Creating a comfortable home becomes even more important as we get older, and small upgrades can make daily life easier, safer, and more enjoyable without requiring a full renovation or a large budget. And you never know when you’re going to need to make adaptations to your living space.

Many people are surprised by how much difference a few simple changes can make. Below are practical, budget-friendly ways to improve your home while keeping it welcoming and easy to navigate.

Improve the lighting

Good lighting is one of the easiest ways to make a home feel safer and more comfortable. Dim corners or dark hallways can increase the risk of bumps or missteps. Brightening these areas doesn’t have to be expensive.

Consider the following:

• Swap old bulbs for brighter, energy-efficient LEDs
• Add stick-on motion lights under cabinets or along hallways
• Use touch-on bedside lamps for easier nighttime use

Even a few changes can make the whole home feel clearer and more inviting.

Refresh the spaces you use most

A home can feel completely different with a few low-cost updates. These changes focus on comfort and practicality rather than major renovations.

Try ideas such as:

• Replacing tired cushions, throws, or curtains
• Adding indoor plants for a fresh, calming feel
• Rearranging furniture to create clearer walking paths
• Choosing chairs with proper back support

Comfort becomes a priority in later life, and these small touches can make living areas easier to enjoy every day.

Make moving around the home easier

Mobility changes over time, and most adults prefer to adapt their home rather than move. You don’t always need major building work to make stairs or doorways easier to manage. Simple solutions like decluttering walkways or adding a second handrail on the stairs can help.

For homes with more than one floor, some people choose affordable reconditioned stairlifts, which offer support without the high cost of a brand-new model. This can make upper floors accessible again while keeping the upgrade within a sensible budget.

Update the bathroom for safety and comfort

Bathrooms can become harder to use as we age, but small adjustments can make a big difference. A complete remodel isn’t always necessary.

Here are some cost-friendly upgrades:

• Add a non-slip mat inside and outside the bath or shower
• Install a grab bar near the toilet or shower
• Fit a raised toilet seat for easier sitting and standing
• Replace old taps with lever-style handles

These updates support independence without changing the overall design of the room.

Upgrade your storage

A tidy home is easier to move around and maintain, and better organisation can prevent items from becoming tripping hazards or difficult to reach. Storage solutions don’t need to be expensive.

Consider:

• Simple pull-out baskets inside kitchen cabinets
• Over-the-door organisers for shoes or cleaning items
• Clear containers with labels for easy access
• Shelving at comfortable heights to avoid bending or stretching

These changes make everyday tasks smoother and reduce physical strain.

Have a big focus on comfort underfoot

Flooring affects safety and comfort more than most people realise, and if replacing floors isn’t in the budget, there are still ways to improve comfort.

Options include:

• Adding non-slip backing to rugs
• Using cushioned mats in areas where you stand often, like the kitchen
• Securing loose edges on carpets to prevent trips

These upgrades create a safer environment without major expense.

Choosing the right upgrades for you

Upgrading your home later in life doesn’t need to mean costly renovations. Small adjustments can improve comfort, safety, and independence while still keeping your space familiar and personal.

Whether it’s better lighting, simple bathroom changes, or improving mobility around the house, affordable upgrades can make daily life easier and more enjoyable.

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It has the ability to transform spaces, evoke emotions, and reflect personal narratives. In the area of home decor, art serves as a powerful tool to refresh and redefine living spaces. Whether it’s an abstract painting, a vibrant photograph, or a minimalist print, the impact of art on your home decor cannot be underestimated. It can inject life into otherwise mundane settings.

In recent years, the trend of incorporating art into home decor has gained significant momentum. This shift is not merely about aesthetics, it’s about creating environments that resonate with personal style and current trends. Trendy Art Prints from Desenio offer a diverse array of options for homeowners looking to infuse contemporary flair into their spaces. These trendy art prints provide a resource for discovering fashionable pieces that align with individual tastes and the latest design trends.

Art’s transformative power lies in its ability to alter perceptions of space. A well-chosen piece can make a room feel larger, cozier, or more dynamic. It can serve as a focal point, drawing attention and sparking conversation. But perhaps most importantly, art allows homeowners to express their unique identities, making their homes a true reflection of who they are. As you consider refreshing your home decor, ponder this: what story do you want your space to tell?

Read more: would you know how to trace your family tree?

Understanding your space and style

Before delving into the world of art, it’s crucial to understand the dimensions and style of your living space. In the UK, for instance, the average home size is around 85 square meters, with terraced houses being particularly prevalent. These spatial constraints often dictate the type of art that can be accommodated.

Choosing art that complements your existing decor involves a delicate balance. It’s about finding pieces that enhance rather than overwhelm. For smaller spaces, opting for lighter, more subdued artworks can create an illusion of openness. Conversely, larger spaces can handle bold, statement pieces that command attention.

Your personal style is equally important in this equation. Are you drawn to modern, abstract designs, or do you prefer classic, timeless pieces? Understanding your preferences will guide you in selecting art that feels authentic to you. Ultimately, the art you choose should harmonize with your home’s architecture and furnishings, creating a cohesive and inviting atmosphere.

Incorporating trends and personal expression

Trends in home decor are constantly evolving, and the use of art is no exception. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly art options. This shift reflects a broader societal awareness of environmental issues and a desire to make conscious choices in all aspects of life.

Sustainable art can take many forms, from pieces made with recycled materials to those that support local artists and communities. Incorporating these trends into your home decor not only aligns with global movements but also allows for personal expression. Art is a medium through which individuals can convey their values and beliefs.

Personal expression through art is about more than just following trends. It’s about selecting pieces that resonate on a deeper level, that evoke memories or inspire future aspirations. Whether it’s a family portrait, a landscape from a favorite travel destination, or an abstract piece that speaks to your soul, art is a personal journey. It’s a way to tell your story without uttering a single word.

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In recent years, the concept of home has evolved beyond a mere living space to a personal sanctuary. Home is a place where individuality and style converge. Art prints and posters have emerged as powerful tools in this transformation. They offer a versatile and accessible means to refresh interiors. As the demand for personalized spaces grows, many are turning to art to express their unique tastes and breathe new life into their homes.

The trend of incorporating art into living spaces is not just about aesthetics. It’s about creating an environment that resonates with one’s identity. Posters & art prints from Posterstore, for example, provide a diverse range of options that cater to various styles and preferences. Whether it’s a minimalist black-and-white photograph or a vibrant abstract painting, the right piece can dramatically alter the ambiance of a room.

Art’s ability to transform a space goes beyond mere decoration. It can set the mood, inspire conversation, and even evoke emotions. Picture a serene landscape painting in a living room, offering a sense of tranquility after a long day. Or a bold, colorful abstract piece in a dining area, sparking energy and creativity. The possibilities are endless, and the impact is profound. Could a simple piece of art be the key to unlocking a home’s potential?

Read more: winter fashion, woodland magic

The art of personalisation

Selecting art is a deeply personal endeavor. It reflects not only individual tastes but also current trends and cultural influences. The process of choosing the right piece involves more than just aesthetic appeal. It’s about finding art that speaks to the soul. This personal connection is what transforms a house into a home—a sanctuary where one can truly relax and be themselves.

Statistics show that over 80% of UK adults view their home as a sanctuary, highlighting the importance of creating a space that aligns with personal values and preferences. Art plays a crucial role in this transformation. It allows homeowners to showcase their personality and interests, making their living space a reflection of who they are.

Moreover, art can be a dynamic element in home decor, evolving with changing tastes and trends. As styles shift, so too can the art that adorns the walls. This flexibility ensures that a home remains a true representation of its inhabitants, adapting to their journey and growth over time.

Market trends in home decor with home prints

The UK home decor market has seen significant growth, with a valuation of £17 billion in 2023. This surge is driven by several factors. This includes the rise of online sales, and an increasing demand for sustainable and ethically made products. As consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact, they seek decor items that align with their values.

These trends have a direct influence on art selection. Many consumers are now looking for art that not only complements their style but also reflects their commitment to sustainability. This has led to a rise in demand for art prints and posters made from eco-friendly materials and produced through ethical practices.

Online platforms have made it easier than ever to access a wide variety of art options, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. This accessibility has democratized art, allowing more people to engage with it and incorporate it into their homes. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends shape the future of home decor.

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Have you ever dreamed of making your home life easier whilst adding a touch of luxury? Then you’re in luck. We’ve rounded up some of the best appliances to make your home life easier while transforming your living space with style.

