Creating a Focal Point

Your chosen focal point should be the first thing you see when entering the room, and should be eye catching and unique. Of course your focal point doesn’t have to be an addition to the room: a focal point can be an architectural feature, such as a fireplace, bay window, or even the view outside the window.

Finding your focal point

Take a look around your room to determine its most outstanding area. This will be where you create your focal point. As mentioned above, it may be an architectural feature, or it may be the biggest wall in the room, the lightest (or darkest) corner, or even simply the first area that hits your eye on entering.

You can of course have more than one focal point in a room, in order to lead the eye in a specific pattern. However, you should keep these minimal as too many will negate the whole concept.

Wall hangings

How you choose to adorn your walls says a lot about you and your style. A statement art piece or relief sculpture can really capture your personality. Do you love the period aesthetic of your home? Then consider hanging a painting in a style contemporary to its construction. You could hunt down a piece that illustrates the local countryside or a famous event that took place nearby (house built in Suffolk in the early 1800s? – the Hay Wain it is.)

If you can’t find anything that’s quite right however, why not make your own? Many people explored their creative side during lockdown and there are videos galore online that demonstrate how to make beautiful art with absolutely no experience! One good idea is to create an abstract painting using a tester pot of the paint on your walls, along with a couple of complementary colours. This way you get a unique artwork that goes perfectly with your décor.

Another excellent choice of wall hanging is a mirror. Feature mirrors should be as big as possible as, even in a small room, they will work beautifully because they will reflect the light and keep it from looking cluttered. Perhaps a driftwood frame for a seaside home, or an ornate Moroccan design for an exotic feel? Even the wall itself can be the focal point, with a strong accent colour that stands out from the rest of the room.

Furniture and Décor

Of course you could choose to allow your walls to sink into the background and instead focus your attention on standing décor. Furniture can not only be a wonderful focal point, but also an extremely practical addition to a room.

In a living room you might choose to focus attention on a piece of statement lighting such as a chandelier, a cabinet or even TV stand, keeping mementos to a minimum. Or perhaps your mementos are your focal point? And an illuminated glass cabinet is what you need to really show them off.

As well as art on your wall you can choose to place art on your floor. A larger than life sculpture or artwork may seem farfetched, but there’s no better talking point. This is particularly true if your art has an interesting providence.

It seems obvious, but many people overlook the potential of the bed to be the focal point of the
bedroom for example. It can be difficult in a room as much used as a bedroom, as you will need
to keep everything else completely clutter free, but if you can work with the concept of hidden
storage, then your bed can be a wonderland of ornate headboards and colourful cushions.

Flooring

Your focal point doesn’t even have to be at eye level. Eyecatching flooring or a bold rug can be just as effective as art or furniture. The wonderful thing about a focal rug is that you could choose to have two or three and swap them out depending on the season, to create a whole new feel in your room.

Kitchens

Opt for a statement extractor, piece of lighting or bright cabinetry in a contrasting or dramatic colour to create a focal point in your kitchen.

When it comes to focal points, the opportunities are truly endless, so browse art galleries, antiques markets, homeware shops and even your friend’s houses for inspiration – and let your imagination run wild.