Accent wall paintings: transform your space with color

Choosing an accent wall is your first step toward creating a focal point, but the actual painting process requires careful consideration. Don’t just pick a color and start slapping it on; think about the effect you want and the technical aspects of applying paint.

Choosing the right paint finish for your accent wall

The sheen of your paint dramatically impacts the final look. For accent walls, consider these options:

• Matte/Flat: Offers a sophisticated, velvety look that hides imperfections well. It’s great for creating a cozy, subdued atmosphere, but it’s less durable and harder to clean. Best for low-traffic areas like bedrooms or dining rooms.
• Eggshell/Satin: These offer a slight sheen, are more durable and washable than flat finishes, and are excellent all-around choices. Satin has a bit more shine than eggshell. They work well in most rooms, including living rooms and hallways.
• Semi-Gloss/Gloss: Highly reflective and durable, these finishes are easy to clean and stand up to moisture. They highlight texture and can make an accent wall pop, but they also reveal every imperfection on the wall. Ideal for trim, doors, or high-moisture areas like bathrooms. For a painted accent wall, semi-gloss can be striking but is often too much for the entire wall unless you have a perfectly smooth surface.

For most painted accent walls, eggshell or satin finishes provide the best balance of durability, washability, and visual appeal.

Best accent wall colors to consider

The best accent wall color depends on your room’s existing decor, the mood you want to create, and the amount of natural light. Here are some popular and effective choices:

• Deep Blues and Greens: Navy blue, forest green, or teal can add depth and a sense of calm. They pair well with lighter neutrals like cream, beige, or light gray, and also with wood tones.
• Bold Reds and Oranges: For a dramatic, energetic statement, consider a rich crimson, burnt orange, or terracotta. These colors work best in spaces where you want to stimulate conversation or activity, like a dining room or a home office. Use them sparingly, as they can be overwhelming.
• Sophisticated Grays and Charcoals: A dark charcoal or a deep, moody gray provides a modern and elegant backdrop. They are incredibly versatile and can complement a wide range of furniture and decor styles.
• Warm Earth Tones: Terracotta, warm browns, or deep ochre can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. These are excellent for living rooms or bedrooms, especially in homes with natural or rustic decor.
• Dramatic Blacks: A matte black accent wall can be incredibly chic and modern, making artwork or furniture stand out. Ensure the room has good lighting to avoid making it feel too cave-like.
• Soft Pastels with a Twist: Think muted lavenders, dusty rose, or sage green. These offer a softer approach to accent walls, adding a touch of color without being overpowering.

When selecting a color, always get paint samples and test them on your wall in different lighting conditions throughout the day. What looks good on a chip might appear different on your wall.

20 accent walls for every room

An accent wall isn’t limited to just one type of room. You can strategically use paint to enhance any space:

Living Rooms

1. Behind the Sofa: A deep jewel tone or a rich neutral like charcoal behind the main seating area can ground the space.
2. Fireplace Wall: Highlight your fireplace by painting the wall it’s on in a bold color or a dramatic dark shade.
3. Media Wall: Paint the wall where your TV is mounted a darker color to help it recede visually and reduce glare.
4. Architectural Feature: If you have a unique window, built-in bookshelf, or archway, make it pop with a contrasting color.
5. Behind Artwork: Paint the wall a color that complements your favorite large-scale artwork to make it the undeniable star.

Bedrooms

6. Headboard Wall: This is the classic choice. Paint the wall behind your bed in a calming hue or a sophisticated dark color. Consider the finishes discussed earlier for durability and mood. If you’re looking for ideas to maximize space, check out accent wall ideas for small bedrooms to maximize space.
7. Dressing Area: In a larger bedroom, a distinct color on the wall near your vanity or dressing area can define that zone.
8. Wall with a Window: If a window offers a beautiful view, painting the wall it’s on can draw attention to the natural light and scenery.
9. Opposite the Bed: Sometimes, the wall opposite the bed is the first thing you see. Painting it can set the tone for the room upon waking.
10. Closet Door Wall: If your closet doors are prominent, painting that wall a contrasting color can make them feel more integrated or intentionally bold.

Dining Rooms

11. Feature Wall: A rich, deep color like navy, emerald green, or even a warm burgundy can make a dining room feel more intimate and sophisticated.
12. Wall with a Buffet/Sideboard: Enhance your dining setup by painting the wall behind your buffet.
13. Wall with a Statement Light Fixture: If you have a dramatic chandelier, paint the wall it hangs in front of to draw the eye upward.
14. Wallpapered Accent: While this is about paint, a painted wall can complement a beautifully wallpapered adjacent wall, creating a layered look. For inspiration, see master bedroom wallpaper accent wall: your guide.
15. Entryway to the Room: The wall you see first when entering the dining room can set the mood.

Home Offices

16. Behind the Desk: This is prime real estate for video calls. Choose a color that looks professional and appealing on camera. Consider colors that don’t create distracting patterns or overly harsh contrasts. Learn more about accent walls for a home office that hold up on camera.
17. Wall with Shelving: Paint the wall behind bookshelves or display shelves to make your curated items stand out.
18. Wall Opposite Your Workspace: This can be a calming color to reduce stress or an energizing one to boost productivity.
19. Room Entrance Wall: Make a strong first impression for clients or colleagues visiting your home office.
20. Window Wall: If your office has a nice view, paint this wall to frame it.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

While often more focused on tile and fixtures, painted accent walls can work here too:

21. Kitchen Breakfast Nook: Paint the wall behind your banquette or small table to create a cozy eating area.
22. Bathroom Vanity Wall: A well-chosen color behind the vanity can elevate the space, but ensure it’s moisture-resistant.
23. Behind Open Shelving in Kitchen: Make your kitchenware display pop with a contrasting paint color.

