Use this approach to decorate any room

After a renovation, it's time to decorate your spaces. You scratch your head and don't know where to begin. Honestly, there is no right or wrong answer. Your decorating plan can begin anywhere and be inspired by anything.

Creating a look-book with pages from magazines and pictures of interiors and furnishings you like is a safe way to begin. Listing the components of a room can help you sort through your design intentions.

Paint: Wall colors can be very useful in helping to identify a color scheme. Your flooring may generate the color - consider a lighter or darker shade than the floor itself as a point of departure.

Wallcoverings: Not your Nana's flocked flowers! Today's wallcoverings are available in rolls made out of paper, vinyl, mica chip, cork and, yes, even fiberglass that can be walked on.

Paneling: This can be very effective in areas where you want to create warmth and coziness. In addition, paneling can aid in achieving acoustic comfort in a room that echoes due to hard surfaces such as marble or porcelain floors

Baseboards and trim: Depending on the type of architecture of your home, it will dictate whether or not you should have them. More rustic architecture such as Santa Fe or informal Mediterranean styles can forgo the baseboard and trim and play up the direct and imperfect meeting of wall and floor. Traditional and classic architectures such as colonial and art deco will look appropriate with moldings.

Window treatments: Of course, modern designs often dictate very little to no obstructions to any views; however, you needn't suffer naked windows. Sometimes all you need is a cornice or valance - just enough to frame a view or a beautiful window. Window treatments can be expensive because of the amount of fabrics and hardware, so think well and hard before diving into these.

Lighting: Although sometimes compared to jewelry because of its sparkle, lighting, unlike jewelry, should be considered first before dressing or furnishing a room. It's not an accessory. Lighting can make or break a room - not enough lighting and your room can look small and even dirty. With the right combinations of ambient overhead, task lighting and natural light, even a mediocre design can seem finished and bright.

Rugs: Area rugs are fundamental to creating a warm oasis in any room, whether in the middle of the room, underneath a seating area or partially underneath a bed. Rugs come in traditional and contemporary designs. Almost everyone can come to love an area rug that expresses a design style.

Finally, consider the other items that go in a room, such as the furniture, art and accessories that turn your spaces into your home.

This approach, although a bit pragmatic, can be used to tackle any room, large or small. After the above are addressed, at least on paper, you can begin to decorate your rooms without fear of having left out any important decision.

Make your rooms, above all, comfortable - comfort is the ultimate luxury. So go at it with confidence, and your style will shine through.

• Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida.

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