I, along with much of the nation, have been completely charmed by Richard E Grant’s performance on The Traitors. But we at Ideal Home have been singing his praises for his interior style for a while now, and his circus-inspired dining space is the latest part of his home to catch our attention.
If you were wondering if the actor’s home was as eccentric as his personality, I’m delighted to say that yes, it is! From his magical garden zoning to his hot pink snug and the XL baubles hanging in the garden, it’s clear that home decor trends don’t dictate Richard E Grant’s home – and that makes it all the more wonderful.
It’s his dining room idea that again puts hi.s quirky style front and centre His theatrical maximalism has created a space that it is perfect for entertaining. And interior design experts have revealed how you can achieve it, too.
Posting a group photo to Instagram, Richard was hosting a dinner party for his friends – which included the likes of Helena Bonham Carter and Christine Baranski – and despite the smiling famous faces at the table, my eyes were immediately drawn to his Victorian-circus decor.
You may remember back in January, Pinterest declared FunHaus would be a huge trend in 2026. Another circus-inspired trend that sets out to increase joy levels in one’s home, it could easily be argued that Richard’s dining space is a brilliant example of how to do this trend well. However, having been following Richard’s interiors for a while now, I wouldn’t say this is intentional. His characterful, eccentric decor isn’t about trends; it’s about creating an entertaining space that suits the personality of its owner.
‘I think we have to agree that his dining room is unapologetically his, and for that you have to love it. People will go to his, and they expect the dining experience to be a reflection of him, which it 100% is. It’s kooky. It’s a little bit mad. It takes you by surprise, but so does Richard E. Grant. And I think that this is what design is all about. It’s a reflection of the person who lives there, and I absolutely love that he has done everything that he clearly loves. So, when people come over, it’s almost just an extension of his personality into his interiors,’ says Lia Gold, Interior Designer and winner of BBC One’s Interior Design Masters.
‘If you’re hosting, you never want guests to feel awkward or maybe you run out of conversation. And there are definitely so many conversation starters that Richard has decorated his home with! From the massive circus-shaped clowns and the bunting to the beautifully laid table. He’s not taken himself too seriously, and I think this is something key in making your guests relax when you invite them round for dinner.’
From looking at one Instagram post, you can see huge circus-inspired masks, bunting, colourful lighting and garlands, not to mention the masses of hydrangeas, houseplants and mismatched servingware. One thing you can never accuse Richard E. Grant of is being boring – which is why his dining room is such a good spot for entertaining.
‘Despite all the drama, it still feels comfortable and relaxed. It looks like a room people actually use, rather than one that has been created just to photograph well,’ says Alison Westaby, Head of Interior Design at Barker and Stonehouse.
‘There is of course humour in it too, which immediately makes it feel less formal. You can imagine sitting around that table for hours, noticing different things in the room as the evening goes on.
‘We can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make our homes look perfect before guests arrive, particularly around Christmas, but people respond far more to the atmosphere. A room with comfort, personality and a sense of fun will always feel more welcoming.’
If you want to achieve a similar vibe when hosting yourself, Lia’s advice is simple. ‘Take a leaf out of Richard’s book, there are no rules! Bunting is super easy to drape over your table and you can make it yourself, keep it on brand with a bold red and white stripe!’ she says.
You don’t have to go as maximalist as Richard. If you’re nervous to work with bold colours and patterns, the trick is to start small. An ornament on the table, interesting serving ware or as Lia says, bunting, are also simple ideas but undoubtedly conversation starters.
‘You don’t need to recreate the entire room or suddenly fill your home with circus pieces. Start with something you genuinely love, even if it feels slightly unusual, and build from there,’ says Alison.
‘Mix older or collected pieces with newer furniture, introduce stronger colour through artwork or accessories and use plants to add height and soften the room. If you are combining lots of different elements, look for something that connects them, whether that is a repeated colour, material or shape.
‘Most importantly, don’t edit out all the things that make your home feel like yours. The point isn’t to create a perfect version of Richard E. Grant’s dining room. It’s to have the same confidence to create a room that could only belong to you.’
Richard E. Grant’s dining area is simply charming. It perfectly shows off his personailty, whilst also creating a welcoming hosting area. Even if you’re not a fan of circus-inspired design, this is feeling you should be striving for when hosting.
Tom Kerridge’s cookware collection with M&S has proved very popular with shoppers and the range just got even bigger, with the addition of products tailor-made for Christmas 2026.
I enjoyed a preview of the Michelin-starred chef’s collaboration with M&S last year and I knew that the best cookware designed by the man himself would be a hit. Our impressed reviews of the 3-Piece Cast Iron Set and the multifunctional Stainless Steel Saucepan proved that this is certainly more than a celebrity name stamped on products.
Now, you can also pick up some essential roasting buys from M&S that have all been stress-tested by Tom Kerridge – just time in time for hosting season to begin. Here’s a look at the shiny new picks.
FOR ALL-IN-ONE MEALS
A chef’s pan is defined by its sloped, curved sides and is perfect for whipping up (and whisking up) sauces. It’s also a great pick for one-pan dishes if you love convenience cooking. It has an ‘extra-thick copper base’ for better heat distribution, too.
