Decorate Like A Pro: How to Create a Focal Point

Without a focal point, your rooms will lack all sense of harmony, and will seem empty and lifeless.
Decorate Like A Pro: How to Create a Focal Point

Last update: 28 January, 2021

To ensure that your interior decor is well-balanced, you need to create a focal point. A focal point is an element that will capture all the attention in the room. It is from this point that you will organize the room as a whole. All the furniture and other elements are placed with this point in mind.

This is one of the most basic concepts of interior design. Failing to create focal points will result in rooms that are boring, characterless, and even chaotic, as people desperately add extra elements in an attempt to bring their rooms to life.

It goes without saying that the most interesting elements will form the most effective focal points. They could be anything, from fireplaces to large windows. You could also use eye-catching architectural features. All you need to do is analyze the space you want to decorate and identify the most interesting features.

You can also create focal points using additional elements. In this article, we’ll tell you how to create the perfect focal point for any room.

Using furniture as a focal point

A blue armchair set.

Using furniture and decorative elements is an interesting way to create focal points. In bedrooms, the focal point might be the bed, while in the living room, it might be the sofa. There are many possibilities. In the bathroom, using different materials and textures, or even a simple but eye-catching towel rack can make the perfect focal point.

Placed strategically to make it stand out, a brightly colored upholstered armchair can make a great focal point in living rooms. The same goes for coffee tables and rocking chairs. The important thing is that the eye should be drawn to this point as soon as you enter the room.

Using themes to create a focal point

When a room has a specific theme, the focal point needs to be even more eye-catching.

In a room decorated in the ethnic style, this could be a collection of strategically illuminated sculptures. With a minimalist-style room, a large but simple vase placed on the floor in a corner can make an effective focal point. In a Glam style room, the possibilities are endless. From mirrored furniture and floor lamps to large pieces of artwork, you can use almost anything.

Using color as a focal point

Color is a powerful tool in the world of interior decor. Sometimes, all you need to do to create an eye-catching focal point is to paint one wall a different color. You can also play around with colored carpets and upholstery. For example, you could use a vibrant pink or cherry red upholstered sofa or an original geometric or Art Deco print dining room chair. There are thousands of possibilities.

If you decide to arrange furniture to create a small “zone” within a room, you could use an eye-catching rug to separate it from the rest of the room.

Colors can be used to create focal points.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces are always interesting focal points. They immediately draw the eye, especially if you place a large mirror or painting above them. Decorating your fireplace with flowers when it’s not in use is another way to increase its impact.

If you don’t have a fireplace, you could always add a faux-fireplace. These fireplaces are naturally eye-catching and attractive and help to create a more homely feel.

Bedrooms

In bedrooms, the focal point is usually the bed. By creating a beautifully decorated bed, you can make a truly stunning focal point for your room. You could add a large headboard, a canopy, large pillows or eye-catching bedspreads.

A closet can also serve as a focal point. It doesn’t take much to help them take center stage in your bedroom decor: simply lining the doors with paper or fabric, or hanging pieces of passementerie from the handles can be more than enough.

Kitchens

The most spectacular focal points in kitchens are usually central islands . If you don’t have enough space for an island, you can create special areas for specific activities instead. For example, you could create a charming breakfast or brunch area.

A kitchen island.

Shelves and cabinets

People often overlook these items when furnishing their homes. This is a mistake. Choosing a large cabinet where you can display anything from ceramics to your best china can make a spectacular focal point.

And adding good quality, attractive shelves that cover an entire wall is the perfect way to create a focal point and says a lot about your personality.

As you can see, creating focal points isn’t overly difficult or technical. It’s simply a question of having a more global vision of your decoration. Plus, you don’t even need to buy new elements. You can often create a focal point by simply moving objects around to shift the focus onto a different element.

Now that you know all about creating focal points, you’ll be able to look at your home with fresh eyes and bring new life to your decor.