leather sofa in living room with accent wall Considering an accent wall in your living room, dining room, kitchen, home office, or bedroom? Not only can they add visual interest and depth to a room but having an accent wall can save you the time and money it would take to paint, wallpaper, or otherwise decorate the other walls in the room. In today’s interior design blog, we discuss how to choose an accent wall for your home.

What is an Accent Wall?

An accent wall is any interior or exterior wall that features a different color, shade, design, or material from other adjacent walls. Generally speaking, accent walls draw your visual attention and can often be used as the focal point of the room.

Which Wall Should be the Accent Wall?

Wondering how to choose an accent wall? You’ll first need to thoughtfully consider the room you’re designing.

Consider the Focal Point

The first thing you’ll need to consider when deciding which wall should be the accent wall is where your attention naturally falls in the room. If the room has architectural features like a fireplace or built-in bookshelf that naturally draws the eye, you’ll want to strongly consider it as your accent wall. Similarly, your furniture arrangement can play a role in choosing an accent wall. If you’re decorating a bedroom, for example, it might make sense to create an accent wall behind the headboard.

Consider the Details

Some rooms don’t have a natural focal point, and if that’s the case in the room you’re decorating, you’ll have to use other methods to choose which wall should be the accent wall. Generally speaking, if you’re not working with an intuitive focal point, you’ll want to choose a solid wall without many windows or doors. While it may seem counterintuitive not to highlight a wall with a large window, the accent color can sometimes distract from the beautiful view, rather than accentuate it. Natural light can also alter the way the paint shows up on the wall.

Consider the Room’s Dimensions

When choosing an accent wall, you’ll want to pay attention to the room’s dimensions. If you’re decorating a long, narrow living room, for example, you’ll want to choose the farthest short wall in the room to accent. This makes the wall feel closer and helps balance the shape of the room.

Consider the Room’s Function

Accent walls can work great in rooms that serve multiple functions. If you’re decorating a small living room dining room or kitchen dining room combo, for example, you can use an accent wall to highlight a distinct area in a smaller room. Ready to start decorating? At Star Furniture & Mattress, we have everything you need to get started, including a wide selection of living room furniture, dining room furniture, bedroom furniture, and home décor, accents, and rugs. In the meantime, check out our interior design blog where we cover everything from our furniture styles guide to how to choose a color palette.