As an interiors journalist, Christmas doesn’t just last for one month in December; I’ve been living in Christmas land since September. So my enthusiasm for the new high street festive decorations has worn off slightly. However, this week one new launch revived my festive spirit and had me excited for Christmas all over again: the Habitat x Morris & Co decoration collection.
I am a massive fan of what Habitat has done with Morris & Co; they’ve revived and reinvigorated the classic arts and crafts patterns to work in modern homes. I currently have the Merton sunflower armchair in my living room, which remains one of my best investments for my home. Now the designers have turned their attention to christmas decorations, and they’ve nailed it.
I’ve seen Morris & Co Christmas decorations before, but they’ve always felt a bit twee and unimaginative. The Habitat collection is none of these things. It was the set of medium Habitat x Morris & Co paper stars that jumped out at me first. Paper stars are a decoration Habitat already does incredibly well; they have been reimagined in classic Morris & Co designs, including Strawberry Thief, Hyacinth and Leicester in rich burgundy and forest greens.
They’ve also turned their hand to baubles, bows and even a wreath, interpreting the iconic patterns into rich jewel-toned decorations. Here are the 6 gems in the range I’m eyeing up for my own home.
I just bought Habitat’s supersized burgundy striped stars, and I’m considering investing in this set to layer them with. They come in a pack of three that can be styled together over a mantle or hung in a cluster in a window
I already own a Habitat faux wreath, so I can vouch for the quality. This one has been given the Morris & Co treatment, with a bow featuring the iconic strawberry thief motif. If you already have a wreath you can update, Habitat will be selling the Morris & Co bows on their own very soon in three different patterns.
My favourite part of this range is that they have taken elements from the most famous Morris & Co designs and interpreted them into ornaments. These gorgeous beaded gold birds will add a little sparkle to a tree without feeling like Morris & Co. overkill.
Whimsical decorations are massive this year, and this one depicting the famous ‘strawberry thief’ is too cute to ignore. I’m not a huge fan of the classic pattern, but this decoration is so fun, it won me over. I’d have him tucked up high on the tree, peeking out of the branches as a playful nod to the famous designer.
I’ve seen vintage-inspired fruit decorations popping up in a few high street collections lately, but these glass ornaments are my favourite. They look so rich and sumptuous; if you told me they were original Victorian decorations, I’d believe you. If I had to place bets on the one decoration you’d still be pulling out in 10 years, this is it.
Another future heirloom decoration, these classic glass baubles have a pretty vintage edge that will work with any colour scheme. I’d invest in a couple of these dotted around the tree.
If you want to try the heritage Christmas trend in your home but aren’t a fan of tartan, this Morris & Co collection offers an alternative way to style it out. It is classic and filled with decorations you know will be pulled out year after year by you, your kids and potentially even your grandkids.
Around 20 million households in England will receive a £100 payment from the Government this winter to help with their energy bills, Chancellor John Healey confirmed, delivering the Autumn Budget.
The October price cap saw bills rise by £60 a year for millions of households, and consultants at Cornwall Insight have predicted a further 16% price increase in January 2027 compared to October of this year. This means energy bills could rise to £1,999 a year for a typical dual-fuel household in January 2027.
Unsurprisingly, many of us are looking to tighten our belts as a result, searching for ways to save energy and money at home. So, I asked an energy expert what exactly we can expect from the Household Energy Payment, who is eligible, and what difference it may have on our bills.
‘Eligibility depends on where you live. In England, the £100 payment is for eligible households responsible for council tax on their main home in bands A to D. The governments in Wales and Scotland have also confirmed a £100 payment for households in those bands. So, if you don’t know, checking what council tax band you are in is the best place to start,’ explains Gareth Kloet, expert at Go.Compare Energy.
‘In Northern Ireland, which uses domestic rates rather than council tax, funding has been allocated for similar support, but households should await confirmation of the Executive’s arrangements rather than assuming the same rules apply.’
To check which council tax band you are under, you can use the Government’s free postcode checker.
‘The £100 payment will be welcome support for eligible households at a time when energy costs remain a concern. But it’s important to note that this support is a one-off payment to help with paying your bill, rather than a reduction in the cost of energy. It can help offset some of your costs, but it won’t prevent your bills from rising if your energy use or the rates you pay increase,’ says Gareth.
‘In England, payments are expected to start from January 2027. Those who pay council tax by direct debit should receive the money automatically, while others will be invited to apply through their council,’ says Gareth.
‘Wales and Scotland have also confirmed support, but households should check local guidance for payment details. Northern Ireland’s arrangements are yet to be confirmed. Be wary of unexpected messages asking for bank details and always check with official sources first.’
