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Design Dilemma
sirgregory1294

Accent wall color?

10 years ago
So I've finally decided to do an accent wall in my room. The alabaster color feels drab as the room doesn't get too much natural light. So someone suggested either a colorful paint or a grey. What's your favorite color? Or do you suggest a different color all together? I'm looking at Sherwin Williams paints. Colors from left to right: cloudburst, monochrome, & amalfi. Also do you suggest painting the other walls a different white/color or leaving them alabaster?
Featured Answer
  • 10 years ago

    BM After Midnight.


    Very nice with the gray and not too dark.

    Comments (64)

    • 10 years ago

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    • 10 years ago
      I went with B.M. Newburyport Blue in the bedroom with white wainscoting. I thought originally it would be very dark, but turned out not to be the case.
    • 10 years ago

      Gregory, take your pillowcase to the SherwinWilliams store and ask them to match the dark stripe. Use that color on one wall only. You could use some art over your bed.

    • 10 years ago
      Hi, when trying paint samples, take a large white piece of cardboard and paint the sample on it. Then tape it to the wall and move it around the room during the day in different lighting. When you apply the sample directly to your current color you're not getting the true color.
    • 10 years ago
      Hey Sandy, okay thanks! I'll try that.
    • 10 years ago

      Please don't do an accent wall. This is such a dated and amateur look. Walls should be light and bring in your pattern and color in art and accessories.

    • 10 years ago
      I was going to suggest navy as well. we did bm hale navy in our office (tiny room) and it looks awesome. I think your headboard would really pop against it
    • 10 years ago
      Paint the whole room a single color and add curtains. I would avoid super dark colors since it doesn't look like you have trim to offset the color and add interest. Move the curtain rod as high as you can get it and the curtains should extend to the floor. Add color and texture through some nice accessories. Throw pillows, art, etc.
    • 10 years ago
      And I agree on adding wall mounted bedside lamps.
    • PRO
      10 years ago

      Monochrome

    • 10 years ago

      What's important when painting an accent wall is: 1. discover the undertones in the Alabaster paint (which I can't do looking at it online. 2. find a complimentary hue to the Alabaster, one with the same undertones. I have Benjamin Moore's Yarmouth on my lr walls and so my accent wall needed to have the same gray undertones. When I tried colors I liked, BM's Blue Danube and others, I came back to the problem of complimentary undertones.

      I prefer the middle color by far. Also, it coordinates with your bedding. My inspiration for color is often hgtv's Fixer Upper and Alabaster is a typical color for Joann's paint.

      Here are some suggestions. I like how this blogger decided on colors. She eliminated ones that weren't right and put the others side by side and went with the compromise:

      SW paint is great. But check out BM's Historical, Williamsburg, and Darryl Carter colors. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/darryl-carter-colors-accent-dark, darryl Carter has some paint colors that I think would work well as accents to your paint.

    • 10 years ago

      Also: accent walls aren't "out", they're done better than before. Less jarring. And, please don't do blue - you have beautiful choices that will work with your paint. Important to use the accent wall color somewhere else in the room, preferably in two places. That way you have the color used three times - always good to go with odd numbers in design. Paint frame, fabric for a chair - nothing elaborate.

    • 10 years ago
      So bottom line you think I should do grey? Those are so really great suggestion btw thank you!
    • PRO
      10 years ago

      Gregory, why have you discarded the advice given on your other post (s)?

      What happened to your kilim ideas?

      Multiple posts annoy respondents. They, (I), spend time with you and then you move on....

    • 10 years ago
      No Judy not trying to annoy respondents or forgetting the Kilim idea just wanted to do a new post for the accent wall color suggestion. Because there are new respondents for every new post. I appreciate everyone's ideas and want to incorporate all of them. :)
    • 10 years ago

      Gregory, I found your other thread. The problem when you start a new thread is that all the other information and suggestions are lost. We can't very well suggest an accent wall color in isolation without knowing what else you have decided or what direction you want to go for the room.

    • 10 years ago
      You will have lots of advice, but it will be very hard to follow and no cohesiveness. Try deleting one of your posts.
    • 10 years ago
      I think it would look awesome and so smart if you left all the walls and add black accessories, like big black and white canvas above your bed, black bedside lights, white curtains with black trim, cool bedding, and a big sheepskin rug on floor or end of bed or on a black chair, so many options, good luck
    • 10 years ago
      I hear you guys. I will continue posting updates on this thread for the remainder of this project. I'm really loving the idea of doing the accent wall navy blue. I know it may make the room feel even darker but it sounds kind of cool too. I think the bed might really pop against it, and it will give a masculine vibe. Gray would be neutral though and more flexible I suppose.
    • 10 years ago
      Can anyone suggest what color white to paint the walls if I do the navy accent wall. I want a bright more truer white. If I just ask for regular white paint at my local hardware store will it have too much of a grey undertone?
    • 10 years ago


    • 10 years ago
      Ooh love that orange-ish color! What color is that?
    • 10 years ago

      Gregory, I hope that you stick with the bedding that you have now. It's very nice, and masculine.

    • 10 years ago
      Yes I like it too! I think it's very versatile. I feel like I could add a cool pop of color to it too with pillows or a throw.
    • 10 years ago
      if you want a very white white try bm distant gray. we used it on all our trims. super white works as well. lots of people love decorators white but I feel it leans gray.
    • 10 years ago
      this is bm hale navy in our office. very small room but we really love it. lighting goes in tomorrow! we chose an industrial looking brass fixture because I love brass with navy.
    • 10 years ago

      Gregory, I have no idea what that rusty color is. I just manipulate colors till I get one I like. It's up to you and Mr. Sherwin Williams to figure out how to get it in the can. ;-)

    • 10 years ago
      Wow cool color! Love how you painted the trim navy too! I think I'd be too scared to do the whole room this color though. Because again it's a north facing room, but I'm so eager to try it anyway haha. Because it's such a cool color! :)
    • 10 years ago
      Haha okay will do! ;)
    • 10 years ago

      Also, FWIW, Gregory, I never just do part of a room. I do everything at once--decor, art, textiles, paint, lighting and furniture--because if you change one thing, it affects everything else. So if I were you, I would not paint until you have a plan.

    • 10 years ago
      Hmm okay. Good idea. Budget wise I can't do everything right now, but I think I have in mind what I want now. Definitely more modern rather than farmhouse rustic. Cool task lamps or hanging wall lamps. A really modern picture above the bed, and maybe a Kilim pillow or rug. That's what I have in mind. Love these inspirations pics
    • 10 years ago
      you can totally do the one wall like the inspiration pics someone posted above. I like your existing bedding. I'd add some side sconces and art.
    • 10 years ago
      Any ideas for color of the wall art? Or any specific ones come to mind? I want something fresh and modern. For instance this awesome orange canvas. Not that I want an orange painting. But i just want something that has a cool graphic like that. I'm even thinking black and white would look cool if I do the wall navy.
    • 10 years ago

      Check out this guy's work:
      Canvas Wall Art by Michael Tompsett — iCanvas · More Info
      This eco-concrete would work well in your room:
      Eco-fiber Cement Jagged Side Table (Vietnam) - 16374720 - Overstock Shopping - T · More Info
      Love these egg carton lights:
      Seletti Egg of Columbus 1 Light Mini Pendant | AllModern · More Info


    • PRO
      10 years ago

      Green

    • 10 years ago
      So I tried the navy color. This one is In the Navy by SW. I kind of think it's dark, but at the same time I love it. I feel like it will make the room feel more masculine, I'm just worried about making the room feel more dark. What do you guys think?
    • 10 years ago
      I like it a lot. particularly against your headboard's wood color. If you do the one wall I don't think it will darken the room but what kind of light fixture do you have? I'd advise against edison bulbs as a main light source. we just installed a brass light fixture with edison bulbs and it's way too dark but I think my bulbs are low wattage. I'm going to experiment with a higher wattage bulb and we are adding sconces as well.
    • 10 years ago
      Thanks! Wow that's a beautiful light fixture though. I want to add wall sconces too. I'm also going to install a shade or blinds to bring in more natural light rather than curtains. Well I might just take the leap then and paint the wall Navy. :)
    • 10 years ago

      You should go ahead and paint it! I mean, why not? In order to choose a white for the other walls you have to see what all of the hues are in this particular navy. You can ask the paint store for what colors they put into it, but that can be misleading. Is it a navy with some royal blue undertones? Black or grey undertones? From this point you can find a white that with complement the navy. Also, SW makes great pamphlets and you could find a navy with coordinating whites that way. Also, with different light sources, colors will look different.

    • PRO
      10 years ago

    • 10 years ago
      I love the navy. Looks great. Curious about how it works in a low light room since that is what we have in our home.
    • 10 years ago
      Great idea with the coordinating colors! Thanks for that! And I'm curious too! We'll see how it comes out. Haha
    • 10 years ago
      So I went for it! Big reveal coming soon :)
    • 10 years ago
      Well it's night time but already the difference is huge. I feel like this is my space now, and I love it. I also took the liberty of buying a nice new rug and a plant for the dresser. Now I'm just on the search for wall art above the bed and a lamp. Thank you guys so much for all the suggestions! The navy color was genius whoever suggested it. Which many of you did I believe. And moving the dresser back was also the right thing to do.
    • 10 years ago

      Wow what a difference from your before pic. Shows what a little paint and moving furniture can do. I love it!

    • 10 years ago
      Thank you!! :)
    • 10 years ago

      Very nice, and the dresser is back where it belongs. You also need a piece of art for the wall that is opposite the window - so 2 pieces of art.

    • 10 years ago

      Nice work! I would also get curtains that extend all the way to the floor - or perhaps better - add a fabric panel in an accent color to the bottom of your existing curtains. Panel should be 18" tall or so.

    • 10 years ago


      Canvas Wall Art by Michael Tompsett — iCanvas · More Info

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