What is your Focal Point?

 

W

here does your eye go when you enter your room?  One of the best ways to turn an ordinary room into something special is to create a focal point.  There are many different things that can be done to draw people’s eyes to a certain spot in a room.  Where you make your focal point depends upon the shape and size of the room itself, what it is that you want to showcase, and your own creativity and personality.    

It can be a bedroom, kitchen, living room, family room, dining room, or some other room in your house.  No matter what the room, start by standing at the entrance.  Look around at the natural flow of the room.  What catches your eye?  Is this the first thing you want people to see when they walk in the room?  If not, the fix may be as simple as hanging a large, framed mirror over a sofa, or putting down an area rug that is vibrantly colored or in an interesting shape. 

A wall painted a different color than the others in the room, or a painting hung over a fireplace can go far in helping create your focal point. You can even try rearranging the furniture to make things pop.  If you have a bigger budget, you can even use track lighting over an area that you want to highlight, or buy a new sofa, chair, coffee table, or ottoman to bring a certain area into focus.

Is there an item in the room that isn’t getting as much attention as you would like it to?  Try placing it in different areas of the room to create the eye catching look that it deserves. Experiment with throw pillows, blankets and other accessories to make it more noticeable.  Take your time to move things around in the room until the first thing you see when you walk in is what you WANT people to see.



How to Find the Right Area Rug for Your Room

How to Find the Right Area Rug for YOUR Room

 

Searching for the right area rug to fit your space can be a daunting task, but with a little forethought you can find just the rug you need to spruce up your room and fit your lifestyle perfectly.  Area rugs come in many sizes, shapes, styles and colors and can serve many different purposes in a room.  They can be used to define a space, (such as a seating or dining area) to add warmth to a room with a wood or tiled floor, to bring together colors in a room, or even as a focal point for decorating.  Before choosing a rug it is important to think of the purpose it will be serving, as well as the color scheme and shape of your room.

 

Before you shop, take a look at your room.  Do you want or need a room size rug, or one or more rugs to accent a section or sections of your room?  If you want a room size rug you will need to measure your room and subtract three feet from the room measurements to figure out the size rug that you need.  This is especially important in smaller rooms as the bare floor around the edges will make your room seem larger.  If the rug is for a dining area it should extend about 24” from the edge of the table (with leaves in place) to make sure there is room for the chairs to stay on the rug when people are seated.  To define a smaller seating area in a large room use a similar formula, making sure the rug will extend a foot or two beyond the furniture you plan to use.  If you are using two or more rugs in the same room they should be of slightly different sizes.  Two rugs of the same size will cut the room in half.  If you want your rug in your bedroom so your feet will hit the warmth of the rug when you wake up, make sure the rug is big enough to cover an area past the bed and include any night stands or bedside tables that you may have.  An area rug can make a hallway quieter and warmer and should fill as much of the hallway as possible without intruding into the next room.  A hallway is also a great spot for a colorful, patterned area rug as the colors and patterns will help to hide soiling and wearing in high traffic areas.

 

Next you should think about style, color and texture.  If your room is subdued, with muted colors and few patterns, a rug with a “busy” pattern and bright colors will wake the room up and make it seem livelier.  If your room is already bright and lively, you might choose to go with a rug with more subtle colors and pattern so things won’t be too vibrant.  You can also use the rug to tie together different colors in a room, such as different colors on your draperies and upholstered furniture.  A rug that has both colors will bring everything together to give your room a more finished appearance. 

 

An area rug can also be used as a focal point on the wall, or on the floor.  Try painting the wall the same color as one of the accent colors of the rug you choose.  This will create interesting contrast in the room.  Have a beautiful antique table that you want to highlight in your room?  Think of putting it on a small area rug with an interesting shape, color, or texture to draw the eye.  If you have a large blank space on the wall, it can be filled nicely by hanging a colorful area rug.  Also, don’t think that an area rug has to be rectangular.  Depending upon the shape and size of your room and your furniture groupings, another shape may work better.

 

With these tips in hand, you should come home with the perfect rug for your room!

 

To see some area rugs to get an idea of styles available,  check them out on our website at: http://spectorfurniture.com/_CGI/SEARCH3?PN=dalyn