‘In England, some households exempt from council tax are still expected to qualify, although full eligibility details have not yet been published. However, people who are not responsible for council tax are not currently included under the guidance. Councils will also receive extra funding to support households that miss out on the payment. Those in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should check local guidance, as different rules may apply,’ says Gareth.
‘It’s government-funded support, not a discount provided by energy suppliers. The scheme is being funded through a temporary increase in the tax surcharge on bank profits and is expected to cost around £2.6 billion,’ says Gareth.
‘The Government has extended the temporary removal of VAT on domestic electricity bills in Great Britain until July 2027. There are also plans to remove gas standing charges from 2027, although those costs would be moved into unit rates rather than disappear altogether. That means lower-use households could benefit more than higher users. In Northern Ireland, eligible customers already receive support through the Household Electricity Discount Scheme, which is separate from the new £100 payment,’ says Gareth.
‘Ultimately, one of the best things you can do to keep your energy costs down is regularly review your tariff and check whether switching could save you money. Even small differences between deals can add up to meaningful savings over time,’ says Gareth.
If you haven’t already fixed your tariff, it can be a good idea to fix now, considering energy bills are expected to increase.
A water tank jacket will help insulate your water tank, reducing the ammount of heat loss, therefore requiring less energy to heat your water. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this can save you £45 a year.
Now is also a great time to seal any draughts coming through your windows and doors. This will help keep the cold out and heat in over the winter.
You should also consider using thermostatic valves on your radiators. This allows you to control the temperature of each individual radiator. You can turn radiators down or off in rooms you’re not using, helping you save on your energy bills.
If you are struggling to pay your bills, you should reach out to your energy supplier to see what support you’re entitled to.
Aldi has just added an absolute gem into its Specialbuys collection of bestselling cast iron cookware: a £19.99 bread oven which is a dead ringer for Le Creuset’s £265 version (which is beloved by bread makers everywhere). Available from the 5th of November in the middle aisle, this is one limited-edition buy I’m desperate to get my hands on.
I’ve recently got into making sourdough at home in a big way – a task that you can’t rely on one of the best bread makers alone for – and have been fervently researching the kit I need to buy to make my loaves even better.
That led me to eyeing up Le Creuset’s Bread Oven, which was recommended by my friend and Ideal Home’s previous Kitchen Appliances Editor Millie Fender, who tried it out for us in her Le Creuset Bread Oven review, where she said it helped to make a brilliant loaf of bread.
Here’s how Aldi’s version, which is part of its longstanding editor-approved line-up for one tenth of the price, stacks up against the Le Creuset classic that’s all the rage on bread-making forums (trust me, I’ve read them all).
The steep domed shape of this dish is designed to mimic the steam-injection that you’d get in a professional baker’s kitchen. The base acts like a baking stone and the dome prevents steam escaping, creating the perfect conditions for rising bread.
It seems Aldi’s version has taken more than a little inspiration from Le Creuset’s bestseller from the shape to the very on-trend pastel green colourway. It’s already been released at Aldi in the US and Australia and gained a cult following in breadmaking circles online thanks to its ultra-cheap price tag.
I’ve been researching this Le Creuset bread oven obsessively over the last few weeks, trying to work out if it’s worth splashing over £250 on in order to improve my sourdough. My biggest dilemma is over whether this oven really has that much over a standard Le Creuset casserole, which I’ve managed to get pretty good results out of already.
In the course of my research, I’ve found that if you’re after a dedicated bread baking vessel then Le Creuset’s Bread Oven is the ultimate bit of kit to pick up. It has the edge in a few ways including safer loading (you place your dough onto the flat plate) and a shape that lends itself better to preheating when empty and creating that all-important steam trap.
It’s important to note that if you’re looking for an all-rounder cast iron dish, the consensus is that a standard Le Creuset (or alternative) casserole is the best way to go. My own Le Creuset casserole in Chambray (£405), as pictured below, has been in constant use this winter for sourdough, stews and one-pot meals.
One thing I have been concerned about with using my standard Le Creuset for sourdough is having to preheat it dry for 45 minutes before I pop my dough in as it’s not necessarily recommended by the manufacturer. I’m worried that doing this frequently might spell trouble for the enamel layer.
That’s where Aldi’s sub £20 bread oven comes in, seeming to me like a very affordable investment as a kind of middle ground. It’s shape will allow me to experiment with using a bread oven while I decide if I want to take the plunge on Le Creuset’s version and its price tag won’t break the bank in the meantime.
It’s not the only cast iron Specialbuy that Aldi will be stocking up the middle aisle with in December either – the supermarket’s £19.99 casserole is back too as well as a range of accessories from as little as £1.99.
This is one lookalike I’m definitely going to be venturing to my nearest Aldi for!
