Interior Design Factory, Ltd.

How To Make A Feature Wall Work

Interior designers have been using feature walls for years.  It is one of those neat design ideas anyone can do if you follow the right formula.  When planning a room the feature wall is one of the first items to give attention to.  What is going to bring someone into the room?  What are they going to look at once they are in the room?  The purpose of the feature wall is to draw people in and give their eyes a place to rest.  This creates the good kind of drama. The design for the rest of the room radiates around or from this.  The furniture arrangement should offer optimum view and access to the feature wall. 

A feature wall is more prominent than any other wall in the room because of architectural details or decoration.  It becomes or features the "star" of the room by housing the focal point such as the fireplace, a piece of artwork, a bed in a master bedroom, or even a group of large windows indicating the outdoor view as the focal point.  This is obvious as soon as one walks into the room; it is the wall that beckons you to come in. 

If we assume for a moment that most rooms have four walls and at least one of those houses the main entrance to the room which is not a feature nor should it house a focal point.  We are left with three walls.  Decide what one wall is more important than any other in the room because of architecture (windows of a fabulous view or fireplace), important artwork featured prominently, or a furniture grouping. 

Feature Wall Ideas:

Bedrooms

• Paint the headboard wall a different color or use extraordinary pattered wallcovering.
• Use an oversized upholstered headboard in a dramatically patterned fabric which sets the tone for the entire room.

Living or Family rooms

• If you have a beautiful fireplace to feature paint or wallcover the walls in something more subtle that makes the fireplace stand out.
• Frame large picture windows in wonderful drapery to focus the viewer's eye on the view.
• If main seating area is the dominant item you want people to focus on make it dramatic with color and/or texture.

Entrance Hall

• If you walk in the front door and face a wall use a spectacular wallcovering that serves as an impressive handshake.  Big wow factor!
• Use a striking piece of furniture to draw people's interest.

What if you have no architectural details and just plain boring walls?

• Create your own architecture with a wall of picture frames arranged like a collage and paint them an opposing color to appear vivid against your chosen wall color.
• Hang a large piece of artwork or a series to create a major focal point.
• Make your furniture the feature and decorate the wall to support it rather than compete with it.

Creating feature walls is easy and fun.  The trick is to maintain the focus in one area.  Treat the feature wall like a "star," surround it with supporting elements which do not visually compete with the star.  The other walls play a supporting role.  They have less visual impact and remain quieter.  With some careful thought, feature walls can give you instant design appeal and make your home decorating a success.