When Michele Alvarez designs a model home, she strives for that swept away feeling of comfort and serenity.

Casting aside influences that are dark and heavy, Alvarez instead selects colors, furnishings and accessories that are soft and simple.

Whether it’s outfitting a welcoming front porch, dressing up a formal dining area or blending an upstairs landing into a hard-working home office, the Design Center manager for Beazer Homes aims for the “I could easily live here” takeaway from home buyers.

“For those seeking inspiration, builder model homes can offer a plethora of ideas,” said Alvarez. “While shelter magazines and television decorating shows may be insightful into how a room evolves, a model home tour adds the ‘wow’ factor by bringing the entire home to life.”

As the summer heats up, top-10 national homebuilder Beazer will see a stream of traffic through hundreds of model homes across the country. From potential buyers in search of the right home in the right school district to would-be decorators taking in fresh ideas, model townhouses and single-family homes will get the critical eye.

National homebuilders oftentimes have a designer on hand who can help with choosing colors in everything from the paint to the floor to the cabinetry to help buyers get the model home look. For others who want it now, Alvarez offers the following tips to get started:

Float furniture. If possible, move furniture away from the walls into conversational groupings to get an intimate and cozy feeling. Keep traffic patterns loose and as a rule of thumb allow at least 18 inches between a coffee table and a sofa for free movement of knees, but easy reach for a beverage or book.

Window treatments. Known for its elegant tailored and stylish drapery designs, Beazer uses curtains in model homes to soften the look of a room while tying together furnishings and wall colors. Alvarez said the best way to give the illusion of height is to hang drapes from the ceiling to the floor with fresh fabric that complements rather than conceals the outside. In homes with 9-foot-plus ceilings in bathrooms, move the shower rod up higher and use simple fabric for your curtain.

Color coordinate. Changing a room’s wall color is easy and inexpensive, but can yield very dramatic effects. Alvarez recommends painting a single wall to add texture, adding “any difference you can do with paint can give that custom look.” If you find a hue you like in a model home, ask the builder for the paint color and manufacturer, and use a sample board to see how the hue works in the room during different times of the day.

Accessorize. Less is more, balance is important and an element of surprise is fun. “Choose pieces that you love,” said Alvarez, “and choose accessories that complement the room without cluttering it up.” Try to decorate in threes, hang framed art at eye level and mix textures to invite the eye to explore.

Tall and grand. Wainscoting can add architectural interest and a custom look to the bedroom, bath or dining room. Install the bead-board taller than the standard chair rail, up to two-thirds of the way up the wall, for the grandest appearance.