I have noticed over the years that people are placing fewer items on their walls. And they tend to be installing larger pieces of art instead of multiple pieces.
A collage of items are usually of a more personal nature and can create a lovely story. Maybe of ones forefathers or possibly education awards. You can add dimensional items to the group such as mirrors or moments that relate to the theme.
Maybe a particular wall has a contrasting paint color to make the group of art pop a little bit more. This idea on its own can create a focal point.
With more modern housing and the open floor plans with tall ceilings that have become popular I tend to use larger pieces of art. This “wow” feature definitely creates a theme as we have discussed before. It can be the starting point for your design, both with pattern and color palette.
Many builders will use fewer, but larger pieces of art in their model homes. AirBnB and VRBO also keep things simple, yet they all want to create a focal point while looking well appointed.
One mistake I see being made is that people can sometimes select the wrong wall for such detail. If possible, you want this larger statement to draw you into the room. It should be inviting and draw you from one room to another.
If using a mirror, you must consider what the mirror is reflecting and whether it gives you the reflecting depth that is needed. If a paint color, don’t create the drama on the wall that isn’t seen until you have already entered the room. Looking into a room and seeing a variety of smaller art objects will get muddy and not substantial enough to grab your attention.
Consider yourself a guest in your own home. Enter the front door. As you look down hallways and into adjacent rooms, are there objects on the far walls that you can clearly see and that draw your eye into each space? Does your attention flow through your home with focal points as you walk around. Or does one room end where another begins?
Take for instance this awesome focal point I installed for a client.
My client asked me to find her a piece of art for the landing of her staircase. As I began looking for framed art I realized how bland this idea was. I considered painting the entire wall a paint color that might help with a framed piece of art. Maybe a textured wallpaper.
What about a mural? YES! A mural!
However, murals I found were still limited in size and the angled wall posed an issue. I finally found a great mural that I could cut and make fit almost anywhere. I cut around the flowers on the left and the bottom. I painted the wall a black color that matched the background color in the mural.
Once pasted, the mural appears to cover the entire space. And what a focal point!
This dramatic and eye pleasure draws your attention up and into the space! The colors pull from elements from both the first and second floor.
