Marks & Spencer’s new homeware for the autumn season is slowly starting to drop on the brand’s website. And this week, the new M&S Alabaster & Marble Rechargeable Table Lamp landed on the site and it’s already trending.

For the past few months, I’ve been saying that alabaster is going to be the next big lighting trend as I’ve been seeing it everywhere from this year’s WOW!house design showcase to Industville’s new lighting range. The brand’s alabaster slope pendant light was even awarded the title of ‘best dining room lighting’ in the Ideal Home Dining Room Awards 2026. And now the trend is making its way to the high street with the likes of M&S embracing the material.

Alabaster is a soft, fine-grained type of stone that’s historically been used for statues. But as it lets light pass through it, it’s also become a popular material for light fixtures.

‘Alabaster has long been valued for its unique light-modulating quality with everyone from the sculptors of ancient Greece to the designers of today. Its ability to diffuse light from within allows the illumination to permeate the surface like sunlight through a cloud, creating a soft, warm and atmospheric glow,’ explains Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville.

As it is a natural material, just as the marble base, it’s no surprise that the M&S table lamp is not the cheapest, selling for £95. But in all honesty, I’m almost surprised it’s not pricier than this. Considering the materials used, it’s almost reasonably priced.

I first spotted Marks & Spencer’s new living room lighting idea in an Instagram reel by M&S insider James Rotheram. And it’s one of the most stylish lamps I’ve seen in a while. I especially love the alabaster shade as it reminds me of the moon when it’s lit up, owing to the stone’s natural veining.

‘Subtle veining and tonal variation give each piece a unique, living quality. For lighting, it offers something that glass or synthetic materials cannot replicate, combining natural texture and organic patterns with a beautifully diffused light,’ Mara at Industville says.

But the marble base perfectly complements the natural pattern of the alabaster. Not to mention that it’s one of the most beautiful wireless lamps I’ve seen in a while – that’s right, no ugly cords are going to get in the way. That’s why it looks so chic styled on James’ coffee table.

More alabaster lighting

Mara at Industville concludes, ‘Its renewed popularity reflects a growing desire for interiors that feel warmer, more tactile and connected to natural materials.’

To be quite honest, I’ve never fully considered how my bedside table could enhance the aesthetics of my bedroom. That is, until I spotted Habitat’s funky new bedside tables, included in their Autumn/ Winter 2026 collection.

When curating my bedroom ideas, the first things I consider are the room’s colour palette, followed by the best bedding to select and wall decor (I’m currently looking for a statement bamboo fan). Last on the list is my bedside table, which up until now hasn’t struck me as important.

I’ve changed my mind upon seeing Habitat’s Iro Bedside Table (£40) and the Geo Bedside Table (£50). These funky, retro designs are perfect for breathing life into any space, whether you’re jazzing up your dorm or home bedroom; it’s a non-permanent change that can have a big impact on your bedroom.

As I’ve said, I haven’t paid much attention to my bedside table, other than how to keep it tidy and organised. In previous rentals, I simply used the bedside table provided, and when I moved into my unfurnished flat just over a year ago, a family friend donated a couple. Honestly, I didn’t care what they looked like (plain and wooden), just that they matched, and I greatly appreciated the offer.

Now, having seen the colourful options available at Habitat this autumn, I’ve realised I’ve been missing out on a whole new world of home decor. While mid-century bedside tables have been the defining bedside table trend for 2026, Habitat’s colourful, retro designs are perfect for breathing some youth into your home.

First to catch my eye was the Iro Bedside Table, which is also available in a stylish, dark red colourway. It’s a stunning statement, a piece combining bold colour and sculptural design. In my humble opinion, it looks like a work of art.

I prefer the icy blue colourway, which incidentally has been one of the biggest colour trends for this year. Plus, given that the table is made from steel, it gives the table an industrial look, which I love.

The one drawback I have with the table is that it lacks storage. Of course, you have the top of the unit to place your phone, book and even a lamp. And then at the base, there is space to store other items. However, this space isn’t exactly private, so it’s more for displaying ‘curated clutter’ such as extra books, rather than everyday bedside drawer clutter like extra phone chargers.

I also found myself drawn to the Geo Bedside Table, whose green tiled effect makes it stand out. Again, it’s great for those looking to go bold with their decor, yet its retro look is very on trend, too.

As well as these new arrivals, Habitat has a huge range of stylish bedside tables. Here are a few more of my favourites.

Me personally, I can’t stop thinking about the icy blue Iro bedside table. It’s waiting in my basket for pay day – what about you?

If you’re cutting your plants back this month, don’t chuck the clippings straight in the compost bin – there’s a creative way you can make them last longer.

British television presenter David Domoney is actually in favour of keeping those clippings rather than throwing them away. That’s because you can make a wreath out of them using a compost bin lid, or similar – and with autumn and winter on the way, it’s the perfect time to get started.

Luckily, there are plenty of plants to cut back in August, so you’ll probably have a lot of material to work with. Here’s what David said in one of his latest Instagram reels.

You probably wouldn’t expect to start making a DIY living Christmas wreath in August, but it doesn’t have to be strictly seasonal – you can make a natural wreath for any season (and autumn is on the horizon!).

All of that greenery you’re trimming away while you’re pruning your plants in August can provide an ideal framework for that wreath. And the surprise aide? A compost bin lid.

‘At the moment, when you’re pruning things like wisteria, or even thornless roses and many other plants, they’re at their most pliable,’ David says in his Instagram reel. ‘Take their leaves off, run them along the inside of a lid – it doesn’t have to be a compost lid, anything similar – group them together, tie them up, and it’s a framework for a wreath.’

From those simple steps alone, you’ll have an all-natural, one-of-a-kind wreath that you simply leave inside the lid to take shape before removing and decorating with other plants. You’ll just need some string like this Draper garden twine from Amazon to hold the stems in place.

‘The result is a homemade wreath framework ready to decorate for autumn, then reinvent for Christmas,’ David said in the caption.

If you want to add flowers or other natural decorations to your wreath, you’ll need a reel of green florist wire, like this reel from Amazon.

‘For anything heavy or bulky, like pinecones or chunky dried orange slices, hot glue is an amateur move,’ says Mark Dwelly, head gardener at Audley Stanbridge Earls. ‘Use florist wire. Twist it securely around the base of the pinecone or thread it through the orange slice. Then, poke the wire ends through the back of the wreath and twist them tightly to secure. This ensures nothing falls off in a gust of wind.’

If it’s too soon to be thinking about Christmas wreaths, you could look at summery decorations like dried flowers instead. You can buy a herb and flower drying rack for £16.99 from B&Q.

What you’ll need

Besides your compost (or even dustbin) lid and your prunings, you’ll only need a couple of things to make a wreath this August.

So, you can use a compost bin lid, or even a dustbin lid, as a mould for a wreath – and all you need are your prunings! It’s a win-win.