Feature wall ideas

From bold colours to wallpaper, and TV mounts to funky panels, a feature wall can really make a focal point in your home and bring some personality to your walls, no matter what your budget is.

Whether you’re thinking about wallpaper, paint, panelling or even stone, the possibilities are endless when it comes to feature walls.

We’ve explored the current popular trends and pulled together a range of feature wall ideas to help inspire your next interior design project. So if you’re torn between panelling and wallpaper, read on for inspiration to see what would really look best in your home.

Quirky wallpaper feature wall ideas

Check out this quirky nature feature wall from one of our members, Sean Saunders of Sean Saunders Painting & Decorating.

There are so many different looks you can go for when it comes to wallpaper feature walls. With a wide range of colours, patterns and designs, you’d be surprised at how easily you can change the look and feel of a room.

Try using a bold pattern of wallpaper on one wall for depth and the wow factor and tie in the colour scheme of the rest of the room to one of the colours from the pattern, like in this example.

Living room feature wall ideas

Let’s ignore the television for now on this idea, but do focus on the pastel colour. Clean, soothing and relaxing. Smart storage above; nice colour coordination of the vases. This is a nice, clean example.

A space for entertaining and unwinding, the living room is where your guests will likely spend the most time.

Your feature wall doesn’t need to be flat. In fact, using panelling, wood, shelving or brick can create a truly unique finish.

Panel your living room feature wall

Smaller living rooms will look incredible with a single feature wall painted in a bold colour. But why stop there? Panel it too. In this front room, they’ve panelled halfway up the wall, but you could go full height and width with squares or diamonds.

Why not add warmth to your living room with a gallery feature wall, including pictures of your family or from holidays?

Bedroom feature wall ideas

This bedroom is smart, classy and modern. It’s a mesmerising patterned feature wall which brings edge to the room. Although embracing dark colours, it’s anything but. The pattern of the feature with the light furnishings pair up effortlessly.

Most bedroom feature wall ideas will focus on making this space feel calm and soothing, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing on design.

Using neutral tones will help to make your bedroom a tranquil place whilst adding a feature wall in pastel or muted colours can help to upgrade the space.

For an eye-catching feature wall, consider adding an elegant mural.

Want more bedroom feature wall ideas? How about 50!? Check them out here.

Kitchen painted feature wall ideas

Check out this kitchen feature wall idea. The panelling is a really nice touch but is a little more challenging if you were to attempt this yourself than say a wallpapered feature. Let’s focus on the paint for now.

Dark colours are perfect to add drama to an otherwise plain home. Using bright colours can help you feel energised, especially when combined with soft furnishings in the same or similar shades.

If you prefer your home to be peaceful, and for bedrooms in particular, neutral colours are soothing and relaxing. Why not paint three walls white, and your feature wall grey or dusky pink?

If you’re interested in the panelling, do check out our panelling cost guide on how to get this done.

Family room feature wall ideas

A space for the whole family to socialise and relax, this living room is beautifully finished in greys and neutral colours. This creates a calm space with comfortable seating.

The feature wall here is made from stone and really has the wow factor. From floor to ceiling, this feature wall even has a low fire for warmth.

Minimalist bedroom feature wall ideas

Minimalism is a trend that’s here to stay. This bedroom is a fantastic example of how minimalism can help to make a chilled-out space.

The feature wall in this picture is made from wooden planks and white paint. It is incredibly unique and helps complement the wooden flooring. The grey of the bedding also blends with the natural wooden wall.

Chimney breast feature wall ideas

Not every feature wall needs to be bold and dazzling. In this home, neutral whites and creams are used throughout the living room to make the space feel clean and airy. Add into this the roaring fireplace, giving the room extra warmth and comfort.

Adding a chimney breast to your home can elevate your living space. Imagine crackling fires on chilly evenings. Use the following chimney breast feature wall ideas to create your dream home:

• Use natural textures like brick, wood or tiles to create a rustic, natural space.
• Combine your chimney breast and fireplace with light walls and a traditional surround to highlight this stunning, warm feature.
• Build a mantelpiece over your fireplace to upgrade its aesthetics and add extra space for displaying ornaments.

Monochromatic painted feature wall ideas

Another example of a feature wall not being brightly coloured or patterned is in this image. Black paint has been used to create a dramatic, elegant effect.

The key word here is context, black walls may look dark and depressing on their own, but paired with bright, white furniture and light wood it creates a sophisticated contrast.

Cheap feature wall ideas for your home

Create a feature wall on a budget

Feature walls don’t have to be expensive to be stunning. Think of your favourite feature wall ideas and we’ll tell you how you can recreate them cheaply. The idea is to find a way to create a visual impact, and that doesn’t always need expensive materials.