Family life

Enabot EBO X home robot companion

With a built-in Alexa, V-SLAM navigation and a 4K stabilized camera, this advanced homebot uses powerful hardware and software to make your home life easier.

The EBO X is an all-around smart home device that serves as your home guardian providing agil alerts such as elderly fall alerts, health alerts and home security. Moreover, it can be a great companion and playmate, with diverse home entertainment and flexible remote communication.

Protect the kids or grandkids against the vaping crisis with vape detectors.

Dangbei DBOX02: World’s First Google TV 4K Laser Projector with Licensed Netflix

Are you craving a cinematic experience that you can experience in the comfort of your home? The Dangbei DBOX02 can give you that experience by offering a revolutionary upgrade to home entertainment, surpassing traditional TVs.

Being the world’s first Google TV 4K laser projector with licensed Netflix, this product will deliver cinema-grade 4K picture quality and vibrant images even in brightly lit rooms. Enjoy endless entertainment with customisable screen sizes from 60″ to 200″, ensuring an immersive experience with family and friends at home.

Dangbei N2 and Stand Bundle: Ceiling Cinema for Netflix

If you are looking for a cosy Netflix night, then the N2 projector gimbal stand bundle is the ideal choice. Priced under £500 during Amazon Prime Day, this projector offers 1080p clarity with built-in Netflix and a remote-control shortcut. A versatile gimbal stand allows you to tilt the projector up to 210 degrees, projecting on your walls and ceiling.

Kitchen life

Laura Ashley China Rose Hand Mixer

With an elegant china rose design, the Laura Ashley Hand Mixer will help you whisk away any culinary challenges. With its powerful 300-watt motor, 5-speed settings, and lightweight design, this hand mixer ensures you can whisk with ease.

Proscenic T31 Air Fryer Oven

If you have been on the search for an advanced air fryer for your home kitchen, then look no further. This air fryer features 360-degree air circulation for even heating, resulting in tender, crispy food.

Using the Proscenic app, you can easily control the air fryer’s preheating and insulation settings in up to three steps. The app provides online recipes and allows you to share your original recipes with other Proscenic users.

Laura Ashley Stove Top Kettle
With a vintage style, this eclectic kettle allows 1,7 litres and allows you to make up to seven cups of your favourite beverage. The kettle features a thermometer, allowing you to get your perfect brew.

Each kettle, available in navy and white prints, is meticulously hand-decorated and finished with a high-grade gloss UV coating, ensuring the prints remain every day.

Cleaning life

Proscenic P11 Mopping Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Mopping has never been easier with this detachable mopping base, allowing you to easily switch between vacuuming and mopping. With a 340ml water tank and a 270-degree swivel steering, it will help you mop efficiently, leaving your floor pristine.

This mop is equipped with a lightweight design and touch panel monitoring battery levels, three cleaning, modes and error messages.

Proscenic X1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

If you are looking for a modern home environment, this simple and effective cleaning robot is a great choice. With a strong suction of 3000pa, this PathPro laser-assistant navigation and sonic mopping system with a 2.5-litre dustbag that requires 30 days to empty, will provide you with an advanced cleaning experience, making cleaning floors easier.

Proscenic M9 Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop and 2.5L Self-Emptying Station

This is an all-in-one cleaning robot that sweeps, suctions, mops and auto empties after vacuuming. With an ultra-slim design and larger battery life, this is a great way to make your home life easier.

Sound and audio life

VQ Monty DAB Radio with Bluetooth

If you want to listen to tunes while, being busy in the kitchen, sunbathing in your garden or in the shower, then this portable radio is an investment.

With its portable build and retro aesthetic, you will be able to carry this radio around the house with you with 60 radio pre-sets. If radio is not for you, then you can listen to your favourite music, podcasts and audiobooks by connecting to Bluetooth using your smartphone or device.

JLab Go Air Pop Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth, True Wireless Earbuds with USB Charging Case

These wireless earbuds are perfect for when you need to do home exercises or listen to your favourite tunes when cleaning, or gardening. Providing you with 32-plus hours of playtime.

Elena Harris

Elena is one of Silver’s interns. She has a love for illustrating, reading, and all things media-related. She is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur who spends her free time in coffee shops sketching and journalling.

