Give your room the wow factor with a feature wall.

Here we will look at different ideas for creating feature walls, from using paint and wallpaper to displaying pictures and collections.

Creating a feature wall is one of the easiest, inexpensive and effective ways of giving your room a style boost. A feature wall is, quite literally, a single wall that is different to other walls in the room, allowing you to show off your creativity with a dramatic focal point.

 

You can create feature walls in any room of any size, even small rooms where other attempts to make a statement can result in the space feeling overwhelming.

How to do a feature wall

In many rooms, it will be obvious which wall to choose. There may be special features worth highlighting, like alcoves or a fireplace, or, in bedrooms, the wall where the head of the bed goes. Feature wall ideas range from simple paint tricks, ways with wallpaper, stencils and transfers.

 

Paint a feature wall

Feature wall colours might be harmonising or contrasting. Be brave and bold with your choice (after all, it is only one wall), but consider carefully to get the best palette for the space.

Soothing colours (neutrals and greys, and muted shades of other colours) are perfect for relaxing rooms, like bedrooms and living areas. Greens, blues and putty shades are especially soothing. Avoid very cool shades in a north-facing room as they can make it feel chilly. Lively citrus colours are suited to kitchens and hallways, and add a touch of fun. Reds and purples are invigorating and add drama – use in dining rooms, living rooms and bathrooms, too. Any colours with a hint of red will add a cosy atmosphere – good for warming up north-facing spaces.

Dulux has a range of feature wall paints. Dulux Feature Wall paint comes in a variety of bold shades. You don’t have to limit yourself to one colour. Consider two feature wall colours to highlight alcoves and a chimney breast, for example.

Feature wall designs might also include stripes. Used horizontally, they make the space feel wider.

A great feature wall design idea is to create a huge calendar using blackboard paint as your feature wall paint. This works especially well in a home office.

Feature wallpaper ideas

The same rules apply for feature wallpapers – choose those that harmonises or contrast sympathetically. Some papers are specifically called feature wall wallpapers.

Most people choose a single feature wallpaper, but there’s nothing to stop you picking two harmonising papers if you are a confident decorator.

Feature wallpaper designs are plentiful – go bold with florals, geometric patterns or stripes; bring in interest with quirky book designs; add a gentle touch with blossom patterns and images of pastoral scenes; introduce drama with a textural damask, or add a contemporary edge with dramatic greyscale papers.

There’s no hard and fast rule as to what works where because so much depends on other elements in the room. Florals may be both modern, retro or vintage, for example, depending on other elements in the mix.

Some bedroom feature wall ideas, however, might include pretty florals and feminine motifs, like birds and butterflies in muted shades, or elegant brights like teal and fucshia.

Great living room feature wall ideas include wall art wallpaper, which fills an entire wall with an evocative scene. Some companies will let you upload your own photos, too.

 

Stencils and wall transfers

If you’re not a confident DIYer, these are the perfect solution. You can use them across a whole wall or to emphasise a particular feature.

Transfers add instant style and have the benefit of being removable. Designs are limitless; simple florals, heart-felt sayings, graphic patterns, motifs from nature, and whimsical designs.  They’re perfect for contemporary schemes and practical spaces, such as kitchens, bathrooms and playrooms. Or use in the bedroom to frame the bed.

Stencils allow ultimate flexibility. There’s a stencil for everything, but popular designs are nature motifs, vintage designs and old-fashioned lettering.

 

Display a collection

Favourite collections can be an interior designer’s dream, whether they’re special plates or mirrors, or even children’s artwork. Instead of displaying them all around the house, group them together on a feature wall for maximum impact.

 

Using photos and pictures

Family photos and pictures make a very personal statement and are great feature wall ideas for living rooms, hallways and kitchens. Choose frames of the same colour to create a streamlined effect. A large, single picture can also be striking, while large wooden letters add personalisation.

 

Feature wall tiles

Bathrooms can be tricky spaces but what better way to make your mark than with a tiled feature wall? Textured stone is very of-the-moment, and mosaics are enduringly popular. A mix of blues creates a soothing space, or add impact with bronze, silver or gold-effect tiles. Some of the most dramatic bathrooms use black tiles predominantly, which can be boosted by the inclusion of gold or silver, or a pattern, laid in a stripe.

 

Storage feature walls

If you’re short on space, a feature wall involving shelves or shelving units kills two birds with one stone. Storage feature walls combine perfectly with a papered or painted feature wall. The back of shelving units can also be papered or painted.
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