Traditionally, advent calendars are reserved solely for the winter, opened every day of December in the lead-up to the big day – Christmas day. But have you heard of summer advent calendars? That’s right, they’re a thing now as Diptyque’s Summer Essentials calendar lands online and in stores – and I got my hands on this very special and luxurious box of goodies retailing for £235.

Unlike the traditional best advent calendars which come with 24 or 25 little gifts – including the luxury ones like the Diptyque and Jo Malone advent calendars – Diptyque’s summer advent calendar includes only 10 products, three of which are some of the best scented candles – the new, limited-edition 70g Pinede (pine grove) candle, a mini Citronelle (lemongrass) candle to keep the bugs away and a mini Figuier (fig tree) which is one of the brand’s bestsellers and classics, perfect for summer.

Several of the included products are full-sized but still very travel friendly which is what we all need for our summer holidays. The £235 price point does seem rather steep at first glance – but it’s essentially £23.50 per product which is not that bad in my opinion, especially since they’re all Diptyque products which are beautiful, high quality and are known to be on the higher end of the spectrum.

Even though this is the first time I’ve heard of Diptyque’s summer advent calendar, it turns out this is not the first time the brand has done one in recent years. But I must admit they managed to fly under my radar until now.

Each year, the box features a different design which is a work of art in its own right, this year’s included. For this summer collection, Diptyque partnered with mosaic artist Mathilde Jonquière who created a design inspired by the concept of a water garden (jardin des eaux) paved with multicoloured, cut stones arranged into beautiful patterns. It’s Mathilde’s mosaic pattern that covers both the outside and the interior of the summer calendar, which is also fitted with a black leather and brass carry strap and a closing tab.

The calendar arrives in Diptyque’s branded dust bag which is a lovely touch and shows attention to detail which is again very Diptyque. I own one of these dust bags, it hangs in my bathroom and collects my skincare and makeup empties intended for recycling.

I love the idea of making your chosen summer period a little special with a calendar like this – perhaps you can use it as a countdown to your next holiday to make the wait a little sweeter and more bearable. It’s undoubtedly a splurge but if you want to treat yourself or a loved one, I highly recommend the Summer Essentials calendar.

Alternatively, you can just treat yourself to one of the Diptyque candles included in the calendar. But instead of a mini version, you’ll get a full-sized one.

All in all, the idea of summer advent calendars gets a thumbs up from me. What are your thoughts on them? Are you on board or do you think they should stick to December only?

If there’s one word that’s being thrown around a lot this year is ‘whimsy’. We can’t get enough of it. Whether we’re trying to add whimsy to our daily routine or adorn our homes with whimsical decor, ‘whimsymaxxing’ is emerging as one of the biggest trends of 2026. But what exactly is it? And how can we apply it to our interiors?

The biggest and longest-lasting home decor trends always have a human focus. Many we’ve seen in the interiors world have been hinged on the idea of ‘nostalgia’ and unsurprisingly, whimsymaxxing is no different.

Lighthearted and playful, the definition of whimsy is: ‘unusual, funny, and pleasant ideas or qualities,’ according to the Cambridge Dictionary. But here’s how interior designers say it translates in the home.

What is Whimsymaxxing?

Adding -maxxing to words to form a verb is a distinctly 2026 trend. It’s basically internet slang for optimising a specific area of your life. I’ve seen health influencers talking about Fibremaxxing, which is essentially focusing on eating enough fibre, and of course Lookmaxxing is the Manosphere ideal that’s been made mainstream and sees men ‘optimising’ their physical appearance.

By this definition, Whimsymaxxing is simply the practice of making your life feel more whimsical. If you’ve been wondering if your home is weird enough, Whimsymaxxing is here to make your interiors feel that little bit more magical and playful.

‘In a world where true creativity can sometimes feel threatened, whimsical interior design means the designer has taken full control of the creative process to build their own unique, imaginative world. To me, ‘whimsymaxxing’ is simply about filling your home with what you love. It’s a gorgeous, eclectic mix of personal pieces that reflect the true soul of whoever lives there, says interior designer and winner of the BBC’s Interior Design Masters, Lia Gold.

Whimsymaxxing is about choosing things that spark joy in our lives. Whether that’s via your favourite paint colour, fragrance or trinket. It’s a growing trend that’s been gaining further momentum online, too.

