Is your bathroom a little lacklustre? Does it need a little bit of love? Do you want to know how to paint a bath? Then get ready to become your very own DIY designer, as we talk you through how to transform your bath in just an afternoons work.
Our bathrooms have a hard task to fulfil, they need to be practical, they need to be comfortable but they need to be attractive too. We use them everyday without fail, and as we’re spending more time at home than ever, they are understandably feeling the pressure to stay looking fresh.
One way to show your bathroom some love, it a complete colour refresh and there are plenty of bathroom colour ideas you could choose from. But if your walls don’t need the attention and it’s that lump of metal in your bathroom that does, then painting your bath could be the ideal solution.
“Colour blocking is a simple, contemporary way to introduce colour to a small space, without it being overwhelming. Pair contrasting shades for an interesting combination and a striking finish that really frames the features of a space. The bath itself is a wonderful place to add a burst of colour,” says Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene.
How to paint a bath
Image credit: Future Plc/Colin Poole
Now we promise it’s easy to transform your tub, but don’t go grabbing that paint brush just yet, before you’ve read through our guide of what you’ll need first. Bathrooms get hot and steamy so you want to make sure you’re using the right materials to cope with the moisture and humidity in the room.
Whether you have a classic freestanding, cast iron bath, or a fitted, plastic one, both can be painted and both can benefit from a lovely lick of paint. Ideally you would paint your bath before being fitted and plumbed into your bathroom, but they can also be painted retrospectively too.
What you’ll need
Newspaper or plastic sheets to protect your floors
A multi-surface primer
A fine sand paper
A good quality paint brush
Your chosen paint colour in an eggshell emulsion
1. Prep your surface
Before you start, put down your newspaper or plastic sheeting to protect your floors. Next check the surface of your bath for any dirt, dust or scuffs. It might just need a quick clean with a damp cloth, or if it’s been previously painted, a quick sand with a fine paper.
Patrick O’Donnell, Brand Ambassador for Farrow & Ball advises, “If you have a cast iron claw foot bath, you can give it an easy makeover but don’t skimp on the preparation! Firstly, sand back the original paint colour and then wash clean with warm, soapy water.”
2. Apply your primer
Using a good quality paint brush, apply a thin layer of primer all over the outside surfaces of the bath you want to paint. With roll top baths, just paint up to the ‘lip’ but not over it and for baths without a lip, just paint the outside to the edges, being careful not to paint inside.
Image credit: Farrow & Ball
3. Apply your paint
Once your primer has dried for at least 4 hours, you can apply your chosen paint colour. Patrick advises, ‘”Apply one coat of top colour in your chosen colour and finish – we would recommend Modern Eggshell for the task. Allow to dry as per manufacturer’s instructions and give the bath another light sand with fine grade paper. Apply a second coat and leave to dry.”
It’s personal preference whether you paint your feet in the same colour, or paint them white to match the inside of your tub, or even another shade entirely! This is your chance to get creative, and as you’ve seen from our simple guide above, it’s so easy to paint your bath, that you can change the colour whenever it takes your fancy.
Image credit: Little Greene
What kind of paint do you use on a bathtub?
Depending of what sort of finish you want, we’d recommend an eggshell paint. This will give you a soft, low sheen, thats not too shiny. If you prefer the more glossy look, then opt for a paint with a mid to high sheen, like a satin or gloss paint.
Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, offers this advice, “There are two bath types which we are often asked about decorating the exterior surface of – cast iron & fibreglass. Application of paint is the same for both, but priming and preparation are understandably subtly different. If in doubt, use a small magnet to check if your bath is plastic or cast iron (the magnet will stick to cast iron). Prime and undercoat to form a tenacious bond with exposed metal and compatible existing coatings, then finish with two coats of our Intelligent Eggshell or Intelligent Gloss paint.”
Can I paint my bathtub myself?
Yes, absolutely! It’s super easy to paint your bath, even if it’s already plumbed into your bathroom. Just make sure to remember it’s all in the preparation and also its worth investing in a really good quality paint brush to give you the best finish possible.
If your bath isn’t freestanding, but is fitted instead, you can still have fun painting the front panel. Whether it’s a smooth plastic front, a wooden panelled front, or even a tiled surface, all of these can be painted to give your bathroom a new look and feel.
“Fibreglass bath panels are typically produced with a gel coat finish. To ensure adequate adhesion a specialist primer should be used before finishing with your colour choice. Make sure bathroom door is left open during all painting and drying stages to provide ventilation and correct drying conditions, ” says Ruth.
Ten, nine, eight – wait! Before you get your guests around to celebrate New Year’s Eve, make sure your home is at its decorative best. Use these New Year party ideas to create a fun space filled with delicious food, perfect for saying goodbye to last year and welcoming in the new.
Whether you’re inviting just your closest friends and family over for a thoughtful dinner and some champagne, or throwing a disco-ready bash for the neighbourhood, there’s inspiration aplenty.
New Year Party ideas
From room decor revamps, to moreish nibbles, tricks for getting ahead and backdrops for extra wow-factor, use these as inspiration for creating the best NYE vibe around.
1. Set the scene
Image credit: Future PLC
The festivities don’t begin when you open the door – make sure you set the vibe right from the off with a decorated exterior. You may still have leftover decs from your Christmas party ideas, but you can alter them if they’re looking a little weary, or you just want a change.
Take down any overtly Christmas pieces, and stick to more simple, pretty pieces. Lengths of white, weatherproof lights or a full garland of seasonal foliage create an effective and sophisticated look without too much cost or effort.
2. Keep an eye on the details
Image credit: Future PLC
Decorations in unexpected spots in – or outside of! – the home never fail to bring a smile. Look for unused ready-made hangers, like door knockers, cupboard handles and light fittings (so long as you can confirm they don’t overheat).
Use these spots to layer on baubles that never made it onto your tree, or that you’ve removed from branches that are starting to wilt. Sprigs of eucalyptus and rosemary are a lovely touch, too, as they will add an aromatic element to your decor.
Plain white walls are the perfect spot to create a disco-inspired backdrop just made for a New Years party. To allow other decorations in the home to shine through and not clash, simply attach a curtain of white fairy lights to the top of the wall. Use existing picture hooks or Command Strips to keep it in place.
If you have the space, add photobooth-style props on a sideboard or in a basket nearby so guests can use this space as the go-to Insta-background moment.
4. Present an impressive but easy display
Image credit: Future PLC
Whether you’re hosting a dinner, or just offering some canapés, by putting some extra consideration into your presentation you can take the most simple offerings and turn it into something extra special.
On a rustic wooden board, or a gleaming gold platter if you prefer glam touches, create a cheese wreath. Simply arrange cheese in a wreath shape and tuck in grapes, figs, chutneys and crackers in any gaps for a full cheeseboard array.
Create leaf crackers like these for extra style. Just use a pastry cutter to make shapes from tortilla wraps and bake in the oven. Keep an eye as they can burn easily.
5. Make festive party pails
Image credit: Future PLC
Send guests home happy with small decorated pails filled with sweet treats or mini toiletries. You can use basic buckets, and then add a little extra glitz for that New Year party touch.
Sprayed paint in a metallic shade, and use masking tape to paint on stripes. Alternatively, stencil on stars or keep it simple with small dot stickers. Arrange the pails in a pretty display in your hall to ensure no one misses out.
6. Decorate with wreaths
Image credit: Future PLC
Wreaths are a quintessential winter party element, and New Year’s Eve is no exception.
To mix things up from Christmas, set aside the firs and holly berries, and choose a relaxed a elegant design of dried twigs and seed heads. If you’re making your own, faux is the way to go as it can take a lot of practise to weave in delicate dried pieces like these.
7. Prepare party nibbles
Image credit: Future PLC
Make hosting as easy on yourself as possible by making some quick and easy nibbles that everyone will live – even picky eater kids.
These tomato, cheese and pesto tartlets are made in less than an hour, so an ideal option for a last-minute nibble.
To make 24 of these, heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5. On a floured work surface, roll 2 sheets of frozen puff pastry into 2 rectangles. Cut out 24 rounds using a 7.5cm cutter. Prick the rounds all over the centres with a fork. Arrange on the baking trays and flash-freeze for 10 mins.
Next, dab the centre of each pastry round with 1/2tsp pesto and sprinkle with 80g Manchego, dividing evenly. Slice 8 small tomatoes into rounds, and place on top, then brush with oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Bake, rotating the 2 trays halfway through, until pastry is golden brown, about 30 mins. Keep an eye on the tarts as the dough rises. Cool completely on the sheets on a wire rack and serve with chopped chives
Voilà!
8. Make a room pop
Image credit: Simon Bevan
Create a fun party for the grown-ups with decorations that will bring the nostalgia out in your guests. Make sure there is plenty of room for people to mingle by clearing the room of large pieces of furniture leaving just a sleek table with stylish chairs is all you need in this funky atmosphere.
Jazz up plain whites wall with random geometric luxe triangles to and continue the glitzy gold theme with a table display of gleaming candle sticks, sparkling crystal pineapples. Then, fill the remainder of the room with ‘old school’ party balloons.
9. Curate your cocktail cabinet
Image credit: Simon Brown
Before you detox your home for the New Year, treat yourself and your guests to a sophisticated tipple during the party season by creating a calm cocktail lounge vibe. Start with an exotic backdrop of opulent trellis wallpaper then go Gatsby style with a statement piece cocktail cabinet.
Continue the decadent theme with a display of gold pineapples and adorn the top with curious and fascinating bird shaped candlesticks. The ornate deco patterns and embellishments get us in the mood for fun and party games.
10. Make some music
Image credit: Future PLC
There’s nothing like a New Years party to make you want to gather round a piano and sing. Whether it’s a slightly tispy rendition of Auld Lang Syne, or you’re getting the party started with some singalongs, make a feature of the music.
Decorate the top of a piano with a light up star, or a few cool mirror balls. Similarly, you could decorate above a guitar or, if you’re more of a Bluetooth person, your sound system.
11. Get ahead
Image credit: Future PLC
There’s so much to do when hosting a party that anything you can do to get ahead and make your life that bit simpler is welcomed with open arms. Make a Bake Off worthy showstopper, but on your own timeline. With this Rose Pavlova Wreath, you can actually make the meringue up to two days in advance.
Heat oven to 150C/Gas 2. Draw a 23cm circle on a sheet of baking paper and place on a baking tray pencil side down. Whisk 6 egg whites and a pinch of salt in a mixer to soft peaks, then gradually add 300g sugar. Whisk in 2tsp rosewater and 1tsp white wine vinegar, then fold in 1tsp cornflour.
Place heaped dessert spoonfuls of meringue around the circle to form a ring. Reduce the oven to 120C/ Gas 1/2, and bake until crisp but not coloured (1-11/2 hours). Turn off the heat and cool in the oven for 4 hrs.
For the praline, dissolve 100g caster sugar in 2tbsp water in a pan over a medium heat. Do not stir. When the sugar has dissolved, increase the heat and bring to a boil until golden. Caramel burns easily, so watch it carefully. Lay 50g toasted and chopped pistachios over a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Pour the caramel over the nuts and leave to cool and set. Break into shards.
To serve, whip 600ml double cream with 25g icing sugar and 1tsp rosewater. Pipe the cream mix around the meringue and crown with praline and physalis.
12. Put on the Ritz
Image credit: Dominic Blackmore
Chose gold for a luxurious New Years Eve dining table theme. Keep the look consistent with candle sticks, cutlery to glassware and crackers. The opulent tone pairs easily with a dramatic colour like peacock blue. Accessorise with yellow hued fairy lights to make the metal sparkle which will in turn throw a vintage ambience around the room.
13. Set up a bar
Image credit: Simon Brown
Turn kitchen storage into a drinks station. A pretty kitchen dresser filled with favourite festive tipples, sparkling glass and cocktail accessories makes an enticing bar area, while a scattering of baubles adds to the celebratory New Year party mood. The cranberry-coloured glass, silver details and white china feel super festive, while tealights add a warm and welcoming glow for guests.
14. Light your living room
Image credit: Paul Raeside
Transform your living room into a blissful social lounge with plenty of gentle mood lighting. Enhance a Nordic blue and linen scheme with a rustic twig planter set centrally in the room and drape with fairy lights and silver ornaments. Then complement with LED lit fir garlands entwined with pine cones and arranged on sideboards. Finally set a pretty display of candle light in hurricane lamps on a low coffee table for an atmospheric and ambient finish.
15. Feast the senses
Image credit: Simon Brown/Homes & Gardens
Create a beautiful buffet that is rich in both food and colour. Turn your cheese table into sensational display by presenting the varieties on wooden boards, cake stands and stylish glass domes set at different levels. Offset the fine cheese with an abundance of seasonal fruits in rich jewel purple tones.
Transform the offering into a work of art by echoing the colours with a dramatic wreath mounted above filled with dried flowers in rich crimson tones. Add a vintage ambience with silver candlesticks and votives.
16. Rustic retreat
Image credit: Mark Scott
Use country motifs for a cosy woodland feel. For a winter cabin get-together dress a dining table with tactile fabrics in earthy tones scatter real pine cones in abundance on the table in amongst chunky church candles. Wreaths and decorations in shining rust and copper finishes will reflect the candlelight and warm the cosy look.
17. Continue a trend
Image credit: Simon Scarboro
Keep the festive feel alive right up to the twelfth night with a traditional Christmas colour theme on your New Year party. Serve up a feast with a wintery grey backdrop and Nordic linen table cloth. Then layer table settings with charming gingham placemats and delightful robin motif crackers.
