A media wall isn't just a functional feature; it should be a stunning visual statement that enhances the overall aesthetic of your living room. When a media wall design is styled correctly, it can become the focal point of your space, providing a seamless blend of technology and comfort, while reflecting your home’s interior style. In this post, we’ll explore how to style your media wall for maximum impact by incorporating wall panelling, selecting the perfect colour palette, mixing textures, and adding personal touches with accessories.
Wall Panelling: Creating a Modern Foundation
Wall panelling is a great way to give your media wall an architectural dimension. From sleek, modern panels to traditional wood cladding, there’s something to suit every style. Consider using large panels for a minimalist, clean look, or opt for intricate patterns that create a sense of depth and texture for a more rustic vibe.
Panelling also doesn’t need to cover the entire wall either. Play around and get creative – half panelled walls look really unique. There are so many options to choose from with different textures and designs, some of our favourites are below.
Alternatively you can create DIY panelling with some simple materials that can be found in places like B&Q, Screwfix, eBay or Amazon, allowing you to create your own shapes and patterns with individual pieces of wood, before painting the entire wall.
If you’re wanting to refresh the room on a budget there are also some great options for wood panel effect wall paper that adds depth at a more cost effective price, while being easy to create yourself at home.
Tip: If you’re going for a modern, contemporary look, try using neutral-coloured panels like whites, greys, or deep blues. For a rustic or vintage feel, wooden panels in natural or matte finishes will add warmth and character.
Colour Palettes: Set the Mood with the Right Hues
Choosing the right colour scheme for your media wall is key to achieving the desired atmosphere in your living room. The colours you select can influence the entire feel of the room, from calming blues and whites to bold and dramatic blacks and greys.
Pantone’s colour of the year 2025 is Mocha Mousse, and luxury interiors continue to incorporate this trend using earthy colour palettes that offer a warm, inviting and relaxing feel, blended with natural materials like wood.
Wood panelling and accents also work well when paired with black for a bold, sleek and moody vibe. Perfect for entertaining or a romantic night in front of the fireplace.
Colour Psychology: Remember that colours can evoke specific emotions. Calm and cool tones like blue and grey can make the space feel relaxed, while warmer tones like yellow or red can make it feel inviting and energizing.
Tip: Consider using complementary colours that tie together the room’s design elements. For a clean, modern aesthetic, combine cool greys with sharp whites or blacks. If you’re aiming for warmth, use earthy tones like rich browns, terracotta, or deep greens.
Mixing Textures: Combining Glass, Wood, and Metal
Textures are what bring a media wall to life, turning it from a static setup into an engaging feature. Combining different textures, like glass, wood, and metal, will add visual interest and prevent the space from feeling flat.
Wall panelling – 3 dimensional wood wall panelling adds texture as a focal point and adds a contemporary feel. If rustic is your vibe, you can add a wood ledge above the fire for a traditional look, or clad the media wall with stone-like tiles or cladding to bring more texture and character to the space.
Glass – choose glass accessories such as vases and lighting to add an element of reflection and make the room appear larger and brighter.
Texture – adding texture through accessories and plants is a great way to reflect your personal style. Ceramic bowls and candle holders with organic textures and designs mix well amongst hammered metal and metallics, which add a refined elegance and luxury element to your living room. Small plants and artificial trees bring freshness to the room and can offset more moody or deeper colours. A trailing plant softly cascading down from an open shelf looks truly stunning!
- Tip: Choose wood elements for warmth and coziness. Glass adds a sense of lightness and modernity, while metals such as brushed steel or matte black finishes add a sleek, industrial vibe. The key is to balance these materials so that one doesn’t overpower the other.
Personal Touches: Art, Books, and Collectibles
The beauty of a media wall is that it offers ample opportunity to showcase your personality through decor. Add visual interest by incorporating framed artwork, vintage collectibles, or a stack of books into your media wall shelving. These items not only complement the style of the wall but also make the space feel uniquely yours.
- Tip: If you're short on space, consider wall-mounted shelves to display your favourite books or art pieces. You can also use the media wall’s framework to incorporate subtle lighting that highlights these personal items, creating a curated display. If you don’t have any open shelves or have opted for hidden storage, these items can be placed on a coffee table or side table to incorporate them into the room.
Lighting: The Finishing Touch
No styled media wall is complete without the right lighting. Lighting can dramatically enhance the overall impact, bringing out the textures and colours of your media wall while creating a welcoming atmosphere.
When considering your main ceiling light, the drop or height is important – especially when you have a media wall with a TV. This is an area a lot of people don’t consider! It’s important to ensure that your ceiling light doesn’t hang down too low and obstruct the view of the tv when sitting down in your favourite comfy spot on the couch. If in doubt, opt for a flush or semi-flush ceiling light that won’t obstruct your view.
When it comes to lighting the media wall itself, built-in LED lighting adds a modern vibe. This can be placed in a number of areas throughout the media wall – opt for all and you can change the atmosphere and create different looks by syncing lighting. Lighting underneath shelving highlights accessories, adding lighting strips behind the TV adds depth and drama, while downlighters underneath a beam can draw further attention to your fire as a focal point. You can even insert flexible LED strips into the grooves of the wood panelling to create something really quirky.
- Tip: Use LED strip lights around the perimeter of the wall, or mount adjustable spotlights above or below your media unit to illuminate the area. A floor lamp or pendant light near the media wall can also provide ambiance while making the space feel cosy and inviting.
Styling your media wall is an opportunity to showcase your unique taste while balancing style with functionality. By considering elements like wall panelling, colour palettes, mixing textures, and adding personal touches, you can create a stunning focal point that elevates your living room's design. Remember, the key is to blend aesthetics with practicality to ensure that your media wall is as visually striking as it is functional.
