Modern rooms use clean lines, uncluttered surfaces and warm neutral colours, with texture coming from wood, linen and soft lighting rather than ornament. Pieces sit a little lower and lighter, which makes most rooms feel larger.

The shopping list for this modern dining room has 3 pieces at about $360 in total, around $40 below the usual list prices. It includes lighting, storage and decor. Every item is a real product on Amazon, so prices and stock can change — the price on Amazon is the one that counts.

In a dining room, size the rug so the chairs stay on it when pulled out, hang the main light about 30 inches above the table, and leave at least three feet behind each chair to walk around. On a tight budget, put most of the money into the piece you use every day and save on accessories you can swap later.