When you decorate, do you focus? And by “focus” we mean “use focal points”, not “pay attention”. You’ve got our permission to daydream as much as you want (we do it all the time!). In fact, it was while staring out a picture window and wondering what it feels like to be a tree squirrel that we noticed how useful focal points can be for spicing up a décor. Picture windows, after all, are built-in focal points.

Not sure what a focal point is? Well… You know when you walk into a room and right away something catches your eye? Yep. That’s a focal point. A focal point adds interest to a room and ties smaller decorative elements together. And anything has the potential to be a focal point too: an upholstered chair in the corner, a chandelier hanging low from the ceiling, a distinctive centerpiece on a table, or a collage of objects on a wall. It just has to command attention (because of it’s size, color, pattern, or plain unexpectedness).

We’re really into focal points that are unconventional, like huge graphic decals on the wall behind a couch, bookshelves painted colors that contrast with the space around them, or chandeliers in places where they wouldn’t normally go (think: bathrooms or offices). Surprising additions to traditional focal points, like picture windows and fireplaces, are pretty cool too. We’ve seen heavily textured curtains and ornate fireplace grates that were far from ordinary. When it comes to creating “focus” the options are limitless…

So what do you/would you use as a focal point, and where? Send us an email, or post a picture to our Flickr page to share your ideas. We’re always looking for fodder for our next daydream.