Primark’s autumn collection has just dropped, and it’s jam-packed with the cutest pumpkin designs – these are the six pieces to buy now, before they go viral on TikTok.

As homeware brands have dropped their AW26 collections and set the home decor trends for the coming months, I’ve been eagerly awaiting to see what Primark unveils. Always offering surprisingly stylish homeware on a budget, this season is no exception.

Given that rusty orange hues are a defining colour that will dominate our homes this autumn, I’m not surprised to see that pumpkins feature heavily in this collection. But don’t let that put you off – there are plenty of hidden gems I predict will be popping up everywhere on social media in the following months.

While pumpkins have always been traditionally associated with Halloween decorating ideas, they now feature in most high street shops’ autumnal collections. And don’t expect to find any spookiness in this collection; Primark’s pumpkin ornaments are actually quite tasteful. In particular, the Pumpkin Ceramic Oven Dish (£12) caught my eye. I’m a sucker for pretty cookware.

Primark is also serving up a range of ceramic pumpkin ornaments, which are perfect for adding a stylish autumnal touch to your home. I recently praised Matalan’s grown-up ceramic pumpkins, and I’d say Primark’s look just as sophisticated. Here are the rest of my top picks.

Alternative autumn collections

If you don’t have a Primark local to you, I’ve tracked down a few more stylish autumnal home buys you can shop online.

Has Primark’s new collection got you excited for autumn?

We’re firmly in the era of frill-maxxing, and if you’re anything like me, there aren’t many things left in my home that haven’t fallen victim to the trend. When it comes to the kitchen, however, it’s a little harder to find frilly items that are practical too.

When I saw Dunelm had released a frilly drying mat for dishes, I knew it was destined to complete a country kitchen aesthetic. The kitchen trend for frilly-edged decor isn’t going anywhere, and for just £8, you can easily incorporate the look while also fixing a genuine kitchen frustration.

Dish drying racks and mats are often metal or silicone, so finding a stylish choice is the perfect way to upgrade your kitchen on a budget.

When it comes to finding a dish rack for your kitchen, many of the options are utilitarian. The same can be said for dish mats, which are usually grey or black and made of silicone.

While practical, these items can cause a visual obstruction in your kitchen and make cluttered dishes look even worse. So when I saw this Dunelm frilly dish mat, I was genuinely impressed by the ingenuity.

It’s generated mixed opinions across the Ideal Home team. While we all appreciated the adorable frilly-edged design, there were some concerns about how it would stand up to everyday use, and it would require washing in the machine regularly.

However, I envision this being used for rarer events, such as hosting. On a daily basis, my dishwasher does the brunt work of my washing up, but it’s when hosting that I really make the most out of a dish drying mat for glassware that must be hand-washed and larger pieces of crockery.

It’s also a great way to hide an unaesthetic metal draining board. I live in a rented flat and have inherited an undermount sink with a silver draining board, so this Dunelm mat would be an affordable way to hide the stark, clinical look.

If you regularly find yourself using folded tea towels to protect your surfaces from dripping crockery or even your sink essentials (mine is a huge pet peeve), then this is a great solution.

By swapping out a makeshift tea towel for this adorable frilly mat, your kitchen will look carefully considered in every corner.

Frills are a kitchen trend that isn’t going anywhere. Adding a sense of whimsy to your cooking space makes it feel like a warm and inviting environment that is cohesive with the rest of your home.

Small touches are all you need – this drying mat adds a country aesthetic without impacting the function of the space.

Shop dish drying mats

There is so much potential to create an organised and aesthetically pleasing kitchen sink area. These Joseph Joseph Sink Tech range is my personal favourites for curating a practical washing up zone.

It’s been a hot summer with less rain than average, which means there is an increased risk of fire in your garden. So, I asked garden experts to share the hidden fire risks in a garden during a heatwave, and these are the five things they said.

Prolonged heat and dry weather can turn your garden into a fire risk, as dried-out grass, wooden fencing and even compost heaps become more flammable during a heatwave.

So, if you’re looking to heatproof your garden this summer and maintain a safe environment, here are five risks you need to be aware of.

1. Garden mirrors

While garden mirrors can be used as a clever trick to make your garden look bigger, they can also increase your risk of fire during periods of hot, dry weather.

‘If a mirror or reflective ornament is positioned in direct sunlight, it can create intense hot spots, so it’s best to move them away from dry plants, fences and sheds as a precaution,’ says Luke Newnes, garden expert at Hillarys.

Plus, birds are vulnerable to flying into mirrors, so they are best avoided if you have a wildlife garden anyway.

2. BBQs

While the best BBQs are a summer staple, it’s also unsurprising that they carry a great fire risk, too. So, if you plan on grilling up a storm, you need to be aware of the safety risks, too.

‘Safety is an absolute must when it comes to using your fire pit or BBQ, especially during hot and dry conditions. While positioning it near seating is great for making the most of the equipment, avoid placing it too close to ensure everyone stays a safe distance from the heat and fire. Aim for at least seven feet between the seating and the fire pit or BBQ,’ says Adam Oldfield from outdoor living specialists StovesAreUs.

‘You should also position it in an area with ample clearance from surrounding hedges, trees, sheds, and the house to minimise fire hazards and ensure proper ventilation. You should position fire pits, BBQs and outdoor heaters on level ground, away from foot traffic and avoid placing them on grass or wooden decking. In regards to BBQs, never use petrol or other accelerants to start a fire, and only burn high-quality charcoal that is intended for BBQs. Keep a safe distance while lighting, and allow coals to cool completely before disposing of them.’

3. Outdoor electrical equipment

Heat and electricals don’t tend to mesh well together, so make sure to check your garden lighting, cables and tools for damage, and ensure they don’t overheat, either.

‘Outdoor electrical equipment is another area that deserves attention. Garden lighting, extension cables and water feature pumps are easy to forget about, particularly if they’ve been outside for several seasons. If something is damaged or weathered, hot conditions can make problems worse, so it’s worth giving everything a quick check and switching off anything that isn’t needed,’ says Luke.

4. Garden waste

Right now, gardens will be very dry, making your garden waste, for example grass cuttings, more flammable.

‘Keeping your garden well-maintained can help reduce the risk of fire. Keep lawns short around patios, sheds and fences, and remove any piles of dry grass clippings. If conditions are particularly hot and dry, avoid using petrol lawn mowers, as hot engines can ignite dry material,’ says Tom Douglas, Senior Gardening Buyer, Plant Buyer at Cherry Lane Garden Centres.

‘Clear away dry leaves and garden debris from around decking, fences and outdoor seating areas, and make sure barbecues and fire pits are positioned well away from anything flammable. Where possible, replace mulch with gravel around cooking and entertaining areas, as gravel is far less likely to catch fire.

‘Compost heaps can also generate heat, so keep them moist during prolonged dry spells and turn them regularly to release any built-up heat.’

5. BBQ and fire pit ash

Lastly, as well as your BBQ, you need to keep an eye on its ash as well. This means not disposing of ash straight away, and allowing it to fully cool first.

‘Old barbecue ash is another commonly overlooked risk. Many people assume everything is safe once the flames have gone out, but charcoal and ash can hold heat for longer than expected. During a dry spell, it’s always worth making sure barbecues, fire pits and ash containers have completely cooled and been stored safely,’ says Luke.

Garden cooling essentials

‘Prolonged heat and dry weather can quickly turn an ordinary garden into a fire risk, as dried-out lawns, timber fencing, compost heaps and decorative mulch can all become highly combustible during a heatwave,’ Tom concludes.

So, it’s important to assess the risks facing your garden and act accordingly. As always, prevention is better than a cure.