Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the rule for accent walls?
A. An accent wall is an opportunity to bring a pop of colour and dimension into your palette. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to accent walls, your eye will be drawn there once you walk into the room, so be sure to choose somewhere you want people to focus on. You should also ensure the accent wall isn’t competing with anything else in the room, so be sure to work with the décor and architecture already in the space.
Q. How can I easily create an accent wall?
A. Think about the focal point in the space. It could be a gallery wall, the wall behind the headboard in a bedroom, a wall with a fireplace, or a ceiling with an ornate lighting fixture. Choose the wall with purpose, with the intent of creating visual interest in your space. Once the wall is chosen, head to your locally owned Benjamin Moore store for colour samples, project advice and more.
Q. Should my accent wall be lighter or darker?
A. Look to the colour of the other walls in the space to determine the accent wall colour. We recommend choosing a colour a few shades lighter or darker to create optimal contrast. If walls are a midtone or deeper hue, try a lighter accent wall colour. For rooms with lighter, softer colours, bring in depth with dark, bold accent colours.
Q. Which wall to accent to make a room look bigger?
A. There are no strict rules to choosing your accent wall, as it really depends on all of the design elements in the space as well as the architecture of the room. Contrast can bring dimension and depth to a room, which can help make it feel larger. Generally, cooler colours tend to recede and give the illusion of opening up the space, while warmer colours make things feel cozier. So, choosing a warm paint colour for an accent wall can make it feel smaller than a cooler, breezier hue.
Q. Do you paint an accent wall first or second?
A. If there is a particular colour that you really want to accent from a piece of artwork or textile, choose your accent wall colour first and then your remaining wall colours. If you are choosing an accent wall colour for more of an open concept space, or somewhere that connects several rooms, consider picking your wall colours first, and then your accent wall colour.
Q. How much paint do I need for a feature wall?
A. For a feature wall, also called an accent wall, you will only need one gallon of premium Benjamin Moore paint for two coats, and likely have paint leftover!
Q. Which wall should I choose for a feature wall?
A. Many choose a wall with a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, art, or special architectural details like wainscotting. You can also use furnishings to delineate an accent wall; choose the wall behind your headboard in the bedroom, or add a collection of images and wall décor to create a gallery wall. Most importantly, you’ll want to take into consideration how you use and interact with the space. Highlight walls you want to draw attention to, but avoid walls you’d like to hide or blend into the room.