Finish the rich red and green scene with fresh berry garlands tied to the back of chairs with ribbon and plenty of candlelight for that perfect celebratory ambience that is perfect for family and friends.
18. Adopt a ‘Rock and Roll’ style
Image credit: Simon Bevan
Decorate a funky party that’s set to last into the New Year. Give your urban room gritty glitz by hanging star wall art against an exposed brick wall and drape casually with fairy lights. Throw in some party props like drumsticks to lighten the mood and a single red armchair to rest those dancing feet also injects a pop of vibrant colour.
How do you plan a good New Years Eve party?
First things first – set the scene. Choose your decor theme and design your home around that. For ultimate ease, make it something which links in neatly with your Christmas decorations, to save you from having to move or remove too many of these. Make easy to prepare foods to keep guests sated throughout the evening. Have a bar cart on hand with all your essentials, form an ice bucket, pre-sliced lemons, mixers and alcohol, so everything is in one easy to reach spot. Make sure you’ve got a radio, speaker or TV ready to go so you can join in on the countdown, and why not use some indoor-safe sparklers – or take the party outside – to welcome in the New Year with light and laughter.
Chances are that you’ve heard of dehumidifiers, which work to remove moisture from the air and decrease condensation and mould in the home, but what about humidifiers? Working the opposite way, these machines add humidity to the environment to ease allergies, aid breathing and generally make the home a more comfortable place to be in.
In the autumn and winter months where we tend to have the heating on more, and viruses and colds run rampant, humidifiers can be an invaluable tool in keeping everyone happy and healthy. Run it in the bedroom at night to help reduce snoring, or in the home office during the summer to get rid of that hay fever-induced stuffy nose.
We’ve taken a look at the best humidifiers out there right now to see which are worth the money. You can scroll down to see what we thought, and then head over to our list of the best dehumidifiers to find a solution for every season.
The best humidifiers 2022
1. Vicks VUL565E1 Ultrasonic Humidifier
Best humidifier for large spaces
Credit: Vicks
Room size: up to 35m2 Tank: 4.5L Auto shut-off: Yes Noise: 39dB Dimensions: 30.8 x 21.7 x 24.2cm Power: 21W
Reasons to buy: covers large room size; 4.5L water tank, compatible with Vicks VapoPads Reasons to avoid: relatively noisy
A larger offering from Vicks, the VUL565E1 Ultrasonic Humidifier will be the best choice for those who need to cover a larger bedroom or other space. The device is recommended for rooms up to 35m2, which is the largest surface area of humidifiers on this list, and the 4.5L water tank means longer operation before you need to refill.
The ultrasonic cool mist technology means the humidifier is safe for use around children (as it doesn’t risk accidental burns), and you can also use it with Vicks’ VapoPads, which makes the room smell heavenly as it works to reach optimal humidity levels.
The device has touch controls and an adjustable nozzle, allowing you to better direct the mist to where it needs to go. The only downside is the noise levels, which can reach up to 39 decibels. This is still rated as ‘library quiet’, but it’s slightly higher than some others.
2. Vicks Mini CoolMist Ultrasonic Humidifier
Best humidifier for smaller spaces
Credit: Vicks
Room size: up to 15m2 Type: Ultrasonic Tank: 1.8L Auto shut-off: Yes Noise: 40dB Dimensions: 24 x 21.7 x 20.7cm Power: 21W
Reasons to buy: compact, compatible with Vicks VapoPads, cheap Reasons to avoid: small tank capacity
The Vicks humidifier may be small, but it’s mighty. Running up to 20 hours with a 1.8L capacity, it’s an ideal tabletop solution. Only producing cool mist, it’s safe around kids and animals, and you can either use essential oils or Vicks’ own scented VapoPads to add a nice smell.
There isn’t an adjustable nozzle like with some other models, which knocks some points off, but it does have a dial for you to turn the humidity up or down depending on preference. The machine is recommended for rooms up to 15m2 so, if you have a small space, it’s a good choice.
Room size: up to 24m2 Tank: 1.8L Auto shut-off: Yes Noise: 28dB Dimensions: 17.7 x 17.7 x 26.9cm Power: 24W
Reasons to buy: extremely quiet; easy to clean; night mode Reasons to avoid: smaller tank capacity
Levoit is well-known in the world of at-home air quality, and the Dual 100 Ultrasonic Humidifier is one of our favourites from the brand. The device looks great with a simple, white design, and it’s also perfect for the bedroom with operation at just 28dB and a night mode that switches off the LED lights while you get some shut-eye.
