Creating a fabulous feature wall

ARTICLE Persephone Nicholas

If you’re thinking about creating a feature wall, the first thing you have to decide is what you want it to achieve. Are you trying to highlight a particular feature or play it down? For example, a feature wall in a bedroom could help ‘frame’ the bed and bedhead. In the lounge area, a dark-toned feature wall could help make a television ‘disappear’ rather than allowing it to dominate the room.  
Nielen Prince of Refresh Renovations SA says feature walls can create optical illusions and advises renovators to consider the proportions of the room when planning one.
‘Darker walls appear closer, while lighter walls appear to recede,’ he explains. ‘Taking this into account can help you make the most of your space.’
A feature wall can also help introduce colour, pattern or texture into an otherwise neutral room. The right wallpaper, mural or supersized image can even replace artwork.
Prince says a creating a textured feature wall can introduce subtle luxury to a home.
‘Texture creates interest in a room without introducing too much colour.  A tactile wall covering can make you want to touch it, but it’s not shouting out.’
Tempted by the idea of a feature wall, but not sure which finish to choose? We’ve done the hard work for you. Here’s our round up of the best, bold and beautiful, feature wall ideas:

Paint

Paint is the simplest and generally the most affordable option for creating a feature wall.  There’s much more to choose from than just a vast array of colours. Dulux, for example, now has a range of paints with finishes including concrete, metallic, copper, patina, metal shimmer, stone, stainless steel, suede and more.
The company’s website is a rich source of ideas and inspiration, includes video on how to get the best results with its products, and a paint calculator to help ensure you don’t buy too much – or too little – paint.
Blackboard paint is a fun, practical choice for kids’ rooms, offices or kitchens and is available in a wide range of colours.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper can help create a stunning feature wall. Papering just one wall means you can choose a dramatic or colourful design without overwhelming the entire space. As you don’t need too much paper, you may be able to choose wallpaper that would be beyond your budget if you had to paper a whole room.
Today’s wallpapers come in a huge range of designs and finishes, but if you don’t like what’s already on the market, why not create your own?
Sydney-based company, Luxe Walls, creates custom wallpaper that’s easy to put up and take down. Design your own wallpaper from a choice of thousands of high quality images, or upload your own pictures for a truly personalised look.

Pressed metal (also known as pressed tin)

Usually made from aluminium sheeting on a plywood sub strate, pressed metal is perfect for a feature wall where texture is as important as colour. It also helps hide any imperfections in the wall surface.
Heritage Ceilings in WA is a great source of tips and ideas, has many examples of pressed metal feature walls on its website and manufactures custom orders for delivery all over Australia.

Tiles

Hard wearing and low maintenance, tiles are a good choice for feature walls in moisture prone areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries and are an easy way to introduce colour, pattern or texture.  
Prince recommends combining feature tiles with neutral tones, particularly in small rooms.
‘Pay attention to the other tiles in the space so that they complement your feature wall. Choose your floor finish carefully too,’ he advises.
Tiles can also work well in other areas, particularly if you’re looking to recreate the look of stone, timber or brick.

Timber

A timber feature wall can help bring warmth and texture to a room. For a contemporary country or Hamptons-style look, consider shiplap or timber cladding.
Looking for something more sophisticated? Check out Will and Karlie’s handmade geometric timber paneled wall from The Block 2016.

Brick

An exposed brick wall that has been appropriately treated can be a fantastic feature in the right space. If you love the look, but don’t have brick walls, you can create a brick effect finish with tiles or even wallpaper.

Outdoor feature walls

Feature walls can be a great addition to your outdoor space.  Consider, for example, a coloured wall as the background to a water feature or piece of wall art.

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*All information is believed to be true at time of publishing and is subject to change.