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.

Whether you're thinking of selling your home, or just looking to make some updates, if you're home is still stuck in the 80's, it's time to make some changes. We're not talking about major design alterations; maybe a new coat of paint, some updated lighting fixtures and new flooring here and there.

If you're not sure of the age of your home, but the design touches look a little dated, take a walk down memory lane with some of these typical 80's style decorating characteristics.

You'll know your home is stuck in the 80's when:

– Your finished rec room looks like a nite club, with floor to ceiling mirrors, neon lights, wall-to-wall carpeting and a bean bag chair.

– Your rooms are painted in any of the following colors: hunter green, teal, peach, salmon or a mix of blues, grays and mauves.

– All the fixtures are made from brass and etched glass, including the gaudy dining room chandelier with sparkling beveled glass.

– Your track lighting looks like pop cans with big eyesballs popping out of them.

– Your vinyl floors are sporting a floral or marble print. Today's flooring styles include ceramic tiles, slate, cork or hardwood.

– Your walls are covered with yellowed, peeling wallpaper. Do yourself a favor and replace with paint or a natural fiber such as bamboo.

– Your bathroom has a bright colored toilet, sink and tub. If you can not afford to replace them all, have the tub repainted and get a new toilet and modern sink.

– The taps in your bathroom are made from solid brass and your plumbing lines are constructed from copper pipe.

– The laminate counter in your kitchen has patterns and colors you've never seen before before.

– You have older solid-wood cabinets with dark or fading stain. If you can not afford to replace them, give them a fresh coat of paint and add nickel coated knobs and pulls.

– Your flowered drapes are full of frills and ruffled valances.

– Your family room and kitchen are separated by a wood railing.

– You have a wood fireplace with a brick hearth.

Home is a place to go and recover from the daily grind, but for most mothers,

home and family life is the source of stress. A mother’s day seems endless, full

of demanding work schedules, caring for children, preparing family activities

and more. This Mother’s Day, take a few moments to kick your feet up and truly

escape from your hectic schedule by creating your own private corner, away from

chaos.

Establish a No-Kid-Zone

Seek out the most private corner or room of your home, whether it is the

bedroom, guestroom or home office, and announce to all family members that the

specified area will be off limits, ensuring that you are not disturbed.

Selecting a quiet space that is far away from the high traffic areas of your

home will help keep your mind focused on the present moment, not on the future

and your overbooked calendar.

Calming Colors

Create a calming color palette in your private space by using cool colors that

represent natural landscapes. Just like nature, these natural colors exude a

sense of peace and tranquility, which will help you unwind. Popular cool colors

include soothing blues, greens and violets.

The colors you use to decorate your home tend to impact your mood, energy level

and even your appetite. By selecting cool blues, light greens and violets you

can potentially soothe your senses.

Warm Flooring

Incorporate flooring that will compliment your wall color. By maintaining a

simple color scheme, you can avoid strong color contrasts which can be

distracting. In order to create a calm feeling, mimic nature and use darker

color on the floor and lighter colors on the surrounding walls.

Install soft carpet, or lay down a simple area rug, but be sure to stay away

from patterns because they will be too lively and busy for a tranquil space.

Visit http://www.westcoastflooring.com

to find a large selection of carpets and area rugs that will help complete your

calm corner.

Smooth Fabrics

Soothe your sense of touch by banning abrasive fabrics, like polyester and wool,

and opt for soft velour, cotton and chenille pillows and throw-blankets. The

feeling of soft smooth textures will suggest serenity.

Soft Lighting

When lighting your space, keep in mind that dark wall and flooring colors will

tend to absorb light while the lighter colors reflect it. Invest in a few lamps

with tungsten light bulbs and create a warm glow throughout the room. Tungsten

bulbs create a soft, gold-tinted light that will ease your eyes.

A quiet and private space will help you eliminate the distractions of your every

day role as a mother and caretaker. Enjoy your escape, but don’t leave the kids

unsupervised. Delegate another adult to watch your children so you can

successfully clear your mind and feelings of motherhood anxiety.

This article is provided by West Coast Flooring Center, one of the largest

flooring stores in Southern California, offering flooring services with a wide

variety of quality flooring options and other home improvement services.