Bargain hunting for your home

Bargain hunter and author of The Good Deal Directory Noelle Walsh shares her money-saving expertise and reveals how to spend less and buy more

Reproduced from the January 07 issue of Good Homes magazine. This month's issue on sale now. Subscribe now and save 40 per cent.

'When I was a journalist 25 years ago, I had a pretty low salary and a flat decorated in minimalist style out of necessity, but a chance lunchtime outing in London changed my life. I saw a crowd of well-dressed young ladies waiting outside a designer's showroom and joined them. Inside, I found rails of this-season clothes at wholesale prices. My career as a bargain hunter had begun.

'As the years went by, I extended my research to interiors. I discovered that every retail business had its mistakes, its overstock, its last-season designs and patterns. Some shops set up clearance outlets or departments, while others passed products back to the manufacturer.

'Large purchases, such as beds, sofa suites and bathrooms, are where the greatest savings can be made - you can save hundreds on a single item. Here are my choices for the best deals around...'

Year-round clearance shops

Missed the annual sale? These five famous brands run year-round clearance shops where you can pick up end-of-line, ex-display or slightly damaged stock at bargain prices.

Habitat
(0161 902 0441; www.habitat.net) It has a clearance department in Wythenshawe, Lancashire, which is part of a full-price store and specialises in furniture rather than smaller household items. Find sofas, sofabeds, chairs, dining suites, desks, chairs, tables and kitchen units.

Lombok
(020 7736 5171 on Fridays and Saturdays only; www.lombok.co.uk) The London warehouse sells some of the core collection of furniture designs, from desks to dining chairs, as well as accessories, at discounts of between 50% and 90%. Open on Saturdays only, from 10am-5pm.

Multiyork
(01924 457328; www.multiyork.co.uk) There is a clearance department upstairs in the Redbrick Mill, West Yorkshire store where you can find ex-display suites, tables, chairs, fabric and cushions at reductions of 50% or more.

Oka
(0870 160 6002; www.okadirect.com) At its three clearance shops - one each in Oxfordshire, Surrey and Edinburgh - you can buy seconds at discount prices, as well as full-price new stock. Depending on availability, you could find sofas, beds, curtains, throws, lighting, cushions, storage and garden accessories.

Sanderson
(0161 272 8501; www.sanderson-uk.com) It sells seconds and discontinued patterns in fabrics, wallpapers, curtains, duvet covers, pillows, towels, rugs and cushions, as well as sofas and chairs, many at half price.

10 top clearance events

Although most shops have sales in January, you may want to find bargains at other times of the year. Many companies have clearance events throughout the year - but these are not always advertised and you may have to be on their mailing list to receive information. Sign up to these 10 clearance sales and fill up your diary.