Accent walls are a unique way to tie together color schemes in a home, add a subtle depth to your walls, or create dramatic centerpieces that invite your guests inside. Despite their many uses, it can be hard to find the perfect balance and location for your accent wall. We’re here to help with 3 useful tricks to pick the perfect accent wall.
Tip 1: Choose the Right Wall
How do you know where to put an accent wall? First, let’s talk about what to avoid.
DON’T: However subtle the color, accent walls are still noticeable. So avoid putting an accent wall in a small, enclosed space. Additionally, avoid accent walls in rooms with little natural light. In these situations, an accent wall will break up the room and make it feel small.
DO: Accent walls are perfect for open, brightly-lit spaces that you want to make feel connected and cozy. Open floor plans, tall ceilings, and rooms with nooks (small, contoured spaces) are the perfect canvases for your accent wall.
This photo from Homepolish is a great example. The open floor plan is broken up to make the space more intimate with an accent wall that differentiates “living” and “dining” rooms while still maintaining the flow of the interior. Note especially that even the nooks here are painted; it connects even the shelving with the entire interior space.
And this living room loft below from Anthony Michael Interior Design is open but draws the eye to a center focal point, thanks to the bold accent wall. This is also a great example of using an accent wall to contrast with a different wall texture. The smooth paint and the rough brick add interest and depth.
Tip 2: Pick the Right Color
As with any paint project, pay attention to the light!
DON’T: Never pick a dark color in a dark space; even with just an accent wall, it will make the space heavy.
DO: Use an accent wall as the knot that ties all the color threads together. You may have different colors upstairs and downstairs, and from room to room, but an accent wall has the awesome power to bring them all together. Consider using a color wheel to choose a coordinating color.
Of course, just because you want the accent wall to be your “knot”, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Go bold! Use a color that would be overwhelming in the whole space (but is still within the color palette of your other paint colors).
DO: An accent wall is a great space for wallpaper that would be gaudy if you used it over the entire space. Detailed wallpaper, like this one of the night sky in this nursery, is perfect as a flourish in your house. Think of wallpaper-ed accent walls as artwork that pops from your color scheme but doesn’t conflict!
Tip 3: Incorporate fabric
Accent walls tie the paint colors together and connect the fabric to the wall, making the entire home seem uniform. It’s easiest to pick fabrics after paint the accent wall but for a small home-improvement project, accent wall colors can easily be used to highlight an already-existing color in your fabric. Trusted paint company Sherwin-Williams even has color-matching technology to help pick up the exact color palette in your fabric. You can download the Sherwin-Williams Color Snap tool right to your phone (here). And you can schedule a free color consultation with 360° Painting to help you master the color selection process before you start painting!
Note how this room from Homepolish uses the accent walls to pick out a color from the open floor plan and weaves it from the wall, to the cushions and rug detailing.
Tie it all together:
Sit back and relax in your freshly updated home!
This perfect accent wall from designer and lifestyle blogger of Kismet House follows all our tips and makes the most of the existing colors in the fabrics.
For a free color consultation and virtual estimate, give us a call at 1-866-99-PAINT.
