The hallway is in effect the first room of your home, so it needs to make the right impression. So much more than just an entranceway, a hallway idea can set to the tone for the look and feel of a home. Getting the lighting right will ensure it’s an integral part of your home, flowing seamlessly into neighbouring rooms.

From directional spotlights over, ambient lamps and task lighting within modern staircase designs – there’s a hallway lighting solution to suit all homes.

Hallway lighting ideas

Hallways are often narrow and sometimes lack a focal point, but they create an important first impression and serve to set the decorating scheme for the rest of your home.

Layered lighting effects will add drama to the space and help to draw the eye. Think of your hallway idea in terms of the spine in the body – this is the area from which all the principal rooms – such as the living room and kitchen.

1. Set the tone from first impressions

Image credit: Future PLC/ Douglas Gibb

Use your hallway lighting of choice dictate the colour scheme throughout your home, or at least the rooms that lead off the hallway. In this brilliant white hallway space a vibrant yellow pendant shade adds a welcome burst of colour. That colour is then echoed by the striking yellow wallpaper featured in the living room below.

This cohesive use of colour helps to set the tone for a decorating scheme, cleverly creating a flow from one living space to another.

2. Seek natural light where possible

Image credit: Future PLC/ Fiona Walker-Arnott

Where your layout allows look to add windows to allow as much natural light as possible. This view from the kitchen through to the hallway shows how a compact skylight floods the small hallway space with daylight. The layout of this detached 1930s five bedroom house allows for the overhead skylight but the same results would work from a small window to the side.

3. Shine a spotlight over an entrance way

Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole

For functionality spotlights will always be a winning lighting solution. They provide directional overhead light to make the space below well lit. In a hallway this is a valuable source of light because it means from the moment you step inside the house after dark you can see everything clearly.

Directional light immediately over a door threshold is always good for security, in the respect that the entrance way is bright to see visitors on the doorstep – working in conjunction with any outdoor lighting ideas.

4. Go for glam

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles

Because you want to make a fabulous first impression on anyone visiting your house go for the design most reflective of your personality. A large blush pink tasselled ceiling chandelier will make your hallway a destination in and of itself. This piece of interiors inspiration marries up really well with high ceilings so is ideal if you have a period home.

In this stylish white hallway idea the homeowners have gone step further by painting the door in the same shade of pink, to give the colour further visual impact.

5. Balance lighting to change the atmosphere

Image credit: Future PLC/ James French

Create balance by mixing alternative light sources. Opt for a strip of spotlights to create a galley of light to create a path from one room to another, acting as a purely functional lighting source. Add table lamps in order to create a more cosy and intimate ambience as and when the mood takes you.

Full over head lights are useful when still up and about, journey from one room to another. Once you’re settled down for a box set and not really using the hallway as much the softer light can be more fitting to the mood.

6. Make a statement with coordinating colour

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Parmiter

Use colour in a more subtle yet stylish way as an accent throughout the entranceway on all woodwork. Pick the colour up with a central pendant light to create a central point of focus. In this period property the ceiling rose is accentuated beautifully by the contrast of the monochrome colour palette, where black is the dominant colour for highlight decorative features.

A simple yet captivating black metal light with a bronze coating is more than enough to hold court in this stylish hallway. The metal finish echoes the subtle gleam of the satin woodwork, to uniform the look.

7. Illuminate the stairway

Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole

In this hallway the homeowners have embraced modern design with a contemporary oak staircase with built-in spotlight lighting. This design feature is ideal for a family home where the steps are easier to navigate, as the lights clearly show the thread and space between each step.

8. Utilise walls for upward and downward lighting

Image credit: Future PLC/ Emma Lee

Consider the space when choosing lighting. With living space at a premium, wall lamps work extremely well. On a separate dimmer circuit, the addition of downlighters (or wall lamps) incorporated into this scheme picks out the details on the patterned wallpaper, and also highlight the quirky curios and objets d’art on the cabinet below.

9. Create a gallery feel with wall lights

Image credit: Future PLC/ James Merrell

Follow this modern hallway design by using accent down lighting to illuminate a feature wall. Sleek matt black wall lights arch out over the artwork that lines the walls of this stylish hallway. This accent lighting not only highlights the artwork to make it more of a decor feature, it adds a gentle glow along the wall that aids in illuminating the space.

The library-style wall lights are joined by a sphere globe pendant light which drops from the stairway above, to add another design element to enhance the hallway scheme.

10. Add warmth

Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme

A pair of table lights on a console or chest of drawers adds a soft ambient glow and ensures a welcoming feel. Keep the look symmetrical for a put-together aesthetic that is pleasing on the eye.

11. Make a statement upon entrance

Image credit: Future PLC/ Paul Raeside

The hallway is the perfect place to highlight an entrance. Opt for a standout design that draws the eye upwards. Whether you are looking for keys, giving yourself one final check in the mirror, or perching on stool to put your shoes on, task lighting is ideal for a hall.

12. Light up a narrow space

Image credit: Future PLC/ Paul Raeside

If you have a narrow hallway, using mini wall lights or a single pendant works really well, but be aware that wall lights with too wide a projection can make the space appear smaller. Make sure wall lights are placed high enough to avoid knocking into as you walk past.

13. Take advantage of architectural details

Image credit: Future PLC/ Rachael Smith

Successful lighting is dependent on your hallway’s proportions and scale. If you have ample space, be bold and go for a large-scale light, or a cluster of smaller fittings, to create a dramatic statement. Take advantage of high ceilings and experiment with lighting designs that have varied drops, as they will add interest at different levels.

14. Reflect light in a narrow hallway

Image credit: Future PLC

In a narrow or small hallway idea you need to create as much light and airiness as possible. An easy way, aside from painting walls in brilliant white to bounce light around, is to embrace glass light fittings to avoid overwhelming the decor.

A simple glass pendant creates an openness that doesn’t make the already smalls pace feel restricted or enclosed. Glass also helps the light to stretch further, which also helps to make any compact living space feel more generous.

15. Mix and match your light fixtures

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Woolley

Combining a range of light sources is a great way to add interest and personality to a space. A pendant will give a practical, concentrated light, while lamps positioned on a small occasional table or console will cast soft pools of illumination, bringing an inviting warmth to entrance halls. If the ceiling is low, consider wall lights, which are also ideal for brightening staircases and landings.

Will you be incorporating any of these hallway lighting ideas in your home?

The post Hallway lighting ideas – inspirational ways to add light to halls and stairways appeared first on Ideal Home.

Buying the best blender of 2021 will prepare you for a season of spiced soups and hearty pasta sauces. We’ve been busy reviewing all of the best blenders you can buy from Ninja, NutriBullet, Magimix, Magic Bullet, Smeg, Vitamix, and much much more. In fact, all of our top picks have been tried by the Ideal Home team hands-on, so whether you want a budget-friendly bullet blender or a mighty multi-serve, our reviews come complete with pros, cons, and that all-important rating out of five.

Some of the best blenders in our guide can be combined with the best food processors to chop and pulse as well as making easy cocktails and other drinks.

If you do want a blender to make soup and other hot sauces, you need to be sure that it will take hot ingredients as well as cold. Some materials are designed to turn steaming veggies and stock into piping hot soups that you can pour right out of the pitcher and into the bowl. Others are less hardy, so you will need to let your soup ingredients cool before blending.

Other things we took into account when picking the best blenders were the ease of cleaning (especially whether it can go through the dishwasher) and the capacity. While the classic NutriBullet-style bullet blenders are perfect for single-serve smoothies, if you want to serve up drinks or sauces for the whole family, there are also multi-serve blender options available.

How much does the best blender cost?

Our best blender guide features blenders under £50, as well as some premium models that come in at well over £100, which you’ll even find in professional kitchens.

Spend more than £100 and you’ll get a better choice of attachments and extra blades, usually a glass jug or a thermally resistant plastic one, and more choice of speeds and programmes. At the other end of the scale are premium blenders that have evolved from those found in professional kitchens.

These blenders will be far more powerful, sometimes enough to gently heat the contents. These blenders frequently come with a price tag upwards of £500.

Best blenders 2021

1. Ninja 2-in-1 Blender with Auto-IQ BN750UK

Best blender overall

Type: Plastic
Dimensions: 435 x 170 x 210 mm
Power: 1100 watts
Reasons to buy: Vacuum cup reduces foam, sleek design
Reasons to avoid: Hard to wash

Powerful blenders can turn tough fruit and veg into yummy smoothies but all that whizzing makes for a foamy drink. Enter the vacuum pump – designed to suck the air out of the jug or cups before the high-speed action begins. This incorporates fewer bubbles in the process, so you can pour out a silky-smooth beverage.

The other benefit of using a vacuum is better colour retention (so the green doesn’t turn to sludge brown as quickly). And, unlike some vacuum-compatible blenders, Ninja’s Smart Screen Blender comes with the pump and enough batteries to run it.

It’s not just the vacuum pump that makes this a good buy for smoothie fans either. Concealed within the base unit is an 1100W motor, which gives the stacked six-blade assembly of the jug enough power for its smoothie, purée, frozen drink or ice cream programmes.

You can also blend smoothies directly in a pair of on-the-go cups using a screw-in blade tool, and there are high, low and pulse speed options. What we especially liked about the Smart Screen Blender was its sleek buttonless control panel: it was easy to wipe it clean, with nowhere for mess to hide, and when the machine was off, it was completely blank.

Its performance was also good – our smoothies only had small flecks of spinach and berries remaining and had a bright, vivid colour. Blending them was very loud but only took just over a minute. However, the vacuum process adds on about another 20 seconds for the cups and a minute for the jug, so may not be suitable for busy mornings.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

2. NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set

Best blender for single servings

Type: Bullet blender
Dimensions:25.7 x 14.6 x 36 centimetres
Power: 900 watts
Reasons to buy: Immense power, couldn’t be easier to use, very smooth results
Reasons to avoid: Only one setting

If you love a morning smoothie or want to blend up smaller portions in one go, the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set has everything you need. It has two sizes of blending cups, 909ml or 680ml, and a to-go lid for drinking on your commute or simply storing in your fridge. Other screw-on attachments include a handle and of course, the blending lid.

The cups are dishwasher-safe and also very easy to clean by hand. Although they’re made of (BPA-free) plastic, they are incredibly durable and won’t be breaking any time soon. Most impressive with the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set is just how powerful it is. The 900-watt motor reaches 25,000 RPM as soon as you lock the blending cup into place and as soon as you want to switch it off you can just unscrew to stop the blending.

If you want a blender to make smoothies or soups out of ingredients with skins, seeds, and tough stems or leaves, the NutriBullet Pro 900 really is the perfect choice. It turns even tricky ingredients such as kale and frozen berries into deliciously smooth drinks or sauces.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

3. Magimix Power Blender

Best blender for soups

Type: Glass
Dimensions: 26.8 x 20.8 x 46 cm
Power: 1300 watts
Reasons to buy: Maximum power, small design
Reasons to avoid: An expensive option

How much blending is too much? If you’re the sort of person who feels like you’re always second-guessing your appliance or over-processing, meet the Power Blender. It comes with five auto programmes (one of which is a time-saving self-cleaning setting) that help take the effort out of blitzing ice, smoothies, desserts and soups, alongside four speeds plus pulse for when you want more control.

On the design front, it’s everything you’d expect from Magimix – clearly labelled buttons and a dial, a choice of three classic finishes, easy drop-on jug, and a good balance between sturdy and stylish. However, there are some quirks to be aware of, such as 1.8-litre glass jug. It’s heavy even without anything in it, so pouring out accurately can be tricky.

The push-on, pull-off lid can also be stubborn at first, and there’s a max run time of a minute. Beyond this, there’s a lot to love – the jug splits apart for cleaning, it’s all dishwasher-safe and you can blend soup that’s still relatively hot (up to 60 degrees C) so you don’t have to wait long after cooking.

Its smoothie programme, which was a gradual ramping up of speed, followed by low then high, took about 30 seconds to whiz through a fruit and veg smoothie. There was no trace of leafy greens left and the blend was beautifully consistent.

Its cleaning programme using warm water and washing-up liquid left the jug spotless with some residue remaining around the lid. It also crushed ice into snow in seconds while its auto programme turned hot chunky vegetable broth into silky smooth soup in just over a minute.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

4. Sage Super Q

Best quiet blender

Type: Plastic carafe and cup
Dimensions: 21 x 46 x 27cm
Power: 2400 watts
Reasons to buy: Powerful motor, quieter average noise, simple controls
Reasons to avoid: Big price tag

Putting off making your morning smoothie for fear of waking the whole household, or even the neighbours? The Super Q is here to save the day. While blending is never going to be a quiet activity, this speedy, commercial-grade machine does its best to dampen the usual racket, and, importantly, the sound it does make is less of a jarring whine – because it’s often the pitch that’s a blender bugbear as much as the volume.

