Bargain buys for Autumn 2011

Autumn is upon us, the nights are getting shorter and we're going to spend more time indoors. The house could do with a complete overhaul, but without the help of some TV makeover show, that's not likely.

However, there are ways you can spruce up your interiors, without spending too much money. We've come up with a Top Ten buys for Autumn, and will show you just how they can give you maximum makeover impact with minimal cost! Look at each room in your home, decide where the key areas that need a bit o f a revamp are, and fix the ones that are most important to you first. If you spend a lot of time in the living room, start there, and leave the less used rooms alone. It's easy to add just a few new items to your home, to make it look like you've had a complete revamp!

Jefferson Armchair from Marks and Spencer, £299.

This bold, bright, leather armchair is a decent price, and will instantly spruce up a room. It comes in a deep burgundy or a bright lime. It's a simple way of adding a touch of colour and glamour to a room without completely redecorating, or buying a complete new suite. This chair will be equally at home in a guest room, your living room, bedroom or a study that needs a bit of zing!

Jewel Tones Bedding, from £9, Asda

If you have a guest bedroom that's not often used, you want it to look good, but not cost the earth. Spruce it up with a set of new bold bedding in Autumnal berry shades. It will look inviting to anyone that passes by. Asda have some lovely ranges, at extremely reasonable prices.

Pappelina Swedish Plastic Rugs, £310, www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

Okay, how is a rug that's over £300 a budget buy you might ask? Well, look at it like this. Your wooden floor's a bit tired, but you can't afford to replace it. You need a new carpet, but the cost is too high. That's where these rugs come in. They are soft and comfortable to use, but are extremely hardwearing and ideal for a hallway where a lot of foot traffic can wreck carpets quickly, or a kitchen where you spend a lot of time standing.

Evie Bedframe, £120, Tesco Direct

Everyone knows that the mattress is the most important part of the bed. You don't need to spend a fortune on a bed frame if your mattress is a good one. So, you could easily give your bedroom a new lease of life by changing the bed frame, and this vintage-style one from Tesco is a perfect, affordable and pretty buy.

Ditsy Floral and Polka Dot crockery, from £3, Matalan

Shabby Chic is never going away. We all love the country kitchen look, but it needn't cost a fortune. Shops like Cath Kidston aren't exactly cheap, but if you want to change your crockery to florals and polka dots on a budget, and bring a bit of summer with you into autumn, then Matalan's Ditsy Floral and polka dot range is a musthave. The great thing about the shabby chic trend is, nothing has to match, so you can buy a few bits here and there in different patterns and it will actually look better!

Kitchen Clock, £16, Matalan

Retro Kitchen Clock, £23.95, www.dotcongiftshop.com

Another easy way to spruce up a room is add a clock that's a bit of a talking point. It draws the eye away from the fading wallpaper, or 'badly in need of a paint' wall, and on to it. This fabulous 'utensil' clock from Matalan is cheap and very very cheerful! Or, if you want a proper retro feel, the Retro Refectory clock from the Dot Com Gift Shop is perfect.

Ironing Board covers, £5.99, Asda, Boots, Debenhams

Masters of the household gadgets JML are celebrating 25 years in business this year, and have launched a fabulous new range of Ironing Board covers. If you have to leave your ironing board out on view, the last thing you want is an old cover on it. And, anything that makes ironing a bit more pleasant gets a thumbs up, no? These covers are bold, bright and fun – in cherries, cupcakes, pawprints and animal prints!

Tecton Floor Lamp, £99.98, B&Q

Teacups Lamp, £50, Next

If the décor isn't up to scratch, then don't worry – winter is a perfect time to get away with it when guests visit at night – just turn the lighting down. Get rid of middle room lights, and focus a cool floor lamp away from any bits of wall that have marks or scrapes. A lamp that you can angle any way you want makes this easy to do. Or, add a table lamp so interesting all your guests will be looking at is it – this amazing teacup lamp from Next fits that bill!

Toronto Chairs, £79 per pair, Marks and Spencer

Make dinner a bold occasion – mix and match. Instead of buying a new table and chairs, keep your old table, invest in some bold table linen, and add some new chairs – these Toronto seats from M&S are bright. Just buy a pair, and mix your seating up. Be eclectic – it's stylish and fun.

Floral cushion, £12, from a selection, Next

One of the best ways to brighten up the sofa quickly is adding some cushions. Next have a lovely selection for Autumn Winter, in summer floral prints to make us feel warm in colder times. Pantone made Honeysuckle the colour of the year for 2011 – a warm, pinky peach shade, so why not invest in little pockets of that to brighten up your home for Autumn, with little investment.