Over the past year, tablescaping has become a massive trend, and if there ever was an excuse to go all out on your dining table – it has to be Christmas dinner. To create a showstopping display there are two main areas to focus on – the place settings and the centrepiece.

Before you start ordering – or gathering! – materials for your Christmas table decoration, decide upon the style. First thing to consider is whether you’re going for a formal or a more relaxed and family-style approach. From here the table is your oyster.

Christmas table centrepiece ideas

Whether you’re looking for an elegantly formal table or a festive fun spread, theres a Christmas table centrepiece idea for you.

1. Rethink your baubles

Image credit: Future PLC

Not just for trees – baubles are a fun and joyful way to create a creative Christmas table centrepiece idea.

Once you’ve decided on a colour scheme, pick out two or three different shades from this and find a selection of baubles in these tones. Make sure they’re all of similar size – adding in a few small ones may seem sensible to add balance, but they’ll actually just fall to the bottom on the display.

Put your chosen decorations into a bell jar and – voila! – an easy, budget Christmas table idea that will add an extra sense of fun while reflecting the light wonderfully.

2. Keep things fresh

Image credit: Future/ Joanna Henderson

With little sunlight, so many heavy, soporific foods and – let’s face – exhaustion from all the planning, you can feel pretty tired come Christmas dinner. Revive yourself by choosing a fresh and invigorating centrepiece.

Bringing in a growing potted plant, perhaps green ivy, a small pot of bright red-berried wintergreen, or a pretty container of the blooming cyclamen, will add life and energy to your table.

3. Elevate a centrepiece

Image credit: Carolyn Barber

Who said centrepieces have to actually be on the table? For a unique and Insta-inspiring moment this Christmas, look up.

If you have a chandelier or wide pendant, use this as the base for creating your arrangement. Alternatively, a light wooden or copper-ringed wreath can be strung from the ceiling with ribbons or cords (use command hooks so as not to damage paint).

Wrap around ivy, long strands of moss or ferns to create a green halo, then decorate with some small berries and baubles. A sprig or two of mistletoe would look lovely, too. Just ensure the berries don’t drop into any food or drink.

4. Create a contemporary cake stand display

Image credit: Future PLC

Christmas is a time for fun, so why not go all out? Break away from tradition and embrace your favourite, energising hues in your Christmas dining room decor instead. 

Deep jewel tones will still give that wonderfully festive feel, but in a cool contemporary way. Stray even further from classical style with your centrepiece. A modern marble cake stand is a great, structural looking base to start from. Mix and match small jewel-toned vases and fill them with candles, again in contrasting but complementary shades.

A few OTT ostrich-style feathers in matching colours will set the look – and sense of fun – off to perfection.

5. Use colour cleverly

Image credit: Ginger Ray

If you decide to stick to a colour theme on your Christmas table centrepiece you can actually get away with an incredibly simple but effective design.

Drape a long thin bough of bright red berries all along the table, snaking candles and any water jugs or bottles you’re using. If you decided to use a real branch, just be aware that berries may drop off fairly quickly, depending on the heat of your home and how much they’ve been moved and adjusted.

The red will contrast wonderfully with a crisp white table runner and will appear a lot more striking than the effort it took to create. Pick up on this by using the same shade on your napkins of your Christmas place settings.

6. Style a moveable centrepiece

Image credit: Future PLC

Unless you live in a fully open-plan home, it can be a little annoying to spend ages working on making a beautiful Christmas centrepiece, but not get to show it off, or even look at it too much.

To get the most out of your creation when setting a Christmas table, design the centrepiece to be transportable. Find a solid, flat based wicker tray and fill this in to serve as your centrepiece. You can layer in baubles, moss, ivy, candles…whatever your heart – and scheme – desire.

Then, following the meal, you can move the tray to your coffee table for everyone to continue enjoying. Just make sure to blow out candles a few minutes before you want to move the display.

7. Take inspiration from nature

Image credit: Future PLC

Although we may associate the winter with nature receding, in reality there’s an abundance of lovely items you can collect and use in your centrepiece.

Embrace the availability of the season and gather prettily shaped and shaded twigs and branches, pussy willow and pine cones. Mixed in with pots of glossily green ivy, you’ll create a scheme that celebrates the appearance of natural materials. Consider arranging in zinc or terracotta pits, to really enhance the feeling of a freshly-gathered, from-the-garden display.

For an extra touch, use small rounds of bark (real or faux) for napkin rings.

8. Make a floral statement

Image credit: Dobbies

Nothing says celebration quite like an elaborate floral centrepiece. The experts at Dobbies explain how to create a striking effect in your own home

Soak your oasis block in water. Begin adding in your greenery layer. Aim to create balance, texture and height throughout your display. We have used Asparagus fern and Smoke bush.

Next add your florals. Balance the colour and size. We have opted for tonal reds, which strike a stunning balance with the gold and green. Add in artificial stems to give a more graphic look. We have used faux Monstera gold leaf stems and faux Areca palm leaves.

Place in the centre of your table ready for entertaining. If you can place the oasis block in a plastic vessel, you can keep adding water and it will keep the real foliage fresh for longer.

9. Take fruit to new heights

Image credit: Craft Editions

Sometimes, creating a striking Christmas table centrepiece can start from the most basic, everyday items. Hint – we’re talking about your fruit bowl.

‘Mixing fresh foliage, seasonal fruit and twinkling candles will help create the most beautiful tablescape,’ says Brian Waring founder of Craft Editions. ‘Layer with delicate glassware, embroidered napkins and porcelain decorations for an elegant Christmas table full of texture and interest.’

10. Create an fantasy forest

Image credit: Cox & Cox

Even if the world outside doesn’t exactly manage to evoke a winter wonderland this year, you can still have your own.

A display of brush trees will add a textural look, while allowing your mind to wander off to snowy plains. Buy a beautiful pre-made option, like this Light Up Brush Forest, £65, Cox & Cox for ease and for something you could easily display on the sideboard or a mantel to mix things up.

If you prefer things a little more haphazard, dot a mixture of heights of brush trees along the centre line of the table, and string fairy lights along to add a twinkly starlight effect.

11. Start with the tableware

Image credit: Burleigh

‘Tableware should take centre stage at Christmas,’ says Alison Howell, Design and Development Manager at Burleigh. ‘Mix and match patterns within a colour theme. I like to layer up the bowls and flatware to form an architectural temple to the main event- the food! All the bowls and plates will allow the guests to share the different dishes with ease.’

Choose a white and green colour scheme for your tableware so you have a fresh jumping off point for creating the centrepiece. Weave in long, soft lengths of fresh fir and eucalyptus throughout serving platters, echoing patterns on the flatware.

12. Switch out your florals

Image credit: Oka

Flowers aren’t the only thing which works well in a vase.

As an alternative Christmas table centrepiece, make like Oka and set aside your poinsettia blooms and replace with a full and bushy bough of fir. Make sure it’s got a relatively sturdy branch, to prevent it from drooping over too quickly and spoiling the effect.

Think about how to fold napkins for Christmas so that you can add in tiny sprigs of fir to the individual place settings, too

14. Choose retro style

Image credit: Talking Tables

Some of us just like to feel a little bit old fashioned at Christmas. Maybe it’s the ever-present patterned jumpers, white-iced Christmas cake or the re-runs of The Snowman. We might never know. Whatever the reason, lean back into your favourite decade.

Layer your table centrepiece with brightly coloured glassware and candlesticks, alternated with classic bouquets of roses and berries. The key here is to stick to traditional Christmas table decor in terms of a limited colour scheme – bright shades of red, white and green will instantly create that retro effect. Finish the look with printed napkins for an extra touch of kitsch.

15. Create an edible arrangement

Image credit: Toast

‘Nature is an endless inspiration: a striking centrepiece can be created using simple stems in a bud vase placed in the middle of the table,’ says Judith Harris, Head of House & Home at TOAST. ‘Scatter walnuts, hazelnuts, and pinecones to add texture and depth before placing big bowls of vegetables and salads carefully among the table foliage.’

For the ultimate Christmas dinner hack, make your centrepiece work even harder by using fruit that then becomes part of your dessert – oranges and berries can be added to chocolate-based puddings, while grapes, pears and figs can be plucked out as the perfect accompaniment to the cheese course.

16. Think about height

Image credit: Future PLC

An easy but effective way to make a Christmas table centrepiece with depth and dimension is to play around with height.

Set up several candles or small posies at varying heights along the table. As you arrange these, sit down in a dining chair and ensure that the tallest pieces don’t block the person opposite and that the smallest aren’t getting lost in and among the glasses and any extra decorations you’re using.

17. Make the most of metallics

Image credit: Dunelm

Christmas time is full of fairy lights and candles, so use metallics cleverly to create extra movement in your dining room.

Opting for metallics will provide reflective spots for lights to bounce off and create pretty effects all around. Mix up textures as different surfaces will create different lighting results. Try decorating with Christmas lights combined with beaded placemats with silver baubles and strands of tinsel.

18. Create a candlelit runner

Image credit: Lights 4 Fun

There’s nothing quite like the glow of candles as you eat a cosy meal, or gather around the table to chat after dinner.

