W hen belt-tightening begins, small indulgences are everything. Cross cheap treats off the shopping list at your peril because pick-me-ups for the interior, from a bunch of Tesco chrysanthemums to a Matalan fluted glass vase, can make the outside world seem cheerier.

The act of prettifying our rooms with inexpensive accessories is an expression of optimism that kindles contentment. The AW22 home collections second that emotion, offering plenty to buy from under £2 to £25. (That’s the price of an average basket of goods at Lidl, or the cost of a round of drinks, if you don’t have many friends.)

There are some proper copper-bottomed bargains to be had this season: the H&M cushion that looks like one ten times the cost; Habitat’s “faux moh” throw;

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