Advice

black timber clad barn conversion with double and single storey sections

Calculating how much a barn conversion costs? Here's why you might need deep pockets

By Tim Phillips last updated

Barn conversion costs aren't cheap, and can often escalate if you don't know the risks. Quantity surveyor, Tim Phillips explains how much to budget

Conversion
a person on a laptop on the planning portal website

Planning permission: when, where, how, and what do you need it for?

By Ken Dijksman, Claire Lloyd, Joseph Mullane last updated

Planning permission requires careful preparation and attention to detail to make sure your project proceeds smoothly and avoids unnecessary delays or setbacks

Planning
Bedroom

Too much stuff, not enough space? This is the bedroom storage trick you could be missing

By Megan Milstead published

If your bedroom wardrobe is bursting at the seams, this clever storage hack will give you some relief – without taking up extra floor space

Bedroom
drawing of house with model of house and £20 and £10 notes lying on top of drawing

Wondering how much it costs to build a house in 2026? Our self build expert reveals how much to budget

By Michael Holmes last updated

Building a home is the dream for many, but balancing budgets is the most fundamental factor in it becoming reality. We explore the average self build costs

Self Build

Is your bathroom extractor fan making your bathroom feel cold? It just might be, according to the experts we spoke to

By Natasha Brinsmead published

Bathroom constantly cold despite the heating being on? Your extractor fan could be to blame

Ventilation
Utility room with blue cabinets and shirts hanging on a rail underneath baskets

5 things people with a well-organised utility room always have

By Megan Milstead published

From smart storage solutions to practical zoning, here’s everything you need to get your utility room in top order – according to professional organisers

Utility

Your Projects

Rear of the property showing the kitchen extension from the garden patio

‘What this home lacks in width, it makes up for in height' – step inside this ultra-modern home measuring just 3m wide

By Jennifer Grimble published

At less than three metres wide, this former shipbuilder’s cottage has been reborn as a beautiful, efficient retreat brimming with character and clever design features

House Tours
Inside the kitchen of a barn conversion

'It's the perfect place for us to relax' – inside a charming Cotswolds barn conversion where original features still shine

By Debbie Jeffery published

A Grade II-listed farm building in the Cotswolds has been transformed into a compact, characterful home that blends history with contemporary craft

House Tours
Exterior of the house which backs onto a garden and patio with plant pots and veranda

'It's a privilege to live in this beautiful environment' – step inside this zero-carbon oak frame home on a Devon eco-farm

By Teresa Conway published

Susie and her husband Robert built a modestly sized sustainable home to support their work on an idyllically situated organic farm

House Tours
Exterior of the house which is set on grass and in front of trees

Step inside this homely oak frame self-build with spectacular views of the Monmouthshire countryside

By Seán O'Connell published

Chris and Ann Preston turned a potentially disastrous survey in their favour by building an oak frame self-build home with a difference

House Tours
Exterior of the back of the house, showing the side extension, garden and patio area

How a timber-frame extension has successfully 'enhanced family life' in this colourful 1970s terrace

By Seán O'Connell published

The success of this Kent extension is down to clever design solutions and a combination of talents

House Tours
Exterior of house

‘This house is future-proofed to let us age disgracefully’ – tour this modern oak-framed home reborn from a run-down 18th-century barn

By Seán O'Connell published

Bringing a dilapidated barn back to life using sympathetic materials proved a winning move for these homeowners

House Tours

How To

Hand wearing a rubber glove cleaning a shower screen

Goodbye limescale and watermarks! Here's how to get a squeaky clean shower screen in two simple steps

By Megan Milstead published

Cleaning experts reveal the secret to a spotless shower screen

Bathroom
Contemporary white toilet with a background of white metro tiles and grey grout

Why fitting a toilet seat is a job you can do yourself for a quick bathroom upgrade

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Fitting a toilet seat is a task that any DIYer can take on, but they are not all the same. Get the insight on sizes, types of fittings and how to install

DIY
Plumbing parts on floor in front of white toilet in bathroom with square grey wall and floor tiles

Want to know how to fit a toilet? Our step-by-step guide to installing a toilet yourself

