5 Pro Tips for Painting a Bold Accent Wall in Your Home

Are you looking for a simple way to transform the look of your home? Adding an accent wall can be a great way to give your living space a stunning new look without a lot of effort.  Adding a bold accent wall can be the perfect way to make an exciting statement in your home and bring any room to life. Painting an accent wall isn’t as intimidating as it may seem and with the right tools and knowledge, you’ll have a stunning accent wall in no time. In this blog post, we’ll show you simple tips for painting a bold accent wall in your home that will transform your space. 

Choosing Your Accent Wall, Color, and Finish

1. How to Choose the Right Wall

The first step in choosing an accent wall is to consider the room’s focal point. This could be a stunning fireplace or built-in bookshelf, a statement piece of furniture, or even a unique architectural detail like a coffered ceiling. You want to select a wall that will complement and highlight this feature.
If there is no natural focal point in the room, look for a solid wall without many windows or doors. This will create a seamless canvas for your accent color to really pop.
In long, narrow rooms, the farthest short wall should be chosen as the accent wall. To determine this, measure the length of the room and divide it by 3. The farthest short wall will be where the edge of the wall meets this measurement.
Accent walls can also be used to highlight a distinct area in a smaller room with multiple functions. For example, in a studio apartment that functions as a living room and bedroom, an accent wall color can differentiate between the two spaces. 

2. How to Choose the Right Color

With so many shades available it’s easy to get overwhelmed and end up choosing a color that looks good in the store but doesn’t look right on the walls. Whatever color you choose should complement the room’s decor and create a cohesive and unified look throughout the room. 

Consider the Room’s Decor

Take existing items and colors in the room into account when choosing a paint color. If you have a lot of neutral-colored items in the room, you may want to choose a bold color to add some visual interest. On the other hand, if the room already has a lot of colorful items, you may want to choose a more neutral color for the accent wall.

Identify the Room’s Undertones

One aspect of wall paint color selection that is often overlooked is a room’s undertones. These are the subtle hints of color that can be found in the existing decor, furniture, and flooring of the room. If you’re not sure what the undertones are, take a close look at the adjoining wall or large piece of furniture and try to identify the colors present in the item.

Take Lighting into Account

Take into account the room’s ambient light and the impact it will have on the shade. You might find that the same color looks strikingly different in a sun-filled space than it does with minimal natural light. Additionally, the same color may look distinct in the evening when using artificial illumination. Ultimately, make sure to select a tone that you love.

Take Size into Account

Additionally, darker colors tend to make a room feel smaller, while lighter colors have the opposite effect and can make a room feel larger and more open. If you’re painting a large wall, it’s a good idea to choose a color that is in the same color family as existing colors. This will

The 60-30-10 Rule

Remember the 60-30-10 rule when choosing your accent wall color. 60% of the room should be a neutral color, 30% should be a coordinating color, and the remaining 10% is your accent color.

3. How to Choose the Right Finish

When it comes to painting an accent wall in your home, choosing the right finish can make or break the overall look and feel of the room.

• High-gloss paint is the most durable and easiest to clean, it’s not ideal for interior walls as it can be too shiny and reflective.
• Flat or matte paint is perfect for white walls that need to hide flaws, but it doesn’t have the durability of other finishes.
• Semi-gloss paint is a good option for rooms with moisture, drips, and grease stains, making it perfect for bathrooms or kitchens. 
• Satin paint is a bit more forgiving and has a lustrous finish, making it easy to clean and perfect for gathering spaces. However, it can also reveal application flaws, so keep that in mind when deciding which finish to use.
• Eggshell paint is a great choice for those who want something in between a satin and flat finish. It’s durable and has a slight luster to it, making it a perfect finish for white walls in high-traffic areas. 

4. Paint a Test Swatch

Before diving into painting the entire wall, it’s crucial to paint a small test swatch first. This will give you a good idea of how both the color and finish will look in your space, and allow you to make any necessary adjustments before painting the entire wall.  It’s also a good opportunity to test out different finishes if you’re unsure of which one to choose.   Just like the shade of the color can vary in different lighting, the look of different finishes can also vary due to lighting. And remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to committing to a bold accent wall.

Get the right painting tools

Once you’ve determined which wall you want to accent and have selected and purchased your paint, you’ll need to purchase some tools as well. By having all the right tools at your disposal, your painting process will be much more efficient, and you’ll be able to create a beautiful, bold accent wall that will transform your room.

5. Picking out Paint Brushes and Rollers

The type of rollers you’ll need will depend on the size of the wall and the type of paint you’re using. For an accent wall, you may want to invest in a larger roller, as they’ll cover more surface area quickly. Choosing the right type of cover is just as important as choosing the paint finish as it determines the texture of the paint. If you’re painting a smooth accent wall, you’ll want to choose a roller cover with a short nap. If you’re aiming for a more textured look, go for a long nap roller cover.

Although most of your painting will be done with rollers, you’ll need some paintbrushes for smaller areas like trim, corners, and edges. Make sure you also have painter’s tape, drop cloths and tarps, and enough paint trays for your project.

Prepping the Area

Once you’ve determined which wall you want to accent and have chosen your paint color and finish, it’s time to start prepping.

6. Protect Floors, Furniture, and Trim

Finally, it’s important to protect your floors and furniture while you’re painting. Invest in drop cloths or old sheets to protect your floors, and use tarps and masking tape to cover furniture or other items that you can’t move out of the way. 

7.  Use Painter’s Tape to Create Clean Lines

 One key tool for achieving a clean, professional-looking accent wall is painter’s tape.
Before you start painting, use the tape to carefully tape off any areas that you don’t want to get paint on, such as baseboards, trim, or adjacent walls. Apply the tape in a straight line, pressing it firmly into place to ensure that the paint won’t bleed underneath.

Once you’ve taped off your desired area, it’s time to start painting. Be sure to paint up to the edge of the tape, but not over it. It’s a good idea to use a small brush or roller to fill in any gaps or corners where the tape doesn’t quite cover the area you want to paint. When you’re finished painting, be sure to remove the painter’s tape immediately while the paint is still wet. This will help ensure that the lines stay clean and sharp and that you don’t accidentally pull off any paint when removing the tape.
Using painter’s tape to create clean lines takes a bit of extra effort, but it’s well worth it for the final result. With the right tools and techniques, you can create a stunning accent wall that transforms your home and adds a bold, stylish touch.

How to Paint the Wall

Now that you’ve done your prep work and gathered your supplies, it’s time to start painting your accent wall!

1. Start with the edges
   Using an angled brush, paint along the edges of the wall where it meets the ceiling, floor, and adjacent walls. This will make it easier to paint the rest of the wall with a roller.
2. Use a roller
   Using a roller, paint the rest of the wall with long, even strokes. Be sure to apply the paint evenly and avoid leaving roller marks.
3. Paint in sections
   Work in small sections, painting from top to bottom to ensure that the paint stays wet and blends well. Use a dry roller to lightly go over any drips or thick spots to ensure a smooth finish.
4. Allow time to dry
   Be sure to allow the paint to fully dry between coats. Depending on the paint and the color, it may take more than one coat to achieve the desired result.
5. Remove painter’s tape
   Once you’re satisfied with the coverage but before the paint has dried, remember to remove the painter’s tape. Pull the tape off at a 45-degree angle while the paint is still slightly wet to ensure a clean line.

With these tips and a bit of patience, your accent wall will be a stunning addition to your home!

Visit Our Benjamin Moore Paint Studio

At Clarks Ace Hardware, we know that the right paint can make all the difference in a room’s transformation. That’s why at our paint shop we offer a paint matching service that utilizes the tried and true favorite, Benjamin Moore paint. With its use of high-quality components, Benjamin Moore offers different product lines like Ben, Regal Select, Advance, and Aura to meet any painting need.