A room will feel much more inviting and offer a more comfortable place to rest if you arrange the furniture or accessories around a focal point. Sometimes a focal point is an architectural feature. At other times, a focal point can be a special picture, mirror, or dramatic piece of furniture. Learn how to find a focal point in your room and how to make the most of it.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Varies
Here's How:
- Look around your room to determine the 'biggest' feature. It may be a fireplace, a picture window, or a built-in bookcase. This will generally be your focal point.
- If your room has no distinguishing architectural features, identify the largest furniture pieces. These could become your focal point.
- A focal point should be something interesting to look at, something colorful or texturally and visually appealing.
- You can create a focal point for the room, by focusing on artwork, floral arrangements, paint color, or shelving.
- The focal point should be the 'first thing' you see when entering a room. If possible, build your furniture arrangement around the focal point.
- If an outdoor view is the focal point, orient the furniture inside and outside to take advantage of window areas.
- You can create a focal point wall by painting one wall a different color from the rest and accessorizing with a wall arrangement, artwork, or display shelves.
- Use lighting to enhance your focal point. For example, use a picture light, track light, or wall washer fixture on a painting or wall display.
- If you've identified a mantle or shelf as the focal point, use plants and accessories to decorate them.
- Use contrasting color to make the focal point stand out. For example, use a light wall color behind a dark wood armoire.
Tips:
- Focus on your room's best qualities by choosing a focal point you enjoy.
- Decorate and 'frame' a focal point with plants, curtains, and art.
- Remember to try choosing the 'first thing' you see, or the biggest item for a focal point.