He didn t know to center the pattern around the fireplace. As a result, she stopped his work immediately and asked him to leave. The focal point may be a picture window, fireplace, or even a piece of furniture like a bed, armoire, entertainment center, etc. The bottom line is where your attention is focused when you first enter the room. For a paperhanger who learns by trial and error, he will likely have the unsettling feeling that he should have selected another focal point once the room is completed.
Experience is the best teacher.
The second important decision in the room is where you will kill the wall covering. If all walls are hung in a room, there will be one point where they do not match when using patterned materials. That is not to say it doesn t happen that we complete a room and they actually do come together perfectly. However, back to the decision at hand. Kill point locations are divided between those who believe they belong in a corner and those who believe they belong over the doorway.