REAL ESTATE
Residential, Commercial, Interiors
LANDSCAPE
Landmarks, Cityscape, Urban, Architectural
FOOD
Hotels, Restaurants, Advertising, Editorial
PORTRAIT
Traditional, Glamour, Lifestyle, Candid
PRODUCT
Studio, Lifestyle, Grouping
EVENT
Conference, Exhibition, Corporate
FASHION
Portrait, Catalog, Editorial, Street
TRAVEL
Landscape, Cityscape, Documentary
SPORT
Basketball, Football, Golf
CONCERT
STILL
STREET
Buying the best stand mixer will make sure that you’re all set to make Christmas cookies and extravagant New Year desserts. Planning on getting into sourdough starter as a fresh hobby? Buying a stand mixer will take all the muscle work out of kneading and leave you with perfectly risen loaves fit for a bakery.
Every single one of the ten best stand mixers in our guide has been reviewed by a member of the Ideal Home team, and if you want to find out more, you can just click through to see our reviews, complete with images from all our baking. When reviewing the best stand mixers from KitchenAid, Kenwood, Cuisinart, Russell Hobbs, Morphy Richards, and Sage, we tried out all attachments to see how well they handled cakes, icing, and even bread dough. Some even come with attachments to rival the best blender, which can be easily attached to a port on the front of the machine.
Of all the stand mixers we’ve tried, the Kenwood kMix Stand Mixer is our top pick. It comes in a range of classic colours and the glass bowl offers great value for money when you consider the quality of the design.
If you want a value stand mixer, or you have a small space to work with, the Morphy Richards MixStar really punches above its weight in both power and price.
Best stand mixer
Power: 1000 watts
Speed settings: 6
Capacity: 5 litre mixing bowl
Reasons to buy:
• Its fold function means you can make delicate mixes like brioche
• Very powerful motor
• Newly available in a range of fun colours
• Everything is dishwasher-safe
Reasons to avoid:
• It weighs over 10kg, so it’s pretty heavy for a mixer
Whether you’re a beginner, a casual baker or more experienced, the kMix stand mixer offers something for everyone. Not only is it incredibly easy to control with six speeds and a fold option, but its five-litre heatproof glass bowl also allows you to see exactly what’s going on inside. This puts paid to pesky flour lumps. It also features a 1,000W motor designed to handle up to 1.35kg of difficult dough. On the downside, thanks to its metal body, it’s another heavy mixer at 10.9kg.
During testing, the kMix stand mixer was fuss-free to use, staying reassuringly steady on the worktop even at high speeds. It produced everything from light, fluffy doughnuts to crisp meringue and thick whipped cream for pavlovas perfectly.
Another plus is the sheer range of compatible attachments, which include a pasta cutter, grinding mill, dicer and spaghetti maker. It comes in four colours and all the parts are dishwasher-safe.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
See our full Kenwood kMix Stand Mixer review
Best stand mixer for smaller kitchens
Image credit: Morphy Richards
Power: 650 watts
Speed settings: 6
Capacity: 4 litre bowl
Reasons to buy:
• It’s a real space saver
• It’s a very capable machine given its low power
• There’s a timer in-built
• It sped along the cooking process thanks to double attachments
Reasons to avoid:
• It lacks that classic stand mixer look
In testing, we loved how easily it was able to knead bread and make cakes and whipped cream with the Morphy Richards MixStar. The mixer is noiser than some, and it’s also lacking that classic tilt-head design that many find so appealing about a stand mixer. If it’s not the look you’re after though, this is an immensely capable model. It comes with an in-built timer that allows you to plan your baking exploits perfectly, and its six-point speed dial is variable which gives you complete control of your mixing.
The MixStar is powered through a central column that stems from its base. To this you can attach the whisk, dough hook, or flat beater attachments which work on a cog to rotate around the bowl. Unlike many stand mixers which have only one overhead attachment, this mixer has two, which means it can power through tasks as quickly as you’ll need. All the attachments store easily in an insert that sits in the bowl itself, which means this stand mixer is incredibly easy to store, and significantly less space-intensive as other options.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Morphy Richards MixStar review
Best stand mixer for smart modern features
Power: 1200 watts
Speed settings: 10
Capacity: 5 litre stainless steel bowl
Reasons to buy:
• In-built scales
• Premium, but value-for-money
• Assisted tilt-head
• Timer display
Reasons to avoid:
• Slight gap in the splash guard
The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker is an expensive choice, but with in-built scales and a timer, it’s the ticket to perfectly precise bakes. We really enjoyed how accurate the scales were, as they allowed us to add all of our flour, butter, sugar, and eggs to the bowl without the need to put them in a separate measuring device beforehand. Less cleanup, and a lot less faff! The assisted tilt-head means you can prop up the attachments with minimal effort, because it springs up when you press the lever.
It comes in only one colour, which is a shame, but you can switch out the colour of the top panel. This also has a port to add up to 25 attachments: a blender, even a pasta maker. Best part, these will also pair with the scales on the base! The mixer comes with three attachments, and we particularly enjoyed the flat beater. We did find that the splash guard had a slight cap above the bowl, because it’s attached to the assisted tilt-head, and this let a little flour and icing sugar escape from the bowl when cooking.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker review
Best stand mixer for baking cake
Image credit: KitchenAid
Power: 300 watts
Speed settings: 6
Capacity: 4.8 litre bowl
Reasons to buy:
• Looks great
• A classic for a reason
• A mid-price option
• Comes in countless colours
Reasons to avoid:
• Its motor is a little lacking compared to other options
We know you recognise this one. From the Great British Bake Off to Nigella’s home kitchen, the KitchenAid Artisan is a classic. We put it to the test to see if it’s still the cream of the crop. The verdict? This stand mixer is stunning and sturdy, but the motor is a little lacking compared to some of the others in our guide. You can make up to two batches of bread at a time in this mixer, so it’s a good balance between size and capacity. The bowl also screws on easily and has a handle. Attachments are dishwasher-safe, which we love.
We found that the Artisan mixer is both quiet and efficient. There’s also an optional pouring shield to prevent splashes, and it comes with a wire whisk, flat beater and dough hook as default. The classic tilt-head design will fit under your kitchen cabinets, and because there’s so many colours to choose from (not to mention countless custom bowls and other matching appliances such as the best food processors) we know it will look the part too.
It’s also one of the heaviest stand mixers available, at a knee-bending 11kg with accessories. It did make some delicious cake though, and you can buy plenty of additional attachments to make pasta, ice cream, and even stuff sausages if you so wish.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full KitchenAid 4.8L Artisan Stand Mixer review
Best value stand mixer
Power: 1000 watts
Speed settings: 7
Capacity: 3.9 litre mixing bowl
Reasons to buy:
• Comes with shredding discs, a mincer, a citrus press and a blender
• Very reasonably priced
• Almost all accessories go in the dishwasher
Reasons to avoid:
• The sheer amount of kit means you’ll need space to store it all
This is a stand mixer for cooks who want to progress from making a springy Victoria sandwich to baking the sort of things the Great British Bake Off judges would be wowed by. The reason is that it’s more than a stand mixer. Not only does it come with shredding discs, a mincer, a citrus press and a blender (and swivels into three positions for you to use them), in its stand mixer mode it beats, mixes, whisks and kneads like a pro.
Inside the mixer’s 3.9-litre bowl, there’s enough room to mix up to 2kg of dough with the kneading hook. This even has a ‘dough deflector’ to stop any mixture from escaping. During testing, dough wrapped around the hook but was easy to remove. The blender also performed well with no lack of power – a common problem with attachments.
When you’re finished baking up a storm, the MUM5 stand mixer’s cord automatically retracts. All the accessories except the mincer can be popped in the dishwasher and there’s a storage bag. The obvious downside of this mixer is the sheer amount of kit to store, but if you’re willing to make some room you’ll be rewarded.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
See our full Bosch MUM59340GB Stand Mixer review
Best stand mixer for easy controls
Power: 1200 watts
Speed settings: 12
Capacity: 4.7 litre mixing bowl
Reasons to buy:
• Two mixing bowls included
• LCD timer
• LED lights on tilt-head
Reasons to avoid:
• Glass bowl is hefty to lift
The Sage The Bakery Boss Stand Mixer wowed us with its smart LCD timer and the illuminated controls. If you struggle to know which speed to knead, cream, and mix with, the side of the mixer has zones which illuminate when you’re at the right speed.
