We buy fluffy new towels and the first candle lit bath is pure bliss. But that just-purchased softness and bounce rarely survives the curse of The First Wash. The harsh reality of living in a hard water area is that the limescale plays havoc with our bath sheets, turning them stiff enough to play tennis with.

Here are a few tips to bring the softness back.

All hail the tumble drier
Tumble driers may be out of favour because of their anti-eco credentials, but we have to admit that tumble dried towels beat line dried towels hands down in the softness stakes.

The Calgon Trick
A tip found in an old Good Housekeeping which seems to get the thumbs up in soft-towel forums online; try washing your towels on a normal machine cycle with a Calgon tablet, but no detergent.  Apparently there will be enough suds to clean the towels despite not putting any washing powder in there and they’ll dry softer.

Everything comes out nicer with an Aga
If you’re lucky enough to have an Aga, some people say popping your towels on top when they’re almost dry can help soften them.

Maybe Mum knew best after all
A good old-fashioned airing cupboard, kept warm, is said to help do the trick.

One for the Old Wives Tale archives?
Some people swear by putting a cup of white wine vinegar in the wash. We can’t verify whether this is true or not, but if it makes your hair shiny, why can’t it fluff up your towels too?

Never use fabric softener
The build up of silicone in the softener leaves a residue on your towels making them flat and rough.

Curtains for the home can be a significant investment. Therefore, careful consideration is required in balancing longevity, function, cost and fashion. We asked our curtain maker Pat Giddens for her top tips.

Style
Start by looking in magazines, books and on the internet to get an idea of the multitude of styles of curtains and blinds. Consider how the architecture of the room and windows will influence the style. Not all styles are suitable for all windows.

Function of the room
Consider the end use of the room e.g. do you need total black out for a baby’s room or a media room? Do you need to reduce sunlight to protect furniture?

Colour
Colour can make a room look larger or smaller and can have an effect on the mood. You may also want to go for a darker colour in a home with pets and children.

Fabric

Most major fabric houses have brilliant websites that can make it very simple to look at fabrics and order swatches from home.Consideration needs to be given to the fact they may often be hanging in strong sunlight. Strong colours may fade and many fabrics can disintegrate very quickly. Careful use of linings and interlinings will help. Certain fabrics e.g. linens may crease very easily.

Quality
As well as quality of the fabrics used, it is essential to use good quality hard ware e.g. tracks and poles. Strength, ease of use and good fitting are primary concerns.

Headings
Your choice of heading style will affect the fullness of the curtains and the quantity of fabric required. Different headings will make the curtains look formal or informal, modern or traditional, allow for a good stack back or alternatively give a voluptuous look.

Measuring
Measure twice! How much light you want to let in or keep out? You may want to stack well back from the window to protect fabric or allow maximum day light into the room. In estimating fabric required you will need to know your fabric width and if the fabric is patterned your pattern repeat.

Making
The essential requirement is a large flat clear surface at table height. Making anything of size on the floor would be a back breaking nightmare. Always check your entire fabric roll for flaws before cutting. Measure and mark cut lengths with a pin. Always mark each drop with the top and correct side of the fabric as even simple fabrics may look different when hung upside down.

Choosing paint colour is a minefield and so easy to get wrong.  Follow my guide to help you get it right.

Do your research
It’s essential to get lots of paint charts, there are lots of good paint companies and you need to identify which one is right for you in terms of both colour and budget. Don’t underestimate the time it takes to research, if builders are decorating for you make sure they tell you when they need the colour decisions in good time so you have time to research properly.

Choosing a colour
Think about which colours you truly love and are drawn to.  Look at my tip on where to get inspiration, you need to gather ideas in your research. Think about how colours make you feel. I think all colours can be warm and all can be cool, you need to choose the right shade.

Paint charts
Pick up free charts or specific paint chips, remember that these charts are printed and not an exact representation. Some companies sell charts with actual painted chips, these are certainly more accurate.

Be patient
It’s not a natural instinct to most people but again it’s essential. Think about your options and weigh them up. I often make big decisions in my sleep.

Samples
Once you have chosen a few options, you must buy sample pots, it’s money well spent. Paint big squares (approx. 1m square) on every wall and look at the samples in different lights.

Making the decision
Spend a few days thinking about your possible decision before finally confirming it.

It’s essential to carry a camera on you at all times even if it’s just a camera on your phone.  I am permanently reaching through hedges to take photographs and screeching to a halt in my car to leap out on a roundabout to take a picture. You have to have the inspiration folder in your mind constantly open. I try and experience new things all the time.  It makes life fairly exhausting, but a constant adventure.  My most common sources of inspiration are:

On the street
Shop windows, gardens, parked cars, people, the list is endless.

In your wardrobe
People are pretty good at knowing what they want to wear and what their wardrobe look is.  It’s a good place to start.  Do you like pattern, are you more into colour?  Spend time assessing your wardrobe, it maybe subconscious but it can definitely translate into your interiors.

Magazines
I always have piles of post it’s  (pink only) and I pile pages into trays on my desks at home and in the office.  Eventually they get used for something.

Online blogs
Like this one of course.

Art
I find art a huge inspiration, I go to lots of galleries and exhibitions.

Travel
I travel a lot.  In particular I am drawn to local architecture and colours.

Food
Food is my second passion.  I am always on the look out for restaurants I haven’t been to.

Films
www.lovefilm.com is my latest passion.

Fashion
The catwalk is great for fabrics and colour as well as a general mood and feeling.

Nature
This is a big one, it just can’t be bettered.  I designed an entire sitting room in Scotland around a photo of moss I’d taken on the highlands.

Do your research
You must not buy without trying it out.

What’s it made of?
A combination of feather and foam is comfortable and will spring back when you stand up better than full feather cushions.

Review access
Can it fit through the front door or around stairs?  If not, can the window be removed? This is relatively simple if carried out by professional movers (get a quote first).

Shape
Consider the shape carefully. It’s a big ticket item and will last for many years, be careful of following trends.

Budget
Buy the best, most well made sofa you can possibly afford.

Fabric choice
Source your own fabric if you don’t like what the manufacturer offers. This is a good way of upholstering a simple good sofa in a really good fabric or just getting the fabric you want. The sofa company will want to check the fabric for suitability.

Fabric quantity
Always check the quantity of fabric required, it’s a surprisingly large amount, approximately 18m for a 3 seater sofa.

Fabric practicality
Be practical when choosing the fabric. You have to be a non children/non red wine household to get away with white sofas. Patterned, textured fabric is far more forgiving than plain fabric. Leather is incredibly durable but I find it cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Think about the seasons, are you going to want to sit on a velvet sofa on a boiling hot day?

Remember it’s got to look great AND be comfortable.