The phrase, "You've got to start somewhere,"
can refer to a lot of different things, but when you are talking about good
room design, it can only mean one thing- Focal Point.
The question: "Just what is a focal point and how do I get one?" may be
running through your mind. A focal point is the main point of interest in
a room: the place where your eye is drawn to first. The flow of a room starts
at the focal point and travels around the room taking in the scale, balance,
textures, patterns, and proportions of all the other objects in the room.
The flow is affected not only by what you put in the room but by where you
place it at within the room. Focal points anchor rooms and their contents.
Some rooms have architectural focal points such as fireplaces, others have
natural focal points such as a wonderful view, and some rooms have nothing
but plain white walls void of architectural interest and views. It is in
these spaces that contrived focal points are created. A contrived focal
point is just that, contrived, made up, and brought into being by the imagination.
If you have a room with no existing focal point, it is easy to create one.
You don't have to have a large budget and undergo a major remodel either.
Many simple and budget friendly things can be done to create a focal point.
One of the easiest is to paint a wall in a contrast color to the others,
then arrange a collection of photographs, pictures, decorative plates, or
even clocks on it, in an interesting fashion. By framing photographs in
the same way, or grouping pictures with similar frames, you help to create
flow in the room. It is quick, easy, and if you have an existing collection,
costs only the price of a can of paint. If you don't yet have a collection
of items, you can still start and then add to it. If you just aren't into
collecting, try placing a single large, very large, piece of artwork on
the wall will work as well. You can also place a bookcase, console, or desk
in front of the wall and hang a picture over it as another option. Even
a smaller scale entertainment center against a painted wall with a few candlesticks,
and a green plant on top can be utilized as a focal point.
If your budget allows, a large piece of furniture, such as an armoire, can
be used to anchor your seating, plus provide storage for your television
and accompanying electronics. By using a unique piece, perhaps with carved
or hand painted accents, you can create your focal point, provide additional
storage, and add pattern or texture to the room as well. That's what good
design is all about, function and "fashion".
Many furniture retailers carry electric fireplaces, which not only provide
an architectural focal point, but also serve to provide additional warmth
and ambience to the room. Newer models have flickering flames that are hard
to distinguish from an actual fire flame and have remote controls. You just
set it in place, plug it in, and sit back to enjoy your new focal point.
Hanging a picture or mirror above it, as well as, adding a few accessory
pieces to the mantel, finishes it off nicely.
Because focal points have visual weight, other items in your room need to
be placed so that they balance that weight. Each room should have only one
focal point, but it can have other areas of interest or emphasis. If you
have an architectural point of interest on one wall, such as a fireplace,
and have a contrived point of interest on an opposite wall, such as a large
entertainment center or projection television, it is best to create two
separate seating areas, each with their own "focal point".
Another thing to consider in good room design is the facing wall. This may
or may not be the wall on which the focal point is located. The facing wall
is the wall opposite the entry into the room. Because it is seen first,
it makes a good location for a contrived focal point, but in rooms with
architectural or natural focal points, it should be treated as a point of
emphasis. It is important that this wall create interest and excitement,
after all, first impressions of your room shouldn't be boring.
In summary, remember, focal points are what the eye is drawn to first, and
around which seating is arranged. It can be architectural, natural, or contrived
and created by you.
