How to Make Over a Room with an Accent Wall… Plus My Living Room Makeover

One of the things I love about my apartment is that I can paint the walls. This is the first home in which I've had this freedom. Granted, I have to paint the walls back before I move, but it's a small price to pay for a large, luscious expanse of color.

When I first moved in, I wanted to paint every room! But when I considered the cost, time, and effort it would take to paint (and paint back when I'd move down the road), that dream got a little smaller.

No worries, I came up with a compromise: paint an accent wall in only one room. I chose my living room, since this is the largest room and would benefit the most from some color. Continue reading to find out how I transformed my living room with an accent wall and my tips on how you can do the same.

I wasn’t sold on the idea of an accent wall at first. I couldn’t get past thoughts of random walls painted hunter green, rose, or country blue… I must’ve been traumatized by bad examples in the 80s.

But when I checked out some examples of how an accent wall can be great when done properly, I was sold. An accent wall would save me time, money, and most importantly, infuse my space with uniqueness.

Here are my favorite tips for painting an accent wall in your home:

1. Choose a wall that includes a focal point or interesting architecture, such as a fireplace.
2. If your room lacks a focal point, create it with the accent wall. Upon entering the room, use the wall that your eyes naturally rests upon.
3. Test your paint color options in the room before taking the plunge. You can do this by buying sample paint pots and painting a large piece of foamboard. Compare it to your decor and observe how the color changes during the day, evening, and in artificial light.
4. If you’re creating an accent wall in a bedroom, your best bet is to paint the wall in which the head of the bed sits. This helps anchor the bed as the focal point.
5. Another option is to select the wall that receives the most sunlight, as it will reflect its painted color on the other walls of the room.
6. Paint your accent wall a bold color. It’s the perfect balance between infusing your space with stand-out color and going overboard.
7. Take your time cutting in! Because this wall will pop out and be more on display, you want your lines to be crisp.

Actually, I painted almost two accent walls. 🙂 I created an L-shape by using the longest wall in the living room, the one that starts in entrance of my apartment, and most of the wall that includes my patio doors. I chose these walls to draw the eye into my living room upon entering and to give this room an enveloping effect of color.

For my accent wall, I chose aqua because it would be harmonious with my existing decor of navy blue and cobalt. But the shade had to be perfect: bright, yet mature and sophisticated. It also had to be a shade that would easily coordinate with a new color scheme if when I change it in the future.

Finally, perfection came in Behr’s Opal Silk, a shade of aqua reminiscent of the sea.

My living room also received a makeover with some of the decor. I changed the curtains on the patio doors to sheers in a soft aqua color that matches the walls. (Teresia from IKEA.) I did this to give the illusion of more width in the room.

navy cobalt blue gray aqua living room accent wall makeover The Decor Guru

I also added more houseplants to the room. To accommodate the extra plants, I whipped up a few macramé hanging baskets. The shelves I’ve had for some time; I revamped these by painting them with the same wall paint. The milk glass on the shelves add a vintage, yet modern feel to the room.
One of the biggest changes in the decor was in a simple swap of wall art. I originally had my DIY inkblot art hung in the corner behind the sofa, but my DIY distressed Absinthe poster was a much nicer fit.

I also restyled the wall where my TV and Expedit bookshelves sit. To reflect the limited natural light my living room receives, I hung a wall mirror here. The mirror also adds more color by reflecting the hanging plants and the painted accent wall opposite it. More macramé and houseplants were used to help soften all the angles in this area.
That’s it! I haven’t shown you the entrance or dining room yet, as I’m still adding some finishing touches to these areas. Be sure to check back for these updates and more, as I work my way through decorating this new home of mine!

What was your first paint color? What do you think of accent walls? Does your home have an accent wall?

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