DO you want to make your home feel luxurious but don’t have a fortune to spend?
On tonight’s show, which airs at 7pm, hosts Sophie Morgan and Michelle Ackerley speak to industry insiders about how to do a luxury home and garden makeover as prices soar.
From where to find identical plants and electronics for a fraction of the normal price, and getting premium paint and tiles for less, the experts reveal their top tips…
Plants
It can be tempting to head to a garden centre to stock up on indoor and outdoor plants for your home.
But florist and plant buyer Petra Shouten advises you to go to the supermarket instead, as they often have the same plants for less.
She said: “Garden centres and nurseries have got a really broad and in depth selection, but supermarket retailers offer a really quick off-the-shelf opportunity.
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“You might walk away with a really good bargain, in some cases a bargain as 25 to 50 per cent less than a garden centre.
“It is a different buying model.”
Furniture
You may have your heart set on a designer chair or piece of furniture, but can you tell the difference between a luxury item and a dupe?
In the show, the experts gave Wolverhampton Vinnie and Hannah three pink, scalloped 1920s-style chairs.
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The most expensive was priced at £395 from Oliver Bonas, the second was £149 from Dunelm and the cheapest was £100 from B&M.
But could they tell the difference?
Sitting in the B&M bargain chair, Hannah said: “I think this is the most expensive, it’s really soft and I think it is the detailing.”
Michelle advised: “If you are just after that luxury look, there is a good chance you can get it for a lot, lot less.”
Avoid catalogues
It has never been easier to fill your home with designer items, and glossy home catalogues sell the showhome dream – but are you paying over the odds?
Sophie said: “Most of the items found in these catalogues aren’t made by the catalogue companies.”
Michelle added: “They are bought in from the manufacturers, and then sold to you with a markup.
Sophie continued: “So with a bit of homework, you can find the same items much cheaper elsewhere.”
Tiles
Every year, UK households spend over £500million on tiles, but could we be saving money?
Many of the tiles we buy are made overseas, and many high street shops will charge you for the privilege of importing them across.
Sophie advised: “But if you know where to look, you can get them for half price.”
Michelle shows a tile from high-end Boutique Stone that costs £47 per square metre and then reveals the exact same tile for £17.99 on Tile Expert.
Paint
Should you fork out for pricey paint or will cheaper dupes do the trick?
Homeowners Becca and Shaun were tasked with finding the most expensive paint out of three similar shades.
They got the ones completely wrong, and thought the Good Home option, which was £6.80 per litre was the priciest.
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It was actually the cheapest, compared to Dulex for £16.80 per litre and Little Great for £26 per litre, which they ranked lower.
Decorator Mike Cupit said: “I’ve been telling clients for years that trade paint will outperform the luxury brands.”
On the show, Johnstone’s Trade came top overall in their tests.
Electronics
The UK buys 8 million TVs a year, and two thirds come from the four biggest well-known brands: Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Sony.
But is being brand loyal the best way to shop, and should you consider companies such as TCL instead?
TV repairs specialist Tad Vaas said: “When you pay for Sony you pay a lot for the brand itself.
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“Whereas TCL they have been manufacturing TVs for all the big brands, they didn’t have to go through all the process of how to sell a good TV, they already do that.
“TCL uses smaller boards, smaller components and that’s where the TV comes from.
“Small components for a similar result.”
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