How to create an accent wall

An accent wall is nothing but a feature that gives a distinctive visual emphasis to an area within your house. In other words, it is a feature wall that draws attention and can be used as a primary or secondary focal point in a room. The idea of an accent wall was first conceived as a way to liven up an area of a house that is relatively bland or as a new decorative trend. Over the years the accent wall designing ideas kept getting revolutionized and now there are really interesting ways to create an accent wall. It is the simplest way to create drama in your space and can make a huge impact on the process. But before you begin, there are a lot of things to consider such as choosing the right wall, what to use for the impact and drama.

Choosing the right wall

No, you can’t or should not choose just any random wall to be the accent wall in your room. Always choose the wall that stands out the most. In any home, as soon as you walk into a room or area, the wall that stands out to you should be your accent wall. So when it comes to choosing the wall, lighting is the key. Be it natural or artificial, typically the wall that gets more light tends to get more attention. Try to avoid walls with windows, doors or other distractions.

Now that we are all set with our accent wall selection, it is time to discuss how you can transform that wall into a focal point of the area. So here are some accent wall designing ideas to create an impact in your space.

Add Contrast

This is the easiest way to create a visual impact in any room. Just grab a gallon of paint and paint your wall with whatever color you like and you are done. But there is more to it than this. If you want your accent wall to stand out and make a statement, plan carefully first. Look around and take notes on what color your furniture is, how the rest of the house is painted, and so on. If you find anything like these, act accordingly, choose the color that goes with the accent of your furniture or if the rest of the house is painted in a light shade, choose a bold color for maximum contrast. And if you are into patterns, go for some distinctive color patterns.

Artworks

Using artworks as a focal point is among the best accent wall designing ideas. Any kind of artwork can act as a statement on their own. It creates visual interests and can be a great way to decorate your space; especially if you are living in a studio apartment. You can add or mount different types of artwork on the accent wall. Whether it is a perfectly curated collection of silhouettes or one single piece of painting, artwork can amplify the impact of a space. Add sentiments by incorporating vintage and antique items such as the collectibles that you have collected over the years. 

Gallery Wall

As simple as it sounds, this very basic idea is by far the most common trend while decorating a house. In most countries including Bangladesh when it comes to decorating one’s house, it is common to see such gallery walls. But there is a catch. Using whatever you like to create a gallery wall can lead to a look that lacks cohesion. So to be able to assimilate the idea correctly, you have to think about the color combination. If your wall is painted white, using a set of black and white photographs can be a great way to add drama. For a darker feature wall, use photos that have at least one common color in them. Also, don’t forget to select an accent for the frames of your photos. If done correctly, the result can yield a striking look which is more intentional and soothing.

Shelving Accent Wall

Shelves are amazing. It can provide essential storage space while looking elegant at the same time. There are various kinds of shelves: wall shelves, movable wooden shelves and so on. Built-in shelves with a gorgeous color palette, on the other hand, can make for a wonderful accent wall. When using built-in shelves as your accent wall, the most important thing to consider is the color and the things that will end up in there. Well, you can go with the most traditional use of a shelf and place all your books and certificates there or you can be a little more creative and place items that draw attention. For example, you can place your collectibles, different types of interesting showpiece items, small art pieces and much more.

Temporary Wallpaper

Temporary wallpapers are inexpensive and one of the most effective budget-friendly accent wall designing ideas that you can incorporate into your interior design. If you are not sure whether you should opt-in for an accent wall or not, temporary wallpapers can be great for a trial. Temporary wallpaper is perfect if you’d love a stylish look without the commitment. But the best thing about using a temporary wallpaper is that you can assimilate most of the aforementioned ideas with it. Like, use a temporary wallpaper on the accent wall and then transform it into a gallery wall.

Incorporating Geometric shapes, mirrors, wood plank, fabrics; there are hundreds of ways to create an accent wall. Just remember to get the most important thing right. Do make sure not to lose cohesion. Plan ahead, do your research and turn your blank wall into a striking accent wall. And do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.