Accent Wall Ideas, I will never forget how it was the first time that I painted the accent wall in my apartment. It was a rich charcoal gray in my otherwise beige living room and frankly speaking, I was terrified until I took the painter tape off. However, as soon as I moved aside and observed how this one wall, this one wall, transformed the whole atmosphere of the room, how it became cozier, deliberate, more personal to me, I was hooked. Ever since, I have tried accent walls in almost every room I have lived in, and I have assisted friends with their projects how daring and inventive they wanted.
An accent wall does not necessarily need to be complex or costly, it must however be considerate. It makes it grounded in a room, that you have the appearance of landing your gaze on. Done bad, it only appears that you ran out of paint half way through. I can take you through some thoughts that have been successful in actual areas, as well as some of the lessons that have been learned the hard way.
The Traditional Paint Technique (With a Twist)
The simplest and cheapest process to add an accent wall is by use of paint. The trick here is to pick out the right wall and right color. Usually, you desire the wall that just catches the eye, it can be the wall located behind your bed, sofa, or fireplace. In my room at present, I chose a dull terracotta on the wall behind the headboard. It works well with the natural light that enters the room through the side window and makes the white bedding shine without blinking an eye.
One of my neighbors made an even more daring choice accepting a glossy navy in her dining room. The shine reflects candlelight in the dinner parties and adds a ray of sophistication to a simple room. High-gloss or satin finish provides dimension that cannot be achieved with flat paint, but will only highlight the imperfection in the wall, which should be considered when using on older plaster walls.
Wallpaper Returns in Good Earnest.
Wallpaper no longer belongs to your grandmother and her flower nightmare. Peel-and-stick solutions have rendered it possible to both the renter and the commitment phobes. A small geometric peel-and-stick wallpaper that I recently applied in my personal office was installed in about two hours. More than one year it stands without support and even in a room which becomes quite hot in summer.
To be more dramatic, plain (traditional) wallpaper with large patterns or textures will immediately evoke the visual interest. One of her nursery walls was papered by a friend of a crazy forest–trees, and animals, and the entire lot. It became the centre of the room and developed with her daughter as a baby to a toddler. She has a four-year-old daughter and she adores her forest.
Wallpaper can be made with a texture (such as grasscloth or linen appearance) without being overbearing. I have only recently witnessed this work especially in bedrooms where you would like to see interest, but at the same time relax. The light plays differently on the natural texture during the day making the room look alive and breathing.
Wood Paneling and Shiplap
Yes, shiplap was fashionable to a caricaturing extent, yet there is a reason why it became permanent. The wood also provides the warmth and feel which is impossible with paint only. I assisted a friend in setting up vertical pine planks (stained to a dark walnut) on the wall of his living room and it totally turned the atmosphere of the room out of generic apartment to a mountain retreat.
Another beautiful one is reclaimed wood so long as you can get it at a low price. The mostly different tones and worn out nature speaks a tale that cannot be reproduced by the new materials. Simply remember to weight it properly–you will need some kind of anchoring, and you cannot always depend on the walls to support heavy stuff without any support.
Alternative Materials: Creative.
Thinking outside of the box sometimes is the best way to come up with the best accent walls. I have also observed cloth that has been stapled and stretched to give it an upholstered appearance- especially in bedrooms as a way of decoration and also muffling sound. Patterned Cork tiles provide texture, and serve on the wall should you require a giant bulletin board.
The corrugated steel or ornamental tin tiles add an industrial flair in the form of metal. One of the local coffee shops had used rusted metal panels on one wall and it matched their Edison bulb lighting and concrete floors.
Even a gallery wall of mirrors, art or photographs itself will produce an accent wall effect not using one material but through the objects gathered. This method is dynamic and very intimate.
The Last Words of Trial and Error.
The biggest error that I observe in people is that they first decide what they want as their accent wall material or color and then they attempt to make the other things to fit the material or color chosen. Begin with purpose of your room, the furniture and light it has. Your accent wall has to add to the already existing space, rather than struggle with it.
Also, don’t be afraid to sample. I wasted money on full gallons of paint which on the wall resembled the chip not at all. Get a sample of what you are going to buy and live with it a few days in various lighting situations.
It is important to remember that accent walls are not that difficult to change. You can repaint, or take off wallpaper, in case you hate it. It is not a lifetime opportunity, but rather an invitation to explore and make your space a little more like home.
FAQs
What wall is the most appropriate choice of an accent wall?
The wall that usually gives the first impression when entering the room or the wall behind a point of interest such as a bed, a sofa or a fireplace.
Is it possible to have an accent wall in a small room?
Absolutely. Small rooms can be made to be intended and make them feel comfortable instead of crowded with dark or bold accent walls.
Can peel and stick wallpaper be removed?
Yes, quality brands do not leave any stain on majority of the painted walls. Test a small area, particularly on rough or old paint.
What does the average cost of an accent wall cost?
Paint work may cost between 50 and 150 in materials. Wallpaper costs between 100- 500 based on the quality. Projects that are made of wood, stone, or tile would usually cost between $300-1000 plus materials and tool.
Is it better that my accent wall be light or dark as compared to other walls?
Either works. Darker is dramatic and deep; light can be used to emphasize the architectural elements. Select according to the way you feel.
