Found Object Feature Walls

Is your space missing a “wow” factor? Feature wall installations are undoubtedly the go-to option to achieve show stopping impressions. While they can be made of anything, feature walls often include dimensional elements that have an interactive aspect. Clients often come to us with elaborate designs that require custom built objects, but what if there was a way to achieve similar results while saving money, saving time, and helping the environment.

All things green, eco, and environmentally friendly are trending in interior design, and we’ve got a way to improve your carbon footprint while making a big visual impact – Reclaim. Recycle. Reuse. Take stock of the things you already have and repurpose them with a fresh coat of paint. Or swing by the junk yard, thrift shop, or resellers market online if you’re in search of specific items. We’ve gathered our 10 favorite examples of how found objects can be used to create a new interior design feature.

1. LICENSE PLATES

For a dynamic license plate wall that is unlike any other, make sure to create a tight fit that allows full plate coverage from end-to-end. License plates should be sourced to include a diverse array of states to get different pops of colors and text. From a distance, visitors may think this install is a flat wallcovering, but as you get closer, you notice the dimensionality and can feel the raised text.

Design by Habjan Betancourt Architecture

2. DOORS

Salvaged doors serve as a great decorative element. You can even mix a real door in to make it fun and interactive. Reclaimed doors are not only cost-effective, but you have the freedom to cut them up to mix and match the layout. It will look clean regardless of your arrangement with its natural grid shape. Can you find the usable door on this wall?

3. DIALS

Have you ever thought about an interactive feature wall? Perhaps radio dials that turn? This is no small-scale feature, it has hundreds of pieces of hardware, but the finished result is stunning. We suggest sourcing dials in a variety of sizes and colors so that the bigger ones will act as a focal point for a wall that might look busy from afar.

4. VINYL RECORDS

A grid of vinyl records provides a subtle texture and pattern. Add flair by using vintage vinyl with decorative labels in different colors and designs. You can also apply your own printed or painted designs behind or on top of the records.

5. TOOLS

Do you have an old and rusted tool kit just sitting in your garage? Time to repurpose these guys and give them a new look. Letters and mission statements are the most favored themes for feature walls so you can include your company’s logo there, bold and simple. Piecing the letters together using tool parts will make it interesting while embodying your company’s culture. Do you sense the “can-do” spirit here?

6. INSTRUMENTS

Old instrument parts can’t be underestimated with their value in creating a stunning feature wall. These metal pieces can be mended and welded together to create a seamless piece that can either spell out a floor number or be an interactive portal that is fun to play with.

7. HATS

Pull out those old hats, paint them, and treat them with a special coating. Install them onto the wall and you land with a feature wall full of personality. What’s even better? Hang the hats on the wall and allow people to take them on and off so they can try them on and take a selfie! Make sure you have your unique hashtag ready so they can show off your office while posting it on social media!

8. YARN

There are many types of yarn that you can play with when it comes to a feature wall. These yarns don’t have to be a specialty type, any fun and vibrant colors will do. This P.S. 75 wall was created by cross stitching on a custom drilled backer panel. Other ways to create an equally stunning wall are by threading the yarn in different points of the wall and creating a web-like shape.

9. BALLS

You can guarantee that whoever walks by this ball wall will always want to give it a spin. Feature walls aren’t just still elements glued onto the wall, they are best served to highlight the space by making it interesting and fun. Having a ball wall that moves and spells out your company logo will be a show-stopping entrance for sure.

10. PINS

Why do we love pins? Because pins bring us joy and they are movable if you use a magnetic underlayer. What if you included pins that people can take away when they visit your office? This will serve as a souvenir and branded item that helps to reinforce your brand story.

We hope this list inspires you to look at your “junk” a little differently and makes you consider repurposing those found objects into your next big idea. In all our years of experience, we haven’t found anything too small or too large that we couldn’t make work. Yes, there are code requirements to follow and structural aspects to consider for durability, but our skilled project managers and shop technicians are here to help. Reach out for your next found object project!

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