DUNELM shoppers looking to pick up the best deals should keep their eyes peeled for certain products.
The retailer has been a staple on our high street for decades, so shoppers may think they already know all the tips and tricks.
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But Lara Evans, an upholsterer and owner of The Cushion Cafe, said shoppers can bag the best bargains if they’re strategic about what they buy.
We picked Lara’s brains to find out which items you should always buy at Dunelm, and the ones to buy elsewhere.
Bedding
Dunelm offers a great range of bedding, and Laura says she’s even bought some from the retailer herself after searching for the best options.
She said: “Dunelm’s duvet and pillow covers come in a range of muted colours to suit any bedroom decor, lovely quality and wash up well every time.
“Going for muted tones also makes the bedding look far more expensive than it actually is.
“It also has great quality stitching and feel of fabric and comes in various sizes.”
Dunelm’s bedding starts at just £6 for a single set, with some priced at as little as £4 in its summer sale.
Rugs
Lara said Dunelm’s rugs come in “fabulous contemporary colours” and are also reasonably priced.
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Her current top pick is the £12 superset single pelt faux fur rug.
“I personally use these to protect my furniture as we have cream, leather sofas”, Lara said.
“They can be thrown in the washing machine and they wash up well.
“They’re also great for animal lovers who want to let their pooches on their furniture.”
But if you want to use it in a more traditional way, Lara said Dunelm’s rugs can make any room feel really cost.
A similar rug at Wayfair would cost you £20.99 – £8.99 more than Dunelm’s.
Cushions
It might not be the most exciting thing to think about, but Lara says to keep your cushions looking plump, you need to have the perfect pads.
Dunelm’s are priced at just £8, whereas John Lewis charges £12 – and they’re slightly smaller.
Lara said: “They come in a great variety of sizes and have good quality outer fabric to prevent feathers from peeking through.”
Items to avoid
While shoppers are often spoiled for choice when they pop into a Dunelm store, not everything is worth your money.
Lara said you should always try out a sofa or an armchair in a showroom first before buying it, especially from Dunelm.
She said: “Many of the online bargains you’ll see are not available to view in the shops.
“While you can order fabric samples, you’re not actually able to see the item of furniture in the flesh so have no idea of its comfort level.
“Buying something cheap and cheerful might seem like a good idea at the time, but you’ll only be replacing it again in a short space of time.”
Of course, whether you want to spend on something will depend on your personal taste so it’s always worth checking it out before you opt not to buy.
If you’re looking to brighten up your home with some new lighting, then you might want to think twice before visiting Dunelm.
Lara said: “Lighting can be overpriced and not great quality.
“Lamp-bases can be wobbly and the fixings are often not supportive enough.”
Lara recommends shoppers try Homesense if they’re looking for “amazing” table or floor lamps at reasonable prices.
But she added that it’s important to make regular visits as their stock changes on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, we spoke to award-winning personal stylist Lisa Talbot about the things you should be buying at Primark, and those to avoid.
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