Are you planning to travel to St Petersburg, Florida soon? Read our tips below on the things to do in St Petersburg, Florida with suggested tours! The city of St. Petersburg is modern, open, and has pleasant and very clean streets, many shops, and elegant restaurants. The city surprises by the Salvador…

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A country full of amazing history and culture, China is surely one of the best countries to explore. Below is a list of Traditional Chinese Festivals to witness. China is undoubtedly one of the countries having maintained its rich culture, amazing history, and unique traditions. These are highly shown in…

The post Top 8 Popular Chinese Festivals You Must See [Festivals in China] appeared first on Two Monkeys Travel Group.

The one thing this owner was sure about when she and her husband were looking for a bigger home? She didn’t want another Victorian house. ‘I’ve always hankered after a mid-century style house and really thought that’s what we would find when we moved,’ she says. 

‘At the time, we were living in a nice area of Brighton, close to a park in a typical property for the area. It was a tall, thin Victorian town house, which was a bit top heavy, with a postage stamp size garden. But, with three boys, we knew that quite soon we’d need more living space inside. Plus a larger garden,’ says the homeowner. 

Also on their check list was a village location, a property with four, possibly five bedrooms, and a garage. ‘Our search area was ridiculously large, and we ended up looking at loads of real homes. Nothing felt right, until we saw this one. The house was on the outskirts of a village, in a plot of just under two acres with a wraparound garden. In fact, we knew it was right for us before we walked through the door… despite it being Victorian!’ she says.

Living room

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

With the search and purchase finally over, the family were able to move into their new Victorian house, which felt strangely familiar. ‘Although I’d had a hankering for a very different style of property, there was something almost comforting about being in another Victorian house,’ says the homeowner. ‘If felt like our old home, but bigger.’ 

The new property didn’t need any structural work and they were able to concentrate on getting the interiors exactly as they wanted. ‘The downstairs rooms physically flow easily from one to another,’ the homeowner says.

In the big open-plan living room, two rugs and two pendants are used to zone areas for a more intimate feel. The Mobile chandelier is from West Elm and Multi vintage rug from Louis De Poortere.

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

‘We liked the wood flooring downstairs, but decided to spruce it up by having it resanded and varnished,’ says the owner. At one end of the sitting room, she chose Civic Bee wallpaper by Timorous Beasties, which is a piece of artwork on its own right.

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

Dining area

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

The bay area of this room makes the perfect spot for a formal dining table.  ‘It was tricky deciding how best to delineate which areas were to be used for what,’ the homeowner says. ‘But in the end we were able to create a dining area at the far end of the sitting room.’ 

As well as having a different layout from their previous house, this the scale of their new home was much larger. ‘Because we decided to leave most of our furniture behind, we were able to choose the correct scale of furniture for these rooms. We knew what we wanted, but were also able to find similar and cheaper products on eBay. I would say, though, that it’s worth investing in good quality furniture that gets a lot of use,’ she says. 

The owner mixed four Wishbone chairs and two Kartell Louis Ghost Armchairs with the Extra Large Conker Dining Table from Loaf. The blind fabric she chose is Shima in Turquoise from Designer’s Guild. 

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

Kitchen

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

This large kitchen is the ideal space for the family to gather. To create a sense of continuity throughout the house, the owner referred to tear sheets from magazines that she’d collected over the years.

‘I realised that just because a scheme has been planned, it doesn’t have to match – it can have a theme of a colour or style,’ she says. And, having already had experience of using stronger colours, she wanted to give this house a more dramatic feel. ‘I’ve always loved strong colours and wanted to try out some more here, particularly from a blue palette,’ she says. The blue touches add interest and energy to the grey kitchen ideas. 

Geometric tiles give the Shaker units a modern edge. The bar stools are from a selection at Rockett St George and the Concrete Hanging Lights with Gold interior from Gant.

Bedroom

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

In the main bedroom, the walls are painted in Peignoir Estate Emulsion from Farrow & Ball. The floorboards were painted white to add to the airy feel in here with a sheepskin rug from Habitat to make sure it feels cosy underfoot.

Bathroom

Image credit: Robert Sanderson

The homeowners liked the bathroom as it was, so didn’t feel the need to change the pink bathroom ideas. For a similar coloured bath, try the Duke Blue range at Victorian Plumbing.

The house is now finished, and the experience has made the couple feel a little more confident to be bolder with colour and furniture choices. ‘If we ever moved again, I’d be tempted to go even bolder,’ says the homeowner. ‘I might even be tempted to use a green palette next time, but if history is anything to go by, the property will probably still end up being Victorian again!’

Original feature by Penny Botting

The post Discover the sparkle of a detached Victorian house in the country appeared first on Ideal Home.

