Dos and Don’ts of Adding an Accent Wall
There’s are multiple ways to turn a boring or bland room in the house into a bold statement. An accent wall is a timeless way to achieve this. Rather than hanging another piece of wall art or giving up on a room entirely, consider painting an accent wall to bring your home to life. Like every painting project you’ll embark on, there are dos and don’ts that you will want to make sure you follow so that the job gets done the right way.
What is an Accent Wall?
You’ve most likely heard of an accent wall or seen one. But you may not be totally sure what it is. An accent wall is a single wall in a room that is purposely painted a different color than the rest of the room to set itself apart. An accent wall draws in all the attention when one enters the room and it ultimately becomes the focal point of the room. Painting an accent wall can also make a room appear larger and more spacious than it actually is. This can be a huge benefit if square footage is a concern of yours. If you are wanting to experiment with elevating your home’s interior design and aesthetic, an accent wall is a great place to start. Though it is just one wall, it can transform nearly everything about a room and it’s not as big of a commitment since you aren’t painting all the walls or refurbishing. Now that you know an accent wall is right for you, let’s look at the dos and don’ts for your new painting project!
DO Be Creative
Painting an accent wall is all about creativity. Tap into your inner interior designer and have fun with it. The sky is the limit! You want the wall to stand out and look unique. The whole point of an accent wall is that it is different from the rest of the other walls. You can also make this wall textured or paint a pattern of some kind. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
DO Be Bold
Similar to the points made above, you want to be bold with your wall and color choice. An accent wall is not the time to be timid. Embrace a bold pop of color that will make you smile every time you enter the room. Pick a wall and color that will start a conversation when you have guests over. One caveat is to not get too carried away. You want your bold choice to empower you can not make you regret it. So, don’t go too overboard, especially if you plan on selling your home or renting it out.
Don’t Be Boring
Neutral colors have their place and time but when it comes to accent walls the goal is to make the wall pop. You can still make an accent wall look good in a neutral color but don’t be boring with it. You still want the wall to stand out so make sure the neutral color will still draw the attention of the room even if it is in more of an understated way.
DO Pick the Right Wall
When it comes to accent walls, only one wall gets to be the accent wall. If you were to pick more than one, then it wouldn’t have the same effect and you may as well paint the entire room. Because only one wall gets to be the accent wall, you must choose wisely. Your eye will naturally be drawn to certain walls over others depending on the lighting and furniture arrangement of the room. Look at each wall and picture it the accent wall color, decide which would look best as the accent wall, and maybe sleep on that decision. Intuitively you’ll know which wall to pick and you can always get others’ opinions if you get stuck.
Don’t Forget to Match the Color Scheme
The accent wall will be the only wall painted the color of your choice, but it is wise to incorporate that color in other small ways throughout the room that way the color is part of your overall color scheme. You can have fun with this and decide how big you want to go. A coffee table decoration, throw pillow, piece of art, throw blanket, or vase the same color of the accent wall will help tie the room together.
DO Consider the Other Wall Colors
Even though you are only painting one wall in the room, don’t forget to consider the rest of the room. The last thing you want to do is paint your accent wall, take a step back, and realize that it clashes with the other walls in the room. If the other walls are already baby blue then a bold, bright orange most likely won’t look amazing. An accent wall typically looks great in combination with walls painted in neutral colors like white, gray, beige or greige. The flooring may also be something to consider. If you have a purple rug or bright colored carpet that you have already designated as your pop of color, then you may want to go with a more neutral colored accent wall.
DO Get Inspired
The best way to get creative and motivated to paint is to see some inspiration. Don’t hesitate to consult Pinterest for some ideas and visuals. The possibilities are endless when it comes to accent walls but here are a few good examples worth looking at:
If you need some help choosing which wall to paint or what color to go with, our expert color consultants at Arizona Painting Company can help! Contact us today.