By Ben Field last updated

Update the look of your bathroom, or replace a faulty fixture with our step-by-step guide to fitting a toilet

DIY
Pantry moth

This common pantry pest could be munching on your food supplies – here's how to protect your kitchen

By Megan Milstead published

Find out how to get rid of pantry moths before they take over your kitchen cupboards

Kitchen
Woman in yellow rubber gloves spraying solution onto white tiles and grout and cleaning with a blue kitchen scrubber

Want to know how to remove mould from grout? These 10 tried and tested methods have the answer

By Natasha Brinsmead last updated

Nasty black stains left you wondering how to remove mould from grout? We've been busy looking into the most effective methods to eliminate the problem

Kitchen
Back of women pulling down patterned wallpaper together

Removing wallpaper? Follow our step-by-step guide for flawless results

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Removing wallpaper can be tedious, but our expert advice will help you tackle the task quickly and effectively

DIY

Ideas

Galley kitchen idea with white cabinets and black floor

12 galley kitchen ideas that make the most of a long, narrow cooking space

By Natasha Brinsmead, Amy Reeves last updated

Learn how to design a beautiful galley kitchen that's a joy to cook and dine in with these stylish, space-efficient ideas

Kitchen
Ikea utility room idea

How to level up your utility room for less – 5 clever ideas from IKEA

By Megan Milstead published

Upgrading your utility room doesn’t have to cost a fortune – these ideas from IKEA are affordable, stylish and make boring chores a breeze

Utility
grey bathroom with grey stone large format tiles, wall mounted wooden vanity and walk in shower

Think grey bathroom ideas are outdated? Think again. It's a more versatile colour than it seems

By Sarah Harley last updated

Although grey may seem a little on the dull side as a bathroom colour, when it's used in the right way, grey bathroom ideas are anything but boring

Bathroom
Bold kitchen with mustard yellow walls and deep green cabinetry. A glass-fronted wall cupboard displays colourful crockery and a yellow teapot.

The stylish colour tricks designers use in small kitchens

By Gabriella Dyson published

In a compact kitchen, square footage may be limited, but your colour palette doesn’t have to be

Kitchen

Buying Guides

Three of the best dehumidifiers in a living room

The 8 best dehumidifiers – combat condensation and mould, plus dry laundry quickly with our tried-and-tested favourites

By Natasha Brinsmead last updated

We've tested the best dehumidifiers from Meaco, De'Longhi and more to help eliminate condensation, prevent damp and mould, dry your laundry and even cut energy bills

Dehumidifier
Woman wearing orange headscarf holding faux wooden shelf and placing into plasterboard fixings on white wall

Ensure you choose the best plasterboard fixings to support shelves, big screen TV’s and radiators to avoid unwanted accidents

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Check out our pick of the best plasterboard fixings to help make sure that your favourite fittings don’t fail and fall

DIY
Gloved hand holding reciprocating saw cutting nails in a timber frame against a bright blue sky

The best reciprocating saws for effortless demolition, fast cuts, and impressive performance

By Hugh Metcalf last updated

The best reciprocating saws are handy tools to have for use around your next build or DIY project. Here are 5 of the best

Tools
Person holding a silver caulk gun adding grey sealant between white bath and cream tiles

Check out our top-rated best bathroom sealants, perfect for stopping leaks, preventing mould and sealing gaps

By Jack Woodfield last updated

We've rounded up the best bathroom sealants for waterproof protection, flexible sealing and smart professional-quality finishing

Bathroom
Black manual hand sander with yellow sandpaper lying top of a piece of pine wood on light wooden floor

Check out the best hand sanders for wood to help make your sanding projects easier and faster

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Investing in a budget-friendly manually-powered hand sander will bring added precision and control when sanding wood. Here are 6 of our top picks

Tools
brass toggle light switch on wall with plant and books next to it

Looking for the best light switches for your home? We've rounded up a range of options to suit all design schemes and budgets

By Natasha Brinsmead, Steve Jenkins last updated

Stop searching in the dark for the best light switches. Here's our list of choices for adding easy control, energy efficiency, and style to your interiors

Lighting