Accent Wall Design: Mistakes to Avoid

American homeowners (and even renters!) are willing to invest a lot in order to make their domiciles more attractive. Since the interior design industry generates approximately $10 billion in revenue every year, it's safe to assume that residents want to live in beautiful spaces. One relatively easy way to improve the look of virtually any room is to add an accent wall. Not only are peel and stick wood accent walls or colorful painted walls simple to execute, but they're a highly effective and affordable way to spruce up your bedroom, living room, family room, or home office.

That said, accent walls aren't a foolproof home improvement project. Although they aren't very complicated to create, there are some design elements you'll want to be cautious of prior to starting. If you make the following mistakes, your accent wall may not have the desired effect you had in mind.

MISTAKE: Your Accent Wall is Too Dark

A peel and stick accent wall can allow you to bring extra texture into a room and even brighten up a space. In some cases, you can also use an accent wall to make a room feel a bit more intimate or defined. However, you shouldn't typically choose an accent wall color or material that's too dark for the room -- especially if this area doesn't get a lot of natural light. Make sure that when you choose your paint color or your peel and stick accent wall planks that the hue will be a good fit for your vision for the room. The wood or color you choose needs to bring some brightness, in most cases.

 

MISTAKE: Your Peel and Stick Accent Wall is a Poor Fit For the Space

Accent walls are often ideal for smaller spaces, like home offices and breakfast nooks. Even when dealing with a larger space, an accent wall can define one specific area. While many rooms are well-suited for an accent wall, that doesn't mean these walls are equally effective in all spaces. Sometimes, large walls in open floor plans aren't the best fit for accent walls, as creating one here could have an overwhelming result. It's possible to install one in these kinds of spaces, but you may need to be a bit clever with how they're installed. For example, shiplap planks may be a better choice than a bold paint color, in these cases. Make sure to map out your design first and to consider all the possibilities for a given space prior to starting your installation.

 

MISTAKE: Your Wall Doesn't Work With Your Existing Decor

The beauty of many peel and stick accent walls is that wood tends to be an incredibly versatile material. Because it's so neutral, it can really fit in with any color scheme or style. That said, you may want to think carefully about the type of wall you're choosing and where it's going -- unless you're okay with completely re-doing your interior design in that area. The bold color you may have in mind might not work in reality with all you already have going on with your decorating aesthetic. Alternatively, the kind of wood you want to use in your accent wall might not totally coordinate with all your decor. You have two options: either embrace a new aesthetic or take your time in deciding on the design of your accent wall to ensure the final result is cohesive.

 

There's no doubt that an accent wall can vastly improve your home's look and value. But before you dive right in, you may want to pause and figure out how to avoid these common mistakes. Once you do, you'll be well on your way to creating an accent wall that fits in perfectly with your decor and enhances the feel of any room.