The built-in humidistat means you don’t need to worry about monitoring the levels in your space – the humidifier will automatically detect when air moisture is too high or too low. You can also use ordinary essential oils in the water to add a scent and choose between three speed settings to customise the mist even further.
The Levoit Dual 100 also gets points for ease of use, as you can simply lift the top of the device off to fill and clean it. One downside is the small water tank, but otherwise, this is a great choice. And if you’re interested what else Levoit do, take a look at our guide to the best air purifiers.
4. Beurer LB37 Whisper Quiet Air Humidifier
Best stylish humidifier
Credit: Beurer
Room size: 20m2 Tank: 2L Auto shut-off: Yes Dimensions: 25.5 x 11 x 21cm Power: 20W
Reasons to buy: looks great, night mode, easy to clean Reasons to avoid: smaller tank capacity
Our pick of the best humidifiers for style, the Beurer LB37 comes in either white or – our favourite – dark copper varieties. If like us, you’re regularly cursing the fact that home appliances are so often ugly, then this is one to consider.
Of course, it also works great, with a 2L tank, LED lights indicating air condition and a night mode that makes it suitable for use in the bedroom. You can also add essential oils if you want to create a pleasant aroma, and the brand promises quiet operation and energy consumption.
It’s also very easy to use, with the top twisted off the base for refilling and cleaning.
5. DUUX Tag 2 DXHU14UK Humidifier
Best humidifier for energy use
Credit: Duux
Room size: 30m2 Tank: 2.5L Dimensions: 31.2 x 19.3 x 25cm Power: 12W
Reasons to buy: looks lovely
Reasons to avoid: expensive
Another example of a brand prioritising design alongside function, the Duux Tag 2 Dehumidifier is a sleek and compact option that offers a duo of speed settings and ultra-low energy consumption. Add the up to ten hours of operation, and you can rest easy using it overnight without racking up the energy bills.
The 2.5L removeable water tank is also slightly larger than many competitors, which is why it can last for so long, and you’ll be alerted to the need for a refill by a red LED light on the bottom. Duux claims that the humidifier is suitable for spaces up to 30m2, so it’s recommended if you’re dealing with a slightly larger space.
Do humidifiers help with allergies/congestion/asthma?
Credit: Levoit
Take one look at the claims of any humidifier and you will see that many claim to cure ills ranging from mild hay fever to asthma, flu and dry skin. As with any technology like this, results will inevitably vary, but is there any truth in these claims?
According to Healthline, allergies that cause symptoms such as nasal congestion and inflammation will indeed be relieved by greater levels of moisture in the air.
Dust mites and mould, which can also cause many people to have mild allergic reactions, also benefit from higher humidity but thrive at levels of more than 70%. It’s important to keep levels at around 40-50% for optimal results.
Humidifiers are also touted as an alternative treatment for colds and flu, which can feel worse in dry environments. Indoor heating in the winter can contribute to this discomfort, so it may be helpful to use a humidifier during the colder months if you suffer from breathing issues.
No matter what, humidifiers need to be cleaned regularly to prevent bacteria and mould from developing and causing health problems of their own. Do this with natural solutions such as vinegar, rather than bleach or other chemical cleaners.
Are humidifiers good for babies?
It is thought that humidifiers are particularly useful for new parents attempting to get their babies’ the best sleep quality possible. Like with adults, humidifiers aid breathing and reduce the symptoms of cold and flu. This is especially useful when babies and toddlers are under the weather, as they’re less able to sleep through like older kids and adults.
In general, a higher level of moisture in the air (though not over 50%) promotes better sleep for everyone, including babies.
Things to remember – you should opt for a cold mist humidifier if using close to children, and it’s important to keep your machine clean so the children aren’t breathing in bacteria from a dirty humidifier.
Are humidifiers safe?
Most humidifiers on our list are ultrasonic, coming with the option of cool or warm mist. If you opt for a warm mist humidifier, then it’s important to keep these away from unsupervised children or pets.
It is also recommended by many to use distilled or purified water in humidifiers, rather than water straight out of the tap. There is some debate on this, however, but it’s certainly true that over time tap water will help promote pink mould and mineral dust forming in the machine.
With frequent cleaning, this shouldn’t cause too much of a problem, but it’s something to keep in mind if you live in an area where the tap water is particularly hard.
Which humidifier is best?
The Homasy 4L Cool Mist Humidifier tops our ranking for the best humidifier available right now, with a capacity that dwarfs other models and a runtime to match. The convenience of not having to refill as regularly, the quiet running, and the ability to add essential oils all earn it the number one spot.
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