Home improvements: Talking accent walls

The colour of the walls in a room can make or break a space’s overall atmosphere. Rooms coloured green can have a calming affect, while red can raise blood pressure (though it’s said to be a great colour for kitchens). That said, it’s always worth considering neutral tones, with an accent wall for an added pop. However, while it might seem less daunting to focus on selecting just one colour for one wall, it’s just as easy to choose not only the wrong hue but the wrong wall altogether.

If you do opt for an accent wall, here are a few things to consider before you take to the brushes. Taking the shape and overall architecture of your room into consideration is important. Figure out which wall works best as the space’s focal point. If you’re looking to accent an end wall, choose warm hues like reds, oranges and yellows, while a side wall should be painted in cooler hues, such as blues, greens or purples. Don’t pick a colour at random. Look around at your home and gauge the colour scheme that’s already in place. Finally, don’t go too light. The point of an accent wall is to grab attention, so go with a hue that’s more vivid, saturated or simply brighter.