Choosing an accent wall in your living room can completely transform the feel and aesthetic of the space. The accent wall serves as a focal point and really makes that one wall pop with color, texture or an interesting design. But with four different walls to choose from, how do you decide which one should be the accent wall? Here are some tips to help you determine the best wall for an accent in your living room.
Consider the Layout and Traffic Flow
Take a look at your living room layout and think about the main traffic flow through the space. In many living rooms, the wall behind the sofa or sectional is a prime spot for an accent wall because that wall is already a natural focal point. It’s the first thing you see when entering the room and the main backdrop when sitting on the couch. Accentuating that wall draws the eye and anchors the seating area.
If your living room has an open concept floor plan connected to the kitchen, dining room or entryway, consider an accent wall that faces that open space. For example, painting or wallpapering the wall across from the entryway makes that wall pop as soon as you walk in. An accent wall facing the kitchen or dining room helps connect and unify those spaces.
Conversely, you may want to avoid an accent wall behind or directly beside the TV. While you do want to highlight wherever your media center is, a bold accent right behind the TV may be distracting when trying to watch TV. An accent on the side wall or opposite wall often works better in living rooms with TVs.
Take Furniture Placement Into Account
Look at where your main furniture pieces and focal points are situated in the living room. For example, if your sofa faces the fireplace, an accent wall behind the fireplace balances out the weight of the room. If you have a built-in bookshelf or media center on one wall, consider making that wall the accent to really highlight the architectural feature.
Also look at what walls your furniture is blocking. For example, if you have a bulky sectional sitting in front of one wall, that’s likely not the best accent wall candidate since the furniture will cover up a lot of the accent. Choosing a wall that your furniture is facing is often more practical.
Consider the Windows and Doors
The location of windows, doors, archways and hallways impacts which wall will work best as an accent wall. You generally want the accent wall to be uninterrupted, so a wall filled with a lot of windows and doors is probably not the best option. The accent will look chopped up and pieced together. Consider choosing a more solid, blank wall as the accent instead.
If you do have windows on the wall you want to accent, make sure to paint or wallpaper the wall space between and around the windows so the accent is continuous. You can always hang drapes over the windows to create a more cohesive look as well.
Factor in the Room’s Architecture
Look at the existing architectural details of the room to determine the most ideal accent wall. If your living room has a grand fireplace or beautiful built-ins, accentuating that feature wall makes sense. For boxy living rooms, an accent on the longest wall can give the illusion of length. In small living rooms, an accent on a truncated wall adds depth and dimension.
Consider accent walls that will balance out the size and shape of the room. For example, if you have a long narrow living room, an accent on one of the short end walls adds some width. Or in a large cavernous living room, an accent on a centrally located wall helps draw the eye in and breaks up the expanse.
Choose a Wall Without Complicated Angles or Niches
Look for a relatively simple, flat wall space for your accent. Walls with a lot of architectural details, indented spaces or complicated angles can make accent installation tricky. For example, painting a wall with big bay windows, built-in shelving and angled corners will require a lot of cutting in, taping off and touch ups. Start with a simple, straightforward wall for an easier accent application.
Consider How Much Natural Light the Wall Gets
The amount of natural light a wall gets will impact how the accent color or material looks. For example, a wall that gets a lot direct sunlight may make a dark accent color look lighter than you expect once that sunlight hits it. Northern facing walls with indirect light can soak up darker hues beautifully. Southerly facing walls awash in sunshine lend themselves to lighter or more neutral accents that will pop. Consider the light exposure as you choose an accent wall.
Decide If You Want Your Accent to Contrast or Blend
Determine whether you want your accent wall to sharply contrast with the other walls or harmonize more seamlessly. Contrasting accents really make the focal wall pop, like a black accent on white walls or a bright red accent against neutral walls. Blended accents are more subtle but can still add interest through texture, shape or design, like grasscloth wallpaper against painted walls.
If your living room walls are already very colorful or bold, you may want to choose an accent color or material that blends more cohesively into the existing palette. For neutral living rooms, a contrasting accent often works best to make a statement.
Consider Your Design Style and Overall Vision
Your interior design style and overall vision for the living room should guide which wall becomes the accent. For traditional spaces, an accent wall behind the sofa with some panel molding often looks classic and refined. Modern living rooms may feature a sleek concrete or wood plank accent. Bohemian living rooms can highlight textiles or tapestries as an accent.
Make sure your accent aligns with the mood you want to achieve in the space. Also factor in any other accents or focal points so your accent wall complements existing features rather than competing with them.
Think About How You Will Use the Accent Wall
Consider the functional ways you may use your accent wall in addition to its decorative focal impact. For example, if you’ll be mounting a flat screen TV on the wall, that’s a prime spot for an accent that serves both form and function. Or if you need more storage for books, games or media, shelving or cabinetry on an accent wall can provide that utility.
If you have blank accent wall space to get creative with, think about other possibilities like a chalkboard wall for writing, a gallery wall display or a soothing living wall of plants. Make your accent work for your lifestyle needs as well as deliver visual appeal.
Table Summary of Factors to Consider
| Consideration | How It Impacts Accent Wall Selection |
|---|---|
| Room layout and traffic flow | Choose a wall that aligns with the natural flow of the room and space beyond, like behind a sofa or facing an open concept area |
| Furniture placement | Accent furniture-facing walls and avoid accents behind bulky furniture |
| Windows and doors | Pick solid, uninterrupted walls and accent around windows/doors |
| Existing architecture | Accentuate focal points like fireplaces or builtins and balance out the room’s dimensions |
| Wall angles and niches | Choose simple, flat wall surfaces for easiest application |
| Light exposure | Factor in direct or indirect light when selecting accent colors and materials |
| Contrast vs. blend | Decide if you want a striking contrasting accent or more subtle blended accent |
| Design style | Select accents that align with your interior design vision and aesthetic |
| Function | Consider functional uses of the accent like mounting a TV, adding storage or display space |
Tips for Choosing Paint Colors and Materials
Once you’ve decided which wall will be your accent, the fun begins in choosing the right paint color, wallpaper, tiles or other materials for your statement wall. Here are some tips:
- Select colors that complement your existing furnishings like pillows, rugs and curtains.
- Look for accent materials and patterns that add extra texture and dimension, like faux brick, shiplap wood or embossed wallpaper.
- Test color swatches at different times of day when lighting conditions change to make sure the hue looks as desired.
- Opt for matte, eggshell or satin paint finishes, which are a bit more forgiving on accent walls than gloss.
- Use multiple paint samples on the wall before fully committing to be sure you love it.
- For dark accent walls, go a shade or two lighter than initially thought so the color doesn’t get too overwhelming.
- Check that your chosen accent color pairs well with the other wall colors and doesn’t clash.
- Coordinate accent wall colors with your flooring and cabinetry for a pulled together look.
- Distress colorful accents with white to soften the intensity and add an antiqued charm.
Conclusion
Choosing the right living room wall as your accent can make all the difference in your space. Consider the room layout, architecture, light exposure, furnishings, style and color as you select the perfect wall to give your accent treatment too. An effectively placed and executed living room accent wall can become the dazzling focal point and conversation piece you’ve always dreamed of.