7 Tips on How to Choose Your Accent Walls (2024)

FAQs

7 Tips on How to Choose Your Accent Walls? ›

Look for an architectural feature that can benefit from an accent wall, especially one with texture such as a fireplace, brick wall, or built-in bookcase. An accent wall will further highlight that feature. Avoid choosing a wall that isn't symmetrical, such as one whose shape is impacted by a slanted ceiling.

Look for an architectural feature that can benefit from an accent wall, especially one with texture such as a fireplace, brick wall, or built-in bookcase. An accent wall will further highlight that feature. Avoid choosing a wall that isn't symmetrical, such as one whose shape is impacted by a slanted ceiling.

In order to not overpower your room's color scheme, professionals use a little rule called the 60-30-10 wall color rule to maintain the space's color balance. Simply put, 60% of your room will have the dominant color, 30% should primarily be the secondary color, and 10% the accent color.

It is usually suggested that an accent wall be darker than the other walls to create depth and drama, but this is not always the answer. If you intend for your ceiling to be the accent, and the ceiling is low, a lighter color is often the correct choice.

A good rule of thumb is to paint the accent wall the same color as the other walls, but 2 shades darker. If you don't feel comfortable going wild with color choice and placement, this route tends to be foolproof. You don't have to do this. A light accent wall in a darker room can work, but it's riskier.

Consider Room Size

Lighter colors can make a small space feel more open. Dark colors can make surfaces appear closer, giving vast rooms a more intimate feel. Bright, cool whites can make a space feel larger and more open while warmer shades can make a space feel intimate and cozy.

Accent walls have consistently remained a go-to design choice for homeowners looking to update their spaces with ease and style. Given their versatility, timelessness, and emotional impact, it is highly likely that they will continue to be in style in 2024.

If the room already has a lot going on, an accent wall may not be the best choice. It could make a busy room feel too crowded. In addition, you want to choose somewhere that a wall will stand out—not a dark corner where it will be forgotten.

Paint the adjoining light-colored walls first. “Don't worry if you get paint on what will be your accent wall—the dark paint will cover up whatever lighter paint found its way there. After the lighter wall dries, tape off that edge so the dark color doesn't bleed onto your new paint,” Colaneri and Carrino advise.

The best color for bedroom sleep typically includes shades that are calming and soothing. Blue has serene and tranquil qualities, closely followed by soft greens and earthy tones like beige. These colors tend to lower stress and create a peaceful environment, making it easier to fall and stay asleep.

What colors make a room look bigger on an accent wall? ›

What Colors Make a Room Look Bigger? “Airy blues and crisp white hues are ideal for small spaces,” says Molly Lynch, a Benjamin Moore color expert. “Blues recede, which can give the illusion of opening up a space,” she explains.

Pick a contrasting dark accent color to turn a dull, one-dimensional space into something more dynamic, inviting and well-defined. And don't worry if you want to stick with neutral colors or monochromatic schemes. Using different shades of the same color is a time-honored tactic for adding depth to a space.

We recommend choosing a colour a few shades lighter or darker to create optimal contrast. If walls are a midtone or deeper hue, try a lighter accent wall colour. For rooms with lighter, softer colours, bring in depth with dark, bold accent colours.

The best accent walls are solid and symmetrical. Interruptions like doors and windows break up the wall's surface, giving it less impact than a featured wall. If you have to choose a wall with windows, ensure they are all the same size and shape so they're less distracting.

The wall you choose to highlight should ideally be the space to which your eye is first drawn when you enter the room. Walls with fireplaces or existing design features – like mantelpieces – also work well. Avoid walls with doors or windows if you can, as they'll tend to detract from the effect you're trying to create.

Don't Add an Accent Wall to Every Room

Avoid areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or storage spaces when deciding where to create an accent wall. There is often too much going on in these rooms that the intended effect of an accent wall will fall flat.

Bold, Bright Oranges or Pinks

"Accent walls mean you can add this splash of color without overpowering the space. Colors such as orange or pink can spark life into interior design, without the whole room's design having to commit to them."

Feature walls make a bolder statement by using colour, texture, materials, or decorative treatments to turn a wall into a focal point. Accent walls take a subtler approach by using colour or wallpaper to make a wall pop without overpowering the room.

Another thing to keep in mind is the placement of the accent wall. It's best to choose a wall that naturally draws the eye, such as the one behind a couch or bed. This will help create a focal point in the room and make it feel more inviting.