The post Live a more luxurious life with pioneering home tech appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The sooner you spruce up your kitchen, the sooner you can enjoy cooking in it again. The sooner you address your lounge, the sooner you can host with pride. But an often-overlooked part of the house is technically not part of it at all: the outside. Addressing your garden can feel a step too far, and especially so in the wintertime. However, the sooner you design your ideal outdoors, the sooner you can avail of the spring and summer weather alone or with friends. How should you approach this project, though? Here’s how to design the outdoors of your property.

Add a Patio

One of the better ways you can engage with your outdoor space is to make it more useful as well as more aesthetically pleasing – that is, to install a patio. Patio spaces are at once great vessels for design and aesthetic expression, and useful areas for social engagement and quiet reflection.

The patio can itself reflect your own aesthetic leanings, too, dependent on how you choose to construct it. A paving-stone patio can effect a modern but natural feel while keeping your patio relatively easy to clean, where old-school flagstones can make for a much more rustic feel.

Diversify Materials

Speaking of materials, diversifying the materials you use across your garden can have a powerful impact on its overall design. For example, you could contrast the sleek and isometric design of a paving-stone patio with more rustic wooden-sleeper flowerbeds along and down your garden.

Pathways could use cobblestone, to match the colours of existing patios or side-paths, and metal planters could set off against them for added texture. Even gravel or pea-shingle can be used to great effect, where gravel areas can be contrasted with metal arches, themselves home to climbing or hanging plants.

Read more: cosy winter interior design ideas

Decking

Of course, a patio is not the only option available to you when it comes to creating social spaces outdoors. Indeed, patio spaces can be difficult to arrange when space is at a premium, let alone the state of your landscaping budget. In these situations, decking may be an accessible and sustainable alternative.

Decking can be made multi-level, allowing you to step your garden up to meet a raised back door. Or, even create a raised social space above your garden, functionally increasing the amount of room available to you and your guests. Decking can be just as easy to maintain as a patio, and can be used for just as many things.

Planters

We’ve already touched on planters, with regard to materials and the creation of textural contrast in your garden’s design. But some more nuanced thinking about the type and placement of your flowerbeds and planters can bring your garden to life for relatively little cost. Wildflower beds marked out with stone can create a wonderland feel at the foot of your garden. While built-up sleeper beds can hold crops and make them much easier to harvest.

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The post Landscaping and garden design – how to design the outdoors of your property appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Switch out the dull dark colours from your wardrobe and throw in a collection of hot pink pieces. Or spice up your home décor to give it a summery, fun feel. Whatever you’re trying to achieve, this list of fab finds will have you thinking pink.

e&e chained pearl with pink crystal earrings – £28

e&e chained earrings

Have you been looking to widen your earring range? These delicate, gold-plated brass earrings are the flawless way to incorporate some colour into your jewellery collection. Embedded with freshwater pearls and pink stones, all the details on these earrings complement each other effortlessly. These would match perfectly with some more pink accessories.

Boots Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum – £52

Prada Eau de Parfum

Get yourself 20% off Prada’s Paradoxe Eau de Parfum, with Boots’ deal on selected fragrances until 1 August 2023. This beautiful rose coloured parfum has the perfect blend of floral femininity and crisp notes of neroli. The 30ml bottle is the perfect amount to last you right up till the end of summer.

Burberry Helena sunglasses – £153

Burberry sunglasses

What better time to buy some sunnies than now. These gorgeous Burberry glasses will brighten up your outfit, as well as protecting your eyes from UV light. Burberry is known for its retro, classical pieces, being one of the most reputable companies worldwide. Create your classy summer look, finished off with these red/pink sunglasses. And even better, they are currently on special.

Dunelm pink shutters – bespoke

Dunelm bespoke shutters

Made to your exact preference, treating yourself to some new shutters could be the perfect way to add a pop of colour to any room in your house. Walking into most homes, you see the same cream or grey blinds, which is sleek, but can be so repetitive. Call up Dunlem for your free consultation and ask for bespoke pink shutters to make their ears spike up with excitement.

Candles Direct Yankee candle in Sunny Daydream – £14.99

Sunny Daydream Yankee candle

This traditional type of jar gives your home a sense of comfort and warmth. The blush-coloured candle is perfect for a bathroom or a kitchen top.

Sunny Daydream, the scent of the candle, is embedded with notes of bergamot, jasmine and citrus blossoms. To make you feel as if you are away with the flowers.

