Earlier this week, I was scrolling through Next’s new-in section and stumbled across the just-released Next Addison modular sofa – and I was instantly impressed with the look and price point. When I say I’m obsessed with modular sofas, I’m not exaggerating – I’m modular sofas’ number one fan. So when it comes to modular sofas, I know my stuff – especially since I’ve tried over 100 of them at this point (in all fairness, it’s part of my job) and own one myself.

When searching for the best of the best modular sofas, I’m by no means easily impressed. My standards are high, given the number of sofas I’ve tried. And yet, this is not the first time I fell in love with a modular sofa from Next – last year, Next launched the Crosby modular storage sofa, and it’s become one of my all-time favourite sectionals and storage sofas.

‘A modular design offers greater flexibility, allowing customers to configure the sofa to suit their individual room layouts and making it a better fit for a variety of UK homes,’ says Next Home’s spokesperson.

Modular sofas are now bigger than a fleeting sofa trend – it’s a versatile and flexible living room seating solution that future-proofs your lounge and a category that many brands, including Next, are expanding, given its popularity.

So what’s so special about Next’s new Addison modular sofa? For starters, the sleek, curved-style sofa looks like a designer piece. And yet, it’s an affordable design – take the three-piece configuration as pictured above which will set you back £1848.

The Addison is available in two colourways and upholstery finishes – either a forest green twill or off-white oyster chenille. They’re smart colour choices to start with as green and cream/off-white are among the most popular sofa colours across the board. And it covers the bases of both a neutral and a colour without it being too bold either.

Full disclaimer, as the sofa has just dropped, I haven’t been able to test it out yet. But you best believe I will be trying it the first chance I get, hopefully soon.

This week it feels like everyone is trying to get ahead and rectify any mistakes they made during the last heatwave. And for me, that means ensuring I have a much better supply of ice than I did during the hottest days of the year last week – especially given that at every supermarket I went to I was greeted by totally bare freezer shelves.

To solve the problem, I must admit I’ve been eyeing an ice maker (like this one from Amazon for £62.99) that can sit on my kitchen countertop during the hottest days. As I’m not blessed with a freezer with ice-making facilities (or a very big freezer at all!), I think I’m going to have to outsource this need to a standalone appliance like I have with one of the best ice cream makers. Here’s why.

Of course, I was desperate for more ice during the heatwave in order to keep my water and other drinks cool in order to rehydrate. But there are lots of other reasons, many of them owing to the hacks I’ve learnt from my Ideal Home colleagues, for me needing large quantities of ice in the hot weather.

The most pressing of which was so I could enact the cooling hack our News Writer Kezia put me onto last year: placing a bowl of ice in front of my fan in order to mimic the effects of an air conditioner. It’s a way to use a fan that actually lowers the temperature of a room and it was a true godsend for my sleep last week when paired with my Dyson fan.

When I do invest in an ice maker I’ll also be picking up this £6 fan attachment that we wrote about last week to DIY the air conditioning effect even further. If you own a fan and not an AC, it’s an essential! It’ll certainly be an upgrade for me from placing my ice in a bowl on a stool.

While an ice maker, much like the Ninja Slushi (which has also been running non-stop in my flat this summer), is hardly a kitchen essential, it can make those unbearably hot days a little more livable – at least, that’s according to the reviews these Amazon buys have racked up. I reckon every little helps for when we’re faced with the next hot spell!

FatFace has just quietly dropped its first-ever bedding collection, and with prices beginning at £15, I’m not surprised shoppers are already snapping up these stylish and affordable designs.

As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I thought I knew everything there was to know about where to buy bedding, but the fashion retailer certainly wasn’t on my radar.

That is, until this month. Because the new FatFace bedding collection just launched with a bang, and I think these super summery designs should definitely be on your radar.

The new range includes four duvet sets, starting at £35 for a single, £45 for a double, £55 for a king, and £65 for a super king.

My favourite has to be the bold striped pink and ochre set, which couldn’t be more summery if it tried. However, there are also pretty floral designs, on-trend gingham checks, and travel-inspired prints.

I think all the sets are great value for money, more so because each design is reversible, featuring stripes, florals, or checks on the reverse for two looks in one.

