Make a Statement With an Eye-Catching Accent Wall

It seems like accent walls are popping up everywhere, and why not? Accent walls give you the chance to express a bold style and give the room a focal point, without having to completely redesign it.

An accent wall is a simple and incredibly effective way of energising a room, however there are a few common mistakes you want to avoid. We've compiled a list of tips, tricks, 'dos' and 'don'ts' to help you with your own accent wall:

Do you even need an accent wall? It probably seems a silly question, but make sure you aren't creating an accent wall just for the sake of it. The most common situation where accent walls are unnecessarily created, and simply don't work, is if the room already has a focal point which works. A large fireplace with an elegant large mirror above it can be more than enough on a small wall; adding vibrant colours or a busy wallpaper can make the room look far too overcrowded.

Why did you that colour? If you opt for a simple coloured painted wall, then you really only have one big decision to make- the colour. When you're in *generic DIY store* choosing paint, there are a few questions you should be asking yourself: Does this colour complement existing furniture/accessories? Will this colour work all year round? Will I end up wanting to re-paint in few months? Is the colour enough of a statement?- If you take all of this into account, you'll be ready to paint your accent wall.

Make it personal. An accent wall is a really bold statement, which is designed to be noticed. Why not make it a little more personal to you? If you want to go for a really vintage contemporary look, why not plaster a section of wall with band or concert posters which are personal to you? If that seems a bit 'rock 'n' roll', cover the whole wall with picture frames of you and your loved ones. If you take a step back, the wall of frames will look amazing, and if you go closer, it will hold so many personal memories.

DON'T ACCENT THE WRONG WALL! This is the the biggest, and most heartbreaking mistake that can possibly be made. The idea of an accent wall is to draw attention to the most interesting area of the room, the area which you would like to be the focal point. Please to plaster a random wall without thinking about how it will affect the composition of the room!