Its time for a color change
And for Once I’m not talking about my hair
Most of my cravings for a style upgrade hit when the weather gets warm, assumingly because the stale, drab feeling of winter has receded and the world fills with bright colors, happy music, and more smiles once more. Being real estate obsessed, I tend to use this new-found energy to freshen up the interior of my home. I begin by scouring my favorite blogs, Pinterest, and Houzz for style inspiration. What new and cutting edge idea did I decide on implementing after my most recent search? THE ACCENT WALL. Yes, I know, we all witnessed the craze in 2008. It has become a been-there-done-that sort of thing—which is precisely why I am bringing it up now.
I’m a true believer in the power of dark colors and it is these dark colors which are often used for accent walls. I understand dark hues have the reputations of making a room feel cold, unwelcoming, and smaller; however, in certain conditions, I believe it appropriate to use an accent wall. I did my fair share of research on this topic, mainly because I don’t feel like painting and repainting more than one wall if I don’t like the color or the placement. That being said I think what I’ve come up with is a pretty easy way to get the wall and color right the first time around.
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- First, take notice of which direction the room is located. If the windows are facing south or west then it is best to use cooler colors over warm. The opposite is true for north and east, as these rays are better suited for warm hues. Hue choice is based on the type of sun the room gets. For example, a north facing blue wall will seem almost igloo like, while a south-facing yellow wall will seem overly bright in contrast. You want to find that perfect mix of color and light as it is a fundamental part of the overall outcome.
- Another factor you need to consider is how light and dark colors make a room appear to the eye. Light colors, like reds, yellows, and oranges are going to “pop” in the eye, making the wall come towards you and appear closer than the lighter colored walls. Dark hues like blue, purple, and green, push the wall away from the eyes. Determine which effect you want the room to have and which walls would be best suited to giving the room your desired appeal.
- First, take notice of which direction the room is located. If the windows are facing south or west then it is best to use cooler colors over warm. The opposite is true for north and east, as these rays are better suited for warm hues. Hue choice is based on the type of sun the room gets. For example, a north facing blue wall will seem almost igloo like, while a south-facing yellow wall will seem overly bright in contrast. You want to find that perfect mix of color and light as it is a fundamental part of the overall outcome.
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- Once you have narrowed down the walls, the next step is to decide which wall is the more important of the two. Deciding this can be as easy as picking the wall with the fireplace or the one with the beautiful antique armoire. Accent walls are used to heighten the beauty or allure that is already present in the room, but if none of this applies to your room then simply have someone walk in and ask them which wall draws their eye. A wall that warrants the eyes’ attention is usually the wall that should be painted.
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- Be warned, though. The decorations on the wall and the furniture in front of it will have to be coordinated properly for the wall cannot be too empty or too crowded. The accent wall is an accessory within itself, so make sure the accents around it are in the same color scheme, but not so similar that they blend into the wall.
Here is the before and after pictures of my family room!
The color I used is called Tricorn Black and it can be found at your local Sherwin Williams