There are different ways to decorate with removable wallpaper. If covering all four walls with wallpaper feel a bit too much in your home interior design then creating visual interest with a wallpaper accent wall will be just for you. An accent wall can add depth, personality and a pop of color to the interior design. If you are a homeowner, renter or a DIY enthusiast looking to enhance your living space, then this blog post will guide you through choosing the right accent wall, covering aspects like color, texture, placement, and room function to achieve a perfect accent wall look.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Accent Wall
First things first - choosing and accent wall. Accent wall selection can often be a tricky task, therefore here will be the key factors for effectively deciding on best accent walls for your project.
Identify the Room’s Focal Point
Firstly you will need to identify the room's focal point. It is important to select a wall that naturally draws attention or already functions as a focal point with any existing architectural features or existing focal points. For example, in bedroom it would often be the wall behind a bed or in living room the wall with a fireplace that already serves as an architectural feature. If you have an empty living room, then it is ideal to pick the wall that you would notice first when entering the room. Furthermore, we suggest not to pick the wall that has windows or doors.
Consider the Room Layout and Function
You should also consider the room layout and primary function of living spaces when choosing your own accent wall. As already mentioned, if it is the bedroom, you can consider the wall behind the bed as it will naturally draw attention when entering the room and can be the perfect wall for the job. If you are planning to create an accent wall in the living room, then choosing the wall behind a sofa can be a great idea as it will create a natural focal point.
Take Natural and Artificial Lighting into Account
Once you have picked the accent wall, it is important to take lighting in the room into consideration for color balance. Lighting can overall affect colors and textures in the interior, therefore, pay attention to the natural light and artificial lighting in the room. For example, a well-lit wall can be ideal for bold accent wall color scheme, while textured or darker accent wall color scheme will work well in areas with soft lighting.
Think About Color Harmony and Room Theme
When choosing the wallpaper for your accent wall make sure to create a color harmony between the accent wall and the rest of the room and create a contrasting color look with cousion. Furthermore, choosing color and texture that compliments existing decor, furniture and wall colors is the best way to go to create an ideal color balance. For example, if the room has a light, calming neutral theme, you will want to choose an accent wall in neutral tones to match the energy. In the photo above we can see the Neutral Paintbrush Maze Kids Room Wallpaper from Neutral Kids Wallpaper collection.
Popular Accent Wall Options and Styles
There are a couple of different accent wall design ideas to choose from. Here will be some of the most popular accent wall options and accent wall styles to inspire from.
Painted Accent Walls
Painted walls are definitely one of the most popular design choices. Painted accent walls are a classic, versatile choice that can work with any room style. While painted walls give you many paint color options from the paint color wheel, we suggest picking trending colors and techniques to create an eye-catching painted accent wall such as color blocking, ombré, or geometric patterns. Consider paint color blocking to create a contrasting and interesting paint color palette in your home interior design or think about multiple accent walls in same color to create a visually appealing space.
Wallpapered Accent Walls
Another popular choice is to create a wallpaper feature wall. Removable wallpaper is a great material choice and a fun and creative way to add texture, patterns and character to a space quickly by only applying it to one wall and, for example, paint the other walls. Additionally, wallpaper gives plenty of styles and accent color schemes to choose from starting form vivid colors, darker color tones, deep red, crisp white and other different shades to choose from and select the perfect color choice to transform your home design. Some of the most popular wallpaper designs are botanical prints, geometric patterns or textured wallpapers that add visual interest. If you love a botanical or tropical theme, then you might love the wallpaper seen in the photo above - Large Palm Leaf Wallpaper In Mist Color from the Tropical Wallpaper collection.
Textured and Panel Accent Walls
For something authentic that will create a cozy mood in your home, consider textured walls with wood paneling, shiplap, wainscoting, or exposed brick for added texture and unique architectural features. Paying attention to different and interesting textures can allow you to create a rustic, modern or even a stylish industrial vibe.
Mural or Artistic Accent Walls
For something more artistic we suggest choosing mural walls or hand-painted art to add personality to the space. Murals can be a great choice for kids' rooms to create an enchanting style. Mural accent walls can also be an elegant choice for dining rooms or home offices to create a modern and clean backdrop.
Choosing an Accent Wall Based on Room Type
You can also choose and accent wall based on the room type. Here will be accent wall ideas by room types and main function.
Living Room Accent Wall Ideas
In living rooms most often you would choose the wall behind a sofa, TV or fireplace to create an accent wall as these are the walls that naturally would draw attention when entering the space. A tip - for social spaces, colors and styles that work well are warm neutrals and rich, inviting tones.
Bedroom Accent Wall Ideas
In bedrooms, as mentioned previously, the most popular choice would be to create an accent wall behind the bed for a cohesive look. If you want to create a relaxing ambiance, we recommend calming color palettes and textures such as soft blues, greys, neutral tones. As an example in the photo above we can see the Subtle Beige Limewash Removable Wall Mural from the Neutral Wall Murals collection.
Kitchen and Dining Room Accent Walls
Creating an accent wall in kitchen or dining room will add that unique touch to the space. You can create an individual design with accent walls using textures like shiplap or wallpaper. You can also place an accent wall in breakfast nooks or use tiles for a modern touch. Or you can also create a tile accent wall with tile wallpapers.
Bathroom Accent Wall Ideas
When it comes to bathroom accent walls, there are a couple of different options to choose from to add an eye-catching detail to the space. You can add character to the space with waterproof wallpaper, tiles or tile wallpaper designs. You can also place accent walls behind vanities or in the shower to add depth and style. However, in areas that are exposed to direct contact with water, we suggest only using materials that are waterproof to create long-lasting design elements. In the photo above we can see the Tiny Brush Pattern removable wallpaper in Linen Color from Minimal Wallpaper collection.
Choosing the Right Colors for Your Accent Wall
Another important part of creating accent walls is choosing the right colors. Picking accent wall colors can be fun and at the same time difficult as there are so many options and styles available. To make choosing accent wall color easier, here will be some tips based on color psychology, color trends and complementary shades to create bold accent wall colors or opposite - neutral color accent walls.
Bold Colors for a Dramatic Impact
If you want to create a bold color accent wall with a bold statement, we recommend dark colors and darker shades such as navy, charcoal or emerald for striking look and intimate room feel. Bold and vibrant color can work very well in spaces such as living area, dining areas and entryways to add a statement and create a wow factor. As an example in the photo above we can see the London Metro Lines Removable Wallpaper in Black And Off White from the Black And White Wallpaper collection.
Soft and Neutral Tones for Subtle Elegance
If, however, you want to create an elegant atmosphere in your living space, then styling accent walls in subtle hues, light colors and warm colors will be the right choice. To create a subtle accent wall, softer colors such as beige, grey or pastel shades will be a great pick. These tones will definitely be ideal for bedrooms and small spaces to create a relaxing mood as they provide contrast without overwhelming.
Considering Color Psychology
You can also consider the color psychology when picking your accent wall tones. Colors can affect the overall mood and atmosphere. For example, cool colors such as blue and green colors will be great to create a calming vibe, while yellow will symbolize energy and greys will be ideal for creating a sophisticated atmosphere. We recommend choosing color based on the ambiance you want to create in each space.
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing an Accent Wall
To learn before hand what not to do and avoide when choosing an accent wall, here will be common accent wall mistakes and accent wall don'ts.
Overpowering the Room with Bold Colors
A common mistake is picking overly bold and overpowering colors that might clash with room's decor or feel overwhelming. Picking too many bright and bold shades will lead to a color clash and unbalanced design, therefore, it is best choice to balance the right color for each element, for example, bold walls with neutral or muted decor. In the photo above we can see the Comic Book Inspired Removable Wallpaper from Eclectic Kids Wallpaper collection in a dazzling boys room interior created by @ashandpineinteriors.
Ignoring Room Lighting
Lighting can highly affect the final look of the accent wall. Poor lighting can make the chosen colors look different than intended. To avoid the surprise of finding out that the color looks different in the natural light of the room, we suggest testing colors or materials under various lighting conditions before finalising the look and if needed find an alternative solution. Remember that when it comes to wallpaper, you can always firstly order wallpaper samples in different color choices and unique style designs to create a standout feature with temporary wallpaper and see how it matches the existing colors in the room and other elements. Ordering samples will allow you to create the right balance and most importantly make the essential decision on your favorite design and color that looks great in the light of the room before making the final purchase.
Choosing the Wrong Wall as an Accent
It is very important to pick the right wall as an accent in the room. However, an often mistake is selecting the wrong accent wall that can end up disrupting the room balance and go unnoticed. It is suggested to select the right wall based on natural flow and room focal points and avoid any accent wall errors.
More mistakes to avoid you can read here!
Conclusion
We hope this blog post will give you inspiration on choosing the right accent wall for your interior project and help you find an answer to any question around accent wall creation. Remember that there are different ways to picking the right wall for an accent wall. Think about any already existing features, such as gallery wall, built in bookcase, large doors and windows that will not serve great as an accent wall. Rather pick a larger wall that will breathe life and make a difference in the interior when some pattern and pop of color will be added on it. Afterwards decide on the best accent wall style and color that will match your already existing home style. If you are thinking about giving a boxy room some fresh pop of color, then covering two same size walls with wallpaper or giving them paint job will create a balanced and eye-catching look.
We suggest giving the accent wall a try and encourage you to enhance your home space with some personality. A great way to start is by starting small with one accent wall. Then move on with exploring different colors, textures and DIY ideas to create the perfect focal point.
