Linda Clayton
As an interiors journalist for 25 years, Linda Clayton has worked on a wide array of consumer titles, including Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, Country Homes & Interiors and Real Homes. She has been freelancing for Ideal Home Magazine since 2008, covering design trends, home makeovers, product reviews and much more.
She graduated from Cardiff University with a First Class Journalism degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism. She is also the proud recipient of the BMA’s Bathroom Journalist of the Year Award 2010! She has also sat on Design Awards judging panels for Designer Magazine, Homes & Gardens and, most recently, Real Homes.
Now working from her home in Devon–her fourth major DIY renovation project–Linda writes on a wide range of subjects, including product reviews, designer interviews and case studies. She can also be found pounding the pavements and exhibition halls of London, Paris, Cologne and Milan in search of the latest design trends and innovations.
Ideal Home Truths
Where’s your happy place?
In a beer garden with family and four-legged friends after a very long walk on Dartmoor, preferably with the sun shining.
What’s your home addiction?
In this job, there are many, many temptations but I’m very partial to a pretty tile and near obsessed with lighting. I get particularly giddy when I discover a lamp or pendant that looks designer but without the price tag to match. Pooky, House Of and Mullan Lighting are excellent sources.
What is your next home project?
To finish our fourth major renovation – just the master bedroom and upstairs landing to go – and hopefully down tools for a few months before it’s time to redecorate all over again. Or move.
Latest articles by Linda Clayton
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I’ve renovated four kitchens and these are the eight key lessons I've learnt along the way
From layout dry-runs to running out of cash, here are the right and wrong ways to plan a new kitchen
By Linda Clayton
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Bathroom lighting trends – our top 10 ways to do bathroom lighting in 2024
Lean into the latest lighting trends and put your bathroom in the style spotlight
By Linda Clayton
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How to style a display cabinet – 10 steps to shelf success
Fed up with dull displays that attract more dust than likes? Up your #shelfie game and learn how to style a display cabinet from the pros
By Linda Clayton
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The common Christmas tree decorating mistakes you should always avoid
Step away from the decs, do not touch the tinsel, at least until you’ve checked out our top Christmas tree clangers
By Linda Clayton
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The best Christmas tree alternatives for small spaces that will work in the tiniest of rooms
Make like a tree, and leave the pine needle trails outside with our top 10 Christmas tree alternatives that won’t overcrowd this Christmas
By Linda Clayton
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7 kitchen lighting mistakes to avoid at all costs
Give your kitchen a glow up without getting caught out by these common pitfalls with the help of our experts
By Linda Clayton
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Bathroom plant ideas – 10 genius ways to add houseplants to the smallest room
Anyone can pop a plant or two in the bathroom, but for truly clever and creative bathroom plant ideas, we’ve got top advice from green-fingered experts
By Linda Clayton
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Kitchen plant ideas – the best houseplants and how to style them in a kitchen
Create a foliage-filled cooking space and enjoy a fresh, uplifting kitchen environment
By Linda Clayton
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7 common bathroom lighting mistakes, and how you can avoid them
Discover how to dodge common bathroom lighting blunders and what to do instead
By Linda Clayton
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Family living room mistakes to avoid – our 10 top family room fails
Ensure chill-out time with your nearest and dearest is super relaxing by dodging these decorating disasters
By Linda Clayton
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How to add character to a new build – 10 ways to breathe personality into a newly built home
Stamp your style on a new build and truly make it feel like home
By Linda Clayton
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10 mistakes to avoid when decorating your living room
Gearing up for a living makeover? Here are the top decorating mistakes to avoid, according to experts
By Linda Clayton
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No fireplace living room ideas – 10 ways to find a fireless focal point
No fireplace? No drama – there are plenty of creative and cosy solutions for lounges that lack a hearth…
By Linda Clayton
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15 banquette seating ideas to transform your kitchen
Be inspired by these banquette seating ideas that will give your kitchen a beautiful and comfortable lifestyle edge
By Linda Clayton
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The small home office mistakes our team of home design experts always avoid
Get your space-deprived home office in working order with our lowdown on the most common design faux pas
By Linda Clayton
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These are the colours to avoid when painting a small hallway, trust us
Swerve these small hallway colour fails and create a welcoming entrance that makes you happy to invite guests inside…
By Linda Clayton
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Upcycling for beginners - 10 things every new DIY-er should know
Turn trash to treasure and banish trips to the tip with our upcycling for beginners’ starter guide
By Linda Clayton
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How to choose the best colour curtain colours for a stylish living room
Find the perfect curtain shade to suit your personality and style with our expert guide
By Linda Clayton
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Stihl RE 120 Plus Pressure Washer review
We tested the Stihl RE 120 Plus pressure washer to find out if it could handle the post-winter clean up like a pro
By Linda Clayton
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How to choose the perfect paint colour – Get it right every time with our expert guide
Defeat paint buying indecision with our expert guide to choosing the perfect paint colour every time
By Linda Clayton
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Your ultimate decluttering checklist – 50+ things to get rid of right now
Take a cut-throat approach to clutter, tackling it room-by-room, and discover the joy of living with less
By Linda Clayton
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Is your home's colour affecting your mood? Here's what the experts have to say
What colour psychology is and how you can use it to your advantage
By Linda Clayton
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Narrow kitchen ideas – 10 genius ways to turn this tricky shape into a showstopper
Don’t let a skinny space be a deal breaker; our top experts’ narrow kitchen ideas will help you amplify every inch…
By Linda Clayton
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Induction vs gas hob – which style of hob should you buy? Experts explain
We weigh up the pros and cons of the two best-selling hob types to reveal which countertop cooking method you should invest in next…
By Linda Clayton