Living room focal point ideas no fireplace
Decorating: 10 Ways to Create a Focal Point Without a Fireplace
If there’s no obvious feature to draw the eye, it can be difficult to know how to create one. Check out these ideas to inspire you
When considering the layout of a room, flow is key and a striking feature is the natural starting point from which to plan your design, as it will help to balance a scheme and make it feel more inviting.
But choosing a focal point can be a little daunting, particularly if you don’t have any obvious architectural features, such as a fireplace, to work with. So where do you start? These clever ideas can point you in the right direction and help you bring a space to life.
Alison Hammond Photography
Bring the outside in
Sometimes, the best feature of a room is the view through the window, so organise your furniture in a way that makes the most of it. This might mean reworking your seating arrangement or, in the case of a kitchen, as seen here, the unit containing the sink. If you’re planning a renovation any time soon, be sure to factor your windows in to the design.
Stiff and Trevillion
Embrace technology
Rather than just hanging your TV from the wall in the corner, or hiding it away in a cupboard, consider making the most of it by framing it with a bespoke cabinet or bookcase. In this example, sleek hi-tech design becomes an integral part of the scheme and is cleverly balanced with shelving and accessories.
Domus Nova
Exhibit art
Sculpture and artwork can become the key look to a whole scheme when displayed with panache. In this room, a symmetrical arrangement of framed pictures leads the eye to the centre of the space, while the giraffe sculpture makes a striking and humorous statement in front of the window.
Browse the prints and posters for sale in the Houzz Shop
Carolina Design Associates, LLC
Position a large piece
Storage doesn’t have to be purely utilitarian and it can work hard as a focal point for your room, too.
Go for something bigger than usual to make it stand out, like this large armoire, then frame it with artwork for perfect symmetry. Once the seating is arranged on either side, the room is instantly balanced.
Check out 14 ways to put vintage pieces to use
brandes maselli architects
Display a mural
Photography can be the perfect way to focus the eye and inject personality into a room, so create a feature wall with a single, oversized image. This is a simple yet highly effective design trick to add a little drama to a space. It can be really cost-effective, too.
Diligence International
Fake a fireplace
There are so many options for creating a fireside-like setting without the need for a chimney or mantelpiece. You could go for a bioethanol fire, which is flue-less and smoke free and runs on biofuel liquid (and won’t need a gas connection or power supply).
Or, you could even source a faux fire for a similar effect. The one seen here isn’t actually a real fire, but a projected image of one.
See how to warm up your home with a contemporary fireplace
James Dawson Interior Design
Look up
While placing the focal point on the ceiling might not be the first thing that springs to mind, don’t rule it out. Check out how well it works in this kitchen, where a bold, geometric motif creates an interesting contrast to the dark cabinetry and pale flooring.
Discover 10 kitchens that break the mould
Tobi Fairley Interior Design
Mirror it
You can create a wow-factor focal point using a statement piece positioned centrally on a wall, and a mirror is just the ticket. Choose the colour and style to suit your scheme or to add a dash of contrast. This decorative sunburst mirror grabs your attention immediately.
Sustain Design Architects Inc.
Work with a staircase
Whether renovating or planning a new build, consider the design impact of all the various architectural elements. In this home, the staircase takes centre stage and becomes key to the overall look of the space. The minimalist approach transforms a functional element into a sculptural object.
Find out how a staircase and balustrade professional can help you.
Amberth
Turn to texture
Materials that have a naturally tactile quality are great for drawing the eye. Bricks, wood panelling and other highly textural materials can be put to good use to create the perfect focal point. If you don’t have any exposed brick walls, why not try adding some to an existing wall to build in interest and character?
TELL US…
How have you created focal points in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
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No Fireplace? No Problem.
10 Ways to Create a Focal Point by admin
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The American ideal of the cozy living room with a roaring fireplace is often easier said than done. Less traditional spaces, climate and home size might sway you away from planning your space around a large fireplace. Still, even if you don’t miss a fireplace for warmth, it does make design a no-brainer. Fireplaces almost always become the focal point of a room, making it easier to anchor the rest of the room’s decor. If you’re fireplace-free, how do you make a room stand out?
There are plenty of ways to anchor rooms without the upfront expense and ongoing cost of a fireplace. Whether you’re just renting or you’re opting out of a traditional space, check out some of these focal points to draw the eye and simplify the rest of your interior design.
Accent wallpaper
Accent wallpaper gives a room more interest. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock
It’s true: fireplaces are a handy spot to break up large expanses of boring walls. But you can pull the same look off with textured or patterned wallpaper. Choose the wall with the most visual impact as you walk into the room. Then, use a bold, graphic paper to draw the eye and anchor other elements like furniture, lighting and artwork. This is especially useful if you’re a renter since today’s wallpapers are easy to install and remove.
Framing windows
Center a room around large picture windows. Image: PlusONE/Shutterstock
Stop thinking of windows as room accents and, instead, think of them as room features. Cool casings and gorgeous grids look great on display, so try grouping your furniture around a couple of windows. You’ll create a cozy nook with the best view in the house.
Gallery walls
Hang art as your home’s focal point. Image: Photographee.
eu/Shutterstock
Fireplaces are a natural place to hang art or prop up your favorite mementos, but you don’t need a mantel to show off your stuff. Create a gallery wall using similar size parameters as a fireplace. Mix up the mediums by hanging art, things you’ve picked up on vacation, wood signs and even framed tickets or maps. Grouped together, your stuff makes a bigger visual impact and can act as an anchor point for your furniture.
Going graphic
A graphic painting anchors the room. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock
More of a minimalist? One large, impactful piece of artwork can give you all the character you need in a fireplace-free home. Look for oversized works that pull in colors from the rest of your place. Use art as a tie-in to other rooms and decor in your home. Or, mix it up by playing with opposites. Try a large, graphic print in a home with bohemian flair or a colorful, delicate piece in an otherwise neutral palette.
Dramatic lighting
Interesting lighting draws the eye up.
Image: Marko Poplasen/Shutterstock
If you’re on a tight budget, you might be left scratching your head. But lighting is often overlooked as a main focal point, simply because most people think of lighting as an accent only. Lighting can be an inexpensive way to direct focus in a room. Choosing a large, overhanging lamp can center a room, while an antique lamp on a table creates a cozy focal spot. For under $100, your room can take on an entirely new look based on where you direct the light.
Built-ins and storage
Bookshelves mimic the shape and size of a fireplace. Image: alexandre zveiger/Shutterstock
If you’re lucky enough to have a wall of built-ins, you can use that as a stand-in for a large fireplace. Books and wood offer a great alternative to the warmth and texture of a fireplace. Still, even if you’re working with a bare wall, you can mimic the look of built-in shelving using storage units of the same color. Configure taller units at the end and a low, long unit in between to fill the space and give it a custom look.
Mirror, mirror
Use an oversized mirror to expand the space and create a focal point. Image: Basileus/Shutterstock
Mirrors are a simple way to draw focus and make a room look much bigger than it is. The trick to choosing a mirror for your focal point is to be intentional. Instead of a builder grade mirror from the hardware store, look for mirrors with interesting frames from estate sales and antique stores. And remember that mirrors always look smaller when you put them in a space, so go larger than you think you need.
Urban jungle
Bring plants in for a pop of color. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock
If you love an organic look, use plants as your room’s main focal feature. It’s a great way to pull in color and texture without permanence. Try pulling focus by grouping plants of different heights together. Use pots and pedestals to change up the heights until you get it just right and can ensure each plant gets the sun it prefers.
Ceiling treatments
A cool ceiling treatment gives the eye somewhere to look.
Image: solepsizm/Shutterstock
Not sure where to create a focal point? Look up! Your ceiling can become the main focus of your room with a cool ceiling treatment. Simply painting the ceiling an unexpected color like navy blue pulls the eye like a magnet. This is especially helpful if the room is otherwise kind of architecturally awkward. You could also install paneling or slide in some faux beams to recenter the room and give it more interest.
