George Home at Asda has launched its first home office collection. Asda has quickly established a reputation as the place to go for stylish homeware on a budget, and this new collection is no different.

Working from home comes with its benefits, and whether it’s seven days a week or just an odd day, it’s a great excuse to plan and decorate another area in your home. No more working from the dining room table or slumped on the sofa – it’s time to look at some home office ideas.

The new George Home home office collection has nearly everything you need to properly revamp your working area. Not only are there some great pieces, but it makes creating your own work area easy, no matter what your budget or how small your space.

George Home home office collection

Image credit: George Home

The beauty of a home office is that you can design it just how you like it – with as many attractive pieces as you want.

It doesn’t just have to be functional. It’s not someone else’s taste. And everything you include can be stylish. In short, it’s about creating an environment that helps you feel motivated, productive and inspired to work.

So, what does the range include? Well, to start with there are the important bits, like a desk and chair.  But you’ll also find storage elements, lamps, and all the bits to dress your workspace, such as plants, prints and candles.

The best part? Prices start from £1.50 – we couldn’t believe it, either!

Our Top 5 favourite pieces

Gold pen pot

Image credit: George Home

Stationery has to be one of our favourite parts of work – from the notepads and pens to erasers and weekly planners. Need somewhere to store your pens? This gold pot, £2.50, will add a touch of luxe to your desk and make sure you can always find your sparkliest or colourful pen.

Grey velvet chair

Image credit: George Home

Who says an office chair can’t be attractive? This design’s plush grey velvet and curvy shape ticks all our boxes, while the castors make it easy to roll to where you need it.

This George Home desk chair is priced at £60, we’re thinking this one will sell out fast.

Ladder desk

Image credit: George Home

Don’t want a great big desk taking up room in your home? Then a ladder style is a perfect option. You can use the bottom shelf for your screen or laptop, and style up the other shelves with something prettier to keep it looking less work-like.

Plus, this slimline design ladder desk is just £45, is ideal for slotting in an alcove or next to wardrobes if you’re working from a bedroom.

Botanical prints

Image credit: George Home

Plants are said to increase productivity in the workplace – we’re not sure that applies when they’re in print form, but we’ll happily ignore that! This set of three framed artworks will add a calming vibe to your workspace and are just £18.

Storage box

Image credit: George Home

Never underestimate the power of a good storage box – it stops your workspace from looking untidy and helps you create an organised, orderly office. This small grey storage box is just £1.50, so you can afford to invest in a few.

Ready to make your workplace feel like home? The range is set to launch in-store at George Home on 29 September, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled and trolleys at the ready!

The post Get organised with George Home’s first ever home office collection appeared first on Ideal Home.

Many people have been waking up to the fact that, without one of the best air purifiers, the air quality in their homes can be very poor. In fact, research has shown that the air indoors that we breathe every day is often worse than that outside on all but the most polluted streets. This is because particles from traffic fumes, pollen and more are pulled in as we enter the front door or open a window, and there often isn’t enough ventilation to remove them.

This not only opens us up to the ill-effects of excess dust and pollution but means that chemicals from cleaning products, fresh paint, new furniture and cooking can’t escape either. If you are one of the millions of allergy sufferers, then you will know how much poor air quality exacerbates symptoms – damned if you open a window, but also vulnerable to anything trapped inside if you don’t.

But there’s good news – having an air purifier in the home can make a huge difference.

You may think that regular cleaning and vacuuming will keep the problem of bad air at bay, but this alone isn’t enough to eliminate anything smaller than dust particles. A dedicated air purifier will thoroughly clean the air throughout your home and, if you pick a good one that’s the right size for the room, you will really start to notice the difference.

Read on to find out which of the best air purifiers is best for your circumstances and space and, if you’re also looking to defeat dampness, take a look at our roundup of the best dehumidifiers.

The best air purifiers in 2021

1. Blueair Blue 3210

Best air purifier overall

Credit: Blueair

Power: 10W
Speeds: 4
Room size: 17m2
Smart?: No
Noise: 18-48dB
CADR: 184 m3/hr
Dimensions: 42.5 x 20 x 20cm
Weight: 1.6kg

Reasons to buy

• Energy-efficient
• Quiet
• Easy to set up and use

Reasons to avoid

• Only good for smaller rooms
• No smart features

If you’re looking for a quiet and unfussy air purifier that will fit into smaller spaces, then the Blueair Blue 3210 is ideal. Perfect for bedrooms or a home office, the Scandi-style machine is super-easy to set up and use.

