Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i HomeStyle

Happy new year and welcome to our first reveal of the hottest new trends in interiors for 2025! From gorgeous new colour palettes – flip to our Decorator's Moodboards on page 73 where we showcase 2025's colours of the year – to 12 fresh styling trends you're about to see everywhere on page 81, there's so much to inspire you. Also this issue, whether you're considering a full kitchen refit or just fancy a refresh, check out our guide to creating a chic chef's kitchen on page 100, with a well-considered layout and precision-made kit. Over on page 104, we show you how to stamp your style on the smallest room in the house with colourful ideas for cloakrooms, because small definitely doesn't have to mean boring! With a new…

HOMESTYLE LOVES!…

TOP TIP Vintage trays make wonderful homes for special glassware. You could also arrange treasured crockery on them or other visually appealing collections YOU WILL NEED • old wooden tray • sanding block • masking tape • 2cm-wide paintbrush • gloss paint • measuring tape • metal ruler • pencil • craft knife • cutting mat • wallpaper offcut • old credit card • PVA adhesive • clear water-based varnish INSTRUCTIONS 1 Using a medium grade sanding block, gently sand both the inner and outer surfaces of the wooden sides of the tray. 2 Using a soft cloth and warm soapy water, wipe the sanded surfaces to remove any traces of dust and debris to ensure a smooth finish when you apply the paint. Leave to dry thoroughly. 3 Cut strips of…

HOMESTYLE LOVES! STYLISH CHOICE FOR KIDS…

A BIT ABOUT ME I'm Bekki Gregory, 44, head of womenswear design at Urban Outfitters. I live with my husband, Andrew Patterson, 45, a creative director in graphic design, and our daughter, Elodie Mae, 12. WHERE I LIVE We live in a four-bedroom Victorian semi in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees. We bought it in 2014. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE There was so much wood everywhere that it was almost like being on a cruise ship, so that had to go. We also hated the horrible mustardy-beige carpets downstairs and the bright red, mustard and teal walls. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We've opted for a mixture of dark and light walls, depending on the mood we wanted to create in each space, with lots of colourful artwork, vintage furniture and…

01 Add festive flair Making use of a few flourishes of foliage throughout your home will enhance your festive decor in an instant. Whether you use faux garlands or get hands on with some fresh pieces, bring the outside in with some carefully considered touches. Drape garlands along the headboard in the guest bedroom, dress picture rails and shelving with foliage and berries, and add a sprig or two to doorways and hallway mirrors for a classic, welcoming touch to your seasonal decorations. If you make use of fresh foliage, you can take advantage of the beautiful aroma that will fill your home too. 02 Create a seasonal chandelier For an intimate yet striking dining set up, create a festive chandelier to add the wow-factor while leaving the table clear…

TOP TIP Get into this trend the easy way by starting off with colour-blocked stripes. You'll be able to see how lots of colours work in your space before committing to one 1 Give in to joy Fearless use of colour is set to dominate this year's coolest spaces. Dulux's Colour of the Year for 2025 is a bright yellow – see our colour crush on p14. Pair bold tones with beige or stone, rather than Brilliant White, for a sophisticated effect. 2 Clash your patterns Fill your space with energy by mixing and matching statement patterns. We'd usually advise using one hero pattern and letting the other designs support your chosen star but with this trend there are no shrinking violets. 3 Let purple reign It's time to fall back in love…

1 Swap tiles for panelling To give your existing kitchen a country-cottage feel, swap a tiled splashback for tongue-and-groove panelling. Before installing, prime the panels and fill in any imperfections with wood filler, then paint them in your chosen shade. Ensure you use a durable wood paint suitable for a high-traffic area, as it'll need to withstand everyday kitchen splashes and spills. Accurately measure and cut the panels, and install using a grab adhesive or nail gun. Then, finish off with caulk around the bottom edge, and add a trim at the top of the panelling, painted in the same shade. 2 Warm up neutral hues Rebecca wanted a pared-back warm white for her cabinets that will stand the test of time, but she also wanted her kitchen to have…

BEST FOR… TIGHT BUDGETS ‘For a chef-style kitchen on a tight budget, focus on small changes that deliver maximum impact and functionality. Begin with multifunctional furniture, like a breakfast bar that doubles as storage and dining space, mirroring the efficiency and organisation found in professional kitchens. Open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets not only create the illusion of more space but also allow you to display kitchenware, giving your space that curated, chef-inspired look. Clever storage solutions, such as corner larders and pull-out shelves, also make it easy to access ingredients and tools, enhancing both the aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen without breaking the bank.’ Sinead Trainor, kitchen category manager, LochAnna Kitchens BEST FOR… BUSY LIFESTYLES ‘Create the ultimate professional kitchen space with dedicated zones for preparation, cooking and storage…

Justin Freeman is technical manager at the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) and has over 20 years’ experience. He shares his insider knowledge on what to consider with door security… ‘Door security and safety in the UK is complex and frequently misunderstood, leading to doors being secured improperly or even unsafely, especially when homeowners carry out their own repairs. Many older doors lack the secure standards now required for new builds. There are several standards to ensure door safety which you may have heard of: • PAS 24: A legal requirement for windows and doors in new builds, covering all components including locks. • BS 3621: A standard for single-point locks on wooden doors, often misquoted for uPVC and composite doors, which require different standards. Depending on the door's function, BS…

NINA CAMPBELL X NEXT Contemporary grandeur Quiet luxury meets modern living in famed designer Nina Campbell's new collaboration with Next HOMESTYLE LOVES! INCLUDES OTTOMAN STORAGE Style idea Update living rooms with beautifully crafted designer patterned rugs GET THE LOOK Pare it all back and choose just a few key pieces of furniture and accessories. Classic botanicals and neutral shades sit beautifully with rattan textures and supersoft cottons. This is a traditional look done in a simple, uncluttered way, making it feel much fresher and more modern. It's all in the detail and craftmanship – look for gold-tipped chair legs, button-studded upholstery, piping, turned wood tables and tactile embroidered cushions. Keep an eye out for ceramics with embossing or speckling, and glassware with a confetti or fluted effect. Aim for a calming…

Create a look that's uniquely yours with handmade pieces and reactive glazes. Artisanal details are set to be a huge part of 2025's biggest trends so, get ahead with this look now. Pick pottery in pale shades, which highlight the charm of the natural clay they're made from. Look out for pieces made by potters in your local area to give your home a personal touch, too. ON-TREND SPECKLED DETAIL STATEMENT STONEWARE…

Style idea Baroque-inspired designs with a tongue-in-cheek twist make great conversation starters HOMESTYLE LOVES! EDITOR'S CHOICE…

A BIT ABOUT ME I'm Nicola Smith, 48, an interior designer, content creator and tattoo artist, @thesmithinterior. I live with my husband, Garin, 46, an IT director, and our Labrador, Olive, with frequent visits from grown-up children, Daisy, 25, Toby, 23, and Lily, 20. WHERE I LIVE My home is a three-bedroom detached 1920s house in Andover, Hampshire, which we moved into in June 2021. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE Everything! When we bought the house the previous owners had lived in it for around 30 years. It had been very well maintained and the basics were good, but the decor wasn't to our taste. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN A lot of DIY and vision. I wanted it to feel like home and to me, that means pattern…

A BIT ABOUT ME I'm Mary Howe, 44, and I'm a nurse @northernbird___ on Instagram. I live with my husband, Nick, 42, a process operator, and our two sons, Fyfe, 12, and Henry, eight. WHERE I LIVE I live in a four-bedroom detached 1930s home in Redcar, North Yorkshire. We bought it in 2011. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE We wanted to make it more family friendly and open-plan as the layout didn't flow. When I was cooking in the kitchen and the kids were in the living room, I was constantly running between the two. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN While the decor is quite neutral, I love adding colour pops, plants, rattan and a few disco balls to give it personality and add character. MY FAVOURITE PART…

TOP TIP Smaller versions of this knot technique – made with macramé or braided cotton cord – look great in decorative bowls on coffee tables and sideboards YOU WILL NEED • 1.5 × 1m stretch fabric • dressmaker's scissors • tape measure • sewing machine • thread • pins • needle • toy stuffing • dowel INSTRUCTIONS 1 Fold the fabric in half and place it on the floor with the 1m side closest to you. Mark four 17cm-wide strips and cut them out to create four strips, each measuring 17cm wide and 1.5m long. 2 Join two strips together at the shortest edges and sew together with a 1cm seam, then repeat with the other two strips, so you have two strips each measuring 3m long. 3 Fold each strip in…

EDITOR'S CHOICE HOMESTYLE LOVES!…

UNDER £10 LOVE FROM SECRET SANTA STOCKING FILLER ALERT! UNDER £20 Style idea Wallsauce have a selection of retro TV posters available GREAT FOR GLAM TEENS STAR BAKER ENERGY! UNDER £30 FOR BUSY BEES ON THE GO BEAUTY QUEENS SORTED Style idea Customise this gift with your own extra mini figures to go inside UNDER £40 FUN AND QUIRKY! ONE FOR INTERIOR BUFFS…

3 SECRETS TO THIS SCHEME GREEN IS GOOD This inviting shade of cream has subtle green undertones so, it looks great with sage, olive and grassy colours. Pick two shades of green, one that's darker than Crocky Road and one lighter, to create a balanced palette. TURN OVER A NEW LEAF Play on the outdoorsy vibe of your new green shades by using botanical prints over your walls, floors and accessories. Choose designs with touches of cream to pull the effect together. INTO THE WOODS Complete the calming effect by using natural materials, such as jute and bare wood, to add warmth and texture to your scheme. Top it all off with houseplants and vases filled with dreamy foliage bouquets. Style idea Rounded and circular styles help to create a…

We all know how quickly clutter can take over, and how quickly excess ‘stuff’ can have a negative impact, not only on the physical space in our homes but on our headspace too. If you've been considering a clear out but need a nudge in the right direction – this is it! Once the hectic festive season is done and dusted for another year, the period before New Year's Eve is often calmer, giving you the opportunity to focus and make a start. It also makes perfect sense to get rid of some unused items – whether you sell, donate or recycle them – to make room for any gifts that you and your family may have received over Christmas. So, if you find it difficult to let go of…

AMP UP ACCESSORIES Accessories are a clever way to add intensity to the colour of your cloakroom. Whether you're designing from scratch, renting, or just want to update your current scheme, look for existing colour in the room then work with it. Lift pale shades by using bolder colours in the same tone in towels, tumblers and dispensers. Do the opposite if you've chosen darker shades for the walls and add contrast with paler tones. Add depth by teaming on-trend primary colours with greens and pinks and if you're working with an all-white space, use your accessories to add pops of colour in whatever palette you like. Cloakrooms are usually on the small side, and while this might feel limiting at first, their bijou dimensions are actually a positive when…

Helpful hints HOMESTYLE RECOMMENDS… 3 hallway storage essentials Put an end to muddy footprints and wet drips this winter! These hallway ideas will add practicality and style to your space 1 Place this classic boot rack on a doormat in the porch, or just inside the door, for easy access after muddy walks. Made from sturdy iron, it can hold up to four pairs of wet wellies or boots in any size. 2 With slots for tall umbrellas and hooks for more compact brollies, this sleek stand caters for all. It features a waterproof and rust-proof resin base, plus a stylish bentwood handle. 3 Protect your floors with these flexible rubber drip mats, ideal for wet or muddy footwear. Deep ridges allow shoes and boots to dry more quickly, while bright colours…

Party food Rosemary and goat's cheese bites PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes, plus chilling time COOKING TIME 15 minutes MAKES 18-20 INGREDIENTS ● 320g (11¼oz) ready-rolled puff pastry sheet ● ½ jar Tracklements Zingy Rosemary Jelly ● ½ lemon, zest ● 140g (5oz) hard goat's cheese, finely grated METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. 2 Unroll the sheet of puff pastry. Spread a thin layer of rosemary jelly all over and evenly distribute the grated goat's cheese. Make sure the filling reaches all corners of the pastry. 3 Starting from one of the long edges, roll the pastry up tightly to the centre then repeat from the other side. Use the pastry paper to cover the pastry roll and put in the…

3 TO MIX ON NEW YEAR'S EVE Raspberry and rosemary gin spritz MAKES 2 INGREDIENTS ● 100ml Hernö Old Tom Gin ● 200ml sparkling white wine ● 8 raspberries ● 2 sprigs rosemary, to garnish ● 4 raspberries, to garnish METHOD 1 Place the raspberries in a tumbler or cocktail shaker and muddle until thoroughly crushed. Divide between two champagne glasses. 2 Pour 50ml gin into each glass (a double measure) and stir. 3 Top up each glass with sparkling wine then garnish with a rosemary sprig and two raspberries. Recipe and image courtesy of Hernö, hernogin.com Off the vine MAKES 1 INGREDIENTS ● 35ml Eden Mill Amarone Red Wine Cask Aged Gin ● 25ml Crème de Pêche ● 20ml grenadine ● 25ml lime juice ● egg white ● ice ● twist…

Interview Micaela Sharp is on a mission to prove that upholstery is the key to creating a beautiful, personality-packed home. Not just for your great-granny's heirlooms, either – you can pick up preloved pieces to take apart and make your own. And, with appearances on TV programmes such as BBC One's Flipping Profit and Money for Nothing, Micaela knows how to do it without spending a fortune. She's since competed in series two of BBC's Interior Design Masters, so we were very excited to find out about her first book, Modern Upholstery. We caught up with her over the phone in her new home in the Spanish countryside, to find out all about it. Congrats on the release of your book! What can we expect it from it? It's a…

