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Forget the chills caused by the climate and the credit crunch. Get cosy at home with bargain buys that will turn the heat up in your rooms without affecting the bills.
Dont just feel sorry for yourself if youre suffering from winter ills - spare a thought for rooms that may have their own seasonal ailments.
You wouldnt prance about now in thin summer togs, so your home should
be suitably re-dressed for winter and beyond too.
After all, what looks fab bathed in warm sunshine and bright light can suddenly look distinctly unappealing in the cold, harsh light of winter.
Urgent treatment to turn up the temperature - without raising those scary heating bills - will result in a cosy, sensual sanctuary suitable for hibernation and socialising.
Be warned though - its easy to let winter winds blow style out of the window, and you can end up with an ill-thought out assortment of accessories that may be warm but wont earn you any festive compliments.
Its essential to avoid no-nos such as sausage dog draught excluders, uncoordinated throws that make sofas look like badly dressed parcels, and an odd mis-match of lightweight and winter cushions.
Follow our prescription and treat your home to some cosy and desirable homeware with distinctly purse-friendly price tags.
Administer at least one dose (or home buy) for immediate results!
:: MARKS & SPENCER
Theres a feast of cosy goodies to satisfy all tastes ranging from fab ribbed knitted throws, fluffy sheepskin rugs and plump cushions, as well as essential touches of opulence such as decorative damask for throws and cushions.
ROOM MEDICINE: My choice would be the Chunky knit collection - a throw costs £45 and a cushion, £25.
Just as tempting is a Mongolian cushion in white or brown, £25, or a Heritage damask throw in fashionable purple, £45.
:: B&Q
Once just a haven for DIY devotees, this store is now a serious player in the homeware market with a well-deserved reputation for quality and style.
Its bang on-trend products at bargain prices make it easy to fill a trolley and feel no pain at the checkout.
ROOM MEDICINE: My choice would be a treat for the toes - its Shag Pile wool rug, £149.98, and a scattering of retro-inspired Felt Loop cushions, £9.98 each.
Alternatively, conjure a coastal look in an instant with its shingle-style grey Pebble cushions, £14.98 each.
:: BHS
This is a hot destination for those who want a luxury sanctuary and are determined to lounge like a diva.
Gorgeous fabrics and decorative touches like embroidery and beading turn snuggling into a sensual experience.
ROOM MEDICINE: My choice is the gold Sahara bedspread, £75, and matching cushion, £25. The pillar-box red Ultimate towels, from £3 each, would be a warming shot of colour.
:: VIRGIN VIE
If youve ever oohed and aahed over those impossibly gorgeous rooms in glossy interiors magazines, this company could be the answer to your prayers.
Its imaginative, distinctive and crucially, affordable ranges could inspire you to splurge.
Create a Russian-style winter palace with its yummy faux fur and rich velvet throws, or turn the temperature up in the boudoir by layering a bed in its covers, eiderdowns and throws.
ROOM MEDICINE: My choice would be a Milano throw in dark chocolate, £95, or a La Belle Vie throw in plum coloured devore and silk, £100.
:: SAINSBURYS
This store is vying for the crown for supermarket chic source, and there are plenty of design-standard treats that could cheaply revive ailing rooms.
ROOM MEDICINE: My choice is its Stone shaggy chenille cushion, £8.99, and Different By Design faux fur throw, £24.99. Or be inspired by autumns shades and curl up with some velvet cushions from £5.99 each, and a red check Chenille throw, £14.99.
:: CLEVER COSY
Create the ultimate sanctuary for a perfect nights sleep without sending your energy bills soaring.
Morphy Richards new Polar Fleece Mattress heated cover, which starts from £49.99 for a single, costs around 2p a night compared to around 70p to keep the central heating on overnight.
It also features extra foot warmth so toes stay toasty, and dual controls to stop bickering!
Snuggle under a Dreamland Starlight electric blanket, which is priced from £19.99 to £119.99.
The blanket has a choice of six settings and its estimated that a single heated blanket uses less electricity than a small light bulb. Its available from John Lewis and Argos stores.
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