GIVE your home an instant upgrade with some simple and transformative tips to make any small space feel bigger.

Sometimes less is indeed more – at least when you’re giving a room a decorative redesign.

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If you have too much stuff in your small home, chances are clutter is getting in the way of your style.

To create a more carefully curated area, the experts at Moving.com recommend leaving sufficient open space.

This pro tip can be applied to all “visible areas” throughout the home, from the floor to your countertops and even in the space between pieces of furniture.

You can also add ‘vertical depth’ to any space by incorporating larger items and using shelves and art.

This also means you can get creative with your most coveted pieces.

Instead of throwing everything away, just place some items on a shelf.

When it comes to hanging curtains, they recommend installing the rod about two inches below the ceiling or cornice, which gives the illusion of extra height.

You can also upgrade your style game while saving space by incorporating innovative storage items.

Some of these furniture solutions include ottomans that can store linens and under-bed storage pieces that look like “cool cabinets.”

Wayfair is selling a $45.99 Hilsa upholstered storage bench, which hides blankets, pillows and remotes.

The table top lid even serves as extra seating.

The space-saving purchase received many five-star reviews.

“I needed a simple footstool. This one did the job and also provides storage. I was skeptical at first when I saw that the sides were folded up and quite flimsy, but once I put them together it held up,” wrote one buyer .

“It’s a great little ottoman for the price. I love that you can store a blanket, or iPad, etc. in it, and flip the top over for an extra small tabletop.

“It’s just the right touch I needed in my family room,” said another buyer.

Small doesn’t have to be boring either. Instead, these more compact spaces are even more prone to bold colors, prints and textures.

Start with an accent wall, a throw pillow or add a colorful wallpaper.

Even a statement piece or a simple item like a picture frame can do the transforming trick.

It’s all about securing ‘balance’, which can be done by playing with patterns.

They also recommend going big when integrating a rug into a room.

That’s because using a large rug can cause your eye to see more than is actually there. It also gives your home an even grander appearance.

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A public notice issued by the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer directed district election officers or returning officers to enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in letter and spirit during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Lok Sabha elections: Control rooms have been set up and flying squadrons have been deployed across Delhi in a bid to curb MCC violations and check incidents of voter intimidation in the national capital, the city’s Chief Electoral Officer said on Sunday.

A public notice issued by the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer directed district election officers or returning officers to enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in letter and spirit. According to the report, flying squads and control rooms have been set up in the city’s seven Lok Sabha constituencies to monitor cases of violation of voting codes and intimidation of voters.

‘Giver’, ‘receiver’ of bribes to initiate legal action

Flying squads have been formed to register cases against both the “giver” and “taker” of bribes and take action against those involved in threatening and intimidating voters, the notice said.

“All citizens are hereby requested to refrain from all illegal activities as above and in case anyone offers bribe or has knowledge of the bribe or any case of threat/intimidation of voters, he/she should call the 24× toll-free number 7 Complaint Monitoring Cell of the Returning Officers/Districts set up for receiving complaints,” the report said.

Report MCC Violations: Poll to Delhiites

The poll body has also urged people to inform about incidents related to MCC violations, including damaging public property/property in public view, distributing cash, liquor, gifts or offering/attempting of bribes by candidates/political parties to the returning officers of their respective constituencies.

“If there are threats/intimidation of voters and cases of other electoral malpractices, it should be reported to the district election officer,” the report said.

Under Section 171 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), any person who gives or accepts any reward in cash or in kind during the election process, with the intention of inducing any person to exercise his/her right to vote, shall be punishable with imprisonment. maximum one year or a fine or both.

Section 171 C of the IPC states that any person who threatens any candidate, voter or any other person with injury of any kind shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.

Single window system for applications

The Delhi poll body has also set up a ‘single window system’ in the offices of all seven returning officers in the city for receiving applications and granting permission/decisions to political parties and candidates for public meetings/rallies/processions/loudspeakers and the use of vehicles for electioneering and the use of non-commercial/remote/uncontrolled airports/helicopter pads etc. during the election period.

Political parties/candidates seeking clearance must register online through the mobile app ‘Suvidha Candidate’ or ‘ENCORE’ on the Election Commission of India website along with details of expenditure plan at least 48 hours before an event.

Parties/candidates seeking permission may also approach the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Consent) at the counter in the office of the returning officer concerned.

A political party/candidate can apply for permission for events/meetings/processions organized within seven days of submitting the application (excluding the day of application).

For more than one event on a given day, a separate application must be submitted, the poll body said.

“In case any event/meeting/procession etc. is held in the area falling under the jurisdiction of more than one Returning Officer of the Parliamentary Constituency, separate applications have to be made to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (permission ) in the office of the returning officer concerned,” the report said.

The permission or decision to the applicant will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis from the one-stop shop system, it added.

Lok Sabha elections announced

The elections to the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of the general elections, with 1.47 crore people eligible to exercise their franchise, as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission on Saturday India has been announced.

Meanwhile, voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats across India will take place in seven phases, with the first on April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4.

The Model Code of Conduct came into force on Saturday with the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who asked political parties to maintain decorum during their campaigns.

Kumar also advised the parties against hate speech, caste or religious appeals, criticism of any aspect of private life, disguising advertisements as news and social media posts defaming or insulting rivals.

(With PTI inputs)

A HOLOGRAM machine that allows you to be in 100 rooms at once has been on display at the South By South West conference in Austin, Texas.

I tested out the technology myself and became holographic while also chatting with another hologram on the other side of the world.

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The technology may sound futuristic, but it’s easy to use, doesn’t lag and is generally a painless experience.

It’s made by a company called Holoconnects, which describes itself as “a leader in the revolution towards a more sustainable, engaging and technologically advanced future.”

The device I tested is aptly called the Holobox, as it’s a big boxy gadget that looks a bit like a smart fridge.

Users need a Holobox device that can be placed as a hologram wherever they want to travel.

You just need a compatible camera to be in your actual location and however you record yourself, how you appear on the device’s 86-inch screen.

It means that one person can be in multiple places at the same time.

This could be revolutionary for companies with international meetings, as well as for families living far from their loved ones.

While testing the technology, I spoke with Lisa, a Holoconnect employee based in Amsterdam.

“I will be attending the conference live from our Holoconnect headquarters near Amsterdam,” says Lisa’s life-size hologram.

“Even though I’m in another country, I can still be there for this amazing box,” she added.

Lisa even showed me the time on her iPhone to demonstrate how we were chatting in real time in the same room but from different time zones.

Becoming a hologram yourself was a fairly simple experience.

I was instructed to stand on a white background and look at a camera, which was not placed at the most flattering angle.

However, looking directly into the camera is important because it allows your hologram to make direct eye contact with those looking at the Holobox.

You simply talk to the camera as you would on a Zoom call and can have a seamless conversation in real time.

Cameras on the Holobox allow the person who becomes the hologram to see who they are talking to, at full size or on a smaller screen.

Holoconnects says many companies are already testing this technology, including major brands like Nike and BMW.

WITH the rise of DIY tutorials on social media, there has been an explosion of new terms and trends.

From MDF panels to ‘PAX hacks’, it’s hard not to get lost in the ever-growing list of things your home apparently needs.

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But one trend making the rounds right now has strong roots in interior design as a hack to make any small room feel bigger.

Ever heard of color infusion?

Painting is all about using one color on all surfaces in a room – even down to the light switches and baseboards.

Experts say this makes rooms appear larger by allowing walls, ceilings and built-in cabinets to flow seamlessly together.

By painting everything the same shade, you eliminate strong contrasts or harsh lines and allow the eye to sweep across a room.

“Color drenching simply means painting everything in the same shade: the walls, woodwork, ceiling and even radiators or furniture,” say the experts at British paint and wallpaper manufacturer Farrow & Ball.

“It has become increasingly popular lately, but this method of decorating is far from a passing trend.

“Whether you want to make a room feel bigger and brighter or cozy and inviting, there is a way to make color infusion suit you. It’s all about what color you choose.”

According to Farrow & Ball, taking a light or partial shade over the entire space can make a room feel larger and airier.

This is because the light shade blurs the line where the walls and ceiling meet.

“It works especially well in awkwardly shaped spaces, such as narrow hallways, to help create the illusion of a little more space,” the experts said.

However, darker shades can “work beautifully for infusing color by creating a cozy cocoon of color.”

“This especially suits the rooms you use in the evening and invites you to sit down, relax and stay a while,” she added.

One mother’s mission…

Mum-of-two Jordan Miller took to Instagram to share how she infused her small downstairs bathroom with color – and people called the design ‘gorgeous’.

She used Benjamin Moore’s paint in Vintage Vogue, dark olive green, to cover everything from the ceiling and walls to the baseboards and light switches.

“I absolutely love the color-infused atmosphere and no piece of molding or ceiling is safe in my home,” Jordan said.

“It’s really amazing how much bigger this small bathroom seems.

“It’s a powerful statement. It improves the atmosphere and atmosphere.

“And guess what? It’s timeless and can be used in any type of home, from traditional to modern.”

By Fiona Hardcastle for Mailonline

Published: 04:23 EST, February 22, 2024 | Updated: 04:28 EST, February 22, 2024

ENGLAND WAGs have been told “don't flash your bling” and stars have installed panic rooms after a spate of horror attacks.

Some members of Gareth Southgate's squad are taking wider security measures following a series of attacks on Premier League footballers.

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In December, Jack Grealish's terrified family panicked when a gang of burglars looted £1million worth of jewelery and watches from his home.

His loved ones, including partner Sasha Attwood, were forced to take cover as police rushed to the £5.6 million home to prevent a possible hostage situation.

After Grealish spoke about his ordeal, some stars consulted architects about panic rooms.

Now, The mirror reports that WAGs have been warned not to flaunt expensive jewelery and not to give potential thieves targets with homes that will more often than not be empty during the European Championship in Germany.

“They have been reminded of the previous educational sessions they had on safety,” the source said.

“The do's and don'ts.

“Do not advertise jewelry, display it online or post images inside or outside their home.”

The European Championships will take place this summer and run from June 14 to July 14 in Germany.

A large group of 'WAGS', including Fern Maguire, 28, wife of Man Utd defender Harry, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's wife, Megan Davison, 27, will travel to Germany.

Jack Grealish's girlfriend, fashion model and influencer Sasha Attwood, 27, and Luke Shaw's partner Anouska Santos, 31, are also likely to travel.

The WAGs have received a security update and have access to an online document with pre-tournament advice.

Manchester United star Victor Lindelof already has a panic room, which was used by his wife and children when their home was targeted.

Joelinton was the latest footballer to be targeted by robbers after a a wave of terrifying attacks at star houses across the country.

The injured Newcastle midfielder had been watching from the sidelines as his team took on Man City when the thieves struck

While at St James' Park he immediately contacted police, who rushed to the Northumberland address shortly after 7.30pm.

By the time officers arrived at the multi-million pound home, the attackers had fled.

It is believed no one was in the property when the intruders struck.

West Ham star Kurt Zouma's family home in Essex was targeted last year while he was inside.

The injured Newcastle midfielder had been watching from the sidelines as his team took on Man City when the thieves struck.

The robbers also stole jewelery and luxury watches worth £1 million, with Zouma forced to miss his team's match against Crystal Palace.

Sources said the gang, which is still being hunted by police, was “aggressive and organised”.

A number of other players have also been targeted in the past, including ex-Prem stars Joao Cancelo and Paul Pogba.

Many of the stars have been targeted by 'away day' marauders who will strike when teams travel for their games.

This was the case for ex-Man Utd star Jesse Lingard, who was robbed while playing for the Red Devils at Aston Villa in January 2022.

His former teammate Victor Lindelof's home in Hale was raided the same month while he was in action for Utd at Brentford.

The defender's wife, Maja Lindelof, and their two children were forced to do so lock themselves up while their mansion was plundered.

In December last year, Raheem Sterling was forced to fly back from the World Cup in Qatar after robbers attacked his home in Surrey.

Terrified fiancée Paige Milian, 27, was home with their two children at the time.

She raised the alarm when the gang took watches worth £300,000.

Last year alone there were five burglaries at footballers' homes.

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A couple was left stunned after they discovered that they were the only guests staying at a luxury five-star resort in Mexico.

Cameron Jensen headed to Los Cabos earlier this month with his wife for their babymoon, booking a room at the brand new Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, where rooms start at a whopping $1,150 a night.

But soon after arriving, the pair noticed that they didn’t see any other people around the property – and while having the entire place to themselves came with some perks, they admitted that it was also a little ‘creepy.’

Cameron documented the stay on his TikTok account and the videos quickly went viral, leaving the internet divided over whether or not they’d enjoy being the only ones at a sprawling resort. 

‘This was kinda creepy, we had this whole entire resort to ourselves,’ Cameron began in one video, as a montage of clips that showcased eerily empty restaurants, pools, beaches, cabanas, and lounges flashed across the screen. 

‘At first, it started as a joke, we were joking, looks like we have the whole place to ourselves.

‘I started recording on our first day when I didn’t see anybody but employees. But as the days progressed, it started to freak us out. It felt like an episode of Black Mirror.’

Cameron told his followers that he would get ‘excited’ any time he saw someone around the property, only to realize they were actually employees or contractors working on the resort.

He said he searched every area looking for fellow vacationers, and revealed that they ended up seeing an ‘elderly couple’ one night at the restaurant and another younger pair once during breakfast – but other than that, they didn’t come across any other guests during their stay.

‘It was kinda cool until it wasn’t. I would find myself at night looking over the whole place trying to find someone,’ he admitted.

‘Things started to get a little creepier when we went to the activities and were also by ourselves.’

Cameron added that the hotel was ‘very nice’ and the food was ‘top notch,’ and wondered, ‘Why isn’t this place jam-packed?’ 

‘I have asked employees why it’s so empty and every time I get a different answer. 

‘The answers have ranged from, “What are you talking about, it is full?” to “construction” to “it’s slow season.” The one thing they all have in common is getting uncomfortable when I ask.’ 

After Cameron’s video went viral – the initial TikTok received a whopping 6.7 million views – people understandably had a lot of questions.

Some even accused him of faking it being empty for views, so he replied by sharing a walk-through tour of the hotel to prove that they were really alone.

He trailed through the desolate hallways before visiting the vacant gym and various eateries. He then showed off a vast white lobby with no signs of life. 

He also insisted that they were ‘not sponsored,’ it ‘wasn’t staged,’ and that they ‘had paid full price for the trip.’

When it came time to check out, Cameron shared a clip that showed the entire staff lined up to bid him and his wife farewell.

The hotel even had a band playing for them as they left, and a few staff members held up a sign that said ‘You’re not alone.’

‘They must have saw my viral video,’ Cameron theorized.

In the end, despite feeling ‘panicked’ about being there alone at first, he and his wife said they had a great time and appreciated the ‘amazing’ staff who made them feel ‘special and loved.’

They added that being the only guests came with some positives – like getting a private dinner on the beach one night.

As for why there was no one there, Cameron explained in a final video that he found out after returning home that the hotel had only opened a few weeks prior to them visiting.

‘We didn’t know that going into it,’ his wife insisted.

The Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos opened in December 2023 and is described as an ‘unparalleled coastal hideaway’ and ‘the epitome of luxury’ on its website.

‘Nestled by the Sea of Cortez in Mexico’s prestigious coastal haven, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is a luxurious and intimate retreat, offering 79 opulent suites and a private beach,’ the description reads.

‘This all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotel in Cabo San Lucas offers a romantic escape with access to our sister property, Grand Velas Los Cabos. 

‘Indulge in five-star culinary artistry. Lounge by the infinity pool. Renew at the wellness center, and feel the luxury of personalized service.’

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a rep for the resort said, ‘While we cannot comment specifically on if a guest is staying at any of our resorts… Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos opened on January 8 and in its soft opening phase.

‘We are limiting the number of suites available for booking until we are confident that all aspects of the resort from accommodations and restaurants to design and service will surpass travelers’ expectations.’

‘At all of the collection’s properties, Velas Resorts operate at 100 per cent regardless of the number of actual guests staying on property. 

‘That is a staff to guest ratio of three to one, versus many other resorts that are the opposite (three guests to every one staff). 

‘Velas Resorts prides itself on offering the very best, not just when it comes to service, but food, accommodations, design, [and] experiences.

‘Comparatively higher than others in the destination, our nightly rates reflect the value that one receives when visiting Velas Resorts. We don’t lower our rates to pack people in.’

All her life, Jen Warnes has been told she's 'lucky' to have huge breasts, but according to the young woman, there are some problems that people with smaller chests will never be able to address.

Jen Warnes, who has a G cup, took to TikTok to hit back at those who 'invalidated' her experience and shared what it was Real like growing up with bigger breasts.

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During her younger years, Jen heard a lot of “You poor thing,” “I wish I had those problems,” “It must be so hard,” as well as offers to “act.”

She bravely opened up the reality to her followers her pagewas something else – and there was a lot of crying because of her body.

''Crying in a fitting room because you can't find anything that fits your body is a problem.

“Being 13 and having to wear baggy T-shirts over your swimwear on a family vacation at the beach because you couldn't find anything to cover or support you is a problem.”

According to Jen, who regularly shares her favorite lingerie finds for larger busts online, she added that she also has to think about the outfits she wears — because a racy look will get her judged by strangers.

'Feeling like you can't leave the house in a low-cut because it gives the impression that you're showing it off – or asking for it.

“That's a problem,” she added the video.

Not only does she have trouble finding suitable clothes, but buying underwear is also a challenge, Jen noted.

''Wearing the wrong bra size all your life because most stores don't know how to properly fit a larger breast and just go by your DDD because that's the biggest they go up.

“That is certainly a problem.”

These problems, she explained, are enough to make some “pay thousands of dollars to surgically remove their breast because they can't find anything that suits them.”

In her eyes, there was a bigger problem within the sector – and things need to change.

'If the solution is to physically and permanently change our bodies, it shows seeing our bodies as something that needs to be fixed, and not the industry that fails to make clothes in sizes and styles that fit us how big the problem actually is. ''

Hundreds rushed to the comments to support Jen and share their experiences.

One of them thought: ''I honestly don't think anyone with big breasts wants big breasts… Literally what is the real benefit?''

Another chimed in: “I've been wrestling since I was 13, right there with you!”

A third wrote: 'Thanks! I'm so tired of people telling me I'm so lucky because of my constant discomfort just because they're insecure.”

“Say it louder for the people in the back!” someone else demanded.

''You helped me so much. I have the same body type as you and you showed me so many options!'' one fan praised Jen.

If you're someone who also has a bigger chest, then Jen is your new best friend, because her platform is all about sharing her favorite finds.

She's found bikinis that fit perfectly—they fit securely and feel as supportive as a bra—and has even demonstrated how to apply boob tape when wearing backless dresses.

That unsettling cry bouncing from peak to peak. That was me. Startled as I careered on my snowboard off one of the world’s steepest and fastest chairlift descents, in the Austrian ski resort of Obertauern.

Luckily, I had a great hotel in which to let my nerves settle – the newly opened Obertauern Places Hotel. A luxuriously funky property with enticing options for post-slope relaxation and the regaling of chairlift derring-do.

As well as eye-catchingly comfy bedrooms, there’s the stunning subterranean indoor pool with its giant floating bean-bag furniture, a hipster lounge and bar, a buzzy self-service restaurant, a seriously fun 400-sq-m (4,305-sq-ft) top-floor gaming area complete with a soft-play complex and, next door, a rooftop bar with jaw-dropping valley views.

From here you’re almost guaranteed to gaze upon vast swathes of snow during the winter season because Obertauern – which lies 1,740m/5,708ft above sea level 90km (55 miles) south of Salzburg – is the ski resort with the best snow record in Austria.

Fact.

According to ski tourism researcher Gunther Aigner, the average annual maximum snow depth in the town of 264cm has not changed for the past 108 years.

And what’s more, the resort is climate-change-proof.

Mr Aigner explained that the snow line will rise by about 200 metres by 2050, with the Obertauern tourist board concluding that ‘there is currently no scenario in science [in which] Obertauern runs out of snow in the foreseeable future’.

And it adds that this ‘white Eldorado’ is so snow-sure it does not have to rely on artificial snow.

During our late December visit it was a winter wonderland, with every inch of the 100 kilometres (62 miles) of slopes available open for business.

Obertauern isn’t the most romantic of ski resorts, with a main road bisecting it. But there is no denying that the mountains – part of the Hohe Tauern range – that rise imperiously either side of it are spectacularly dramatic.

Twenty-six cable cars and lifts are arranged around the village to create a well-thought-out ‘ski circuit’ on these photogenic lumps, with multiple ski bridges crossing the main road to make connections from one side of the valley to the other.

Places Hotel lies mere yards from one of these.

Once we’d conquered the scary chairlift – called Sonnenlift 1 – we found the runs pretty thrilling, though conditions were a little on the icy side.

When we weren’t cruising the blues, we were doing circuits on the excellent children’s area with our six-year-old daughter.

This zone features a huge ‘magic carpet’ lift and foam animals that form fun slalom runs.

If there’s an issue with Obertauern, it’s that it’s not ideal for beginners. The slopes are on the challenging side and our daughter – perfectly capable of whizzing down green runs – had limited options.

However, for lovers of hair-raising gradients, Obertauern is a mecca, with one run, Gamsleitenbahn 2, nerve-wracking just to look at.

This run, it seems, is mostly attempted by YouTubing skiers and snowboarders keen to tick it off their steep-slope bucket list.

Obertauern is a mecca for Beatles fans, too. For it was here that the Fab Four filmed scenes for their 1965 movie Help!

What’s more, the group performed their only Austrian gig (to celebrate a crew member’s birthday) on the site of Places Hotel, when it was the Marietta Hotel.

The drum kit used by Ringo Starr for the concert is on display in a corridor behind the lobby. A cast-iron talking point – though one of many.

My daughter mostly talked about how amazing the gaming area was. Entirely reasonable – it’s incredible. For young and old alike.

The soft-play area is gigantic – and features trampolines, a tube slide and a foam-block’ pool’ – there are two full-sized table tennis tables, and gamers can button-bash on vintage arcade machines, PlayStation 5s, and Nintendo Switches. Plus, there are herds of oversized bean bags to sit on, with the area illuminated by lights hidden inside cute lampshades that resemble glowing clouds.

The self-service restaurant was also a hit, with guests able to eat as much as they like in the evenings from counters crammed with all manner of meats, fish and chips, and gourmet handmade pizzas.

Breakfast is served in the same venue. In the mornings we enjoyed gazing out of the panoramic windows at the mountainous backdrop, the vista shrouded in darkness during dinner on our deep-winter visit.

Opt for the ‘Places Flexi’ package and dinner is free, with each person given a 30-euro (£26) allowance a day to spend on food and drink at the bar as an alternative.

Payment is made via wrist-worn electronic ‘watches’, which also open bedrooms and doors to various public spaces. Nifty.

The lounge and bar, with its chic, Soho House-style furniture (think leather chairs with chrome frames and Chesterfield sofas) also won us over (along with the soup and pasta).

Then there’s the aforementioned pool. World class. Its kidney shape means it isn’t suitable for doing laps, but what a spot for unwinding. Loungers are spread around the moodily lit space on multiple levels, and the floating bean-bag furniture, including star-shaped cushions, are fun to jump on and heavenly for lolling.

To top it all off, the staff were great – charming, and keen to assist, from setting my partner and I up for a head-to-head game of Mario Kart to leaping forth to guide me through the machinations of the Nespresso machine at breakfast.

Any downsides? A few. But nothing particularly brow-furrowing.

I feel the hotel, by Croatian brand Valamar, is a little ‘overbranded’ and can feel like it’s trying a bit too hard to be trendy.

The staff – they all wear T-shirts. Which gives off a sports-shop vibe. And the property is referenced in marketing literature with headache-inducing typography, as OBERTAUERN [PLACESHOTEL]. Their capitals, their square brackets. Bedrooms? You sleep in a [PLACESROOM]. Fancy a cocktail? Then head to the [PLACESLOUNGEBAR] and buy one using your [PLACESFLEXI].

Then there are the endless snippets of PLACES-related banter dotted around the building – for example, the luggage room is labelled as ‘this place is packed’.

Potentially tiresome for some. 

