While it may be the smallest area of a home, a hallway often has to do double duty in autumn. And if you’re already annoyed by piles of muddy boots, soggy umbrellas, and wet coats cluttering your entryway, you’re not alone. Luckily, you can do something about it.
Yes, we all know how important it is to organise a hallway and keep it clean and tidy year-round. But the difference between your quick whip-around and people with consistently clutter-free hallways is that the latter tidy less because they use smart storage solutions that solve their problems… rather than add to them.
These clutter busters are non-negotiables when you’re working with a small footprint and a lot of extra autumnal essentials. So, these are my top picks to keep the mess under control and stop muddy shoes in their tracks.
Proper shoe storage is a must in autumn, and this extremely affordable option gives your muddy shoes a proper home during the wetter months. This one comes with three tiers, but you can choose from six size options and four colourways to suit your hallway, depending on your space and needs.
Soggy umbrellas are some of the worst clutter offenders in autumn, especially if they’re dumped on the floor to ‘dry’ on their own. By popping them in their own umbrella stand, you can keep your floors clear and clean – and simply grab your dry brolly on your way out of the door.
I already have two of these in my home – one by my front door and another by my back door. These ultra-absorbent mats instantly soak up moisture and mud from mucky paws and dirty shoes, stopping grime from being tracked into your home. Then, you can just pop them in the washing machine.
Wet coats and bags deserve proper storage, too. These handy hooks keep your autumn jackets safe by the front door while letting them dry off after a soggy walk. You can also use them for anything else you normally throw on the floor or stairs, giving it a proper home in a memorable spot.
Autumn brings with it a distinct change in weather. Instead of losing gloves, hats, and scarves to the depths of your bag or the back of your clothes drawers, keep them in a basket like this in the hallway. This slimline design is perfect for smaller spaces, and the lid lets you hide the contents, too.
Sometimes a shoe rack just isn’t big enough for the welly boots you don for your weekend walks. Instead, a boot holder like this is ideal for keeping them – and your hallway floors – safe. If you have a covered porch, I’d recommend storing this out there, so you can free up extra space in your small hallway.
Don’t let your hallway become a cluttered, soggy mess this autumn! And once you’ve snapped up these genius buys, I’d suggest investing in one of the best mops to help you out, too.
It’s a cosy season, AKA one of the best times of the year to get going in the kitchen (especially if you dig comfort food). And cosy home cooking is made all the easier with one of the best slow cookers at your fingertips.
If you haven’t already been won over by the brilliance of a slow cooker, then I’m going to convince you to try. Especially as Lidl will be stocking the classic Crockpot for just £18.99.
I swear by my Crockpot slow cooker for autumn cooking – actually, scratch that, I use mine all year round. And if you’ve been on the fence about getting one, here’s why I think not only are they worth it, but you’ll struggle to find a better price than at Lidl.
Lidl can be a goldmine for finding our favourite brands at low prices. You will often find the best mops and even the best vacuum cleaners nestled amongst the Middle Aisle bargains. And I was particularly excited to see that the 3.7L Crockpot slow cooker was joining the line-up.
Landing in stores on 11 October, this Crockpot slow cooker is perfect for cooking for up to four people at once, or batch cooking. It has three heat settings – low, high and warm – to take any complication out of cooking, and the stoneware bowl is also suitable for your oven and dishwasher.
I was given my Crockpot by my mum at university. It’s the one thing she sent me off with, and now it’s the one thing I recommend for anyone else leaving the nest. Call it slow cooker maths, but I quickly found that batch cooking via my slow cooker considerably cut down my food bills, reduced takeaway consumption and saved me time. Plus, when you consider how much it costs to run a slow cooker, you learn it’s actually the cheapest kitchen appliance to run.
Not to mention that I’ve had my slow cooker for around seven years, and it still cooks like a dream. It takes up little room in my small kitchen, and it’s so easy to clean, too. As I write, my slow cooker is currently cooking batches of chicken tikka masala, which I prepped on my lunch break and will provide lunches for myself and my partner this week.
I have considered upgrading my slow cooker to the Ninja Foodi Possible 8-in-1 Slow Cooker (£116.99 at John Lewis), because it offers more cooking functions such as searing, baking and cooking, which widens the cooking possibilities in my kitchen.
The Crockpot will only be available in-store, so if your local Lidl sells out or doesn’t have it, I’ve tracked down a few more affordable options you can shop for online.
This is Ideal Home’s best-rated slow cooker and the one I plan to upgrade to. It has great versatility and functionality for meat, as well as doubling as ovenware and tableware.
This affordable slow cooker has a sleek look, heats up quickly, and is lightweight, making it easy to store in small kitchens.
If you need something bigger than the 3.7l Crockpot, this one is excellent. It produces great cooking results, is easy to use and has a good-sized capacity for family cooking.
If you haven’t got a slow cooker, now is your chance to fix this – and Lidl is making it so affordable to do so.
