Why A Focal Point In Design Is Important
A focal point in design is the thing that stands out in a room. It grabs your attention. It's an ever so subtle detail –– sort of like the “come hither my darling” in the design of your room.
My friend, whether we’re designing an, everything-your-heart-desires custom home, working on a large-scale renovation, or furnishing + styling your living room (which btw has a ton of potential) — a focal point is that special detail in a space, upon which everything else is anchored around.
Making it incredibly important that you not only get the focal point right but to fully understand + know exactly how to design around it, too.
So, if a focal point in design is essential + every room needs one, then the million-dollar question is how do you create a focal point? Better yet, how the heck do you complement it with all of the other design-related decisions you make?
Let’s dive in.
What Is A Focal Point In Design
You see, a focal point in design is defined simply by the place in a room where your eye lands first. It’s the special something that immediately draws you into a space. No matter how bold or subtle it may be.
As an interior designer, at Elegant Simplicity, we often define the focal point in design as being the signature feature. A la — the star of a space. In other words boo, the focal point in a room can be a singular feature like an oversized floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace...
It can be the swoon-worthy millwork that wraps an entire room...
It can be a collection of photos that capture the people, memories + things who matter most…
It can be a wall of windows highlighting an expansive view.
In any instance, a focal point doesn’t just catch your eye + grab people’s attention, it also sets the tone in communicating how you’re supposed to feel in a space.
Sometimes a focal point in design makes a room feel more casual + welcoming and other times it’s the presence of the focal point that exudes an ooo-la-la level of sophisticated touch. But still beyond eye-catching or attention grabbing — what is a focal point in design? Well, here are a couple of examples.
Architectural Details
From things like coffered ceilings + custom millwork to all glass windows or even stunning archways –– architectural details provide the perfect examples of a focal point in design.
Views
Another focal point in design that often gets overlooked, are expansive views. Whether we’re talking about panoramic views of downtown + soaring skyscrapers, a cascading snow-capped mountain range or a sparkling body of water –– scenic views can absolutely steal the show.
Feature Walls + Ceilings
Whether that's a large wall or small scale powder room ceiling –– feature walls + ceilings are bold pops of unexpected-ness.
Fireplaces
Often times (when done right) fireplaces can steal the show, especially in the winter time when you’re hibernating indoors *wink* and trying to cozy up a bit. But truth be told, fireplaces have the potential to become incredible focal points in design because they’re layering new elements to the space: steel, wood, Italian plaster, stone, tile, brick...etc.
And for obvious reasons, these are details that tend to grab our attention.
Flooring Details
Another forgotten focal point in design is what’s happening on the floors. Sure, carpet probably isn’t a focal point but nothings stopping you from making a rug the absolute eye grabber of the entire room. Furthermore, things like herringbone floor details are certainly going to command attention.
Lighting
A little further down the page we’re going to talk all about how to compliment your focal point + really build around it. However, there’s nothing stopping lighting from either layering in the goodness around your focal point by literally shining a light on it OR also being the show stopper itself. They say diamonds are a girl's best friend but I have to be honest, John knows a stunning chandelier gets me every time *wink*.
Furniture + Artwork
By now you’re getting the drift… a focal point grabs your attention in an unexpected way. But, focal points in your home aren’t limited to large features. Sometimes, a focal point in design is a contrasting coffee table, an upholstered bed frame or a gallery wall in a living room.
The Television
I don’t think anyone actually enjoys the TV as a focal point but from a functional point of view, it often is in at least one area of your home. Thanks to Samsung’s Art TV — it can also be a piece of art *wink*
Identify What Your Design Focal Point Is
It should go without saying but make the juice worth the squeeze. What I mean is oftentimes there’s a fairly obvious focal point already present in a space. Remember from above, there’s a lot of potential design focal points to choose from.
Typically, you’re gonna want to land on a singular focal point to be your dominant focal point. That doesn’t mean though that you won’t have a beautiful chandelier if you have gorgeous coffered ceilings or that you can’t have a stone fireplace in the same space as a living room with an expansive view.
It simply means, like anything with great design, that considering the why before the what is important. Why does it make sense to have the furniture arranged this way rather than that way?
And you want to know the why because everything really begins with the functionality + then bleeds from function into the aesthetics of a space.
How To Design Around Your Focal Point
Have you heard that saying sometimes it’s “addition by subtraction?”
Compliment The Focal Point
For most spaces, there’s often a lot going on + really no sense of direction. Because what they lack is not only a dominant focal point in design but really –– the struggle bus comes in the form of not knowing how to compliment it.
Which is why I’m going to make this really simple.
You see, when it comes to complimenting the focal point of a room, I want you to think of it as being less about home + more like accessorizing your favorite LBD. From bangles + a clutch to a sexy pair of heels or even that handmade scarf you picked up while you were vacationing in Europe.
By complementing your dress with chic accessories, you’re able to completely transform the entire outfit. And lucky for you boo, the same thing goes for complimenting the focal point in design.
What you want to do is anchor furniture around the focal point in a way that minimizes distractions. For instance, if the focal point of a room is the captivating view — then arrange your furniture in a way that it’s facing the windows.
Now all of a sudden instead of a room that’s chalked full of furniture, you’re subtly hinting at things you love, adore + what you find to be most important about the space. And that my friend is how you compliment the focal point...the right way!
Light it
When we consider ways to design around a focal point in a room — lighting is a fantastic way to lead the eye right where you want it to go. From picture lights over artwork to oversized chandeliers that draw your eyes up onto the ceiling, accent lighting really does shine a light on what's important in a room. #PunIntended
3 Mistakes Often Made When Deciding A Focal Point In Design
Diluted Focus
Yeah, it happens in designing a focal point too. It’s important when considering what your focal point is to understand the functionality of the space. Are we sitting in the living room to look out at the view, admire the fireplace or watch the game?
Maybe you’ll do all three but a common mistake is to design without acknowledging which is the primary focus… in other words, you choose a furniture arrangement or furniture that’s simply not conducive to the way you’ll actually live in your home.
Failing To Adequately Compliment A Focal Point
Have you ever wondered why it’s so often, almost cliche, but still beautiful to have bookcases flanking a fireplace? That’s because the display areas of the bookcase are not only designed to store books or hide electronics but they’re function is also to complement the fireplace.
Be it by the color or wood tone of them as a whole or the decorative accents that are displayed another mistake that can really make a focal point in design underwhelming is to not adequately complement it.
Clutter
This time I’m not talking about shoes laying around or kids toys not making their way back to the playroom. When I talk about clutter as it relates to the focal point in designing your room, I’m actually speaking to over furnishing a space.
This isn’t an undercover way to push minimalism either *wink* but home to us at Elegant Simplicity is everything you need + nothing more. And sometimes what happens is people downplay the focal point by adding too much to the space. Now their room feels cramped + lacks breathing room which not only isn’t functional but it distracts from the real focal point.
A focal point in design is important because we all want our homes to feel + embody an emotion. Making conscientious choices that really draw upon that feeling, that emotion, is what designing your home is all about.
Taking that time, designing with that clarity is what you ultimately want to do. Because decisions around your home should come from a place of purpose, they should have a story and a meaningful reason why.
So, don’t just settle on a focal point + check it off. Build around it.
Don’t forget, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.