You can think of the rooms in your home as a little bit like a work of art. If they’re going to look good, then they need to offer a visual focal point. Without one, it’s easy for the eye to get lost and confused. You don’t get that all-important ‘pop’ factor.
There are a number of ways in which you might create that sense of focus. But among the simplest and most effective is through a feature wall. This is a wall that’s painted, or decorated, differently than the others.
So, how might we go about this?
Choosing the Right Wall
Our first step should be to choose the right wall. Pick a space that the eye will be drawn toward, naturally. Ideally, it should be visible from the entrance. Existing features, like fireplaces, can help to reinforce your visual message.
Or, you might reposition your television and create an integrated media wall. This is easier than you might think. Throw up a few studs, attach an additional plasterboard layer, and smooth over the whole thing. This will give you a smooth surface to decorate. You can use the studs to wall-mount additional items, like heavy mirrors and televisions. Just make a note of where you’ve installed them.
Colour choice
Your feature wall should complement the rest of your décor, especially the other walls. If you have a muted shade of purple elsewhere, then it’s time to go loud and brash for the feature wall. You could also look at contrasting colours, or break out the spray paint and go for a large mural or other design.
Additional features
You can draw more attention with the help of extra features. Stencilled patterns, stripes, and other more complex geometrical designs can be very effective. You might also install a wall plant or two, or a wall lamp, to add more interest.
Think about the sorts of shadows that will be thrown, and try not to make things too complicated. If there are a lot of overlapping lines, then you might end up with the same problem you started with: a lack of visual focus.
Furniture positioning
There’s little point in having a feature wall if it ultimately ends up concealed behind your furniture. Ideally, the furniture should be arranged such that it guides the eye toward the feature wall. This tends to mean putting sofas perpendicular to it.
