
Shoppers are raving over 3 IKEA garden buys including a £8 find that'll ‘endure rain and wind & still look brand new'
Plus, eight garden features that add the most value to a property
WATER FIND Shoppers are raving over 3 IKEA garden buys including a £8 find that'll 'endure rain and wind & still look brand new'
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HOMEOWNERS are going wild over three IKEA buys that will transform your garden on the cheap.
With summer practically here, millions of green-fingered Brits have been racing to get their outdoor space ready for the BBQ season ahead.
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Looking for some inspo for a budget-friendly garden makeover? It may be worth taking a trip down to your local IKEA
Credit: tiktok/@kjg_home
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One thrifty shopper left people open-mouthed with her epic garden glow-up
Credit: tiktok/@kjg_home
But whilst many may assume that giving their gardens a glow-up will set them back a fortune, one thrifty woman recently proved there's no need to fork out a huge sum.
Taking on TikTok, content creator only known as Kjg_home shared how she used £6 and £8 finds from IKEA to transform her garden, leaving many open-mouthed.
Sharing her top buys online, the woman recorded herself in the popular Swedish retailer, where she snapped up budget-friendly LED solar-powered pendant lamps.
The home interior fan bought the outdoor globe lights in two sizes - the 30cm size which sells for £8 each and the smaller 22cm version, that goes for a mere £6 each.
The shopper was thrilled with the 'great buys', which she described as 'the perfect garden IKEA finds'.
According to Kjg Home, there's no need to be wary of the low price tag - as the lights are ''made from water-resistant fabric' - which is a must for the rainy British summers.
She went on to rave about the wallet-friendly find in the video, saying: ''Comes in other colours and has an easy hook to hang.
''Leave to soak in the light - they automatically light up at night,'' the IKEA fan said, showing the gorgeous romantic display on her page.
''Hand them anywhere in your garden and watch them transform your space through all the seasons,'' she instructed.
Another must-have item to look for next time you plan an IKEA trip is a basic black tray, as well as assortment of faux greenery to create realistic wall display.
I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30
To make the simply yet stunning piece of art, the savvy DIY fan used a bit of hot glue to attach the mini fake plant pots to the tray.
If needed, she went on, trim the ends for a more neat look and use a simple hook to hang the decorated tray.
Last but certainly not least was a gorgeous table centrepiece - which also acted as a cheap remedy to keep those pesky mosquitos and bugs at bay.
Garden features that add the most value to a house
A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property.
Sellhousefast.uk carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK.
And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40%
For this, you will need IKEA cylinder vases (a three-pack will set you back just £10), as well as some slices of lemon, lemon peel, a few drops of lemongrass oil, fresh rosemary and water.
Once you've combined all the ingredients in the vase, top it off with a floating candle, she demonstrated.
The IKEA super fan said: ''A beautiful display and smells amazing - but more importantly, keeps the bugs away!''
The TikToker, who's won close to 431k fans on the platform, wrote in the caption: ''3 Ikea finds for the garden! It's due to be lovely for the next few weeks so I'm sharing some of my fave garden finds from @ikeauk.
''Update on the Solvinden water resistant solar lanterns-these have lasted a winter outside in all conditions including snow and still work and look like new.''
'Will definitely use these'
Since being shared online, the video has taken the internet by storm, winning the DIY whizz a whopping 310k views, over 4,100 likes, as well as a staggering 2,518 shares.
Dozens of social media users flooded to comments to thank the interior fan for the inspiration.
One person wrote: ''Can't wait to own a home so I can make my backyard look pretty.''
Another chimed in: ''will defo use these for our future garden.''
''Thanks for sharing such a great idea,'' a fan penned.

