5 budget-minded design ideas

3 Keeping larger furniture neutral
By keeping larger, more prominent pieces neutral, it's much easier to refresh a room when, and if, you get bored with it. "I love red, but I'm not going to buy a red sofa," Corinne says. Because if you have a big, red sofa, there are only so many colours you can choose to paint and accessorize the room. It's much more economical to put your money into a piece that will remain timeless no matter the other changes you make to a room.

4 Focusing on function
"Something functional will always be so," says Corinne. Trendy pieces come and go, and while there's always a place for them, it's better to choose functional over frivolous, she says. Putting your money into one sturdy, functional piece that will last and last is something people are doing during the recession, but also something that makes sense regardless of your budget.

5 Multi-functional pieces
Being on a budget means being selective with what you can buy. Should you opt for the bookshelf or the end tables? The vanity or the coffee table? Rather than have to choose, buy something that has more than one use, such as a bed or coffee table that also contains ample storage space. Corinne says the current trend toward multi-functional furniture is something that will remain despite beginning as a cost-cutting measure.

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