The cold nights and chilly mornings are here, which means that the best electric blanket should be high on your to-buy list. Whether you’ve never used an electric blanket before or you’re replacing an old or broken model, here are our top picks for warmth – and for style. Gone are the days of electric blankets being associated with your grandparents (they definitely had a smart idea, though) as we’ve found everything from smart options to faux fur electric blankets plus more.

There are two types of electric blankets to choose from – an under electric blanket which sits atop your best mattress, and underneath your fitted sheet. Alternatively, an over electric blanket is designed to be used on top of a duvet, or draped over your body whilst on the sofa.

Max up the comfort level in your home and ensure that you never climb into a cold bed ever again. For head-to-toe warmth, an electric blanket is a safe bet, plus, selected electric blankets even let you control only the side that you sleep on. So, if your bed partner is a warmer sleeper than you, there’s no need to worry. You’ll each get your own control, too, so there’s no need to argue.

As well as keeping you cosy, electric blankets have other benefits: the heat they provide will increase blood circulation and help your muscles to relax. This can alleviate any muscle tension, stiffness or pain from arthritis. What are you waiting for? Our top picks are just below, to see you through 2022 – and beyond.

The best electric blankets to buy this year

1. Dreamland Cotton Heated Mattress protector

The best electric blanket for a quick heat-up time

This economical electric blanket from Dreamland costs as little as 1p per night to run for seven hours. It fits like an elasticated fitted sheet, so it is really easy to throw on your bed. It hugs the mattress really well with a generous 38cm deep skirt. Made from 200-thread-count cotton, it is soft to the touch, breathable, and the deep quilted finish makes it feel all the more luxurious.

The pièce de résistance is the addition of dual controls so you and your partner can pick your own setting. If they’re ever away, you only need to heat up your own side of the bed. It features a very handy ‘Ready For Bed’ five-minute pre-heat button. Turn this on before you clean your teeth, wash your face etc, and by the time you’re prepped for bed it will be ready for you.

In addition, it comes with a choice of five different heat settings which you can select for just 1 hour as you nod off. It can even stay on all night, for nine hours. After your chosen time, it automatically shuts off.

If you do opt for the all-night setting, it cleverly detects and responds to any temperature changes whilst you sleep. Available in all sizes from single through to super king with dual controls available from the double size up. This electric blanket can be washed at 40 °C and tumble dried on a low setting.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

2. Slumberdown Perfectly Warm Luxury Electric Blanket

The best electric blanket with dual controls

Crave cosy toes or full-body warmth? New to the market from Slumberdown is this cleverly designed blanket that can target four different sections of the bed; the dual controls give you and your partner the option to monitor your own side and the extra foot warmth is a lovely feature that will appeal to hot water bottle fans who have a preference for toasty toes.

To fit, lay the blanket flat on your mattress and secure it with the re-enforced elastic straps –they wrap underneath the mattress so once in place, won’t budge. It isn’t as long as the mattress so make sure you pull it down the bed so the area underneath your pillows isn’t covered.

There are 9 warmth settings for your body and feet and you can also set a timer ranging from 1 – 12 hours. Heat-up time could be a little quicker (so plan ahead) but after 15 minutes it’s ready to go. I found the temperature just right but some might prefer it a little hotter.

The indulgent, quilted fleece on top is the piece de résistance and adds extra thickness and a lovely squidgy layer to your mattress (a bit like a heated topper!) – this is a really comfy addition that can be easily removed and machine washed separately. Both layers can be washed on a 40-degree wool cycle.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

3. Dreamland Alaskan Husky Faux Fur heated throw

The best luxury electric blanket

Image credit: Lakeland

If you prefer your heat source to be over you, this fabulous faux fur heated blanket is incredibly soft and may actually help save money on your heating bill. Costing as little as 1p a night to run, you could turn down your thermostat and stay snug on the sofa with this wrapped around you – perfect if you’ve had a long day and you want to create a hygge haven – light some candles and escape with a box set but be warned, you might find it hard to get up! You can also take it to bed with you though as it works well laid over your duvet.

With 6 heat settings and a ready-to-relax pre-heat button, you can be super snug within as little as 5 minutes; the heat feels really evenly distributed and it responds to temperature changes during use. For peace of mind (if you do nod off) there is an auto shut-off feature that can be set between 1-9 hours. Our only bugbear is the cable isn’t very long so you may need to use an extension lead.

A stand-out feature is the Memory Function – after using your throw for more than 5 minutes, the Intelliheat control will remember your last temperature setting for when you use it the next time.

The throw can be machine washed at 40 degrees on a wool programme but only use a gentle spin cycle.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4. Livivo Deluxe electric underblanket with dual LED controller

The best value electric blanket

Fitting securely to your mattress with the elastic skirt, this electric blanket really is great value for money. It has ultra-thin, non-obtrusive wires and dual controls from the double size up, allowing you to heat both sides of the bed independently.

It takes virtually no time to heat up and comes with five pre-set temperatures (ignore the description online, which says three). There are also pre-set times of 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours, with a build-in overheat protection system.

The digital LED controllers are really easy to use and come with an on/off switch, a temperature, timer and cancel button. They are easily detachable too so you can machine wash the blanket safely at 40 degrees.

Overall, the performance and flexibility are great. And as you nod off and enjoy your warm bed, you can feel safe in the knowledge that this is a thrifty yet reliable buy.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Buy now: Livivo Deluxe electric underblanket with dual LED controller, £44.99, Livivo

5. Dreamland Intelliheat Harmony Super-Soft Heated Overblanket

The best electric blanket for elderly people

Another heated over blanket, but this time in a neutral colour that will suit most decors and spot the satin trim, which adds a touch of luxe.

Available in a single, double or king, hunker down with this blanket that will be up to temperature after only 5 minutes using the Ready For Bed fast preheat button. You then have the option of 5 different temperature settings which you can leave on for just 1 hour or 9.

If you’re worried you will get too hot, don’t panic, this blanket is smart and cleverly responds to any temperature changes whilst you sleep which also helps to minimise your energy consumption. It’s actually designed to go under any additional duvet or bedcovers, this is to avoid any heat loss. You can also place it inside your duvet cover, with the duvet on top to keep the heat in.

If you want to stay toasty at night but you have a memory foam mattress, then a heated over blanket is the way to go. This is because memory foam is a heat-sensitive material that reacts to the warmth of your body and moulds to your shape. The warmth from an electric blanket that is in direct contact with a mattress will cause the memory foam to soften too much and affect your support so it is best to keep any added heat over you.

This blanket can be machine washed and tumble dried at 40 degrees on a wool programme.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

6. Morphy Richards Fleece washable heated under blanket

The best fleece electric blanket

Costing from as little as 2p per night to run, this cosy fleece electric blanket comes with 4 different heat levels with extra heat at the foot of the bed for keeping your toes toasty warm. The fleece feels really snuggly and soft to the touch, a bit like lying on a sheepskin rug.

This one doesn’t offer maximum coverage like the mattress protector versions, so to fit you need to attach the tie cords at all four corners of the bed. The wires are ultra-thin, so you certainly won’t notice these through the fluffy fleece.

It does take a little while to heat up (approx. 15-20 minutes) so you just need to plan ahead a bit. But once the heat starts flowing, you can keep it on all night if you wish. Just be warned – you may find it harder to get out of your toasty bed the next day.

For peace of mind, it comes with a built-in protection system which means it will automatically switch off when it gets to a temperature that is considered higher than comfortable. This blanket is machine washable at 40 degrees and it’s tumble dryer safe.

Ideal Home’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

7. Beurer Monogram Allergy-Free Heated Mattress Cover

The best anti-allergy electric blanket

Image credit: Monogram by Beurer

Use this electric blanket atop your mattress and underneath your fitted sheet to warm your body and sanitise your bedding. Yes, it has been treated with HealthProtection® sanitised fabric technology to protect your bed from dust mites and allergens. Use it for just 10 minutes once a week to keep your mattress fresh and your allergies at bay whilst you sleep. Pop it on your mattress like you would a fitted sheet and it should stay in place all night long.

It works to warm your mattress before you sleep, to a lovely 60°C. It warms up in just 8 minutes and in total, it has 6 heat settings to choose from. Both sides of the bed will benefit from a controller, so there’s no need to lean over to one side when it comes to turning it off before you snooze.

With a pre-heat function, you can switch this on just before getting in your pyjamas and checking that the front door is locked to climb into a warm bed. You can also set it on a timer since it has an auto shut function that can kick in after 1, 3, 6 or 12 hours.

You can wash this electric blanket in your washing machine and tumble dry it on low when need be. Just a note: it’s not designed for use as a loose cover on upholstered furniture, and doing this could cause a fire hazard.

8. Bedsure Electric Heated Throw Blanket

The best electric blanket throw

Image credit: Bedsure

This Bedsure electric over blanket ticks all our boxes – in both the functionality and the looks departments. It’s made from a high-quality flannel fabric that’s chequered to add texture to your home. You can use it atop your duvet on your bed, or draped over your body on your sofa – to keep warm whilst binging Netflix.

With 6 temperature settings on offer, this electric blanket can be tailored to suit your heating needs whilst snoozing or chilling. Plus, it can be set on a timer from 1 to 12 hours. Its control has an easy to read LCD display.

To prevent overheating, this blanket will automatically power off if the temperature gets too high when it’s in use. This gives you peace of mind when using it when you are tired.

This soft-touch comes in your choice of grey or dark grey and you can machine wash it separately on a gentle cold cycle. Tumble dry it on low.

9. Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket

The best electric blanket for occasional use

The Silentnight electric blanket is not designed to fit to the edges of the mattress. Instead, it comes with ties that neatly wrap around the four corners instead, keeping it securely in place. It is a bit of a fiddle to set up and if you’re looking for full bed coverage, then this might not be your first choice.

That said, it is a good option if you just want to use an electric blanket occasionally and don’t feel the need to splash out on a top-of-the-range model. You have three heat settings to choose from, and there is an auto shut-off function, which means the built-in thermal fuse will shut down if it detects a hot spot or a fault in the wiring.

Made from polyester, it is not very soft to the touch and it could do with a bit more padding as the wires do stick out a little. However, this blanket is memory foam compatible.

An added perk is you can also control your Silentnight electric blanket (and other home electronics) with the Silentnight App and Wi-Fi plug. Wherever you are you can use your smartphone to switch the blanket on or off, and even set the timer so it’s warmed up and ready for when you get in. Genius!

Ideal Home’s rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

How do electric blankets work?

Image credit: Lakeland

Electric blankets contain thin electrical heating wires that have been placed into the fabric. An electric under blanket is placed in between your mattress and bottom bed sheet to heat the surface of your bed. An electric over blanket is like a normal blanket that you can spread on top of you. You can also get heated mattress covers and protectors (these come with an elasticated skirt), and heated throws. When you plug the blanket into your electricity supply they heat up, warming the blanket and the surrounding area.

They feature an attached control unit (between the blanket and the electrical outlet) that you use to turn it on and off. This adjusts the amount of heat it produces and how long it stays on. Most blankets will offer different heat settings, as well as timer programmes. Some blankets are designed to up the warmth by your feet with a slightly higher temperature setting at the bottom.

Tip: Always check the cord is long enough to reach the nearest plug socket, or you may need to use an extension lead.

How safe are electric blankets?

Although they are far less hazardous than ones used 20 years ago, you still need to use your electric blanket properly. Never use an electric blanket if you’re sharing your bed with a small child or pet. The Fire Service lists the following safety instructions:

• Always follow the instructions
• Never use an electric under blanket as an electric over blanket, and vice versa
• Keep all blankets flat
• Tie electric under blankets to the bed or mattress – this stops them from slipping and creasing, which could damage them
• Only leave a blanket switched on all night if it has thermostatic controls for safe all-night use. Otherwise, switch it off and disconnect it before you get into bed
• Don’t get blankets wet, and if your blanket does get wet, don’t use it. Never switch it on to dry it.

If your blanket is showing any evidence of the following electric blanket danger signs, you should have it checked, or treat yourself to a brand new one.

• Fraying fabric
• Scorch marks
• Exposed elements
• Creasing or folding
• Soiling
• Damp patches
• Tie tapes damaged or missing
• Worn flex
• Loose connections

What else should I know before buying an electric blanket?

How do I look after an electric blanket?

It’s nice to have a blanket that is as clean and fresh as it is warm. Always check the manufacturers’ instructions first, but most can be washed in the machine at 40 degrees using a mild detergent. Just make sure you detach the controls first!

Some can even be tumble dried, but never use your electric blanket until it is completely dry or you could damage the wiring. Never iron your electric blanket.

How much do electric blankets cost to run?

The price you pay for an electric blanket will depend on your usage. It can either be kept on all night on a low setting, or used for a short amount of time before you get into bed.

Energy Helpline tested a 60 watt and a 70 watt blanket for seven hours a night over six months, which is as much as you’re likely to use the blanket for. The annual cost for the 60 watt was £14.60 (8p a night) and £16.42 for the 70 watt – (9p a night). This is about the same cost as leaving the landing light on.

What if I suffer from allergies?

Don’t worry, you can still enjoy cosy nights under an electric blanket as there are plenty of anti-allergy electric blankets out there. Made from specially-made hypoallergenic fabrics combined with the blanket’s heat, they create a hostile environment for any dust mites.

Can you feel the wires in an electric blanket?

We really don’t think you will! The new models aren’t like your granny’s old electric blanket – the wires used these days are very thin and flexible.

Can you use an electric blanket with a memory foam mattress?

It’s not ideal as memory foam reacts to your own body heat. The blanket will act as a barrier between your body and the mattress, which will prevent the mattress from moulding to your body properly. While it’s not a safety issue, it may make it too hot for comfortable sleep.

How hot do electric blankets get?

The average minimum temperature is around 25°C (the lowest is 18°C). The average maximum is 48°C (the highest is 56°C). All the blankets in our buying guide feature a choice of temperature settings so that you can find the perfect one for you, whether you like it tropical, or you just want a gentle warming hug.

How should I store my electric blanket when not in use?

Always roll your electric blanket as folding could damage the wires.

The post Best electric blankets – 9 top picks to keep you cosy this winter appeared first on Ideal Home.