Make this atmospheric lighting element the star of the show by creating a runner using candle after candle. Keep things alight – without setting anything alight! – by using a selection of realistic artificial flames, rather than the real deal. The Chapel Candle Trio, £22.99, Lights4Fun are a great option.

Keep the theme fully set on Christmas by weaving in long sprigs of mistletoe or ivy to finish off.

How do you make a simple Christmas centrepiece?

Making a Christmas centrepiece can be as simple or as involved as you wish. For a very relaxed approach, you might just want to gently drape long lengths of eucalyptus running centrally down the table. From there, you can layer with holly, ivy, dried oranges and star anise… anything you can forage (or find in your kitchen!) which will add depth and interest.

Small sprigs of fresh rosemary are a clever addition as they will add a lovely aromatic touch to the display. This type of look is best created fresh, but you can stretch it out for a week or so (New Year’s party, perhaps?) by keeping the room cool, spritzing occasionally and simply replacing dried out items.

What should I put on my Christmas table?

Your Christmas table should be made up of a few key elements – once you have these in place you can go wild adding extra decorations and touches of personality. A tablecloth or runner is great for adding a sense of occasion, along with, of course, your Christmas table centrepiece! Water jugs, salt and pepper, and mats for hot side dishes are useful to lay out centrally, too.

For the place settings, consider adding a charger in addition to the mat, in order to add more interest. Side plates aren’t always used at home, but if you can’t go overboard at Christmas then when can you?!

How do you make a table look Christmassy?

Setting any table for a big occasion should be a fun and creative experience, so the key is to really lean into the theme. You want to be able to glance at the table and tell if it’s for Christmas, Easter, a birthday… For a Christmas table simply include key Yuletide signposts, like holly, ivy, oranges studded with cloves.

If it’s a family or child friendly event, add a couple of mini reindeer and dishes filled with novelty chocs. Finally, remember that colour is incredibly evocative – reds, greens and metallics all direct your thoughts towards Christmas.

The post Christmas Table Centrepiece Ideas – 18 ways to decorate festive tables appeared first on Ideal Home.

Buy the best ice cream maker with our top picks from Cuisinart, Sage, VonShef, Magimix, and Sage. Most ice cream makers require you to freeze the bowl overnight before adding your chilled cream, yoghurt or juice and churning, but some of the best ice cream makers also come with electric cooling that requires less prep (and freezer space!)

Although they’re great for summer treats, buying the best ice cream maker will allow you to experiment in the kitchen all year long. They’re also perfect for making dairy-free or vegan ice creams, and when testing some of our top picks below we tried a variety of recipes to make sure they’re up to the task of making gelato, frozen yoghurt, and sorbet.

Discover the very best blenders with our complete guide

Gelato and regular ice cream are very similar, but there are some key differences. Italian gelato contains more milk and less cream, and is whipped more slowly for a less aerated finished result.  This will leave you with a creamier result, and some of the best ice cream makers will come with different modes to accommodate the differences, as well as different paddles. A more simple ice cream maker will only come with one paddle though, which will be a good catchall for the majority of frozen treats.

When testing the best ice cream makers we picked up some tips, including the importance of preparing your mixture ahead of time. You want to make sure your ice cream mix is beaten so it’s already a little thicker than just plain cream, and if you are adding fruits and other more liquidy ingredients, adjust your recipe to make sure it’s thicker before you add the flavours. When finished, your ice cream maker will leave you with a mix resembling soft-serve, but you can put it into a container and freeze it for a more solid result.

Best ice cream makers

1. Sage The Smart Scoop

Best ice cream maker for keen entertainers

Type: Self-cooling
Reasons to buy: It’s self-monitoring, and very smart
Reasons to avoid: The large footprint

As if making your own ice cream wasn’t fun enough, the Smart Scoop comes packed with features to make it more joyful. It comes with 12 presets, which translate to three hardness settings for sorbet, gelato, ice cream and frozen yogurt. It includes a one-litre bowl, and a pre-cool that helps to create the dense texture of gelato.

There’s even a three-hour ‘keep cool’ setting – perfect for not having to dash away from guests. Then there’s a manual option with a timer from five minutes to three hours. While the bowl isn’t dishwasher safe, the paddle and lid are. The parts are simple to wash by hand, with an included brush. Considering that it’s a model with its own freezer, The Smart Scoop’s worktop footprint isn’t as big as some equivalent machines.

In tests, it was used to make strawberry ice cream, a custard-based recipe that required pre-prep before pouring in the bowl. The hardest ice cream setting was chosen. It was left to count up as it churned (it’s not a countdown as it monitors the hardness as it goes). It cooled the mixture quickly, reducing it from 18C to -5C in the first seven minutes.