Because it has two interchangeable bowls you won’t need to worry about rinsing out your cake bowl to beat your frosting, and while the glass one is very heavy, it is great for watching your mixture as it works. The steel bowl has a handle that makes pouring easy, too.
To get a better view as your cake mixes, there’s an LED light that shines down from the tilt-head into the mixing bowl. The machine itself has a handle that makes it easy to move around your kitchen, and other great touches include the flat beater, which as a scraper attachment that makes sure there’s no butter or sugar left at the side of the bowl. This meant we didn’t have to go around the outside of the bowl with a spatula to make sure that all of our ingredients were well incorporated. Our only gripe? The whisk can’t go in the dishwasher.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
See our full Sage The Bakery Boss Stand Mixer review
Best stand mixer on a budget
Kenwood Prospero KHC29 Stand Mixer
Power: 1000 watts
Speed settings: 5
Capacity: 4.3 litre bowl
Reasons to buy:
• This value choice has heaps of attachments and a powerful motor
• Powerful 1000 watt motor
• Planetary mixing motion
Reasons to avoid:
• Hand-wash only
The Kenwood Prospero KHC29 Stand Mixer has 1000 watts of power, which is impressive for a mixer of this price. It’s affordable when you buy it purely for mixing, but spend a little more and you’ll find attachments for blending, food processing, and even meat grinding.
While the design is a little unusual, we found that it did a great job of incorporating all of our ingredients thanks to the planetary mixing motion that reaches all edges of the bowl. The dough hook is also great for making springy loaves with well-kneaded dough. The 1000-watt motor comes in handy here, too, but with only five speed settings, it lacks some more specific speeds.
None of the attachments can go in the dishwasher, which is a bit of a pain, but we did find that they are easy enough to clean by hand. The mixer is great for smaller kitchen counters, because it’s lightweight and can slot under kitchen cabinets with ease.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full Kenwood Prospero KHC29 Stand Mixer review
Best KitchenAid stand mixer for classic kitchens
Image credit: KitchenAid
Power: 250 watts
Speed settings: 10
Capacity: 3.3 litre bowl
Reasons to buy:
• Small and lightweight
• Has the iconic KitchenAid Artisan design
• Has all the attachments you need
Reasons to avoid:
• It’s not the most powerful, and still quite pricey
25% lighter and 20% smaller than the Kitchenaid Artisan mixer, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini is great for those who want the charm of a KitchenAid mixer but with a smaller profile. It has a flat beater, wire whisk, and dough hook for all your baking needs, and you can also wash all of these (apart from the whisk) in the dishwasher.
Despite its limited motor size, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini was powerful enough to make smooth and fluffy cake mixes and well-worked cookie dough. When making bread it was able to knead a regular sized loaf, but we did find that the dough worked its way up the hook.
If you enjoy baking but don’t need the best stand mixer for batch bakes, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini is a great choice for you. It has a great range of colour options too, and it looks a real treat when placed on the kitchen counter.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full KitchenAid Artisan Mini stand mixer review
Best stand mixer for quirky design
Image credit: Russell Hobbs
Power: 1000 watts
Speed settings: 10
Capacity: 5 litre bowl
Reasons to buy:
• We love the style
• Ten speeds and a pulse mode
• It’s got a very generous sized working bowl
Reasons to avoid:
• The bowl and whisk has a plastic base, which isn’t too durable
A more traditional boxy exterior might have you swiping left on the Go Create Stand Mixer. But beneath the no-nonsense plastic lies a good yet affordable helper. There are noticeable differences between this and a more premium model – the stainless-steel bowl has a plastic base as does the whisk, for example – but beyond that everything you need for baking is here.
Three tools, a slide-on splashguard with a pouring spout, a powerful 1000W motor and 10 speeds. There’s even a pulse on the dial, which provides a burst of top speed for finishing off mixes.
The benefit of fewer metal elements (even the beater is made from fibreglass) is that all the parts are dishwasher-safe. This makes it invaluable in a busy family household, plus it’s lighter than die-cast models. So you can move it around without straining under the weight. Another plus is the mixer’s generously sized five-litre bowl, which easily accommodated bread dough, cake batter or egg whites without throwing anything out.
There are a couple of quirks. The mixer was very noisy on the top speeds, and the spring from new was strong, so you’ll need to hold the head as you raise it or it jerks. However, the performance was surprisingly efficient for a machine at this price point.
It whisked our egg whites to firm peaks in about four minutes. It mixed and kneaded bread dough around the bowl without it wrapping around the hook (which resulted in a well-risen loaf), and blended butter and sugar to a pale creamy consistency.
We noticed a few streaks of butter in the sponge batter after mixing and scraping down, but the baked cake rounds were light with golden, springy tops.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full Russell Hobbs Emma Bridgewater Stand Mixer review
Best stand mixer for a large capacity
Power: 500 watts
Speed settings: 12
Capacity: 5.2 litre stainless steel bowl
Reasons to buy:
• With 12 speeds it’s perfect for mixing dough
• Worked very well on bread dough
• Very robust and sturdy
Reasons to avoid:
• The lever to lift felt a little clunky
Great for batch bakers and big families, the 500W Precision Stand Mixer is surprisingly roomy. While its footprint is standard, its 5.2-litre, stainless-steel bowl provides more capacity than you’d expect in a model of this size. This means that you can knead up to 1.2kg of dough, whip 1.4 litres of cream or whisk 12 egg whites in a single load.
There are 12 speeds, from a gentle stir (which we found invaluable for starting to mix dough) to a rapid whisk that took the effort out of making meringues. The mixer shook a little on the highest settings but stayed steady on the worktop.
Its tools are the usual three of whisk (the only part not dishwasher-safe), beater and dough hook. This last one was especially good in that our bread dough didn’t wrap itself around the hook, but moved and kneaded it around the bowl efficiently.
Our loaf rose well without any manual kneading. The two-part splashguard and spout, while a handy option, was something that was awkward to have in use most of the time. It slid on easily enough but every time the mixer head was raised, both sections had to be removed, making scraping down the bowl more of a chore.
Its performance couldn’t be faulted – our sugar and butter creamed together quickly, and the batter looked well aerated. The finished sponge wasn’t as fluffy as we’d hoped though. Where it delivers less is on aesthetics – the Precision Stand Mixer is only available in black or white, the pedal to raise the mixer head protrudes oddly and the dial feels like a clunky way to move up or down through the speeds.
However, if you’re looking for a robust workhorse of a mixer and don’t mind not having a colourful appliance, it’s a smart choice.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
We’ve got a dedicated page for the best Black Friday stand mixer deals, but if you want to know which stand mixer to buy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, our guide is here to help.
Last year we saw some discounts on Kenwood and Russell Hobbs mixers, and even a couple of reductions on coveted KitchenAids.
Stand mixers look the part, but they are also essential for taking the muscle work out of even the toughest recipes. Anyone who’s spent ten minutes kneading bread dough or hand-beating cake mix will know that it’s a lot of arm work. Not only will the best stand mixer do it a lot faster, but it will often do a better job thanks to the range of speeds available, as well as the assortment of attachments that are custom made for baking.
You can opt for the iconic mixers from KitchenAid and Kenwood, but our guide also features some options from Cuisinart and Bosch. There’s even a mixer from Morphy Richards, which isn’t technically a stand mixer, but really wowed us in testing thanks to its smart and compact design.
Image credit: Oliver Gordon
This depends on whether you’re buying a stand mixer with a view to keeping it long-term. Basic mixers can be picked up as cheaply as £50. But for one that will last, budget for a minimum of £100. Beyond £150, most of what you’ll be paying for is a greater choice of colours and styling, extra features or accessories. More expensive mixers tend to have a sturdier build quality to ensure they’ll be whisking and beating for decades to come.
Stand mixers often feature more than one outlet – the main outlet being using to rotate the tool in the bowl. Additional ones are usually located at the front of the machine or on the top of the lever arm. These allow you to power attachments, turning your simple stand mixer into a multifunctional kitchen helper. Standard mixer attachments include a blender jug for making smoothies and soups, or crushing ice, and sometimes a food processor for slicing, grating and chopping.
Most manufacturers offer a range of stand mixer attachments to buy. These include rollers for making pasta and specialised ravioli makers. There are also mincers or grinders for processing meat, slicers, pre-freeze ice cream bowls, millers, spiralisers and juicers. Accessories and attachments can take up a fair amount of room in your kitchen. Look for models that can store accessories inside the bowl or come with a storage box. That way, you won’t lose kit at the back of a cupboard.
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
While a dishwasher-safe bowl is usually standard, check that accessories are too before you pop them in alongside. Whisk attachments often have to be washed by hand. Hot temperatures can cause plastic to be damaged.
Spares can be handy if you’re having a full-on baking day. So look for manufacturers that offer additional bowls and attachments.
Think about where your stand mixer will live. If it’s out on the worktop, find a design that comes in a shade to suit your kitchen and will fit below wall units. If it’s destined for a cupboard, opt for a machine that’s light enough to lift in and out. Some cast-metal stand mixers can be heavy and bulky.
Trying to avoid too many trailing wires across your worktop? Look out for machines with handy cable storage.
The post Best stand mixers 2021 – our top 10, tried and tested appeared first on Ideal Home.
A simple yet stylish mirror can do wonders to transform any room, especially hallways where space and light might be lacking. Hall mirror ideas can help to add depth to the decor without taking up any valuable floor space.
Mirrors are brilliant for reflecting light back into an immediate space to create a sense of airiness, invaluable in light-deprived corners of the home.
‘Mirrors have long been used by interior designers to subtly transform spaces through clever tricks of light and space’ explains Habitat’s Andrew Tanner, Design Manager.
‘Ideal for compact spaces such as hallways, mirrors maximise luminosity, reflecting light around the room.’
Mirrors for hallway ideas are also handy by the front door to provide the perfect place to check your hair before leaving the house! Take inspiration from our hall mirror ideas to creatively use mirrors in your own home.
Image credit: Heal’s; Fine Edge Mirror
‘The hallway gives visitors a first impression of your home, so it’s important to create a comfortable and inviting space – the simple addition of a mirror can have a big impact on how the room feels’ says Sabina Miller, Head Buyer at Heal’s.
‘Typically one of the narrowest areas within the home, the hallway often has a minimal footprint, which can immediately be opened up by a well-placed mirror.’ Especially a stylish frameless design, like this Heal’s design above, that looks like a photo frame.
Buy now: Rectangular Fine Edge Mirror, from £219, Heal’s
Image credit: Future PLC/ Bridget Peirson
For a classic approach to dressing your hallway decor choose to hang a traditional mirror above a slim console table. This set up provides a timeless option for enhancing the interior of this small space, to make it feel better dressed and more of its own entity – rather than merely an area you pass through without thinking about the decor.
In this neutral hallway colour scheme a contrasting French-style ornate mirror grabs attention. Choosing a striking or contrasting colour for a mirror will help to draw focus, to ensure it stands out.
A petite console underneath provides drawers for storage, to keep items hidden away. The top offers a surface on which to dress with fresh flowers and family photos, to make a welcoming first impression.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Kasia Fizer
When space is premium look to keep the decor as paired back as possible, with a simple mirror design and a soft colour scheme. In this bright white hallway idea all that is added is an on-trend circular mirror with a streamlined floating shelf underneath.
The smart mirror design is frameless to ensure it doesn’t project too much from the wall, so it doesn’t encroach on the limited space. The black mirror is coordinated by a slimline shelf/ledge that provides just enough space to store a few knick knacks, but can’t be overwhelmed with stuff – it’s essential not to over clutter a small space.
Image credit: Future PLC
Window panes are a popular choice for small spaces, to create a trick of the eye – giving the impression of a window to add architectural detail. Of course we know there’s no window there but it’s enough to add depth and cause intrigue, which makes the hall a more purposeful space.
In this stylish grey hallway idea an incredibly slim console table provides a platform to place a copper lamp, which delights on so many levels. Firstly the metallic finish reflects lights. Secondly, being in front of the mirror creates a greater reflection which enhances the altered perspective of the layout.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
In a hallway that celebrates colour look to add a mirror that can welcome a hint of warmth to the hallway colour scheme without clashing. A warming brass or gold framed mirror is not only very on-trend, it’s perfectly paired with almost any colour scheme.
To amplify the effect of a mirror in a hall Sabina Miller advises, ‘Add sculptural LEDs, such as Wave or Ribbon, as the reflection will add a sense of drama. And look for metallic finishes to further brighten your scheme.’
Image credit: Future PLC
Use more than one mirror to make a statement in a small hallway. ‘Don’t be restricted to just one!’ says Andrew Tanner. ‘Incorporating multiple designs balances a space, significantly brightening dark schemes and making intimate rooms appear larger.’
In this narrow hallway space the homeowners have been creative, using traditional wall hooks to suspend a row of well-placed mirrors in a row.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
Dividing the walls with colour in a narrow hallway is a clever decorating trick to make the space feel more generous. In this grey hallway the lower half of the wall is filled with character thanks to the on-trend wall panelling idea, painted in a dove grey which is echoed by the smart radiator cover. The decorative detail at the level below waist height is enough to set the tone of the room but bare walls can feel lacking in any living space.
That’s where a mirror can be ideal. The upper half of the walls are painted white to create a striking colour contrast. A painted white mirror design is just the thing to balance not only the colour scheme, but the decorative element on the empty walls. Unlike a piece of artwork that could distract from the detail of the wood clad walls and mirror adds a decorative element without causing any distraction.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Make more of your hallway decor. Select an over mantel-style mirror to give a sense of purpose to a hallway bench.
‘With minimal room for larger furnishings, such as armchairs or sofas, or without wanting the scheme to feel cramped with accessories, mirrors now come in a range of finishes, shapes and sizes, so you can still add an element of interest and personality to the hallway, whilst enjoying the space-enhancing benefits’ says Sabrina.
Image credit: Future PLC
In a small cramped hall you might want to place the mirror on the wall which will reflect the most interesting perspective. For instance a mirror placed at the bottom of the stairs will reflect back the view up the stairs, making the space feel more generous in size. While also on a practical note allowing vision of who’s coming down the stairs, to avoid overcrowding the space.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
A narrow hallway idea, exactly like this one, will always benefit hugely from hanging mirrors to reflect light into the space – to make it feel brighter and more forgiving. Choosing a decorative metallic finish for that frame will add to the light reflecting qualities which make mirrors so valuable in small or dark spaces.
In this bright white hallway space is limited but the style credentials are not! Guest are immediately met with a large silver gilded wall mirror that beautifully bounces light back into the narrow stairwell beyond.
Image credit: A Place For Everything
A mirror with concealed compartments in the back offers a smart way to tackle hallway storage ideas when you want to keep the space clutter free. ‘Multifunctional storage is a clever way to store items without sacrificing the decor of the room’ says Simon Glanville, managing director of A Place for Everything.
A wall-mounted storage cabinet with a mirror front provides all the winning qualities of a hall mirror, with the added bonus that it can double up as concealed shelf for keys and bits and bobs. A concealed mirror unit is a great idea in a small hallway idea where less on show will help to keep the space feeling less cluttered.
Buy now: Hallway Storage Mirror, £85, A Place For Everything
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Add a stylish on-trend mirror to a hallway to set the tone for your well-dressed home. In this characterful hallway a black edged round mirror is hung over a matching slim framed black and glass console table. The slimline table is purely there to enhance the decor, to display fresh flowers and candles to create an attractive welcoming space.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore
This colourful hallway takes matching decor to a stylish new heights. From wall colours to accessories and even the mirror all match in tonal shades of blue to create a cohesive colour scheme.
Matching the mirror frame to the wall colour helps to make it seamlessly blend into the wall, meaning it doesn’t attract too much attention. Plus this smart mirror design features a slim ledge for handy storage.
