Does Your Home Lack Spirituality?

“Designing with Spirituality: The Creative Touch” by Carol Soucek King, (PBC International, 160 pages, $37.50)

Mention “spirit” in the same breath as “home,” and some people might expect the next word to be “haunted.”

The “spirit” that Carol Soucek King focuses on is the soul of architecture — the way it “expresses the individual’s connection with the essence of life.”

Before you dismiss that as too New Age for your taste, think about this: Doesn’t the color of a room influence how comfortable you feel? The height of the ceiling? The texture of the floor? The softness of the chair? The acoustics? The aroma?

At their best, our homes are sanctuaries where we can relax, recharge and transcend the hubbub of public spaces.

In “Designing with Spirituality,” King visits more than 30 residences around the world and examines how designers use scale, texture, color, light and other techniques to nurture and enhance their clients’ spiritual side.

Some homes feature bold colors and soaring spaces. Others emphasize intimate rooms furnished simply.

Many have million-dollar views. But what’s going on inside is often more interesting than what’s beyond the window.

That’s because all the interiors reflect deliberate goals intended for unique owners. Each piece of furniture, each work of art — or the lack of furniture and art — conveys a spirit absent from most magazine spreads.

You may not find specific ideas to incorporate in your own home here. But “Designing With Spirituality” is an inspiring reminder that there’s more to a home’s ambiance that the size of one’s TV screen.