Go faux
Fill in a non-functional fireplace. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock
If you really miss the idea of a fireplace but can’t have one for whatever reason, try going for a faux fireplace. You can check thrift stores for mantels and surrounds that simply prop up against bare walls. Then, stack the interior of the “fireplace” with pillar candles, driftwood or even firewood remnants. You won’t get the crackle of a traditional fireplace, but you’ll still get every bit of the warmth.
There are plenty of reasons a homeowner might opt out of a traditional fireplace setup.
There’s something to be said, however, for creating a cozy focal point in the main room of your home. Think beyond the traditional layout and you’ll be able to draw guests in without lighting a fire.
The post No Fireplace? No Problem. 10 Ways to Create a Focal Point appeared first on Freshome.com.
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How to furnish a living room: where to start furnishing a living room - tips from a photo
Hundreds of tips on how to furnish a living room do not answer the main question - how to achieve harmony
It will sound amazing, but the center of the living room (in terms of interior design) may not be in the center of the room at all. In essence, it is a point of attraction for views, which pulls over the “blanket of the interior concept”. Let's talk about how to beautifully equip the living room and achieve harmony in the apartment.
Designed by Ekaterina Kolegova Ecole
Dance from the sofa
This is the most common and quite effective scheme - arranging a living room around a "sofa group".
It is assumed that as soon as we get into the room, we will immediately look at the upholstered furniture. What will "force" us to do it?
Anna Muravina
1. An expressive color or an active furniture ornament - they attract the eye (example in the photo above).
2. The color of the furniture group - it can be calm, but contrast with the "background" and stand out against it, like these light armchairs.
3. Good location of the “main” object. The furniture is not pressed against the walls, the main attention is on the main things.
4. Additional gathering element (carpet on the floor in the interior - an example in the photo).
Living Spaces
Important: to the sofa group I include a sofa, armchairs and pouffes, a coffee table. Accordingly, an ordinary, albeit a large corner sofa in this role will be uninteresting.
Even if you order it in cranberry-colored upholstery and it takes up half the living room, harmony will not increase in it. An important measure.
Look at the photo-example of how to furnish a room – there is a lot of color, it is active, but not excessive. The designer worked on contrasts, balanced the blue sofa with tangerine chairs. There is no bias towards one color, style - and this is important. It is the sofa group as a whole that works.
SEE ALSO…
Design of living rooms - more than 1 million photos
Ekaterina Vladimirova
Combine simple shades
A person who subtly feels the magic of color combinations can use deep shades in decoration. For example, I really like to practice mixing different shades of watercolor on paper or watch how beautiful color combinations look in nature. For example, those same blue and pink - the colors of 2016 from Pantone - are nothing more than a shade of the rising sun in the dawn sky.
Any inspiring photo can be decomposed into a specific color palette of primary and complementary colors using the application.
READ ON THE TOPIC…
How to use computer color matching in the interior
MARINA BUSEL interior design
red pepper, laurel, sage. The fact is that their muted intelligent shades are perfectly combined with each other and create a feeling of complete harmony.
SEE ALSO…
The Seasonal Interior Method: How to Choose the Right Colors
Andrew Howard Interior Design
Try Out “Catchy” Print
Modern technologies allow you to print on any surface - wallpaper, textile materials, including upholstery furniture, cabinet furniture, tiles, plastic panels, decorative accessories, etc. Print options can be different: from the usual graphic (for example, in the form of currently popular rhombuses, chevrons) to complex floral or abstract.
I like original or geometric designs on carpets or upholstery. At the same time, not the entire soft group may have such upholstery - only the chair or even the pillow on it.
VVDesign
Accentuate the window
If the layout is such that the room is narrow and long, the window is clearly visible from the entrance. It willy-nilly attracts attention. Therefore, it can also act as a focal point for the interior of the living room.
Tip: if there are large windows in the living room, they can be decorated with thick curtains with a dense assembly and large patterns that attract the eye. Be careful: different patterns, designed in two or three matching shades, are acceptable. What can not be said about prints, the colors of which differ sharply from the main color scheme of the living room.
