Expert Opinion: What’s Next for the Feature Wall?

A feature, or an accent, wall, which is a wall of a room or an area that’s different from surrounding walls, is a well-established design tool that performs several functions. For many years, painting one wall a different color has been a popular and effective device, but designers are now exploring other ways to shine the spotlight on it. Here, Houzz professionals share their views on feature walls, how they are being interpreted in today’s homes and what’s in store for the future.

Professional advice from:
Vikki Montalban, owner and principal designer, VM Design
Amanda Kiley, principal designer, Omni InteriorsCarole Tretheway, director, Carole Tretheway Design
Aaron Wong, principal designer, Alexander Pollock Interiors
Holly Clarke, interior designer, HC Interiors
Kristie Howden, Howden Homes

What a Feature Wall Can Do

The feature wall as a design device has a long history. Vikki Montalban of VM Design — who prefers the term accent wall — says, “Not all rooms need one, but they are a great tool to balance the shape of a room and to manage focus in a space. For example, a contrast to draw attention to a [headboard], or a dark wall to deemphasize a television screen.”

Omni Interiors principal designer Amanda Kiley adds that a feature wall provides a starting point for a room’s feel or aesthetic, bringing color, pattern and texture together into a cohesive whole.


Painted Feature Walls

Carole Tretheway says she uses the painted wall less frequently now, in favor of other materials. Montalban also sees a move away from the use of a single block of color to more textural surfaces, such as timber, wallpaper and tiles.

Alexander Pollock Interiors principal designer Aaron Wong says he has never favored the painted feature wall as the hero room feature, and he believes we have progressed from that concept.

Kiley, however, believes that it comes down to personal taste. “I always tell my clients that if they like them, have them. I love them and have them in all rooms of my home. If you tire of the color, it’s only a coat of paint to change.”



Popular Treatments for Feature Walls

The current trend is more toward natural, recycled and sustainable finishes: refined, seamless wood paneling, rustic recycled planks, stone and bricks — either exposed or painted to coordinate with the room.

“Timber cladding and tongue-and-groove paneling is a big trend at the moment, as well as exposed brick,” says Holly Clarke of HC Interiors. For Montalban, the popularity of earthy, natural, textured materials is linked to the black and gray color palettes currently in vogue.


There is a growing preference for building a feature wall with art, mirrors, built-in cabinetry and lighting. Wong likes to focus on layering objects rather than using a specific wall treatment. His favorite strategy, he says, is “a mirror or important artwork in the middle of two sconces, with a console underneath. I’ll then layer the console with interesting objects.” He also uses patterned wood panels covering the entire wall, and feature fireplaces.



Graphics have burst on to the scene with a flourish. With advances in custom digital printing for murals and unique tiles, the possibilities are endless. One of Kristie Howden’s clients added humor and character to a bathroom with these fun custom-made graffiti tiles from Walkers.


Enthusiasm for wallpaper among our experts is unanimous. “You can achieve any mood for a room through a wallpaper accent wall — vibrant, dramatic and playful, or quiet and restful,” Tretheway says. “As a small-space feature wall, even if the paper is expensive, you don’t need much to make a huge impact.”

Wallpaper and murals are by far Kiley’s favorite treatment: “The colors, designs and textures are endless and so beautiful. It’s a great way to make your wall come alive.” She suggests starting with the wallpaper or mural, then furnishing and decorating the room around it.

Clarke agrees. “Wallpaper just grows and grows in popularity,” she says. “We’re using fabric wallpapers more and more in gorgeous linens and luxurious silks. Clients are really embracing it now, and we love that — we can push the boundaries a little more.”

Custom black and white lattice wallpaper: Sparkk


Feature Walls of the Future

While the painted feature wall continues to hold appeal, people are increasingly willing to experiment with different materials and looks. This is due to a desire to create more personal rooms.

Montalban predicts the continued popularity of natural materials, and a trend toward merging cabinetry — in desks and entertainment units — with a similarly paneled wall behind, for a seamless and uncluttered result.

For Tretheway, “it’s an exciting decorating era where we’re creating interiors that reflect the occupant’s personality — feature walls are expressing this individuality.”

Kiley says people are becoming more adventurous, and tend to favor looks unique to their homes. “Wallpaper, wall murals and paint will continue to be used,” she says, “and I see a swing towards the use of mixed materials, such as painted sections with timber molding or feature tiles.”


Clarke and Wong put an interesting spin on the discussion. “Although we still use them, we think feature walls in general are slowly becoming less prevalent, as people become more courageous and treat all of their walls instead of just one,” Clarke says. “We encourage this, as it makes a real impact and can make a room feel more complete. It’s quite a European way of treating walls, with beautiful details in ceilings and moldings.”

Wong is also exploring this technique. He doesn’t see the one-wall approach as the only way to get the traditional results of a feature wall. “Personally, I prefer wall coverings that go around the entire room, creating an atmosphere,” he says.

Wallpaper: Louisiane in Coralie: Osborne & Little


Although the feature wall is being interpreted in many new and different ways, we are definitely not finished with it. Whether painted, layered or wallpapered, decorated with bold graphics or textured with natural materials, this element provides a fantastic opportunity for designers and homeowners to define the essence of a room.

Feature walls are definitely still being used to create glamorous, elegant, restful and playful rooms. With the imagination of designers and increasing confidence of homeowners, these accents will continue to shine with a new panache and personality.

Tell us: Have you been adventurous with feature walls in your home? Share your tips and pictures in the Comments.

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