When taking a vacation, you book a room at a hotel, and sometimes you luck out and get the room of your dreams. You open the beautiful curtains, and there it is: the perfect view. A cityscape, a mountainside or the ocean can capture your attention and make it worthwhile to pay a premium rate. It might captivate you for a few moments, but soon your attention turns to the furnishings around you. If you stop to think, the perfect environment created in that suite acts like a frame for that awe-inspiring view.

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have the same experience upon returning home. Perhaps you don't have the perfect view, or any view, but even a tree outside your window can be enhanced with the right framework. When you enter a room in your home, your eyes scan to find the view or focal point. Immediately thereafter, your attention refocuses on your interiors. So it is a worthwhile endeavor to pay some design attention to your room. A comprehensive interior design is similar to creating a stage set or frame for the everyday activities you call life.

Most of us undoubtedly have a preferred sofa, work of art or piece of furniture we'd like to use. Although these are all good and valid starting points in designing your interiors, on their own, these are not enough to create a cohesive resort-like experience.

Designing an environment first requires that you identify an attitude, style or design philosophy and allow that decision to guide you through the design process. Decide the limits of your project. Are you going to focus your attention on the design of your bedroom suite or your entire home? For the novice, I suggest starting small with the design of one room at a time.

Some design tips for your consideration:

— Determine your style.

— Select a soothing color scheme.

— Consider adding a combination of two colors for your walls — one color for your bed or sofa wall, and another color for other walls or spaces.

— Stick to one color/stain for all your casegoods.

— Keep accessories to a minimum, but be bold in your selections.

— Provide adequate lighting for reading and for the overall room.

— Display serenity-inducing art and accessories.

— Selecting the right flooring can make or break a room: wood, stone, tile or carpet?

— Keep bedding simple. A current trend is all about comfort: a simple white cotton duvet and a small colorful blanket at the foot of the bed.

— Always incorporate a comfortable chair or sofa for seating.

— Make a statement with your decorative pillows. These can pack a punch!

— Don't forget to incorporate the elements of sound ... a small gurgling fountain or a compact sound system for some tunes.

It's all about creating an experience, so why stop with the furnishings? In doing a bedroom, add a matching pair of robes and slippers. Lie back, and you'll think you are on vacation every day.

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