You don’t need to spend a fortune to turn your home into a palace. Check out your favourite supermarket or high street store and you’ll discover a host of designer style goodies for rooms that are cheap as chips. Gabrielle Fagan looks at how...

We’ve all heard of those who can’t get enough of shoes, chocolate or shopping but there’s a growing number of people who are ‘home-aholics’.

The easy-to-spot symptoms include an irresistible desire for cushions or throws in the latest colours, a set of new mugs (no matter now many you already own.) and regular doses of ‘treats’ for your rooms.

Any home addict will recognise that quickening of the pulse and an opening of the purse on spotting new homeware.

If this sounds familiar, don’t panic – treatment is easy. You can safely indulge your addiction – without too much damage to your bank balance – by taking advantage of the latest brilliant ‘cheap as chips’ ranges of designer-standard homeware now offered by the high street stores, supermarkets, and online.

So you want a few name-dropping designer name tags for your living room as well as in your wardrobe? Treat yourself at stores such as TK Maxx with its discounted designer homeware.

Fill your trolley with home goodies at Sainsbury’s, Tesco or Asda or check out design-standard selections in high street chains such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis or Woolworths.

House Beautiful editor, Jill Morgan says: “Spotting the latest designer range in your local supermarket has become just as much fun as investing in the real thing – but with the financial bonus and the knowledge that you don’t have to keep it forever.

“People are definitely becoming more savvy and eclectic in their shopping habits and love getting a stylish look for a bargain price.”

HIGH STREET CHIC

Marks & Spencer
Its homeware range has never suffered the ups and downs of its clothing – with good reason, it’s consistently been excellent.
The only frustrating thing can be finding a store that stocks it, but it’s easy to get round that by using the mail order or online service.
The new value range does just what it ‘says on the tin’ and has great quality products at affordable prices such as Baby Chenille throw, in gold, cream & coral £15, ribbed cushions £5 each.
Or pick up on ‘Floral’ style with pretty mugs from the Ditsy Floral collection. They cost £18 for a set of four.
0845 603 1603/ www.marksandspencer.com

Tchibo
Tchibo offers practical electrical gadgets and kitchenware at competitive prices and also a good selection of decorative home products.
Pick up on the fashion for colour with a rug of many shades, £24.99, or shine a stylish light, with its contemporary table lamp, £9.99. Each week there’s a new range of themed products.
Products are available from Tchibo stores and in selected Sainsbury’s and Somerfield.
0800 0850 507/ www.tchibo.co.uk

TK Maxx
If you go green with envy over the homes in glossy interiors magazines and long to copy the trends, this store is definitely worth a visit.
It pioneered cut-price designer fashion but also stocks items from well-known home brands and designer ranges which are perfect for a touch of upmarket style.
These have proved so successful it’s just launched its first designated homeware store, TK Maxx Home in Coventry and another eight are planned.
Switch on to the trend for lacquer with a vibrant red gloss lamp and shade, £29.99, or grab yourself the high gloss black vase, £7.99 and a matching Pot Pourri container, £9.99. www.tkmaxx.com

Woolworths
Its homeware is the best-kept secret among serious home-aholics, whose willpower is seriously tested every time the store produces another irresistible collection.
It mimics some of the best designer ranges and is a great destination for those finishing touches.
Decorative elegance is never out of fashion. Scatter style with an Authentic print cushion, £6 or a Leaf design cushion, £7.
01706 862789 www.woolworths.co.uk

SUPERMARKET CHIC

Asda
There’s no excuse for putting up with tired, out-of-date rooms if there’s one of these stores near you.
Just to make it easy-peasy it’s grouped its six ranges into style themes such as coastal Castaway, or Elegance for fans of girly, feminine chic.
For the latter, pretty pastel cushions in pink, lilac, blue and green decorated with polka dots are a snip at £4 each.
Or go retro with the Mono Funky collection featuring a bold red and black flower print. It’s certainly a step back in time pricewise with Dumbbell vases, £5, and cushions £4.50. 0500 100 055/ www.asda.com

Sainsbury's
There’s oodles of home inspiration in the ranges which get top marks for essentials like pretty bedlinen and towels as well as ‘treats’ like Purity, hand-painted crockery.
Go fashionably green with its Plantation range of products in rustic weaves and woods and galvanised metal, and don’t neglect the kids’ street cred. Spoil them with the new children’s ranges, Pirates for boys and Cupcakes for girls. 0845 301 2020/ www.sainsburys.co.uk

Tesco
Home-aholics like nothing better than ringing the changes in a room with new cushions, throws and accessories.
Be warned, the collections here are just too tempting to resist, with bright, zingy shades and a variety of textures from cool cotton to slinky satin. Or trip the light fantastic with their decorative and contemporary lamps.
Go for a feminine boudoir with Cotton throws in 50s pastel shades, £12.87, and Mini Skittle and Onion vases in duck egg, mink or ivory from £1.47. 0800 505 555/ www.tesco.com