I always think conkers are the hallmark of autumn. The glossy brown seeds of a horse chestnut tree are perhaps best known for their role in the classic children’s game, but gardening experts have just revealed a few more clever uses you can find for conkers this autumn.

Sustainable gardening has been a huge garden trend this year, and what’s more sustainable than using natural materials to help your garden ideas flourish.

If you’re inundated with conkers, or have children who have been non-stop collecting them this autumn, here are five clever ways you can reuse conkers in your home and garden.

1. Compost

Every gardener should think about learning how to make compost, and if you already have an established heap, conkers are one thing you can add to your compost to aid in the plant growth of your garden.

‘Forming one of the ‘brown’ components for your compost bin, just like leaves or twigs, you can add conkers to help balance out the nitrogen rich ‘green’ materials which you will be adding throughout autumn, like grass clippings and kitchen scraps,’says Lucie Bradley, gardens and greenhouse expert at Harvst.

‘What you need to be aware of is that conkers take a long time to break down and just like when you add twigs etc. to your compost bin, they are best chopped or crushed before adding them so they will break down faster. Although they will take a long time to decompose, as they do they will add trace minerals including iron, copper, zinc etc which will all help with plant growth.

‘However, conkers do contain a mild toxin ‘aesulin’ and for this reason any compost which you make is best used for ornamentals rather than using the compost when you are growing vegetables.’

2. Shelter wildlife

If you have a wildlife garden, conkers can also be used to help create shelter for the insects that call your garden home.

‘Another practical use is adding conkers to wildlife-friendly corners of the garden. While they shouldn’t be left where pets or livestock may eat them, they can be used as part of natural habitat areas alongside logs, leaves and twigs to create shelter for insects and other small garden creatures. It’s a simple way to support biodiversity while making use of something that would otherwise go to waste,’ comments Luke Newnes, gardening expert with Hillarys.

3. Pest deterrents

If you want to get rid of spiders, conkers have long been considered a good deterrent – but this is an old wives tale, and conkers are actually much better at getting rid of a different type of pest.

‘Whilst many people place conkers in their homes to deter spiders, unfortunately this is an old wives’ tale and has no scientific basis,’ confirms Lucie.

‘However, conkers do contain a chemical called triterpenoid saponin, which will be slowly released from fresh conkers as they dry out, and you can make use of this to deter moths from cupboards or drawers where they may lay eggs on fabrics and damage your clothes. As the conkers dry, they will release a pungent scent which will deter moths from taking up residence and, as a result, protect fabrics from damage.’

4. Make autumnal decor

Who doesn’t love a bit of autumn foliage? And if you’re feeling crafty, say goodbye to faux garlands and wreaths and create your own using natural conkers.

‘Conkers are great for more than just collecting on autumn walks. One of my favourite ways to reuse them in the garden is by incorporating them into seasonal displays. Mixed with fallen leaves, pinecones and pumpkins, they add instant texture and a natural autumn feel to outdoor planters and table settings. It’s such an easy way to celebrate the season without buying lots of new decorations,’ says Luke.

‘If you enjoy getting creative, conkers can also be used in simple garden crafts. Threading them onto string to make garlands or using them to create decorative features a brilliant way to give them a second life. It keeps natural materials out of the bin and can help encourage children to spend more time outdoors.’

5. Cleaning

Last but not least, conkers are surprisingly good cleaning agents.You can make washing detergent from conkers and they can even be used to make soap.

‘Conkers naturally contain high levels of saponins, chemical compounds which, when mixed with water, produce a rich, soapy lather that both traps dirt and lifts it off surfaces and fabrics,’ says Lucie.

‘This means that you can easily turn conkers into a free, totally naturally ‘soap’ which you can use to not only wash your hands after being out in the garden, it can also be used to remove grime from gardening tools and being chemical free is a great way to clean garden furniture made from rattan or wood that could be damaged by chemical cleaners.’

Why not put excess conkers to good use this autumn for a cleaner home and happier garden.

It seems that we have yet another bow-crazy Christmas on our hands as bow decorations of all sizes, colours, materials and even patterns are popping up everywhere. And Next just launched the latest iteration of the Christmas bow trend that I predict will become everybody’s next obsession – the Tartan Check Extra Large Bow Tree Topper, selling for £22.

While last year’s Christmas bow trend was largely about super-sized velvet bows – like the M&S extra-large bow decorations – and striped versions as well, this year, Scottish-inspired tartan checks and even gingham bows like the newly introduced M&S gingham bow seem to be the latest Christmas decor trend of 2026.

Last week, I got to see the large tartan Christmas bow IRL at Next’s Christmas press preview. And in opinion, it’s only a matter of time before it goes viral.

Shoppers are still loving extra-large Christmas bows as they did last year so the design’s large size will make it extremely desirable – as will the trad-inspired tartan check pattern combining shades of navy blue, dark green and a hint of red. And Next is going big on this festive trend as an entire room was styled with coordinating tartan Christmas buys.

According to Pinterest UK, searches for ‘tartan pattern’ increased by 100% this month as this motif is not only perfect for Christmas but also for the autumn months and cosy season. And that’s one of the biggest perks of this Next bow decoration – it won’t look out of place if you put it up now since it has a very autumnal charm that will seamlessly carry you through all the way to Christmas.

Last year, the ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ trend exploded on social media. And this year, it’s back and set to be even bigger than in 2025 as Google searches for ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ increased by over 5000% this September compared to the same time last year, and by 600% compared to last month.

The Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic is defined by traditional Americana style to which heritage patterns like tartan are central. So naturally, the Next tartan bow is right on trend – as are all the other tartan-adorned pieces of Christmas decor from the Next festive range.

Complete your tartan Christmas scheme

Are you going to be snapping up one of these for your own home?

Following the success of Next’s viral gingerbread tree skirt, the brand has dropped another two gorgeous styles: The House Scene Light Up Wooden Tree Skirt (£35), and the Red Festive Light Up Wooden Tree Skirt (£35), both of which reflect a slightly more traditional Christmas style.

You might already recognise Next’s gingerbread house tree skirt, which sold out in September 2025 almost instantly after launch. This year, it’s back and joined by two extra festive designs to give your Christmas decorating ideas a stylish edge.

While I appreciate it is still September as I write, experience tells me that Next’s Christmas tree skirts become popular very quickly – so read on if you want to stay ahead of the trends.

If you have one of the best artificial Christmas trees, no matter how realistic the foliage looks, the plastic base can look a little unsightly. This is where a tree skirt comes in handy. Concealing the base, the skirt becomes a key part of your decor and can add a sophisticated look (such as Habitat’s seagrass skirt) or even a playful look (try M&S’s tinsel skirts) to the overall feel of your decor. If you want something traditional, yet eye-catching, Next’s skirts are perfect for you.

First, I’d like to discuss the House Scene tree skirt which depicts a snowy street, complete with a painted Christmas tree, minute wreaths and garlands, all adorning pretty pastel-coloured houses. Just like the gingerbread skirt, there are twinkling LED lights poking through the house windows.

Similarly, the Red Festive tree skirt also depicts a snowy, festive scene. Although this piece of decor is a closer depiction of town life, rather than the village scene shown on the house skirt. This skirt is beautifully detailed, showing Christmas shoppers making their way down a snowy street. It reminds me of M&S’s stunning light-up candles which have become iconic for their festive interpretations of famous cities. The LED lights on this skirt can be seen poking through the windows of high-rise buildings.

Where you prefer a cityscape, more rustic scenery or a playful gingerbread display, what makes these tree skirts a worthy investment, is that they provide an extra layer of lighting to your decor. While one would expect the tree itself to be covered with twinkling lights, a light-up skirt provides that extra level of ambient glow that will make your Christmas decorations look even more magical.

And these aren’t the only tree skirts that have caught my eye at Next this year. Here are a few more stylish designs that will take your decor to the next level.

An LED tree skirt can help give your Christmas decor a cosy edge. And no one is doing it better than Next right now.