Let’s talk about focal points. What is it? A focal point in Interior Design typically refers to the area in which your eye is drawn to. Usually but, not always a focal point should be placed on the wall you see upon entering a room. It can direct the traffic in a room, dictate furniture placement and give your eye a place to rest. But most importantly, it should be a statement. What does this room say about the people who live here.

Focal points of course can be created with architectural detail, soaring ceilings, a fireplace or bookcases but, a focal point can also be a lovely window with a terrific view. But what if you don’t have any of those things. What if you live in a builder house with four walls, a floor and a ceiling. How do you create a focal point?

Years ago when we moved into our builder home it was just that. Four walls with a floor and a ceiling. There was not much in the way of redeeming features. It was void of any character and the only thing it had going for it was a decent sized yard, it was clean and new, and it was ours.

When we first moved in and our girls were small I realized right away that we were going to need to create a room in our unfinished lower level for us to live. Our living room just wasn’t big enough for well, living! Let’s face it, kids need room, the husband needed a place to stretch out on a sofa and watch TV. You remember those ginormous boxes we had to contend with, and the new invention of a remote control. Only problem, it was tethered to a cord that just wasn’t quite long enough to reach from TV to the couch!!! The first iteration of our lower level room was our very first DIY. I unfortunately don’t have pictures of that, but let’s just say it was adequate, nothing more.

Desperate for storage I envisioned bookcases with under storage, a window seat with a lid that the girls could use for toys. I considered this space to be the focal wall. Not only a place of storage but also a place to display my fledgling yellow ware collection.

Several years ago, I decided it was time to take this space up a notch. We kept all the structure, added new shelves and trim and made new doors. This was a vast improvement, as the cabinets before looked like unskilled 20 somethings had built it, with just a hammer, nails and a circular saw. Oh, we did that! Even though this is the “rooms” focal point, it is not the first thing you see upon entering. This is an L shaped room.

So, what do you do when you have multiple points of entry into a room? Can there be more than one focal point? Why yes, yes there can!

Like most people the family enters thru the garage. The first thing you see upon entering is this wall, with my trunk. Can this be a focal wall? Well it’s pretty important to the overall feel. I created a bit of a focal point with the antique trunk and old painting. The trunk acts as the anchor for the wall with the painting the punctuation.

The goose on the trunk, directs the eye and encourages you to turn the corner to the small L where the bookcases are. Now filled with my collection of antique transferware, and other favorite objects.

But wait there’s more!!! What is the view when you come down the stairs. That’s an important view too because if you’re visiting, this is the view where the story begins to unfold. Hopefully if I’ve done things right this is where the viewer gets that sense of wonder. That sense of what’s this?

This is the wall that separates this room from the laundry. Antique Barn Siding adds texture and character to this otherwise nothing of a space. The built in here helps to define the space and create a more manageable wall space. Tucked under the air duct it also gives me storage space for my design library. Although the top part has to be pretty!!

We have the venting for the HVac system running thru the center of this room which has always been a challenge. Lowering the ceiling here to about 7′. I hate it but, it is something we have had to deal with. I just try to ignore it.

And, can a closet door be a focal point? Well, when it is the only thing of interest on the wall it can become pretty important.

This door was such a labor of love and really helped to finish off this lower level room. This wall is only about 7′ and of course we have always just had a door on this space. This door and the barn vent are the two things most commented on by visitors. Now they may be rolling their eyes and thinking that is just crazy but, these two pieces appeal to me and make me smile. I know they are unexpected but, I like to think that this kind of thing is what helps to make my designs unique.

Focal points are essential. Multiple focal points create balance for the entire room. Envision any of these walls blank. With just the bookcase as the focal point. The furniture would be floating around the room and not anchored in the space. Yes it is a lot of stuff, but I like to look at it as a pealing of the layers. Curiosities sitting side by side with the essentials. A part that creates the whole.

What are your feelings about focal points? I’de love to hear.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley