The Essential Modern Accent Wall Guide
9 Tips to Designing the Perfect Modern Accent Wall
Accent walls have been around for years, but are enjoying a surge in popularity due in part to being featured design aspects in popular media. There are many considerations to keep in mind before deciding to put an accent wall into your home. I'll be covering accent wall basics, current trends, benefits, design considerations, and whether or not you should try to DIY your accent wall.
What is an Accent Wall?
Let's start with the basics. Accent walls have been around for a long time. Many people think of accent walls as simply painting a wall a different color, but there are many types of accent walls. Some people use wallpaper, wood, or other materials to add texture and interest to a wall.
An accent wall is a wall that is used to break up the interior space. The term "accent" refers to something that is added to another item or element; in this case, an accent wall is a wall that does not match the rest of the interior. As such, an accent wall will often be one of the last things to be designed and installed in a room.
Current Trends in Accent Walls
We are seeing a great deal of innovation in the way that accent walls are being used. Gone are the days of simply painting a wall a contrasting color and calling it an accent wall. Thanks to popular media personalities, unique and modern accent walls are popping up everywhere. This walnut slat wall is a modern accent wall trends my clients and I are loving right now
There are many types of accent walls that you can choose from depending on the style of your home. I specialize in wood accent walls that add more depth and texture to a wall than a traditional painted or wallpapered accent wall. Since I am professionally trained, my clients are able to get very creative with the designs and color choices--even more so than the typical DIYer.
The following are a few of the more popular styles that I specialize in:
Benefits of an Accent Wall
People love the design elements that an accent wall brings to their home. Whether it's to add an interesting element to an unused space or to give the room a custom look, here are a few reasons to add an accent wall to your home:
Create or Bring Attention to a Focal Point
I love to add accent walls to living rooms where people spend a lot of their time. Adding in unique design elements can take a space from a house into a home by drawing attention to the parts of your space where you really make memories.
Create Dimension
Adding an accent wall, such as this board and batten style, can give some unique dimensions to a room. Big empty walls suddenly become full of life when you add in a feature wall.
Add Texture to an Under-Utilized Area
Everyone has at least one wall in their house that they can't really figure out what to do with. For many, it's their entryway or hallway. Though people don't spend a lot of time in these spaces, they are often drab and lifeless. This is especially true in a room with high ceilings. Adding an accent wall to these areas can make the space seem bigger or just add some excitement to an otherwise boring area of the house. It's also fun to add accent walls to areas you wouldn't expect, such as the front of a kitchen counter.
Take Advantage of Natural Light
Ceilings are often high, so when there is only a single light in the room, it can feel dark. An accent wall that's close to a window can help bring in natural light to the room. I love to warm a darker area up with light wood tones in a slat wall.
Designing the Perfect Accent Wall: 3 Key Considerations
Choose the Right Wall
Choosing the right wall for an accent wall is important, especially when considering the type of wall you want to install. Will the wall be used for storage? Art? A television that needs to be mounted to a wall stud? Where are the outlets and windows located? Will there be furniture placed near the wall? Keep these things in mind when choosing the wall and the design. You wouldn't want to cover up details of your wall with the couch for example!
Pick the Right Look
When designing an accent wall, it is important to pick a look that works with the rest of the design in your home. I suggest planning to incorporate your current decor and furniture for a cohesive look. Consider colors as well. Accent walls are meant to be the focal point of a room, so having furniture, colors, or designs that aren't similar or coordinated might clash.
Get Inspired
I have found that a lot of people are surprised by the number of different ways they can incorporate an accent wall into their home. Having a good idea of what you want beforehand will make things go more smoothly. Pinterest is the perfect place to find accent wall inspiration! Check out my profile and follow along to see some of my past projects as well as some accent walls that inspire me. You can also find some of my projects on Instagram.
To DIY or Not to DIY?
DIY Considerations
The internet, especially Pinterest, is filled with “DIY an accent wall in a weekend” installations. If you are considering installing an accent wall in your home yourself, there are some things you should think about. Do you have the right tools for the job? Do you have the right skill level? What will you do if something goes wrong? To help you make the decision to DIY, I will discuss some of these questions with you.
What's the right skill level? If you are just going to paint or wallpaper and this is something you've done before, you could probably do that yourself. Keep in mind that a professional will still have tools and skillsets that will help things look more professional (more on that later!)
Whether or not you feel comfortable enough to install a finished accent wall yourself if you can manage a level and patch drywall, you might be capable of installing a basic accent wall. If you are wanting a design that's more complex, such as a wooden slat wall or a board and batten style, I'd strongly recommend consulting with an expert.
What're your tools? If you feel comfortable enough with the above skill set, you should be capable of installing an accent wall. However, if you are not experienced in drywall installation and you don't have access to the proper tools, including scaffolding, for example, there is a good chance that you will need to hire someone with those skill sets and tools for the job.
Lastly, what will you do if something goes wrong? Unfortunately, there are times when inexperienced homeowners attempt to add an accent wall to their space and end up causing damage that is can be costly to fix. Additionally, check your homeowner's insurance policy to make sure that DIY renovations are covered under your plan. If it doesn't, or you aren't willing to take the risk of something going wrong, definitely reach out to an expert!
Let Me Design and Install Your Accent Wall
As a professional accent wall designer and installer, you get all the benefits of enjoying an accent wall without having to do any of the work yourself. I will custom design your accent wall based on the design you want and the exact measurements for your space. I cut and prepare all the materials in my workshop and install them using professional-grade tools and expertise.
Hiring a professional to install your accent wall You can be sure that your accent wall will look like it's been professionally installed when I'm done. I've installed hundreds of accent walls in the Southern California area and I will make sure that you get exactly what you want.
What you can expect from me:
I'm dedicated to delivering the highest quality accent wall design possible. I take pride in my craftsmanship and will make sure that you are completely satisfied with your new accent wall. All of my accent walls are built to last a lifetime and I can help you achieve the style that you desire.
I will be able to install as many accent walls as you need with an average installation time of 2 days per wall. I can help you choose the colors and styles that will work best for your space. It's also important to consider how the wall will be used. Will it be used as a feature wall? Will it be used for storage or for displaying artwork? I can help you with these questions and more.
I will help you identify the right accent wall to meet your design needs and your budget.
I can help you determine the best materials for your accent wall. I will work with you to select the material that is right for your home and determine how it should be installed.
Finally, I can help you determine the right size for your accent wall. You may need something a little larger or a little smaller. It all depends on what you want to accomplish with your wall.