Creating a feature wall that won’t date

Many opt for a feature wall to liven up their interior, inject personality or to define a particular space in an open floor plan. If well executed, a feature wall may also increase the value of your home.

While feature walls are very effective at enhancing the atmosphere of a room, many can appear dated not long after they’ve been finished. This can become an expensive and time-consuming mistake.

If you’re looking to create a feature wall, here are some tips to ensure you won’t end up with an interior looking like it’s from the previous decade for all the wrong reasons.

Opt for a complimentary palette

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Barrimah™ Traditional Format feature wall | Design: EB Interiors

Feature walls are designed to enhance the space, not clash or be too visually jarring. The bold colours and textured paint of the 90’s have given feature walls a bad name. If you don’t want your interior to date, opt for a palette that compliments the rest of your space.

If your room is in a neutral palette, darker neutrals like greys and blues, along with taupes and whites will work well. Likewise, consider choosing materials that complement the aesthetics of your room or the style of your architecture. Coolum™ Random Ashlar natural stone or oak timber, for example, work beautifully in a coastal interior whereas a honed Bluestone in traditional format may be better suited to a contemporary home.

Consider a feature wall as a highlighting tool

When creating a feature wall, consider it as a highlighting tool. Rather than selecting one wall at random to upgrade, choose one that will enhance an existing focal point of your interior.

For example, creating a natural stone feature wall that extends behind a fireplace is incredibly effective as it draws your eye to one of the main focals of the living room.

Use it to define a space

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Howqua™ Free Form feature wall in entrance

Feature walls are very effective at defining a space, particularly in an open plan home. When done correctly, a feature wall can change the atmosphere as you transition from one space to another.

By connecting the accent wall to the architecture, you can also define a space as well as create a timeless aesthetic. Extending the same material used on your home’s exterior into the entrance will help continue the same visual dialogue and give the feature wall purpose rather than the feeling you’ve only used the colour or material sparingly because you’re too afraid to complete the entire room in the one finish.

Be inspired but not bound to trends

Interior trends, just like fashion, come and go. One minute copper is in, the next it’s out. Pale, powdery pinks are popular now, but no doubt the colour will be replaced by something new in the not too distant future.

If you’re considering to create a feature wall, be inspired by the trends but not bound to them. This is especially important if you’re choosing a more expensive and permanent option such as a stone, tile or timber feature wall. Paint, on the other hand, is not as costly to replace if you fall out of love with it.

Choose a material and colour palette that is timeless and one that will work with a variety of tones and styles should you choose to redecorate in the future.

For more feature wall inspiration and advice, click here.

Lead image: Alpine Dry Stone feature wall | Design: Peter Woolman Architects