How to Make Accented Walls
One of the simplest ways to make a focal point in a room is to make an accented wall. These walls help to direct the eye as it takes in the rest of the decorating scheme in a room. There are a variety of techniques you can use to create your accent walls, and you can use them at all stages of the decorating process, from wall preparation to the time when you're hanging up the final elements. Depending upon what your decorating plans are, you can employ any one or all of the decorating options to make some stand-out accented walls. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Paint and accessories
- Stenciling materials
- Photos or illustrations
- Scissors
- Craft glue
- Framed photographs
- Mirrors
- Sconces
Instructions
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Choose the accented wall based upon its location in the room. Some natural features, such as a fireplace, function as accent walls. If you have no architectural features like this, choose one wall, such as the one that stands opposite your sofa.
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Paint the accent wall. Select a vibrant color like red or cobalt blue. Paint the adjoining and opposite walls another color. Off-white provides a more dramatic contrast. Black has also become a color people choose as an accent wall, because it makes a dramatic visual statement.
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Experiment with faux painting techniques such as a faux Venetian plaster or faux marble on your accent wall. This adds a bit of visual texture.
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Use stencils to add a pattern to your accent wall. Many types of stencils exist, and you can find them in local arts and craft stores, home stores or online. Choose a pattern that enhances your decorating scheme, such as fleur-de-lis for a French country home.
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Add some graphic elements to your walls by putting up some decoupage designs. To do decoupage, mix equal parts craft glue and water, and paste up your cut-out illustrations, photos or other graphic materials of your choice. It provides you with an alternative to wallpapering. Paste your designs on your accent wall.
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Put up wallpaper on the accented wall. Put the wallpaper on only your accent wall to bring the focus to this area.
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Hang up a photo display on your wall. One striking way to create this display is to hang up old black-and-white photos on a brightly colored accent wall. Yellow, orange and lime green are some high-contrast choices. Choose photos that tell a visual story.
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Put up mirrors and sconces on the accented wall. The mirrors make the room look bigger and brighter by reflecting the light in the room. The sconces create a soft light that the mirrors will catch.
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References
- "Trading Spaces: Make It Yours"; Brian Kramer, editor; 2004
- House Beautiful; Colors Perfect for One Wall; Christine Pittel
- Apartment Therapy; Roundup Painted Accent Walls; Beth Zeigler; November 2008
- Apartment Therapy; Color Me Bold DIY Accent Wall; Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan; July 2009
- Apartment Therapy; Accent Walls Using Wallpaper; Geoff Bentz; October 2009
- Apartment Therapy; Roundup Bright Accent Walls; Ashley Sheping; February 2010
Resources
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
