Is having one different coloured wall is old fashioned?

[Theendog]

My living room is white .. when I moved in I just got every room painted white with the intention of changing it as I decided over time what to go for.

I was thinking of changing the fireplace wall to a much darker colour and leaving the rest of the room white? But is that really dated now?

“On trend” is one of my least favourite phrases in the English language.

Even people that live a conservation area are allowed to choose whatever coloured walls they like!

Go for it OP, how much is a tin of paint? No worries to go over it when you change your mind down the line.

No amount of white paint or pastels will make a dark north facing room light and bright. It is what it is! Lean into the darkness with the paint choices. Go dark and moody and definitely on all fours walls. If trendiness is a factor then colour drench and paint the ceiling too.

White is a strong colour in a way and most feature walls would be a harsh contrast so maybe rethink the whole scheme. I have a feature wall where I've just used a deeper shade of the same colour on the other walls and it accentuates the chimney breast. I agree it doesn't matter what's in if you like it unless you're so out of date people wince when they visit.

If it's north facing, I would use a warm pastel or neutral like Little Greene Linnet or Earthborn Ballet Shoe. If you want to do something that's more 'in', paint the ceiling and skirting boards the same colour (colour drenching) or do something like @slowraindrop suggested and have tonal contrast with a darker shade of the same colour on the ceiling than the walls. The paint manufacturers have inspiration pages that would give you... inspiration!

It's a great way to get some colour/interest into a room without it being everywhere!
I've got several rooms with a feature wall and I love the look. I think I go for classic/stylish rather than the latest fad....... I also love colour and have it in most rooms!!
If the white is too clinical fine a pale colour/cream to add warmth to your rooms.
Have a look at some catalogues ie country living for ideas as to how to put a room together. Probably some suggestions on things like Pinterest as well!!
Going by Dulux website, many of their paint choices are 'feature wall' - gorgeous colours but too dark/dominant for a whole room.

I keep seeing pictures of people having colour but not restricted to a wall, to highlight an area of a room in a modern way

Example

Example

Example

I agree with the thought that you should do what you like, but yes feature walls are very outdated. Colour drenching is the thing atm but that doesn’t mean you have to like it.

I have the inset walls behind the shelves either side of my chimney breast painted, not the chimney breast itself. I think it looks great and adds extra depth.
I think it’s now a classic - I would not wallpaper big flowers though - that is so dated and was never a good look in my opinion.
@Joeninetyi think bare broncos are great too - in fact I clad my extension (done before I bought it) with brick slips and it’s added so much warmth and character to that space!

My place is trade magnolia unless someone fussy comes round and then its Lightened Autumnal Wheat.

It seems to get approving nods.

I find the feature wall where someone does one wall in stripy agressive wallpaper and the rest in pastels a bit much. I tend to see these in greige places along with giant clocks and words spelling out commands and nouns like "EAT" "BATH" "HOME".

This!

Oh god really? Well I’m not repainting it again. Maybe it’ll be back in fashion soon.

I am a fan of this too.

Plain subtle toned single colour walls and then use some art, ornaments or paintings to add the colour. It's also really easy to switch around and improve.

Only problem is the art costs more than probably painting the damn walls would.

But the positive thing is it is a neutral colour so if you wish to sell it will not be anything someone finds offensive.

Feature walls are dated, but they look more or less dated depending on how you do it. One wall of wallpaper is particularly dated, as is a single wall of strong colour in a living room, with bright white on all the other walls.

If you want colour though, it doesn’t always work having it everywhere and you have to be guided by the room more than what is trendy. Options include:

• Blocks of colour (eg a broad stripe)
• Colour just on the ceiling or trim.
• Colour on 2 or 3 walls instead of just one.
• The ‘non-colour’ walls being tonal or off-white.

“drenching” is in…it looks awful in my opinion…that’s why it’s neither here nor there what’s “in” if you don’t like it, then it’s a moot point

Just do what you want, it's your house! Who cares what is on trend. I love maximalist decor and splashes of bright colours like yellow and orange, alongside quirky decor. If it was up to me I'd have rainbow stairs, and I'd paint my own murals on to the walls, but my partner is more minimalistic than me 😂

I think feature walls are still fun!

I don’t like “feature walls” so I have every wall in my lounge a different colour, which includes 2 different wallpapers meeting at the same corner.

Couldn’t care less if it was “in”.

You paint your feature wall unashamedly OP 😄

it can be a bit dated or as I think over done. but if done right it can be fab and suit the house. I always think does it suit the style of the house and how you live. my living room is walpered a dark blue velvet like material. it's not on trend as such but suits the style of the house it makes the room feel cosy and I love it. plus i will not be touching it for at least a good 10 years 🤣

Earthy tones are definitely having a moment. As is colour drenching, but that’s a hard one to carry off.

Shiplap is popular and is replacing the ghastly cheap panelling so beloved on Instagram home accounts.

For a small, dark bedroom, I am a big fan of leaning into the cosy nighttime vibe, rather than trying to make it light and airy. So I would paint in warm, earthy colours on all the walls, and have lovely knitted or fluffy throws and pillows, and lamps with warm toned light bulbs. Make it a place to cocoon and sleep.

Sorry, just realised you said living room, though the photos look like bedrooms? Anyway, the same can be true for a living room. Lean into the warm cosiness.

It might be dated, but if you blindly go and decorate with what’s in right now then it will also look dated in no time.

I agree with a PP who said keeping it tonal would work best. And you mentioned being north facing, I’d say well clear of brilliant white. My place is completely north facing and I didn’t think of that, but the brilliant white makes it look bleak as hell. It needs to be a off white type.

I’m literally sitting below my different coloured wall that was decorated (not by me) this very year. there’s also one in living room