Most customers who ask us to paint interior walls choose a neutral color throughout the house, typically a light grey, light beige or offwhite. However, a great way to bring color and intrigue into a room can be an accent wall. Accents are typically bold or dark in color and can really make a room “pop.” But how do you decide which wall to use as the accent? There are no hard and fast rules, but based on our extensive experience painting interiors, we recommend a few guidelines to consider: (1) You want to pick a wall that’s a natural focal point. For example, you could pick a wall with a fireplace, or a stand alone wall where a nice piece of art might go (2) Symmetry is important with an accent wall. A natural accent place should be symmetrical within the room, not offset or with doorways on one side (3) Two corners inside the space. Usually well placed accent walls will have a natural corner in the space (4) Make sure the color you choose for the accent wall is a natural complement to the rest of the room. Sometimes that’s a darker version of the surrounding walls. Sometimes it’s a bright complement to the wall color. Often the accent will tie in hues from the furniture or decorations. Make sure the color doesn’t clash with the surrounding space or furniture (5) Typically, the accent color should be 10 – 25% of the overall space in the room. Much more than that and it will not feel like an accent (6) If you have crown molding or insets, you could consider making a ceiling an accented color for intrigue (7) Still confused or undecided? Ask your interior paint company or designer for suggestions if you have questions. If you book a project with Helix Painting, we are happy to provide you with a complimentary Sherwin Williams color consultant. Check out our blog post showing how different color accent walls can change a room. Helix Painting is here to answer your questions and help you through the process. Give us a call or book your free estimate now.