An accent wall can transform a living room from bland to bold, adding depth, personality, and a focal point to the space. However, choosing the perfect color for your accent wall is crucial to achieving the desired effect. The right color can tie your room together, while the wrong choice can create an imbalance or make the space feel off-kilter. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to select the ideal accent wall color for your living room, with some recommendations of Sherwin-Williams paints to consider.
1. Understand the Purpose of an Accent Wall
Before choosing a color, it’s essential to understand the purpose of an accent wall. An accent wall is meant to draw attention, creating a visual focal point in your room. It can highlight architectural features, frame artwork, or simply break up a monotonous color scheme. The color you choose should complement the existing decor while standing out enough to create interest.
2. Assess Your Living Room’s Existing Color Palette
The first step in selecting the perfect accent wall color is to assess the existing color palette of your living room. Look at the colors of your furniture, flooring, curtains, and other decor items. Identify whether your room’s current color scheme is warm, cool, or neutral.
- Warm Palettes: Warm color schemes typically include reds, oranges, and yellows. If your living room has a warm color palette, consider choosing an accent wall color that complements these tones, such as a deep terracotta or a rich mustard.
- Cool Palettes: Cool color schemes consist of blues, greens, and purples. For a room with a cool color palette, you might select an accent color like a soft teal or a moody navy.
- Neutral Palettes: Neutral color schemes include shades like beige, gray, and white. An accent wall in a bold color can add dimension and interest to a neutral room. Alternatively, you can go with a darker or lighter shade of an existing neutral tone to create a subtle yet sophisticated contrast.
Sherwin-Williams offers a variety of paints that can work with each of these palettes. For warm tones, consider Sherwin-Williams Cavern Clay (SW 7701), a warm terracotta that adds an earthy richness. For cool palettes, Sherwin-Williams Naval (SW 6244) is an excellent choice—a deep, nautical blue that exudes calm and sophistication. For a neutral scheme, Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze (SW 7048) offers a dark, warm gray that can create a striking yet subtle accent.
3. Consider the Mood You Want to Create
Different colors evoke different emotions and moods, so think about what atmosphere you want to create in your living room.
- Calming and Serene: Soft blues, greens, and grays are known to create a calming and serene atmosphere, perfect for living rooms meant for relaxation.
- Energizing and Vibrant: If you want to inject energy into your living room, consider bold colors like reds, oranges, or bright yellows. These colors can create a lively, dynamic space.
- Cozy and Intimate: To create a warm, cozy atmosphere, opt for deep, rich colors like burgundy, chocolate brown, or dark green. These colors can make a larger living room feel more intimate and inviting.
For a serene mood, Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204), a soft green-gray, is a great choice. For an energetic vibe, Sherwin-Williams Sunset (SW 6629), a bright and cheerful coral, can make a striking impact. For a cozy, intimate feel, Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore (SW 7069), a deep charcoal, will envelop the room in warmth.
4. Test the Color in Your Space
Once you have a color in mind, it’s essential to test it in your living room before committing. Paint swatches can appear different depending on the lighting, surrounding colors, and the size of the wall.
- Natural Light: How much natural light does your living room get? A color that looks great in a well-lit showroom might look too dark or too dull in a dimly lit room. Conversely, a color that appears vibrant in a small swatch might be overwhelming in a space with lots of sunlight.
- Artificial Light: Consider how the color looks under your living room’s artificial lighting. Warm light can make colors appear warmer and more yellow, while cool light can make them look cooler and bluer.
Paint a small section of your accent wall with the chosen color or use peel-and-stick samples from Sherwin-Williams to see how the color looks at different times of the day. Observe the color under morning light, afternoon sun, and evening artificial lighting to ensure it meets your expectations.
5. Consider the Impact on Room Size
An accent wall can influence how large or small a room feels. Darker colors can make a room feel cozier and more intimate, which can be ideal for large living rooms. On the other hand, lighter colors can make a space feel larger and more open, which is beneficial in smaller living rooms.
- Small Rooms: In smaller living rooms, a lighter accent color can create the illusion of more space. Consider a soft, muted tone like Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029), a warm, versatile gray that adds subtle depth without overwhelming the room.
- Large Rooms: For larger living rooms, you can afford to go darker and bolder. A rich, deep color like Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258) can add drama and focus to the space without making it feel cramped.
6. Harmonize with Architectural Features
Your accent wall should highlight the room’s architectural features, not compete with them. If your living room has a fireplace, built-in shelves, or large windows, choose an accent wall that complements these elements.
For example, a bold color like Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn (SW 7674) can create a dramatic backdrop for a fireplace, making it the focal point of the room. If your living room has large windows with a beautiful view, you might want to choose a color that doesn’t distract from the scenery, such as Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015), a soft, neutral shade that lets the view take center stage.
7. Coordinate with Decor and Furniture
Your accent wall color should harmonize with the room’s decor and furniture. If your furniture is bold and colorful, consider a more subdued accent wall color that won’t clash. If your furniture is neutral or minimalist, a vibrant accent wall can add the pop of color needed to energize the space.
For a living room with bold furniture, consider Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008), a warm off-white that can balance vibrant hues. If your furniture is neutral, a color like Sherwin-Williams Bold Brick (SW 6327), a rich, deep red, can add warmth and vibrancy without overwhelming the space.
Conclusion
Selecting the perfect accent wall color for your living room involves a thoughtful consideration of your room’s existing color palette, the mood you want to create, the impact on room size, and how the color interacts with your decor and lighting. By taking the time to assess these factors and testing the color in your space, you can confidently choose a hue that enhances your living room’s beauty and functionality. Whether you opt for a serene sea salt, a dramatic navy, or a vibrant coral, Sherwin-Williams offers a wide range of high-quality paints that can help you achieve the perfect look for your accent wall.
Remember, an accent wall is a statement, so choose a color that resonates with your personal style and creates the atmosphere you desire in your living room.
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