The Ideal Home Show at Christmas

I feel like the fact that I'm writing this post somehow means I should suddenly own different wine glasses for red and white and a proper expensive cutlery set otherwise I haven't really earned the right to attend the Christmas Ideal Home Show. I went to London at the weekend with my mum and because we're such home magazine junkies we spent Saturday pottering around the show.

The show is held at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, which is actually a bit of a ball ache to get to, but is a beautiful venue. It was absolutely packed, but as long as you don't mind crowds it's fine to wander around. There were so many stalls, mainly homeware and Christmas decorations, but also some health and beauty and food stalls so it caters for everyone really.  You can even buy a hot tub if that's what takes your fancy (if only it wouldn't take up my whole back yard lols).

We weren't sure what the show would be like and I think we were both expecting there to be more display rooms to get some inspiration from, but in reality there was only a small corner set aside for those with about four rooms so we didn't get as much inspo as we'd hoped! Just look at that marble sink though...plus there were definitely enough stalls to keep us happy! We managed to spend a good four and a half hours there so that's a pretty good indication of how much there was to see!

We weren't patient enough to join the enormous queue for goody bags, but we did get a free manicure from some London College of Beauty Therapy students who were doing them for free practice so that was a nice little bonus! I could have spent so much more money than I did at the show, but I'm actually pretty restrained these days so I just bought a cute print from The Old English Company (which is basically me all over in one phrase), a candle holder (obvs), a planter (again, obvs) and a cute little gift for a friend which I won't specify because she's probably reading this!

I'm feeling incredible festive now, which is surprisingly early for me (Christmas is usually forbidden until after my birthday) but I'm so excited for next year when hopefully our house will be finished and I can go to town on Christmas decorations. Seriously, it's going to look like Christmas has thrown up inside my house next year.

Have you ever been to the Ideal Home Show?

Amy x