However, it’s not just noise suppression that makes this blender an asset – it’s also the breadth of programmes, versatility and efficiency. In the box you’ll find a good-sized two-litre jug with a lid that clips firmly into place, a 700ml cup with removable blades and a lid that you can use to blend shakes or smoothies, tamper, spatula, and a sleek silver base unit.

The controls are devilishly simple to get the hang of – there are five programmes at the push of a button, such as green smoothie, frozen dessert or soup (designed to heat up ingredients rather than blend already hot soup), plus a manual dial for ramping up through 12 speed settings and an LCD screen showing count up or count down times.

What’s especially clever though, is that the jug is compatible with the separate Vac Q pump, which enables you to suck the air out before blending. In our tests, this resulted in far less froth in a fruit and veg smoothie and noticeably velvety butternut squash soup, heated in less than six minutes (although this was noisy).

A final reason to love it is its frozen food and ice-crushing abilities – it transformed cubes into snow in about 30 seconds (the programme lasts a minute), which was easily scraped out. The only downside is the price – but if other blenders are leaving you disappointed or deafened, the Super Q is a superhero solution.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5.  NutriBullet Rx

Best blender for smoothies

Type: Plastic carafe/cups
Dimensions: 36.2 x 21.8 x 46 cm
Power: 1700 watts
Reasons to buy: Great value, lots of accessories, make soup quickly
Reasons to avoid: Blades aren’t dishwasher safe

Fans of the original Nutribullet looking to upgrade to something with more oomph will love the Rx. While some bullet blenders can leave behind flecks (of leafy greens, for example) the Rx uses its 2.3hp/1700W motor to create a flawlessly smooth consistency. Inside its blade unit, you’ll find four angled blades that screw into an oversized or short cup for smoothies or its Souperblast pitcher.

This comes with a vented lid, so you can use a special programme to blitz veggies into hot soup in only seven minutes. There’s no on or off button or speed settings. The Rx adjusts automatically to the contents and for the right amount of time – just drop the cup onto the base. In tests, it effortlessly blitzed smoothies using seeds and nuts. It easily tackled black treacle and broccoli too, all of which were thoroughly blended.

This super blender then made piping hot soup from vegetables and pre-made stock. It’s worth noting that it won’t brown ingredients, so some may need cooking beforehand. It was also used to blend creamy nut butter from almonds and oil.

One downside is that the blades aren’t dishwasher-safe, so you’ll need to clean out any residue by hand. Also, the cups are bulky to drink from directly and the kit it comes with doesn’t have an obvious way to stack it for storage.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

6. Vitamix A2300i blender

Best blender for sheer power

Type: Plastic
Dimensions: 43.2 x 20.3 x 27.9cm
Power: 1440 watts
Reasons to buy: Incredibly versatile, large 2L jug, smooth results
Reasons to avoid: With a hefty price tag, you may want a cheaper alternative

The Ascent 2300i  can be used to make your own butter (no churning by hand, yet all of the wow factor at your next dinner party), dips, nut butters, mayonnaise, non-dairy milks, hot soup from scratch without a pan in sight, bread and pasta dough, wholegrain flours, baby food and frozen desserts – essentially, almost anything you could make in a food processor.

To which end, it’s built with a more durable construction than you’d expect your average blender to have. There’s a large base to find space for in your kitchen, plus a two-litre plastic jug with a wide spout that manages to be both lightweight yet sturdy and a secure push-on lid that prevents leaks.

And while there aren’t any programmes, the Ascent 2300i doesn’t lack options – 10 speeds plus a pulse button mean you can scroll between gentle liquefying and pulverisation.

Other points of difference are a comprehensive recipe book, a tamper to nudge frozen ingredients towards its blades and an on-off switch so it’s not accidentally flicked into life. In testing, it made a smoothie that was completely lump and fleck-free in about a minute, staying steady on the worktop even at the highest speed. Its count-up timer on the front came in especially handy for keeping an eye on blending times.

Similarly, it took a minute to blend cooked ingredients into smooth soup and 6 mins 30 to blend and heat using the friction of its blades. A few pulses were all that was required to crush ice, and it cleaned easily after messy jobs by using water and washing-up liquid, with the mixture even reaching the lid for a thorough clean.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

7. Smeg BLF01 50s blender

Best looking blender with smart features

Type: Aluminium
Dimensions: 20 x 16.5 x 40cm
Power: 800 watts
Reasons to buy: Awesome 50’s retro style, incredibly sleek and easy to use
Reasons to avoid: Only one pitcher, can’t handle soup

With a die-cast aluminium body and six lovely colours to choose from, you won’t want to remove the Smeg BLF01 50s blender from your kitchen counter. We were impressed with just how smooth it left our drinks, even when they had ice and frozen blocks of spinach; a notoriously tricky ingredient. The soup had an almost whipped consistency because of how well the blender broke through tomato skins and peppers to incorporate, but Smeg does recommend waiting until your soup has cooled before blending, which is a shame.

The jug doesn’t need to be screwed in: just slot it into the base and select your setting. The Smeg BLF01 50s blender may have a retro style but the build is all modern. It features a pulse setting and numerous preset modes, including a button for blitzing ice.

You only get the 1.5 litre tritan jug with this one, so it’s not the most versatile. For pairing with a toaster or kettle though, the look really does impress. It also felt incredibly powerful and not too loud, which given the 800 watt motor was a surprise.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

8. Philips HR3652

Best blender for crushing ice

Type: Glass
Dimensions: 21.6 x 43 x 31.6 cm
Power: 1400 watts
Reasons to buy: Fine blending, dishwasher-safe
Reasons to avoid: Speed settings are unnumbered

Most of us could probably do with eating more fruit and veg. Proven to motivate you into upping your five-a-day is the 1,400W Avance blender, which will turn unpalatable vegetables into smoothies and soups with ease. Its makers claim it produces 50% finer blending than a previous model – which is great news for the fruit and veg-phobic. For its price, it brings a lot to the table.

This blender has a two-litre glass jar with 1.5-litre working capacity, 13 speeds plus pulse, two one-minute programmes for smoothies and ice crushing. It has cable storage and a spatula that inserts through the lid to move contents around.

The manual speeds are only marked min to max without numbers between, so it’s more difficult to reproduce a recipe if you’ve already found the perfect setting. It also can’t be used for more than three minutes at a time. In tests, it turned a couple of handfuls of ice cubes into snow and made a fruit and veg smoothie, both using the dedicated programmes.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

9. Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK

Best personal blender

Type: Personal
Dimensions: 17 cm x 15.9 cm x 38.7 cm
Power: 1000 watts
Reasons to buy: Smart Auto-IQ settings, easy to use and clean
Reasons to avoid: A little noisy, not for larger drinks

If you’re looking for the best blender for smoothies, it’s a good idea to consider a personal blender. Personal blenders are designed for taking drinks on the go, and can blitz up ice, frozen fruit and protein powder into smooth and creamy drinks. The Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK is a smart choice. It has two smart settings that use Auto-IQ to tackle even the toughest ingredients, it can chop through chunks of frozen spinach, banana, and ice to make thick milkshakes and creamy smoothies.

Personal blenders are far from versatile. This option comes with two 700ml cups that have lids for taking on the go, but nothing larger for blending family-sized dishes. What they do offer though is some seriously high powered blending power and a smaller footprint for your kitchen counter. We loved this model when we put it to the test, so if you’re after a personal blender, take a look.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Read our full Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK review

10. Magic Bullet Kitchen Express

Best blender food processor combo

Type: Plastic
Dimensions:30.8 x 29.2 x 19.2 cm
Power: 250 watts
Reasons to buy: Get a blender and food processor in one
Reasons to avoid: Single serve only

Affordably priced and multi-functional, the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is the perfect choice for students or small households who want something that can blend as well as chop and slice. It has two drink pitchers, one of who has a to-go lid that stays very securely in place, and despite only being 250 watts this blender is very powerful. It was particularly effective at making smoothie bowls out of frozen bananas and berries, with little intervention.

While it’s not large enough to blend things like soups, the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is perfect for smoothies and shakes, and it makes a top iced drink. The controls are simple, with an On, Off, and Pulse, but it’s by no means as multi-faceted as some of the options from Ninja and Vitamix, which offer a variety of blending modes for different drinks.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review

11. KitchenAid Artisan Power Plus Blender 5KSB8270

Best blender for power

Type: Plastic
Dimensions: 44.9 x 26.7 x 23.1cm
Power: 1800 watts
Reasons to buy: Excellent design, produces great smoothies
Reasons to avoid: Very noisy

If the smoothest of smoothies is a priority, the KitchenAid Artisan Power Plus Blender 5KSB8270 will deliver. Equipped with a peak 3.5hp motor and billed as the most powerful blender available, it liquefies everything from frozen fruit to nuts and grains.

There’s a choice of 11 speeds plus high or low pulse and three programmes for juice, smoothies and soups, plus a self-cleaning option. Its 2.6-litre blender jug is superbly designed – made from BPA-free dishwasher-safe plastic, it has a dual-wall construction so the exterior doesn’t become hot even when it’s heating soup. Inside the blender are four heavy duty 3mm-thick angled blades.

On top, a vented lid lets out steam, while a tamper comes in handy for solid food. The blender power cable also detaches for storage. Available in three glossy shades, the Artisan Power Plus blender is beautifully designed and rightly so – at 9.4kg, lifting it in and out of a cupboard would be a chore.

It’s more of an investment than your average blender, so you’d need to get lots of use out of it to justify the cost. It’s also an exceptionally noisy blender – anything over speed 7 may have you fleeing the kitchen. However, in tests, it gave a peerless performance with smoothies, soup and ice, and it will fit perfectly next to the best stand mixers.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

How to buy the right blender for you

Image credit: Vitamix

1. Check how powerful your blender is

The wattage can work as a guide but higher doesn’t always mean a better blender. Take into account additional features that it uses to process food thoroughly, such as jug and blade design. A blender’s power can sometimes be displayed in horsepower (746W = 1hp) instead of watts. While basic liquidisers sufficed with two blades, most modern jug blenders will have at least four, sometimes with mini blades nestled around the stack. They’re usually angled, which helps them to whisk up pieces from the bottom of the jug and create a vortex to drag blender contents down from the top.

Take a look at the best juicers

2. Check blender settings and speeds

Basic models tend to have just a few speeds while more feature-packed models will have several. Both will usually feature a pulse option for quick bursts of speed. You can also find blenders with programmes for blitzing specific foods, such as soup, ice crushing, smoothie, pureé and frozen desserts. A cleaning programme is another handy option, allowing you to clean the jug in-situ by running it filled with water and washing-up liquid.

3. Check blender materials

The blender jug itself will be made from either glass or plastic. Glass tends to be sturdier and less likely to become scratched but a good quality BPA-free plastic, such as Tritan, is a smart choice. This is because it’s strong yet lighter than glass, which can make all the difference if you’re lifting a heavy jug of soup. Jugs vary in total capacity and working capacity (ie how much they can safely blend without the contents trying to escape). This is usually lower for hot liquids. A 1.6-litre jug should cover most everyday blending but to be able to get the most of out of your blender, look for around two litres.

4. Check blender practicality

Look for blender jugs that have two-part lids, too, so you can add food or liquid as it blends. This is ideal for making sauces that can easily split, such as mayonnaise, or when processing hot food, so steam can be released.

5. Check for extras

The lids may include small measuring cups. Some blenders have additional milling and grinding blades (which can be used for seeds, nuts and sometimes coffee beans), mini containers for mincing smaller amounts of food, personal blender cups and even food processor bowls. Another useful blender accessory is a tamper. This fits through the lid of the blender so you can move solid chunks of food, such as frozen fruit, towards the blades.

What other key questions do I need to ask about blenders?

Are blenders easy to clean?

You’ll get more use out of a blender that’s easy to clean, so look for those where all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Some blender jugs will split apart so that the blades can be safely cleaned separately and more thoroughly. If the jug has fixed blades, it can be difficult to clean around them by hand, so always use a brush. Our how to clean a blender guide has more tips.

Are blender noisy?

All blenders will be noisy, though some more than most. The pitch can differ from blender to blender, too, meaning that some noises, while not louder, are more annoying than others. If possible, try before you buy.

Will my small kitchen accommodate a blender?