And while we liked our bedroom’s cool, black-framed wooden furniture and comfy king-sized bed, our bathroom was a slight let-down – smart and clean, but plain, with a cheap shower hose and no rain shower. As if the interior designer had run out of [PLACESINSPIRATION].

Also, for a hotel that’s so tech savvy, with free password-less hi-speed Wi-Fi and all those gaming stations, it was surprising not to see spare bedside sockets on both sides of the mattress for plugging in phones and tablets (I had to unplug the Marshall bluetooth speaker to plug my phone in).

Mind you, the ‘pleasure box’ placed by the bed that contained a condom and lubricant suggests many Places Hotel guests aren’t prioritising pillowside battery boosting. 

The ski hire, too, was a mixed bag.

It comes courtesy of adjoining Freudenaus Sport Rental, which isn’t owned by Valamar but can be accessed from the hotel lounge, with Valamar offering the equipment and services via its website.

What’s more, the bill can be settled at reception upon checking out.

So far, so handy.

And while the kit was good, the downside during our visit was that during the fitting, one member of staff was trying to serve about 10 people at once.

He was a friendly chap, but in need of help during the morning rush hour.

These downsides, however, are all forgivable, because not only does Places Hotel get the basics right, it goes above and beyond, with a guest experience as winningly elevated as the ski area (which rises to 2,313 metres (7,588ft).

I’d love to return – it’s a snow brainer –  but next time I won’t be riding that scary chair lift. I’ll be watching others going through the ordeal, cocktail in hand, from the eighth-floor bar terrace.

And I’ll be keeping a keen eye on the Valamar brand. I would imagine so, too, will rival hoteliers. Because it’s definitely going places.

As I swing a sledgehammer over my head before slamming it into the dehumidifier with all my might, I think about how the machine broke within months of the warranty, leaving behind damp laundry that was supposed to help dry.

My thoughts drift to the fact that I’m on my fifth load of laundry this week, and I hit it even harder. Not that my kids have noticed, because they think their clothes are teleporting from the bathroom floor to the wardrobe. Wrap. Because in addition to working full-time, I am expected to keep the house tidy. Wrap. Wrap. Wrap.

Plastic shards fly and my heart pounds in excited, illegal triumph. However, I don’t lose the plot at home, but in a “rage room” – a designated space where you can pay to release pent-up anger by demolishing household objects.

Like most of us, I had a lot of stress last year. The cost of living crisis and increasingly toxic culture wars have put our collective minds on edge.

But the strain and strain of balancing work and family life has also taken its toll. When I take stock, I know I need to make more time for myself this year.

And I’m clearly not the only overstressed woman pushed to her limits. A recent study found that we are reportedly 6 percent angrier and more stressed than men, which experts say is partly due to the disproportionate expectation placed on us to emulate men’s success at work and bear the burden of take care of the household chores at home.

“Women have reached a breaking point under this pressure, but it is still taboo to talk about female anger because it threatens conventionally ‘feminine’ qualities such as friendliness and kindness,” says psychologist Catherine Hallissey – who adds that As a result, we “tend to suppress anger that can secretly come out as passive aggression.”

Certainly, as I vacuum, do laundry, and maintain constant parental supervision on various WhatsApp groups, I find myself seeing that none of these chores are as important as they are on my husband’s radar.

When I disagree with other people, like the customer who took the last cart this morning, I swallow my frustration and curse under my breath until the tension builds inside me like a pressure cooker and I snap.

Recent examples include shouting in our driveway because our car wouldn’t start, shouting at the linesman at my son’s football match and kicking my printer because the cartridge I bought a fortnight ago has apparently already run out of ink.

Afterwards I felt ashamed and disturbed – and my children, if they were within earshot, were mortified – but it was undeniably better that they had gotten it out of my system.

So I wonder if there is any merit in a rage room? My husband, who points out that he doesn’t exactly sit still either, absolutely thinks it’s a good idea for me to take out my anger on someone other than him.

The first known version of a rage room is believed to have been created in 2008 by the late American anti-violence campaigner Donna Alexander, who filled her garage with junk and charged friends £3 to destroy it.

“I started getting strangers at my door asking if my house was the place to break stuff,” Donna later recalled, who went on to open The Anger Room in Dallas. “When that happened, I knew I had a business.”

Hundreds have since opened worldwide, including Break Room in Los Angeles, where socialite Paris Hilton posted a photo of herself smashing a flat-screen television and what appeared to be a photocopier. “There’s nothing wrong with expressing a little anger,” she wrote on Instagram.

On TikTok, videos of women destroying objects in rage rooms attract millions of viewers – @vickaboox advised her 813,000 followers: ‘Block his number and smash a printer instead.’

That anger rooms are a safe place to express anger may explain why statistically the majority of clients are women.

Rage Out in Maidstone, Kent, which charges £60 per 30-minute session and advertises itself as ‘cheaper than therapy’, is no exception, says owner Paul Fisher.

His 15-year-old daughter Daniella inspired him to open his business last year after she wanted to visit a rage room for her birthday. He says his customers – or Ragers, as they are called – are “probably 60 percent” women.

This includes those devastated by divorce or recovering from illness. ‘F*** you cancer’ is one of many ‘affirmations’ customers painted on the chipboard walls of the rage room after the demolition.

Women come to bond with their partners – ‘couples who break together, stay together’ is another claim – and visitors include hen parties and harassed working women, one of whom has scrawled: ‘5 kids and being a teacher #besttherapyever’.

Recently, says Paul, 44, a woman who was “well into her eighties” came: “She couldn’t swing the baseball bat very well, but she was lovely.”

About 20 percent of customers bring their own goods to break, often to dispel painful memories.

“We’ve seen cups with ‘number one fiancé’ on them. We see large photo frames. You look at something and say “that looks really valuable”, and they say “yeah, don’t worry about it”.’

Other items are unsellable stock sourced from charity shops. In addition to my dehumidifier, I purchased a plastic ornamental garden owl that my husband bought to deter rabbits, but which broke quickly, representing the kind of wasteful clutter I hate.

There is also a tray of crockery and glassware on a wooden square table in the center of the room.

Another tray holds my weapons of choice – a baseball bat, two sledgehammers and a crowbar – and a speaker hangs on the wall to blast music. Songs about cheating are apparently very popular.

At first, deliberately causing carnage after decades of trying not to disrupt or offend feels counterintuitive. Paul says most women instinctively look through the caged window to the reception for a nod before they start.

It’s physically demanding: the dehumidifier takes twenty blows to crack the outer casing, and a crowbar to take apart the motor, and the owl slowly succumbs to my baseball bat.

My stomach muscles tighten and my nerves alert for flying debris as I summon every slight irritation and injustice of the past few months for strength.

The pile of dishes is easier, and I live out my fantasy of smashing the contents of my constantly emptied dishwasher to smithereens.

Similarly pleased is Ashleigh Thompson, 25, a copywriter from Oxted, Surrey, who has just demolished a George Foreman grill in the rage room next door.

As she swung the bat, she says, she thought about everyday things that she “would get angry about but would push aside — manspreading on the train, frustration at work.” It feels good.’

Smiley and petite, she was brought here by her fiancé Charlie, 24, a waiter, because she was “stressed and he thought it would be a good outlet.”

The theory, put forward by Sigmund Freud, is that anger decreases when we can let go of it. Yet research has shown that the relief we feel when we give in to aggression can be short-lived and only makes us more likely to be aggressive next time.

A study in which researchers created a virtual “smash room” in which cancer patients could smash objects using a virtual reality device received mixed reviews; Some enjoyed it, but some felt self-conscious.

“I understand why people find it cathartic when behavioral expectations are released,” says Catherine Hallissey. ‘However, there is no clinical evidence to support the use of anger rooms at a therapeutic level.’

It’s much better, she says, to use high-intensity exercise to get rid of the pent-up energy triggers of anger before addressing our underlying feelings.

“Anger is a Trojan Horse emotion; the primary emotion is usually more vulnerable, such as sadness or fear,” she explains.

‘When you break things, you don’t figure out which part of you feels threatened. Ask yourself why you feel triggered.”

Nevertheless, as I look at the shards of the humidifier and the severed owl head before me, I feel strengthened. I promise to talk to my husband about assigning household chores, but also make it a habit to dig through our toolbox as well. To be sure.

• Jenni Murray is gone.