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Original poster

Are feature walls naff? Canvassing opinions

54 replies

preghead · 07/03/2011 20:24

We have been renting for a few years but should hopefully soon be doing up a new house. Last time I did this you painted all 4 walls the same colour or maybe one or 2 walls in contrasting colours - the whole wallpaper feature wall thing has passes me by. Has it been and gone do you think? I am rather hoping so as it seems a faff and I don't really want to have to learn how to wallpaper! I have viewed so many houses recently and they all seem to have the floral wall paper on one wall, bed or sofa against and it seems a bit samey too me, noughties equivalent of the flying ducks?

I have seen some interesting geometric patterned wallpaper so could be tempted by that but it is possibly too much for all 4 walls. Shall I just stick to basics and farrow and ball all 4 walls in each room? ( will reuse an old dulux colour i used last time and loved here and there as well for those that baulk at the MN farrow and ball thing )

OP posts:
lalalonglegs · 07/03/2011 20:34

Yes.

LemonDifficult · 07/03/2011 20:36

Unbearably naff, sorry.

But don't let that put you off wallpaper, which isn't naff in itself and can be very lovely.

MillsAndDoom · 07/03/2011 20:37

ummm I quite like it

mitfordsisters · 07/03/2011 20:40

Naff

shhhgobacktosleep · 07/03/2011 20:42

Incredibly naff. Who wants to live in a house where your rooms look like mock ups in B&Q wall paper dept?

Original poster
preghead · 07/03/2011 20:44

Yes that's why I thought so how doni decorate the rooms then? 4 Walls the same colour or same paper? Might be overload on the paper? Opposing walls?

OP posts:
Original poster
preghead · 07/03/2011 20:45

What I thought

OP posts:
smashingtime · 07/03/2011 21:38

I think the wallpaper feature wall thing is naff and everywhere at the moment. I like, and have recently done the contrasting colours thing although all neutral colours.

jimswifein1964 · 07/03/2011 21:40

naff yes. just paint everywhere one colour and have interesting furniture and pictures.

hester · 07/03/2011 21:58

Naff

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 07/03/2011 22:02

Who cares. Seriously?
If you like feature walls in YOUR house then have a feature wall. If you want to paint each wall a different shade of neon pink, then you know what? Go right ahead.
ITS YOUR HOME, are you really so insecure you are going to decorate it based on OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNETS opinion?

Original poster
preghead · 07/03/2011 22:33

Oh dear i was just thinking, hope this doesn't upset anyone who's just done a feature wall [laugh].

OP posts:
LoopyLoopsHulaHoops · 07/03/2011 22:37

I agree with Libra.

CointreauVersial · 08/03/2011 00:15

I'm putting one in my bedroom, just to jazz it up a little. But it would probably be too much in the living room.

Original poster
preghead · 08/03/2011 08:37

Yes I can see that, I've seen some quite lovely ones in bedrooms recently doing viewings which prompted my wonderings really. Looked good with bed against them.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 08/03/2011 09:05

yes

noddyholder · 08/03/2011 09:12

Wallpaper is lovely though in the right context though but I think those grand vintage style ones only look good in huge rooms with high ceilings where you can stand back and see them otherwise in small rooms they tend to be on top of you

minidiva · 08/03/2011 12:33

Bought one recently from funky fresco for a really girlie look in my daughters bedroom. Not cheap, but looks absolutely fab. Not sure about feature walls in living rooms a bit quick make over, but great in kids. Better than Barbie posters....

dexter73 · 08/03/2011 18:26

I quite like feature walls but my living room has 4 magnolia walls!(Fancied a change after having weird peachy colour on them)

chandellina · 08/03/2011 21:01

naff. i can't believe how many houses i've seen recently (house hunting) with a feature wall in garish shiny wallpaper. it's time to retire the Love and union jack cushions too (if you treasure seeming in any way original).

herhonesty · 09/03/2011 18:38

very naff and such a shame that people dont do their whole room. but at the end of the day it should be what you want rather than whats on trend.

hester · 09/03/2011 21:03

candellina, don't forget the driftwood hearts and the letters spelling 'Eat','Sleep' etc.

Thankfully not many people seem to have painted lines of poetry across their walls, though the interiors magazines pushed that idea hard...

chandellina · 10/03/2011 12:09

totally! i'm also amazed by all the people with blown-up, posed photos of their children all over the house, and a giant one from their own wedding. (i love family photos but a bit of variety is nice.)

DuplicitousBitch · 10/03/2011 12:12

it just make me think they couldn't afford to finish the room

2blessed2bstressed · 10/03/2011 12:24

I hate threads like these! Someone asks an innocent enough question, and then a whole lot of posters with thriving superiority complexes pile in and denounce everything as "naff" or "passe" or even "chavvy"!
Each to their own I say, have whatever makes you happy - personally I love my love cushions, and on my bathroom wall it says BATH....more as an order to the dcs rather than a style statement however Grin