The infamous feature wall has always been a much-debated topic in the world of interiors. I must admit, I’m not a big fan of the early 2000s accent walls with the dark red or wallpapered chimney breast. But there is a time and a place for them and I think accent walls can be timeless if done right. Feature walls have made a bit of a comeback in recent years, but they look a bit different (dare I say better). Now that I have 5 feature walls (yes, that’s right!) in our house, I consider myself a bit of an expert on the subject. Until recently, I was a wallpaper novice and the accent walls have allowed me to really ease into the world of wallpaper. In fact, my next project is to wallpaper a whole room. The old me would have hated that idea. I guess what I’m trying to say is that accent walls have helped me get out of my comfort zone and made my house a lot more interesting in the process.
CHOOSE A WALL MURAL
Abstract Flower Art Wall Mural by Mural Wonder
If you want to play it safe, choose a wall mural. They are like wallpaper, except that wall murals are more like works of art painted on paper. There are no repeat patterns and the pattern is more unique and varied across its surface. For me, murals are like a modern, updated version of wallpaper. You can either blend them in or let them stand out. Most of our accent walls are murals, so it’s safe to say I’m a little biased. I do think they work particularly well with contemporary interior schemes.
BLEND IT IN
Cradled In Clouds wall mural by Photowall
Sometimes you may want a more subtle mural, especially in a bedroom. The cloud wall mural from Photowall is very calming and peaceful to look at. My eldest daughter loves pastel colours. So it was an obvious choice to pick a similar colour for the walls. And since the bunk bed takes up a lot of the wall, it made sense to use similar colours. A cloud wall mural will elevate any room and give it a dreamy feel, bringing in a natural atmosphere of calm and Zen. We also opted for a vinyl finish as this is a children’s room. I love this mural as much as the day we installed it and my daughter adores it too. It really is a timeless choice and one that she’ll enjoy for many, many years to come.
PICK A LARGE PATTERN
Hua Trees by Sian Zeng
The great thing about wall murals is that you can have them custom-made to fit your wall. Large patterns work much better on a large accent wall than the repeat patterns you’ll find in regular wallpaper. It makes them look a lot more like art as if they had been drawn by hand. Now, sadly, I don’t have the budget for hand-drawn wallpaper, but the prints are so realistic these days that you really can’t tell the difference. The quality and thickness of the paper are also important. The thicker, the better in my opinion! Larger patterns add a sense of drama and allow you to play with the proportions of the room. I also find larger patterns much more visually interesting in a large room.
PAINT IT
Painted feature walls can also be beautiful. Just think carefully what you are trying to achieve. Our living room accent wall is a perfect example of how less is more. It blends in seamlessly with the decor and the metallic paint adds a touch of elegance. Venetian plaster, limewash and concrete effect paints have been trending for a while now. They can be tricky to apply though, so get a professional to do it or practice first. You may also want to avoid high-traffic areas with these types of finishes as they are harder to touch up. But when done right, stone and concrete effect paints are absolutely striking and will give your room beautiful texture.
TAKE RISKS
Rivington Folly wall mural in colour dusk by Graham & Brown
Finally, if you’re considering a feature wall, don’t be afraid to take some risks. The great thing about accent walls is that because you’re only doing one wall, you can easily redo the wall if you get bored. Just take some risks and get creative! I’m naturally very risk-averse, but when it comes to decorating, it has always paid off. It’s all about personal taste. Choose what makes your heart sing. Your feature wall should make you happy every time you look at it, so don’t settle for anything less.
Let me know what you think about feature walls by leaving a comment below!
