Re-covering a chair, a headboard or a pile of cushions doesn't need designer prices. These furnishing fabrics are all £7 a metre or less, and most are 140cm wide, so a little goes a long way.

• Heavy cotton houndstooth from £3.99 a metre – duck egg and beige/gold vintage houndstooth cottons.
• Floral and damask brocades from £4.99 a metre – big leaf brocade in red, green or wine, cerise flower brocade on brown and wine floral damask.
• Heavy cotton canvas at £5.99 a metre – cream houndstooth by Ottilie Stevenson, or 10 metres for £49.
• Designer cotton prints at £5.99 a metre – a changing mix of Prestigious and GlobalTex prints and weaves, plus a heavy green camo stripe canvas.
• Striped and plain furnishing fabric at £5.99 a metre – wine, red and bottle green stripes, and a plain streak weave.
• Heavy floral upholstery at £6.99 a metre – a beige and brown woven floral for chairs and footstools.

Not sure it's tough enough? Our upholstery fabric guide explains what to look for, and many fabrics offer a swatch first. See the full upholstery fabric range or all our cheap fabric by the metre.