Ruggable x Matthew Williamson Iconic British designer Matthew Williamson has created a vibrant new collection for washable rug brand Ruggable, and we're here for it! Featuring Matthew's signature aesthetic combining bold pattern, colour and attention to detail, the collection is inspired by wanderlust and nature and the rich palettes will have a transformative effect on any room. The collection includes six eye-catching styles, both flat woven and tufted, and we are particularly smitten with the Helios gold design and its sun motif. All of the stunning designs come in a variety of sizes and feature Ruggable's two-piece machine washable rug system to ensure they are durable and fit for any home. ruggable.co.uk A classic combination From instantly recognisable statement florals to bold chinoiserie motifs and rolling landscapes, the new collaboration…

A BIT ABOUT ME I'm Leanne Lim-Walker, 35, a content creator @leannelimwalkerhome. I live with my fiancé, Paul, 37, a product manager, and our cats, Chester and Blu. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a Victorian end-of-terrace three-bedroom house in Norfolk. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The walls were covered in woodchip and every room needed an overhaul, but we needed to do it on a budget as we'd used up our savings on buying the house. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We got stuck into doing DIY! I love making over my home and really enjoy doing all the hard work myself. We stripped all the wallpaper, painted every room, and gave the existing kitchen a mini makeover. MY FAVOURITE PART The kitchen-diner is such a great space…

TOP TIP Opt for sturdy kraft paper for your fan – the thicker the better – to give it stability and longevity. It can be trickier to work with but it's worth it for a pro finish. YOU WILL NEED • 4m roll of kraft paper • long ruler • pencil • double-sided sticky tape • scissors • hole punch • embroidery floss • cardboard tube • strong cotton thread • needle • masking tape • cardboard • fishing wire • wall hook INSTRUCTIONS 1 Working on a flat surface, use a ruler and pencil to mark 2.5cm increments along both long edges of the paper roll. Use a pencil and ruler to join up the marks on both edges. Carefully fold along the pencil lines to form a concertina,…

HOMESTYLE LOVES! INCLUDES STUDDED DETAILINGs…

TOP TIP There are lots of fun phrases you could use on a mirror DIY, such as ‘Mirror, mirror’ or ‘Double take’. A shape like this would suit ‘Your biggest fan’ of course! YOU WILL NEED • digital cutting machine (optional) • grip mat for digital cutting machine (optional) • self-adhesive vinyl • A4 full sheet label with removable adhesive (optional) • craft knife or small scissors • weeding tool (optional) • clear transfer tape (optional) • plastic scraper or old credit card INSTRUCTIONS 1 The easiest way to create vinyl letters is to use a digital cutting machine, such as a Cricut. If you don't have one, skip to step 5. Using the Cricut software, design your phrase in your desired font. When you're ready to cut it out,…

‘I'm always excited to see which colours will be trending in the coming year, and this time around I was inspired by more than just the thrill of new ideas. 2025's most stylish paints are a gorgeous group of easy-going colours which you can use to transform or subtly update your space for a soft and sophisticated look. I can't wait to see how you use them in your home’ THIS MONTH'S THEME COLOURS OF THE YEAR 2025 Get to know the hottest hues for the year ahead, as chosen by the biggest brands…

Home security expert at myjobquote.co.uk Security expert at safe.co.uk Marketing manager at Burg-Wächter Head of product retail at Yale Q Is it worth paying for home security alarm monitoring? Alison Peckham is a home security expert at myjobquote.co.uk, the UK's leading trades matching site. She says… ‘Home security alarm monitoring is where your alarms and sensors will be remotely connected to a company's system. If they're triggered, they will quickly establish if it's an intruder or false alarm, usually by contacting you. The company may challenge the potential intruder via a two-way communication system, send a security guard or call the police. The cost of home insurance can be reduced by as much as 20 per cent if you have a monitored security alarm system, although it's not guaranteed. Insurers…

Monday ONE-POT BOXING DAY PIE PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS For the sauce • 50g (1¾oz) cornflour • 250ml (8½fl oz) hot chicken stock (made from a cube is fine) • 300ml (10fl oz) single cream • 2 tsp wholegrain mustard • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the pie • 500-600g (1lb 2oz-1lb 5oz) leftover cooked turkey, pigs in blankets or ham, cut into bite-sized pieces • 500-600g (1lb 2oz-1lb 5oz) leftover cooked vegetables and/or stuffing, cut into bite-sized pieces • 320g (11¼oz) ready-rolled puff pastry sheet • 1 egg, beaten METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. 2 Make the sauce first. Put the cornflour into a small bowl, add a spoon or two of the stock and…