Figuring out the focal point of a room can be challenging. It also can be deceiving, because many rooms have several features that will qualify as the focal point. Why go about identifying the focal point in the first place? Because designing around an important focal point will give all the items you choose to place in the room a sense of attachment, thus leading to impact and eye appeal. But you must not only strive for impact and eye appeal; you must balance that with function.
You are about to redesign the family room; new wall colors, textures, draperies, wide screen television with built-in shelving, a new couch and, of course, a couple of chairs, tables and lamps. And let’s not forget the paintings and family pictures that will be pulled into the mix as a final touch. You may also want a small wet bar for entertaining. Whatever the case may be, designing a room around a focal point without considering the traffic pattern can lead to a contrived, uninviting atmosphere.
First, list the possible focal points that exist in the room. The following steps will help you narrow down the focal points of your room. But remember, if you are changing most of the movable elements of the room, you will probably need to pick an immovable feature as your focal point.
1. Look around your room to determine the 'biggest' feature. It may be a fireplace, a picture window, or a built-in bookcase. This will end up being a strong contender for the focal point.
2. If your room has no distinguishing architectural features, identify the largest furniture pieces. These could become your focal point. This situation sometimes leads to choosing the television as your dominant focal point; not a good thing, but not altogether bad either.
3. A focal point should be something interesting to look at, something colorful or texturally and visually appealing; no argument there.
4. You can create a focal point for the room, by focusing on artwork, floral arrangements, paint color, or shelving. This works well in single use rooms, such as sitting rooms, sun rooms, and foyers, but seldom will it apply to more complex rooms, such as family rooms, great rooms, or living rooms.
5. The focal point should be the 'first thing' you see when entering a room. You will want to build your furniture arrangement around that focal point. This is a good rule right up until the time when you are faced with a room where it becomes impossible to apply.
Although each item above helps you define what you have to work with as far as potential focal points, none take into account the relationship of the focal point to the traffic pattern. Unless you are designing the layout for a bedroom, a sowing room, or a bathroom, you will need to consider how your family and your guests will use the room, and move about in the room, as well as how they will walk through the room to get to the next room.
So, let’s throw a wrench into the works and create an example. An older home’s living / family room was often designed with a centered fireplace on an end wall or the central wall. In this example we will put it on the central wall opposing the front outside wall. There are usually several relatively small windows placed symmetrically, and a large picture window looking out over the front yard. There are two entries into the room, one from the foyer and one from the dining room. Two or more entries allows for a circular traffic pattern. Considerations for modern living were impossible to foresee when the house was designed; therefore, a dedicated place for a wide screen television was not taken into account.
The example above poses a challenge because there are three very plausible focal points.
1. The fireplace,
2. The beautiful view out the front picture window, or
3. The wide screen television. (A note about the television. Many designers will not consider the television as a viable focal point, but when the size and importance of the electronic entertainment center became a monstrosity, it made it impossible to ignore. In fact, it is arguably the most used appliance in the house, so why shouldn’t it be considered as a focal point).
With an entry from the foyer, an entry from the dining room, and a fireplace that opposes a picture window, we have a room that requires some careful thought. The choices are:
1. Make the picture window the main focal point. Put the television at an angle into the corner and arrange the furniture grouping to face the window and the television as best you can. The traffic flows behind the seating area and traverses in front of the fireplace as it moves between the dining room and the foyer.
2. Choose the fireplace as your main focal point. Mount the flat screen above the mantle. Arrange your furniture for ease of conversation, enjoying the winter warmth of the fireplace and the viewing of the television. The traffic flow goes around the seating area in front of the picture window and traverses from the foyer to the dining room in a wide loop.
3. Choose the fireplace and the picture window as equally important focal points. Arrange the furniture in the center of the room, perhaps with the couch perpendicular to both focal points, and the opposing seating angled around a central cocktail table. The traffic pattern is left to its own devises. It will go the route of least resistance, which will be in front of the fireplace. The flat screen can either be angled into the corner or mounted above the mantle.
The optimal decision would be number two. When considering the reasons why number two is best, you should think of the room as if you were a guest in your own house. Create scenarios by visualizing your family using the room. Imagine entertaining. Think about different types of entertaining. Ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do we have a young family, and will there be children playing and watching television in this room?
2. Do we enjoy entertaining, and how many people do we invite for a typical evening affair or dinner party. Will the design of the room be inviting enough for the group to feel comfortable while sitting and enjoying conversation? 3. Do we have Sunday football gatherings? Do we invite our friends over for weekend sporting events? Will the room accommodate more people than expected if game day happens to be the big game.
All of these examples, and leading questions, will help you decide the best layout for your room. In every scenario, except perhaps the one considering children, the answer seems to be coming back to number two. Why? Because, contrary to popular belief, the focal point does not have to be the first thing you notice when you walk into a room. More important is whether or not the room projects a comfortable invitation to you, your family, and your guests. It must function for daily family activities, and serve well the moments when we all need some peaceful solitude, a place to read and/or reflect.
In summery, before you design a room and go about the task of deciding on the focal point, be certain your choice relates to living. Rooms furnished for the sake of enhancing a focal point may not function with our daily life style. Be sure to define the traffic pattern that will be created after the room is designed around a particular focal point. Understanding how the traffic pattern relates to the chosen focal point will help you create a room, whether formal or informal that projects a warm invitation to you, your family, and your guests.
Jeffrey B. Allen
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