Renovating your home is always an exciting prospect. If you’re thinking about renovating but you’re not sure where to start or you simply want some inspiration, here are some of the top home renovation trends for 2025. 

Maximise bedroom space 

Maximising on space is one of the best things you can do for any room in your home, but bedrooms in particular will reap the most benefit, considering that’s where most of your personal belongings will reside. 

Look at adding in custom-built wardrobes or drawers that can strategically offer plenty of storage whilst remaining aesthetically pleasing and ensuring there is plenty of space left in the room. Good storage solutions also help prevent rooms from becoming cluttered, since everything can be hidden away out of sight. 

Modernise kitchen worktops and cupboards  

Renovating your entire kitchen can be costly. However, by simply giving your kitchen cupboards or worktops a revamp, you can create a whole new aesthetic for your kitchen. This is particularly true if your cupboards are outdated or worn. A simple lick of paint or change in design with new handles can make a world of difference. This is a great option too because respraying your kitchen cupboards will only cost a few hundred pounds, while buying new ones will cost thousands. 

Add underfloor heating 

Underfloor heating is a great addition to any home, and can be used almost anywhere, from kitchens to bathrooms. Not only does it provide a more luxurious experience, and make hopping out of the shower or heading down to the kitchen first thing in the morning much more pleasant, but it can also be more economical than central heating. 

Let more light in your living room 

Having a bright and airy living room will make the space feel bigger and more welcoming. Incorporating large windows or French doors can make a significant difference to a living room, and give it a more modern aesthetic. You could also look at swapping out outdated lighting for strategically placed wall, floor, and ceiling lights if you’re looking to save money while still creating a new aesthetic. 

Spruce up your garden 

It’s not just the inside that you should focus on. People’s first impressions of your house will be the outside of it, so you want to get it looking in good shape. Give your garden some attention and ensure it’s looking neat and tidy. Think about scattering some additional plants that will help make your garden feel more like a sanctuary. 

Get renovating! 

Now you have a few ideas for upgrading your home, such as letting in more light, maximising space, and modernising outdated elements, it’s time to get started with the renovations. There’s no time like the present!

In 2024, only 48% of young audiences tuned into live television in an average week, down from 76% in 2018. 

Streaming services have dramatically disrupted the television industry. More and more people, particularly amongst the younger generation, are opting to consume content through streaming services, such as Netflix and NOW, over traditional television. 

So, why exactly is that and just how much has it affected British broadcasting in the last decade? 

Why has broadcasting taken a backseat? 

There are numerous reasons why live broadcasting has lessened in popularity, but arguably the biggest reasons are the prevalence and accessibility of streaming services. 

As of September 2024, 20.1 million households (68%) have access to a streaming subscription service. The demand is high, and with it, plenty of new subscription services have formed over the last decade. It’s not just Netflix anymore, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, and more have all joined the big leagues and given people endless alternatives and better access to TV shows and films than ever before. 

It’s not just films and TV shows either. Streaming services for games and gambling have become increasingly popular too, especially amongst the younger generation, and may be taking people’s attention away from live television. 

Whether it be watching their favourite gamer on Twitch or watching live roulette games to achieve an immersive online gambling experience, streaming services have revolutionised the gaming industry. 

How have streaming services affected live broadcasting? 

Reduced viewership

As the popularity of streaming services has grown, the viewership of live television has dipped. For example, in December 2021, the BBC had 55,481 monthly viewers. However, by January 2025, this had reduced to 51,715 monthly viewers. 

Audience demographics 

In 2024, people aged 16-24 watched just 20 minutes of live television a day, whereas people aged between 45 and 54 had a viewing rate of 84% for traditional television. The generational split is likely down to younger users being more technologically literate than older generations. 

Why have streaming services become favoured over live TV?

Streaming services offer greater flexibility and a wider range of easily accessible content compared to traditional television. Alongside this, streaming services provide a more personalised experience, with big names such as Netflix and Disney Plus offering constant recommendations on what to watch next based on a user’s favourite content and watch history. 

What is the future of broadcasting? 

Despite losing viewership from younger audiences and the immense popularity of streaming services, live television is still well liked amongst people in the UK. It’s unlikely that traditional television will ever cease to exist, but it’s anticipated that channels may be reduced due to lack of viewership. 

THE TORCH THEATRE will be one of several cinemas in the world to broadcast Beethoven’s Fidelio live from the Met stage this March. With a star cast, Fidelio’s unusual structure, glorious score, and life-affirming aura, will make your Torch visit a unique experience.

Over the years, Fidelio has been called a hymn to freedom and human dignity. Formally a singspiel (with musical numbers separated by spoken dialogue), Fidelio had a long and complex gestation. Its uplifting spirit made it the obvious choice for several important productions marking the end of World War II, including the reopening of the Vienna State Opera in 1955.

Fast forward to 2025 and the opera is still as popular and entertaining as ever. Set in Seville towards the end of the 18th century, during the time of political upheaval following the French Revolution, the Met’s production places the action in an unspecified contemporary setting.

Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Leonore, the faithful wife who risks everything to save her husband from the clutches of tyranny.

Completing the distinguished cast is British tenor David Butt Philip as the political prisoner Florestan, Polish bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as the villainous Don Pizarro, veteran German bass René Pape as the jailer Rocco, Chinese soprano Ying Fang and German tenor Magnus Dietrich as the young Marzelline and Jaquino, and Danish bass Stephen Milling as the principled Don Fernando. Susanna Mälkki conducts the March 15 performance, which will be broadcast live from the Met stage to cinemas worldwide.

Beethoven’s Fidelio can be seen on the Torch Theatre screen on Saturday 15 March at 5pm. Tickets are £20 / £18 concessions / £9 for those Under 26. Visit the website for further details www.torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267.