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The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Skintight leggings or baggy joggers? What your gymwear says about you
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Farther afield, in the Canadian city of Guelph, Samantha Brennan, a professor of philosophy and co-author of Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, has also noticed young women wearing beautiful sets – the kind of 'workout bikinis' that some men have been complaining are 'intimidating'. It is not so much that they are tight that Brennan notices – though they probably are – but that they all match. Where she sees the gym as 'a place where you get to take a break from fashion', she says, 'they're wearing things I recognise as outfits, and they're specifically bought for wearing at the gym'. It makes a lot of sense that gym wear is being given as much attention as it is. The gym now has such gravitational pull that for many it is seen as – and this is very much gen Z's sentiment, not mine – 'the new club'. It is a place for socialising and dating; some are calling it 'workout-wooing'. A raft of newer brands, such as Toronto's Literary Sport, founded by creatives Deirdre Matthews and M Bechara, and Los Angeles's set up by former American Apparel employees, may be behind the looser lines, popularising casually-fitting track pants, among other items. Some more longstanding, millennial-coded brands, such as Lululemon, are also now offering baggier fits or 'away-from-body styles', as Lululemon's chief merchandising officer put it. But, given the often hefty price tags, they appear to be aimed at older exercisers, who are generally more able to afford them. Meanwhile, other brands, such as Sweaty Betty, have been explicitly marketing the idea of wearing tighter, skimpier clothes, at least as part of an exercise ensemble, and disregarding body hang-ups: 'Wear the damn shorts' is the tagline from a campaign last year. While the generational divide may feel over-egged, what we wear to exercise reveals a lot about where we are at with body image. Several brands, for example, now do bottoms with 'scrunch' designs at the bum, to accentuate curves, because Kardashian-esque glutes remain idealised. It is a style that unites twentysomething 'TikTok gym girlies' and celebrities such as J-Lo. What you wear to exercise also depends on what exercise you are doing. Reformer pilates – the hyper-expensive and highly engineered full-body workout – makes more sense in cinched styles that won't get stuck in equipment. A jog in the park, less so. Subtle flares are becoming a thing for yoga, but they would be annoying on a treadmill, and a trip hazard on a squash court. There are also other, shall we say, external factors. 'There's a fear of people taking advantage and hypersexualising and dehumanising folks, particularly women, in these spaces,' says Samantha Noelle Sheppard, a Cornell professor who writes about sport. What she often sees is a 'mix of tight and baggy, like really tight shorts' with an oversized shirt, as a way to keep unwanted eyes off bodies not looking to be objectified. Shakaila Forbes-Bell, a fashion psychologist, has been seeing more conversations among gen Z about wearing baggier clothing for the gym tied to 'what is for the male gaze and what is for me'. Again, though, this doesn't have to be generational. Navi Ahluwalia, an editor at fashion and sportswear site Hypebae, is a millennial who typically goes for 'leggings with a baggier top'. While she loves 'the way the tighter gym clothes look', she also hates 'the feeling of people looking at me while I exercise, so I personally don't want to draw any attention to myself – particularly not from creepy men'. I would hazard that most, if not all, women who exercise in public will have had similar thoughts. Burke says: 'A fair few of our clients will stay in activewear all day, for coffee, work and the school run, due to our studio being less on the sweaty side.' That tallies with the continued march of gymwear as everyday wear. At least part of this is about comfort; activewear is forgiving when working from home and, at least in my case, practical, when combined with the hope that a trip to the gym (or a 20-minute Yoga with Adriene) is just moments away. It also, consciously or not, broadcasts status. 'You think it shows fitness and the idea of an athletic body and a healthy mind,' says Sheppard. 'But what it shows is a healthy bank account.' '[It is] meant to be performative in all these different kinds of ways,' she says. 'Not only do you look like you have the time to work out, you have the resources to work out – go do your pilates, go do your Peloton class – in a very expensive set.' Looking like a 'gym person', then, perhaps particularly for a younger gen Z crowd, comes with cultural capital. It is not the first time gym gear has been loaded with meaning. In an article in 2019, New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino posited athleisure as a uniform that represented the principle of 'optimisation': 'the process of making something, as the dictionary puts it, 'as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible''. Athleisure, she said, was designed to optimise your appearance at the same time as your performance. But not on everybody. Lululemon founder Chip Wilson made this explicit. 'The definition of a brand is that you're not everything to everybody … You've got to be clear that you don't want certain customers coming in,' he said in a 2013 interview. As Tolentino wrote: 'Athleisure broadcasts your commitment to controlling your body through working out.' You create – if indeed you can and you want to – a body that fits athleisure rather than the athleisure moulding to fit you. Okafor looks back to her days of trying to make ill-fitting, tight gymwear work. No matter 'how high I pull up the waistband, no matter how much I try to shuffle about with the sports bra, it still doesn't look right to me'. Clothes seemed to have been designed in a way that wasn't 'honouring' her shape. 'It's just like: 'Oh, you're not skinny?' It's the thoughtlessness of how these things are made that reinforces that I wasn't being considered.' A host of brands now make exercise clothes constructed with different bodies in mind. Okafor cites Grrrl as one (tagline: 'We make real clothes for real women who simply don't care'). Forbes-Bell says the brand Curvy Kate has created 'sports bras for larger-chested women at more affordable prices', something that has been a battle for her since she was a teenager. And Gymshark is 'creating a lot of more inclusive clothing: size-inclusive, more modest wear as well. For gym clothing, that was very scarce before.' With all the new and improved tight gym gear out there, if younger women in their 20s are still opting for baggier styles, could it be for other reasons? Okafor sees 'all manners of bodies and ages' at her pole studio and thinks that, in general, younger generations are 'giving themselves more space'. Sheppard sees this as a response to our times. Young people 'are living in a period of global crises that make the focus on themselves seem too indulgent … It's like, just put on clothes. We've got bigger problems.' Ultimately, if there is more room for divergence from a workout uniform, then it might have benefits for all generations. 'How many people would probably want to go to the gym and work out if they could wear clothes that didn't make them feel embarrassed?' asks Okafor. 'It's about questioning the motivations,' says Forbes-Bell. 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Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
My grass was ruined from leatherjackets bugs – a 10p kitchen hack got rid of them overnight & now my lawn is green again
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Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Aldi is selling a £7.49 essential gadget that will help zap bugs in your garden this summer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALDI is selling an essential gadget that will help you zap pesky flies and bugs in your garden this summer. The £7.49 Adventuridge Bug Zapper can kill insects in an instant, making it perfect when enjoying a drink in the garden or a BBQ. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Shoppers have raced to Aldi to get their hands on the bug zapper Credit: Aldi Its UV light lures in bugs before killing them instantly. The lantern comes in two colours - blue or black - so it will match any garden furniture you already have. Plus its built-in carabiner means you can attach it to a garden shed or gazebo. It has four light settings, which can help to create the perfect ambiance while also helping to get rid of pesky insects. The device comes with USBC rechargeable batteries and includes a charging cable. Shoppers have taken to social media to rave about the gadget. One person wrote: 'It worked for us when camping and outside in the back yard. 'I got two more this yr because I was so impressed with it last yr.' Another said: 'I bought mine last year and they worked great!' A third person added: 'I love this little gadget. Not only is it a bug zapper, but it is a 4 mode flashlight. Cheap hacks to stay cool this summer 'It is rechargeable and makes a great emergency item for your household.' But you will need to be quick, as the lantern is only available while stocks last. This means that when it's gone it's gone. Shoppers who want to get their garden ready for summer can also get their hands on a black folding recliner chair for just £24.99. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item. There are also several sets of string lights on offer for less than £10. A set of red, blue and purple Solar Hot Air Balloon String Lights would set you back just £8.99. Meanwhile, a set of ten Party Lights cost just £4.99, making them perfect for a cocktail party or garden drinks. The devices are battery powered and can be used indoors or outdoors. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including umbrellas, cocktail glasses, lemon and disco balls. Or a set of Solar Bubble Strings can help you create ambiance in your garden for just £4.99. The string is 4.9 metres long and includes 50 warm white or pastel LEDs. The lights have static or twinkle functions and come with a special dusk sensor. You can turn them on manually or use them on a six hour timer. What other deals are on offer in the supermarkets? Aldi has also brought back a 'brilliant' garden middle-aisle bargain for just £10. The Belavi Easter Island Head Planter will launch in stores on June 8. The planter measures 21x23x31cm, makes for the perfect addition to anyone's patio. Meanwhile, Lidl is selling a selection of 14 pre-mixed cocktail cans with prices starting from just 89p. They include a Bitterol Spritz, a take on the popular Aperol Spritz, Strawberry Daiquiri, Mojito and Pina Colada. Plus, George at Asda is selling a stylish Stand Mixer that is perfect for cooking for the family. The mixer costs just £13.75 - £236.24 less than the KitchenAid version. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories