Paint Brief - Research: Painting Feature Walls

While for some the very thought of a feature wall can inspire fear,  for others the prospect is gleefully welcomed. Colour has the ability to drastically adjust our sense of space, and while painting a singular wall in a different colour can help provide a focal point to large, awkward rooms, a feature wall can easily ruin the proportions of a room if executed incorrectly. A single wall painted in a strong colour can bring a space to life, especially if the other colours are of a tonal contrast, though it is important to consider how colours work together. Sharp contrasts are created through use of complimentary colours as shown on the colour wheel (page 00), with each colour made brighter and more intense by the other. Colour is the most powerful of tools for transforming spaces, though it is important to not forget that while its can help to obscure awkward room shapes and sizes, it can also exacerbate them. 

Strong  Colour  on  a  Long  Wall

By using a bold colour on a longer wall, with lighter colours on the shorter walls, these walls will appear as though they are being squeezed together - giving the room a longer and thinner appearance. Colour used across one long wall can at times make a room feel uncomfortable to due to the uneven nature of the space, this being particularly true for bedrooms. It is therefore advisable that any use of strong colour used as a feature wall should be behind the bed-head, as this will ground the room and create a pleasant atmosphere to wake up in.                                  

Strong  Colour  on  a  Short  Wall

The use of a bolder colour on a shorter wall can help to make a room feel squarer in shape. In a long room, this will foreshorten the space and help to create a more evenly proportioned aesthetic. Additionally, the use of a bolder colour on the recesses either side of achimney-breast or fireplace can add depth while maintaining a visually balanced appearance. 

Warm  and Cool  Colours

It has long been claimed that dark colours will always make a room look smaller, and while there is some truth to this, there is a greater complexity to this matter. What is more important to consider is the affect of both warm and cool colours. Warm colours, like reds and yellows, will make a room seem cosier because they appear to advance towards you. Conversely, cooler colours, such as blue, recede and therefore 

make a space feel larger.

Strong  Central  Colours

Bold colour does not always have to dominate a space, and does not always have to be on a large expanse of wall. It can be combined with more neutral tones to change the sense of space in a room while still being striking in appearance. By using a darker colour in the centre of a room, everything around it will seem lighter and brighter. For example, a central kitchen island or underside of a bathtub in an otherwise neutral bathroom. This helps to give spaces a grounded feel, as the strong colour always sits below eye level.