While they might not be the first element you consider when thinking up your dream kitchen, kitchen sink ideas are definitely one to bring to the top of your list. Hard-working and practical, they are one of the most essential parts of a kitchen re-design, yet are often an after thought or a last minute decision. But their inherent practicality doesn’t mean they have to look boring and ugly. There are numerous sink styles to choose from – be it country, traditional or modern – and there are lots of options for every style, along with some pretty nifty space-saving sink solutions on the market too.

Start by gathering your kitchen ideas to work out which style of sink comes up most, to nail down what look you are most drawn to. That said, your practical needs do still need to take centre stage, as the size, depth and even material will all come into play when making your decision, especially if you have a busy family home.

Take a moment to peruse our kitchen sink ideas and see how this humble basin can transform the look of your space.

Kitchen sink ideas

 1. Take it back to black

Image credit: Future Plc/Olly Gordon

White is no doubt the most common colour for kitchen sinks, but opting for an all black alternative, might fit your kitchen space better and blend more seamlessly into your worktop. Matching it with a black kitchen tap will create a cohesive look and works beautifully in this kitchen where wood textures and surfaces take centre stage.

2. Bring in the glamour with brass

Image credit: Magnet

Buy now: Caple 045-cp 1B brass sink and collander, £376; Adige tap in brushed brass, £129, both Magnet

One way to bring the bling into your kitchen is by choosing a beautiful brass kitchen sink. Brass is becoming more and more popular in kitchens as hardware, appliances, and accessories in this shade bring a touch of luxury to your space. And your kitchen sink should be no different. Again, opting for a matching brass tap unifies the look and lets your kitchen sink shine!

3. Break up bold colour with a simple white sink

Image credit: Future Plc/Brent Darby

A traditional option yes, but a simple, white butlers sink could be the moment of calm in a bold, busy kitchen. Here, the striking teal colour of the kitchen cupboards is broken up with the white sink and provides a much needed break from the colour. A chrome kitchen tap compliments the stainless steel oven and ties the overall look together.

4. Add texture with a fluted front

Image credit: Future Plc/Lizzie Orme

Butlers sinks have been one of the most popular options in kitchens for a while now, sourced both as new replicas, or from salvage and junk yards across the country. Favoured for both their practical and durable qualities, it’s their depth, size and simplicity that makes them a popular choice for family kitchens. To make more of a feature of yours, choose one with a ribbed or flutted front, which will add texture to a smart, sleek kitchen.

5. Position it in an island

Image credit: Future Plc/Colin Poole

When planning your kitchen design and layout it, it’s worth thinking about the positioning of your kitchen sink, as you’ll need the appropriate plumbing to be in place. Usually a kitchen sink would be positioned by an outside wall to allow the waste water to easily flow away, but this  can be adjusted by a professional, allowing you to move your sink to another location. Positioning it within an island could open up your space making it more sociable and will give you a much nicer outlook.

6. Have fun with a bespoke design

Image credit: Shaws of Darwen

How about choosing a bespoke design you’ll love forever? This heart shaped sink, thought up by the team at Shaws of Darwen will bring a little fun to your kitchen and create a talking point among friends. But thinking about opting for a different shaped sink to a traditional square or rectangle, could be the key to your kitchen design and result in something really show-stopping.

7. Pop it in front of a window

Image credit: Future Plc/Darren Cheng

Washing up can be a rather dull way to spend time, but by positioning your kitchen sink in front of a window, it will mean the view can distract you from the mundane task. If your kitchen is at the back of your house, having your kitchen sink in front of a window looking out to the garden, means you can keep an eye on children or pets that might be playing out there. A window will also act as a ready-made splashback, which is easy to wipe down from splashes.

8. Give an old sink a new lease of life

Image credit: Shaws of Darwens

Buy now: Gallery Butler sink 800 in Wild Grass Blue, £788.86, Shaws of Darwens

If your old sink is looking a bit tired and is in need of a facelift, adding decals or even some painted motifs to the front, will give it a revamp. Alternatively, you could look at spray painting an old stainless steel sink, to make it white, black or even another colour entirely! A pink sink will make the boys wink!

9. Hide appliances below with a curtain

Image credit: Future Plc/Lizzie Orme

Go back to basics and create a traditional country kitchen feel with a deep butler sink, blue-painted tongue and groove panelling and a farmhouse-style curtain on a runner, to disguise ugly appliances. A curtain will also help to absorb sound from washing machines and dishwashers and adds some softness to your space.

