12 Fun Outdoor Feature Walls
Spruce up a single alfresco wall to transform a bland outdoor space
Andrea Von
3 August 2015
Formerly editor at thegreenhubonline.com and Houzz UK Editorial Staff. I'm passionate about sustainability, innovative architecture and clever design.
Formerly editor at thegreenhubonline.com and Houzz UK Editorial Staff. I'm passionate... More
As the warmer months approach, no doubt you’ve started thinking about lazy afternoons, warm nights, fresh cocktails and sizzling barbecues. If your garden or courtyard is looking a bit too lacklustre for your liking – or if it’s on the small side – sprucing up one wall is a great way to add interest without redoing the entire space. Not sure where to start? Be inspired by these 12 inventive ways to create an accent wall to enhance your outdoor area.
1. Bring it to life
If you want to add more plants to your garden, but are restricted by its size or the number of flowerbeds, try a wall of greenery. Living walls can be full-grown, like this one, or more minimal creations, such as a wall dotted with small hanging pot plants.
The effect can also be created with artificial plants, which require next to no maintenance and can be installed in one go by a specialist company.
If you want to add more plants to your garden, but are restricted by its size or the number of flowerbeds, try a wall of greenery. Living walls can be full-grown, like this one, or more minimal creations, such as a wall dotted with small hanging pot plants.
The effect can also be created with artificial plants, which require next to no maintenance and can be installed in one go by a specialist company.
2. Create the illusion of space
Mirrors can do wonders for a small area by creating the feeling of more space, or tricking the eye into seeing a window. Arranged flush with the horizontal slats, the rectangular mirror in this garden creates the illusion that the courtyard extends beyond the wall.
Horizontal wooden slats are a contemporary alternative to standard wooden fences. They’re a great way to inject natural elements into an urban garden or courtyard, and a simple way to warm up a concrete or rendered space.
Find a landscape architect or designer near you on Houzz to spruce up your outdoor area
Mirrors can do wonders for a small area by creating the feeling of more space, or tricking the eye into seeing a window. Arranged flush with the horizontal slats, the rectangular mirror in this garden creates the illusion that the courtyard extends beyond the wall.
Horizontal wooden slats are a contemporary alternative to standard wooden fences. They’re a great way to inject natural elements into an urban garden or courtyard, and a simple way to warm up a concrete or rendered space.
Find a landscape architect or designer near you on Houzz to spruce up your outdoor area
3. Play plant peekaboo
One way to simultaneously introduce foliage and add interest is by planting behind a wall to create an oeil-de-boeuf – traditionally a small circular window found on the upper floors of a building, common in 17th- and 18th-century French architecture.
In this garden, the designer has planted behind a freestanding Corten steel wall, which is practical, tactile and visually interesting. An oeil-de-boeuf can add a focal point to any space, not least because it translates literally as ‘bull’s eye’.
One way to simultaneously introduce foliage and add interest is by planting behind a wall to create an oeil-de-boeuf – traditionally a small circular window found on the upper floors of a building, common in 17th- and 18th-century French architecture.
In this garden, the designer has planted behind a freestanding Corten steel wall, which is practical, tactile and visually interesting. An oeil-de-boeuf can add a focal point to any space, not least because it translates literally as ‘bull’s eye’.
4. Warm up with a fireplace
An outdoor fireplace is great for those cooler nights and is particularly well-received in winter. It also makes for a great feature wall, as seen on this pocket-sized roof terrace.
If building a chimney isn’t an option, the recess in the wall can be used as a shelf for lanterns, candles and other decorative elements. For this tiny London balcony, the designers have created living walls on either side of the chimney to increase the amount of greenery without losing any more floor space.
Best of the Week: 21 Fierce Fire Pit Set-Ups
An outdoor fireplace is great for those cooler nights and is particularly well-received in winter. It also makes for a great feature wall, as seen on this pocket-sized roof terrace.
If building a chimney isn’t an option, the recess in the wall can be used as a shelf for lanterns, candles and other decorative elements. For this tiny London balcony, the designers have created living walls on either side of the chimney to increase the amount of greenery without losing any more floor space.
Best of the Week: 21 Fierce Fire Pit Set-Ups
5. Build in some seating
Turn one wall into a functional spot for seating and shelter while also creating a focal point. If you’re lucky enough to have the space to extend the idea to two walls and make a cosy corner of it – as in this courtyard in Amsterdam – even better. A covered outdoor seating space means you can enjoy the fresh air whether it’s sunny or raining.
Built-in seating is practical and can double as storage. It can also be used to visually section off different areas of your courtyard. Depending on the look you want to achieve or what is already in-situ, consider which finish will work best for your feature wall – from urban raw concrete to modern horizontal fencing slats, a foliage-filled trellis or paintwork.
Install outdoor lighting – or string up a waterproof garland – to create interesting shapes or highlight details for drama after dark.
Turn one wall into a functional spot for seating and shelter while also creating a focal point. If you’re lucky enough to have the space to extend the idea to two walls and make a cosy corner of it – as in this courtyard in Amsterdam – even better. A covered outdoor seating space means you can enjoy the fresh air whether it’s sunny or raining.
Built-in seating is practical and can double as storage. It can also be used to visually section off different areas of your courtyard. Depending on the look you want to achieve or what is already in-situ, consider which finish will work best for your feature wall – from urban raw concrete to modern horizontal fencing slats, a foliage-filled trellis or paintwork.
Install outdoor lighting – or string up a waterproof garland – to create interesting shapes or highlight details for drama after dark.
6. Make it Zen
When you’re not entertaining, your outdoor space should be somewhere you can retreat to for relaxation and reflection. The simple concrete wall in this garden highlights uncluttered planting and an inviting bench, creating a calming space for clearing the mind.
When you’re not entertaining, your outdoor space should be somewhere you can retreat to for relaxation and reflection. The simple concrete wall in this garden highlights uncluttered planting and an inviting bench, creating a calming space for clearing the mind.
7. Keep it simple
Don’t have green thumbs? Make a statement with a water feature instead. Here, the designers have created a small pond and sandwiched a minimalist fountain between a split false wall. The wall is painted in a contemporary blue-grey, which contrasts sharply with the white rendered walls. The straight lines make the most of this garden’s minimalist aesthetic and play up to its symmetry.
Keep things clean, serene and uncluttered like this, or, if you prefer a softer effect, simply add plenty of potted plants.
Don’t have green thumbs? Make a statement with a water feature instead. Here, the designers have created a small pond and sandwiched a minimalist fountain between a split false wall. The wall is painted in a contemporary blue-grey, which contrasts sharply with the white rendered walls. The straight lines make the most of this garden’s minimalist aesthetic and play up to its symmetry.
Keep things clean, serene and uncluttered like this, or, if you prefer a softer effect, simply add plenty of potted plants.
8. Employ large planters
Portable planters are a good solution for rented homes, where tenants often can’t make huge changes to the outdoor space and are perhaps stuck with a paved space and no flowerbeds.
Planters come in all shapes and sizes, so will work against any wall, turning it into a fabulous feature as soon as your plants begin to flourish. You can also take them with you when you move.
How Do I… Hide an Ugly Garden Fence?
Portable planters are a good solution for rented homes, where tenants often can’t make huge changes to the outdoor space and are perhaps stuck with a paved space and no flowerbeds.
Planters come in all shapes and sizes, so will work against any wall, turning it into a fabulous feature as soon as your plants begin to flourish. You can also take them with you when you move.
How Do I… Hide an Ugly Garden Fence?
9. Go all out
There’s quite a lot going on with this feature wall: first, there’s the fire, then there’s the reflective wall that’s actually a water feature, then there’s the climbing ivy behind it and, finally, the LED lights. If you’re feeling adventurous, this patio shows that mixing together a number of elements that could hold their own individually can sometimes work. Throw in some colourful cushions and you have a psychedelic outdoor scene.
There’s quite a lot going on with this feature wall: first, there’s the fire, then there’s the reflective wall that’s actually a water feature, then there’s the climbing ivy behind it and, finally, the LED lights. If you’re feeling adventurous, this patio shows that mixing together a number of elements that could hold their own individually can sometimes work. Throw in some colourful cushions and you have a psychedelic outdoor scene.
10. Use it as a backdrop
Leave your wall plain and use it as a backdrop for anything from plants to lighting and furniture. A muted accent wall means you can dress up the rest of the space a bit more. A decking area against the wall is great for designating a specific spot for lunches and dinner parties, and for keeping shoes grass- and dirt-free.
Leave your wall plain and use it as a backdrop for anything from plants to lighting and furniture. A muted accent wall means you can dress up the rest of the space a bit more. A decking area against the wall is great for designating a specific spot for lunches and dinner parties, and for keeping shoes grass- and dirt-free.
11. Splash on some colour
Painting is one of the simplest things you can do to make your garden wall or fence more interesting. Choose the colour based on the effect you want to achieve. The owners of this courtyard have gone for a warm yellow, which gives the space a Mediterranean feel.
Browse more images of Mediterranean-inspired gardens
Painting is one of the simplest things you can do to make your garden wall or fence more interesting. Choose the colour based on the effect you want to achieve. The owners of this courtyard have gone for a warm yellow, which gives the space a Mediterranean feel.
Browse more images of Mediterranean-inspired gardens
12. Hang a piece for instant style
If painting, planting and cladding really aren’t your thing, a large statement clock or wall sculpture can do wonders for a bare space. When viewed from the kitchen-dining space, this large clock anchors both indoor and outdoor rooms.
Your turn
Do you have a feature wall in your outdoor space? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more advice for your outdoor area? Read these nifty Tricks to Make Your Walled Courtyard Look Bigger
If painting, planting and cladding really aren’t your thing, a large statement clock or wall sculpture can do wonders for a bare space. When viewed from the kitchen-dining space, this large clock anchors both indoor and outdoor rooms.
Your turn
Do you have a feature wall in your outdoor space? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more advice for your outdoor area? Read these nifty Tricks to Make Your Walled Courtyard Look Bigger
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Great ideas! Here are a few of our own: