In Malaysia, there is an obvious trend for using Wallpapers to decorate their houses walls, offices walls and interiors of buildings.
They are pasted vertically onto a wall using wallpaper paste and are sold as rolls or bundles. They are one of the most important elements that are capable of changing the aesthetics of a room.
Horizontally patterned wallpapers can give the perception of a wider room whereas vertically patterned ones give the perception of heightened walls and ceiling.
Solid coloured wallpapers enhance the accessories of the room whereas patterned wallpapers add texture to a boring room.
In other words, your choice of wallpaper can make or break the entire look of your house.
Wallpapers on Feature Walls
A feature wall is that wall of the room which has a design that is different from the other walls of that room. Its colour can be a different shade or it can have a completely different design in comparison with the other walls.
Its surface can be paint, wallpaper or marble. It is intended to break up the pattern created by the other walls.
An alternate name that is used for a feature wall is “accent wall” and a room can have more than one accent or feature wall but, it is best to have only a single wall as a feature wall so that it can have the spotlight and it can automatically complement the rest of the aesthetics of that room.
Going for more than one feature wall might create a tacky impression in front of your guests.
Hence, choosing a feature wall is one of the most important aspects of interior decoration as it can make or break the design of the room.
It is extremely important that you consider your size of room and usage in order to make a decision.
Additionally, the aspects listed below should always be kept in mind for choosing the right feature wall:
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The largest wall of the room: Using the largest wall of the room will give you more space to be creative and also, it will maximize the impact of your creation. This would automatically give out an impression of a larger area as well. This factor also opens up tons of opportunities to play around with the colours and textures of the furniture in that room.
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Complementing wall: Choosing the wall which would complement your design is also important as it will emphasize the area around it, like the wall behind the bed or the wall beside the balcony view.
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Sightline: In a living room, choose the wall behind the TV or in a powder room, choose the wall behind the mirror. In a bathroom, choose the wall behind the bathtub or on a terrace garden, choose the wall which will highlight your most precious plants. This would create a huge impact on the vision of the guests as they would be looking towards that wall for most of the time.
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The wall opposite to the entrance: The wall in the main hall directly in front of the main door would be the best option for a feature wall as it will give the first and far most important impression of your house. This would also highlight your living room furniture.
Be sure to think about what you want to achieve with your feature wall – whether you want it to be the center of attention, or help complement other design aspects in your room.
Choosing the Right Wallpaper
The wallpaper must have the right balance between pattern size and colour because usually, it will only be on a single wall in a room; thus, the pattern has to be strong enough to stand on its own and the colour of the wall must be soothing as well as eye-catching at the same time.
In other words, it has to be interesting enough that your attention immediately goes towards the feature wall but, not loud enough to sublime the other aesthetics of the room. It should be complementing and not distracting!
Pattern
The wallpaper for a feature wall has to be noticeable and aesthetically pleasing. Large-scale wallpapers need a large amount of area to be noticeable whereas the small scale patterns can fit in smaller areas.
If a wall has a door, multiple windows, or other large obstructions, there may not be that much space leftover for wallpaper, in such scenarios, small-scale patterns are the best fit.
On the other hand, you can still create a feature wall that is somewhat covered by other furniture and decor.
Patterned wallpapers can change the vibe of the room. For example, a leaf-patterned wallpaper and some complementing furniture could give a nature-inspired or jungle-theme effect to the room.
In this particular example, the too-much effect would not necessarily mean going over-the-top!
Color
The mood of the room depends totally on the colour or the complementing colour of the feature wall.
Bold and bright colours stand out and thus are favoured on the feature wall, so a pattern or texture of light colour on a feature wall won’t make an immediate impact on the guests.
To overcome this problem, try to paint the other walls with dark colours so the feature wall then breaks their pattern.
In exceptional cases, it could work if you’re going for a minimalistic decoration. In that case, the focus would automatically fall upon the remaining aesthetic factors of the room like furniture, curtains and paintings.
Many high-end clients prefer to stay updated on world colour trends of that particular year or season. For example, the Pantone Colors of the Year 2016 were Rose Quartz and Serenity Blue.
Recently, Pantone has announced that the colour of 2017 would be a particular shade of green called ‘Greenery’. So, just a heads up.
Wallpapering Feature Wall
1) Determination of required wallpaper
Measure the length and breadth of the wall to be featured in the room with the help of a measuring tape and then calculate the area.
This area is the most important aspect of determining the length of buying the wallpaper. Or, you could always get professional help!
2) Choosing the correct wallpaper (texture and pattern wise)
Choosing a wallpaper is a very personal choice as it affects the energy of your personal spaces. So, always try to bring out your own personal style for a more satisfying result.
Wallpapers of the following different kinds serve different purposes as per the requirement of the user:
Vinyl wallpapers are easily available as well as user-friendly. The textures and patterns of embossed wallpapers are designed to camouflage imperfections easily.
Though textile-based wallpapers are not much user-friendly due to the inclusion of a different adhesive which makes the process time-consuming but, the overall finish is comparatively better and more sophisticated.
If you wish to play with different and unique textures and patterns on the same feature wall, always consult a professional before committing to a decision or try the idea on a sample wall first and live with that wall for at least a week.
3) Pasting the Wallpaper
Apply the adhesive evenly with the help of a brush throughout the back side of wallpaper and line it up perfectly vertical with respect to the ground.
Start applying pressure from the top and rub the wallpaper towards the wall and eliminate the wrinkles thoroughly with the help of a brush. Continue to paste the wallpaper matching the pattern appropriately and clean the excess adhesive with a piece of dry cloth.
A good idea would be to consult the store supplier or a professional for more detailed instructions or total delegation, respectively.
Some Professional Tips
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The choice of a wallpaper often reflects the personality of the user which in turn also affects the energy of the house. Try to incorporate your own personal style as much as you can for a more satisfying result.
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Be clear on what you want and collect visuals and samples to create a better view in your mind before the final selection. Research is key! Once you are happy with all the elements, go for it.
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If there is an even slightest hint of confusion, try out that design on a sample space and live with it for a while before committing to an entire wall.
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If you want to be slightly more adventurous, you can opt for more than one wallpaper design on a single wall but, mix and match wisely!
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Metallic wallpapers are a good way to add glow and sheen to your walls but, they might require expertise for installation!
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Geometric prints are always on trend and if they seem over-the-top, you could always break the view with complementing shelves or bookcases. You can go bolder and try it on the ceiling too!
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If you are a trend-follower and would like to change the look of your house more frequently, it is advised to always stick to subtle designs which make it easier to alter the remaining changeable factors of the room later.
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Always consider the lighting of the room before choosing your feature wall and wallpaper. It could be natural sources of doors, windows or balcony or fixtures like lamps and chandeliers.
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Whatever may be your prints, always choose the paper with a high-quality finish and softer ink for a more sophisticated final look.
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When altering a small area, stick to detailed patterns. Whereas, while working on a big wall, maximalism is an option.
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Choosing between dry-strippable or peelable wallpapers is an important decision when you’re not planning to live in the same space forever. Dry-strippable paper peels off entirely but, peelable paper leaves a residue behind.
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Dark colours might make the room appear smaller and bright colours give the perception of a wider space.
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Always seek professional help! It would seem like an additional cost but, it is bound to come with latest trend advice, pattern guidance, and technical assistance to name a few.
If you are looking for wallpaper installation, feel free to contact us, we have professional wallpaper installer team to get the perfect installation for you. Contact us now for more details.
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