Blender cables can be substantial, so look for machines with built-in storage to prevent the flex getting out of hand. Unless you’re buying a machine that you’re happy to have on display on the worktop, your blender will probably live in a cupboard. If so, choose one that can be easily dismantled, is light enough for you to lift in and out and won’t take up too much storage room.

The post Best blenders 2021 – for autumn soups and sauces appeared first on Ideal Home.

Searching for the best home fragrance? It can be confusing to know what to buy to ensure your home smells nice, but don’t fret as we’re here to help! We’ve been testing a range of home fragrance buys recently, especially ones for autumn and winter. We’re talking warm, comforting fragrances that’ll emanate a gorgeous welcoming smell into your house. Because it’s important that your home smells the part as well as looks the part – especially at this time of year.

Related: Best candles – our favourite finds to add scent and ambience

How to know which home fragrance is best for you? Choose a candle if you want to add light whilst making your home smell nice, and if you have somewhere in mind to place it that’s safe and out of the way from potential curious hands (or paws).

Reed diffusers are great because they do the job for you, with very little effort required other than the infrequent turning of reeds.

Opt for a room spray if you want something that you can completely control – these are particularly handy for a quick spray just before guests arrive. Or, to mask unwanted odours fast.

Last but definitely not least, fragrance oils are great for emitting smell throughout a long period of time, kind of like a candle but a lot safer. You need to mix a few drops with water and add this to your essential oil diffuser – for a very calming and lovely smelling ambience.

Related: Best reed diffusers – our top picks for every room in your home

Keep reading for the hottest 15 fragrances we’ve tried, smelled and loved. From The White Company to Yankee Candle, Rituals plus more, here is our ultimate best home fragrance guide.

What is the best home fragrance?

There’s not really a definite answer when it comes to the best home fragrance. This depends on the time of year, and the type of home fragrance you want. We will say, though, that right now our all-around favourite reed diffuser has to be Rituals’ The Ritual of Sakura Fragrance Sticks. Witchy’s The Moon Tarot Candle has also impressed us with its scent flooding ability, too. If it’s a room spray you are after, then don’t hesitate when it comes to Air Wick by Botanica’s Fresh Pineapple and Tunisian Rosemary Room Spray.

15 best home fragrance buys for every room in your home

The post Best home fragrance – 15 lux buys for autumn and winter 2021 appeared first on Ideal Home.

It’s just starting to feel a little chilly at the start and the end of the day. One thing that’s on many people’s minds is the increased cost of heating their homes this year.

So, when should we be switching our central heating on? Not until the clocks change – according to PlumbNation.

Image credit: Polly Eltes

When to put heating on

The company’s central heating experts have said that we should be waiting until October 31st before firing up the boiler to heat our homes. ‘Turning on your central heating is one of the sure signs that winter has arrived,’ says heating professional Jordan Chance.

‘Although there is no single temperature at which you should turn your heating on, many aim for the time when clocks go back, falling this year on October 31st,’ says Jordan. This seems very late to us, but we’re keen to find ways to prevent any nasty surprises from our gas bill.

It also gives us plenty of time to finally learn how to bleed a radiator to ensure they’re working properly. ‘There are ways to delay putting your heating on, keeping you warmer for longer and saving you those extra pennies,’ adds Jordan from PlumbNation.

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Parmiter

Jordan mentions tried and tested methods such as using a draught excluder. Keeping curtains closed and investing in a thermal curtain lining will also help.

These options can prevent cold air entering and warm air from escaping, making your home much more energy-efficient. According to Jordan, there is no benefit in leaving your heating on low all day. Instead, turn the heating on as and when you need it.

We asked Andrew Collinge, heating product manager at BestHeating, for a second opinion. ‘Although there is no optimum date for switching the heating on, our research would suggest that most UK residents tend to have the heating on more regularly, around October 1st,’ says Andrew.

Image credit: Colin Poole

‘Those more of a hardy disposition try and leave it as long as possible by wearing extra layers and investing in draught excluders. By the end of October, even the hardiest among us will have their central heating switched on – just in time for National Radiator day on November 1st,’ he says.

Andrew also recommends doing a test run while it’s still warm to check everything will be working when you need it most. As for when should you turn your heating off, mid-March is a popular time. Although, this isn’t always realistic given the unpredictable British weather.

For anyone moving house any time soon, remember that installing a new boiler will add value to a home. When will you be cranking up the heat?

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