Ideal Home vs Country Home & Garden magazine

[kneesocks]

After spending an inordinate amount of time in WH Smith narrowing down all of the home decor magazines, I’m looking to subscribe to one of the above but I can’t decide between them!

I do favour a more country style (although unfortunately don’t live in a country cottage or a cute home by the sea) so the latter would seem the obvious choice but Ideal Homes looks a good read too

My budget allows for probably mid ranged priced decoration. Im not really making things myself although I do like rustic/worn furniture and I dont want to look at unrealistically priced items

I love a good before and after picture and we have quite a lot of work to do to our home

Can anyone recommend one over the other or tell me what I’m likely to find in them month on month?

Thanks

[kneesocks]

Sorry that should read Country Homes & Interiors magazine

[Notname]

I love CH&I (which my boss subscribes too and passes to me when she’s read it!). Lots of beautiful aspirational features, tho things are on the expensive side. We do love in a country property tho and that’s def the style I prefer. I buy Ideal Home occasionally and like it but there’s far too much modern stuff in it that doesn’t appeal to me. Would say it’s similar in terms of prices tho (ie not cheap). Some magazines show cheaper things (eg Your Home) but I prefer aspirational stuff in my magazines (even if I can’t afford it!).

[Notname]

Sorry for typos!

[MidLifeCrisis2017]

I've weaned myself off them all now and have a Pinterest addiction instead! I had a board for each room in my last renovation.

25 Beautiful Homes is also worth a look.

[kneesocks]

Thanks for the replies. Notname - Yeah I looked at lots of other ones and whilst there were bits and bobs which I liked the look of, these 2 were definitely my front runners. I agree with the aspirational point so I can get ideas for the overall look. Are they pretty similar in terms of features etc?

Midlife - oh yes I’ve got all the Pinterest boards going on too and an Instagram Home account but I love having a magazine to flick through. As sad as it is, I love getting post during the month and have developed a bit of a subscription addiction (cosmopolitan/Glossybox/degustation) I’ve only completed 1 room since we moved in (living room) and can’t wait to get started on the rest

[Notname]

I hardly ever buy ideal home so can't remember exactly, but I think they’re similar in terms of the mix of readers homes, features etc. I do love CH&I and although I can’t always afford everything I see in it, I do love looking at lovely homes.

We’re two thirds of the way through a major house renovation so use a mix of magazines and Pinterest for inspiration! Currently living in a caravan while the work is completed, so everything looks beautiful and inspiring compared to my current surroundings!

[kneesocks]

*degustabox

Wow that’s a big commitment! It’ll be worth it though. We moved into our home 2 years ago then got married and have had a lot on and although it’s fine to live in, I refuse to decorate anything unless it’s done properly (I’m a bit of a perfectionist) so it’ll probably take a good few years. You’re very lucky to have it all done together. We stripped the living room back to basics and had new high skirting boards, door frames, wood burner and gorgeous dark wood flooring etc. Then lovely reclaimed wood furniture and it cost a small fortune but I love it! Hoping we can do the kitchen next

[Rascallsall]

I love these magazines and read them all Ideal Home and 25 Beautiful Homes are probably my favourites. I do read them all via " Readly" app though. £7.99 a month. You can try it for free. And 5 people can share the same subscription. Definitely worth having a look at. Worth every penny.

[MissCherryCakeyBun]

Borrow them from the library for free, I'm in Hertfordshire and you can borrow them in hard copy and electronic copies to read on an iPad or phone and they even email me to remind me when the new issue has been released.
Good for the planet and your purse

[RoseWhiteTips]

Elle Decoration is good.

[kneesocks]

Thanks everyone. I don’t get a lot of spare time so unfortunately the library is a non starter. Readly is a fab idea but I do prefer a paper magazine. I downloaded the free trial though and have decided to go with Ideal Home :)