The Power Of Accent Walls

Choosing to create an accent wall in a home interior has the ability to entirely transform the space.  There is a power in the statement an accent wall can make, not only by giving a grounding to the overall design of the area, but can also excuse an inviting warmth to the space.

When deciding to paint an area, most may choose to paint all 4 walls, which can actually work in many areas of the home.  Most new builds are done this way, showing continuity, typically with neutral colors. For a smaller space however, especially if you are choosing darker colors, you can actually close the area/space in too much, making it darker than you may want.  Creating an accent wall, with a darker color, you will add the warmth to the space without diminishing the light.

Photo courtesy of Sherwin Williams – Accent wall color – Urbane Bronze 

With the Sherwin Williams picture as well as the one below, you can see how having an accent wall can just anchor the space with the color being the theme that leads the overall feeling to the room.

Photo courtesy of Fresh Abodes 

This room was given an accent wall directly behind the bed, which is actually the place in a bedroom for an accent wall.  Painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Bone Black”, this color was chosen for its neutrality as well as the softness and warmth that is not only cohesive with the current decor, but it also manages to give contrast, bringing a flow to the overall design.

How To Choose An Accent Wall

This is the first important choice you will make when thinking about creating an accent wall.  The wall you choose should be the wall that is the main wall of the room, i.e., the wall that may be the furthest from when you walk into the room.  Bedrooms are easy as the accent wall should be behind the bed, as pictured above.  Accent walls also create a backdrop,  so placing it behind a sitting area, such as a living room or even a dining area will change the space beautifully.Below are a couple of examples of accent wall suggestions.

The best thing to do is to notice which wall grabs your attention when you walk into a room.  Sometimes, that may be a bit of a challenge, but here is what to do.  When you walk into a room, try and notice which wall your eye goes to first.  That is many times, where you should place an accent wall.  A wall with a fireplace, the back wall of a dining area and even a wall in a bathroom as pictured in the main picture of this article.  The kitchen below has an accent wall behind the dining area, warming this bright kitchen and once again grounding the space, which bring me to color or texture choices for accent walls.

Choosing Colors OR Textures For Accent Walls

Paint is not the only way to create an accent wall.  Having textures or designs can also provide the same impact as a painted accent wall.  Different types of stone, wood, specifically painting methods or wall paper (which is becoming ever increasingly popular) can also make specular accent walls in a room..

Photo courtesy of Behr’s Kalahari’s Sunset and Almond Wisp

The accent wall of stone with the fireplace serves as a very grounding backdrop to this dining area with an almost earthy but elegant vibe.  In combination with the wood floor as well as the choice of stone goes beautifully with the overall modern design of this dining area.

Choice Is Important – But Play With It

I think sometimes, change can be challenging for some of us.  How I view design is this…It should always make you feel good.  That’s what great interiors do to us, which is why the model homes we view or watching HGTV, make us want to gut our homes and start over.  The main thing to keep in mind is that interior or exterior design, is how it makes you feel in the presence of it.

Utilizing a more neutral base for an accent wall gives you more freedom with your design than let’s say a bright color, i.e., blue, yellow or red.  Those colors will “color dominate the room and can actually have an emotional affect on the space. The neutral colors however, even in the darker shades, will still give way to contrast for the area while still allowing for a comfortable flow.

As I said, play with the different ideas and you will know it when you find it because “it will make you feel good!”

Holly Young – Realtor®

Coldwell Banker Realty