What small item has transformed your home?

Well I'm going to put a small item as requested. My roll of sticky labels from Tescos. so easy to peel off. I can now label everything in the fridge clearly with its use by date. ditto freezer. Has cut down dramatically on waste and time spent trying to remember when we bought things. ditto all the boxes in the shed with what they contain, same in the loft. Use as address labels on parcels. Such good value for a couple of pounds.

Our new 7 month old Cocker Spaniel. Our Border Collie passed away aged 16 in September and the house was so quiet and felt empty. We’ve only had the puppy for one week and he is amazing, it feels like he has been here forever. He has brought back the fun in our lives again. He loves people, dogs and cats. All he asks for is lots of cuddles.

My small wood burner. So Lily how would you describe plantation Shutters?

Our rescue cat we brought home in November. Had forgotten how much we missed having a cat, after our last one died some years ago.
She is very affectionate, lovely to have around and I don't have to talk to myself during the day anymore!

For me it is a gift (several years ago) from my DH.
A beautiful clump of twisted tree with several carved elephants climbing up and round to the top.
All sculpted from the single piece of wood.
It is (imho) both beautiful to look at and lovely to touch.

Lego. Which I asked my daughter for at Christmas. A model of a camper van. I just love it, your never to old for Lego I find it very theraputic.

My scented candles

A plastic fridge shelf!!
Hubs has a lot of goodies in the fridge but was forever moaning that he didn't know 'something' was in there... So now, all his goodies go on the slide out shelf and he can see at a glance what he's got! The best bit? It was £1!

A heated towel rack! Maybe not quite small depending on budget, but I wanted one when we re-did the bathroom a few years ago.
Having a nice warm towel to wrap around myself after a shower or bath is pure comfort! Now, even if I am staying in the nicest hotel on vacation I miss the warm towel.

My son bought me a tiffany lamp for Christmas and I love it I switch it on in the morning or evening and I love to look at the colours and patterns

My daughter had new windows in her bathroom, three days later, the sun ,reflected off a shaving mirror, burnt a hole in the frame. And this was in late October.

Thanks for your concern Hannah LoisLuke. I will follow your advice, although I still feel that split light isn't dangerous.

GreenGran, have you tried long handled angled nail scissors? I have shoulder problems which make reaching my feet difficult and found a pair helped. I bought them on Ebay.

I think plantation shutters are racist

Now why doesn't that surprise me Lily65 !

Nothing made of glass for sure, I have heard too many scary stories of fires.
I think the most useful gadget I have is a one for releasing bottle tops, I don't have much strength in my wrist.

A sturdy but attractive (to me anyway) shoe rack---from JL of course--that safely holds 7 pairs of my husbands shoes. No more tripping over the monsters.

Lily65.
Anyway, have you got a small thing in your home that gives you pleasure, to answer shysal?

Oh, Duvetdiva, just what I’m looking for for my tap. May I ask you where you got yours from?
It’s hard to say which one thing brings most pleasure, but I do love my two Moroccan lamps, which give a lovely soft orange glow when on, and make the room look so cosy.

On the subject of blinds, recently we bought "sheer white" roller blinds for our south/west facing windows and they are a real blessing. These blinds "blur" the sunshine but let in the light, so that we no longer have to close the curtains against the very bright sunshine. The blinds were not costly and have made a real difference to the rooms.

One of the most heart stopping moments of my life was walking into our house after a long day out at work to find it entirely filled with acrid black smoke. That morning I had been using a magnifying mirror to put on my make-up, standing near the window for the light. I plonked it down on the window sill and rushed off. The low winter sun hit the mirror which concentrated the light beam onto the edge of my curtains. They were completely charred and melted onto the carpet, but luckily they were nearly brand new JL fire retardant. The old pair before them, inherited from Mum, would have caught fire and probably burnt the house down. I now treat magnifying mirrors with great care, shutting them into drawers every time they are used. Not quite the same as crystals, but a story worth passing on just in case.

I’d go with plantation shutters too, I walked my neighborhood with my dogs looking at peoples windows approximately 4/5 years ago deciding what to do as I couldn’t bare the idea of net curtains any more. It took a few months to wo4k out what I needed but that is just what I went for I love them!

I think plantation shutters are racist.

Shysal, I must also be a misery and say PLEASE be careful with your crystal in a south facing window. They do and have caused many a house fire.
There was a fire officer on The Jeremy Vine Show a couple of years ago talking about them.
Enjoy it while you're at home but take it down when you go out. It's just not worth the risk.

The only real answer, Kitty, but too expensive to visit often. I would ask my daughter to do the honours, but she has had a 'thing' about handling feet since she was young! I wouldn't mind, if mine were gnarled and covered in corns and bunions. They are quite attractive (for my age - we always have to add that!)

greengran - chiropodist/podiatrist?

Please share the make of your kettle NotSpaghetti I’m curious and am sure I’m not the only one. ?
It’s because it’s mundane but brings pleasure.
That and the fact I’m looking at buying a new one myself ...