ACCENT WALL PAINTING IDEAS
Adding an accent wall to a room gives it a focal point. It attracts attention just where you want it, can make a room look larger, and can help you to personalize an otherwise boring space. Whether you go with a bold color, stripes, decals, or a mural, an accent wall adds an interesting element to any room. Use these tips for learning how to properly execute a few different techniques that you may want to use on your accent wall.
Personalize Any Room and Accent Decor with These Simple Painting Techniques
Varying Paint Finishes
Changing up the paint finish is a great way to get a subtle, yet distinct, look. Add a glossy stripe pattern on top of a same-color background.
Sponge Painting
For a more subtle change, try a faux finish, like sponge painting. All you need is paint, a glazing liquid, and a sea sponge. Regular sponges are too uniform. Mix half and half glazing liquid and your paint. Use more paint for a more bold color. Wet your sponge and wring out all excess water. Dip the sponge into your paint mixture and dab off excess in your paint tray. Mash the sponge once on a paper towel to get it ready to apply to the wall. Start in an inconspicuous area or master your technique on a spare piece of wood or drywall. Start at the top and work your way down so that you can sponge over any drips. Rotate the sponge with each dab and overlap your marks just slightly to ensure even coverage.
Painting Stripes
Stripes can make any wall pop. Use slightly contrasting colors. Paint the whole wall with one color. Wait a couple of days for the paint to completely dry. Apply painters tape using a level as your guide. This will help ensure that the stripes are even and uniform. When painting the stripe, make sure that your roller or paint brush is not dripping with paint. It's better to use less paint and dip often so that the paint doesn't seep underneath the paint. Remove the tape while the stripe is still slightly wet so that it doesn't pull chunks of dry paint off of the wall.
Stencil Painting
Stencils are a great way to give a room a decorative or sophisticated look. Start by using a level and a pencil to establish a straight guide line for your stencil. Spray the back of your stencil with a spray on stencil spray adhesive. Wait about 15 seconds until it feels tacky. Line it up on your premarked lines. Use a flat ended stencil brush, dip in your paint, and dab off on a paper towel. Punch the paint onto the wall with a stabbing motion or swirl on in a circular pattern. Remove the stencil, spray with adhesive again, and repeat.
Wall Decals
Decals are easy to apply and remove so you can change the look of your accent wall in just a few minutes. Different decals have different installation instructions, so pay attention to the package directions to ensure an even and smooth application.
Wall Murals
To paint a personal wall mural, start with a pencil and outline what you want to paint. Step back and make sure that you're happy with the size and placement of your design. Use your creativity and imagination to create a personal, one-of-a-kind wall mural to accent your room's decor.