When standing in the entrance to your living room and looking straight ahead, what do you first see? This is the opportunity to create a decorating focal point. It could be a view, fireplace, art, antique chest…any number of things, so why not highlight it and make it an interesting, welcoming place for the eyes to focus?
Fireplace
Fireplaces are often placed on the far side of the room and draw your eyes in. Here you can see it is highlighted with a mirror, art, and a vase. This is a favorite combo of mine.
My friend, Debbie has a fireplace and prettily decorated mantel on the far side of her living room.
But what if you don’t have a fireplace or it’s not on a wall directly in front of you? How about…
Console or Chest
A console or chest can anchor the room, too, and provide a focal point.
Here where there was a blank wall we used a console and art to give it a focal point.
A View
Sometimes the view speaks for itself and becomes the focal point.
Source: Phoebe Howard
Our view of Alcatraz Island from the entrance to the room makes an interesting focal point.
Art
Here is Laura’s family room, you can see how art creates the main focal point along with accessories.
What do you first see when you enter your room? Do you have a decorating focal point?
This weekend, we Cindy, Annie, and I will have five favorite finds again. There are some things I am really enjoying…a fragrant recipe, a great book, pretty and well-priced linen shirt…and more. See you then!
suzan says
Hi there. Is it possible to find out information on the black console featured in Le Clair Decor photo which created a focal point with that piece. Its absolutely fabulous. Thank you. Any info would be a great launch point !!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Sorry, I don’t know. I thought perhaps Noir Furniture but I don’t see it on their site.
Tyler F. says
Looks like that is the Ethnicraft Graphic Sideboard. Hope that helps!
cindy says
This really is good food for thought. Great examples! You have two focal points in your living room. The amazing view and your gorgeous fireplace. Double Whammy!!
Nancy says
In my (teeny, tiny) living room (which you so kindly gave me a few suggestions for several years ago, the focal point is the big picture window. Unless you’re sitting in the room, and then the focal point is the tv on a black console, with a few maps hanging above it. I’m fine with that. In my combination dining/family room, a long narrow room with THREE doorways, I have never yet been able to figure out what the focal point is. There’s just not enough room to not have a doorway be smack dab in the middle of some view. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve sketched it, or moved the furniture around, trying to figure out how to have something other than a doorway be the center of attention. It’s been thirty years now….
Mary Ann Pickett says
Ha, Nancy…we can all just do our best…and it’s just decorating 🙂
Karen B. says
Mary Ann,
This is helpful. I was worried that our TV would be considered the focal point, but fortunately, I realized the antique china cupboard is most probably the first thing guests see when they walk in the front door.
Phew.
I loved some of the examples you’ve shared. Always helpful design info from you. Thank you.
xo,
Karen
Gail says
Wonderful pointers on creating a focal point in a room. You’re so lucky to have several wonderful focal points in your living room. I guess that view has to be top pick but then when the fog rolls in, your mantle can take over!
Ginger says
Love these focal point examples! Our natural stone fireplace is floor to ceiling flanked by triple sliders to the pool deck and yard. After seeing your examples I think maybe I need to flank the fireplace opening with some plants to soften the big stones. Hmmm….
Alexis says
Each post from Classic Casual Home is like opening a present for me .
Thanks for sharing your ideas and expertise
Mary Ann Pickett says
Thanks so much, Alexis!!!
LA CONTESSA says
OFF TO ENTER THE LIVING ROOM TO SEE WHAT MY FOCAL POINT CAN BE!!!!!!!!!!!!
HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!
My salon from 1942 is not conducive to chairs and coffee tables.Plus the TV placement makes it all a REAL CHALLENGE.I can recall my vision when we first moved in!ALL white slipcovers with BURNT ORANGE WALLS and dark furniture!Well, with two little BOYS and Two Black LABS that was not the way TO GO!
MAYBE ITS TIME NOW!I ONLY HAVE THE ONE BLACK PIG WHO SLEEPS IN THE LIVING ROOM NOW!
You have given me FOOD for THOUGHT this BEAUTIFUL JULY Morning!
XX
Mary Ann Pickett says
it’s cold and gray here. You have created a lovely home unique to a Contessa!!
home before dark says
Second Linda Henderson’s comment! My living room is a work in progress that’s been halted by the virus and I’m not letting anyone in my home! When I remodeled the back of our house, I “annexed” half of the 33′ (I think it was) into the back of the kitchen and had a new wall built between the two area. Our 1968 house is really a blank slate…except for the man—and I am sure it was a man in 1968—who decided to run mechanicals through a soffit between the two rooms into the hall next door. I always hated it. Over 30 year of pent up frustration. I had the carpenters create a niche and had that area covered in moulding and sheet mirror…including the underside of what I had come to call the monadnock. Now it reflects the front garden and enlarges the smaller room. Drastic times. Drastic measures.
Mary Ann Pickett says
Wow…good for you!!! I would love to see it.
Linda Henderson says
Thank you for the suggestions. I am wowed with your view of Alcatraz. Do you ever get tired of it? Doubtful!
Mary Ann Pickett says
No…It always changes with the weather and ships and boats. 🙂
Linda Cegelis says
Hi Maryanne, I’m redoing my living room entirely and shopping for two Facing sofas (decided after much deliberation). I can’t decide between linen slipcovered RH sofas and a tuxedo sofa like the light blue one featured in this post. What do you order?
Mary Ann Pickett says
Hi Linda! It changes every time according to my clients’ tastes…but for me, I wouldn’t do slipcovers again but I would use performance fabric (and sun resistant for our super sunny living room). Good luck!