What do you think of 'feature' wallpapers? On one wall?

[StillAlive76]

Hi all.
Moved into a new build last year, recently had the hall, stairs and landing wallpapered in a very plain grey (yes I know) wallpaper with a tiny pinstripe through it. However, due to the plasterboard behind the paper, on the one large stair wall (the wall that is the highest in the house) there are loads of ridges and bumps showing through the paper due to the shitty finish of the plasterwork. I had asked the decorator at the time if the walls needed lined and he said no. I wish I knew how bad they were or I would have had it skimmed first.
I hate it, it catches my every time I walk up the stairs and when the light hits it it looks awful.
I've had another decorator round and he says he can strip the wall again, line it with the thickest lining paper available, then re-paper it, but is suggesting a feature wallpaper with a pattern/texture/anaglypta type finish to further disguise any bumps etc. He says skimming will make no difference?
So my question is, will it look mental to have the whole stairs and landing in a plain paper with only one wall in a completely different patterned paper? It's the 'main' wall if that makes sense, the wall running up the stairs across from the wooden bannister. i was thinking of tying into the silver/grey theme but something with a texture and pattern.
Crazy?

I love a bit of garish from B&Q

We have a feature wall and I think it looks nice. It breaks up the room and our fireplace is a fair size.
(I love the wallpaper I chose , but it's probably not everyone's taste! )
The rest of the room is just plain.

I'm not a fan. It makes the room look unfinished I think, almost as if 3 walls are decorated but you cba doing the last one.

A decorator said that skimming wouldn't make any difference? Unless you live in something like a 400 year-old cottage with big blobs of concrete slopped on it, then skimming will make a massive difference. It should make the walls smooth all over. He is talking rot. Sounds like he is desperate for the work and doesn't want to wait while you have it skimmed and it dries.

I would definitely go for skimming and then, if you want it papered, go for a new decorator if you can't do it yourself.

You call the house a ''new build'' so doesn't it come with the builder's guarantee? Like for 10 years? Why haven't you asked the company that constructed the house to fix the wall?

These threads will always bring out those who says it's naff or tacky,

Well the OP's question was what do people think of feature wallpaper, so it seems reasonable to express an opinion really.

Why not skip the wallpaper and turn it into a picture gallery instead? Cover the bumps with things you actually want to look at. Make a pictorial family tree, frame the kids artwork, all that?

Hi, thanks for all the replies.
To answer a few questions, I'm not sure why the decorator thinks skimming won't make a difference. He said it would 'just come back'? and as a skim is only 2mm-3mm thick he thinks I would be best going for the thick liner paper then a thick wall paper on top.
The new build thing - it comes with a 2 year guarantee then a further 8 years from NHBC but for 'decorative' issues like lumps and bumps on plasterboard walls they would probably laugh in your face if you tried to get them to come back to fix it. We moved in last November and are still waiting on our initial snag list being completed, not sure I want to add any more to it! Most of the decorative problems I have been fixing myself as things crop up but this is one thing I can't do by myself.
Also now that I have tried to remedy the problem myself by wallpapering, I have probably invalidated some kind of policy and they would probably wash their hands of it. Never mind - I don't mind paying to have it fixed but still in two minds about what to do.
Thanks all.

@DameFanny

Why not skip the wallpaper and turn it into a picture gallery instead? Cover the bumps with things you actually want to look at. Make a pictorial family tree, frame the kids artwork, all that?

Tried that too! A lot of the ridges and lines are well below the height you would ever hang pictures/mirror etc. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Don't like feature walls but that is not helped by having bought a house with one in every bloody room. Including the loo. Why not just do the whole room, it's like some is too scared to really commit to a colour or wallpaper. Just do the whole room! Anyway, beyond my personal hatred I do think they are very dated. My Mum had one in the sitting room in the 80s.

I do agree with the PPs above who say, get it skimmed, then painted and have a gallery wall up the stairs.

Oh, and anaglypta is awesome in period properties but I probably wouldn't put it in a new build. In defence of anaglypta.

I love a feature wall too - love a funky wallpaper - Got a William Morris wallpapered inglenook fireplace wall and the rest of the room plain.

We’ve just put up 3 feature walls 🥰 they are all giant photos printed to order, we got them from wall sauce. Delighted with them. Is like looking out into a mountain range. You can use own photos or buy from a stock website.

I don’t really like it when one wall is painted a bright colour and the others are white though.

It's a bit 2008.

I’m only here to laugh at people calling them naff, and I’ve been rewarded by someone saying “horrendous”. Goodness.

I have one feature wall in my house - and it’s the main wall going up the stairs. I love it. I can’t share a photo as I’ve not seen anyone else with it - it was printed to order. I can’t use it on all the walls as I think having it surrounding you would bring on a migraine well, at least you wouldn’t appreciate it as it would be too much of an assault on the senses.

If it works for you, do it. I don’t give a shit if it looks 2008 - it’s me that lives with it

Love a feature wall. Hate textured wallpaper.

I love them.

It really doesn't matter what other people think. Even if you came to sell, you can always repaint. It's not like it's a permanent change.

@OperationallySound

These threads will always bring out those who says it's naff or tacky,

Well the OP's question was what do people think of feature wallpaper, so it seems reasonable to express an opinion really.

I see your point but the implication is that there is a "right" and "wrong" way to decorate your own home. Just about anything can be done beautifully or badly. A full room of colour or wallpaper does not automatically make it more tasteful than having one contrasting wall. I just can't bear the way that "feature wall" has become synonymous with poor taste when it can be done really well.

I've experienced the decorating paralysis before and been so afraid to get it wrong in other people's eyes that I've just make bland choices. I'd encourage anyone to just use colours and prints they like as it's them that will look at it every day.

I had them in my old house where it was obvious there was a well which should be a feature. Found some wallpapers that were 'me' and had different ones in each room.

My new house doesn't really have an obvious wall where wall paper would go so all the walls are just painted the same colour.

I love feature walls and mine are mainly garish from b and q - picked to match with some bright paints

They suit me and DH though the 16 year old mutters about sunglasses

Find something that makes you happy to look at it every time you go up the stairs

What I or anyone else thinks doesn't matter as we don't live with you

Another tacky b&q wall - I have many to choose from

I have one feature wall on the landing so possibly similar to yours. Used to be where the door to the bathroom was but that's been moved and I liked the idea of making the new wall a feature rather than just finding pictures for it.

I love it!

Can you photograph the issues. We live in a new build and the joins between the plaster panels do show, they tape and skim, but it's thin. I did have some repaired during snagging.

I see your point but the implication is that there is a "right" and "wrong" way to decorate your own home

Absolutely not. I don't think there's is a right or wrong way to to decorate, it's just about what you prefer. Again, the OP asked what people thought, that's all, and people shared their opinions. I really don't like that wallpapered wall in the photo you shared, it spoils a lovely room to my eye. But that's just my eye. Am sure someone else will love it. Our homes would be very boring if we all loved the same things.

Also love a feature wall. Currently staying in a holiday cottage that has a lovely sage green patterned one. Cant stop looking at it.

I find photo montage walls hideously naff. As many pps have said, it's just personal taste, fuck what anyone else thinks.