Accent Walls: Tips & Tricks
An accent wall – A wall that has been painted a different color from the rest of the room, is an excellent way to liven up space and create a WOW factor. There are many wonderful accent wall ideas to be inspired by, so no matter your budget, you can create a stunning feature wall that will add character and charm to your home!
Accent walls help accentuate the desired mood of the room. For example, in an open space, an accent wall can help define the different functions of the room. An accent wall can also help draw attention to focal points such as a fireplace, a gallery of pictures, artwork, as well as special mementos. You can be as creative as you like, even choose to create an accent wall in every room! How and what you wish to highlight is totally up to you. Your home is unique, and highlighting your walls is a great way to personalize your space.
Don’t shy away from bold accents or vivid paint colors. Whatever your design, accent walls are a striking design element that will add excitement and importance to your space.
Here are a few simple rules that will help you transform any room of your home, from ordinary to extraordinary:
If your accent wall is very bold, try to balance it out with neutral colors on the rest of the walls.
Incorporate the color or pattern of the wall with small accent pieces throughout the room.
Think outside the box! Paint stripes, create your own pattern with different colors, use shelves, or create a picture gallery on the entire wall. The great thing about accent walls is that you can satisfy your creativity!
Be inspired and discover what materials you can use to create your very own accent wall!
3D Panels
Let’s start with the feature I like the most, 3D panels. They are modern, catchy, textured and add sophistication to the room. 3D panels are becoming more and more popular. In fact, many companies specialize in selling decorative 3D panels and also provide quick and reliable installation services. Alternatively, you can purchase ready-to-install 3D panels from large home retail stores and install them yourself. The difference is, 3D panels that are installed professionally will provide a seamless look, the ones purchased on your own will most likely show seams.
TIP: ask a trusted interior decorator to help find and install 3D panels, to ensure a flawless look
WALLPAPER
Wallpaper has been going in and out of style since the 1930s and lucky for us, is currently trending again! Due to its long & lasting presence in the realm of interior design, there are an unlimited number of patterns and selections to choose from. Wallpaper can be patterned, plain, or custom made. You can find wallpaper that looks like leather, concrete and tufted headboard. You name the style, and it can be found. You can even custom make wallpaper with your picture on it!
TIP: my personal favorite is non-woven wallpaper. It is typically textured, which gives it depth, it is easy to install, and the best part is, you can take it off the wall and install it again somewhere else! It becomes a handy feature if you are planning to install it by yourself and don’t have experience.
Here are some examples of feature walls with modern style wallpaper.
Upholstered WALL
There are many great reasons to upholster a wall. It looks luxurious, it isolates the wall and reduces noise. It is perfect for the bedroom; however, it can be installed in common areas such as the dining room and the living room.
TIP: if a room is small, partially upholster the wall to avoid overwhelming the room.
STONE
Stone has been very popular in the last couple of years, and I can see why. Stone enhances space, gives it warmth and acts as an impressive focal point.
TIP: light it up beautifully with a wall grazing effect, and it will become the WOW factor in the room. There is just one catch: the stone must look natural. Therefore, be mindful of what stone tile you purchase. Depending on how some stone tiles are manufactured, each tile may look exactly the same, which can result in obtaining a flawed look.
There are many stones to choose from, such as natural looking stone tiles that you can find at large retail stores like Home Depot or Rona. However, the most popular stone is brick stone. Brick stone is timeless, and it has been trending for many years now.
TIP: If you are looking to achieve an industrial look, brick is a great alternative, and if you get bored, you can always paint it!
PAINT
Last and certainly not least, painting an accent wall is the cheapest and easiest option to create a fresh new look with minimal cost. By painting an accent wall, you will successfully draw attention to the focal point of the space, as well as add excitement and vibrant energy to your room.
TIP: If your entire room is neutral, paint one wall with a vibrant color that will match the color scheme you already have. The key is to incorporate the chosen colour throughout the room, so the overall look of the space will look consistent.
What is your favourite accent wall?