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Month: September 2022

13 stylish storage solutions to get your home organised for autumn

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Switch things up for the shift in seasons, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

As the weather slowly cools, chances are your temper is hotting up when you can’t find something around the house.

A bit of organisation and knowing where things are kept can save us a world of stress. Plus, while an Indian summer may still be in swing, nature is starting to tell us it’s time to make room for richer, warmer textures and salute the change of season.

So if you’re preparing to switch out your summer bedding, stow away holiday clothes and swap out those woollens before the colder months set in – or just want to get organised now September is well underway – these smart storage solutions will help…

1. Elements Glass Kitchen Canisters, from £7; Kilner Jars, from £3.50, and Natural Belly Storage Basket (left), £12 (other items from a selection), Dunelm

An easy update for small spaces, decanting things into clear storage jars means you have everything within sight – leaving no room for waste, or making the classic mistake of doubling up on basics you already have.

2. Sherbourne Kitchen Island in Blue Slate, currently £90 (was £140), Studio

A favourite with interior designers and anyone who loves to cook and entertain, a kitchen island is a thing of beauty. With casters for easy movement, this one has two drawers for knives or spices, a double cupboard for tableware, hooks for hanging utensils and a side mounted towel rail. Genius.

3. Green Wire Storage Baskets – Set of 2, £20, Sass & Belle

With a lovely rustic feel and peaceful botanical shade, these baskets will tie in beautifully with country cottage décor. Think jam jars, olive oil and anything you fancy foraging for.

4. Lego Storage Brick 8 – Sand Green, currently £32 (was £35), Fy!

Love Lego? Building bricks with the added bonus of storage, ideal for stashing away anything from techy stuff to pencils and crayons.

5. Set of Drawer Organiser Dividers, currently £6.50 (was £8), A Place For Everything

Everyone has a messy drawer. But if it’s getting out of hand, there’s nothing more frustrating than rummaging around and coming up short. This dinky divider can be cut to length to fit any drawer, keeping everything just so.

6. Omnioutil Storage Bucket with Lid – Apricot, from £21-£38, Fy!

A bucket may not scream storage, but this playful pale could be used to hold the kids’ toys, household tools, knitting kit, and even double up as a mini side table (and when the time comes, how perfect would it be for Halloween treats?).

7. Raw Scaffold Shelf – Small, from £60, Garden Trading

Ideal for open storage and curating those succulents or garden tools, this industrial style shelf with galvanised wall brackets, looks bang up to date.

8. Marlborough Cabinet – Ink, Steel, £250, Garden Trading

This trendy steel cabinet will hold all your curios and could also double up as an extension of your home work station, with three shelves for files, books and stationery pots, etc.

9. Midi Folding Crate in Salmon, £10.50, Daisy Park

Available in a range of bright hues, this cute storage crate folds flat when not in use and can be used for practically anything – from your blow-dryer and beauty bits, to cleaning products and knick-knacks.

10. Minstrel Large Storage Ottoman in Mustard, £140, Studio

Decorative and stylish, this retro-style padded bench is perfect for holding blankets, cushions and knitted throws before swapping out cottons and linens.

11. The Edited Life Ash Wood Clothes Rail with Storage Shelf, £79, Dunelm

When you’re after a dedicated space to keep your business attire, coats or school-run stuff, a clothes rail can be a lifesaver. Keeping everything tidy, within sight and easy reach.

12. Grey SmartStore Basket – Medium – Base and Lid, £15, A Place For Everything

Easy to store and stack, this 10-litre storage basket is made from recycled materials, with a bamboo lid to keep items dust-free. The neutral colour way will blend beautifully into any space.

13. SmartStore by Orthex Classic Plastic Storage Boxes, starting from £7.50 each, John Lewis

Safe, functional, food-friendly and built to last, these compact storage boxes come with clip closures and secure lids. They can be configured in any combination and are suitable for most types of storage.

How to give your wellbeing a refresh this autumn

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A shift in seasons signals all sorts of swaps, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

Much as we love the blue skies, beach vibes and long, lazy days of summer, there’s something about the first signs of autumn that stirs the senses.

Whether it’s the chill in the air as you step into the low autumn sun, the first stroke of a woolly jumper, or that back-to-school, slightly nervy, excited feeling – it’s time to press the refresh button and show yourself a little self-love.

Indeed, Marisa Peer, therapist, relationship expert and bestselling author, says more people are starting to think of September as a better time to make resolutions than New Year.

“The summer holidays are over and it’s the beginning of the new academic year – think back to the reboot this offered you as a child – new uniform and shoes, new pencil case and stationery, plus a move into another year group or different school completely.

“The perfect time to start over and reinvent yourself,” says Peer.

From finding purpose to taking a holistic approach, experts share their top tips for making the most of the transition…

Set some goals

“As the days get shorter, people find they have more time on their hands as everyone retreats indoors,” notes Peer. “Instead of binge-watching the latest Netflix series or giving in to snacking temptations, use it as a springboard to reset your mental and physical wellbeing.”

Begin by writing down and reassessing any goals you set for yourself at the start of the year, she suggests. Ask yourself what worked and what didn’t.

“Think about the reasons behind not achieving these – perhaps you were over-ambitious and gave yourself too many? This can feel overwhelming and set you up for failure from the start. Or perhaps you couldn’t muster up the willpower to see it through.”

Peer suggests writing these blockers down and, against each one, think of a solution to them. Then choose one or two goals that seem the most attainable and focus on those.

Even think about making a vision board, using pictures to reflect your goals.

“Not only will this help keep you going, but it can represent the start of a commitment to journaling, which is recognised as having a positive impact on mental wellbeing,” she continues. “Vision boards are very motivating and help you work towards and manifest your goals.

Enjoy a healthy relationship with food

Peer points out lots of us try to lose weight for our holidays – but once summer’s over and we can hide behind oversized jumpers, it’s tempting to revert to comfort eating.

“One of the biggest reasons diets fail is that our motivation is about what we look like, rather than what we feel like,” she observes.

“Vegetarians don’t have a high failure rate, as the motivation to be vegetarian is rarely to do with physical appearance.

“Focus on health, vitality and energy, then it becomes who you are – and not what you do,” says Peer. “Now is the time to make healthy eating a consistent part of your life, rather than considering it something you do just to lose weight. This approach will boost both your mental and physical wellbeing.”

Re-evaluate friendships

When it comes to decluttering, we usually think about this in relation to our homes or wardrobes, says Peer, but she thinks a friendship declutter is something worth considering – even if it sounds a little harsh.

“If you find yourself involved with toxic people or those you’ve outgrown, you’re not doing your wellbeing any favours by feeling obligated to them.”

“It’s a mistake to gauge our self-worth and popularity by the number of friends we have – friendship is all about quality and not quantity,” says Peer.

She says friends should be people who respect our boundaries, don’t take offence easily if we turn down an invite and who we trust with our secrets.

“We look forward to spending time with them, but it doesn’t feel like a duty. The litmus test is to ask whether we enjoy a friend’s company or whether we feel drained of energy after spending time with them – nothing influences you like the company you keep.”

She continues: “And it’s OK to grow apart from people. Now is a good time to rethink your friendship groups. It’s also a good time to make new friends, as many evening classes or local groups start up in September after a summer break.”

Walk in nature and learn from its changes

Mariel Witmond, yoga instructor and founder of wellbeing platform Mindful Sonder, advises we all head outside this autumn.

“By walking around the changing trees, we can learn to stand firmly grounded, unphased by our falling leaves, as unobstructed views give us a renewed perspective on things we may have previously missed, or forgotten.

“When we learn to get in tune with nature, we can start to move more freely through the inevitable changes both life and each season brings,” suggests Witmond. “Autumn is a season of transformation; a time of letting go, surrender.”

She says surrender is what happens when we let go of the notion we ‘should’ be able to manage and control our situation. It happens when we release the belief that things should be different to how they are.

“We let go of our thoughts of the future and allow ourselves to be fully rooted in the present moment,” says Witmond. “To many, surrender is a sign of vulnerability, when in fact it takes a lot of strength and courage for us to truly surrender, and this doesn’t mean giving up.”

Quite the contrary. She says surrender teaches us to be present, to process, to allow what we cannot control, or change, to be – and through this, we regain our power, propelling us to action.

“Be with nature to embrace the vulnerability of the season,” encourages Witmond.