By 15 minutes, it had started to clump around the paddle and by 17 minutes, had reached -22C. The ice cream was ready in 26 minutes and was easily removed using the included spatula. Its consistency was just hard enough to scoop into balls but needed more time in the freezer to become properly firm. All in all, one of the easiest, mess-free ice cream-makers tested.

Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars

2. Cuisinart Iced Dessert Maker

Best ice cream maker that freezes overnight

Image credit: Cuisinart

Type: Freezer bowl
Reasons to buy: Easy to use and clean, great recipes
Reasons to avoid: It needs to freeze overnight

One of the more compact ice cream makers out there, the Cuisinart Iced Dessert Maker comes in as a mid-price option that makes more than just ice cream. In testing it turned out delicious frozen yoghurts, and the extensive recipe collection gave us a lot of room for experimentation. There were even vegan recipes.

The exterior of this machine is a refreshing metallic mint, and it’s easy to store and assemble. The bowl has a 1.4 litre capacity and fitted comfortably into the bottom freezer drawer, where it needs to be left overnight before use.

Our ice cream was complete in just 25 minutes, so while the prep took some time, the finished result was more than worth it.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

3. VonShef Ice Cream Maker With Compressor

Best ice cream maker for non-stop sweet treats

Type: Self-cooling
Reasons to buy: Reasonably priced and not too tall
Reasons to avoid: Only three recipes included

Ice cream makers with built-in freezers aren’t as affordable as those with pre-freeze bowls but this model costs far less than the Cuisinart (below) and Sage (above) makers we’ve reviewed here. Its results were also incredibly good – taking only an hour to turn out perfectly churned, ready-to-serve ice cream that tasted far better than shop-bought.

What it really has in its favour is the size. It’s not too tall, so can fit underneath wall units easily, and is relatively compact overall for an ice cream maker with its own freezer. This means it’s feasible to have it out on the worktop all season long, so the moment the urge for ice cream strikes, it can be mixed and popped into the removable bowl.

Setting it is simple – there just two buttons to switch it on and to start, alongside a dial to add or reduce time in minutes, and an LCD display. While the maximum amount of time you can set initially is 60 minutes, it can be toggled by minute if you feel the ice cream needs 10 or 20 minutes longer.

Other plus points include the volume of its removable bowl – 1.2 litres, so enough for a few people – and a spatula for removing the ice cream once it’s finished. We found this came in handy as our batch froze more on the sides than around the paddle.

We also liked that lid of the clear bowl has flip up section, so you can add ingredients towards the end of the churning, and that the LCD panel shows different symbols to indicate when it’s mixing and when it’s cooling.

There are only a few minor niggles – no parts of it are dishwasher safe and it includes just three recipes to try, so you’ll need to find inspiration online. Plus, while not noisy, the churning can be whiny, so it’s best to head off to another room to await its finishing beep.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

4. Cuisinart ICE100BCU

Best ice cream maker for families and big batches

Type: Self-cooling
Reasons to buy: Two paddles included for different types of ice cream
Reasons to avoid: Pretty noisy

Whether freezer space is in short supply or you tend to fancy ice cream on impulse, this smart machine can step up to the task. It is equipped with two paddles – one for smooth ice cream and the other for less airy, more textured gelato and sorbet. There’s no need to freeze its 1.5-litre bowl ahead of time. Just pop in a paddle, fill with mixture, lock the lid in place and set it freezing.

It can churn from between 10 to 60 minutes and the timer toggles in one-minute increments, with a beep to let you know when it’s finished. The downside of the machine is that it’s bulky and pricey. It will need to live on your worktop most of the time as it needs to be level for a period before use. During testing, it was used to make chocolate ice cream.

It was simple to pour the mixture in as it doesn’t need to be done though a spout, plus you can add ingredients easily. However, it was noisy in use. Its vibrations caused the machine to shift on the surface. One useful feature was being able to add time while it was churning, in five-minute increments. The ice cream took 30 minutes to churn to a firm consistency and was easy to remove from the bowl. Its parts aren’t dishwasher-safe but hand washing is fuss-free.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars

5. Magimix Le Glacier 1.1L

Best ice cream maker for small kitchens

Type: Freezer bowl
Reasons to buy: Affordable
Reasons to avoid: Freezing overnight will mean you need to do a lot of prep

A smaller version of the 1.5-litre Le Glacier, this mini model is no less a churning champion. It’s the ideal size to squeeze into a busy freezer. It comes with advice and recipes to make sure every batch is the best it can be. It’s worth noting that all the recipes have been devised for the larger machine, however. So these will need to be reduced accordingly.

