This paper presents the beneficial act of the tension stiffening effect in the design process according to the rules of the EC2 Eurocode and DIN 1045-1. Different approaches for the modelling of this phenomenon are offered. To describe this effect, two different basic approaches are possible using micro- or macro-elements. The first technique is coupled with a discrete representation of cracking, while the second one is coupled with a smeared representation of cracking. The advantages and the disadvantages of using these models are discussed. A numerical example shows the beneficial act of the tension stiffening effect on a reinforced concrete plate. The economy in reinforcement, when the tension stiffening effect is taken into account during the design procedure, is quantified. Finally, non-linear analyses expose the difference in stiffness and deflection, when tension stiffening is considered.