Feature wall design ideas are a great way to create a focal point, highlight a feature, or define an area of a room (like a dining area) in an open plan. But when and how should you create a feature wall, and when is it NOT a good idea to break up the space with a different color or style? And, what else besides paint makes a good feature wall? Read on...  

When and why to use feature wall design ideas:

Accent or feature walls work well when there’s an actual reason for highlighting that area. If you’re going to be drawing attention you may want to use it as a beautiful backdrop for special piece of artwork, highlight a piece of furniture, or define the space by how it is used.

So, feature walls can do a great job of:

• Defining an area within a room that serves a particular function, like a play area, a dining area, or a living area.
• Creating a focal point with wallpaper, artwork on a beautifully colored wall, or a wall in back of a sofa.
• Highlighting a feature, like a fireplace.
• All of the above as long as there are clear starting and stopping points and no weird shapes created due to ceiling drops or other elements.

When NOT to use feature wall design ideas:

Painting various walls different colors will break up the unity of the space. I don’t suggest doing a feature wall if:

• You have a small room – it will make it feel smaller.
• There are lots of ‘ins and outs’ to your walls and you plan to paint a small section since it will break it up too much.
• An uneven ceiling plan that creates an oddly shaped feature wall. Again, it will highlight the oddities rather than drawing the eye to the attractiveness of the feature.
• There are no clear stopping and starting points for the feature (it should run wall to wall, with a clean start and end point).

Various types of feature walls include using:

Paint – the most obvious and cheapest change is paint.

Tips: Certain colors tend to recede (go back in space) or push forward (close in space). Generally cooler, bluer colors recede and warmer, brighter colors move forward. Be aware of how you are using the color and the fact that it will change the perception of the space. For example, you don’t want to make a long, skinny space feel even longer).

Wood – a really wonderful way to bring warmth and an organic feel to a space.Tips: Shiplap boards can be purchased ready to go, which will give you an evenly spaced installation. Rustic wood can be used as well (make sure it is installed in a random pattern). Since you are adding some dimension to the wall, be aware of how this will impact existing moldings, window frames, and doorframes (although if you’ve followed my advice, there aren’t any on your feature wall!)

Wallpaper – add character without taking up space.

Tips: Be conscious of the scale of the wallpaper. There are no hard and fast rules, so get samples to try in the space.

Decorative wall molding – a budget-friendly option for creating architectural detail.

Tips: This is almost a DIY for a handy person with a miter saw. What I love is that it is surprisingly affordable, and the results look like a million bucks.

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