A feature wall, or accent wall, draws the eye when you enter a room. The purpose of a feature wall is to create interest or personality to the space by creating a focal point.

The use of an accent wall gained popularity in the 1990’s when several television home renovation shows began using them in almost every makeover project. The trend has continued today.

Changing the look of a wall defines the space in an open floor plan such as a living room/dining room or living room and study nook or office.

In the bedroom, the feature wall is often behind the headboard or bed. While living rooms and bedrooms are the most common rooms to feature an accent wall, kitchens and bathrooms are also popular choices. A kitchen and breakfast nook will often have a distinctive wall to define each space.

Also called a focal wall, it has a distinctive feature that defines it from the other walls in the room. This can include a fireplace or built in bookcase.

There are many ways to feature a wall. The most common is with paint. A bolder or darker shade of paint is used to accent or highlight an area. This can also be achieved with wallpaper featuring a stripes, geometric patterns, or floral design.

Other media used as accents include stone, tile, brick, shiplap, paneling, bead board, and 3-D panels. Van Dyke’s has the EnduraWall Panels in dozens of styles, Legacy Door Panels, and urethane molding and corners for creating decorative shapes. Other considerations for your project include chair rail, crown molding, baseboard molding, lighting, wall sconces, window hardware, wood appliques, corner guards, shelf brackets, pilasters and columns, and decorative corbels.

Van Dyke’s recently added the Fretwell Wall Panels. These beautiful panels are a modern alternative to wallpaper and traditional wall coverings. The embossed design offers a touch of texture and a smooth finish that lasts a lifetime.

Another option are faux stones. StoneWall panels are an attractive, durable and weather resistant alternative to hard-to-install real stacked stone. Van Dyke’s also has beautiful copper sheets in seveal style. in additon to feature walls, these panels are great for backsplashes.

Boat Wood Mosiac Tiles are the latest product from Restorers Architectural. These unique wooden tiles intertwined to create beautiful texture and depth on walls and are offered in seveal patterns.