How to Paint an Accent Wall

Whether it's your bedroom, living room, kids' room, or the kitchen, accent walls are one of the popular choices to redecorate and repaint your home. A do-it-yourself painting project, you can instantly give any room in the house a dramatic changed look. But what is this accent wall? And how is it done exactly?

In any room, there are four walls; and out of those four walls, you select one wall to be painted in a completely different color. So let's say you chose a particular shade of white paint for your walls, but aren't really sure if keeping the entire room in a neutral color is the right way to go.

So what an accent wall does is adds contrast, because it is a richer color than the other three walls. Now painting an accent wall can be slightly challenging, because when you work with contrasting colors, the results can go either way. Which is why, we have put this article together on how to paint an accent wall correctly.

Accent wall painting doesn't take more than a few hours, because, well... you're painting only one wall. But the most important decision you will make here is the color for the wall. The best way to go about painting this special wall is to keep your home décor in mind.

You don't want to have too many elements working in the same room. If you're following a particular theme, stick to it, and then select the paint color that will accentuate the room as a whole. There are other vital tips or instructions you need to adhere to before you begin; which are...

• Since we've talked about the color choice for the accent wall, let's start by discussing what color to paint the wall. You want to keep a deep, rich paint color for your accent wall. The idea is for that wall to become the focal point of the entire room. So don't be shy... try some bold colors.

• If you're painting the living room, a good way to make the decision is by studying the room itself. You don't want to match the color with the upholstery, and make sure you don't select the color combination from the wall decorations either (paintings). Keep enough contrast between these elements.

• Decide what will be placed on or near this wall. In your living room, the accent wall can have a bookcase, television, couch, and even a fireplace near it. As for the bedroom, the accent wall can be behind your bed (or a headboard). You can place a painting or even a giant floor vase next to it. Work with the space available near and on the accent wall.

• Now, you don't always need to have a contrasting accent wall. You can choose from the same shade family, but a few shades darker and deeper.
• Finally, choose the right wall that will be your accent wall. Even though it's going to be one of the four (sometimes three) walls, you don't want to just randomly pick a wall and start painting. Try to picture the room with the accent wall, how the furniture will fit around the room, and what other items you can bring (or remove) from the room.

Most of the time, people rush into the whole project and end up choosing the wrong paint color or the wall that might not be best as an accent wall. A good way to go about it is to consult a friend or an interior designer who will give you helpful pointers on how to go about it. This way, you spend less time planning and more time taking the project ahead.

The following painting steps can also be adopted for a kitchen, living room, or any other room in the house. The technique for painting an accent wall will be same.

• If you haven't finalized the accent wall color for the room, visit your local home improvement store and get some paint samples.
• Clear the room, remove anything and everything that is on and / or near the wall which has to be painted, and place the painter's tape at the edges of the wall.

• Try the sample colors to select the one that you like the most. Now depending on the type of paint, as in gloss (flat paints, satin finish, semi-gloss, or gloss paints), select the accent paint color as well.

• At the home improvement store, you can discuss with the salesperson there as to how much paint you'll require. Also, ask if you require a tinted primer for this project, because you are going to use a deep paint color.

• Open all the doors and windows of the room. Since you will be working with paint, you don't want the fumes to stay inside. Also, it's a good idea to wear a face mask and old clothes while you're painting.

• Wipe the wall which has to be painted with a clean, damp cloth, so that there is no grime, dust, or dirt on it. If there are any cracks or holes (that were used to hang paintings or wall decorations), use spackle to fill them up properly.
• In a paint tray, pour a little bit of paint, roll the paint roller in it thoroughly, and roll it onto the wall. Make sure to use even strokes that go in either a vertical or horizontal direction. Don't mix them up.

• Begin painting from the middle of the wall and work your way towards the sides. When you reach the four edges of the wall, use an angled brush so that you don't get paint over the painter's tape.
• Let the paint dry completely to see if you require another coat or not. If you're happy with the shade, let the wall be. Just remove the painter's tape in the end and do any touch ups if needed.

As you can see, the actual painting part of this project isn't difficult. Just that there are a few crucial steps before you actually begin. Follow these steps mentioned in this article, and get the accent wall you've always wanted to enhance the ambiance of your room and home.