In a perfect world, we'd all live in penthouses like those you see in Cary Grant movies, where the interior architecture was always non plus ultra, and we'd casually say, "It's oh so nice to be home" (British accent optional).

Wake up, Cinderellas and Cinderfellas! Most of us don't. Today, the vast majority of dwellings are generic, lacking the architectural accoutrements that made those rooms spectacular. Fret not. You may be able to fake your way. It is possible to fake architecture with furniture and furnishings. Let me show you how.

Effectively arranging any room necessitates identifying or, in this case, "faking" a focal point. A significant or unique piece of furniture, such as a large china cabinet or armoire or an oversized work of art, can act as an anchor for your furniture layout and take the place of an architectural feature, such as a fireplace, archway or French door. The key is that the scale and design of your anchor have to be powerful enough to carry the room.

In a similar manner, pairings can add architecture where there is none. Pairings have an architectural connotation and imply a geometric correctness to the viewer. For example, a pair of lamps over a console or a pair of important high-back chairs flanking a work of art can serve as architecture. The same goes for a pair of sconces or a series of framed prints over a sofa. The overall effect has to be one of impact.

Items that are over-scaled can also act as instant architecture. A large coffee table can draw your eye away from plain walls to a precise place in the room. A skirted round hall table placed in the center of a room and accessorized with tall interesting items can also stand as an architectural statement for an entry hall or a large living room.

In a bedroom, a canopy or four-post bed definitively adds architecture. The idea of this type of furnishing is to create a room within a room. These types of beds create a comfortable, cocooning ... OK, cozy environment most people would covet. This decorative technique works particularly well in larger rooms and in rooms with high ceilings, although I have also seen this done successfully in small rooms.

Floor-to-ceiling drapes are a great solution for a location that has standard or low ceiling heights. The length of fabric makes the ceilings appear taller. This is also a great treatment in spaces that lack crown moldings. The pleating of the drapery visually takes the place of the moldings.

Wallpaper can also create architecture. Framed wallpaper panels give structure to a room and add character to plain walls. Applying wallpaper in horizontal bands in alternating colors also helps play up the idea of architecture with a modern sensibility.

Keep in mind the overall architecture of the building that contains your room so that your interiors are complementary and feel natural — and not "fake" — within the space.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash