Trying out a new style in your home can be equally as daunting as exciting, especially if the current decor is simple. It’s a bit like staring at a blank page and not knowing what to put on it — but all you need is a little inspiration to get your creativity going, and you’ll be away in no time!
So, if you’re looking to add some personality to your home but not ready to remodel the entire place, we’ve got you covered. Introducing a feature wall is the perfect way to bring flair to a room with less commitment than a complete home overhaul.
As anyone who has ever redecorated will know, it can get expensive. Thankfully, adding a feature wall needn’t break the bank, and even with a smaller budget, you can completely change the feel of a room. Adding an accent wall can make the most of the natural light in your home, or even add some extra storage to keep things tidy yet stylish — what’s not to love?
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite feature wall ideas to give you some inspiration for your own home. From making the most of your family photos to adding some vibrant wallpaper, the combinations are endless. So, let’s get stuck in!
Top 10 Wall Ideas to Decorate Your Home
Interior design used to be far more dictated by trends and rules, but now there is nothing holding you back from decorating your home however you want. And when it comes to choosing where to put an accent wall, you can put one anywhere.
If you’re stuck for accent wall ideas, however, a good place to start is with a wall that already has a lot of focus on it like the one behind your bed in the master bedroom or a wall with an existing feature such as a fireplace or alcove.
The best part of adding a feature wall is that you can express your personality and make a house feel more like home. We’ll cover some of the best ways to make an accent wall that really resonates with you.
Gallery Wall
Kicking things off, we have the gallery wall which is the perfect way to show your personality in your home. If clean and simple is your style, why not grab a ruler and line up your picture frames? Or, if you’d rather go for a more eclectic look, there’s nothing stopping you from having mismatched frames with bold pictures.
So, whether you’re a collector of artwork or have a selection of family photographs to put on the wall, you can create an accent wall with meaning and style that matches your personality. Not only that but this kind of feature wall can be easily adapted and refreshed as your tastes change.
Exposed Brick Wall
Bring an industrial and modern feel to your home with an exposed brick wall. If you’re lucky enough to have brick walls in your home already, you may be able to simply clean up one and turn it into your feature wall. Otherwise, there are specially made stone and brick tiles that you can add to an existing wall to create an accent wall. There are plenty of styles to choose from including farmhouse-style red bricks and chunky limestone. Or, if you’re working with a smaller budget, you could opt for brick pattern wallpaper to give a similar effect.
Wall Tiles
Once exclusive to bathrooms and kitchens, ceramic wall tiles have made their way into the rest of the home. A favourite with interior designers, wall tiles can be used to add colour and texture to a room. Why not choose several patterns that tie together and paint them in four or five colours to make one big statement wall? This would work particularly well in a dining room or living room where the walls are likely to be bigger.
If you’d like to keep things more traditional, you could use tiles for a bathroom feature wall. Push the boat out with a full bathroom of deco-style zig-zag tiles or take one wall and add some brightly glazed patterned tiles to remind you of a Mediterranean holiday.
Patterned Wallpaper
A classic for a reason, patterned wallpaper is a quick and easy way to liven up a room. Whether you choose a bold floral wallpaper or a delicate pattern, there are many options to make a single wall more interesting. If you’re all about coordination, why not pick a colour from the patterned wallpaper and paint the rest of the room with it? Or, choose a pattern that contrasts with the furniture for a statement.
Bold Colour Feature Wall
Now a black feature wall might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying it would be a statement. But, if you’re not quite feeling that brave, there’s always something slightly more subtle like a bold green or a muted pink. Regardless of your choice, painting one wall a different colour is possibly the most cost-effective method of freshening up a room.
And if you’d like to try something new, you could paint the ‘fifth wall’, otherwise known as the ceiling. A bright colour at the top of your home will really lift the space and make the main walls seem taller. Additionally, you could play around with texture and add a ceiling rose, mouldings, or cornices — the latter being the Italian word for decorative ledges. Combining rich colours with such decorations will make your home feel grand and elegant.
Wall Panelling
Wood panels can bring warmth to a room and with so many designs available there’s an option that will work with any space. In older homes, it’s common to use wood panels on the lower portion of the wall and paint or wallpaper the remaining area. This creates a regency feel in your home, perfect if you want it to be luxurious. If you have a more modern abode, long thinner wall panels can add a slightly rustic feel. You could even leave them unpainted for a raw, natural look.
If DIY is your thing and you consider yourself handy with the hardware tools, you’ll probably find adding wall panelling enjoyable and rewarding. If nothing else, you can save some money doing it this way. For those who would rather have a professional do the job, a carpenter is likely your best option as they’ll usually have experience in this area.
Mirror Feature Wall
Use one of the oldest interior design tricks in the book to make your home feel brighter and more spacious. Mirrors accentuate a room by making use of any natural light as well as creating the illusion of a larger space. Whilst one big mirror will provide a focal point, lots of smaller mirrors or a full wall will blend in more and practically double the size of the room.
The style of mirror you choose will dramatically change the overall feel in a room too. Where a sunburst mirror is fun and playful, square mirrors with a simple frame can be more serious and business-like. Shop around for one that suits the decor vibe you are aiming for.
Statement Storage
Feature walls don’t have to be purely aesthetic and can be cleverly added to create extra storage space. From turning a dining room wall into a drinks cabinet to making your child’s bedroom wall into fun but practical toy storage, the possibilities are endless.
Adding shelving is one of the most obvious ways to add storage space, but if your budget allows for it, there’s the option to add bespoke joinery specially designed for your needs. Play with materials and add some glass into your storage wall, or maybe incorporate metal for a slightly masculine feel — either would be perfect for a study.
Library Feature Wall
For all the book lovers out there, this one is for you. If you’re an avid reader, you’ll likely have a sizeable collection of books in your home so why not make the most of them and create a wall dedicated to your favourite pastime? With some floor-to-ceiling shelves packed full of novels, you can be the proud owner of your own personal feature wall library.
If you don’t have enough books to fill an entire wall, you can still incorporate them. Try combining shelving with another aspect such as framed artwork to add some personality to a room and create a stunning feature wall.
Wall Mural
Nothing says bold and luxurious quite like a beautiful custom wall mural. Artists rejoice as you can turn your hand, and paintbrush, towards a giant canvas. Take inspiration from nature and bring the outdoors into your home with a mural of some rolling hills. Or create your own Eden with some big flowers on a single wall.
If you’re feeling less artistic, don’t worry, you don’t have to be the next Picasso to make an impressive wall mural. With painter’s tape and a few paint cans, you could mark some geometric shapes on your chosen wall and colour within the lines to make it pop — who said it had to be complicated?
