Whether decorating your recently updated home or preparing to redo your kitchen, choosing a visual anchor is crucial for establishing a sense of direction, mood, and cohesion for any space. A well-chosen design anchor serves as a centerpiece, drawing the eye of the viewer while setting the foundation for other elements. In this guide, our designers offer expert advice on selecting the perfect focal point, examples of popular visual anchors, and special considerations for each room.
What is a focal point in interior design?
A focal point or visual anchor is a critical feature that draws the eye and defines a room's aesthetic. These features should be attention-grabbing, reflective of the desired tone of a space, and exist centrally in the flow of a space. Popular anchor points include architectural features such as fireplaces, beams, and windows. Bold artwork, dramatic light fixtures, statement furniture pieces, and colorful walls and floors can also add a desired “pop” to a room. A home remodel provides the perfect opportunity to redefine a room’s focal point and establishes an updated mood and atmosphere.
Why do focal points matter?
Focal points are important because they establish hierarchy and cohesion. Without a well-defined anchor, a room can feel cluttered and chaotic. Selecting a focal point while designing a room also guides other furniture and design choices. Centering your design around a dominant element creates a natural pathway for the eye and guides movement, ultimately enhancing the functionality of a room.
Eye-catching features can enhance a room’s aesthetic through contrast, strategic placement, size, light, and detail. Swapping out the focal point can instantly transform a space's emotional and functional impact.
A focal point can create an activity space in high-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. For example, highlighting your kitchen island with bold pendant lighting can guide visitors to this location as a work and gathering point. Design focal points can also deepen your emotional connection with a space. Displaying unique furnishings, collections, or family photos can help further personalize a room.
Finally, a well-curated focal point can enhance the value of your home. Homebuyers are attracted to coordinated and cohesive architecture and gravitate towards features such as large windows and fireplaces.
Key Considerations for Choosing an Interior Design Focal Point
Now that you’re ready to curate a focal point in your room, there are several key considerations to guide your selection:
- Room purpose should be considered when selecting a focal point. The focal point should support the primary function for task-oriented rooms such as offices and kitchens. However, for a bedroom or living space, the dominant feature may contribute more to an overall mood.
- Room size and proportion are crucial factors when curating a design focal point. In larger rooms, a bigger element is necessary to create proper balance. However, in smaller spaces, the focal point should be scaled down accordingly. Using room design software and vision boards can help you visualize an element before adding it to your home.
- The placement of your focal point matters since it guides the arrangement of other design elements and the functionality of a space. Other pieces should point towards it even if your anchor is not centered in the room.
- Style and theme are some of the most important considerations when selecting a design focal point. Your featured element should complement the room's design and reflect your tastes.
- Lighting can impact, guide, and reinforce your chosen focal point. It is important to consider the tone and brightness of various light sources that may interact with your focal point. Additionally, accent lights can draw further attention to a dominant feature.
- Emotional connection and mood are crucial in selecting an impactful, effective focal point. Consider a personal item such as artwork, a family heirloom, or a curated collection to create a deeper emotional connection with your space. Anchor points can also reflect a certain mood, such as a serene painting of the ocean in a bedroom or a classic built-in wood bookshelf in an office.
- Flexibility and change are important considerations for rooms that you frequently update. For instance, if you update your bedroom for each season, select a focal point that can easily be swapped.
- Surrounding elements should be considered when adding any new feature to a room, particularly a focal point. Assess any furniture or accessories' colors, textures, size, and function as you plan your design anchor. Additionally, position your focal point with abundant negative space to pull the eye to the desired feature.
As you begin curating a design focal point, these considerations will help you approach the project more mindfully. Evaluating a room's purpose, sizing, placement, style, emotions, flexibility, and other design elements will help you create an anchor that emphasizes beauty, functionality, and cohesion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Focal Point for Your Space
Curating the perfect design focal point can be a complex process with several possible pitfalls. Here are some common mistakes to avoid as you plan your next room.
- Multiple focal points—While filling your room with eye-catching, bold pieces can be tempting, it is best to avoid overload. Multiple large elements can vie for attention and reduce a space's aesthetic appeal and functionality.
- Ignoring natural focal points—Now that you know the basic principles, running to the nearest home goods store can be tempting to purchase a new, show-stopping piece. However, it is vital to evaluate a room's existing architectural features. Use and enhance existing elements such as fireplaces, large windows, and bold columns whenever possible.
- Low contrast—Don’t let your design focal point get lost in the room. Choose a color, texture, and shape that can stand out amongst other elements.
- Clutter—Be careful not to clutter the space around your design focal point. Too many discordant elements can detract from the featured item rather than draw the eye to it.
- Poor color palette—Maintaining a consistent color palette when selecting a focal point and supporting accents is crucial. Before adding or changing a color in a space, consider how it will impact the overall mood.
- Poor artwork placement—When hanging artwork, height and width margins matter. Avoid hanging artwork too high above or close to other furniture.
Common Interior Design Focal Points
Living Room Focal Points
Your living room is often the central space in your home for relaxing, gathering, and entertaining. Selecting the right design focal point can establish your space's color palette, emotional tone, and style.
- Fireplaces are some of the most classic and beautiful features to center your living room. You can find a fireplace for any living room, with styles ranging from traditional red brick to modern neutral stone fixtures. Depending on the style of fireplace you select, elements such as the mantel, surround, corbel, and hearth can lend to the overall aesthetic.
- Accent walls are a versatile, stylish focal point option for your living room. You can choose between a nearly endless selection of colors, textures, and finishes to evoke any mood. Consider a rustic shiplap wall, a vibrant-colored wall, or even statement wallpaper.
- Gallery walls are a great idea for a living room focal point if you don’t want to paint or renovate a wall. A well-curated gallery wall lets you showcase your favorite artwork while effortlessly updating pieces according to different seasons or moods.
