Really not bad at all (Real Homes)

Member Name: cswann

Product:	Real Homes
Date:	24/08/00 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very practical

Disadvantages: Sometimes the real homes featured are a TOO ordinary

When I first saw Real Homes a couple of years ago, I realized how poorly served those of us interested in household / decorating / DIY things really were. Magazines seemed to showcase the huge houses of the rich, or artistic types - not often houses you could LIVE in and enjoy. Here was a magazine that seemed to have found out just what the public interested in household things really wanted.
It's still as good today, in fact it has improved if anything. It still includes plenty of good ideas, tried and tested; lots of examples of real interiors for inspiration; and useful and easy to follow tips for jobs around the house.
I remember reading an article on Feng Shui which has been more useful to me in 4 pages than an entire book which sits on my shelves.

There are plenty of giveaways, with decent prizes - not necessarily expensive things, but things that are worth having.
I have found their "Best buys" section useful - I usually steer well away from advertorials, but this is a roundup of things available in the shops or in catalogues that you may actually be interested in - neat ideas or designs, and not usually costing the earth.
Even the cookery features, which don't usually appeal to me, are worth a look. The magazine does seem to have leant more towards the women's magazine sector recently. It seems to me that the DIY tips, in particular, are well and truly aimed at people who've done very little before.

I think it's got the balance between the 'designer' and the practical just right, and it's the only magazine like this that I ever buy.

Summary: