Decorative walls are popular in living rooms and bedrooms, but the idea of enhancing a wall can also be extended to those in bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, or studies, and can change the size, shape, and atmosphere of a room depending on which is chosen and the color used. You have endless options to enhance a wall; here’s how to create one that makes your space stand out.

To decide which wall to work on, if you haven’t already, take a step back and look at the room as a whole to see which walls catch your attention first, the room’s built-in features, and any existing focal points.

• The hardest part is adding a touch of color or an element while choosing a wall you want to stand out or become a focal point: it is usually the one that first catches your eye when you enter.
• Look for an architectural feature that could benefit from an accent wall, particularly one with texture, like a fireplace or a built-in bookshelf: enhancing this type of wall will further highlight those features.
• Avoid choosing an asymmetrical wall, such as one whose shape is influenced by a sloping ceiling; you might inadvertently highlight the part of the ceiling that borders the wall.

Tips for Enhancing a Wall

• Don’t Forget Texture

Besides changing the color of a wall, you can also change its texture. Consider using wood, stone, or tiles; you can add a brick veneer, or enhance a brick wall with large shelves or furniture that can function as a decorative wall in a room lacking an architectural feature and/or storage space: it could thus become a gallery packed with photos and artworks or even a wall covered with fabrics; perhaps you could add a wall-mounted fireplace for an addition of texture and color.

• Enhancing a Wall in Neutral Rooms

It is possible to add a bold color to a room without it overpowering the space, as long as the choices are targeted. A wall with a dark or black shade will not capture much light and will not steal your attention given its naturally matte finish, so counterbalance the hue you have chosen by adding the same color or similar tones elsewhere in the room.

• Consider the Other Wall Colors

Take into account the color of the other walls, a small tip: they look better when adjacent to walls in a light to medium shade. The contrast of a bright wall against white can seem very modern, but also bare; here our suggestion is to balance the strong color of the wall to be enhanced with other neutrals on the other walls or whatever works best with your tone.

• Don’t Just Think About Walls

The ceiling can be your wall to enhance, by adding paint or wallpaper or perhaps white crown moldings: this intervention will help separate the wall color from the ceiling and create a truly elegant final look.

Photo credits: house and home /remodelista /