Finding the right curtains for your feature wall

A feature wall is a chance to get creative with colour and pattern, livening up a space and accentuating its focal point. Here are our tips on getting the wall right and matching the perfect curtains with it.

Table of contents

• Dos and don'ts of feature walls

• Coordinating curtains and colour schemes

• Choosing a fabric type

• Can you mix pattern on pattern?

Dos and don'ts of feature walls

• Do highlight the room's existing focal point, such as behind a fireplace, TV or bed head, rather than picking a wall at random.

• Do make sure the colour or pattern complements the rest of the room, and keep it a genuine highlight rather than adding to a crowded space.

• Do use a feature wall to define zones in an open-plan home, with blocks of colour marking out an area.

• Do consider materials beyond paint and wallpaper, such as tile, stone or reclaimed wood; paint is the easy, cost-effective option.

• Don't be afraid of wallpaper, as modern papers are easy to apply and remove; and don't feature-wall a small room, as it makes the space feel smaller.

Coordinating curtains and colour schemes

Choosing a scheme is personal, but these four approaches reliably work. For more, see our guide on coordinating curtains with your wall colours.

• Repeat the wall colour: choose a patterned fabric that features the wall colour, or the same shade a little lighter or darker, to blend the wall and curtains and create a sense of space.

• Go monochrome: solid curtains in a noticeably lighter or darker shade of the wall colour, like mint green with forest green.

• Use complementary colours: pick a fabric featuring the colour opposite the wall on the colour wheel, such as mauve against a yellow wall.

• Embrace neutrals: they work with almost any colour; just use several shades around the room to avoid a stark look, and to tone down strong colours.

Choosing a fabric type

Weave, thickness and weight all affect how a fabric drapes and looks against your feature wall:

• Polyester: durable, lightweight and easy-care, good for bedrooms and living rooms but not kitchens. A darker colour hides marks in busy homes.

• Cotton: lightweight with a crisp feel, drapes well and suits any room and style.

• Silk: heavier with a romantic, sophisticated drape for bedrooms or formal rooms, usually dry-clean only; viscose (rayon) is a more economical, similar-looking alternative.

• Linen: a billowy, relaxed look ideal for casual and contemporary spaces.

• Velvet: thick, rich and heavy, with a polished, regal look for classic or formal decor.

Explore our linen and velvet curtain ranges to see how different fabrics feel.

Can you mix pattern on pattern?

Done well, pattern on pattern is not too much; it is about coordinating and complementing:

• Decide on a mood: florals feel feminine, stripes read contemporary or classic, animal prints are eclectic.

• Use at least three patterns and vary the scale, and keep colours to a similar intensity (don't mix pastels with jewel tones).

• Distribute patterns evenly around the room, break them up with solids, and try tone-on-tone patterns for elegance with character.

Want a hand pulling it together? Request a free in-home consultation and one of our consultants will bring samples and help you match curtains to your feature wall.