Feature Walls: Ideas, Costs and What to Ask Your Decorator

Everything You Need to Know About Feature Walls

A feature wall — one wall that's decorated differently from the rest of the room — remains one of the most cost-effective ways to add character to a space. Done well, it can make a room feel larger, more dramatic, or more cosy depending on the treatment.

Which Wall Should Be the Feature?

The most common choices are:

• The wall you see first when entering the room — creates immediate impact
• The wall behind the bed — classic in master bedrooms
• The chimney breast wall — already a focal point in living rooms
• The wall opposite the main window — gets the most light and shows patterns well

Avoid featuring a wall with lots of sockets, switches, or windows broken up by awkward alcoves — pattern matching around these is tricky and adds cost.

Feature Wall Treatment Options

• Bold paint colour — quickest and cheapest; deep tones (navy, forest green, charcoal) work well in most rooms
• Patterned wallpaper — most dramatic effect; geometric, botanical and textured papers are all popular
• Textured paint effect — limewash, colour wash or metallic effects; needs a decorator skilled in paint effects
• Panelling + paint — Shaker-style or fluted panelling painted in a contrasting tone; currently very popular
• Exposed brick effect — brick-slip panels or faux brick paint effects

Feature Wall Costs

Questions to Ask Your Decorator

• Do they have experience with the specific treatment you want? (Paint effects especially require specialist skills)
• Do they supply materials or do you need to buy them?
• How many coats are included?
• What prep is needed — will they fill and sand the wall first?
• What finish does the wall need to be in before they start?

Get quotes from local decorators to compare prices for your feature wall project.