Q. Why is it that some rooms, no matter how beautifully furnished, look cold? (The following answer is provided by Michael deSantis, who prefers interiors that are contemporary and comfortable rather than trendy.)

A. Anyone can buy pretty furniture, but what happens around the furniture is very important. Without the right background, the furniture and room may not coordinate properly.

When choosing the background, first consider the purpose of each area - whether it is a bedroom, entertainment area, dining room or exercise area, for example - and what furnishings you want. Then decide on the look you want: Contemporary? Traditional? Art Deco, perhaps? Once this is done, it's time to pick a color palette and decide how to treat the walls.

When choosing colors, take light exposure and location into consideration. Dark colors are more appropriate in a city apartment used mainly at night. They would not work as well in the Hamptons.

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There are many options for wall treatments. Upholstered walls, for instance, give bedrooms a warm, cozy look you can't get with paint. Wallcovering can provide texture and warmth. A textured basketweave or a subtle 4-inch wide, white-on-white stripe creates an interesting background in a living room. You see it and you don't at the same time, depending on how the light in the room hits it.

With paint, I never use semi-gloss. It's neither a lacquer nor flat, and I prefer one or the other. Glazing and faux paint treatments present a less formal look than upholstery or fabric-backed paper.

Consider the mood of the room when choosing the best look. Before making a decision, hang a sample of the paint, fabric or paper in the room to see how it looks in both sunlight and artificial light. And consider maintenance. Washable paint or vinyl paper, for example, are good choices for a child's room.

Flooring is part of the background, too. Be aware that certain pairings don't work well. Strie walls and marble floors, for instance, make a room seem too busy. And lacquer walls set against light wood floors make a room look unfinished. You need a stained floor to balance the strength of the walls.

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