According to Wikipedia: An accent wall (or
feature wall) is a wall whose design differs from the design of the other walls
in the room. The accent wall's color can simply be a different shade from the
color of the other walls, or have a completely different design in terms of the
color and material. The
surface of the accent wall can be paint, wallpaper, brick, marble etc. As their
name implies, accent walls are typically intended to break up the pattern
created by the other walls, especially when the walls are painted a single flat
tone.
However, a room may be wallpapered and have
an accent wall that is not textured and not decorated, as it would serve the
same purpose. The point of this can be for aesthetics alone or to highlight or
frame some decorative element, such as a painting.
Here are some tips
for executing an accent wall in a room:
How to select the accent wall:
Look for a wall with
a focal point - the fireplace wall, the wall where the bed will go, the wall at
the end of a hallway or a wall in a formal entry with a furniture arrangement
such as a table or bench.
Look for a wall within eyesight when you are
in an adjacent room. The color will perform double duty if you can also see it
from other rooms.
Sense where the main "backdrop"
wall is. Typically, it's the wall that frames the room's furniture arrangement.
This wall is typically the first wall you see when you enter a space. (Try
walking around your house, entering each room with a new set of eyes. Which
wall is the anchor?
Which wall do you see first? Which wall do
you see from other rooms?)
Color tips for rooms with an accent
wall:
No matter the space, accent walls are best
achieved where all the walls
are painted. Don't leave the other walls plain white.
Option #1: For the accent wall, choose a
dark or bold color. For the other walls, choose a light to medium neutral
color. The dark or bold accent color should relate to the neutral color of the
other walls. For example, if you are painting the accent wall a muted mossy
green, the neutral should have a cool undertone, not a warm undertone. When
choosing your neutral, try to stay near the middle of a color chip. If you go
too light, it may not look like you painted. Ivory is not an option for the
neutral color. Think in terms of tan and beige, not crème and off white.
Option #2: For the accent wall, choose a
dark or bold color. For the other walls, choose a variation of that dark or
bold color. For example, if you choose a deep purple for the accent wall, look
for muted lavender for the other walls. When choosing the color for the other
walls, don't go too light (again, it’s pretty safe to stay towards the middle
of a paint chip). The contrast will be too bold and the room will look choppy
if the colors are too drastic. The contrast should take the middle road.
How to execute a room with an accent
wall:
You have to be sure that every other element
in your room coordinates, but
isn't "matchy-matchy". Supporting elements should carry out the
accent color's hue and value. If there is no thought of coordination and
balance of color throughout the room, your accent wall will look like floating,
unrelated color. Think about coordinating pillows, upholstery fabric, drapery,
and a rug that pulls the color together.
If possible, try to find these items before
you buy the final accent wall color. Trying to find retail accessories and home
goods to coordinate with that very specific shade of Robin Egg Blue you selected will prove
to be a nightmare. Again, this goes back to a color's undertone. Color matching
paint value to a shade from your rug or drapery fabric is easy. It's nearly
impossible when it's the other way around.
Try putting a flower
arrangement in your accent color somewhere else in the room. Look for something
with lots of little blooms on long stems that arc softly downward (I have seen
these in nearly every color). Stay away from expected arrangements that can
look dated. If you are using a dark neutral or an earthy color for your accent
wall, do a willowy twig or grass arrangement. Flowers and natural grasses are a
great way to mix that accent color around.
Which room in your
home is just perfect for an accent wall?