10. Hang a plate rack above for air drying

Image credit: Future Plc/David Giles

White walls, units and accessories help keep a compact kitchen light and airy. To give a country scheme a contemporary update, team a butler sink and real wood worktops with modern units and appliances. Add charm with potted hydrangeas and sweet bunting.

11. Blend your sink and surface with an all-in-one worktop

Image credit: David Parmiter

Opt for a sink that is sunken into the worktop, so that the work surface can be one continuous piece. This makes for a sleek and stylish finish and allows the worktop to become the hero. Adding horizontal notches into the surface beside the sink, will create a dedicated area for washing up.

12. Keep the area behind sleek with a glass splashback

Combine high-gloss units, shiny quartz worktops and a reflective glass splashblack for a stylish and modern kitchen. A taupe colourway will add warmth, while a smart patterned roller blind streamlines the look. You’ll find it easy to clean with no grout lines to worry about, too!

13. Contain washing up in a neat niche

This bespoke basin unit fits snugly in a small area, and a reclaimed post office sorting shelf provides plenty of storage space. Displayed red and white mugs brighten up the scheme, while mismatched ceramic tiles along the wall make a pretty, changeable backdrop.

14. De-stress with a minty fresh backdrop

Create a cool Fifties vibe in your kitchen with serene mint green. Keep objects within easy reach by installing open units, then break up the colour with fresh white worktops and a pretty roman blind to soften the style. Why not plant a mini herb garden to complete the look?

What is the most popular kitchen sink idea?

‘Belfast, Butler and Farmhouse style sinks are here to stay in 2022 as ceramic sinks are set to be one of the most popular kitchen trends again this year,’ says Lizzie Beesley, Head of Design at Magnet. ‘ Their iconic deep basin design can help transform any kitchen into a more classic and traditional space. This is a popular style of sink chosen amongst many homeowners and celebrities such as Olivia Bowen, Gordon Ramsay and Kendal Jenner.’

‘The rise in demand strongly follows the uptake of the ‘cottagecore’ rural aesthetic. However, not only are ceramic sinks aesthetically pleasing, they are also great for busy family households as they are durable, easy to clean and resistant to scratches and staining.’

What are the options for kitchen sinks?

There are many options for kitchen sinks, not just the aforementioned Butler and Belfast sinks. Other options include:

• Multi-use or workstation sinks- ‘The practicality and convenience of ‘workstation sinks’ have helped them become a regular feature on US buying guides – a trend we can expect to see become more apparent in the UK this year,’ says Lizzie.Despite the sink already being one of the most useful features in the kitchen, a workstation sink advances this. The innovative design efficiently uses space to allow users to prepare and cut food directly over the sink, also helping to avoid the spread of germs around the rest of the kitchen. They can also come in many designs making them fit in effortlessly to any aesthetic.
• Large single basin sinks
• Double basin sinks
• Undermount sinks
• Kitchen island sinks
• Corner sinks
• Stainless steel sinks
• Black sinks
• Resin sinks
• Brass or copper sinks
• Utility sinks

How can I make my kitchen sink look better?

A good clean can go a long way to making your kitchen sink look better, so a bottle of cream cleaner and some elbow grease will have it looking spick and span in no time. Next up, think about whether spray-painting it will improve the look. Plastic or stainless steel sinks will benefit most from a coat of spray paint, but be sure to protect surfaces before you start.

A tired sink can also be lifted by the addition of a new kitchen tap. Swapping a dull chrome design for a shiny brass counterpart, will instantly lift your sinks look and create a gleaming spot for washing up.

The post Kitchen sink ideas – 14 ways to update your kitchen design appeared first on Ideal Home.

Did you know you could be entitled to a council tax reduction? Thousands of people will be eligible for money off their council tax bill – for some households, the reduction may be 100%, meaning you’ll pay no council tax at all.

Council tax reduction replaced council tax benefit in April 2013. Council tax benefit was a national scheme while council tax reduction (or council tax support) is set on a council-by-council basis.

What does a reduction in council tax mean?

A council tax reduction is different to a council tax discount, and not calculated in the same way. Discounts depend on your circumstances, such as whether you are the only adult in the household, have any caring responsibilities or disabilities. Reductions are means-tested on your income.

Single person discount

The council tax single person discount is a common way to get your bill reduced. People living alone are entitled to a single person discount of 25%, regardless of where they live in the UK.

‘If you’re the only adult in your home, you ought to be eligible for a 25% discount in your bill,’ says Kate Smith, senior benefits expert at Citizens Advice, ‘You’ll also get this if the only other adults in the home aren’t counted for council tax purposes. This includes full-time students and people with learning disabilities or severe mental impairment.’

People not counted for council tax purposes are known as ‘disregarded persons’ and also include carers, people living in care homes and apprentices.

Image credit: Future/ Robert Sanderson

How does a council tax reduction work?

Many people on low incomes will be eligible for a council tax reduction, which will be paid as a rebate or a discount on your bill, rather than as a benefit.

Each local authority has different criteria for who is eligible to claim a council tax reduction. The reduction you’ll receive depends on your income and your savings, as well as your personal circumstances. There are different rules for people of working age and those of state pension age or above.

Anna Stevenson, senior welfare benefits specialist at Turn2us, says: ‘For people on lower incomes, they might be able to get their council tax reduced to ease the financial burden. Eligibility criteria can vary depending on your local council – the best way to check if you could get a council tax reduction is by using the free, confidential benefits calculator on the Turn2us website.’

As each local authority may have different rules to one another, people with very similar circumstances may receive different levels of reduction depending on where they live.

In England, many councils have reduced the amount of support available to working age people. This means that some people who haven’t had to pay council tax before might now need to pay it.

How much savings do you have?

Each local authority will set a figure for the maximum amount of savings and investments you and your partner can have to be eligible for a council tax reduction. If you have more than this figure you won’t qualify for a reduction regardless of other circumstances.

The figure can vary quite a lot between different local authorities. In Tower Hamlets, Cheshire West & Chester, and Brent, it’s £6,000, while in Sutton it’s £10,000. However, a maximum savings amount of £16,000 appears to be most common and applies in numerous council areas across the UK.

Some councils have different savings thresholds depending on whether you are of working age (i.e. below state pension age) or not. For example, in Milton Keynes, capital and savings must be under £16,000 if the claimant is of pension age, or under £6,000 if they are of working age.

Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore

Income levels and benefits

Some local authorities will look at your (and your partner’s) income and how many children you have, to assess whether you’re eligible for a council tax reduction.

For example, Rother District Council, in East Sussex, offers discounts of 80%, 60%, 40% or 20% depending on the level of the resident’s income, any savings or investments, and their household, allowing for a maximum of two children. For example, a couple earning less than £137.97 net a week between them can get a discount of 80%; if they have one child the figure goes up to £189.07, and two or more children £240.18.

Net income, in this instance, means once income tax, National Insurance and half of any personal pension is deducted from someone’s earnings. Single people with no children can get a reduction if they earn less than £250.42 a week, with the income figure rising to £393.52 if the single person has two or more children. Anyone with savings above £16,000 won’t qualify.

Other councils assume anyone who receives certain benefits such as Universal Credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income related employment and support allowance, or pension credit, is on a low income.

How do I know if I qualify for a council tax reduction?

If you think you might be eligible for a council tax reduction you should contact your local authority (which sends your council tax bill). Some local authorities have an online assessment where you input various personal details to find out whether you’re eligible for a reduction. You might also be able to apply for a council tax reduction over the phone.

You may have to prove supporting evidence for your claim such as your identity, income, benefits, savings, pensions, details of your children, proof of any disabilities, and UK residency status.

Depending on where you live, and your personal circumstances, your council tax bill can be reduced by anything from 20% to 100%.

‘If you’re on a low income, you may be eligible for a council tax reduction of up to 100%, which will be paid to you as a rebate,’ says Stevenson, ‘The size of the rebate depends on your income, your savings and whether you live alone or with other adults in the same property.’

How long does it take to get a council tax reduction?

Once you have applied for a council tax reduction, your local authority should tell you its decision within 14 days.

If you’re already eligible for a reduction when you make the application, you might be able to get it backdated. Each council will have its own rules about backdating reduction claims for working age people. Some councils might backdate all claims to the relevant date, while others might require a reason as to why you didn’t apply earlier – for example, you may have been ill.