Find your inner rhythm

Meanwhile, Sophie Kerr of Soulful Living, a holistic wellbeing practitioner, says the seasons have a beautiful way of mirroring our own lives.

A subtle reminder the only constant is change – and how nature teaches us all we need to know to find our rhythm and flow.

“In the same way animals and plants use their own biological clocks to know when to hibernate, us humans have circadian rhythms.

“By working in harmony with the sleep-wake cycle, our sleep improves, increasing mental wellbeing and energy levels, as well as improving our immune system.”

Kerr says to boost your circadian rhythm and get a restful and restorative sleep (aim for seven to nine hours per night), it’s important to get plenty of natural daylight, which will also give your vitamin D a boost.

“Get up at the same time every day,” she suggests. “Exercise – outside if possible. Avoid caffeine after noon. Switch off from tech in the evening. Eat at regular mealtimes and limit food or alcohol before bed.”

12 ways to give your home workspace a style boost for autumn

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Because everyone loves a fancy desk, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

We’ve all got that back-to-school feeling right now. But what’s the secret to being productive and creative, when you’re just not quite in the groove?

Keeping your concentration and motivation up can be a challenge – as can ensuring work doesn’t spill over into the rest of your home life – so we’ve come to understand the importance of being organised when you’re from home working. And why not do so in style?

For a fast-track home office upgrade, check out these top finds…

1. Otto Brass Desk, £599 (other items from a selection), My Furniture

A mainstay of working remotely is your desk – and when you want to be up to the minute in elegant surroundings, a brass and glass desk marries minimalism with function. This one has a reversible design so the open shelving can sit on the right or left, and the clean, contemporary lines will welcome a few little luxuries on display.

2. Stationery Lover’s Gift Box, £42, Cambridge Imprint

Whether you’re looking to gift yourself or a fresher heading off to uni, this eye-catching box file with memo books, labels, notecards and envelopes has stationery lover written all over it.

3. Phone Home Phone Stand in Green by MAKERMARK, £14, MADE.com

A useful tool, especially if you need to talk and type at the same time, this Scandi-style phone stand deserves a place on your desk – and will blend in beautifully with your plant life.

4. Camber Desk White and Oak, £425, MADE.com

There’s something very aesthetically-pleasing about a white desk with a curvaceous top and angled wooden legs. A spindle chair will feel right at home for video calls, while a glamorous boucle office chair in ivory white would make you look and feel your best. With a central drawer for tucking away your notebook, pens and other knick-knacks.

5. Suck UK Double Sharpener Desk Tidy, £25, Red Candy

When you need to stay sharp and store your pens in one place, this fun desk tidy is right on point.

6. Curly Sheepskin Seat Pad – Pearl, £45 (rest of items from a selection), The White Company

The height of luxury, chances are you’ll want to rethink your seating when you set eyes on this sumptuous sheepskin seat pad. We do!

7. Pegboard – Medium in Pink, £45, Block Design

A visual powerhouse, peg boards are one of the best tools for keeping on top of things. Thing one can be hung landscape or portrait and customised to suit your needs and inspire creativity. Available in a range of funky colours.

8. Murphy Console Table in Black, £449.99 (other items from a selection), My Furniture

With a satin black finish and scoop edge detail, this chic console table is supported by steel legs, with a drawer either side and brass metal work. A fusion of function and fabulousness, team with a glitzy filing tray and fresh greenery to power-up your workstation.

9. Dachshund Dog Bookends, £17, Red Candy

When you want to bring some humour to the scene, these playful bookends will keep all your reading material on a tight leash.

10. George Kind Life Office Collection: Gold-Effect Desk Tidy Box with Wire Shelf, £12; Artificial Succulent in Textured Cement Pot – Set of 2, £8, and Gold-Effect Storage Desk Lamp, £20 (other items from a selection), Direct.asda

This budget-friendly office collection is the perfect answer to styling and organising your home workspace without being spendy.

11. Botanical Bee Stationery Collection: Notepad, £5.99; Weekly Planner, £9.99, and Journal, £11.99, Lola Design

Busy bees need all the help they can get with a hectic schedule – and this stationery set is as sweet as honey.

12. Pastel Deboss Pack Away Desk, £20, Paperchase

Box clever with this pretty pastel box file, featuring five storage compartments for holding all your bits and bobs.

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