle has been hand knitted with a chunky weave cover, designed to both look the part and play the part. There are two sizes to choose from including a mini option, and you can pick either Ivory or Light Grey. It’s 100% lambswool so you can’t wash it in your machine – meaning hand wash it is! It doesn’t come with a rubber bottle as the idea is that you use one that you already own. Other than that, it’s definitely a sumptuous buy and it would make a lovely present idea.

4. Catherine Colebrook Floral Liberty Cute Personalised Hot Water Bottle

A lovely personalised hot water bottle

Image credit: Catherine Colebrook

Gift this hot water bottle to a special someone who is always cold – we all know a person! It’s rectangular in shape and although it might look like a microwaveable hottie, it’s not. Inside the decorative floral cover lives a 0.5L bottle that you fill with hot water for warmth. Personalise the letter on the front to suit your first name, and choose from a range of colours including a glitter option. Handmade by a small business, a matching eye mask is also available. Plus, it can be gift wrapped, too.

5. Dunelm Teddy Bear Grey Neck Hot Water Bottle

The best hot water bottle for your neck

Image credit: Dunelm

Thanks to its unique shape, this teddy bear hot water bottle from Dunelm is perfect for soothing your neck – and for using whilst working from home or binging Netflix. Essentially, it’s like a travel pillow but you can fill it with hot water for warmth. It’s supportive and soft, and most of all: different! Though obviously, you can only really use it around your neck.

6. Matalan Christmas Alphabet Velvet Hot Water Bottle

A trusty Christmas hot water bottle

Image credit: Matalan

Yes, there’s such a thing as a Christmas hot water bottle – and you’re going to want one. From Matalan and wrapped in a luxe velvet cover, they come embroidered with your initial on the front, as well as decorated with stars. They come in different colours depending on the letter you’re buying, and each one has a 700ml capacity. Not just for use at Christmas, believe it or not, but you’ll want to cosy up with this personalised buy all winter long.

7. Wuka Wearable Hot Water Bottle

The best wearable hot water bottle

Image credit: Wuka

Yes, you can wear this hot water bottle. Not out of the house (you can, but we wouldn’t advise it as people might stare a little) but you can wrap it around yourself and fasten it so that it can warm you up whilst you walk around and do your chores. Or whilst you chill on your sofa. It’s actually created for soothing stomach pain and period pains – genius! – and it has a cosy fleece cover for added warmth. The best part? Other than the fact it stays where you want it to sit, it has a pocket for your phone to live. Its bottle is made from natural rubber and in size, this hot water bottle measures 77cm long.

Buy now: Wuka Wearable Hot Water Bottle, £24.99, Wuka

8. Sparks and Daughters Personalised Embroidered Velvet Hot Water Bottle Cover

A luxury velvet hot water bottle

Image credit: Sparks and Daughters

How cute is this velvet hot water bottle? It’s from small business Sparks and Daughters, and it can be personalized with your initial. It comes in a range of colourways and with a beautiful ribbon for fastening closed. Soft on your skin, you can take this with you to bed, use it whilst you’re watching a movie on the sofa or even bring it to the office with you. Plus, there’s the added bonus that if you choose gift wrapping, it arrives looking lovely, all in eco-friendly recyclable packaging. Note: this is just a cover, a rubber hot water bottle does not come included.

Where to buy a hot water bottle?

Still searching for a new hot water bottle? See below and shop yourself.

• Argos hot water bottles
• Amazon hot water bottles
• Boots hot water bottles
• Dunelm hot water bottles
• Etsy hot water bottles
• John Lewis & Partners hot water bottles
• Not on the High Street hot water bottles
• The White Company hot water bottles

How to fill a hot water bottle?

To fill your hot water bottle, you’re going to want to boil the kettle. Once it’s boiled, leave the water to cool down for a few minutes and then you can unscrew and fill your hot water bottle. Sometimes, hot water from your tap might do the trick but since you use hot water bottles with a cover, it might not be hot enough to feel the warmth.

How much water do you put in a hot water bottle?

You should fill your hot water bottle just less than three-quarters of the way up. Before screwing its lid on, you might want to squeeze the air out otherwise they can pop.

The post Shopping edit – 8 stylish hot water bottles for keeping warm and cosy appeared first on Ideal Home.

You’ve chosen your colour palette, your furniture is just where you want it, but something’s still missing – and it’s often what to display on the living room walls that can leave us pondering. That’s why we’ve come up with 10 tips for decorating the wall  behind your sofa, so you can make sure that the big expanse of wall behind your seating is just as eye-catching as the rest of your living room ideas.

Whether you want to update your existing scheme or are looking to give the entire room a makeover, the behind-the-sofa spot is a great display space that you can really use to your advantage. From living room wallpaper ideas and paint effects to artwork and shelving, there are lots of ways to give this blank wall a bit of pizzazz – and we’ve found 10 of the best ways to transform your space.

10 Tips for decorating the wall behind the sofa

If you’re finding yourself wondering what to hang or how high to hang it, then you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve got lots of inspiration and styling tips to ensure you don’t make an expensive mistake.

To start, you’ll want to weigh up the decor in the rest of your room – if you’ve got a particularly busy interior, then maybe a bit of breathing room is just what’s needed? Alternatively, maybe you need some lighting in this spot, or a place for some plants or family photos?

It’s also worth taking into account your living room layout – does your sofa sit flush against the wall or is there space behind for a sideboard or console? Once you’ve got an idea of what’s needed, then you can get on with the fun part: choosing the decor and accessories.

1. Hang a gallery feature wall

Image credit: Future PLC

Gallery walls have become hugely popular, with a mix of framed prints and other objects used to create eye-catching displays. What makes living room feature walls particularly ideal for the wall behind the sofa is that you can add as many or few items as you like, meaning you can tailor them to the amount of space you want to fill.

Like a neat, modern finish? Use a range of same-sized frames and hang them in a symmetrical fashion. Prefer a more eclectic look? Switch out frames for a collection of fans, woven baskets, plates or a mix of them all. To keep your gallery wall cohesive, use either similar colours or a consistent material. For example, opt for frames in different sizes and colours filled with black-and-white photos, or varying objects all with a ‘natural’ feel and neutral colours (think wood, twine, rope and leather).

Stylist’s tip: Before hanging your display, lay your elements out on the floor in the pattern you’re thinking you want it arranged in and make sure they’re large enough to add impact.

2. Build bespoke shelving

Image credit: Sofa.com

There’s no hard and fast rule that says your sofa has to sit flush against a wall, so why not pull it out and build – or hang – shelving behind it? That way you can fill the shelves with decorative objects that become the stars of the show.

Having shelves behind your sofa also makes it easy to reach behind to grab a book or place the remote control, and as long as the shelves don’t jut out at head height, you don’t have to worry about knocking things off. Here, the shelves have been painted the same colour as the wall, door and door frame in a beautiful blue-grey colour, while the rose-coloured sofa adds a punchy contrast.

Buy now: Teddy two-and-a half-seat sofa in Dusty Rose cotton matt velvet, £2,415, all Sofa.com

3. Prop up large artworks or canvases

Image credit: Sofology

Hanging artworks isn’t the only way to display them… buy large enough designs and prop them on the floor behind your sofa or on a slim console table. It’s ideal for rented properties or if you don’t want to mark the walls. Alternatively, wallpaper or paint tall canvases or MDF panels, which are easy to switch out when you grow bored of them, without the need for redecorating.

Buy now: Lady Muck sofa in Plush Hunter Green, from £1,399, Sofology

4. Create a theme

Image credit: Future PLC

Use the blank wall behind your sofa to bring your scheme to life and show off any theme you might have. Here, a floral design has been carried through to the artworks, with a small table used used to display fresh flowers in the same colours. The birdcage ties in with the birds in the artwork and on the cushions, too.

Stylist’s tip: If you’re using a table or console behind the sofa, make sure it reaches the top of the sofa so you can see the bottoms of any displayed objects clearly.

5. Create height with a shelf

Image credit: Furniture Village

If you don’t have the luxury of high ceilings, one way to cheat it is to hang a shelf up high, as it draws the eye up and creates the illusion of height.

Here, instead of having varying shelves behind the sofa, which can make a small room feel even more enclosed, one long floating shelf runs across the top of the wall, creating a neat spot to display accessories in an orderly fashion

Buy now: Amelie Boutique 2-seater sofa, £799, Furniture Village

6. Practice the rule of three

Image credit: Future PLC

Hanging objects in odd numbers is often key to creating an attractive display, especially when you’re using a range of accessories in different sizes, like these mirrors. All circular in shape, the varying designs add interest, and they’ve been placed in a triangular shape on the wall for the best results.