The machine consists of a one-piece coolant-filled bowl that needs to be frozen ahead of time. Its small size also means you can keep it in the freezer all year round. Its lid, motor unit, spindle and paddle simply slot together and twist into place on top. The removable parts need to be washed by hand. Testing was straightforward although initially I was caught out by a safety feature.

A small pin descends from the motor unit when it’s turned on to lock the lid onto the bowl. However, a small amount of ice had frozen in the hole for the pin and stopped the machine from working. Once removed, the Le Glacier churned blueberry ice cream. As it was a thicker mixture and the pouring spout is quite narrow, this had to be spooned in.

There’s no timer to keep track of progress but the ice cream was ready in 25 minutes and was firm. The mixture on the sides and bottom were challenging to remove. The design of the paddle proved especially useful for consistent churning and kept the ice cream moving well.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars

6. American Originals 0.6L Ice Cream Maker.

Best ice cream maker for portion control

Type: Freezer bowl
Reasons to buy: Makes a great ice cream with a small footprint
Reasons to avoid: It got a little messy in testing

If you live by yourself or your partner’s on a diet, the idea of hauling out a sizeable appliance and making a big batch seems like effort. However, this dinky ice cream maker could be just the thing for making small amounts of sorbet and creamy treats when the urge strikes.

While its size could be limiting in a family home – we made enough ice cream for four generous scoops – it’s compact enough for the bowl to live in the freezer all summer long (as it takes about 12 hours for the liquid inside to freeze solid). And when it’s not in use as frequently, it’ll take up hardly any cupboard space. Another plus is that its metallic red bowl is a pleasing change from so much white plastic.

The design is simple, consisting of a cover that clips onto the motor unit and a paddle. Unfortunately, the cover doesn’t protect the motor unit entirely from mess, as after making our batch, some ice cream had found its way into the clips.

The other issue is that the assembled motor unit/lid doesn’t twist into the bowl to secure it, but drops on top into some recesses. This meant as the ice cream froze and thickened around the paddle, the motor unit lifted up and began to spin, twisting the power cable. While we stopped the maker and repositioned the lid several times, it was a recurring problem, meaning you can’t walk away when the appliance is churning.

Holding the lid down solved the twisting but wasn’t ideal. It’s also disappointing that neither the shield or paddle are dishwasher safe, and only four recipes are included.

Flaws aside, the strawberry ice cream we made came out perfectly in 35 minutes and had a uniform soft scoop consistency that ripened well in the freezer.

Ideal Home’s rating: 3 out of 5 stars

7. Smeg SMIC01

Best ice cream maker for easy desserts

Type: Stand mixer
Reasons to buy: If you’ve got a stand mixer, it’s a no-brainer
Reasons to avoid: Frozen bowl only

While the concept of Smeg’s ice cream maker is similar to the KitchenAid – in that it’s a freeze-first bowl that harnesses the power of your stand mixer to churn –a clever design sets it apart. There are several components, but their design makes it straightforward to assemble and chill ice cream quickly.

Rather than a paddle driver that clips on to where you’d insert a tool, the adapter is magnetic, so it just clicks into place. There’s also a ring that twists onto the frozen bowl, so that it fits securely inside the mixer’s bowl rather than directly on the mixer’s base.

The ring holds the frozen bowl in position by sitting over the handle of the mixing bowl (so it’s fast to fit) and has a wide chute, meaning the ice cream mixture can be poured in as the paddle turns without making a mess.

Other handy extras include a clear lid that fits the freezer bowl, so when you’re finished, the ice cream can stay frozen in it for up to two hours, and a plastic spatula, which we found ideal for scraping the sides of the bowl. Our ice cream froze to a firm consistency in around 25 minutes, and, as most had clumped around the paddle, was effortless to scoop out.

The pre-freeze bowl is similar to many others, although it needs longer before being ready for use – 18 hours – so you’ll have to be quick at cleaning it by hand and getting it back in the freezer if you want to make ice cream every day of the summer.

Its capacity for finished ice cream is also average at 1.1 litres, but on the plus side, it doesn’t take up too much space in the freezer. The other thing to be aware of is that you’ll need a Smeg mixer – the ring needs a bowl handle to stay in place, so it’s unlikely to be compatible with most stand mixer models.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

8. KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment

Best ice cream maker for creative cooks

Type: Stand mixer
Reasons to buy: It makes a lot of ice cream at one time
Reasons to avoid: It’s expensive

Whether your best stand mixer is usually beating for baking or whisking for a fluffy souffle, this attachment and pre-freeze bowl will give it an extra dimension. It’s compatible with most of KitchenAid’s mixers. The drive slides over the hub where you’d usually insert a tool (though it takes a little effort at first), and this loosely connects with a paddle once the pre-frozen bowl has been twisted or lifted into place.

As the mixer only needs to run on a slow speed to churn the ice cream, the noise while it’s in use is relatively unobtrusive.

There are a few things to be aware of however. The first is that the pre-freeze bowl is sizeable – on the plus side, this means you can make up to 1.9 litres of frozen dessert, so great for barbecues and parties, but on the downside, fitting it into your freezer can be a challenge.

We had to remove a shelf and a freezer drawer to squeeze it into ours, so it’s better for one with tall, deep drawers or a chest model. The other issue we came across is that it was almost a little too good at freezing – while the bulk of the ice cream we made was easy to decant, the compacted mixture at the sides and on the bottom was almost impossible to scrape away.

A flexible spatula wasn’t up to the job, so you’ll need a rigid plastic version to ensure ice cream isn’t left behind. For the price, you’d think one would be included in the box.

That aside, what this ice cream maker does offer is mostly even freezing, a large capacity and speed. Our ice cream required just 20 minutes of mixing for a ready-to-serve consistency, plus the open bowl meant it was easy to throw in extras as it churned. We also liked that the paddle was dishwasher safe and there was a small selection of tempting recipes to try.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

How to buy the ice cream maker for you

Why do I need an ice cream maker?

It’s no secret that if you have a freezer, you can make ice cream by hand without a dedicated machine. However, it’s fraught with pitfalls and is a pretty boring process. Even if you follow a cycle of taking it out, stirring it and putting it back, it doesn’t guarantee it’ll be free from large ice crystals. These result in a gritty texture that’ll have you running back to the freezer aisle.

Ice cream makers, on the other hand, freeze while churning the mix, incorporating air. They scrape down the sides to prevent ice crystals from becoming too big. The result is soft and creamy, not crunchy. Just don’t forget to eat it while it’s fresh (it’ll store for up to a month). Homemade ice cream won’t have the longevity that shop-bought ice cream does.

How much should I spend on an ice cream maker?

Prices vary hugely, from around the £20 mark for a basic model to large all-in-one appliances that cost several hundred. Deciding which to plump for often comes down to how much you’ll use it. Consider whether you’re happy to plan ahead or keep a bowl in your freezer. Also think about how much space you have available.

Compact kitchens will struggle to accommodate the bigger ice cream makers for one major reason. Like a fridge or freezer, they need to be kept level for 12 hours or so in order for their compressor to work properly. However, you can’t beat them for convenience. At the sub-£100 end of the market, prices tend to be slightly higher for models with large-capacity bowls. A second bowl for making different flavours or types, and useful features, such as digital controls or a timer, will hike up the price.

What are the different types of ice cream maker?

Ice cream makers come in two forms – ones where you freeze the bowl around 12-24 hours in advance, and those that include their own freezing unit.

Pre-freeze ice cream makers

Image credit: American Originals

The bowls of the pre-freeze machines contain a gel or liquid coolant that sits between its inner metal layer and its exterior. This freezes solid, so that when the ice cream is poured in, it’ll start to rapidly cool the mixture.

The bowl will also be insulated, to minimise thawing. It’ll either sit within another plastic bowl with a lid, or a lid will lock directly on top. The lid contains a motor unit that powers a paddle from above to churn the mixture as it begins to freeze. Most advise starting the paddles before pouring the mixture in so it doesn’t freeze before churning can begin.

The motor unit is often manual ie it simply runs until you switch it off, but you can also find digital models that allow you to set a timer. The advantage of these machines is that they’re affordable to buy and cheap to run. This is because you only need to power a paddle – your freezer will have done the hard work already. They are relatively easy to store.

If you keep your bowl in the freezer all the time, you’ll only need to find space to store the lid and the paddle. However, if permanent freezer space is in short supply, the downside is that you’ll need to plan ahead if you fancy ice cream the next day. You’ll also need to make sure that the bowl fits in your freezer. Those with drawer-style designs may find the bigger bowls a tight squeeze.

The other disadvantage is that once used, you’ll need to wait for your bowl to defrost before you can clean it. You then need to refreeze it straight away if you want ice cream or another frozen dessert the next day. An extra bowl, so you can rotate them, is particularly handy in summer. Stand mixer-compatible ice cream makers are similar in concept. They use a pre-freeze bowl combined with a paddle that fits your mixer. This replaces the need for a separate motor unit.

Self-cooling ice cream makers

Image credit: VonShef

Models with a built-in cooling unit require no pre-freezing, meaning you can make ice cream whenever you like. Their bowls are made from metal with a paddle that fits in the centre and is rotated from below. They may have a fixed bowl with a removable second bowl or only a removable bowl, and sometimes different paddles for a variety of consistencies. Other useful features include hardness settings, such as for gelato or frozen yogurt, and a timer.

