What is a Feature Wall?

It’s like standing out from the crowd. A feature wall can impact how the space looks and feels, reinforcing your design style and creating a visual impact.

A room with all the walls decorated in one colour or pattern can create a sense of unity and cohesion. But, after a while, the interior can appear a bit plain and underwhelming. By identifying one wall and giving it a different, bolder texture or colour, you can change the mood and personality of a room.

Feature walls or statements walls are usually specified when the rest of the room is decorated in a neutral colour palette.

By selecting one wall and applying a stone veneer, painting it in a different colour or adding wallpaper, you’re instantly creating a feature.

Browsing some inspiring interior and exterior walls here.

Why create a feature wall in your home?

Feature walls give interior or exterior spaces a decorative focal point. They can also be a great way to give a space a new look and feel. A statement wall can reinvigorate the style of the home without the expense of redecorating the entire room.

They can also be used in any room of the house. A living room, dining room over even a children’s rooms offer huge potentials for feature walls as there is ample scope for experimentation with colours and patterns.

Finally, applying a feature wall to a small room can complement the accessories and furniture in the space while providing the illusion of a larger area.

Statement walls can be created with a variety of materials

You can create a statement wall in a variety of materials. Paint is one of the quickest and most affordable options, followed by wallpaper. If you’re looking for more texture, timber or natural stone is an effective solution for both interior and exterior feature walls.

Natural stone feature walls can give a home an organic texture, warmth, and a sense of sophistication. There is also a large range of different stone formats, colours and finishes that will offer a unique appearance for your home. Free Form stone walling, for example, creates a natural look with lots of movement whereas Linear walling has a clear and architectural aesthetic.

Why feature walls sometimes fail

Remember the painted texture walls in bright colours that were in vogue during the ’90s? It was these statement walls that gave the decorating technique a bad wrap!

A key point to remember is that not every room or home needs or should have one of these walls. A designer or stylist can help to identify the potential for a feature wall and help you create a wall that will enhance your space, not become an epic fail.

Done incorrectly, these walls can be distracting. They can look out of place and confusing. They also can make a room feel smaller or closed in. Another reason a feature wall may fail to deliver on design is that colours and trendy patterns can date over time.

So, take the time to consider the design and material that you are choosing to use for your wall. After all, it’s going to be a part of your home for some time.

For more inspiration, check out our gallery of design projects with feature wall applications.