Boots YSL Touché Eclat Illuminating Pen – £21.60

YSL Touche Eclat

Who doesn’t want 20% off their Touché Éclat?! And if you don’t know this product, where have you been? YSL’s most iconic product instantly brightens the face, giving a natural, luminous finish. The pale pink formula is designed for many skin colours and tones. To note, this product isn’t designed as a concealer, it’s used to brighten the skin. With YSL being Boots brand of the week, this deal is only on until the 18 July, so be quick!

Melmand pointed toe ballet pumps – £45

Melmand ballet pumps

Shoes are always the finishing touch to an outfit. But why not make them the star of the show? These reddish-pink ballet pumps can be the staple of any neutral outfit. Wear them to work or wear them for any fun event you have on. And even better they are made from recycled water bottles. So not only are you walking around with the comfiest shoes that are designed to follow the contour of your foot, but you are helping the planet. 

Benefit Cosmetics Willa soft blush – £29 

Benefit Willa blush

It’s the season of blush. Applying a simple yet fun look with your favourite makeup pieces can now be levelled up with the Benefit Willa soft blush. Opt for this effortlessly refreshing blush, created by the UK’s number one blush brand. Perfect for a day-to-day look, or maybe for a night out with the girls. Either way, this is the perfect product for you to get your pink on.

New Look bright pink midaxi dress – £29.99 

New Look midaxi dress

This bright pink, flowy midaxi dress is the perfect fit for any summer occasion. BBQ? Picnic?

Whatever the occasion, its v-neckline and button front give it a sophisticated yet fun look. And you can pair it with some comfy sandals and a small clutch to make it your favourite summer look. 

Read more: Late summer fashion edit

Twinings Superblends Menopause Cool Moments – £3.49

Twinings Superblends Menopause Cool Moments

Twinings have worked with expert herbalist, Palema Spence, to create Cool Moments. This refreshing, juicy peach and honeybush flavoured tea is the perfect drink when you want to enjoy a cool moment, day or night. Either drink it hot, or let it cool down a little. Infused with lemon balm and Vitamin B6, it is expertly blended to support your everyday wellbeing.

ESPA Tri-Active Lift and Firm Mask – £50

ESPA Lift and Firm Mask

ESPA are currently offering a complimentary fresh favourite when you spend £100 or more. Shop their whole range from the 24 to 30 July to redeem this offer. One of our product recommendations is their Tri-Active Lift and Firm Mask. It is designed to rejuvenate the skin and leave it feeling instantly firmer and more lifted. Packed with argan oil, purifying clay, and lavender, this product will give your skin a natural radiance. As well as it being in a beautiful rose pink tub, which will look calming on any bathroom shelf.

Ellie Mongey

Having a three month break from uni, where she’s studying marketing, Ellie can normally be found in a coffee shop, on the beach or spending all her money on food. 

The post Get your pink on appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There’s something about the dawn of spring that generally makes us reach for the bin liners and the cleaning kit. But this year has felt a bit ‘meh’, so maybe you haven’t felt the urge for clearing out and cleaning up. If spring cleaning has passed you by, it’s time for an early summer blitz. Shall we get started?

Treat yourself 

If you struggle to push yourself to even open the cleaning supplies cupboard, decide on a reward for yourself when you’ve finished. 

Open that bottle of wine you’ve been saving, treat yourself to that top you’ve been eyeing up online, or save that Netflix episode till you’ve cleaned the bathroom. Whatever ticks your boxes. It’s almost like having a star sheet, but for adults. Yes, we are suggesting you gamify your housework.

Set yourself a timer

Cleaning can really drag on, and sometimes you feel like you’ve done loads but then look around and can’t see any evidence of it.  

Set yourself a timer. This could just be once a day for a week, you don’t need to do everything at once. Say you want to clean for an hour, set a timer for 30 minutes. Afterwards, take a five minute break, then set up another 30 minute timer. If it doesn’t seem so bad, keep going!

Scent it up

Get some products with scents that you actually like. Fabulosa have some great scented anti-backs, this Daisy Chain anti-bac will make your home smell of spring, even if the weather doesn’t seem to think it is. 

Glade also have these great Shack n Vac products you put onto the carpet before vacuuming. It’s a quick and easy way to end fresh scent into your home whilst doing a task you were already planning to do. 

