The demise of the feature wall
Ah… the ‘feature wall’! A regular term which is batted around when talking about interiors and interior design. But I would hazard a guess that most interior designers now shudder at the shear mention of it.
And yet it still seems popular in when people decide to ‘decorate’ their holiday home with a view to renting it out on Airbnb or a similar site.
Why?
I would say that its because its still seen as doing something ‘a bit different’. It’s the standard thing that is done to show that ‘effort’ and thought have been given to the ‘interior design’.
But I’m afraid this falls far short of what true interior design really is.
The feature wall, I imagine, probably appeared in its modern day version at some point in the 90s, when Changing Rooms and other similar interior programmes were in their hay-day. It was seen as ‘adventurous’; as ‘daring’ and ‘a bit out there’. And I think that perception still lives on in some people’s minds - to be different, you do a ‘feature wall’.
[This is what NOT to do!]
But its not ‘different’ any more, because everyone has done it!
I think it has progressed, from a different paint colour, to wallpaper, and now the latest thing is a wall mural. I’m not putting down anyone who has done this, and tried. But what I would say, is that its not a case of doing the feature wall, then not doing anything else. It’s not ‘Tick!’ - Box ticked off - interior design done! Far from it!
And this is where I think many people fall at the feature wall hurdle.
Yes, a feature wall, by definition, should be a ‘feature’ - it should stand out, attract the eye immediately, and wow the viewer (ideally), but it still needs to TIE IN with a fully designed scheme throughout the property. It needs to link in with everything else - be part of the ‘flow’ of the space.
It shouldn’t hit you in the face in a bad way, in a jarring way. It shouldn’t be seen as ‘oh they’ve done a feature wall but nothing else’. Which is what I think comes across in many holiday rentals / Airbnbs at the moment.
So how do we remedy this problem?
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Personally, I think the feature wall has had its day. It’s too commonplace to have the same impact it once had, and its so often done in a ‘last ditch attempt at interior design’ way that it actually devalues a property, in my opinion. I would almost prefer a room entirely painted in white, than a room painted in white with one wallpapered wall. In fact, I definitely would! Artwork can be added to the fully white room, and colour can be added in other ways, giving the wow factor through other methods which are more considered and thought-through.
This is undeniably colourful, but on a base of white painted walls!
So don’t immediately jump to create a feature wall. Fight the lure of it, and stand strong.
If you do succumb however, try taking the colour or wallpaper literally around the corner - creating two feature walls, or hell, why not do the whole room! That might seem crazy, but it would be far more impactful, different and impressive - and that’s what any holiday rental needs!
Photo credit: Making Spaces
The other advice would be to not compliment the wallpaper with a harsh white. Pick out a colour within the wallpaper and use that to paint the other walls in the room - and don’t be afraid to go bold.
This will tie the colours together, creating a colour scheme which can be used throughout the space (maybe even throughout the whole house), which makes the guests feel more at ease, with a nice flow to the space.
This is important for how your guests feel about your property - which can massively impact their reviews, whether they recommend it to others, and whether they would return. It’s a VITAL component in providing an amazing place for your guests to enjoy their holiday, and in maximising your profit - all these things lead to a better experience for the guest, which means a better and sustainable ‘business’ for you - meaning you can keep your lovely bolthole for longer for you to enjoy too! Yay!
So in summary then, the demise of the feature wall is coming! Be prepared, have a plan to do SOMETHING ELSE, and venture into the non-feature wall world - there are so many other things you can do to stand out from the crowd and really maximise how many people click on your listing, book YOUR property, and really have a great holiday in the space you’ve created.
If you like the idea of adding interest to your white/pale walls through other means, click here and look at my ‘No Paint? No Problem’ Design Scheme - it includes a full shopping list of everything you would need to buy to add colour and fun into a space without painting or wallpapering any walls!
Please post pictures if you do any of the above and tag me in - @bebraveinteriors I’d LOVE to see them!