To get started, you simply need to plug in the air purifier and tap the top control until you reach your desired setting. These include an Auto mode that uses the in-built sensor to clean the air in a space optimally, Night mode (reducing noise, fan speed and LED brightness), Everyday mode and Boosted mode. These last two do what they say on the tin, quietly toiling away in the background or working a bit harder, respectively.

The light on the front changes colour to indicate current air quality, whether good, moderate or polluted. It will turn red when it’s time to change the filter, recommended around every six months.

Working in a room of around 17m2, the Blueair Blue 3210 will change the air in the space five times an hour, with this going down to about twice an hour in a room of 43m2. So basically, it should be placed in a smaller room to get the most out of the device. In return, it works very efficiently, using just 2W of power on its lowest setting (up to 10W).

The Scandi-style pre-filters are the real star here, though, giving you a choice of the arctic trail (dark grey) – included – winter reed (light grey), archipelago sand (pink), aurora light (green), and night waves (blue). These don’t just look pretty, either, catching larger particles and extending the life of the primary filter inside. To clean, you can just vacuum the outside or pop them in the wash.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Blueair Blue 3210 Air Purifier

2. Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier

Best small air purifier

Credit: Levoit

Power: 33W
Speeds: 3
Room size: 40m2
Smart?: No
Noise: 24-48dB
CADR: 187 m3/hr
Dimensions: 36 x 22 x 22cm
Weight: 3.4kg

Reasons to buy

• Can clean larger rooms
• Quiet on lowest settings
• Customisable filters

Reasons to avoid

• No smart features
• No air quality sensor

Another of our favourite small air purifiers, the Levoit Core 300, is ideal for those who don’t feel the need for smart home compatibility. Quiet on its lowest settings, it can clear an impressive area of 40m2, delivering a CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 187 m3/hr with its patented QuietKEAP technology.

The controls are on top of the air purifier, allowing you to change the fan speed (low, medium or high), set a timer (2, 4, 6, or 8 hours) for auto-shutoff, or put it in night mode. This means you can have the machine in your bedroom without worrying about wasting energy or the LED lights keeping you up.

One of the best things about the Core 300 is the customisable filters. The original filter is included, but you can also purchase filters specialising in pet allergies, toxin absorption, or mould and bacteria removal. When any of these need replacing, the check filter indicator light will activate, with it recommended you switch filters every 6-8 months.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars

3. Philips Series 3000i Connected AC3033/30

Best air purifier for large rooms

Credit: Philips

Power: 55W
Speeds: 3
Room size: 104m2
Smart?: Yes
Noise: 34dB
Dimensions: 64 x 29 x 29cm
Weight: 9kg

Reasons to buy

• Capable of cleaning large spaces
• Compatible with Alexa
• Easy to remove and long-lasting filter

Reasons to avoid

• Large and heavy

An air purifier for heavier jobs, the Phillips Series 3000i Connected air purifier promises to clear the air in spaces up to 104m2. For example, a 20m2 room can completely clean the space in 6-8 minutes, with an impressive CADR of 520 m3/hr.

The auto mode makes use of the built-in sensor and adjusts its speed accordingly. A handy digital display on top gives you real-time information on air quality levels, including allergens, particles and gas that are circulating. You can also access this information via the app to connect to Alexa for voice control.

The three-level filter has been handily combined into one removable unit, making it easier to change things when needed. This won’t be very often, however, with an estimated lifetime of 36 months.

The drawback of the 3000i Connected is its size, measuring 64cm tall and 9kg. This makes it one of the more difficult air purifiers on this list to move around, so you should make sure it can have a permanent home before you buy. Thankfully, Phillips has thought about putting such a large machine in people’s living spaces and made an effort to make it look somewhat stylish.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Philips Series 3000i Connected AC3033/30

4. Dimplex DXAPV3N

Best budget air purifier

Credit: Dimplex

Room size: 28m²
Weight: 1.4kg
Dimensions: 13.3 cm (H) x 24.8 cm (L) x 33.3 cm (W)
Noise levels: 40-50dB

Reasons to buy: Great for a budget and looks inconspicuous
Reasons to avoid: It’s not that suitable for larger rooms

If you’re on a really tight budget, this slim air purifier is better than no air purifier at all. It’s the size of a cookbook stood upright (333 x 248 x 133mm), so it doesn’t take up much space on a bedside table. The control is simply a lever on the right-hand side that chooses between the two speeds and off.

Noise levels are 40-50dB. It sounds like a fan in both settings, but it’s a white noise you could easily ignore and go to sleep with. Filter life is quoted as 2,000 hours of use, but there’s no filter change indicator.

Filtration is HEPA and carbon, but the size of the filter is small compared with others on the test, so, surprisingly, it claims to be suitable for a room measuring up to 28m². The technical data reveals that this is based on 1.75 air changes per hour. So if you want 5 air changes per hour, your room would have to be just under 10m², which sounds more realistic. CADRs for smoke, pollen and dust are 80, 89 and 79m³/h, much lower than others on the test.

The test results bore out these. It removed 57 per cent of PM2.5 and 66 per cent of PM10 particles in an hour. This makes it the least effective air purifier on the test, but it’s also by far the cheapest. If you have a small bedroom, then using the Dimplex would improve air quality. But we’d recommend the Blueair 411 as well worth the extra expense.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars

5. IKEA Fornuftig

Best air purifier for design

Credit: IKEA

Room size: 10m²
Weight: 3.9kg
Dimensions: 36 x 13 x 57cm
Noise levels: 28-50dB

Reasons to buy: great design, affordable, can be mounted on the wall
Reasons to avoid: gas filter sold separately

A gorgeous air purifier from IKEA and designer David Wahl, the IKEA Förnuftig has caused quite a stir since being released. This piece of home tech puts design first, with the option to either place it on the floor (as pictured) or mount it to the wall. It looks great either way, but our preference is mounted, where it could be mistaken for a piece of décor.

The purifier comes equipped with a particle filter that claims to filter around 99.5% of small airborne particles (PM2.5), including dust, pollen and a whole host of other nasties. You can also fit a gas filter that takes more dangerous pollutants such as formaldehyde and unpleasant smells out of your indoor air – though unfortunately, this is sold separately.

The IKEA Förnuftig has three fan speeds, which is pretty standard for something at this price point, and the lightweight and sleek design makes up for some shortcomings in performance.

How to choose the best air purifier

Credit: Blueair

Do air purifiers work?

Yes. Read the reviews because some are better than others, and you should pick the right machine for your room size. But yes, they remove everything from dust to very fine particles from the air, quietly and invisibly.

In the summer, opening doors and windows for ventilation is a great way to improve indoor air quality – unless you live on a really congested road. But in colder months, an air purifier is just the ticket.

Are air purifiers effective?

Improving indoor air quality is beneficial for anyone. Given a choice between walking down a polluted main road or a side road next to a park, you’d pick the latter every time. But, unfortunately, indoor air quality is under threat from wafted-in pollutants, allergens, dust particles, candles, open fires, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products, and “off-gassing.”

This is a process where VOCs are released from paints and plastics for years. So using an air purifier is like taking the leafy side of the road. They can be beneficial if anyone in the family has asthma or allergies.

Where to place an air purifier

The machine cleans and circulates all the air in the room. So the only thing that matters is not to place it too close to the wall or furniture. You want 10cm around it on all sides to guarantee airflow in and out of the air purifier.

Room-wise, if you pick one room, pick the bedroom. You spend about a third of your life in there, hopefully with the door shut (which is better for fire safety, too). The clean air will help promote deep sleep, as well as being good for your health.

Do air purifiers remove smells?

Air purifiers that use activated carbon filters will remove the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that cause smells. That could be a musty smell or the particulates from a scented candle or aerosol.

How long does it take for an air purifier to clean a room?

