FIND A SMART SOLUTION Gadgets and buys to make life easier

Find a smart SOLUTION

Genius ways to make everyday cooking, cleaning and organising both easier and greener…

A space-saving headboard for neat dreams What’s not to love about the new Jakob bed from Argos? This contemporary, Nordic-style upholstered bed frame comes in a choice of double or kingsize, while the soft, padded headboard opens up to reveal super-handy shelving for books, bedside must-haves and even extra bedding – perfect if your bedroom is a bit on the poky side. Jakob Skandi storage bed frame, £359 for a double, Argos

Addis Pick Your Own Veg bags, £3.99 for three, Sainsbury’s

3 of the best COUNTERTOP DUOS Complete your kitchen with a co-ordinated set

DITCH SINGLE-USE SUPERMARKET PLASTIC Exclusive to Sainsbury’s, here’s a brilliant alternative to those thin, easily ripped, single-use bags you get in the supermarket for fruit and veg. Made by Addis, they come in a colour-coded pack of three.

WHITE GOODS Breville New York 1.7ltr kettle, £89.99; New York four-slice toaster, £84, both Amazon

BLUSH BEAUTY Vintage Rose 1.7ltr traditional kettle, £65; Vintage Rose four-slice toaster, £80, both Cuisinart

SCANDI NOIR Salter Skandi 1.7ltr kettle, £34.99; Skandi two-slice toaster, £29.99, both Robert Dyas

TIME AT HOME

Do it

Choose everlasting candles

Tired of buying candles that burn too quickly, or just need a safer alternative? Developed in-house by the Lights4Fun design team, TruGlow combines a batterypowered LED flickering candle light with an ivory wax outer shell, to make it look authentic. Unlike the real thing, this candle ‘burns’ for around 200 hours, before you need to replace the batteries. Available in a whole host of shapes and sizes, from taper candles and votives to tea lights and pillar candles. Genius. TruGlow pillar candle, £12.99, Lights4Fun

STOP PAN FIRES IN A FLASH Firexo sachets are a neat alternative to a fiddly fire blanket. Simply throw a sachet on top of the fire –the packaging then burns away to release the firequenching fluid within. Panic over. Firexo sachet, £9.99 each, Maplin

MAGCHALK (£144 A ROLL, MAGSCAPES.COM) IS MAGNETIC WALLPAPER THAT YOU CAN DRAW ON WITH CHALK, MAKING IT AN INSTANT NOTICEBOARD

HANDSFREE TV If your remote control always goes astray, it may be worth adding a Fire TV Cube to your entertainment system. Thanks to built-in Alexa, it allows you to watch TV, stream your fave movie or box set and even adjust the volume, just by asking. Fire TV Cube, £109.99, Amazon

CHOOSE REUSABLE,

REFILLABLE BOTTLES If you’re sick of plastic waste, consider swapping regular toiletries like shampoo and conditioner for bulk sizes that you can refill. Big Green Smile sells 5ltr of shampoo, conditioner and more, from £50, while Wearth London (above) sells a host of refillable bottles made from glass or PET plastic, with or without labels, from just £4 each.

3 of the best SUPER-HANDY MIRROR SHELVES Hang a clever multitasker

HANG OUT Helpful hooks are perfect to store jewellery. Mirror shelf with hooks, £19.99, Sue Ryder

FACE ON Pop everyday make up on this beauty, ready to apply. Hildia Gold mirror with shelf, £95, Rose & Grey

INDUSTRIAL STYLE This sturdy number would work well in a cloakroom. Black wall mirror with shelf, £38.95, Melody Maison

Give your puss or pooch the

cosiest bed Want to keep the cat off the sofa or your dog off your favourite armchair? Then check out Silentnight’s new Airmax pet bed. Machine washable, it comes in three sizes to suit all four-legged friends, and it features a cosy fleece lining, so they’re bound to want to curl up in it. Silentnight Airmax pet bed, from £28, QVCUK.com

Do it

TIME AT HOME

The 10-minute DECLUTTER

Get the place tidy in a flash with these speedy tips and handy buys

DESK TIDY Squeeze a neat home office spot into the smallest of spaces. Copenhagen standing desk, £150, Argos

TOP POT Keep your must-have utensils close to hand. Portland pot in White powder-coated steel and bamboo, £10, Garden Trading

SMART SHELF The ideal place for shop-bought herb pots, most-used condiments… and all the rest. Cook House utensils rail shelf, £65, Nest

Ready, steady, sort!

REORGANISE THE LOFT Now that the weather’s milder, it’s the perfect time to head up to the attic and clear out anything you don’t need.

GATHER UP THE SHOE PILE If your kids kick off their shoes the second they arrive indoors, introduce a storage bench or a few baskets.

CLEAR THE GARDEN Winter is bound to have taken its toll on your garden or patio, so clear away any dead leaves and debris.

FLASH STASH This soft trunk boasts oodles of space for extra bedding. Ponting fabric under-bed storage trunk in Mint, £15, Made

IN THAT CASE Squirrel away all your bits and bobs in these slick steel helpers. Cream storage trunks, £69.99 for two, Beautify

OPEN WIDE Need a wardrobe for your spare room? This version adds storage without overcrowding. Lynton open wardrobe, £129, Dunelm FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI