I’ve never met an accent wall I didn’t like. I’ve got multiple accent walls in my home and I love every one of them. They each bring a whole new feel to the space. Accent walls are a great way to bring a little pattern or color into a space without the commitment of wallpaper.
By Jenna LaFevor
| Rain on a Tin Roof
MQ5-05
W-F-600
A while back, I painted my stairwell a crisp white – Snow Fall by BEHR. The stairwell is enclosed on both sides and it needed some definite lightening up. Snow Fall did just that. After a couple months though, I realized the stairwell needed something more.
It seemed to be just a white space of nothingness. This was by far one of the easiest accent walls I’ve ever made, but makes a huge impact on the space.
Start by painting your entire space with BEHR PREMIUM PLUS® Interior Satin Enamel paint in Snow Fall and let dry. Be sure to cover your floors with a drop cloth.
Next, be sure all the railings or moldings you are going to paint are clean. Using BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Satin Enamel paint in Limousine Leather, and a paint brush, paint your railings and/or other moldings.
Usually, when you are covering one color with another color on the opposite end of the spectrum (like I did covering white with black), you can bet on a minimum of two coats - sometimes three. MARQUEE covers anything in one coat. It’s a huge time saver.
For the next part of this project, you’ll see that I had to be on a really tall ladder. I’m not a fan of those. That was another reason I went with MARQUEE – I didn’t have to be on the ladder for longer than I wanted to be.
Now comes the fun part - the accent wall!
I promise--you can’t mess this up! I opted to "frame" in my accent wall. I was worried that if I didn’t contain it somewhat, it might take over the whole space, which I didn’t want.
To create a "frame", first run painter’s tape all along the inside edges of the wall you are turning into an accent wall, then run another line of painter’s tape 1" out from the tape you first applied. Use a craft knife to clean up the edges of the tape.
Run a fingernail or credit card firmly along the tape edges to seal it, then using BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Eggshell Enamel paint in Limousine Leather, paint between your tape strips.
Remove the painter’s tape immediately after applying your last coat of paint. Let the paint dry. You can also use this framing technique to frame a gallery wall of art or prized family photos. It would even be a great solution for creating faux molding along walls if the real stuff isn’t in your budget right now.
There really is no rhyme or reason to your circles. Just paint all different sizes at all different angles. Overlap them however you wish – just don’t paint any outside the frame.
Working in 2’ x 2’ feet sections and using BEHR MARQUEE® Eggshell Enamel in Limousine Leather, make about 3-4 large circles with a 2" paintbrush. Come back with the smaller, 1" paintbrush. Continue this until you have filled the space within your frame.
Let your paint dry and accessorize!
Since the stairwell is a small space in terms of width, but very large in terms of height, I didn’t want a bright color taking over the whole space, therefore I stuck with a classic black and white combination.
I brought in red and green shades, other colors that are throughout my house, with the artwork and pillow on the bench. The other great thing about going with a black and white combination is that you can throw any other accent color into the mix and it works. If I get tired of green or red, I can toss in accents of coral or yellow or anything else and it still works perfectly. The black handrails help to tie in the black and white accent wall. Any abstract accent walls in your future?
Find your color, pick your paint, and be inspired.
When you're ready, buy your paint online.
Author
Jenna LaFevor is a mover, a shaker, and freak flag flyer. She loves pearls with t-shirts, Conway Twitty, a good accent wall and 80’s rock. She’s never met a leopard print she didn’t like and always prefers to go bold or go home. Check out her blog, Rain on a Tin Roof.
6 Gallons
OLD SUBTOTAL5 Gallon Bucket + 1 Gallon Can
NEW SUBTOTAL* Important Disclaimer: Coverage calculator results are to be used only as estimates. Behr Process LLC cannot guarantee that you will achieve proper results without verifying your measurements and assumptions.
Get the look you want and the protection you need for any room in your home.
A flat sheen has a non-reflective finish that touches up well and hides minor surface imperfections.
Low-traffic areas; interior walls and ceilings
Ceilings
Medium-Low
A matte sheen has a low-luster, reflective finish that is durable, easy to clean, touches up well and also hides minor surface imperfections.
Low-traffic areas; interior walls
Family rooms, living rooms, kids' rooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, ceilings
Medium
An eggshell enamel sheen has a soft, velvety appearance that resists dirt and grime, as well as mildew.
Moderate-traffic areas
Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kids' rooms, hallways, dining rooms
Medium
A satin enamel sheen has a pearl-like finish that's easy to clean.
All interior surfaces; moderate- to high-traffic areas
Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kids' rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters, interior furniture
Medium-High
A semi-gloss enamel sheen is sleek and radiant resisting mildew, moisture and wear.
Cabinets and trim; high-traffic, high-moisture areas
Kids' rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters
High
Hi-Gloss enamel sheens provide have a brilliant, shiny appearance and a durable, glass-like finish that allows dirt and grime to be wiped clean.
High-use surfaces
Kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters, interior furniture
High
Set the right curb appeal with exterior painting efforts that last.
A flat sheen is non-reflective, and easy to apply and touch up. It will minimize the appearance of minor surface imperfections.
Wood and vinyl walls and siding; brick and other masonry; fences
Medium-Low
A satin enamel sheen creates a pearl-like finish that's durable and dirt-resistant. It will also resist moisture, fading and stains.
Virtually all exterior surfaces
Medium-High
A semi-gloss enamel sheen is sleek and radiant with a hard, durable finish. It is formulated to withstand wear, and will also resist moisture, fading and stains.
Doors, trim and shutters; Exterior furniture
High
Hi-Gloss enamel sheen have a brilliant, shiny appearance and a durable, glass-like finish that allows dirt and grime to be wiped clean.
High-use surfaces
High
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