‘The rise of ‘whimsymaxxing’ reflects a growing desire to bring more delight into everyday life. As people move away from perfectly curated interiors, they’re embracing nostalgia and playful design in ways that feel much more personal,’ explains Etsy trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson.

‘We’re seeing that shift reflected in what people are searching for on Etsy too, with searches for whimsical jewellery up 84%, beginner needlepoint kits up 175% and polka dot phone cases soaring 835% as shoppers look for little moments of joy in everything from their accessories to their homes. More than anything, it’s about giving yourself permission to decorate more freely and choose pieces simply because you love them.’

How to use Whimsymaxxing at home

‘Whimsy isn’t a formula or a Pinterest board you can just copy; it’s a feeling you create by surrounding yourself with joyful objects. It’s the silly trinket you found that always makes you smile, or the art print from a tiny shop abroad that you probably didn’t need but absolutely wanted. You make a home whimsical by choosing items that evoke a memory or a spark of happiness,’ says Lia.

Given that the definition of whimsymaxxing is a little vague, there’s no clear instruction manual for adding more whimsy to your home. Think about the things that make you happy first.

Then see how you can embrace that in your home. For example, if your favourite colour is sunshine yellow, opting for a bold yellow lamp (such as this Addison Ross Bobbin Lamp) or a sun-shaped rug (£349, Ruggable) is an easy way to put an instant smile on your face.

‘While many people imagine whimsical interiors to be spontaneous, dusty or a little ditsy, today’s interpretation is far more considered. It’s all about playful intentionality. Carefully layering pieces that evoke joy and nostalgia while still feeling stylish and contemporary,’ says Natalie Evans, founder and CEO of home styling and staging company Little Barn Door.

‘Mixing patterned soft furnishings, pleated lampshades and vintage-inspired accessories with a modern base is the perfect way to embrace the look without it feeling dated. The key is restraint. Rather than turning your home into a complete time capsule, introduce a few carefully chosen statement pieces that capture the essence of the trend without overwhelming the space.

‘Whimsical living isn’t about clutter or chaos. It’s about creating interiors that feel playful, imaginative and delightfully unexpected, while remaining beautifully curated.

The whimsy edit

Here are some of my favourite ‘whimsical’ homewares I’ve spotted online right now.

I think there’s something magical about choosing joy wherever we can, and it’s easy to see how whimsymaxxing can contribute to a happier home, too. Start small, and soon your passion for whimsy will grow.

If you’d told me I’d be considering buying a neck fan two summers ago, I would have laughed you out of the room. However, the humble neck fan is undergoing a renaissance as I’ve spotted numerous editors I work with sporting them around their necks when working from home.

Alongside the best fans, they have become this summer’s new ultimate must-have (just behind the cult John Lewis fan). They offer hands-free cooling when you’re out and about, or as my team has discovered, when you’re at home, so you don’t have to keep moving a desk fan around. The best part is that many of them are also still in stock, unlike many of the best portable ACs and fans we’ve tested.

For those who haven’t seen one in action, a neck fan looks a little like a set of 90s-style headphones draped around your neck. However, instead of the foam ear pads, you have two little fans propelling air at your pulse points to cool you down. Many of them now also have full surround airflow to cool you down quickly.

These little pieces of kit have undergone a stylish reinvention; many of the versions you find on Amazon or other retailers look so sleek I had to do a double-take to work out what my editor was wearing around her neck during a recent meeting. I have tracked down some other versions I’d happily wear in public.

‘While the intense heat we’ve experienced so far seems to have let up (for now) it’s still warm enough to need a fan to keep you comfortable. Not only will it help air circulation in your home, but the air movement across your skin will help to cool you down,’ says Sarah Handley, Ideal Home’s portable AC and fan expert reviewer.

‘While pedestal and tower fans are great for bigger rooms, and desktop fans are ideal for small spaces, it’s a good idea to invest in something portable that you can take into places you don’t have a fan, like your bathroom or garden, to ensure your personal comfort wherever you are.’

As the heatwave shows no signs of letting up, I’m stocking up on any portable cooling option I can get my hands on to follow me around my home, and right now, a neck fan is top of my list.