10 Fantastic Living Room Feature Walls
If you thought feature walls were all about wallpaper, think again. Today’s statement designs use anything from timber to stone cladding
If your living room is in need of a revamp, but you don’t have the budget or time to completely redecorate, creating a feature wall is an easy way to add personality, without overpowering the space. Think beyond simply painting one wall, though, and explore a world of exciting materials and finishes, guaranteed to produce a striking focal point.
Emphasise height
With a feature wall, getting it right is a balancing act. Although the aim is for your colourful wall to be a focal point, it should not dominate the room. A good trick is to include a few upholstered pieces or curtains in the same accent colour as the wall. Continuing the shade right up to the roof is another smart idea —great for accentuating high ceilings.
With a feature wall, getting it right is a balancing act. Although the aim is for your colourful wall to be a focal point, it should not dominate the room. A good trick is to include a few upholstered pieces or curtains in the same accent colour as the wall. Continuing the shade right up to the roof is another smart idea —great for accentuating high ceilings.
Go freestanding
Natural forms are relaxing, comforting and gentle, blurring the divisions between inside and outside. That’s why timber-inspired wallpapers, from gnarly bark patterns to slender tree trunk motifs, have seen a surge in popularity recently. This room goes one better, with a freestanding wooden panel. It’s especially effective when mirrored by a floor in the same finish.
Discover how to use wood for a modern rustic look
Natural forms are relaxing, comforting and gentle, blurring the divisions between inside and outside. That’s why timber-inspired wallpapers, from gnarly bark patterns to slender tree trunk motifs, have seen a surge in popularity recently. This room goes one better, with a freestanding wooden panel. It’s especially effective when mirrored by a floor in the same finish.
Discover how to use wood for a modern rustic look
Brighten up the back
Shelves are ultra handy in a living room, but can often end up looking a bit dull and messy. Keep them neat and bring them to life by adding a vibrant shade on the wall at the back. Ensure the shelves are fitted far enough apart that the colour is visible even when the shelves are full. Try mixing the tones up a bit, too. Clashing reds and oranges are a good bet, as are blues and contrasting greens.
Shelves are ultra handy in a living room, but can often end up looking a bit dull and messy. Keep them neat and bring them to life by adding a vibrant shade on the wall at the back. Ensure the shelves are fitted far enough apart that the colour is visible even when the shelves are full. Try mixing the tones up a bit, too. Clashing reds and oranges are a good bet, as are blues and contrasting greens.
Fake it
If you don’t have room for bookshelves, fake them with an eye-catching wallpaper that apes the look. It’s a great way to show off your love of all things literary while not having to worry about keeping an entire library dust free. This paper looks stunning paired with plenty of deep, bold colour on the furniture and surrounding walls.
See ways to go bold with wallpaper
If you don’t have room for bookshelves, fake them with an eye-catching wallpaper that apes the look. It’s a great way to show off your love of all things literary while not having to worry about keeping an entire library dust free. This paper looks stunning paired with plenty of deep, bold colour on the furniture and surrounding walls.
See ways to go bold with wallpaper
Add instant depth
Create a feeling of space with your choice of feature wallpaper. Horizontal stripes generally make the room feel larger and longer, while vertical stripes give the impression of height. There’s no need to stick to bold colours, either. Subtle tones, such as the muted grey and beige in this room, will still achieve the same visual trick.
Create a feeling of space with your choice of feature wallpaper. Horizontal stripes generally make the room feel larger and longer, while vertical stripes give the impression of height. There’s no need to stick to bold colours, either. Subtle tones, such as the muted grey and beige in this room, will still achieve the same visual trick.
Go grey glamorously
If you’re working with a long wall in a large room, make sure that the colour you choose as a feature is something you are prepared to live with for a long time. Architectural shades — pale pinks, dark browns and smoky greys — are also flexible enough to blend with changing furnishings, so that you can work in a new look without completely redecorating.
If you’re working with a long wall in a large room, make sure that the colour you choose as a feature is something you are prepared to live with for a long time. Architectural shades — pale pinks, dark browns and smoky greys — are also flexible enough to blend with changing furnishings, so that you can work in a new look without completely redecorating.
Say it with stone
The exposed brick walls that sit at the heart of the industrial look can be translated into any home. You can either get a builder to expose the brickwork and treat it, or install simple stone slip tiles as a feature. There are also a range of brick-effect wallpapers and coverings that will bring heaps of character to your space.
The exposed brick walls that sit at the heart of the industrial look can be translated into any home. You can either get a builder to expose the brickwork and treat it, or install simple stone slip tiles as a feature. There are also a range of brick-effect wallpapers and coverings that will bring heaps of character to your space.
Try horizontal thinking
A feature wall can make a striking addition to any room, but it’s a look that should be used sparingly. The word ‘feature’ is key, and it’s better to have one feature wall in your living space, say, than adopt the idea for every room in your house. That means, when you do decide to create a feature wall, you are at liberty to make it as striking as possible. This design uses monochrome stripes contrasted with graphic zig-zags on the floor to double its impact.
A feature wall can make a striking addition to any room, but it’s a look that should be used sparingly. The word ‘feature’ is key, and it’s better to have one feature wall in your living space, say, than adopt the idea for every room in your house. That means, when you do decide to create a feature wall, you are at liberty to make it as striking as possible. This design uses monochrome stripes contrasted with graphic zig-zags on the floor to double its impact.
Splash on your favourite shade
Bright colours add drama and surprise to a living room, but if you’re unsure about using them along an entire wall, confine the shade to a chimney breast or use it to complement a piece of art or a wall-hung TV. This is an opportunity to use your favourite colour without worrying too much about how it fits into the rest of room.
TELL US...
Do you have an eye-catching feature wall in your home? Share it with us in the Comments.
Bright colours add drama and surprise to a living room, but if you’re unsure about using them along an entire wall, confine the shade to a chimney breast or use it to complement a piece of art or a wall-hung TV. This is an opportunity to use your favourite colour without worrying too much about how it fits into the rest of room.
TELL US...
Do you have an eye-catching feature wall in your home? Share it with us in the Comments.
Living walls, installed both inside and out, are currently all the rage. Plants, such as ferns and Alpines are grown vertically, to clad a space, but you could choose something even more striking. Take a leaf out of the book of some top luxury hotels and opt for an aquarium as your feature. It might be a little higher maintenance than the average feature wall, but imparts instance cool and calm to any space.