Accent Walls
In the late 90's and early 00's, accent walls seemed to be a part of every HGTV home makeover show. The advantage of an accent wall is that you can make a room more interesting without completely committing to the color or style. It was a trend for some time, but I rarely see it used anymore. There are still some good reasons why accent walls work. There are also several techniques available. Here are some ideas.
Tone Variance
While most people think of accent walls as incorporating a bold color against neutral-colored walls to achieve contrast, you can do it with more subtlety. The design objective of an accent wall is to create interest. Using the fan deck from your local paint store, you can start with your dominant color and move up or down a couple of shades for your accent wall. If you want to maximize the effect start with the lightest shade and use the darkest shade for the accent. Alternatively, you can look through a paint manufacturer's color collections and find complementary colors that don't create too much contrast.
|
|
Photo: Faux Finish |
Faux Finishes
Another subtle way to use tone variance to create an accent wall is faux finishing. The nice thing about a faux finish is that you can turn your wall into something truly unique. While applying different glazes in multiple steps might seem intimidating it's relatively easy. There are many techniques you can employ from brushing and rolling to spraying, sponging or ragging.
|
|
Photo: Courtesy of Sherwin Williams |
Add Shapes or Patterns
It may seem challenging, but incorporating shapes or patterns into an accent wall is not very difficult. With a tape measure, straight edge, and a pencil you can create a design. Use 1" or 2" low-tack/safe-release tape to separate your colors as you apply the paint or glaze.
|
|
|
Photo: Courtesy of Lowe's |
Texture
There are other ways to create accent walls that don't include paint. Wallpaper is increasing in popularity and can be used to create an accent wall. Wood paneling and ship lap are also becoming popular again and can be used effectively to create interest in a room.
To learn more about interior painting and decorating options, check out our blog. Give us a call at 800.663.4944 to request an estimate