Bust a move

Put some music on! Blare the speakers with your favourite tracks and make some fun out of it. No one said you have to scrub your toilet in silence.

Invest in handy products

There are lots of innovative products now that can help keep things cleaner. Meaning you don’t have to get on your hands and knees and scrub as frequently. 

These little dehumidifiers are great to keep in the barrel of your washing machine (when it’s not cleaning your clothes!). They absorb the moisture, so your washing machine doesn’t develop a smell or mould in the detergent draw as quickly.

Pick up an oven liner to put on the bottom of your oven. You won’t have to clean it as frequently as the oven liner collects any food drips and is much easier to clean that the oven itself.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be confined to kitchen counters and bathroom floors. Give your wardrobe some love as we transition into warmer weather clothes. A clothes’ steamer is a great investment to give your clothes some TLC. 

So hopefully you’re equipped with a few ways to tackle the cleaning this season, that doesn’t fill you with dread or result in a meltdown. 

5 home improvements you can do on a budget

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Spring cleaning is so last month. Time for the summer blitz! appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Whether it’s your first time having grandchildren stay or you’re a seasoned pro, there are always a few things that will ensure their stay is a success. From childproofing your home to making sure their sleeping arrangements are just right, here are four simple tips for preparing your house for your grandchildren.

Childproof your house

This means keeping store cupboards locked, tidying away any clutter that could cause accidents and, for younger children, perhaps even installing additional safety measures such as soft close toilet seats. 

Children will get into everything, given half a chance, so make sure you keep everything sealed to avoid sticky little fingers getting into trouble. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help avoid any accidents and ensure that everyone has a fun and safe time.

Sleeping arrangements

Next, it’s time to think about where your grandchild will be sleeping during their stay. If they’re going to be in a bedroom, make sure the bed is suitable, and made up as comfortably as possible, and there are plenty of pillows and blankets. 

If they are sleeping in a travel cot or on a mattress on the floor, make sure it’s as comfortable as possible with plenty of bedding. It’s also important to establish a set bedtime and stick to it as closely as possible to minimise disruption and discomfort for them.

Check-in with parents

If this isn’t the first time your grandchild has stayed with you, then you might already be aware of any dietary requirements or new medicines they need to take. However, if this is the first time, or if there have been any changes since they last visited, it’s always best to check in with their parents beforehand so that you can be prepared. This way, you can make sure you have any special foods or medicines they might need and that everyone is happy and healthy during their stay.

Also consider that they might be worried about their children, or missing them overnight. Reassure them that everything is under control, stay in touch. And if a crisis arises, make sure that check in with them before taking action.

Activities

Finally, planning some fun activities for when your grandchild is staying with you is important. This might mean planning some days out to local parks or attractions, or it could be something as simple as staying in and doing some cooking or baking together, followed by a movie. Whatever you choose to do, the important thing is that you spend quality time together and create some happy memories that will last long after they’ve gone home again.

Read: Keep history alive by sharing family stories

We hope our four tips for preparing your home for grandchildren have been helpful! Childproofing your house, making sure their sleeping arrangements are comfortable, checking in with parents about any dietary requirements or new medicines, and planning some fun activities should ensure that everyone has a wonderful time during their stay. Enjoy!

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Brace, brace! Preparing for your grandchildren coming… appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Some people associate the mystic – or at least its trappings – with a faltering grasp on reality. They detect a pompous, cargo-cult priest class, peddling a proxy for psychological insight and wisdom. 

Not to mention a wardrobe chosen as much to conceal self-indulgence and consequent harsh physical truths as to celebrate the Feminine Divine. All in all, a retreat for those who find reality just a tiny bit too fractured and thorny. 

I would demur. In its place, and in the right doses, a drop of the mystic is just what the warlock ordered. And what modern humans – brutally uprooted from their forest glade only five evolutionary minutes ago – long for. A little moonshine can provide genuine solace. 

Daughter of the moon

My daughter Matilda turned 18 last April, which was odd, as I could swear she was being lifted out of car seats and dropped into a sling around my neck only last week. I still have the stoop, and the stains on my tie. 

Her room is as she left it, as though it were a shrine to a tragic teenager in a public information film

Now, she has disappeared off on her “gap” year, to “travel” in Vietnam and “work” in Australia. Absurd. 

