How To Create A Focal Point (Image 1 of 16)
Want to bring your room’s decorating scheme together? Heard designers banging on about focal points and wondering what it means? Here, we reveal all and show you how.
Choose A Focal Colour (Image 2 of 16)
The easiest way of creating a focal point is by using one bold colour within an otherwise fairly neutral room, then by adding small details, such as accessories – cushions, vases, throws – around the room to pull the scheme together. Start off with a paint colour chart and/or fabric or wallpaper swatches to work out what you like, what suits the light in your room and what accessories are available within your budget (or already within your home) in toning shades. Find out how to colour co-ordinate here.
Reposition Your Furniture (Image 3 of 16)
It might be that everything you have at home is enough to create a focal point. You might not even need to redecorate. Instead, it may be that you just need to rearrange your furniture. Start by deciding what the natural focal point in the room is – a great window, a chimney breast or a view, then move your furniture so that all lines point towards it. Here, the effect has been heightened by placing a bright rug between the two sofas, while the coffee table between helps draw the eye to the fireplace, too. Ash Gotland, Country wood flooring, Kahrs.
Use Contrast (Image 4 of 16)
Were this room to be painted white, the fireplace – a fabulous feature – would be easy to overlook. However, painting it in a shade that contrasts with the colours in the rest of the room can’t help but draw your eye to it. Try this trick with colour in any room to direct attention towards the best feature. Paint colours by Dulux.
Be Bold With Window Dressings (Image 5 of 16)
This bay window is a thing of beauty, so it’s a wise move to make it the focal point of the room. How to do this? Sit the most handsome sofa you’ve got in front of it then dress it to kill in an eye-catching colour. Good quality window dressings are a must and Roman blinds are a practical choice if you have a large piece of furniture in front of a window that will stop you pulling curtains back and forth easily. Blinds by Eclectics.
Use Statement Lighting (Image 6 of 16)
A huge arching floor lamp is always going to dominate a room and if you’ve got the space, the bigger the better. You needn’t spend a fortune – DIY stores sell their own versions, as do high street stores. Place the lamp so that it hangs over the area you want to draw attention to – a great chair, a sofa, even a dining table. Tamika fabric, Harlequin.
Use Every Trick In The Book (Image 7 of 16)
In a room that has little architectural detail or interest, throw every trick at it you can and you’ll get a great result. Here, the large light over the table draws attention to the dining area; the feature wall at the back of the room diverts the eye to the far end of the room, which helps make it feel longer, and hints at what’s beyond. The white of the table and chairs and flooring is all in stark contrast to the light and wall – keeping the lower part of the room lighter will keep the focus down – ideal in a space that has low ceilings and one in which you want to create an intimate atmosphere. Love it. Decor, Casamance.
Go For Architectural Detail (Image 8 of 16)
In a small or boxy space, adding fake detailing is a good way of making a focal point. Whether you choose panelling, routed and painted mdf or use mouldings, this is an ideal way to create interest in an otherwise featureless room. If you’re only putting the detailing on one wall, ensure it’s the one that counts, such as here where it sits behind the feature bath. Paints by Craig & Rose.
Create Interest With A Feature Wall (Image 9 of 16)
In a boxy room or one with no discernable interest, it’s up to you to create some. The cheapest way to do this is with paint. Here, this dining area has been given pride of place with the back drop of a stripy wall. Find out how to paint stripes here. Furniture by M&S.
Be Bold With Pattern (Image 10 of 16)
Pattern is always going to make a featureless room more interesting, whether it’s great curtains, a fabulous sofa or a wallpaper. Even in a small space, don’t be afraid to choose a large scale wallpaper design – just ensure you keep the rest of the room plainly and fairly sparsely decorated. Again, knowing where to put it is all important, so experiment first to see where it works best. Wallpaper by Nono.
Create A Display (Image 11 of 16)
If you want to highlight the corner of a room (or different areas of a room – and this is something you’ll want to try in a big space), create make an eye-catching display with a selection of attractive pieces. Groups of three work best at different heights (this is called the ‘stylist’s pyramid’); here, the chair, lamp and table with its display of vases is in perfect balance. Wallpaper by Graham & Brown.
Try A Quick Fix (Image 12 of 16)
Fixing a wall sticker to a wall in an area that you want to draw attention to is an easy and cheap way of giving a focus-free room some eye-catching detail. Experiment first before you fix the sticker permanently and don’t be afraid to go for a bold, large scale design. Sticker, Sheer Home.
Use Calming Colours In Chaotic Spaces (Image 13 of 16)
This bedroom is a really busy room. Like most, it has to squeeze in lots of storage, so there’s little space to be decorative. If your bedroom has a similar feel, go for a light, neutral scheme and draw attention to the bed with a bright throw or bedlinen set in a calming shade – choose blues and greens for best results. Bedroom by Ikea.
Pay Attention To The Bedhead (Image 14 of 16)
In an ideal world, a great big, upholstered headboard would be a focal point within a bedroom. But, these can be expensive to buy ready-made and if you don’t have the DIY skills or time to create your own, you’ll be looking for an easy option. This is where putting a large wall hanging up above the bed can work wonders. Look out for unusual pieces, but hang it high enough so that you don’t knock your head on it when you’re sitting up in bed. Bedroom, The White Company.
Use Paint Subtly (Image 15 of 16)
Just as a stripy wall will draw attention, one block of colour within an otherwise plain room will achieve the same goal. A kitchen is a great place to try this because it’s inevitably fairly chaotic and overwhelmingly practical in design. Here, the yellow attracts the eye towards the window, and brings a splash of warmth into the room. Kitchen by Ikea.
Hang Pictures (Image 16 of 16)
Knowing how to hang pictures – and, importantly, where to hang them, is an art, but one you can learn really easily. Hanging pictures in a group is a good way to create a focal point , much more so than dotting single pictures around the house. So, group together the ones you’ve got, lay them out on the floor and work out a pattern that works. Then hang them above a good looking sofa, across from the dining table, above the bed… anywhere you want to draw attention to. Flooring, Ikea.
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