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A pinnacle of Christmas decor ideas, the stocking is arguably one of the most iconic decorations for any family – big and small. Whether you are looking to put together some traditional Christmas mantel decor ideas, or are hoping for some festive Christmas wall decor advice, hanging stockings can be a difficult task – especially if you don’t want to use something as permanent as nails. Here, we offer some expert home stylist tips on how to hang stockings....

Standing at around 78 inches (200cm) tall when mature, you can grow rosemary as a fantastically dense and aromatic hedge. The mass of tightly packed waxy green leaves also makes it ideal for clipping, so you can benefit not only from creating a striking year-round feature in your backyard but a crop of deliciously fragrant leaves too. Use these not only in cooking – they are delicious added to bread – but also add a sweet smoky note to your barbeque, pizza oven or log fire....

When it comes to hosting the perfect cocktail party there are lots to consider, from your room layout, furnishings, home bar ideas, and lighting, right down to small details like the glassware and garnishes, not to mention food and drink. To help get you inspired we’ve served up an array of cocktail party ideas and must-have pieces, alongside some handy tips from interior experts on creating the perfect setting for entertaining....

The insect is a rival of all summer garden ideas – and will devour almost anything with leaves – starting at the top of your plants and working their way down. And, as pest experts note, they are particularly notorious around flower bed areas and wounded fruit. However, treating this pesky creature doesn’t need to be hard. Here’s how to kill Japanese beetles – to preserve your garden throughout their favorite season....

Our advice? Choose a warm base color for your wreath, like the one above, then use it to make a fall wreath, then add to and update it to make Thanksgiving wreath ideas, or use it to make a Christmas wreath… and so on into spring. How to make a mesh wreath There are a few basic ingredients you will need to make this mesh wreath. We have suggested where to buy some of them....

All plants need nourishment to thrive. They take some of this from the soil so knowing the make up of your soil (acidic, neutral or alkaline) is crucial to understanding which plants will grow well. If plants fail to thrive and their leaves turn yellow you may need to make a soil amendment to supplement their need for acid. It might sound technical but cracking soil health is pretty straightforward once you know the basics....

Since it’s likely to be one of the first things you do when preparing to paint a room, make sure you know how to open a paint can properly. And of course, there’s more than one way to tackle the task. Here, our experts advise. How to open a paint can Before you open the tin, ensure you have placed it on a flat surface with dust sheets and protectors around....

Buddleia, also known as butterfly bush, makes an appearance in many backyards as a fast growing shrub, and its pretty, conical shaped blooms are a magnet for bees and butterflies. With flowers in colors ranging from pink and white to lavender and deep purple, produced in summer through to fall, buddleias make a lovely addition to flower bed ideas. Follow these tips to keep on top of the pruning, and guarantee your shrub puts on its best floral show....

Though one of the most treasured entryway floor ideas in older houses, tiled floors were also seen in other rooms, such as kitchens. Original designs are both practical and attractive. Victorian hallway tiles can be particularly decorative – so if you are lucky enough to have a floor dating from this era, it is well worth preserving. Created to imitate the floors found in medieval ecclesiastical buildings, the floors were often formed using plain geometric tiles of varying shapes, sizes and colors, mixed with patterned encaustic tiles decorated with inlaid colored clays....

But to make the most of what’s often called a root but is in fact a rhizome or subterranean stem, it’s essential to know how to store it for maximum life whether you have learned how to grow ginger and are harvesting your own crop, or buying it in a store, and this is the lowdown on how to store ginger. How to store ginger Only a small amount of ginger is needed for seasoning, so you’re likely to have some left over....

Refreshing and grouting tile around the bathtub is an easy way to revamp your bathing space, without the cost of new sanitaryware or rerouting plumbing, and the latest bathroom tile ideas are seriously eye-catching and will demonstrate just what can be achieved with a little time and effort. ‘It’s often not a huge area, so you can afford to be creative with interesting tile layouts and bold designs,’ says Martin Winterburn, manager at Total Tiles (opens in new tab)....

Given that cashmere is the material of choice for the best throw blankets and the most comfortable clothes, learning how to wash this fabric is essential. Much like how to wash a woolen blanket, washing cashmere involves a gentle hand and plenty of patience to clean properly and maintain its fluffiness and characteristic softness. Here, experts at international cashmere specialists House of Bruar (opens in new tab) have explained how to wash cashmere at home without ruining its delicate fibers....

Bar stools are a favorite choice, but as kitchen island ideas might include table-level areas, too, dining chairs and banquettes are also chic possibilities. The proportions as well as the configuration of the island will determine which seating works best – and which complements your kitchen ideas in terms of style, materials, and finish, and we’ve collected kitchen island ideas with seating to inspire you. Kitchen island seating ideas From fitted kitchen island seating to dining options and simple bar stool arrangements, these are the best ways to take the weight off....

Yet landings offer plenty of potential for hallway ideas and decor that makes them stylish and individual rather than bland areas you merely pass through. They can be elegant, individual, and even useful, too. Here, we bring you stair landing ideas and expert advice to inspire whatever the proportions of yours. Landing ideas The walls and floor offer the opportunity to transform a landing into a space with presence, while the right furniture can turn it into a peaceful spot for reading or relaxing....

If you have, or have ever had, a long, narrow garden, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of finding small garden ideas that make it look wider than it actually is, while desperately trying to ensure every corner looks pretty yet functional. You’ve probably spent hours rearranging garden furniture and trimming back hedges in a frenzied attempt to make your narrow garden space look more square, but in the back of your mind you know that, unless you move house, there’s just little you can do....

Due to their size, they’re usually positioned elsewhere in the home, such as the garage or utility room, so when it comes to organizing a kitchen, it’s not surprising they often get forgotten about. However, including organizing a chest freezer in your list of to-dos is essential. A well-ordered cooking zone is not much good without an equally well-ordered food storage system in place… the two go hand in hand....

In most cases, organizing a bathroom of any size is also likely to involve the careful selection of the products and essentials that are best put on display and made easiest to access, and those that should be kept concealed. Systems that ensure replacement products are always to hand are also vital. Below, we’re sharing the best ways to organize a small bathroom so it’s functional and easy to use for bathing, and preparing for the day and at its end, and maintains a calm atmosphere and a stylish look....

Raised beds or planters can be permanent yet beautiful garden ideas for perennial plants, fruit and vegetables to settle in and mature. What’s more, a raised bed growing system brings many benefits to the garden. You can use them to grow your favorite flowering plants – but they are particularly useful when it comes to growing fruit and vegetable. After initial set up, a raised bed should reduce your workload....

Lighting can make or break a scheme, and as stylists and interior designers will often explain, there’s no space where it matters more than in multi-tasking, small living rooms. The key when you’re looking for living room lighting ideas for more compact spaces is to introduce multiple layers that integrate both ambient, decorative and task lighting seamlessly. Below, we explain how, with expert input, you can transform your small living room ideas, and give you plenty of visual inspiration, too....

U-shaped kitchens don’t have to be restricted to three walls either and the kitchen layout ideas can be adapted if there’s space for an island unit or breakfast bar at one end of a run of units. Whether you have an open-plan layout or a separate room, U-shaped kitchens work well in every size and style of room. ‘As its name suggests, a U-shaped kitchen features cabinetry on three adjoining walls to create a U-shape,’ says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio (opens in new tab)....