Her room is as she left it, as though it were a shrine to a tragic teenager in a public information film about stranger danger, rather than a rentable asset that could offset the fuel crisis.

My wife, who was used to seeing her daughter daily over the breakfast bar, laundering her smalls, and hosting her gaggle of excitable friends at weekends, has taken it hard. She has started retreating to Matilda’s bedroom for a little cry. 

Perhaps more surprisingly, when I am at home (I am away a lot) I have taken to sitting up there too. Not because I miss her. Ok, a bit. But mainly because I like it there. 

READ: The truth behind this mother-daughter relationship 

There isn’t any other room quite like it

It has always been my favourite bedroom in the house. Indeed, it’s the only one that really has enough of a signature to qualify for critique. And it’s the mystic that does it. What, if I were feeling hostile, I might call “New Age Twaddle.” Tarot, the White Goddess, the coiling serpent and pagan vines, the turquoise and moonstone, and the floaty, ethereal silks – and still pungently aromatic. Somehow, it works. 

My daughter’s aesthetic evolved over the years, but within pretty well-defined parameters. She has never been a minimalist. When she was four, she already had Broadway Cast-worth of stuffed animals. 

And her spirit guide was a unicorn called Sparkles that was painted on her bedroom wall. Commissioned from a proper muralist, one whose delusions of viability in the modern world we were happy to indulge for another eye-wateringly expensive week, it was an unmitigated success. 

When we moved house two years later, it was only leaving Sparkles behind that bothered Matilda. She sat up late in her new bedroom, staring at her disenchanted wallpaper and fretting. Would Sparkles be missing her? Eventually I concocted a story about Sparkles having transcended our temporal domain and entered the Sylvan Eternal, the Unicorn mural equivalent of a goldfish going to live on a farm. Gradually, she calmed down and decided to become a wolf. 

The howling years

Her wolf-hood was inspired by a Studio Ghibli movie called Princess Mononoke. The heroine does have an enviably evolved relationship with wolves, to be fair, and with other spirits of the forest, too. It might sound like a fantasy – it is – but compared with Matilda’s quotidian routines, she was earthy, bloody, and grounded. 

Matilda and her best friend Delphine were so thoroughly convinced of their lycanthropy that they demanded to be fed like wolves, and would sit on their haunches for hours at a time.

Matilda remained strongly in contact with the idea of the strange, of occult traditions of one kind or another.

They drew wolves the way Picasso drew bulls, and ice age man drew both. I am very relieved in hindsight that there was no political movement or “charity” in the Mermaid mould that might have suggested surgical remedies for this lupine dysphoria. 

Eventually this gave way to puberty. But Matilda remained strongly in contact with the idea of the strange, of occult traditions of one kind or another. Her room has stained glass windows that fuse the Catholic with the Golden Bough (stuck on, of course, but wonderfully effective, especially as the sun rises). 

There are yards and yards of Indian textiles, and manifold, utterly undustable, quasi-sacred artefacts sitting on surfaces and dangling from light-fittings and heaped in bowls… and in the midst of this she purred like a perfectly satisfied cat. 

There is no over-arching schemata, I think. No philosophy or substrate to this smorgasbord. It is a vibe. And there were times when I wondered if Matilda might not be ever-so-slightly mad. Especially, when she chose for her English Lit. A level focus, that very thing; the treatment and weaponisation of female insanity in fiction. 

No, she’s not mad

Having spoken with a number of other fathers of daughters about our experiences, not to mention having leafed through newspapers, fashion magazines, and twitter, I have to concede that Matilda’s passage through some of the most treacherous waters known to humanity – girlhood, from puberty to majority – has been characterised by balance, poise, and togetherness. She’s got this. 

When lockdown came, we both worried for both our children’s mental health, as did every other parent, I’m sure. It seemed horribly cruel, especially, that a popular girl should celebrate her sixteenth birthday in such a vestigial, inhibited manner – one friend, at two arms-length. 

The tarot makes an awful lot of sense to me. It is, as much as art is, a vehicle for intuition

But I came to understand that the eco-system she had created in her attic room – the scents, the overgrown forest tangle of leaf, root and branch, dissolving the stern Euclidean geometry of Victorian housebuilders and even the softening of the inside/outside divide that her painted windows seems to achieve – this brought her immense peace and reassurance. It may not have been safe from the virus, but it was from shrill government “messaging”, 24-hour news cycles, and chemical quackery. It was a place where malady was implicitly understood, as the waning of a soon to be once again gibbous moon. 

