How to Choose the Location of a Painted Accent Wall

Project: High-Contrast Geometric

Photo: Kristina Kroot

So you’re excited about your statement accent wall in either your home or workplace, but how do you choose which wall will have the most impact?

Decide if you’re designing for yourself or guests

This is especially important if you have a home office or a bonus room that you spend a lot of time in. If you’re at a desk, is the goal to look at this beautiful accent wall all day? Or is the goal to have guests or clients see the wall when they’re sitting in guests chairs in front of your desk? Determining who you’d like to ultimately experience the accent wall can greatly influence which wall you choose to paint.

If you’re in a commercial space and would like a painted accent wall with your slogan on it, you would want this in a highly visible place like the lobby or a large conference room. If your slogan is moreso an inspiration to your staff, perhaps the accent wall visually grounds an open workspace.

Mind your sight lines.

When you’re choosing an accent wall location, the key is to imagine how you would experience the space as you’re walking through it. If you peek into a space, which wall do you see first? If you are walking through a large expansive space, is there a wall that will draw one’s eyes through the space? In the Craftsman Contemporary project, the main level has a pretty open floor plan with the dining room tucked into one corner. We used this navy blue wall to pull one’s eyes off the stair, through the kitchen and into this space.

Think about how you enter a room. If you want to draw someone into a room off of a main hallway, you might want the accent wall to be on the wall opposite of the door so you get a preview. This is especially the case if the room is very glassy, like a conference room with full height glass on one side.

Consider exterior views—would you want to be able to see the accent wall from the street? This can be quite dramatic as well. Imagine an all white farmhouse, with a bright red accent wall in the dining room. At night, dinner guests pulling up to park might be able to see this intense hue from the street.

What are you highlighting?

Project: Craftsman Contemporary

Photo: Kate Raines

This could be a painting, an ornate bedroom headboard or a custom built-in. Very seldom is a single-colored painted accent wall enough on its own. It’s usually a strategically chosen painting or statement piece of furniture in front of it that makes an interesting overall composition.

As with most design elements, the location of an accent wall shouldn’t be arbitrary. An accent wall should be visually enhancing your home or workplace in some way. One way to ensure that your design looks cohesive and intentional is to hire an interior designer. Schedule your commitment-free, complimentary info call today!