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Secrets to choosing linens you'll love

Shopping for new linens can be a real treat. And since you're shopping for something you'll see and use every day, try to buy the highest quality sheets and towels you can afford

It will be a thrifty move in the long run, since good quality linens can last between 10 and 15 years, when properly cared for. With that in mind, here are some mix and match suggestions to help your linen budget stretch as far as your imagination

• Think about your colour scheme and the effect you're after. Are you hoping to create a soft and romantic atmosphere or more of an avante garde statement? Wild and crazy? Warm and cosy? Colour, even more than style, creates the mood of the room.
• In your bedroom, your first purchase should be a comforter. It's the focal point of your bedroom and the starting point of your colour scheme. A reversible comforter gives you even more style and colour options!
• In the bathroom, the focal point is usually your towels. Mix and match textures, colours and patterns.
• Mix different shades of the same colour, or match different patterns that share a similar colour (red and white stripes with red and white polka dots, for instance). Mixing and matching not only saves you money, but can also downplay existing fixture or tile colours that you're not so fond of.
• Consider using sheets to mix and match window treatments. Sheeting is an economical, quality fabric, and you'll have no trouble matching and blending colours!
• In your bathroom, you can make two or three easy shower curtains out of full, flat sheets to dramatically change the colour scheme anytime you want.
• Adding more standard-size or decorative pillows instantly makes your bed and bedroom look more luxurious and inviting. Cover those pillows with decorative shams and pillowcases that complement the mood of the room, or introduce a new colour or pattern.
• If your bed doesn't have a headboard, consider buying oversized pillows measuring 26 x 26 inches. Covered with dramatic shams, they make a real statement, as well as a comfortable headboard substitute.
• Don't forget the 'classic' solids for your linen closet. Solid white or ivory sheets complement every pattern and colour scheme. A mix of solid and printed towels gives you the freedom to mix, match and create whatever mood strikes your fancy. Finally, since wash cloths are often the first part of a towel set to fade, buy two washcloths for every bath towel.

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