And her attraction to the Tarot was all of a part with that. The tarot makes an awful lot of sense to me. It is, as much as art is, a vehicle for intuition. We all read novels, watch movies, and play fantasy games to create distance between ourselves, or rather, our selves, that we might recognise them in the mirror. This too, is how the Tarot works. Nor is its collection of fates and archetypes any more ridiculous or fanciful than those found in Homer, Ovid, or Shakespeare.

So much magic has come and gone. The gods of Mount Olympus, and their Roman avatars. Christianity – Catholic, Protestant and post-Enlightenment. Capitalism, communism and whatever it is that is crumbling under our feet as I write. But the appetite, the god-shaped hole, remains. 

Our search for the mystic, and mythic, is legit 

I suspect the need for some mystical dimension to life is universal – and healthy. We will find it somewhere, somehow. If not in religion, then in allegiance to some entity that really cannot sustain the burden; Chelsea FC, the British Monarchy, Harry Styles. 

Are these any more coherent than a silk print of an Indian goddess, a Chinese dragon robe, or a double helix of incense spiralling up from a glowing incense tip?

The Tarot has started very few wars, fuelled very few riots, and convinced very few patriarchs of their right to brutalise their families. It has never suffered a “replication crisis” nor been “debunked”. We could all do a lot worse than to pause from time to time, and reflect on what the universe is whispering, through its ancient tongue. 

And if I listen really closely, I think I can hear Matilda. 

Simon Evans

Having been a stand up comedian for over twenty years , with sell-out national tours and multiple TV appearances, Simon has recently expanded into writing for a number of publications in print and online. He has appeared in The Spectator, The Telegraph, Spiked, The Critic, Quillette, and Unherd – and Silver! He also has trophies for winning Celebrity Mastermind AND Pointless Celebrities.

The post A touch of the mystic can keep us connected appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Sooo – you don’t want to be that person who breaks up with someone around Valentine’s? But you’re sick to death of looking at them!?

Let your choice of gift do the talking! Our cheeky guide to Valentine’s gifts that are bound to get rid of your other half.

(And yes, this is supposed to be funny, but if it helps, well… who are we to argue?!)

How to get through Valentine’s Day when you’re single

Trip of a lifetime

Can’t bear to be in the same country as him, let alone the same room? Treat him to the trip of a lifetime! A one-way ticket to the other side of the world. Yay!

Flights to Australia, Flightcentre

Keep it tidy 

Get her a fantastic new vacuum cleaner so she can keep the house lovely and clean for you. Her face will light up with delight as she opens her new cleaning equipment. How romantic.

Starlyf Cordless Vac – Cordless hoover, £149.99

Enough is enough 

Fed up with seeing his face? Had enough of watching endless sport all weekend? Get him a shed, preferably with a padlock on the outside, and enjoy some peace and quiet as he settles into his man-cave.

Pressure Treated Windowless Apex Wooden Shed, £319.99

Face it 

Feel like she’s looking a bit tired these days? Get her a facelift thingy! She’s sure to be grateful…

NuFACE TRINITY+ Starter Kit Smart Facial Toning Device, £385

Get some satisfaction

He’s not quite reaching the mark in the bedroom anymore? So get him something that will help! He will be thrilled when you gift him a range of sex toys (to use on you) that will really do the job properly.

The Mega Bundle, Love. Not War, £220 

Bundle up

It’s still quite nippy, but you need something suitable for spring. Get her a nice parka that she’ll look great in. In your size.

Men’s Palben Waterproof Insulated Parka Jacket, Regatta, £39.95

Ready for it 

Not pulling his weight in the kitchen? Get him a subscription for these ‘extra tender’ ready meals, so he doesn’t have to cook. Or chew. He’ll be thrilled.

Wiltshire Farm Foods Extra Tender Subscription meals, from £4.65

Cover your tracks…

Plotting the ultimate relationship ender!? Don’t leave a trail of clues in your search history. Learn how to bump her off without getting caught through this detective game. Bonus points if you use her credit card to pay for it.

The Disappearance of Claire Makova: The Whole Adventure, The Detective Society, £168

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Valentine’s gifts guaranteed to get rid of your other half appeared first on Silver Magazine.