Furnish Your Apartment Without Breaking The Bank

If you're sprucing up your property to sell, let or simply live in it, it doesn't have to cost a lot to look good. Nicole Swengley goes in search of chic at half the price

The credit crunch means that fewer of us are moving home or undertaking major refurbishments. But it's still possible to refresh your property's interior even on a restricted budget.

	Chic styles from Ikea

Anyone looking for high-style designs at minimal cost should check out the supermarkets' home ranges. Asda, for example, sells a glossy black mushroom lamp at £15 (above right) which wouldn't look out of place in a chic hotel, while Sainsbury's has attractive ceramic vases from as little as 75p.

"There's no reason to be out of fashion or compromise on style and design," says Simon Stevens, Sainsbury's head of home design. "Our in-house design team has put together four looks to revamp your home without breaking the bank - rich purples and gold for an opulent feel, monochrome black and white for a contemporary look, teals and inky blues to refresh your bathroom or bedroom and rustic greens and chocolate to snuggle up with downstairs."

Sainsbury's style-conscious designs include velvet cushions, in warm berry colours, at £5.99 each; chenille throws at £14.99; shaggy chenille cushions, £8.99; metal table lamps with red or black shades, £14.99; and tall metallic vases for £4.99. Black candle-holders with matching candles are just £3.99. An eye-catching mango wood sculpture costs £9.99 - the same price as a four-pack of champagne flutes.

Tesco has drawn inspiration from the fashion catwalks this autumn with dramatic purple vases, £4 to £10 each; tall glass vases in green, brown or amethyst, £8 each; and ceramic vases and bowls with a retro-looking orange/green glaze (above right) for £6 to £8. Its sophisticated lighting range includes an all-white table lamp for £45 and a table lamp with a circular smoky-glass base, £50.

Tesco vases

New accessories can refresh a room without going to the expense of changing an entire scheme. Asda has chic ceramic oval-based table lamps in black or red, £15 each, tall metallic vases, £7 each, and a £5 pack of three small ceramic vases. Cushions include a retro-style wave pattern for £4, cerise-coloured silk at £4 and a black cushion with dramatic gold flocked design for £6. Bed linen starts at £10 for a double duvet set and even a pair of leather chairs costs only £160.

For seriously low prices, check out discount stores such as Matalan, which has a range including scallop-edged mirrors, £10; hammered metal bowls, £10; and chenille cushions with Art Deco-inspired patterns, £8. A modern table lamp with adjustable stand and cream shade costs £20, while a patchwork bedspread is £30.

	Cushion from Sainsbury's

Clever storage ideas include a set of three wicker chests for £30 and a pair of storage trunks at £20. It also offers basics at rock-bottom prices - dinner plates are £2 each, four-packs of mugs £4, while four-packs of wine glasses cost £8.

Homesense, a value discounter that arrived in Britain earlier this year with stores in Gloucester, Northampton and Manchester, offers a huge range of homeware at very low prices. The stock at each store changes regularly so it's worth snapping up bargains when you see them.

On the high street, Marks & Spencer has a metallic teardrop lamp, £15; silk cushions at £9.50; tapered bud vases, £5; classic etched wine glasses are £5 each and Ruby china starts from £5 per plate.

More vases from Tesco

"A chic home doesn't have to break the bank - there are heaps of ways to decorate your home on a budget without compromising on quality and style," says Sally Bendelow, head of M&S home design. "The majority of our cushions are three for the price of two and our Furniture-to-go range has essential pieces from £119 which are delivered free to your door within two weeks."

If you want to replace a sofa or armchair, it's worth visiting Ikea, where the latest designs include the Karlstad two-seater for £269, while the armchair costs £189. Meanwhile the Lillberg sofa-bed costs a very reasonable £215. A matching sofa (two-seat, £120; three-seat, £165), rocking chair, £85, and armchair (left), £50, are available in this range.

But if you're after colourful modern dining or kitchen chairs then head over to Habitat and check out Verdi, £69, in fuchsia or dark green plywood; Zucco, £99, in red nylon, and Palocco, £129, in transparent red or amber polyester.

Back at Ikea, the £49 Majby rattan armchair will be available from October along with Henriksdal, a traditional upholstered dining chair for £65. A new textiles range at Ikea includes Jorun Lov, a bold floral curtain design, at £45 for a two-pack, and Jorun Stra, a swirly wave design at £11.99 for a two-pack. Cushions in the same range cost £4.99 and a square 90cm rug £18.99.

	Palocco dining chair at Habitat

It's also worth checking out the Argos furniture range, which includes a beech-finish coffee table, £19.99, and three-shelf pine-finish bookcases from £9.99. Good-value dining sets, such as a rectangular pine table with four matching chairs or a circular glass-topped table and four metal-framed chairs, cost £99.99 per set.

With the digital switchover already under way, it's a good time to check out Argos's low-priced television sets such as the Mikomi 15in digital LCD TV, £129.97, or Bush 15in HD-ready digital LCD TV, £169.99. Digital set-top boxes for adapting an old-style analogue television cost from £16.85.

As for kitchen electrical, Argos has cordless kettles from £4.92 goods, and toasters from £3.94. Now that's what I call a bargain.