Just like all well-arranged rooms, scrapbook layouts need a focal point, one object that draws in the viewer’s attention and shares the message of the page. That’s why creating a focal point is an important principle of page design. If you think about it, building a focal point into a scrapbook page makes sense: drawing attention to the most important thing on a layout helps your viewer understand your message, communicates what’s important about your page content, and provides a pleasing place for the eye to rest.
Use these tips either alone or in combination to create a focal point on your next scrapbook layout.
Size
Decide what you want to make the focal point and make it bigger than everything else on your page. The largest item stands out immediately.
![]()
Color
Incorporate a vibrant color into your focal point. If it stands out chromatically, the eye will be drawn right to it. Consider using a complementary color to the scheme of the rest of your page: red on green, orange on blue, yellow on purple. Or, consider increasing the vibrancy and intensity of the color of your focal point and de-saturating the background.
![]()
Clustering and White Space
Just like an interior designer arranges seating around a fireplace so that it becomes the focal point of a room, try arranging your page accents around your focal point. Leaving white space on the rest of the page pulls the viewer’s eye in to the focal point.
![]()
Journaling and Titles
Focal points don’t have to be photos; try putting other page components in the spotlight. Journaling, titles, or elements as well as photos can all be turned into focal points.
![]()
Leading the Eye
Arrange elements on the page so they lead the viewer’s eye toward the focal point. Element scatters or the placement of the title are great ways of creating a path to the focal point. Sometimes, as an additional way to add emphasis, you might want to have the eyes of the person in your photos looking at the focal point. This adds a nice touch of drama to the page.
![]()
Shape
On a page of square photos, one cropped into a circle or other shape pops out more. Use a contrasting shape to draw attention to the most important thing in your design.
Placement
Use the Rule of Thirds to draw attention to a focal point. To do this, visually divide your page into thirds vertically and horizontally and then place the focal point on one of the places where the lines cross. Alternatively, putting the focal point in the center of a page emphasizes its importance as well.
![]()
Vary the Design
If you have streamlined, modern elements throughout your design, try adding a different style to your focal point to make it stand out. Contrasting styles help attract the viewer to your focal point.
The next time you create a scrapbook page, select a photo, element, title, or journaling block as your focal point. Then, use one or several of the above tips to make it the focus of your page design.