The choices of serving bowls and decorative elements really fit with the style and mood of the room. The candles are held in a wrought iron piece that fits the rustic nature of the table while adding some much needed height. With a table that interesting table linens are unnecessary, but the simple oversized denim napkin under the serving pieces adds just the right note of color and softness. Bowls, plates and napkins echo the colors of the room.

One functional change would make this buffet easier for guests to maneuver through. If the napkins were wrapped around the silverware and placed in a basket or upright in a pitcher, people wouldn’t have to lift them to get to the plates underneath. Even with a small buffet, it’s important to think about traffic flow. This is a perfect example of incorporating straightforward design elements into entertaining. With this buffet, a few thoughtful touches make it consistent with the room’s style as well as welcoming to guests.

The first step in making a room with a dark floor cheerful is to complement it with plenty of natural light by day and artificial lighting by night.

The second step is to paint or paper the walls in light colors for an elegant appearance or in bold colors for a dramatic appearance.

Choosing bright and evenly patterned furnishings and accessories will make the room appear cheerful even with a dark floor. You can choose geometric patterns for curtains and upholstery for a clean abstract look or flowered patterns for a cozy English garden look.  Sprinkling light colored rugs over the floor will reduce the stark dark appearance of a dark floor.

Simple streamlined light furniture will make the room look brighter. Wrought iron or Rattan furniture will give the impression of bringing the garden in to the room and take the eye away from the dark floor.

With a little imagination you can transform a room with a dark floor into a cheerful, bright and airy room.

First, find the right chair. Look for one that lets you to keep your feet flat on the floor when you’re working. Make sure the chair allows you to keep your back against the back of the chair without the front of the chair hitting you at the back of the knees. This helps reduce both back and circulation problems after long sessions at the computer.

Your mouse and keyboard should be at elbow height. If your desk is too high, purchase a keyboard drawer that will fit your needs. Finally, the top of the monitor is supposed to be at your eye level. With today’s larger monitors, this may not be possible, but set it as close to that height as you can.

Lighting is your next goal. You will want both task lighting and ambient light. Task lighting helps your work go smoother. Ambient light is to create a warm feeling in your office. Often a ceiling light takes care of your task lighting needs. If not, you may want to consider a desk lamp. Make sure your lighting choices don’t create a glare on your monitor.

Finally, determine what types of storage you need. File cabinets and bookshelves can warm up a room if you choose wood. Make sure your desk arrangement allows you a work space beyond the computer for other work requirements. Office furniture doesn’t have to match – just like bedroom furniture, a well-planned combination can make a space inviting without looking too contrived.

Fresh flowers provide the easiest way to add visual interest to your space. Flowers’ temporary nature tells guests the gesture is for their benefit, and you can pick the style and color to match your theme or linen colors.

The most cost-effective approach involves selecting one or two bouquets from your local grocery or warehouse store and making your own arrangements.

Many people are uncomfortable arranging flowers, but if you keep your plans simple, the end result can be lovely and well-designed. In this picture, two stems and a few oranges almost arrange themselves. Yet the end result is flawless and appealing. Any solid fruit or vegetable can hold stems and make this type of approach work. Even a few stones from your garden (wash them well first) will hold your flowers in place.

Place arrangements on your main table and a few side tables – maybe in the foyer and the guest bathroom. In just an hour, you can add a design element to your entertainment plans that tells your guests you think they’re important and welcome.

Starting with flooring, a number of choices match residential styles while still handling the constant beating of a wheeled office chair. The best choice is a top quality laminate floor, which can echo the charm of wood while still operating successfully in an office.

Tile is generally not a good choice – the uneven nature of the material can cause problems with file cabinets and bookshelves, and make your chair uneven constantly. Carpet and wood seem like a bad choice, but a chair mat in either plastic from your local office superstore or a more appealing bamboo – available in catalogs – will take the abuse, keeping your original floor safe.

Warm up the space with wall colors that don’t say “office.” A sky blue or a soft green helps keep stress away while you work. You may need a bulletin board or calendar, but expand your thinking to make these items special. A standard bulletin board from an office supply store gets a whole new look with your choice of spray paint. Choose art that represents you, your dreams and aspirations, and things that make you happy.

So many different elements can add to a sense of luxury. When you look at a space, consider a rich mix of textures, colors and sheen. On any type of flooring, adding deep-pile rugs in a variety of complementary colors creates an almost Moroccan sense of luxury and style. Even a small rug in a corner, or draped on a table, can become a sumptuous feature.

The right fabrics enrich a space. Don’t stop at one set of curtains on your windows. Start with a light linen sheer, add a set of silk dupioni panels in a medium neutral and finish up with velvet curtains in a dark rich tone. Even simple windows will shine with this treatment. Add a fake fur throw and maybe a leather or suede pillow. Mix your fabrics and textures to enliven and enrich your space.

Bring some bling into the room with accessories. Mirrors and metallics provide a variety of sheens and create a lavish look. Don’t stop with the walls when considering mirrors. How about picking up a mirrored nightstand or dresser? You can shop for shiny features for your space, or just check your cupboards. Chances are you have some family heirlooms in silver or crystal that deserve to leave storage and go on display. If not, look for shiny possibilities in home stores, as well as thrift and antique shops.

Luxury is not just about money; it’s about making the most of your space with the right choices.

Now you can quickly assure yourself that your wood purchase is environmentally sound by buying only FSC-certified products. This will not limit your options. Many manufacturers and distributors proudly display their certification.

Wood with the FSC certification has not been cut in natural forests or other habitats around the world, has not been exposed to hazardous pesticides, and has not caused damage to any indigenous peoples. The United States Green Building Council relies on the FSC certification to ensure that wood products meet their standards.

It’s the small steps we make every day that will help protect our planet through the generations. You can be part of making the earth continue as a rich and healthy resource for all of us for generations to come by looking for wood floors, and other wood products, that have the FSC certification.

Carpet is a good flooring choice for traditional spaces, and rugs are a natural complement. That provides a rich source of softness. Add in a few overstuffed chairs and a couch, a bevy of pillows and throws, and before you know it your room loses dimension in a cloud of softness. Traditional curved tables and cushioned dining chairs add to the general squishiness of the space.

Now this type of room can be very comfortable and livable. Just a few hard-surface choices, however, will sharpen the design and provide the positive contrast needed to showcase the softer elements.

Consider adding some glass or metallic accessories with clean straight lines. Using wood shutters or shades adds a nice hard surface, and the shades still allow you to add curtains. Another option is to do some editing – maybe removing a few pillows or an ottoman. Space between soft things gives the walls a chance to become hard-surface elements in a space.