Many newly built homes are designed around a vast, ubiquitous space right in the middle of the home called a "great room." Generally, homes with this type of floor plan also boast soaring ceiling heights. In these cases, it is necessary to create smaller, more intimate spaces in which multiple activities can occur without anyone feeling their space is being invaded.

If the great room has a bay window or fireplace, these areas can be turned into special intimate places for reading, listening to music or simply relaxing. These spaces can be furnished with an eye on intimacy by adding a built-in bench under the bay window or a pair of club chairs and a floor lamp near the fireplace. A screen or a pair of screens, as well as a pair of hooded or wingback chairs, can also provide the perfect solution to create a room within a room.

Intimate spaces can be created anywhere in the home. For instance, put a breakfast table in the kitchen. Add some chairs, a bench and comfortable pillows, and the kitchen table will become a place for post-meal conversations, an ad-hoc office space or that special refuge for tea time or wine-tasting with friends. A baker's rack might be added to enhance the cozy area.

Younger members of the family also need an intimate space where they can gather with their friends. The best option is a pair of trundle beds, which can act as seating for a play area, as well as extra beds for sleepovers. Providing play and study areas in their rooms will help keep the inevitable chaos in check.

An oversized master bedroom or bathroom can be made more intimate by adding a chaise for relaxing and meditation or a massage table in the master bath. Plants or drapes can also be helpful in scaling a room down. Avoid having an office area in the bedroom, unless it is screened from sight.

Even large family rooms or entertainment areas can be designed with a "cozy zone" by adding a few pieces of very comfortable furniture. To create a more interesting focal point with a television, install a custom-designed unit. This will avoid a store-bought generic entertainment-unit look and add a more personal, artful touch that can be designed to frame the TV monitor and hide additional equipment.

You don't need to break the bank to design intimate spaces. These areas can be achieved inexpensively and creatively by using found or reclaimed pieces. Half the fun is rediscovering what you already own that will work to create the intimate spaces that turn a house into a home.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash