A little “wow” goes a long way

In this display, the mirror and the 

downlights enhance the main piece 

of the room, the couch, which acts

as the focal point.

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Every room needs a highlight that the eye is drawn to, a focal point. Some rooms have one naturally. It can be an impressive fireplace, a beautiful view, or an architectural detail. 

Other rooms lack a natural focus and need help. They need something that attracts attention. It doesn’t have to be complex or expensive, just something that creates interest.

Adding a spectacular plant, a gallery of photos or an oversized mirror over the main piece of furniture, are examples of relatively simple ways to "up" the “wow" factor. More ambitious plans include covering the walls in wainscotting or wallpaper (check out previous postings), improving the illumination through downlights, or painting one wall a different colour. 

If you are lucky enough to have a room with a natural focus-of-attention, make sure that it sets the tone for the rest of the room. Accentuate it! Choose colours, furniture and accessories that mix well, and don’t compete, with this special feature. Arrange your furniture in such a way that it enhances the attraction. 

In a future blog, I’ll talk about how you can create focal points in different rooms. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your "focal-point stories". How are you enhancing the beauty of your rooms?