It depends not just on the air purifier but how big the room is. Measure your floor space and look for a machine that promises to clean the air in a room of that size five times an hour. Which means it filters all the air in the room once every 12 minutes. Machines sometimes claim to clean large spaces, but they only promise to clean the air a couple of times an hour.

How much should I spend on an air purifier?

For one room: £150 and look at the Blueair 411, which outperforms others that cost more. Budget £500-700 if you want to clean the air in a much larger space.

What are the different types of filters, and which do I need?

The more stages of filtration, the better to remove different sized particles.

• Dust pre-filter – think of air filtration like sifting sand on a beach. You want to remove the large pebbles first with a big sieve before using a finer one. Otherwise, the fine filter gets clogged up.
• HEPA filter – this catches more dust, pollens, other allergens, even bacteria, so you’ll breathe cleaner whether you suffer from pet allergies or hay fever. Our PM10 test results are a measurement of particles no bigger than 10 microns wide.
• Electrostatic filtration – this charges small particles so that they stick more easily to the filters.
• Active carbon is great for microscopic particles from traffic fumes, cigarette smoke, and the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that carry unpleasant smells. They can even remove viruses from the air. Our PM2.5 test results measure particles no bigger than 2.5 microns wide, which includes much tinier particles.

How do I get the right-sized machine for my room?

Measure your floor space in m². Then pick a machine that promises to clean the air in the room five times an hour. Ceiling heights are pretty consistent, so this is accurate enough. If you enjoy maths homework, you can measure the volume of the space in m³ and look at the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of various machines to see which suits you best.

What else should I think about when buying an air purifier?

Noise, if you’re sensitive to it, measured in decibels (dB). If you want a discreet air purifier, consider a machine that’s quiet on its lowest setting. Or one with an auto mode that is quiet unless it needs to scrub the air more, which is unlikely in the middle of the night.

Sleep timers are ok for the bedside, but surely it’s better to have a quiet machine that you can leave on, so the air is clean all night.

How we test our air purifiers

Our testers Caramel and Caroline have decades of experience in reviewing technology products between them. Writing for, among others, The Evening Standard, The Express, The Guardian, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Mirror, The Telegraph, and The Sunday Times, Caramel has long been part of the Ideal Home family and knows exactly what you’re looking for in an air purifier.

London’s air pollution, along with two tweens and a dog, meant that the air in Caramel’s house needed a good scrub. So she tested each machine rigorously at home, taking into account the size, price, controls, features, and noise levels, as well as the all-important air purification performance.

Performance was tested using expensive high-end industrial equipment, namely the Met One Instruments Model 804 Handheld Particle Counter. Caramel tested the room’s initial air quality for each air purifier and then tested it again after she had used the air purifier at its top setting for an hour.

Finally, she compared the two sets of results to establish how well the air had been cleaned.

She focussed on the PM10 and PM2.5 figures for our test because these are the ones the World Health Organisation uses as air quality benchmarks. These are particles measuring no more than 10 microns and no more than 2.5 microns.

The post Best air purifier – improve indoor air quality and reduce allergens appeared first on Ideal Home.

Not surprisingly, coming up with sofa ideas for small living rooms requires a little more thought than if you have a standard space to deal with. Finding a sofa (or two) that will fit within set dimensions, while leaving clearance to get in and out and offering enough space for the family to sit in comfort can be hugely challenging. What’s more, you don’t want to have to compromise on style or scheme.

But, as with our small living room ideas, there are plenty of feasible options. Some will involve the model of sofa you choose – going for a smaller ‘loveseat ‘ or snuggler sofa as opposed to a three seater, for example. Or picking something with slimline or even no arms.

Others may be more practical or decorative – such as allowing your sofa to blend with the colour of the walls, or maybe even creating your own built-in solution.

Sofa ideas for small living rooms and tight spaces

1. Avoid chunky sofa arms

Image credit: Nordic House

These Scandi-style sofas from Nordic House are refined, stylish… and perfect for a small living room. This north European aesthetic represents the ideal approach for a small living room. Shades of grey and white keep things fresh and open, and the lack of chunky sofa arms will buy you precious space.

