Girls’ guide to... DIY

Welcome

Now that all the festive fun is over and the

This month we love...

Make the most of January with the best things to do, see and buy this month

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Get your home organised this New Year with our top tips and buys

What to look out for THIS MONTH

▲ Drying racks can take up a lot of space

We test... personal blenders

We tried out a selection of blenders, here’s what we found

Consumer NEWS

stay on top of the latest issues and hot topics with our monthly round-up of news

Consumer news... IN FOCUS

As our gadgets become ever more intelligent, even spending money has gone hi-tech

GET MORE ACTIVE With the latest fitness gadgets

Start the new year as you mean to go on by choosing one of these clever designs to help you on your way to a more active lifestyle

Decorating

Discover our favourite buys for a clutter-free living space

TREND ALERT... denim drift

Sing the blues this year with a tonal palette…

DE-CLUTTER YOUR HOME

Start the New Year as you mean to go on, and banish messy interiors with clever storage ideas and brilliant buys that maximise every inch of your home

Savvy sale shopping

Make sure you make the most of the sales and get the best buys for your money this month

My hallway’s gone from bland to bling

Alexandra Powell’s hallway makeover has added colour and confident style to her home

Modern touches fill our period home

Space-enhancing colours and stylish touches have transformed Zoe Chrimes’ dark, dated hallway into a light, bright and welcoming reception

I created a home office in my new hallway

Simone Miller’s hallway extension freed up enough space for it to become a multi-functional room

Kitchens & BATHROOMS

Update your bathroom with chic materials

Update your bathroom with on-trend materials

Think outside the box when it comes to decorating your bathroom, considering finishes such as metallics, wood and stone to help bring your space to life

My wedge-shaped kitchen challenged all my ideas

Lisa Reiner’s new kitchen was an unusual shape

Add character with a COUNTRY-STYLE KITCHEN

Give your space a welcoming look with a touch of farmhouse-inspired style

I gave my new-build a homely makeover

Cathryn Boorman brought to life a modern, but very bland house in Taunton

We used our skills to turn around a neglected property

Elke and Izaak turned a small run-down terraced house into a fresh and bright new home

We furnished our apartment to make it look warm, colourful and cosy

Susan and Adam combined design classics with clever storage for a clean and uncluttered look to their apartment

Happy childhood memories made me save this cottage

Deirdre Dowling transformed this run down cottage into a charming, welcoming home while still preserving its character

Food & Drink

Get the New Year off to a great start with our healthy recipes

Healthy appetite

Enjoy these fresh, nutritious and filling recipes to see you through the day

Home IMPROVEMENT

Turn the page to find out all you need to know about garage conversions

Make more space by converting your garage

Why let the garage go to waste when you could transform it into useful living space? Here’s how…

CASE STUDY

‘We used part of our garage to create a second bathroom’

Property know-how with George

This month property developer, architect and presenter of Channel 4’s The Restoration Man, George Clarke, discusses challenges faced by those wanting to create a home in the countryside

Get creative with projects for a rainy day

Whether you have just a spare couple of hours or a whole weekend, try one of these DIY projects to update your home

your letters

We love to hear what you’ve been up to, so

Shopping guide

Where to buy everything in this issue

Eco news

Discover this month’s green buys and advice

MAKE IT EASY

With a new year, comes new techniques – and this

MAKE, DO & CRAFT

Bring vintage style to your bedroom with copper hues

REVAMP, REPAIR, Recycle

Keep crafty clutter at bay with this hidden storage chair

Sew simple

Create a gorgeously colourful piece of art with wool roving

Ask the EXPERTS

We answer your DIY and maintenance questions with a little help from the experts

CRAFT STASH must haves

Check out the latest crafting news, workshops and brilliant buys