Find inexpensive feature wall ideas that draw the eye

Here are our suggestions on creating a wall that looks good and doesn’t cost you the earth.

A classic painted feature wall

A classic, but just because it’s an old idea doesn’t mean it no longer works!

A painted feature wall is one of the most inexpensive ways of creating a bold, bright look in your room.

And, we make it so easy to find a painter near you!

Wallpapered featured wall

A busy wallpaper might not work well for the entire room.

But if you use it for a section of a wall, it creates an area of interest and breaks the monotony of monochromatic walls.

It’s one of the more inexpensive feature wall ideas you can implement, and the beauty of it is that there are so many choices of patterns, styles and themes that you can choose.

Do you need someone to wallpaper your wall? Find a tradesperson near you!

An inexpensive wooden feature wall

Nothing beats the natural look of wood, and it makes a great feature wall for almost any type of room.

But, if you’re worried about the cost, you can always use laminate boards to give you the same look at a fraction of the price!

Or, take a look at some wallpapers. Some even do wood effect now, so you can get the hardwood look for a fraction of the price.

Tiled featured wall on a budget

An easy-to-care-for option, a tiled wall can add an extra texture to your feature wall.

If you want a tiled feature wall idea on a budget, tiling just a section of the wall is going to be much cheaper than doing the entire wall.

The beauty of tiles is that you can wipe off any marks, which means if you’re hosting parties, or have children running about, then you don’t need to worry about any damage. A clean and polish will make them good as new.

Looking for reliable tilers near you? Find them here.

A stone feature wall on a budget

A stone accent wall adds a rustic charm to a room, and it breaks up the regular texture of your walls.

However, stone, like wood, can be very expensive. So, are there any inexpensive stone feature wall ideas?

Yes, there are!

There are now alternative options on the market such as stone veneers, which will give you an authentic stone look for your feature wall, but for less.

A cheap nature mural feature wall

Are you a nature lover, stuck in a concrete jungle? You can always bring in a slice of the wild into your home with a mural feature wall.

Add a panel depicting a woodland or your favourite scene from nature.

Put some potted plants around it, and, voila! A cheap nature mural feature wall idea that transports you into the wild.

An inexpensive exposed brick feature wall

An exposed brick wall can be really attractive when done well, but it can be a laborious task that can end up costing more than you bargained for.

The good news is that you don’t have to start chiselling away at your walls, instead, you can opt for brick veneers to give it an authentic brick look, without the mess.

You can even take a look at some wallpapers to see if there are any realistic brick patterns.

A low-cost panelled feature wall idea

A wooden panelled wall looks sophisticated and stylish, and can add posh hotel vibes to your home. You can either opt for a full room, floor to ceiling, or a full room with the panelling halfway.

But, if you’re looking for a way to save some money, why not consider just having a section of the room panelled?

In this example, the panelling is around the bed to create a focal point, but you could have a section on a chimney breast or a wall with a mirror on – it doesn’t need to be loads of panelling to make it look good.

A mirror feature wall

A mirror feature wall is a great way to achieve some style out of practicality.

Consider one in the bedroom, or in a hallway, so you can have a look before you leave the house. The bonus of a mirror wall is that any light will be bounced around, making the room look bigger and brighter.

If you’re worried about fingerprints from little ones, then consider having the mirror wall start about midway up the wall, so it’s out of reach.

Cheap outdoor feature wall ideas

Who says a feature wall can only be indoors? While a lot of our indoors feature wall ideas can also be applied on outside walls, here are a few cheap outdoor feature wall ideas that will look stunning.

An espaliered tree outdoor feature wall

Espaliered trees have always been very popular due to their space-saving benefits and fruity benefits.

These trees are trained to grow along a wall, with the wall absorbing heat from the sun and keeping the tree warm.

A wall of espaliered trees is a cheap outdoor feature wall idea, although it might take a few years to come to fruition.

Do you need a gardener to help you train your fruit trees?

A living outdoor feature wall

A living wall is quite literally what it says on the tin. It is a wall that has plants growing from it, and depending on what sort of plants you go for, it can offer a multitude of benefits to nature and help with your wellbeing too.

Once you have invested in your living wall, it’s just a case of maintaining it, and throughout the changing seasons, you will experience the different stages of your wall.

If you’ve only got a small space to transform, it doesn’t matter, you can make the most of every bit of that wall.

Find a garden designer near you to help you plan and plant your living feature wall!

Like what you see? There’s more where this came from. Check out Checkatrade’s blog for more tips, ideas, how-tos, and inspiration.