Optimise Design

Sort it: A well-functioning home is one that can adapt quickly to our ever-changing needs

Four things to consider when planning your perfect outdoor lighting scheme

Find the best route to better broadband in your home with these expert tips

Sort It: There’s little point or joy to be found in simply declaring something to be ‘good’

Atmosphere, orientation and cleaning are some points to consider

A range of grants are available for retrofitting your home. Here’s how to apply for them

Sort It: When you plan any building project, you need to know early on if you can afford it

Sort it: Man-made work surfaces have improved in looks and durability

Antique and vintage furniture just right for a market looking for sustainable buys

Sort It: If you wouldn’t replace a lost or damaged item, you should let it go

Knowing the right questions to ask before you buy new windows can help avoid stress, delays and extra costs

From work spaces to pet-friendly finishes, here are the home design trends for this year

How we light rooms can have a powerful effect on how we feel in our homes

Thoughtful makeovers will enhance your home’s value and your quality of life

Sort it: Choosing the right appliances from the outset will improve home life

Sort It: Slowing down is something we all wanted to do, but couldn’t see how to do it

Don’t feel intimidated, take your time, trust your taste and ask lots of questions

Tips on the best plants to choose for your home and how to care for them

Sort It: There are good reasons for going ahead with your home renovation plans

From preparing the room to picking the right colour for inside and outside your home

Social distancing and delivery hold-ups will delay building work on domestic extensions, pushing up costs

Sort It: A closet clear-out can seem daunting, so where is the best place to start?

Why not use the lockdown to identify what works and what needs improving?

Key considerations include consulting neighbours and felling mature trees

These appliances, from quiet machines to steam ovens, could change your life

Global warming is affecting everyone, and we all like to feel we are doing our bit to help

Budgeting for and choosing the correct fixtures and fittings can be a fraught process that requires careful planning

Go with your gut and focus on how it makes you feel, rather than how it looks

Sort it: choose complementary colours and a unifying base to ensure your rooms connect

Taking a budget of €100,000 here’s how to – realistically – divide it up to get the best result

Figure out which of the criteria you won’t compromise on, and then plan your project

Grey comes into its own as neutral shade while pink and blue are banished

Replacing an open fire with a stove can reduce energy consumption by up to 10 per cent