by Karen Ellis

Created on: June 24, 2009

The focal point of a room is the first place your eyes go when you enter. Most often, it is the fireplace or an architectural detail that makes it easy to create a room around. But, what if your room has no defining factor? Then, you have to create a focal point with something so spectacular that anyone entering the room will instantly be drawn to that area. Once you have your focal point in place it is an easier task to create the rest of the room's interior around that spotlight.

Furniture

An interesting or large piece of furniture can be used as a focal point. Perhaps all you have is a large sofa, backdropped by an expansive wall. It's not so interesting, of itself. Eye popping art behind the sofa will make it interesting, however. Find a painting that nearly expands to the edges of the sofa. Making your own art is another option. You may believe that you did not receive the artist gene when you born, however, it's not as difficult as you think.

Artwork

Artwork, in itself, can be the focal point of a room. However, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, it can be added to something else (a large sofa), to create a multi-formed focal point. Perhaps you can't find artwork you like that also contains the same colors as the pallet of the room. Maybe artwork is not in the budget. If you can find an artist canvas the length of the sofa, great. But, consider several smaller canvases fitting across the wall with a couple of inches between. Use masking tape for lines and angles with acrylic paints. These supplies are relatively inexpensive. Paint one big abstract or line the canvases up and paint them as one. The nice think about acrylics is that they clean up with water and you can easily paint over them, if you make a mistake.

Walls

A wall, all by itself, can be the focal point of a room. Trace off a design with a yardstick and masking tape. Or, create a plaid or stripes on the wall. Another option would be to paint one wall a brighter color than the other three walls. Perhaps you have tan walls with a chocolate brown focal point wall.

Window

An outdoor view can be a focal point. Perhaps you have a beautiful yard with a pool, waterfall or flower garden. Arrange your sofa and the rest of the room as though the furnishings themselves were focused on the outdoor scenery. Outdoor patio furniture should also be arranged to allow visitors to view the most beautiful part of the yard.

Lighting

Most of the room's lighting should be used to enhance the focal point. Use a picture light or track lighting to brighten up the area and bring attention to it. Small lamps can be used elsewhere in the room to keep corners lit up, but the main source of light should enhance the focal point.

Collections

If you have a collection that is showy enough to form a focal point, use it. However, be aware that you will need a display case or table that will allow you to arrange the collection to it's best advantage. Certainly it would be interesting and viewers would move towards it to get a better look. It does, however, need to be large enough to grab that attention, right off. Collections can either be a great focal point or fail completely. They need to be large and bold, such as a collection of large pottery displayed on a wall shelving unit or musical instruments hung on the wall. It can be tricky.

Just remember that your focal point needs to be something that draws your visitors in. If it delivers that wow factor, all the better.

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