A good way to add drama to a room is by painting an accent wall. Accent wall painting creates a sense of architectural style and visual impact in an otherwise featureless room. These walls are usually painted in a rich accent color that compliments surrounding neutral walls. However, another method of accent wall painting is contrasting with a darker, more vibrant shade of the other walls’ color (such as a navy wall in a sky-blue room).

Painting an accent wall is a fairly simple DIY project. Painting an accent wall requires only the basic painting tools, including wall accent paint, it can usually be done in a couple of hours. In addition to choosing among accent colors, these paints also run the gamut from matte to high-gloss.

Tools Required for Accent Wall Painting

If you’re planning on painting an accent wall, you’ll want to follow the general procedure for painting an interior wall. You’ll need the following tools:

• Masking tape
• Paint roller and tray
• Step stool or ladder
• Tarps to protect your floors
• Wall accent paint.

Choosing a Wall for Accent Colors

The accent wall is often the first wall you see upon entering a room. Painting an accent wall also creates a focal point of the room, highlighting a fireplace or an entertainment center. If there is no clear focal point, you can create one by accent wall painting behind a favorite:

• Group of photos
• Painting
• Sculpture.

Some Wall Accent Paint Ideas

Be bold: Try “wrapping” a focal corner of a room by painting one third of one wall and two thirds of the adjacent wall. Or paint both sides of a large wall and leave a vertical stripe of white, positioning artwork within this white space. While accent walls are usually solid with no doors or windows, a wall accent color makes an excellent “frame” around exquisite French doors or a window with a view. Similarly, a wall with an impressive door-less entry is a good candidate for a paint job.

Common Accent Wall Painting Mistakes

Poorly-planned accent wall painting can look out of place, and give your room an unfinished appearance. Painting one long wall in an oblong room, for example, will accentuate the shape of the room. Adding accent colors to the farthest short wall will visually “correct” the room by drawing the short wall closer to you.

Accent wall painting shouldn’t compete with other walls in the room. If any of the other walls–particularly either of the adjacent walls–already has a focal point or distinguishing feature, painting an accent wall may create visual confusion.

Tips for Painting an Accent Wall

If you’re planning an accent wall painting project, consider the following tips:

• Consider painting your ceiling in accent colors. Dark accent colors will “pull down” the ceiling, creating coziness, whereas a light color will make the room feel light and airy.
• Use bold colors; remember that blues and greens can be bold accent colors just as well as reds and oranges.
• Wainscoting provides a great opportunity for dual color. Dark wainscoting topped by a bright wall draws the eye to the upper wall; bright white wainscoting draws one’s attention below a colored wall.