What to Save, What to Spend

Windows:
SPEND ON: The curtains
Don’t be tempted to go for cheap fabric as it will show. Whether you choose silk, linen or a weave, make sure it’s good quality and drapes evenly. Don’t try to save money by buying less fabric, either – cutting down on the fullness of your curtains will just spoil the effect. Pay attention to getting the style of the heading right, too – for e.g. go for simple eyelet headings in a contemporary setting, or extra-deep pencil pleats in a more traditional scheme.
TIP: Lining your curtains will add to your cost, but is essential to add fullness and weight to your fabric, making it hang better. Lining also protects fabric from sunlight.

SAVE ON: The curtain pole
If your curtains look beautiful, you don’t need a fancy pole so you can cut costs by choosing a simple design. Metal or wrought-iron poles tend to be cheaper than wooden ones, though just as sturdy, and come in a range of colours and finishes. Think about the proportions of the window – with smaller windows you can get away with using a narrower (and therefore cheaper) pole.
TIP: For a touch of glamour, add decorative finials to a plain pole – they’re less expensive than the whole pole.

Lights:
SPEND ON: The lamp base
A lamp is a key finishing touch in a room, so invest in a good-quality lamp base in a classic style that won’t date. Choose one that is non-specific in colour – glass or crystal is ideal – so it can be teamed with cheaper lampshades in different styles and colours.
TIP: Look for quality fittings such as metal holders, woven flexes and sliding switches – inexpensive white plastic fittings are a big quality giveaway.

SAVE ON: The lampshade
The shade you choose can completely change the look of the lamp, making it bold and flamboyant or simple and understated. Be brave – if you tire of it, it won’t cost much to replace. Modern drum-shaped shades give a contemporary look and are inexpensive to buy, whether in plain white cotton or colourful silks. Or follow fashion with one of the latest punchwork shades, featuring intricate lacy designs punched out of card. They look stylish and are good value, too. Pick a shade that is in proportion with your base – as a rough guide, the diameter of your shade should be equal to the length of the lamp base (not including the bulb fitting).
TIP: Use the bulb wattage recommended by the base and shade manufacturers – if the wattage differs, opt for the lower of the two. A bulb with too high a wattage could blow fuses or cause a fire.

Seating:
SPEND ON: The sofa
A good-quality sofa should last 10 to 15 years, so spend as much as you can afford. Invest in a design with classic features and hardwearing neutral upholstery that will stand the test of time. Make sure it’s well constructed – a zigzag sprung model with a hardwood frame is a good option for both strength and comfort. Choose a fibre fill with a foam core for the sofa back as it’s soft yet supportive; keep its shape and need less plumping. A fibre and feather mix is soft, but needs regular plumping, which is tricky with any fixed sections.
TIP: To keep your sofa looking good, invest in a stain-protection treatment when you buy it.

SAVE ON: The cushions
Accessories like cushions are great finishing touches, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get that wow factor. Look for the latest high-street buys to keep your living room looking bang up to date.
TIP: If you’re buying them at a bargain price, go for a pile of cushions rather than one or two, to create a more luxurious look.

The floor:
SPEND ON: The carpet
Laying new carpet is not something you’ll do often, so it pays to buy as good a quality carpet as you can afford. Neutrals and natural weaves are an obvious choice rather than bold shades and patterned designs that can date. Areas of heavy wear will need a hard-wearing carpet, such as an 80/20 wool/nylon mix. In areas like bedrooms, a lighter grade, less hard-wearing carpet will be fine – and cheaper, too.
TIP: Good quality underlay will prolong the life of your carpet. Don’t try to cut costs by fitting new carpet over old underlay or by choosing cheap underlay.

SAVE ON: The rug
A rug is a brilliant way to add impact. It’s easy to pick up a stunning design at a reasonable price, which makes it simple to replace when you want a new look.
TIP: Choose a rug that will suit the room’s scale – a small version will look lost in the middle of a big living room, but if you use it for a purpose – to unite furniture in front of a fireplace or TV, for example – it will work.

Sleeping:
SPEND ON: The mattress
Buy the best-quality mattress you can, as an inferior one will sag. Your choice depends on your budget, but a good mid-priced option is a continuous-sprung mattress rather than an open-sprung design as the interwoven coils are smaller, giving a higher spring count and a more responsive feel. For ultimate comfort, opt for a pocket-sprung mattress, where springs in individual pockets work independently so there’ll be no transmission of movement from one partner to the other.
TIP: You can also buy sprung mattresses with a foam layer that moulds to the contours of your body.

SAVE ON: The bed
If you’ve invested in a good-quality mattress, you can afford to economise on the bed frame, but this doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. Avoid designs with rigid wooden slats that are widely spaced, as they will cause wear and tear on your mattress. For comfort, opt for flexible slats no more than 9 to 10cm apart.
TIP: Mattress manufacturers recommend slat spacing to suit their own mattresses, so check the bedstead is compatible before you buy.

SPEND ON: The pillows
At worst, a cheap pillow will give you a stiff neck or persistent headaches. Invest in a good-quality pillow that will hold your head, neck, shoulders and upper back in a straight line. The filling and firmness you choose depends on personal preference, but synthetic-filled pillows come in a variety of softnesses (keep to branded fibres for quality), are easy to wash and keep their shape. Down and feather versions are plumper and softer – opt for these if you like to sink into your pillow.
TIP: Make sure you’re sleeping in a healthy environment by replacing your pillows at least every two to three years to avoid a build-up of skin and dust mites.

SAVE ON: The bed linen
When it comes to bed linen, it is looks that are important. Most stores sell sets at reasonable prices, so you can afford to replace them without blowing your budget. Top-quality Egyptian cotton looks fabulous, but it can be a nightmare to iron, so opt for easy-iron sets (usually a polycotton mix) instead – they’re much less pricey, too.
TIP: Buy inexpensive sets in plain toning colours so you can layer the look.

Kitchen:
SPEND ON: The handles
It’s often the details that make all the difference – the plainest kitchen units can be transformed with smart new handles. Invest in a good design – even though the price per handle might seem expensive, quality fittings really do stand out.
TIP: Choose high-quality materials such as pewter, chrome, leather and resin for a superior-looking finish.

SAVE ON: The doors
As long as the carcasses of your kitchen units are solidly made, you can economise when you’re updating by replacing the doors with budget buys. The plainer and simpler the design, the cheaper the doors will be. What’s more, unfussy styles with minimal detailing are far less likely to date than high-fashion styles.
TIP: Opt for inexpensive plain white doors rather than cheap wooden ones – it’s more difficult to spot that they’re not top quality. They’re more versatile, too – white looks great with just about every colour scheme.

Bathrooms:
SPEND ON: The taps
Quality taps will lift the look of an average suite or bathroom. Remember, they are working parts, too, so a superior design will be less likely to go wrong. High-quality materials such as chrome will also stay tarnish-free.
TIPS: Try taps out in the showroom – if the handle or spout wobbles when you turn them on, they’re of a lesser quality.

SAVE ON: The basin
Keep to clean lines and classic styles – with simple shapes, it’s hard to differentiate a top-end basin from a lower-priced option.
TIP: Shop around for a bargain – you don’t have to get your taps and basin from the same supplier.

Dining:
SPEND ON: The chair
Quality is vital when you’re choosing dining chairs as they come under more strain than the table. Hardwood frames are the most durable. Fabrics suitable for chairs need to have passes the 25,000 ‘rub test’, so check this is marked. Nylon glides on the feet will protect the chair and the floor, and are a good indicator of quality.
TIP: The chair should be wider than the gap between your elbows when placed on the table (52cm to 56cm). There should be around 18cm to 20cm between the seat and the underside of the table.

SAVE ON: The table
A ridiculously cheap table is a false economy as you’ll only get what you pay for. But a good table need not be expensive – check that it’s strong and feels well made. Wood tables are the sturdiest and have the advantage that a damaged top can be sanded back and re-varnished.
TIP: Table heights range from 73.5cm to 77cm and over, so make sure any existing chairs will fit comfortable under it. There should be at least 60cm of space for each diner on a rectangular table, or 75cm on a circular table.