And I’m not the only one who’s impressed. The bedding collection has only been in store and online for a few weeks, but it’s already amassing a growing number of positive five-star reviews from shoppers.

In particular, many happy owners mention how impressed they are with the attention to detail and quality of FatFace’s new range.

‘A really beautiful duvet cover,’ says one reviewer. ‘Bright colour and a very summery design. The quality is amazing and so soft and cool. Washed well and keeps its shape. Definitely worth the money and great value compared to other big-name brands.’

‘Love, love, love this!’, writes another reviewer, ‘the quality of the material makes it really comfortable to sleep in. I especially like the ties on the pillowcases… cute feature.’

If you’re thinking of refreshing your bedroom for summer, I think this new FatFace range should definitely be a contender.

Plus, the coordinating sunshine yellow-striped £25 fitted sheet and matching £15 pillowcase certainly seal the deal for me.

If the recent flush of warm weather has had you realising your garden fence and shed are looking a little tired, it might be time for a repaint with one of this year’s five trending paint colour combinations. for the garden.

Colour trends aren’t just for indoors; our gardens have plenty of opportunities to be drenched in colour too. Bringing our interior tastes outside has been a big gardening trend for 2026. It’s all about expressing our personalities, and painting or choosing the best garden furniture in a new colour is one of the easiest ways to do that.

But if you need a little encouragement to get creative, here are the colour trends to test out in your garden this summer for a stylish new look.

1. Sage green and warm neutrals

Let’s start simple. Sage green is a soft, relaxing shade both indoors and outdoors, and when paired with a warm neutral colour, you can create a soothing spa garden retreat. It may be a simple combo, but it is by no means dull.

‘One combination we’re seeing a lot of is soft sage greens paired with warm neutrals, like sandy beiges or stone tones. It’s a really calming look that works beautifully with the natural tones and textures of the outdoors and helps create that relaxed, lived-in feel people are after,’ explains Donna Taylor, colour and design manager at Johnstone’s Paint.

2. Burgundy and pink

Warm tones are all the rage right now, and don’t be afraid to bold with a rich burgundy and pink pairing. This combination works perfectly for hosting areas, as it is warm, inviting and effortlessly stylish. Why not pair John Lewis’ burgundy salsa chairs (£149) with this B&Q sculptural side table (£60.49) for a bold look? Alternatively, for a softer look, pair earthier terracotta pink planters with a bold burgundy garden set like the one above.

‘For those looking to make more of a statement, deep burgundy paired with dusty or blush pink adds depth and sophistication. Rich burgundy anchors the space, while softer pink tones stop the palette from feeling too heavy. It’s a combination that works especially well with flowering plants and creates a layered, designer feel,’ says Olly Cavner, operations director at Essential Living.

3. Yellow and white

If you want something fresh and exciting, try a sunny yellow, paired with a bright white. This colour combo can make your garden feel brighter and even larger – perfect for small spaces.

‘At the other end of the spectrum, sunny, buttery yellows with crisp whites or pale greys are having a moment too. They instantly brighten up fences, planters or garden furniture and bring a real sense of energy to the space – perfect for making smaller gardens feel brighter and more open,’ says Donna.

4. Ocean blue and beige

If you are looking for coastal garden ideas or Mediterranean garden ideas, this colour combination is begging for you to try it. Blue has been a huge interiors trend this year, so it feels only natural that it’s having its moment in the garden, too.

‘People are increasingly looking to create outdoor spaces that feel like an escape, and coastal-inspired palettes are growing in popularity as a result. Ocean blue accents combined with sandy beige tones bring a calm, holiday-inspired feel that’s perfect for patios, outdoor dining areas and balconies. The colours feel light, airy and work beautifully in both contemporary and traditional gardens,’ says Olly.

5. Pink and blue

2026 has also seen a further increase in dopamine decor both inside and outside the home. So, if you’re keen to fill a garden with a characterful colour, give pink and blue a try.

‘It’s also hard to ignore the influence of ‘dopamine décor’, which is still going strong outdoors. We’re seeing more people mixing playful pops of colour – think bright blues, corals or even fuchsia with stripes or patterned textiles for a more relaxed, layered look,’ says Donna.

Are you tempted to try any of these trending colour combinations?