The affordable homewares interior designers love

The terms “bespoke” and “bespoke” are widely used in the field of interior design. In most cases, that rug/sofa/table you admire in a magazine or on Instagram is either a one-of-a-kind piece or a piece that's way out of your budget. For this reason, it is always gratifying to discover off-the-shelf products purchased in the most desirable homes.

“The high street has really improved in recent years, meaning there is a wide range of timeless and affordable ways to brighten up a space,” says designer Holly Vaughan, director of Vaughan Design & Development. Her favorite retailers include Anthropologie for lighting and Zara Home for seating. The trick, she says, is to combine such inexpensive accessories with vintage and handmade pieces to strike a desirable balance.

Here, a cohort of top interior designers share the finds they rate and love using again and again.

Linen blend pillowcases

£9.99, H&M homepage

H&M's household range is full of trendy tableware and bed linen. But Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors always returns to these pocket-money pillow covers to add a pop of color to the rooms she designs. “They look premium but aren’t too expensive,” she says. “I often use them when clients have small children and need to throw them in the laundry regularly. They are particularly suitable for built-in benches in kitchens.” The covers are available in 15 colors and are made from a tactile blend of linen and cotton.

Besta sideboard

From £175, Ikea

Leo Wood, founder of Kinder Design, turns to the Swedish giant's modular Besta range when she needs to be creative on a tight budget. There's no shortage of clever ways to customize simple Ikea pieces. Choosing good-looking grips is an obvious route to personalization, but in this case Wood focused on the feet instead. “I thought these wooden 'balls' from Pretty Pegs were fun in an understated way,” she says. The result is groundbreaking: and far from flatpack.

Aurora green glass wall mirror

£125, Oliver Bonas

Insiders advise avoiding overly trendy pieces as they quickly become outdated – making this Art Deco-inspired mirror from Oliver Bonas a safe choice. “It's similar to some really special antique mirrors I sourced a while ago but they were very expensive, so it feels like a great find for the price,” says Holly Vaughan, who used it in this lovely bathroom .

Ball lampshade made of fiber silk

£85, Lighting lover

Interior designer Laura Parkinson of Palmer & Stone believes that the “big light” (or central pendant light) gets a bad rap only because of poor lampshade choice. “When the bulb is exposed, the light feels bright and unpleasant,” she explains. That's where a silk fiber lampshade comes in: “Because the light is diffused, it feels soft when used with lower lighting.” This is one of the most affordable options I've found and is similar in design to some designer brands “Very.” Her top tip for upgrading cheap lighting fixtures is to customize plastic ceiling roses with metal alternatives and swap unsightly cables for prettier fabric cables.

Rug with wavy edge

From £50.75, Etsy

Etsy is a great source for ordering small, custom home goods, but with so many sellers to browse, it can be difficult to know who to shortlist. So take award-winning designer Laura Stephens' recommendation and bookmark seller Rugs Trade. “My customer tells me that this rug is the item friends ask about most when they visit her. Ironically, it’s one of the cheapest items we sourced,” she says. Rugs Trade made the jute rug with contrasting edges to Stephens' exact measurements. “Always go as big as possible and make sure to place some furniture feet on the rug to anchor it,” she advises.

Chambray shower curtain

£85, Ferm Living

The reason interior designed bathrooms look so inviting is because they often have a softness to them, perhaps thanks to an upholstered chair or fabric blinds. When space is at a premium, Laura Parkinson uses a shower curtain to add much-needed texture and pattern. Give preference to nylon and always pay for pure cotton, she says: “This one is much more grippy than many of the plastic-like shower curtains on the market. And it’s washable, so it’s very user-friendly.”

Striped throw

£29.99, Zara House

Interior designer Pandora Taylor swears by the textiles from the Zara Home range. “They have a lovely, rustic quality with lots of natural linen and soft earth tones that pair so well with higher quality pieces,” she says. In this project, a striped throw used as a curtain on a four-poster bed frame competes with thoughtful and handcrafted furniture pieces.

Eden fabric

£28 per meter, The fabric store

Designer fabrics sound reasonable until you multiply the price by the number of yards needed and realize you could probably enjoy a city break for the same price. Interior designer Lizzie Green used Eden from The Cloth Shop (£28 per metre, natural background) on a bay window in her own home, to stunning effect. “It has a strong and bold botanical look rather than something too dainty and dazzling,” she explains. Available in four colors, the pattern is remarkably versatile: she's also used it to upholster a seating area in a modern kitchen extension.

Cagney wall lamp

From £110.50, Pooky

Pooky is no longer such a well-kept secret at the cheaper end of the lighting industry, but as it continues to innovate, it's still one of the best. Sophia Ayrton-Grime, founder of Studio Raff, heads to her antique brass and chrome wall lights; The Cagney range features an articulated arm, making it a practical choice as a bedside lamp. “I avoid brushed and colored matte finishes as they can appear harsh and sometimes cheap,” she says. “And I incorporate dimmers into the lighting plans because they’re great for setting the mood.”

Side table with an antique effect

£69.99, Zara House

Laura Stephens admits to buying Zara Home's take on a traditional martini table for virtually every one of her projects. Thanks to its elegant proportions, “the slim stem fits easily next to or in front of a chair or sofa, where it is perfect for a glass or cup,” she says. Laura Parkinson says it looks like tables twice or triple the price. The fact that it's dark is also a bonus: “I often add a few natural or cream pieces to a design to accentuate the space and prevent softer colors from looking too sickly or boring,” she says. Designers James Arkoulis and Saskia Howard of Howark Design are also part of this table's fan club and appreciate its classic silhouette – the fact that it's always in stock makes it even more attractive.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, savings and more.