If you're lucky, you've probably had the chance to at least witness some sense of luxury in your life. Whether it's the first time you catch a glimpse of a beautiful hotel, the first time you gaze upon a gourmet restaurant or when you see a boutique shop filled with wonderful goodies. It's even luckier you might have even experienced these things too.

But what are the things that make luxury appear in the minds of people? What makes something luxurious? Well, I should say that that is a number of things. But one thing is quite clear to me, it is down to design. You could say that the mere inclusion of design in any particular setting does not necessitate equate to a sense of luxury, but it is certainly where it starts.

Let's explore some modern features of luxury that can be seen from the catwalks of Milan to the penthouse suites in the hotels of Dubai. In terms of design, you only need to look at the basic interior of the room to get a sense of luxury. Historically, design materials such as marble were always associated with luxury – and they still are to a certain extent. Mosaic designs have been an indicator of taste for a very long time indeed too.

However, most modern luxury design materials for walls and floors consist of more humble options. Wood is increasingly popular for floors, particular exotic types such as beech or oak. Also, limestone is a great indicator of a luxurious bathroom in a hotel or home. Slate is another key feature of modern flooring designs.

Beyond the walls and floors, taking a look at the furniture of a room will certainly help establish a luxurious setting. The use of furniture including sofas and chairs that act as decorative ornaments is a striking feature of luxury design. It really shows the attention to detail that the best designers use. This is particularly noticeable in hotels with many hotel furniture suppliers providing bespoke pieces for their clients' rooms or common areas.

It all helps to create a motif. This is perhaps the most important indicator of luxury. The presence of a motif illustrates to a person that this room is designed to make you feel a certain way. By having a strong sense of design you can more easily make an impression on people – which is particularly important for many businesses.

Bars, clubs, hotels and shopping boutiques all have to wow the people in order to get their business. Without a proper sense of design, they could lose business. Whatever the indicators of luxury design are to you, it's worth investigating a location if you sense that there is some innovation.

So, if you have not had the chance to experience the sense of luxury yet – make sure you take these points with you and keep a look out. You never know when you're going to see that first beautiful interior that changes your mind and makes you realize that design is indeed a true art form.