Sometimes, you need something daring to wake up a tired interior design scheme. Whether you’ve simply had the same aesthetic for too long or have suddenly decided you’re done playing it safe, there are a lot of great design features you can use to energize your space. One easy, yet very effective, way to add something striking to a room is with an accent wall.
An accent wall gives you a lot of options for getting creative and making your space unique. But it takes more to achieve the look you want than to just slap any old color on any one wall. Let’s take a look at some accent wall do’s and don’ts to help you pull it off correctly!
DO choose the right wall.
The wall you designate for your accent wall should be the natural focal point of the room. When you walk into the room, which wall is your eye drawn to first? That’s the one you should accent.
If one of the walls has a standout feature, such as a fireplace or bay window, making it an accent wall will accentuate that feature even more. If all of the walls are pretty much the same, choose the most open and visible one.
DON’T be afraid to choose a bold color.
Don’t assume you have to choose a color that blends in with the rest of the room. The point of an accent wall is to be bold and draw attention! As long as the wall color works with the color scheme throughout the rest of the room, it won’t look out of place. You can choose to match the accent colors in your décor and accessories, or go bolder and contrast your primary colors for an even more dramatic effect.
One thing you don’t want to do though is match your accent wall to too much of the room. A purple accent wall with a purple couch, for example, will sort of negate the accent effect and look overwhelming. Also keep in mind that bold doesn’t have to mean bright. A deep cool color can be just as striking and vibrant.
DO balance your accent wall with the other walls.
If you’re going to be doing an accent wall, it’s best to leave the other walls in the room fairly neutral, so it doesn’t overwhelm or look like a mish mosh. An accent color that’s a light to medium shade compared to the neutral shade will help maintain flow in the room and avoid being too stark.
You can even keep the room neutral and still have a bold accent wall. A dramatic contrasting neutral, such as a black or dark brown wall in a white or beige room, will achieve the same dramatic effect.
DON’T limit yourself to just paint.
As we mentioned, you have a lot of options for creating an accent wall. Wallpaper is another great way to make one wall stand out and add visual interest to your space. Or, if you’re nervous about committing to wallpaper, use wall decals instead. You could even use tile or stone wall panels, or create a full gallery wall of your favorite photos and art.
If you still want to use paint but do something outside of the box, paint your accent wall with different colors and patterns, like stripes, polka dots, or geometric lines. A one-of-a-kind mural is another unique way to paint an accent wall.
Nervous about botching your accent wall? Sherwood Studios can step in and help! Our team of interior designers in West Bloomfield, MI, will work with you to understand your vision for your space and come up with a design that brings it to life. Floor plans, furniture layouts, custom pieces, artwork, accessories, accent walls—we can do it all.
Contact us today to get started with a consultation!
Leave a Reply