2. Make a corner sofa the star

Image credit: Colin Poole

We’ll call this the ‘go big or go home’ approach to sofa ideas for small living rooms. Get everyone seated with one piece of furniture, courtesy of a corner sofa. It will create an intimate seating area, which can be further cosied up with an armchair or two to complete the ‘circle’. This should be centred around a feature – a strong fireplace idea, or the TV, if you must…

3. Build a sofa under the window

Image credit: Future PLC

When you can’t find the right sofa fit for an awkwardly shaped space, going bespoke is your best option. And it needn’t be expensive. A local carpenter should be able to build the bones of a built-in sofa seat, and made-to-fit seat pads are another affordable commission.

Adding drawers beneath will provide precious living room storage for your small space.

4. Switch sofas for armchairs

Image credit: Future PLC

Why struggle to squeeze in one sofa, when you could provide more comfortable seating for a trio with three armchairs? Arranging them around a chest or coffee table will encourage conversation. You can have some real fun here, picking the best armchairs in different styles and colours.

Do try and and have a design thread common to them all, however, or you’ll risk your living room looking like a furniture showroom. This could either be a colour palette – say, differentiations shades of blue. Or it could be the style of your chairs – curvy and classic, upholstered mid century, or square and modern.

5. Place a classic loveseat in a bay window

Image credit: Sofa.com

‘Love seats are the ideal bay window idea. They’ll also work in an alcove, or any space that won’t take a standard two-seater sofa,’ says Aissa Gonzalez, product development and buying manager at Sofa.com. ‘Most of ours are between 110cm and 135cm wide, though we do go up to 162cm wide.’

Giving you move space than an armchair, this sofa tricks the eye into making this spot by the window look bigger than it really is, and frees up room for a side table and a floor lamp. All you need now are tea, biscuits and a good book.

6. Go for a sofa or love seat that’s deeper not wider

Image credit: Loaf

You might not have the space in your room to go wide, but you can still create a luxurious seating experience by going deep. ‘A love seat is the ultimate spot for chilling out,’ says Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf. ‘We make ours extra deep so there’s plenty of room to sink back and relax. Add to the mix a comfy feather-filled seat cushion and plump scatter cushions and you’ve got something that is cosy and incredibly inviting.’

‘The looser weave of the vintage linen cover adds to the laid-back look; the fabric is popped through a press several times to give a light and beautifully uneven colour that works brilliantly with this relaxed feel.’

7. Perfect proportions

It isn’t just the sofa size that matters – the shape plays a part, too, and you may find you can seat more people than expected. ‘A large piece of furniture such as a sofa has the potential to overwhelm a small space, so it’s important to take this into account when browsing for one,’ Kate Tansley, creative director at Multiyork.

‘Opting for a more compact size with a fixed back instead of cushions and small arms will create a neat, clean outline, giving the illusion of space and order.’

8. Make the most of details

Image credit: House of Fraser

Paying attention to the smaller details such as hand-tied buttons turns a sofa into something extra special. ‘This design gives a nod to tradition but in a fresh and elegant way,’ says Ideal Home’s Amy Cutmore.

‘The buttoned detailing brings a sense of heritage which, combined with the petit curvy shape and the fabric’s neutral hue, makes it a welcoming addition to a modern country living room that’s short on space.’

9. Remember, small can still be statement

‘I love the impact a bold floral print can make in a room,’ says Megan Holloway of Sofa Workshop. ‘The right print can add pops of colour to a neutral colour scheme or create drama against a dark wall.’

‘Large-scale prints can really make a statement, but they’re not for everyone. If you prefer a more subtle approach, use them on a smaller piece of furniture such as this compact sofa or go for a small-scale pattern in tonal shades as an alternative to a plain fabric.’

10. Stay light and bright in white

Image credit: Simon Scarboro

We all know a white living room idea is the go-to colour scheme for small spaces. So if you’re after a sofa idea for a small space, logic would dictate that a white sofa is ideal. And it can be – though we’d recommend to maximise the effect that you combine with white walls so everything blends together, bright and light.

With this set up, you can then layer in the colour. This yellow and grey combo is soft and uplifting. Pick terracottas and greens for something more warming and earthy. Or teals and blues for a refreshing feel. Reds and blues will take you into classic nautical territory. Or you could bring in blacks for a stronger monochrome scheme.

What style of sofa is best for a small living room?

There are three types of sofa that are particularly suited to small living rooms:

1. The love seat

As the name suggests, the loveseat is made for sharing for two. But it’s also the ultimate relaxing destination for one. Due to its compact style – a love seat is typically 30-40cm shorter than a two-seater sofa – love seats offer a good opportunity to experiment with pattern or bold colour.

2. The modular sofa

Image credit: Swyft

Modular sofas are a great option for renters, since they can be broken up into different configurations depending on the space available. So if you relocate to a home where the sitting room is smaller or a quirky shape, you’re more likely to be able to arrange its modules to suit the space.

3. Click-clack sofa

Image credit: Made.com

Often doubling as a sofa bed, a click-clack sofa generally has no arms. This doesn’t just safe on space to the side of the sofa, it also lets you sit on the sofa with legs to the side as well as the front.

This might allow you to squeeze more people onto it. Or at the very least, make it easier to manoeuvre off the sofa when you need to.

The post Sofa ideas for small living rooms – 10 looks for tiny or awkwardly-shaped lounges appeared first on Ideal Home.

TVs are always changing and evolving, and so is the advice for getting the best TV for your home. Unfortunately, with so many buzzword features, sizes, and brands to choose from, it can be near-impossible to find the perfect screen for your next binge-watch.

On the plus side, TV and movie watching at home have never been better, with a cinema-quality experience now in reach for pretty much everyone. And with services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ (not to mention all the rest!) churning out brilliant content at breakneck speed, now is the perfect time to upgrade your own living room set-up.

Whether you want to upgrade because of aesthetic reasons (there’s sometimes nothing worse than a boxy eyesore in the middle of the room) or you’re interested in new technology such as OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), LED (Light-Emitting Diode), and HCX (Hollywood Cinema eXperience) and smart streaming features, we’re here to help cut through the noise a little with our ranking of the best TVs around right now.

Scroll down for more information and to see what we thought and, once you’ve chosen a new TV, why not take a look at our rundown of the best soundbars – a good picture needs good audio to go with it, after all.

The best TVs in 2021

1. LG C1 Smart 4K OLED TV

Best TV overall

Credit: LG

Available in: 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″
Resolution: 4K

Reasons to buy: good value, Dolby Atmos sound, built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
Reasons to avoid: some reviewers had trouble with screen glare

Our pick for the best TV in the 2021 release slate, the LG C1 Smart 4K OLED TV, offers a bevvy of features that will please movie fans, gamers and casual users alike.

The OLED panel offers individually self-lit pixels and optimised settings and upscaling courtesy of the a9 Gen4 AI processor. Dolby Vision IQ boosts brightness, contrast and colour depth, and there’s also a good amount of customisation in settings if you want to get the picture just right.

Alexa and Google Assistant are both built-in to make voice control and integration with your wider smart home simple, and you can make use of the popular webOS.

If you have a keen gamer in your household, then the 1ms response time, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync and Game Optimiser mode also make this a recommended set, with lots of HDMI ports to allow for multiple consoles to be plugged in alongside streaming sticks and soundbars.

In addition to its impressive specs, the LG C1 looks great in person, with an ultra-thin bezel and paper-thin panel giving it a high-end feel.

2. Samsung QN95A Smart 4K QLED TV

Best QLED TV

Credit: Samsung

Available in: 55″, 65″, 75″, 85″
Resolution: 4K

Reasons to buy: good viewing angles, object tracking sound, Multi View
Reasons to avoid: no Dolby Vision or Atmos sound

One of the more affordable new models to use Mini LED backlighting for its QLED panel, the Samsung QN95A 4K TV, offers solid sound and visual features that ensure your TV looks and sounds incredible no matter what you’re watching.

The Quantum 4K processor will upscale lower-resolution content. At the same time, HDR10+ ups colour and contrast, and the anti-glare screen offer extensive viewing angles – ideal if you have a large living room in which some family members struggle to see the screen. Gamers will also love the Multi View feature, which allows you to cast your phone screen to one side of the screen without interrupting your game.

The QN95A doesn’t skimp on sound, either, adapting to objects in the room and adjusting based on background noise.

3. Panasonic TX-JX800B Smart 4K LED TV

Best mid-range TV

Credit: Panasonic

Available in: 40″, 50″, 58″, 65″
Resolution: 4K

Reasons to buy: Has Netflix, Amazon, Freeview Play and more built-in
Reasons to avoid: Some customers have noted the picture quality lacks when watching sports

With designer good looks, this talented mid-ranger is the perfect option if you want a polished LED flat screen for home cinema, sports and gaming.

Picture quality has literally been fine-tuned in Hollywood (by Stefan Sonnenfeld), and the set boasts universal dynamic HDR support, which basically means it’ll automatically maximise image quality on a scene by scene basis when you’re watching 4k HDR programmes.

It’s also a great gaming TV, even giving the Samsung Q80T a run for its money due to low input lag.

The TX-58HX800 is fashionably minimalist too. Just as we saw on last year’s Panasonic GX800 models, the LCD panel appears to sit on top of, rather than within, the bezel. It’s a cool design embellishment.

But it’s in the picture department that the HX800 really shines. Arguably the most cinematic of all the LED LCD TVs available right now, there’s a lushness to its colours and a sense of image depth that hints of OLED. But it’s brighter and more contrasty when viewed in daylight.

Also available in 65-, 50- and 40-inch screen sizes, we were really impressed by this 58-incher. The size will be a good compromise for many if 65-inches just seems a tad too big for comfort.

Intuitive and versatile, Panasonic’s own My Home Screen platform remains one of the easiest smart TV platforms out there to use. There’s no shortage of catch-up TV, thanks to Freeview Play, and there’s also Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Unfortunately, Disney+ is AWOL. Let’s hope Panasonic gets it on the platform sooner rather than later.

The set will also work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa smart home products.

Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars

4. Samsung Q80T Smart 4K QLED TV

Best premium TV

Credit: Samsung

Available in: 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″, 85″
Resolution: 4K

Reasons to buy: QLED technology means it’s screen burn-proof; perfect for gamers
Reasons to avoid: Some customers have noted that the TV apps don’t support Dolby Atmos

The Samsung Q80T is packed with some of Samsung’s sharpest TV technology but avoids the painful price tags found higher up its QLED range.

It’s actually the cheapest 2020 QLED TV to offer a full array backlight, which means you get punchy HDR (High Dynamic Range) images with excellent contrast. We auditioned the 65-inch screen size, which is big on impact, but it’s also available in 49-, 55-, 75- and 85-inch guises, so there’s a model to suit most rooms.

Smart connectivity is impressive. The Q80T doesn’t just offer catch-up and streaming TV services (Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Disney+, BT TV and YouTube, amongst others), it also has Samsung’s signature Ambient Mode, which turns the screen into a photo gallery when left in standby.

The Q80T is also a fabulous choice for gamers, with class-leading low image lag (just 8.7ms), so you’ll never be slow on the draw when the competition heats up in Fortnite. QLED technology is also guaranteed screen burn free (that thing where static images can sometimes get burnt into the panel itself), which comes as welcome comfort if you’re planning console marathons.

The TV also sounds surprisingly good. In addition to downward-firing stereo drivers and woofers, the set boasts additional speakers positioned top left and right rear, which work with Samsung’s OTS (Object Tracking Sound) technology to create a more involving, immersive audio experience.

We reckon there’s no better 4k HDR TV for joystick jockeys right now.

Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5. Hisense A7200 Smart 4K LED TV

Best value TV

Credit: Hisense

Available in: 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″
Resolution: 4K

Reasons to buy: affordable, Roku one of the more user-friendly smart TV interfaces, works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Reasons to avoid: Some HDR stuttering issues

Though Hisense is traditionally a brand found in the US, last year saw the company release a suite of budget TVs exclusive to Argos on this side of the pond. Since then, the TVs have been updated for 2021 and have fast become one of the go-to choices for a user-friendly AND budget-friendly TV.

Boasting 4K HDR resolution with HDR10, DTS Studio sound, 60Hz motion rate and compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit, it’s hard to fault what’s on offer at this price point. The home screen from Roku is one of the simplest to navigate, and you’ll find all the apps here, including catch-up, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and the rest.

It is recommended for those who enjoy using the Roku streaming stick, which was true of this writer. It’s now our main TV, having bought it back in 2020, and we certainly have no complaints.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

How to choose the best TV for your home

Credit: Samsung

We know many questions need answering before you commit to a new TV, so here is some advice to make the buying process a bit easier.

Is it worth getting a 4K TV? (And is 4K really better than 1080p?)

In a nutshell: definitely.

With a 4k screen, it really does look better than regular HD models. That’s because a 4k UHD TV uses 4 times as many pixels as a 1080p HD model. Think chunky knit versus fine Merino wool.

There’s no 4k TV on regular terrestrial TV. Still, you will find it from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, and premium pay-TV suppliers like Sky, Virgin Media and BT. 4k is also available on UHD Blu-rays (you’ll need a UHD Blu-ray player to spin them).

But there’s a catch. To appreciate this resolution, it makes sense to buy a screen larger than the one you’re replacing or move your sofa nearer.

Helpfully, thinner panels and better design have seen TV’s take up less space. So in the room occupied by a 2010 43-inch telly, you’ll now probably fit a svelte 2019 55-inch model.

Most all new 4k TVs will also be HDR compatible. This translates to brighter highlights, so the sun shines hotter, lights glow more realistically in the dark, fireworks dazzle.

What are the key features I should look for in a smart TV?

All our featured screens connect to the internet over Wi-Fi, which means they have access to streaming services and catch-up TV.

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube are all standard attractions, but the number of secondary services varies. If there’s a specific streaming provider you want, check your shortlisted sets offer it.

For the best in catch-up TV, look for a model with a Freeview Play tuner. This guarantees all the main-channel catch-up players are on board (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5).

Increasingly, smart TVs will also work with voice control systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant: “Alexa, play Great British Bake Off!”

Is QLED better than OLED? And what’s the deal with LED?

OLED, QLED, LED LCD? TV manufacturers use a variety of panel technologies, each with its own pros and cons.

The vast majority of TVs available are LCD lit by an LED backlight (hence LED LCD). They’re bright and affordable but can have a limited black level performance. Consequently, in a fully dark room, blacks tend to turn grey.

OLED models are only available in larger screen sizes (55-inches plus) and command a price premium. However, OLED is widely regarded as the best TV technology currently available.

Self-emissive, OLED doesn’t require a backlight. As every pixel is controllable, the technology can deliver pure, accurate blacks. Nirvana, if you’re a film fan.

As favoured primarily by Samsung, a Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLED) may sound like OLED, but it’s actually an LCD variant. QLED helps improve colour vibrancy and brightness. However, as with standard LCD panels, they require a backlight.

QLED screens are TVs with brighter viewing environments, offering an unbeatable light and colour combination.

What will the sound quality of my TV be like?

Probably poor. One inevitable consequence of ever-thinner TVs is weak audio. There’s typically not enough room in the cabinet to accommodate decent loudspeakers. The result is thin sound with limited volume.

The solution is to partner your thin screen with a separate soundbar (prices range from £100 to £1000+), which will add volume, width and clarity.

A soundbar turns on and off automatically, effectively replacing the speakers in the set itself. Alternatively, you can hand over sonic duties to an AV receiver. This creates a full-blown home cinema system with speakers front and back.

There are exceptions to this rule of sound, though, and we’ve picked several TVs here. Our Best Overall TV winner, the Panasonic GZ2000, has a compelling Dolby Atmos sound system on board that offers wide, high cinematic sound.

Sony also has an inspired solution in its Acoustic Surface Audio+ system, which uses vibrating acoustic transducers attached to the panel itself to create forward-facing sound waves.

How we test our TVs

All our chosen TVs have been rated not just on technical performance but how they perform in the real world.

We’ve peered at pixels and scrutinised backlights. We’ve also taken the selfless task of sitting down and watching our favourite shows on regular TV and other sources, like Netflix and YouTube.

We ate an obscene amount of popcorn watching the latest 4k HDR (High Dynamic Range) movies from a UHD (Ultra High Definition) Blu-ray player, and we rated screens on general usability.

We also ask, do they have Freeview Play? Is their smart larder well stocked? Are they more confusing than flat-pack furniture? That kind of thing…

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