Painting an accent wall is a great way to enhance the look and feel of your living room. With the right approach, this bold design choice creates a focal point that complements your decor and gives the room a more spacious feel. But how do you know which colors to choose?
In this guide, we share expert tips to help you choose the best living room accent wall colors for your unique space and design goals.
How to Choose an Accent Wall
An accent wall is painted a different color than the rest of the room, which creates depth and adds visual interest. However, choosing the wrong color—or the wrong wall—can make the room feel unbalanced and overwhelming.
Before selecting a color, you’ll need to decide which wall to highlight. The placement of your accent wall can influence how the color interacts with the room, so you’ll want to approach this choice strategically.
Below are some tips for choosing the best accent wall in your living room.
Consider Natural Lighting Conditions
The natural lighting conditions in your living room can have a big impact on how paint colors look and feel:
Highlight Existing Focal Points
The best accent walls highlight existing architectural features, such as a fireplace or built-in shelving. Walls behind a couch or entertainment center are great choices too.
Consider the Shape and Size of the Room
An accent wall can either make a room feel larger or cozier, depending on where it’s placed. Painting a narrower wall a darker color makes the space feel more enclosed, while using a lighter shade on a wider wall creates an open and airy effect.
Choose the Wall Your Eye is Naturally Drawn To
When you walk into your living room, is there a wall that grabs your attention first? If your eyes are already naturally drawn to it, this is often a great candidate for an accent wall.
How to Choose a Living Room Accent Wall Color
Once you’ve decided which wall to paint, it’s time to start thinking about paint choices. Below are some tips for selecting the best living room accent wall colors for your space.
Use the 60-30-10 Rule
The 60-30-10 rule is a principle used in interior design that helps create a balanced color scheme. This rule can be super helpful when choosing an accent wall color for your living room:
An accent wall would fall under the 10% category. Try taking a look around your living room decor to figure out what your accent color already is, and choose a paint hue to match.
For example, if your throw pillows and wall art tend to have a lot of dark green, this would make a great accent wall color that won’t clash with your existing scheme.
Consider Color Psychology
Did you know that colors can have a significant impact on your mood? Color psychology is a real science that studies the way colors affect our thoughts and emotions.
Your accent wall will draw more attention than your primary paint color, so it’s important to consider the emotions you want this accent to evoke. For example, black paint can evoke elegance and sophistication, while blue is associated with tranquility and calmness.
Choose a Darker Shade of the Same Color
Another way to find the perfect accent wall color is to choose a darker shade of the color your walls are already painted. Because the colors are in the same family, you won’t need to worry about clashing with your existing decor.
Find Expert Residential Painting Services in Sonoma County
An accent wall is a simple and effective way to transform your living room without a costly renovation. By following the tips above, you can select a color that enhances both the look and feel of your space.
Ready to start your living room accent wall project? Our team at Timmins Painting is here to help. We have years of experience helping Sonoma County homeowners like you bring their ideas to life through expert residential painting services. We’re compassionate, professional, and we always strive to leave every job site better than we found it.
Contact us online today or call (707)-792-0773 to claim your FREE painting estimate!