Image credit: Future PLC
Why hang one mirror when you can choose to make a feature wall of mirrors? In a hallway or landing space this is a great way to add character to the bare walls and open up the space by bouncing light around. This idea is particularly effective with white walls, because white paint helps to reflect light rather than stuck it up.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Jonathan Jones
Create a cohesive decorating scheme which flows from one room into another, by choosing matching materials. This white hallway space seamlessly draws you into the room beyond thanks to the consistent use of natural wood materials, from the mirror to the floorboards. The key for this idea is to keep the scheme simple, so no one design elements overwhelms another.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson
To make a style statement in a contemporary hallway space, choose the largest mirror your budget will allow. Make it the complete focus of your hall decorating scheme, by choosing a soft neutral colour scheme that won’t overwhelm the paired-back ethos of the decor.
If you want to add a finishing touch with furniture, seek a slimline console table that sits underneath the oversized mirror – to offer a surface for display single stem flower arrangements.
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Use mirror placement to gently guide the eye up the stairs. This hallway wallpaper idea is probably too overpowering for most tastes, but this design principal can work for all wallpaper and paint colour choices.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Add layers to the look by hanging a characterful mirror that incorporates a storage/display element. It may be that the piece you choose is upcycled from an old kitchen dresser. An interesting accessory is a great way to make the decor feel unique and intriguing for your home.
Mirrors always look good in hallways, welcoming interest to walls as well as light to create a sense of space. Mirrors are one of the most natural home accessories to welcoming to halls, because they add so much decorative value – yet they take up very limited space. Wall-mounted mirrors are the perfect solution for dressing hallways where you want to keep the look streamlined, but presentable.
To choose a hallway mirror that’s right for your home firstly think about how you use the space. this will determine which style you need – do you want purely decorative or do you need a storage element too.
Heal’s head buyer Sabrina Miller offers this advice for choosing a hallway mirror; ‘Choose the largest one your budget will allow. As this will help to create depth. In the absence of natural daylight, mirrors will also help artificial illumination feel much brighter, bouncing the light back into the space.’
The post Hall mirror ideas – ways to add light and interest to hallways of all sizes appeared first on Ideal Home.
Dick and Angel Strawbridge have revealed that Escape to the Chateau series 8 will be returning to Channel 4 this weekend on the 24th October at 8pm.
The couple took to Instagram to reveal the exciting news. ‘We are so, so excited for this announcement… The Strawbridge’s are making their long-awaited return to @Channel4 on Sunday, 24th October at 8pm. for a brand new 8 part series of Escape to The Chateau!’
In the caption, the Strawbridge’s revealed that we can expect family adventures and even more incredible renovation projects and big reveals tackled by Dick’s ingenuity and Angel’s artistic vision.
The new series will also include a magical Christmas special bursting with Angel’s unique Christmas ideas to get us all in the festive spirit.
Image credit: Escape to the Chateau
In each series, the couple chooses to tackle part of the Chateau. In this series they will be taking on the exterior of the property. The roof and outside walls will be the biggest project they have taken on to date.
However, if you’re after some bedroom ideas the Strawbridge Suite will also be getting a makeover. Plus we can expect Grandma and Papi Steve’s Coach House to get its finishing touches.
Escape to the Chateau first appeared on our TV’s back in 2016, and has been a firm household favourite ever since. The TV show follows the lives of Angel and Dick Strawbridge as they bought, renovated, and restored their 45-bedroom, 19th-century chateau in the Pays de la Loire.
Image credit: Kindling Media Ltd
Each series has followed the family through a different phase in the chateau’s development process. The show has proved so popular it has spawned spin-off shows including ‘Escape to the Chateau: Make to and Mend’, where Angel and Dick helped families tackle their DIY and decorating ideas at home.
The couple have recently written a book called Living The Chateau Dream about their renovation adventures. It goes on sale on 28th October and is currently available to pre-order on Amazon.
Image credit: Kindling Media Ltd
‘It’s hard to believe we started our journey over six years ago’ say the couple. ‘The Chateau has changed and evolved, and we have loved every moment, every challenge!’.
‘We feel very humbled to have the opportunity to continue sharing our adventures. 2021 has been an interesting and unusual year. With weddings and events still on hold, we’ve been busy tackling that long ‘to do’ list and spending quality time together as a family.’
The new series will start on 24th October at 8pm on Channel 4
The post Escape to the Chateau’s Dick and Angel Strawbridge have an exciting announcement about the new series appeared first on Ideal Home.
