
Punteha van Terheyden
Punteha was editor of Real Homes before joining Homes and Gardens as Head of Solved. Previously, she wrote and edited lifestyle and consumer pieces for the national press for 16 years, working across print and digital newspapers and magazines, including BBC Good Food, Daily Mail, Metro, Mirror, Take a Break, Bella, Closer, Woman’s Own, and more. She’s also a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter, founding editor of independent real platform, lacunavoices.com and a journalism mentor delivering guest lectures at top universities. Punteha is a DIY enthusiast and spends her weekends working on ways to personalize her newly-built home in the quiet of the tranquil countryside and has a modern-natural home aesthetic. She is disabled and suffers chronic pain so small projects that bring joy are her favorite kind.
Latest articles by Punteha van Terheyden
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Wave goodbye to pesky mosquitoes with the new $4 IKEA curtain – a chic alternative to the ugly bug nets of the past
You can cut it without hemming and machine wash, too
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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This 1 DIY tool doubled my painting speed – professional decorators agree it’s a game-changer for efficiency, comfort, and a perfect finish this summer
Forget step ladders and wrist pain
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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This $7 ALDI portable pest repellent fan is the perfect non-toxic way to keep flying bugs away this summer
Enjoy open windows and your yard this summer without mosquitoes and flying bugs annoying you
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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7 things I have ruthlessly decluttered at 40, which have transformed my small home's storage for good
I shouldn't have held on to these things for so long
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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The stylish, sustainable, and free way I transformed my tiny pantry storage for maximum organization in 10 minutes
You can DIY this non-toxic storage solution so easily
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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This $2 drawer organizer banished the sock monster in our house and made getting my family ready in the morning easier, quicker, and less stressful
It knocked hours from our morning routines each month
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My vanity table drawers were a mess until I began using these $2 non-toxic organizing trays – it stopped me from wasting money on makeup duplications, too
Now my vanity drawers are permanently organized
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I hate to say it, but natural ant killers just don’t work. I tried this commercial $6 ant killer dust instead, and it banished them for good in just 10 minutes
Natural deterrents serve a purpose, but this commercial ant killer is better in the long run
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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These space-saving $19 bins from Walmart are perfect for adding storage to small bedrooms – the limited capacity forces me to declutter ruthlessly
They're renter-friendly, too
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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8 easy things I did to make my tiny home office calming, clutter-free, cozy and comfortable to work in
Simple changes have made all the difference in my tiny space
By Punteha van Terheyden Last updated
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I live in the countryside surrounded by farms, and people say the Zevo Flying Insect Trap is the answer to my pest-busting prayers
The Zevo Flying Insect Trap and its refills were bought 130,000 times in the last month alone
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I'm chronically ill – this 1 simple low-energy daytime bedroom hack stops pet hair and dander from triggering my allergies at night
It reduces the need daily bedding changes
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I’ve saved money by swapping pungent commercial window cleaner sprays for this gentle, effective and luxury-smelling DIY recipe
You don’t even need vinegar
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I learned how to keep my house permanently tidy when living in Iran with my grandma – the art of 'dido-baazdid’ permanently altered my brain chemistry
This cultural practice embedded manageable tidying into my daily routines
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Homes & Gardens discussion: What is your most hated household chore?
Take a peek as we lift the lid on our group chat
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I tested the eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 and am impressed – it's light, compact, and perfect for small homes
eufy makes some of the best-in-class robot vacuums, and this combination vacuum is versatile and powerful
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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What to pack first when moving house – from a homes editor who has relocated 12 times, including between states and to another country
Here are the items I pack first (and last) when moving
By Punteha van Terheyden Last updated
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The versatile rolling storage trolley system every small bedroom needs – enjoy customizable brilliance from as little as $30
I tripled my hair styling storage space with this handy organizer
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I've just discovered blue laundry detergent is toxic to humans and the environment – this is the safer, plant-based alternative laundry experts recommend
I’ve switched to Ecover dye-free liquid detergent to knock unnecessary toxins out of my laundry cycle for good
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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eufy vs. Ring – I was sick of monthly fees for my video doorbell, so I swapped to this superior subscription-free eufy one and have zero regrets
Video security is an essential, but paying to store the footage was a nuisance
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I always get my small space storage from Wayfair – and these discounted $35 Martha Stewart storage boxes are the perfect fix for my tiny vanity
I'm going vertical for tiny space storage success with this Early Way Day 2025 bargain
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I tried this one easy dishwasher trick and made the annoying need for manual drying a thing of the past
If you hate those little pools of water left on your cups and crockery, this towel trick is for you
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Using my Iranian grandma's fridge trick keeps my crisper drawer pristine – and fresh produce lasts twice as long
It's amazing how a simple tweak can make such a big difference
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My grandma's 'chimney effect' bedroom cooling trick brought goose-pimple inducing relief to help me sleep on the hottest nights in Iran
Use air pressure and temperature differentials to your benefit and beat the heat
By Punteha van Terheyden Published