The Latest Breaking News from Lara Winter

I’ve stopped hiding family life in my home – and I love it more for it

From children’s artwork to inherited treasures, I’ve stopped treating the things that make our house ours as clutter

Ideal Home · Aug 26

I realised I was saving my nicest things for people who don't live here

Now I use the things I love every single day.

Ideal Home · Aug 12

I only ever finish 85% of every DIY project – and I've stopped feeling guilty about it

I've finally made peace with never quite finishing

Ideal Home · Jul 29

I used to think you could 'finish' a garden in a year or two – since then I've discovered why gardens take so long and why that’s actually the best bit

After all, a perfect garden isn't the real success

Ideal Home · May 20

5 things I always forget about my garden every single spring – from mistaking seedlings for weeds and never ever buying enough compost

I’ll probably forget all of this again next year, but maybe that’s part of the charm!

Ideal Home · May 6

Dark blue walls and big opinions – why designing my 8-year-old son’s room challenged me more than I expected

It's now a space he actually wants to spend time in

Ideal Home · Apr 22

How I make my sweet pea tents (and why you should too) – no complicated carpentry, no fancy tools, just some bamboo canes, string and a bit of patience

The best part is that it’s surprisingly easy

Ideal Home · Apr 8

Little habits that keep our home running smoothly – keeping it organised isn’t about heroic cleaning sessions or magically making everything disappear

Small efforts for big payoffs

Ideal Home · Mar 25

More is more, but make it calm – how I’m layering patterns in our dining nook and bedroom without tipping the house into visual overload

It's less about bravery and more about balance

Ideal Home · Mar 11

The 5 design features I consider completely non-negotiable – secrets behind every well-designed home that make everyday life easier and calmer

The quiet, behind-the-scenes decisions that really make or break how a house feels

Ideal Home · Feb 25