These machines are great for making batches or multiple flavours but they’re pricey, heavy and bulky with a need for plenty of worktop room when they’re in use. They’ll also require more power to run. Removable bowls can be washed soon after use but you’ll need to wait for fixed bowls to return to room temperature before cleaning.

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What other key questions do I need to ask about ice cream makers?

• Does your ice cream maker come with a recipe book? It’s the best way to ensure you get the most out of your new appliance. If it doesn’t, factor in buying one, or search online for tried-and-tested recipes. Remember to scale quantities up or down to suit the bowl size of your machine and prevent overflow.
• Is there a good-sized spout in the lid? You’ll need to start the paddles of pre-freeze models turning before pouring in the mixture. This can get messy if the hole is small. Similarly, you may wish to add ingredients as it churns. This is less of a concern for freezer models as the lid can usually be completely removed to add mixture and extras.
• Do you have enough storage space for your ice cream maker when you’re less likely to be using it regularly? Do you not have space in your kitchen cupboards or on the worktop? Then you may have to find another home for it out of season.
• Give your maker a helping hand where you can – chill the ingredients or mixture beforehand. Make sure your pre-freeze bowl is frozen solid. Any sloshing around inside means you should pop it back in the freezer. Check in on your ice cream as it churns – it can take more or less time than recipes advise. Catch it at its best and before the machine struggles too much to turn the paddle. It also helps to get the ice cream out of the bowl quickly and into the freezer to ‘ripen’ and really solidify.
• What capacity should I choose? The capacity of ice cream makers can range from 800ml to two litres, but most are 1 to 1.5 litres. However, it’s worth noting that bowl size doesn’t accurately represent how much ice cream will be made. This is partly because the paddle takes up space. But it’s also because ice cream will increase in volume as it freezes and is churned. Check the instructions for an idea of how much ice cream you can make in one go, or use the recipes that come with it.

The post Best ice cream makers: make fresh gelato from home appeared first on Ideal Home.

Are you allergic to your house? It could be a number of things, but there’s a good chance that breathing in airborne allergens aggravates your airways. To clean the air in your home, you need one of our Black Friday air purifier deals.

Related: Best Black Friday dehumidifier deals – relieve allergies and your wallet with these great savings

Pop one of these neatly designed air purifiers in your living room, bedroom or kitchen and they’ll pick up particles like smoke, animal dander, pollen and house dust mites is  The air will flow through filters before being blown back out as fresher, cleaner air.

Black Friday air purifier deals – quick links

• AEG AX91-404GY WiFi Connected Air Purifier | was £449, now £299 (save £150)
• Blueair Blue Pure 221 Air Purifier | was £349, now £224 (save £125)
• Philips Series 1000i AC1214/60 Smart Air Purifier | was £360, now £240 (save £110)
• Hoover HHP50CA Smart Air Purifier | was £400, now £300 (save £100)

Black Friday air purifier deals

AEG AX91-404GY WiFi Connected Air Purifier | was £449, now £299 (save £150)
Designed for medium-sized rooms up to 38 sq m, and with a minimum noise level of 17dB, this quiet purifier is a good option for a lounge. You can control it with an app, although it will automatically adjust its settings if it senses the air needs more or less filtering, so you shouldn’t need to lift a finger!

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Blueair Blue Pure 221 Air Purifier | was £349, now £224 (save £125)
The larger version of our beloved Blueair Blue Pure air purifier range is 36% off at Amazon today, saving you an amazing £125. The purifier is suitable for rooms up to 50m2, promising to remove everything from pollen and dust to mould and viruses.

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Philips Series 1000i AC1214/60 Smart Air Purifier | was £360, now £240 (save £110)
This great air purifier from Philips is currently £110 less at Currys, meaning you can get it for a massive 33% less. The 1000i can be controlled via an app right from your phone, with real-time air quality monitoring to help you keep an eye on your surroundings.

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Hoover HHP50CA Smart Air Purifier | was £400, now £300 (save £100)
If you’re looking for a multi-purpose device for your home, then you’ll be glad to hear that the Hoover HHP50CA works hard as both an air purifier and an aroma diffuser. That’s right – for £100 less for Black Friday, you can create the soothing oasis of your dreams right at home.

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Why should I buy an air purifier?

Image credit: Future plc

If you haven’t used an air purifier before, they are a great way of cleaning the air to remove bacteria, allergens and bad odours. Indoor air pollution is linked to dizziness and headaches, and increased risk of pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung disease, heart disease and stroke. And it can be caused by seemingly harmless chemically-laden products like paint, cleaning sprays and air fresheners.

‘There’s mounting evidence that indoor pollution can pose more of a health threat than outdoor pollutants,’ says biochemist and medical herbalist Dr Chris Etheridge. ‘Improving indoor air quality is key to tackling asthma and COPD.’

Related: Best air purifiers – the top machines to improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergens

And while we can’t affect the air pollution outside directly, we can clean the indoors with an air purifier.

An air purifier usually works by sucking in air and purifying it through water and/or filters before releasing cleaner, fresher air. Using one will promote easier breathing and improved sleep. You may also notice an increase in energy levels.

Using an air purifier can be as powerful as having hundreds, if not thousands, of houseplants around the house. And it won’t need nearly as much looking after!

The post Black Friday air purifier deals 2021 – clear the room and appease allergy sufferers appeared first on Ideal Home.

If you’re looking for a hardy plant to see you through the year, consider the beautiful Christmas cactus. The perfect plant for both summer and winter, with a little know-how, it’s relatively easy to take care of and can last for years.

Of course we appreciate that gardening may not be top of anyone’s tasks this winter, but indoor plants can still thrive indoors – making Christmas cactus care easy to maintain.

While it has absolutely nothing to do with the nativity or the festivities, the Christmas Cactus is perfect for this time of year as it can handle the warmer indoor temperatures. As with most other cacti it’s a particularly good option if you have the tendency to kill off anything green in your home.

Christmas Cactus care guide

The Christmas Cactus takes its name from the fact that it usually flowers in wintertime, giving your home a splash of colour when most plants are without. They also add a touch of greenery to your indoor decor, mirroring any similar festive outdoor Christmas decorating ideas that you may have introduced to your garden or patio.

Image credit : Alamy Stock Photo

Just as you might want to know how to care for a poinsettia at this time of year, Christmas cacti have a few specific must-haves to ensure that they thrive.

Firstly, it’s worth knowing that Christmas cacti love the warmth. As they originally hail from rainforests, they naturally thrive in humid environments like bathrooms and kitchens. So while they need to be protected from frost in winter, they can be moved outdoors during the summer months.

Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk says: ‘There are some fantastically festive plants and flowers which are easy to care for during the chillier months and will add the spirit of Christmas to any room.’ He is of course talking about  on-trend Christmas cacti.

‘Many of these blooms also make for beautiful presents, so are worth bearing in mind when buying for green-fingered friends or family members.’

Also called Schlumbergera, the Christmas Cactus tends to flower between late November and January with blooms varying from white to pink to red. Its leaves are rounded with a scalloped appearance, visually similar to that of holly, but thicker and smoother like those of a succulent plant.

Where to put your Christmas Cactus

Image credit : Alamy Stock Photo

They love bright spots, but not in direct light as the leaves can get scorched and shrivel up. They are happiest living in temperatures between 18-20°C, so in wintertime they’re best indoors in snug plant pots.

‘Whilst these varieties are easy to care for, they can be pretty picky with heat and light,’ warns Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk. ‘A windowsill might seem like a good idea, but the temperature really fluctuates in front of the glass in the winter, especially if there’s a radiator underneath.’

‘Avoid draughts and hot spots near radiators or fires too. Instead, display them somewhere that’s bright yet maintains a steady temperature.’

Or if you’re looking for some alternative indoor Christmas hanging basket ideas, you could have it cascading from a suspended planter. As mentioned, it’s a good idea to move them outdoors in the summertime as this is when the plant does most of its growing.

Christmas cactus – common problems and how to fix them

Image credit : Alamy Stock Photo

• Shrivelling or scorching – This usually happens when you’ve placed your plant in direct light. A Christmas cactus prefers a bright, shaded spot. Shrivelling can also happen if you have over (or underwatered) your plant. To ensure you don’t overwater, check that drainage holes are open and try changing the soil to a grittier mix to help the water drain through easily.
• Dropping buds  – If you tend to be in and out of the house often in wintertime, turning your heating on and off often, this can sometimes affect the flower buds on a Christmas cactus. Repeated fluctuations in temperature can result in them dropping off before they reach their full potential. Keep the plant in a warm spot to avoid this occurring.
• Lack of growth – Christmas cacti are fast growers. If your plant is stalling and isn’t producing any new leaves or buds, it could be that it’s in the wrong pot. These plants don’t like large pots and planters, they prefer a more snug fit.

Where to buy a Christmas cactus

Image credit : Future Plc

Head to your nearest garden centre to find Christmas cacti at this time of year, or try a super pretty pre-potted version from Waitrose or a pot-free white flowering cactus from Crocus.

Make a Christmas cacti feel all the more festive by carefully decorating with a set of miniature baubles.

The post Christmas Cactus care – guide to caring for Schlumbergera plants appeared first on Ideal Home.