Decide whether you want space in-between each object, or whether you want them butting up against each other to create the illusion of one giant mirror or artwork.

7. Experiment with texture

Image credit: Naturewall

We’ve seen wall panelling ideas take the interiors world by storm and using a slim slatted design, like this one, makes a big impact with its beautifully textured finish. If you want to go for dramatic effect, then a dark colour like this charcoal black is ideal – or opt for a more natural wood finish to add warmth to your scheme or match to your furniture colour.

Buy now: Charcoal Black SlatWall, £159.99, Naturewall

8. Use decorative lighting

Image credit: Furniture Village

We know you’ll be looking at that statement half-and-half paint effect here, but it’s actually the wall light we’d like to call your attention to. Gone are the days of half-moon designs that you’d rather hide than show off – now there are millions of style-led options that you can use to accessorise your wall, from sconces to picture lights, orb-shaped designs and more ornate lights in all manner of colours and materials.

By placing your living room wall light idea in the centre of panelling, as shown in the image above, it gives the light the attention it deserves and creates a frame-like effect around it. No panelling? Why not use a vintage frame instead – just make sure it’s large enough that it doesn’t crowd your wall light.

Buy now: Sumptuous medium fabric corner sofa, £4005, Furniture Village

9. Play with pattern

Image credit: Curious Egg

Hanging a dramatic patterned wallpaper behind your sofa immediately makes the space interesting and despite it being a large wall, you can let the design do the talking with no need to hang anything else on it. Obviously there’s a multitude of patterns available, so decide whether you want something that ‘pops’ against your sofa, or create a tone-on-tone scheme with the same colour in a darker or lighter shade.

Here, this green floral dog pattern wallpaper features beautiful Dobermann Pinschers facing each other with intensity as they are linked by chain and key. Wrap your entire room in it, or use purely for that sofa wall – either way, you’ll be adding a focal point in your room that’s anything but bland.

Buy now: You Don’t Find the Light by Avoiding the Darkness wallpaper by Feathr, £129 a roll, Curious Egg

10. Clash colours on the same wall

Image credit: Crown; Fairy Dust and English Fire matt emulsion, from £14 for 2.5l; Mustard Jar easyclean matt emulsion, from £25 for 2.5l

Lastly, and perhaps the easiest way to decorate behind your sofa, we bring you paint. We’re not just talking one colour here though… instead, have fun with it and choose a design, whether it’s stripes or spots, a mural or geometric shapes, to create a backdrop that calls to you – as Crown Paints do expertly in this living room.

It’s also a great way to incorporate extra colours into your scheme or refresh your wall without redecorating it in its entirety. Here, a vivid pink and electric yellow paint are set behind a soft blush pink velvet sofa, with the stripes on the wall made less harsh by the curves of the sofa.

What’s the best way to create an impact on the wall behind your sofa?

The best way to create an impact on the wall behind your sofa is by going bold, says Ideal Home’s Style Editor Nicky Phillips. She offers her expert styling advice; ‘Make sure you choose a contrasting colour to your sofa, a pattern you love, an interesting texture or something that will create an impact when hung. Make sure the scale packs a punch too, go for a grid of 8 prints, instead of a row or three, and choose a large scale mural instead of a ditsy print floral if creating a feature wallpaper wall.’

What should I keep in mind when decorating the wall behind my sofa?

‘The main advice I would give is safety, if you are going to hang a long shelf stacked with precious vases, or a large ornate mirror, or even numerous glass fronted picture frames – always make sure you have secure fittings and fastening’ Says Nicky. ‘Maybe even think of replacing glass in frames for perspex.’

How do I plan a gallery wall behind the sofa?

‘Firstly make sure your pictures and other elements are going to be large enough to make an impact,’ advises Nicky. ‘A rule of thumb is that they should cover roughly the same area as the width and height of your sofa. Start by laying out your pieces on the floor in front of your sofa, choosing a pattern you are happy with. This can be symmetrical or random in its design. When you are happy, measure and space carefully to replicate the pattern on the floor onto the wall above the sofa.’

The post 10 styling tips for decorating the wall behind the sofa appeared first on Ideal Home.