If you are over pension age, you can get your council tax reduction backdated for up to three months without giving a reason as to why you didn’t claim earlier.

If your circumstances change, for example, if you get a better paid job, inherit some money or your partner moves in, you should always update your local authority immediately as this may impact any council tax reduction you’re entitled to.

The post How to get a council tax reduction to make a saving appeared first on Ideal Home.

Country-inspired gardens are one of the most popular and pretty landscape design styles out there. Using cottage garden ideas allows you to achieve that rural vibe whatever size or shape your space is.

The thoughtful planting and traditional-inspired structures means these gardens bring the country style even if you’re based in the city. As long as you include some key elements, like a relaxed planting style with a wildlife-friendly feel, you can turn your terraced courtyard into a cottagecore garden.

What is cottage garden style?

The secret of cottage-style planting is that it is not too contrived. Don’t have plants neatly graded from short at the front to neat at the back, but mix them up to achieve a more organic look. Keep in mind, however, that there is usually a formal framework of hedges or stone terraces behind all that charming disarray. Pollinating insects and birds also love cottage gardens too, making this style of garden a haven for wildlife.

‘Whether you have flower beds and borders to fill, a patio to update with containers or a front garden to refresh, this timeless look will add beautiful colour to enjoy year after year,’ says Marcus Eyles, Horitcultural Director at Dobbies. ‘A classic cottage garden is filled with pastel shades, roses, foxgloves and delphiniums to name a few. Loved by bees and butterflies, your garden will be brought to life with the gentle sound of buzzing and humming – a joyous backdrop to soak up summer sunshine in.’

Cottage garden ideas

The planting style is relaxed, creating a rich tapestry of colour from flowers and plants, including annuals and cut flowers. Best of all, there are no real rules to cottage garden ideas – you can grow what you love to create a garden that’s uniquely yours.

1. Cover your home with wisteria

Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles

Add fragrance and colour to your home by encouraging wisteria to climb over the facade. The pretty blossoms will bloom in May and June, offering a swathe of delicate purple flowers.

The vines grow in a winding, twisting pattern, offering that relaxed feel that speaks to cottage garden ideas, meaning even the bare branches will still add interest.

2. Upcycle farmyard items

Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young

Take literal inspiration from the countryside by finding and upcycling old farmyard items. Water troughs on legs make excellent potting area or miniature herb gardens, which will fit in even the most petite of gardens.

Low to the ground cattle troughs can be used as individual flowers beds, or to form a flowering border. Galvanised metal milk churns are also practically tailor made for turning into pretty planters. When choosing what to use, think of what a cottage owner may have inherited from the previous owner or farmer next door would have given away.

3. Create a wild border

Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes

The relaxed and wild style of cottage garden ideas works beautifully in large grassy fields, but smaller gardens can benefit from this planting style, too. If you’re looking for small garden ideas or you simply want to add interest or delineate between garden zones, a flower bed can form a natural border.

Plant varying heights, colours and textures to achieve that wildflower feel. Make sure to include some herbs or lavender to ensure a delightful fragrance.

4. Utilise every area

Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes

Country style gardens are often abundant, featuring new planting and surprises at every turn. View every available area as an opportunity to add depth, colour or texture. Start with the lawn and add in borders, flower beds and even statement trees and shrubbery in the centre. Cover the exterior of the home with climbers and window boxed and load up any patio space with potted plants.

5. Add in raised beds

Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme

An excellent way to include wildflowers in small spaces is to limit them to raised beds. Make this work in an urban location by choosing a bed make from natural woods and then layer up various plants, flowers and grasses. Be aware that they will bloom at different times, and grow out and well as up, so start with fewer and add in more once you’ve seen the bed through a season.

Raised wildflower beds are also great in larger gardens, especially situated near vegetable plots to encourage pollinators.

6. Include a summerhouse

Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme

You’ll want somewhere in your outdoor space to admire all your hard work. Or simply to sit and enjoy a G&T at the end of a long summer’s day. Traditional summer house ideas can perfectly reflect the cottage garden vibe.

Stick to woods for that natural touch, but feel free to paint in pretty colours to either help the structure blend in or to pick up on the shades of your favourite flowers.

7. Look to natural materials

Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme

No rural inspired garden would be complete without using plenty of natural materials. Wherever possible, replace more contemporary surfaces with rustic options. This could include wooden steps, using railway sleepers as garden borders or changing sleek stone areas with pebbles.

8. Grow relaxed styles of plants and trees

Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme

Take the relaxed style further than just how and where you plant. Make sure you consider this in what you plant as well. Romantic, draping choices such as willow trees add that whimsical feel of cottage garden ideas, while ferns and long grasses offer the wild aspect seen in rural forests and meadows.

9. Create a colour scheme

Image credit: Natural Design Studio

‘Pick a colour scheme, a warm or cool palette can help to give the garden definition’ advises Phoebe Aubury at Natural Design Studio. ‘Limiting the amount of colours and using colour theory such as complimentary colours can help to avoid clashing and keep it looking harmonious rather than messy.’

10. Grow foxgloves

image credit: Future PLC/Annaick Guitteny

‘With their spires of bell-shaped flowers much loved by bees, foxgloves are a cottage garden favourite’ explains Marcus from Dobbies. ‘Available in creams, pinks and lavenders, they help brighten shady spots and are great planted with Hostas and Ferns.’

These purposeful blooms can be grown in any sized garden plot, even in containers on a small balcony.

11. Let grasses grow

Image credit: Yeo Valley Organic Garden

Mowing the lawn is no longer in favour – leave grasses and those with seed heads uncut to help support wildlife.

‘If you only do one thing this year to improve your garden’s value for nature, be more like Monty and cut your grass less, or not at all,’ says Sarah Mead, creator of the Yeo Valley Organic Garden in Somerset.

Sarah continues, ‘Global biodiversity is in decline and our climate is warming. It’s essential that we all recognise the small changes we can make that have a huge collective impact on our environment. Putting your feet up instead of getting the mower out is top of the list!’

12. Grow a wildflower meadow

Image credIt: Future PLC/Jon Day

‘Where a cottage is set in a beautiful countryside location, it can be an opportunity to create a space which reflects this backdrop,’ explains James Scott, of The Garden Company.

‘A wildflower meadow is a great way to achieve this, even if there is just space for a miniature version. Meadows do take perseverance and several years to establish; however, once achieved they are relatively low maintenance and require just 1 cut per year.’

13. Welcome wildlife

Image credit: Future PLC/Jon Day

Cottage gardens are ideal for attracting wildlife. Aside from the planting you can encourage wildlife to take up refuge in your garden with the simple addition of bird boxes and insect houses.

Not only are they welcoming for wildlife they help to add a charming decorative touch to the garden decor too.

14. Encourage rambling roses

Image credit: Amateur Gardening

More vigorous than climbing roses, rambling roses grow in a more wild, untidy fashion, and will happily develop into a larger bush, hedge or tree. Climbing roses have a permanent framework of stems that produce flowering side shoots each year. To promote greater flowering, the framework stems should be trained by tying them to wire supports as close to horizontal as possible.

Roses are divided into categories according to their growing and flowering habits. The main groups are large-flowered bush roses (hybrid teas), cluster-flowered bush roses (floribundas), shrub roses, climbers and ramblers.

15. Respond to the setting

Image credit: Natural Design Studio

‘Look for inspiration in the surroundings of the garden’ advises Phoebe from Natural Design Studio. ‘The landscape around the garden will give you plenty of clues as to which materials are best suited to the setting. Using the local stone or brick type can help to tie a garden into its setting.’

16. Consider your hedges and perennials

Image credit: Future PLC/Mark Bolton

For a classic cottage garden feel chose planting that will deliver. Select classic evergreens such as cypress, holly, box, copper beech or yew. Opt for classic perennials such as foxgloves, bellflowers, daylilies, delphinium and lavender – these will all offer a nice foliage in combination with roses.

17. Set the scene with stone walls

Image credit: Future PLC/Matt Cant

Choose hard landscaping that feels authentic to a rural countryside garden, by taking inspiration from Cotswold stone walls. Accentuate the cottage garden feel by growing vines, red roses, and topiary plants. Add a rustic garden bench made of wood or metal to further enhance the cottage-style vibes.

18. Lay winding pathways

Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme

A key design element for cottage gardens is the freedom of form; the layout is encouraged to be less structured and strict than a perfectly manicured, contemporary garden design.

A gravel path that gentle winds its way within the garden helps to keep the look light and unrestrictive. Draw up plans to decide on where to place your paths, as well as the materials that you will use to construct them, factoring in your budget for garden landscaping costs. Allow each square to represent a foot of space.

19. Appeal to the senses with aromatic planting

Image credit: Nina Baxter Garden Designs

This thoughtful garden design has created a romantic, traditional cottage garden which feels as if it has been there for years.

‘Rather than using traditional box hedging I specified Myrtus ‘Tarentina’,’ says garden designer Nina Baxter. ‘The garden is very sheltered and doesn’t suffer from hard frosts so I knew this would be ok through the winter. I love the aromatic foliage and it clips beautifully into low hedging. This was infilled with roses and perennials for an exuberant cottage garden feel.’

20. Create secluded retreats

Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme

A beautiful cottage garden can help you to relax and unwind. ‘I like to create intimate havens with seating where people can feel completely immersed in the life of the garden,’ says James from The Garden Company.

‘These spaces can often be created with informal planting and I like using plants that will attract bees and butterflies, enhancing the feeling of having escaped from city or town life to the countryside.’

21. Incorporate structural planting

Image credit: Natural Design Studio

‘Use loose, atmospheric planting but don’t forget structure!’ exclaims Phoebe at Natural Design Studio.

‘Loose grasses and various textured perennials will help to create a natural, relaxed cottage feel, but remember to include evergreen shrubs that will give the garden shape and structure when all the herbaceous plants die back in the winter.’

22. Champion rustic materials

Image credit: Future PLC/Mark Bolton

Fill the garden with natural textures and materials to welcome a rural feel to your gardening scheme. From willow screening to wicker baskets for planting, weave in plenty of country-style materials to accentuate the aesthetic of classic cottage decor.

With all natural woven material ensure they are treated to withstand the elements, place them in more sheltered spots within the garden to preserve them further.

23. Grow your own

Image credit: Future PLC/Rachel Whiting

Traditionally cottage gardens were highly practical with an emphasis on growing your own vegetables and herbs, fruit trees – many even keeping livestock. With the ‘grow your own’ trend making a real resurgence over the last year, a veggie plot and potting station is a must for modern cottage gardens, too.

‘Grow your own’ is one of the fastest growing lifestyle movements with the number of Brits choosing a plant-based diet rising by more than 360 percent over the past decade. Coupled with rising food prices, shortages and a growing appreciation of organic produce, it’s no surprise the ‘grow your own’ movement will continue to surge.

24. Provide foundation planting

Image credit: Future PLC/Brent Darby

‘A garden design is only successful if it sits comfortably in its surroundings’ says James from The Garden Company. ‘By using planting at the base of the house, garden walls and terraces, you can blend the boundaries between these ‘hard’ structures and the garden.  This creates a softer, more pleasing effect which is more in keeping with the cottage garden style than straight lines.’

25. Fill borders with delphiniums

Image credit: Future PLC/Jeremy Young

‘Another cottage garden favourite, delphiniums come in stunning shades of white, pink and blue,’ says Marcus from Dobbies. ‘They will often flower for a second time later in the season. Grow through plant supports to hold their flower spikes secure.’ Use delphiniums within borders to add height to your planting scheme.

26. Create structure with arches

Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason

While cottage gardens in the main are relaxed and unstructured it can be beneficial to add key structures to aid planting and add a rustic touch with accessories. A metal arch or pergola is a great example, a style that suits a cottage garden scheme perfectly while at the same time providing support for climbing and trailing plants.

Place an archway over a step to highlight the joining of two different garden zones, helping to create a flow from one into the other.

27. Balance informal planting

Image credit: Future PLC/Paul Graham

‘Cottage gardens lend themselves to abundant and apparently informal planting.  However, on its own and without structure this can look rather unkempt and haphazard for large parts of the year’ advises James from The Garden Company.  ‘I love to use naturalistic plants in combination with more formal planting – yew, hedges, domes and hornbeam for example – which provide a vertical element, sculptural form and sense of order.’

‘These all-year round ‘formal’ plants can be softened and framed with beautiful grasses such as calamagrostis brachytricha and deschampsia Bronze Veil, late flowering perennials (for example, verbena bonariensis and aster x frikartii ‘Monch’).  Broadly speaking, the grasses and perennials provide colour, texture and romance; the trees and hedges provide order.’

28. Immerse yourself among the planting

Image credit: Future PLC/Spike Powell

Take time to smell the roses. Immerse yourself fully within the the planting of a cottage garden by placing a dining table among the flower beds, with a parasol acting as a portable garden shade idea.

A cottage garden is filled with dense planting that lives wild and free, creating a canvas of colour and scent – ideal for pitching an entertaining spot beside, to ensure you’re getting to enjoy the full extent of the beauty of the surrounding plot.

29. Make magical views

Image credit: The Garden Company/James Scott

‘Cottage gardens are inviting and attractive’ explains James from The Garden Company.  ‘It’s important to make functional elements of the garden (e.g. paths, steps, raised borders) a pleasing aspect rather than just a necessary feature. For example, a simple path can become a sensory walkway by using a pergola and fragrant climbing plants.  The whole effect is to frame the view to a gazebo and create a destination point.’

30. Make the most of front gardens

Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason

Don’t neglect the front of your house – add pretty planting to your front garden ideas too. The exterior of this white thatched roof country cottage is beautifully enhanced by a free planting of shrubs, grasses and bedding plants to add uplifting colour. It’s a good indicator from the front garden that the back garden will be bursting with colour and natural loveliness.

31. Set the scene with a charming arbour

Image credit: Future PLC/Spike Powell

A cottage garden can be instantly identifiable from the furniture choices. Country-style furniture, from wrought iron bistro dining sets to ornate wooden arbours, adds a charming touch to set the scene for cottage garden planting.

32. Find a way to include water

Image credit: The Garden Company/James Scott

‘As well as its obvious benefits to a garden, water can add huge value to your cottage garden experience’ says James from The Garden Company. ‘It provides a different habitat for many plants and creatures, has a cooling effect in the summer and adds a new dimension in the form of movement and reflections.  Gentle sounds of moving water can also mask unwanted noise such as traffic and neighbours.’

33. Style garden accessories

Image credit: Future PLC/Spike Powell

Twee maybe, but a kennel makeover is a sweet way to enhance the look of a cottage-style garden. Use garden paint ideas, preferable a soft pastel to coordinating a planting colour scheme, and sweet fabric door curtains will make a dog kennel offer so much more to the space.

34. Pretty up a potting shed

Image credit: Future PLC/Jon Day

What cottage garden would be complete without a picturesque summerhouse or she shed? Up the cottage-style decor by adding a lick of paint in an invigorating shade of green and introduce floral print fabrics to soften the interior to make it feel more like a homely cottage.

How do I start a cottage garden from scratch?

Dobbies Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, reveals his step by step guide for creating a cottage garden:

1. Prepare the soil ‘First prepare the soil for planting by forking in plenty of manure or garden compost and remove any weeds.’
2. Select your plants ‘Choose your favourite cottage garden plants, mixing heights, colours, textures and flowering times. A mixture of flowering and foliage plants works well, including annuals and cut flowers’.
3. Plan a planting layout ‘Position in drifts for a natural look, planting shorter ones towards the front and taller ones behind. Self-seeding plants such as foxgloves and verbenas are a great way to knit the border together.’
4. Put in place and water ‘Using a garden spade, plant each to the same depth as its growing pot. Firm gently and water well, then add a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain moisture.
5. Provide support ‘As they grow, insert canes or metal plant supports around taller flowering plants to keep them secure in strong winds. Put them in early in the season and they’ll soon
   be disguised by foliage.
6. Nurture and prune Cut back faded stems in autumn. Then in spring, fork in some general fertiliser and add a fresh layer of mulch.

What plants make a cottage garden?

Image credit: Future PLC/Mark Bolton

A classic cottage garden is never complete with a variety of roses. The main pruning period for all roses is spring, depending on location in the UK – usually early in March in the south, and around the end of March in the north. If you prune too early in the season, there is a risk that the first flush of growth prompted by pruning may be burnt by frost.

All roses are prone to pests and diseases, so take special care to treat any problems as soon as you spot them. You can prevent them by keeping your roses strong and healthy: pruning, deadheading and feeding will help. Spraying your plants with rose pesticide may help to keep pests at bay.

In addition to roses foxgloves and delphiniums are also hugely popular for cottage gardens. Loved by bees and butterflies, these flowers help to bring a garden to life with the gentle sound of buzzing and humming – joyous background music of mother nature to enjoy the time spent outside.

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A self-employed mortgage is no different to any other home loan, but you may need to jump through a few more hoops to get one. You will have to prove your income (which can be more complex when you work for yourself) and have sufficient information (in some cases up to two years worth) to share with your mortgage lender.

If you can’t supply the required information, you may not be able to borrow as much, or may not be approved for the mortgage at all. There are specialist lenders available, but you may find that you are charged a higher premium as you are deemed a higher risk to lend to.

Can I get a mortgage if I’m self-employed?

Yes, most lenders offer self-employed mortgages at the same rates and under the same terms as to employed borrowers.

If they usually lend up to a maximum of 4.5 times your income, for example, that doesn’t change just because you work for yourself.

Use our mortgage calculator to see how much you could borrow.

Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars

Is it harder to get a self-employed mortgage?

It can be, because every borrower needs to prove their income to the lender to get the best mortgage rates. That can be more difficult if you’re self-employed, as your finances are often more complex.

There are many reasons the self-employed struggle to prove their income. Maybe you’ve had a bad year of trading, invested in your business (which has reduced your profits), or your company is new.

Mainstream lenders (such as high street banks) like to see a track record of self-employed earnings over two or three years. If your profits are variable or your income on paper doesn’t reflect what you can really afford, it can be hard to get the numbers to stack up.

If that’s the case, a lender may not offer you the size of mortgage you need.

Nick Morrey, technical director at broker Coreco, said: ‘In reality, it is more difficult for self-employed applicants due to the nature of how they are paid and taxed, and the documentation required to evidence their earnings. This complexity, compared to employed people, who can evidence their earnings by supplying payslips and bank statements, makes the process significantly harder.’

Will I pay more for my mortgage if I’m self-employed?

Not necessarily. Providing you can afford the mortgage and prove your income in the way the lender requires, you have exactly the same access to mortgages as an employed borrower.

Many self-employed borrowers won’t encounter any problems.

But many others can’t prove their income to the strict requirements of a mainstream lender and can end up struggling to access a mortgage.

Luckily, there is another way. Specialist mortgage lenders are experts in dealing with self-employed borrowers.

They look at each case on its individual merits and have more flexible criteria around how they assess what you can afford, and how you can prove it.

Because these specialists are willing to lend to borrowers that can’t get a mainstream mortgage, they often charge a premium, so you could end up paying more.

What information will I need to provide for a self-employed mortgage?

Image credit: Future PLC/ Mark Bolton

A mortgage lender will want to see the same information as they do with any borrower – proof of ID, proof of address, and proof of your income and outgoings.

The major difference is that proof of income can be more complicated if you’re self-employed.

Instead of payslips, you usually have to provide at least your last two SA302 forms from HM Revenue and Customs, which show your tax calculation for the year. Lenders might also ask for your full audited accounts.

Morrey adds: ‘Lenders may also request three months’ business bank statements to see how the business is faring at the moment. For contractors they may ask for a minimum of 12 months’ worth of contracts in lieu of accounts.’

‘Lenders can request anything they deem necessary as part of their decision to lend, so be prepared to supply these documents to make the process as smooth as possible.”

Explore how to improve your credit score for a mortgage.

Do I need to have been self-employed for a certain amount of time to qualify for a mortgage?

Usually lenders will want to see at least two years’ accounts before lending to self-employed borrowers.

Although there are exceptions, says Jane King, adviser at Ash-Ridge Private Finance: ‘For some occupations (usually professions such as doctors and lawyers) a lender may accept one year,’ she explains. ‘However the vast majority require at least two.’

Some specialist lenders also accept just one year’s accounts, regardless of profession, although they may charge a premium.

Will most lenders offer mortgages to self-employed people?

Yes, if you work for yourself, you can usually access the full product range of most lenders.

For example, Aldermore is a specialist mortgage lender that supports the self-employed with flexible lending criteria and smaller building societies are often willing to look at each case individually to see if they can find a way to lend. There are also many lenders you may not have heard of that a mortgage broker has exclusive access to.

A broker can also help you navigate the market. They’re experts in helping self-employed borrowers find a mortgage and have access to specialist lenders that don’t deal directly with borrowers, helping widen your search.

The post Self-employed mortgage guide – how to get a mortgage when you work for yourself appeared first on Ideal Home.