Stark contrast

Mix dark wood furniture with white for a contemporary bedroom.

Clever cost cutters

• White and natural tones are great for a room on a budget as you'll always find high- street staples in these popular shades.
• Start with a matching set of good-value wooden furniture. It will ensure that costs are kept under control from the outset.
• Decorative bed linen is an instant low-cost way to add style to a bedroom.
• For floors, sisal is a great value and durable choice, simply add a rug to soften the look.
• Wooden blinds won't date or need replacing - they can be made to measure without blowing the budget, or bought ready-made, and are easy to fit.
• White paint can be amazingly cheap to buy, making it a wise choice if you have a large room.
• Use a series of inexpensive photo frames grouped together to add life to blank walls and personalise your space.

Walls in brilliant white matt emulsion, £4.99 per 2.5ltr, Morrisons. Flooring in Coir Panama Natural, £11.35 per sq m, Crucial Trading. Blind, from £67 for 60 x 60cm, Faber. Malm double bed frame, £90, Malm two-drawer chest, £25, and Malm dressing table, £85, all from Ikea. Twilight duvet cover, £35, House of Fraser. Plain white pillowcases, £7 each, Next. Cushions from various homestores. Square photo frames, £5 each, Primark; long Ribba photo frame in beech dark wood (88 x 30cm), £12.49, Ikea.