FOR PERFECT PIES
If you, like me, love making a Boxing Day pie with all of your favourite Christmas leftovers then you need one of these fluted pie dishes. Available in a small and large size, they’re tailor made for getting the perfect pie crust.
FOR COOKIES & GINGERBREAD
Inexpensive yet essential, these clever reusable baking mats will come in so handy for baking gingerbread or Christmas cookies in the next few months. Much better than throwaway baking paper and more sustainable, too!
FOR STOCK & MULLED WINE
There’s many a Christmas use for this incredibly ample-sized stock pot including (you guessed it) veg or meat stock, mega-soups and slow cooking of ham. It would also double as an excellent vessel for serving up spice mulled wine when you have people over.
FOR FESTIVE SIDES
This set would be a welcome treat for any chef who is in charge of the kitchen at Christmas. It’s perfectly placed for roasting sides like carrots and parsnips and like the round set from last year, stacks so pleasingly togther for storage.
FOR LUMP-FREE SAUCES
A good whisk shouldn’t be forgotten about when prepping for the busiest time of the year in the kitchen, especially if you want to avoid lumpy gravy. It’s a must-have for festive drinks and desserts too!
Another hugely popular pick from the collection (which actually sold out multiple times last year) was the 2-in-1 Wooden Butcher’s Block (£50 via M&S). It’s crafted with two built-in sorting compartments for chopping up food and has fluting built into it for meat carving too, so that the juices flow out neatly. It’s another buy that really comes into its own for Christmas.
I can’t wait to see these new picks from the Tom Kerridge collection on show at the new M&S Pantheon on Oxford Street, which has a dedicated space to show off these cookware bestsellers. Can you see yourself investing in one of these picks for Christmastime?
Over the past couple of years, stripes have proved themselves to be a trending pattern with serious staying power. While one might call them a timeless print anyway, there’s no denying we’ve seen stripes all over soft furnishings, bedding and tableware. And now, James Blunt’s striped bathroom also proves the pattern has huge potential as a bathroom paint idea.
You’ll most likely know James Blunt for his music, recent stint on The Traitors or even his X (formerly Twitter) comebacks. But his Instagram account has now proved he’s also adept at nailing the biggest home decor trends.
While a bathroom may not seem like the sort of environment to go bold with colour and pattern, the year’s bathroom trends have actually seen us opting for bathrooms that don’t look like bathrooms, and embrace more character and personality than your standard white painted room. If you’re stuck for inspiration, James Blunt’s painted green striped bathroom is a great example.
From stripe drenching to striped vases, this pattern has influenced every decor trend, big or small, over the past few years, and it is a trending pattern in bathroom design, too. While it is timeless, it is a pattern you want to get right, and if you’ve been considering painting stripes in your home, James’ example proves you can take a bold pattern and still achieve soft vintage charm.
‘I love the hand-painted stripes. Many people would have opted for a striped wallpaper to achieve a similar look, but using paint gives the room a wonderful sense of tradition and heritage. The slight imperfections are actually part of its charm and make the space feel much more individual,’ comments Natalie Evans, founder and CEO of home styling and staging company Little Barn Door.
‘Stripes are usually associated with a more maximalist and playful aesthetic, but this bathroom feels different. The hand-painted stripes, combined with the floral artwork and hand-finished frames, create a beautifully imperfect look.
‘There is something very current about interiors that feel collected and created rather than overly designed. In a higher-end home, these handcrafted details can look incredibly luxurious because they give the space character, individuality and a sense that it has evolved over time.’
You don’t have to go as bold as James. If you love a maximalist bathroom, be our guest to grab some bathroom paint and create the stripey palace of your dreams. But if that’s a little too bold or you don’t have the time or budget, there are other ways to incorporate this timeless yet stylish design into your bathroom.
You could opt for striped bath towels for an affordable pop of pattern, or even striped accessories such as George Home’s Green Stripe Bathroom Accessories (£12) or Habitat’s Brights Stripe Resin Trinket Tray for a bold pop of colour. If you do want to use paint, here’s how an expert would do it.
‘There’s no single rule for stripe width, but it depends on the scale of the room and the look you want to achieve. In smaller spaces, thinner stripes of around 2 to 5cm can add detail without taking over the room. Wider stripes of around 15 to 30cm make much more of a feature and can help alter the proportions of the space,’ says Cathryn Sanders, Head of Creative at Earthborn Paints.
‘When choosing colours, think about contrast. Green and white is an easy combination to work with, but you could soften the look by pairing a chalky off-white with sage or olive green. If you want something stronger, choose a deeper green against a lighter neutral.
‘For a neat finish, masking tape is usually the easiest approach. Make sure the base colour is completely dry before applying the tape so you don’t lift the paint underneath when you remove it. You can also take a freer approach with a thick brush or mini roller if you prefer the stripes to have a more hand-painted look.’
Are you prepared to go bold in your bathroom this autumn?
