Has something extraordinary ever caught your eye? Perhaps it was a leaping dolphin in a calm sea. Maybe it was a red umbrella in a sea of black umbrellas. Possibly it was the soaring of a basketball player over nine grounded players, a shimmering mirage in the middle of a serene desert, or a shooting star in a sky of stationary stars.

When decorating any room of a home, creating a focal point is crucial. The focal point grabs the attention of anyone in the room and says “Look at me!” However, sometimes, the “focal point” can be an entire wall, which experts refer to as a “focal wall.” Here are some tips for creating a striking focal wall in your finished basement:

Use Paint to Accentuate

The colors that you use when painting the focal wall are crucial. You can use a variety of methods to achieve your goal. For instance, if the wall is white, you can draw attention to the wall without painting the whole wall orange or neon green! For instance, add three different colors to accentuate different objects on the wall (i.e. around a fireplace or window). Whichever colors you use on your focal wall, be certain that a significant amount of variance exists between the hues. This will add depth to the wall, and thus draw people’s eyes to it.

Rather than catch an onlooker’s eyes, a dull and empty wall might put him or her to sleep. Enter wall art. A wide variety of wall art is available, including wall architectural pieces, wall clocks and mirrors, abstract wall art and wall shelves.

When using wall art, how you arrange it on the wall is as important as the type of wall art itself that you choose. For instance, when hanging wall art such as abstract canvas painting sets, diversity is the key. Use mattes of different sizes and different colors (to contrast the color of the wall). Add frames of varying sizes, colors, shapes, and even textures. For instance, you can use lengthy vertical frames to highlight taller wall art pieces. You could also use a variety of oval, square, and rectangular frames on a single wall.

Utilize a variety of techniques when hanging the wall art, to help create the focal wall:

• Use a vertical line for tall walls, and a horizontal arrangement for wide walls
• Create a diagonal arrangement of wall art to form a more spectacular look
• Arrange framed photos or paintings of different sizes to create a single box
• Collect dozens of artwork pieces with the same theme, on a single wall
• Place one enormous painting on the wall, such as a landscape painting
• Make an asymmetrical arrangement to create a more exciting and casual look

Variety is the Spice of Walls

One of the most practical ways of highlighting a finished basement wall, is by literally shining a spotlight on it. Consider using track lighting to accentuate certain areas of a wall, such as a collection of wall art, a shelf full of eye-catching knickknacks, etc. This method functions particularly well in areas of the house with less lighting, such as hallways, stairways, etc.

Use an assortment of wall décor to make a wall more dazzling. For instance, install an attractive wall shelf and then put framed photos, unique sculptures, etc. on it. Add some pizzazz to your focal wall by hanging up a wall wine rack filled with one or two of your favorite wines. Use an enormous or unique-looking wall clock not only to tell the time, but also to draw the attention of onlookers. Hang architectural pieces and contrast their colors with the wall atop which they rest.

To create a focal wall, you can ironically use objects not on the wall, such as floor art sculptures, to contribute to the cause. For instance, you can create a contrast between décor near the wall, and décor on the wall. Use small dark furniture pieces to contrast a more vibrant color on the wall. Another method is to hang wall art slightly above pieces of furniture adjacent to it. This will further accentuate the wall, helping to create a focal wall.

While fireplaces tend to be the focal point of a room, you need to enhance the wall of which it is in front. You can take several steps to achieve this goal. Only put up wallpaper on the wall behind the fireplace. Place an interesting collection of knickknacks above the fireplace, including some framed pictures, art pieces, etc.

Think Outside the Box

One of the most effective ways to create a focal wall in your finished basement is to think outside the box. For instance, have fun! Use wall art with cartoon characters, pop art, movie posters, etc. Also, do some experimentation before you hang up a wall art arrangement on the wall. Use a table or the floor to “test” the pieces so you have an idea of how the arrangement would appear on the wall.

Windows play an instrument role in a finished basement, as the windows allow a minimum amount of natural light into the room. Windows are also important as they provide a view of outdoors. However, you can help to draw the eyes of people in the basement, to the window itself. Use lightweight and light-colored window treatments, to create an airy feel and to create the appearance that the windows are larger than they are. However, avoid overwhelming the windows, as it could cause the basement to darken and “shrink.”

When someone walks into your finished basement, he or she should easily spot the focal point there. By following these aforementioned tips, you can turn a focal point into a focal wall!