Shape & Feature Walls

The very mention of a feature wall can strike horror into the hearts of some, and equally have others rubbing their hands with glee. Colour drastically adjusts our sense of space, and while large awkward rooms can be helped by painting a single wall in a different colour to provide a focal point, a feature wall can just as easily destroy the proportions of a room if not used in the correct way. Of course a single wall painted in a bold colour can also bring life to a room, especially if you use sharp contrasts, but it is important to understand how colours work together – stronger contrasts are created by the use of complementary colours from the colour wheel, each making the other look brighter and more intense.

Strong Colour on a Long Wall

If you use a bold colour on longer walls with lighter colour on the short walls, they appear to squeeze together making the room look longer and thinner. Colour on one long wall also makes for an uncomfortable space to sit or sleep in as the uneven nature of the space makes one feel all at sea. It is therefore advisable when creating a feature wall in a bedroom to put it behind the bedhead, thereby grounding the room and creating a pleasant atmosphere to wake up in.