Jeni’s Design Diary

Yesterday, I got an odd call. My sister was asking me to explain to my dad what an accent wall was. He really didn’t believe that anyone would paint one wall of a room a different color than the rest. He wouldn’t believe my sister or my mom saying something like, “I have to hear it from someone who knows what they are talking about.” He didn’t understand why someone would do that. Good question! Why would they? What’s the point?

Creating an accent wall is an easy way of making a focal point. It’s particularly helpful in a boring room - one without any interesting architectural elements (which sadly is becoming more and more common). You can also use them to embellish an element that you want to use as your focal point; such as a fireplace, “character walls”* or art work. The choice of color used is extreme; anywhere from the strong contrasting hues to extremely subtle changes in shades. Mary Jo Bowling once stated that it’s like, “…applying makeup: Accentuate the best feature.” That’s a great analogy! Accent walls accentuate a room’s best feature.

I told my dad that I they are a fad. I really think they are. This was not a popular thing to 10 years ago, and I don’t think it will be 10 years from now. I think that the first step away from this trend will be to treat an accent wall with something other than paint. (this is already happening…) Instead of choosing a different color, why not decide to use some graphic wallpaper, or create a different texture? I think it would be awesome to have a wall resembling a waterfall.

If this is truly a fad, what will replace it?

Dad did believe me, but only because I could think (given just a few seconds) of four people/families that have painted an accent wall. It helped that I don’t know that many people living in houses.

*”character walls” is my way of describing walls that are oddly placed, shaped or generally have some sort of character. You’ll know one when you look at it and say, “Now why did they do that?!”

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