Orrick & Company
Make the hearth the centerpiece
A fireplace (no kidding) is the dream of most of my clients, whether they live in a cottage in the country or equip a small living room in a typical "kopeck piece".
Of course, we cannot provide everyone with a real portal with firewood. But to create a high-quality imitation is real even in a small living room. Moreover, the arrangement of a fireplace in the living room often builds a visual image of the interior.
Wallpaperdirect
To draw attention to the fireplace portal, work with its facing. You can use metal panels, wooden beams, masonry, or classic decoration with embossed cornices and pilasters. But my favorite solution is to highlight the entire fireplace area with an accent strip of wallpaper or with a niche. This technique allows not only to create an interesting "focus", but also to adjust the geometry of the room. It does not matter whether we equip a large living room or a small one.
Desatori
Accent wall
Obviously, we look at the room from different angles - the first impression we get from the entrance.
And in this case, the focus is what is best viewed from it (a bright chair against the background of a contrasting curtain and a huge window span, as in the case in the photo).
But then we move in space, we move to a sofa, armchairs - other objects come into view. At the same time, the image of space does not fall apart, it continues to be “held” by focal points. Yes, there may be several of them - the same fireplace portal. Or an accent (contrasting to others) wall: usually its role is played by the plane that is best viewed from the entrance.
Seattle Staged to Sell and Design LLC
The accent doesn't have to be a brightly printed wallpaper - it could be a different color. And any, interesting to you personally. Deciding how to equip a small living room? - Do not use too dark colors for accents (purple, black, marsh) - they are more suitable for spacious and bright rooms.
Irina Dymova's studio
Atmosphere
We are talking about subtle details, sometimes even artistic inconsistencies.
Not just an interesting decor, but the competent integration of details into the space, allowing you to line up all the accents along the chain. Let's say that everyone is tired of wooden beams on the stream. Yes, you can say that if they are “taken out of context”. If they look organic - how natural wood looks on the wall of a log house - you can work with them and build an interior around them, make the constructive part of the concept. The apartment will only benefit from this.
Light scenario
As a rule, the living room is the largest room in the house, which is customarily decorated on a grand scale. In particular, for the interior of the living room, it is allowed to choose non-standard or more voluminous chandeliers with several horns that provide uniform and intense light.
Hint: If you decide to make a chandelier the centerpiece of your living room, pay attention to this subtle but important nuance. The higher the living room ceiling, the more tiers of chandeliers you can afford, and vice versa: low ceilings mean the same level of light bulbs and a wider ceiling perimeter.
The distance from the floor to the bottom of the chandelier should not be less than 2.1 m.
An interesting role in the perception of a living room can be played by the light geometry, built using local lighting. After all, the nominal center of the living room can be decorated not only with a chandelier, but also with the help of lamps, placing a pair of floor lamps in a soft group - for example, near the chairs. This technique is often used by Western designers to emphasize the comfort of the recreation area. And, of course, do not forget that the lamps themselves can be very self-sufficient in design.
Alvhem Mäkleri & Interior
Perspective
Mobile objects of a fairly large size, just enough to attract the eye on their own — in my opinion, a spectacular and convenient way out when you need to quickly and effortlessly change the interior of a living room in an apartment. Such objects, for example, include a large mirror - this is already a classic element that is appropriate in any style of interior.
Strindberg Mäkleri AB
A mirror on the wall essentially plays the same role as a painting – it can collect a picture around itself and add volume to a room. Therefore, make sure that the reflection in the mirror at least works as a plus for the interior.
Natalia Preobrazhenskaya | Uyutnaya Kvartira Bureau
Advice: do not be afraid that an oversized picture or a mirror will be out of place in a small (as in the photo) living room. Here it is important to choose a copy that projects a perspective image, made in bright colors. A simple way to help in the task of expanding a tight space.
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How to design a fireplace in an apartment: 17 ideas for inspiration
How to issue
In our previous article “How to arrange a fireplace in an apartment”, we analyzed the technical side of the issue in detail. Now we offer a look at inspiring examples of how you can fit a home in a city dwelling in different ways.
Ekaterina Goncharenko
In fact, a fireplace in an apartment may look no different from a familiar fireplace in a country house - it all depends only on the wishes of the customer and the imagination of its designer. And our selection will show how diverse the result can be.
How to arrange a fireplace in an apartment: practical tips
Traditionally
The owners of the high-rise apartment on Kotelnicheskaya embankment are lucky: the fireplace has been laid here since the house was built. And despite the fact that now it does not function, this venerable element of space was given due care. The location of the fireplace “at the forefront” already speaks of its considerable importance in the room, and in order to further emphasize its importance, in contrast to the white wall decoration, the fireplace was dressed in a dark lining interspersed with white veins (noble gray hair).
High-rise apartment on Kotelnicheskaya embankment . Living room. Sofa, Meridiani; coffee table, Tacchini; on it is a vase from the gallery “Circulation 1/1”; above it is a lamp, Vibia; on the left is a console made to order according to the designer's sketches.
The design of the fireplace in the interior of the St. Petersburg apartment designed by Daria Mayer also builds on the contrast: the designer immersed the living room in a deep dark blue color, and enclosed the real fireplace in white marble. It is marble that is one of the most popular materials for decorating a fireplace, with it even simple forms take on a sublime classic look. For example, in the apartment for the newlyweds, Olga Solnyshkova did not overload the already full of details with bas-reliefs with monograms on the fireplace and settled on a more concise version. And still, due to the marble finish and the composition of the space as a whole, such a fireplace looks quite traditional.
Apartment in St. Petersburg . Fireplace area. Fireplace, “Exclusive style”, shelving made in the workshop “More style!”; vases, Gunga Ceramics; painting by Vyacheslav Mikhailov.
Newlyweds apartment in Moscow, 70 m² . Fireplace portal, Unizaro; racks are made to order; painting by Adele Levitova; carpet, Jerome Botanic; vintage armchairs and coffee table from Repeat Story; side table designed by Mikhail Stepanov. Curtains made of Kravet fabric, sewn by Nelli Katzyna.
The designer Ekaterina Yakovenko took a different path. In the apartment for her customer, Ekaterina organized a fireplace marble portal with a noticeable “architecture” of France of the 19th century. The spirit of the era is supported by antique fireplace tagans. “I consider a fireplace an indispensable element, it creates an atmosphere of warmth, comfort and makes the interior alive,” says Yakovenko. “Even if it’s decorative, the imitation should be realistic: a cast-iron firebox, firewood and real accessories.
”
Feminine apartment in Moscow, 76 m² . Fragment of the living room. Fireplace portal and tagans - all France, XIX century; on the portal is a lifetime copy of the sculpture of Demeter Chiparus from the salon “BersoAntik”; showcase, Christopher Guy; inside a service from the “House of Porcelain”; TV mirror, Burg & Glass.
But you can get a fireplace without a story and watch how it is happening before your eyes: designer Aiya Lisova suggested to her client to make a portal out of sandstone - over time, this natural stone absorbs soot into the pores and ages nobly. They also decided to add years to the chimney: copper sheets were specially kept in solution in order to achieve characteristic “rusty” stains.
Black square
Minimalist fireplaces are more common in minimalist interiors. But any such seemingly nondescript “black square” can become a work of art. The fireplace in the three-level apartment designed by Elena Ivannikova and Sergey Tuletskov is worth taking a closer look at: burnt oak boards are hidden behind the dark paint of the cladding.
But the designers did not hide the air ducts - only transparent glass covers the steel pipes.
Three-level apartment for an artist in Moscow . Sculptural decor by Denis Milovanov. On the floor there is a larch board and lint-free carpets, IKEA. Hanging lamps, tables and upholstered furniture are made to order.
A dark, simple design is also suitable for those who do not want to draw too much attention to the fireplace in a city apartment, if, for example, it is located in a walk-through zone, as in the interior of a two-level apartment from the Krause tandem, or if the hearth is displaced, as in an apartment on Taganka designed by Natalia Maslova. And you can decorate the area with the help of art.
Duplex apartment in Moscow, 84 m² . View of the kitchen. Bar stools, Gärsnäs. Fireplace portal made of granite, Artishock; a metal insert in front of the fireplace and a firewood rack to the right of it, made of blued metal. Fixtures, Delta Light.
Massive board on the floor, "Golden Forest". Photo above the fireplace by Kirill Ovchinnikov.
Taganka apartment designed by Natalya Maslova . Living room. Sofa and armchair, Minotti; small tables, Baxter; in the center is a coffee table, Vitra; chandelier, Apparatus; curtains, Rubelli; carpet, Zoë Luyendijk Studio; walls painted with Paint & Paper Library; Above the fireplace is a painting by Dirk Saltz.
At attention
Instead of a standard fireplace in a city apartment, you can put a stove, as Oleg Klodt did in his apartment. “The first idea was to make a fireplace in the corner, on the axis from the front door, but I didn’t want to have a regular corner fireplace that the whole living room is oriented towards,” says the architect. The Italian holidays changed the concept: just in the process of repairing, the Klodt family went to the Alps, where they found a similar free-standing stove in a local restaurant - everyone agreed that this was what they needed.
In addition to functionality, such a stove also has neat legs and window doors that create an elegant look.
Oleg Klodt's apartment in Moscow . Kitchen, Eggersmann. Above a custom-made island with a German ceramic top is a lamp, Vibia. Hiro the dog rests on the aged oak floor.
The airy constructions of free-standing stoves do not weigh down the interior and at the same time sometimes even hide small space imperfections. This is what happened to the interior that MK‑Interio architects were working on: Maria Makhonina and Alexandra Kazakovtseva placed a fireplace right in front of a massive load-bearing column in the center of the room, partially disguising it. Designer Maria Panchenko decorated the corner of the living room with the help of a fireplace – without it, this part of the room would look frankly empty.
Apartment overlooking the Gulf of Finland in Repino, 215 m² . Living room. Fireplace, Focus. Sofa, Edra; coffee tables and shelving, Alivar; lamps, Delta Light.
On the shelf are handmade ceramics, DavCeramics; vases, Guaxs, from the shop “Items”; dark blue vase, Guaxs, MK Luxury Space.
Brutal apartment in St. Petersburg, 127 m² . Living room. Sofa and glass coffee table, Baxter; marble table, Poliform; black stool, Frama; chandelier and table lamp, Flos; biofireplace, Deco Flame.
Another interesting version of the fireplace can be seen in the interior designed by Yulianna Nikulina. Despite its size, this huge futuristic block, as they say, fit into the space as well as possible, repeating the shape of sofas and armchairs from Ligne Roset.
Behind the glass
A more modest interior solution is a biofireplace. Yes, you won’t be able to look at the crackling of firewood, but you can still be fascinated by the dance of the flame. Due to the fact that biofireplaces usually have a fairly compact and inconspicuous appearance, they are most often located under the TV zone.
Apartment in Moscow new building, 240 m² .
Sofa, Baxter; carpet, Tapis Rouge Atelier; small table and brass arch, Dordi; decor and coffee table, Savor Design; all built-in furniture and panels are made according to the sketches of the architect at Mebel.pw; armchair, B&B Italia; marble portal for a fireplace, Mpamop.ru; biofireplace, Flambis.
Apartment in the City designed by Tatiana Bobyleva, Bureau PROforma . Fragment of the living room. Panels, a portal, doors, a wardrobe - everything was made according to the sketches of the author in the carpentry workshop of Pavel Medvedsky. Paint, Manders; lighting, Delta Light; ceiling light, floor lamp, Foscarini, private collection salon. Sofa, Saba Italia; armchair, Zanotta; tables, Horm; supplier, Altodesign; carpet, New Rug; TV The Frame, Samsung; biofireplace, Bioart; electrical products, Jung. Textile, workshop of Elena Klimenko.
Ease of installation of biofireplace allows you to install it anywhere in the room, not just in the wall. The NIDO interiors team took advantage of this when they planned the interior of a Moscow apartment for a very rational customer.