- Statement furniture, such as a large cushy sofa, unique show-stopping chair, or distinctive upcycled table, can make the perfect centerpiece for your living room.
- Bold curtains can turn a basic window into an eye-catching centerpiece with a bevy of colors, cuts, and materials. To add curtains to your space, measure your windows and use the right tools to install hardware.
- Chandeliers are an elegant, functional way to brighten and upgrade your space. With so many different styles, sizes, and finishes, there is a chandelier for every living room style.
- Area rugs prove that focal points don’t always need to be placed up high. A bold and beautiful rug can be the perfect foundation for your living room, providing warmth and noise reduction.
- Artwork can be an excellent opportunity to showcase your unique style through special, curated pieces. A gallery wall can establish any space's color palette and character while being easy to update.
- Mirrors can serve as unique focal points in your living room. These fixtures can enhance any living room style with styles ranging from modern geometric shapes to classic, ornate ovals.
Kitchen Focal Points
Family and friends gather in the kitchen to cook, socialize, and relax. When selecting a focal point for this space, it’s essential to weigh all existing design elements, including countertops, cabinets, backsplashes, flooring, lights, and architectural features.
- Backsplashes are a great way to add depth and visual interest to your kitchen. Popular styles of statement kitchen backsplashes include geometric, mosaic, Moroccan, metallic, natural stone, hand-painted, and textured tiles. Patterns such as chevron and herringbone are particularly popular in modern kitchens.
- Countertops with bold, unique, and colorful designs can be an eye-catching focal point in any kitchen. Check out our comprehensive guide on kitchen countertop materials to learn more about your best options for creating a beautiful and functional workspace.
- Light fixtures such as pendant lights and chandeliers can provide a beautiful focal point while illuminating your space. From modern, geometric fixtures to classic, ornate chandeliers, you're sure to find an excellent option for any kitchen style.
- Kitchen islands appeal to any kitchen, as they create a space to gather, prepare food, and dine. If you already have a kitchen island, add statement lighting, a decorative centerpiece, and seating to enhance it. If you don’t have a kitchen island, consider working with an experienced remodeler to bring this element into your space.
- Range hoods draw the eye to the oven by adding height and depth to the cooking space. Whether you select a minimalist under-cabinet hood or a bolder, wall-mounted style, there are many options to create a focal point with your range hood.
- Breakfast nooks are a wonderful way to establish a design focal point in your kitchen while encouraging social interaction and enhancing the layout. These features can add architectural interest to your kitchen by repurposing underutilized corners or niches. Additionally, breakfast nooks are an excellent way to showcase your style as you can add lighting, textiles, cushions, and more.
- Custom cabinetry is a great way to add storage to your kitchen while establishing an eye-catching design focal point. Many styles of cabinets can serve as focal points in your kitchen, including floor-to-ceiling cabinets, glass-front cabinets, painted cabinets, floating cabinets, hutch-style cabinets, and more!
- Colored appliances are an increasingly popular way to bring visual interest to your kitchen while establishing a unique color palette and emotional tone. Consider installing an oven, fridge, and range hood in the same hue.
Bathroom Focal Points
Curating a design focal point can bring harmony and add visual appeal, even in smaller spaces like the bathroom.
- Bathtubs are often the centerpiece of your bathroom. Freestanding tubs come in a tremendous range of materials, colors, and styles. Popular choices include Japanese soaking tubs, clawfoot tubs, marble and natural stone tubs, and darker-colored tubs.
- Light fixtures such as chandeliers, pendant lights, and vanity lights are an excellent way to establish a design focal point. Check out our guide to bathroom lighting for tips and tricks on creating the perfect ambiance through your light fixtures.
- Bold tiling around your vanity, shower, bathroom, or even along a statement wall can be an excellent way to create a bathroom focal point. Consider mosaic, textured, natural stone, colorful, or metallic tiles to develop a unique, eye-catching design.
- Vanities can immediately define or change the style of your bathroom. Play with different styles, sizes, lighting, and colors to alter the feeling of your space. Check out our comprehensive guide for more information about selecting the perfect vanity.
- Sinks are a unique opportunity to curate a design focal point in your bathroom. Freestanding vessel sinks sit atop countertops or pedestals, creating an eye-catching, functional feature. Play with your sink’s hardware to evoke different styles from classic.
- Showers are often the focal point of today's bathrooms. Make your shower more distinct by adding a unique tile to the wall, upgrading the lighting, changing your shower door, or incorporating greenery.
Bedroom Focal Points
The bedroom is one of the most essential spaces in our home, so it is important to create a cohesive, beautiful design. A well-chosen focal point can encourage relaxation, improve the flow of your room, and inspire other stylistic choices.
- Beds are a popular focal point option. You can easily customize this focal point with linens, accent pillows, frames, headboards, side tables, and lighting. If you select your bed as the focal point, ensure there is enough space around it and it is opposite the door.
- Curtains are a functional, beautiful way to create a focal point in your bedroom. With so many options for the material, color, and texture of curtains, you can create a range of moods.
- Art walls can also be created in your bedroom as an eye-catching focal point. Like gallery walls in your living room, you can mix and match various pieces to create a unique aesthetic.
- Area rugs add texture, warmth, and functionality to your bedroom. Play with different colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes to change the style of your room.
- Reading nooks provide a cozy, relaxing space to unwind while adding visual interest to any room. Adding a reading nook to your bedroom is a great way to curate a focal point using extra space. Add exciting textiles, cushions, art, and lighting to make your nook unique.
- Built-in shelving can become a beautiful, functional focal point when you display decorative elements, books, or a personal collection. Play with the lighting, hardware, paint, and items featured to customize the appearance of your built-ins.
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