Find the perfect color for your accent wall

Selecting the perfect color involves understanding color theory and your personal preferences. Here’s how to approach it:

Consider the room’s function and mood

• Calm & Relaxing: Opt for blues, greens, grays, or soft neutrals.
• Energetic & Inspiring: Reds, oranges, yellows, or vibrant tones can work.
• Sophisticated & Dramatic: Deep blues, charcoals, blacks, or rich jewel tones are good choices.
• Cozy & Inviting: Earth tones, warm browns, terracotta, and deep reds can create warmth.

Analyze your existing decor

• Complementary Colors: If your room has a lot of blue, consider an orange accent wall to create high contrast and energy.
• Analogous Colors: If your room is primarily green, an adjacent color on the color wheel like blue or yellow can create a harmonious feel.
• Neutrals: Gray, beige, white, and black are safe bets that allow your furniture and decor to shine. If you’re interested in neutrals, read about beige accent walls: undertones, texture, and what makes one look delib.
• Monochromatic: Use a darker or lighter shade of your existing wall color for a subtle accent.

Test, test, test

Never skip this step. Buy sample pots of your top choices and paint large swatches (at least 1ft x 1ft or 30cm x 30cm) on the accent wall itself. Observe them at different times of day and under different lighting conditions (natural light, artificial light). Colors can shift dramatically.

How to paint an accent wall: a step-by-step guide

Painting an accent wall is a DIY-friendly project. Follow these steps for a professional finish:

1. Preparation is key

• Clear the space: Move furniture away from the wall or cover it completely with drop cloths.
• Protect floors: Lay down drop cloths or old newspapers along the baseboard.
• Clean the wall: Wash the wall with a mild detergent and water to remove dirt, grease, and grime. Let it dry completely.
• Repair imperfections: Fill any holes or cracks with spackle, let it dry, and sand smooth.
• Sand lightly: If the wall has a glossy finish, lightly sand it to help the new paint adhere better. Wipe away dust with a tack cloth or damp sponge.
• Tape the edges: Use painter’s tape to protect adjacent walls, ceiling lines, trim, and any fixtures you can’t remove. Press the tape down firmly to prevent paint bleed.

2. Prime the wall (if necessary)

Priming is essential if you’re painting a dark color over a light one, a light color over a dark one, or if the wall has stains you want to cover. Use a primer that matches your paint type (e.g., latex primer for latex paint). Apply one coat and let it dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Cut in

Using a high-quality angled brush (typically 2-2.5 inches), carefully paint a border about 2-3 inches wide along the edges, corners, and around any trim or fixtures that were taped off. This is called ‘cutting in’. Work slowly and steadily to maintain clean lines.

4. Roll the main area

Pour your paint into a paint tray. Dip your roller into the paint, ensuring it’s evenly coated but not dripping. Start rolling in a ‘W’ or ‘M’ pattern on the wall, then fill in the gaps with overlapping strokes. Work in manageable sections (about 3ft x 3ft). Overlap your strokes slightly to avoid roller marks.

5. Apply a second coat

Most accent walls will require at least two coats for full coverage and depth of color. Let the first coat dry completely according to the paint manufacturer’s recommendations (usually 2-4 hours). Then, repeat the cutting-in and rolling process for the second coat.

6. Remove the tape

This is a crucial step for clean lines. Remove the painter’s tape while the second coat of paint is still slightly wet, or just after it has dried. Pull the tape off slowly at a 45-degree angle, away from the painted area. If the paint has dried completely and you’re worried about peeling, score the edge of the tape with a utility knife before pulling.

7. Clean up

Clean your brushes and rollers immediately with soap and water. Dispose of drop cloths and used tape properly. Return furniture to its place once the paint is fully cured (this can take a few days to a week).

Mistakes to avoid when painting an accent wall

Even with careful planning, some common mistakes can derail your accent wall project:

• Skipping prep work: Rushing through cleaning, patching, and taping will lead to a poor finish, paint bleed, and an unprofessional look.
• Not testing colors: Relying solely on paint chips is a recipe for disappointment. Colors look different on the wall.
• Choosing the wrong finish: A high-gloss finish on an imperfect wall will highlight every flaw. A matte finish in a high-traffic area might wear out too quickly.
• Painting the wrong wall: Consider the flow of the room and which wall naturally draws the eye. Not every wall is a good candidate for an accent.
• Overcrowding the wall: Don’t hang too much art or too many decorative items on your accent wall. Let the color be the statement.
• Ignoring lighting: A dark accent wall in a room with minimal natural light can make the space feel small and gloomy.
• Using cheap materials: Poor quality paint, brushes, or rollers will result in uneven coverage and a frustrating experience. Invest in good tools.
• Not letting coats dry: Applying a second coat too soon can cause peeling and adhesion problems.

Find a paint store near you

Once you’ve decided on your color and finish, you’ll need to purchase your paint and supplies. Many local hardware stores and dedicated paint retailers offer a wide selection of brands and colors. For national brands, you can often find store locators on their websites.

For example, Benjamin Moore offers a store locator on their website to help you find the nearest retailer. Sherwin-Williams also has a similar tool. Simply search for “Benjamin Moore store locator” or “Sherwin-Williams near me” in your web browser. These tools usually ask for your zip code or city and state to provide the closest options, along with their hours and contact information.

Don’t hesitate to visit a store in person. The staff can offer expert advice on paint types, finishes, and application tools, especially for specific project needs like accent walls. They can also help you match colors or recommend complementary shades.