Choosing An Accent Color

Choosing An Accent Color

Question: Hello- I have been researching to find out which wall to paint an accent wall in my bedroom. The color I chose is a latte color and my furniture is a dark french roast color. I thought the latte and one Mocha accent wall would look good plus it would accent the furniture. Question is which wall?? The room layout is four walls in a square. No weird angles. As you enter the room the wall to the left has two windows. The bed centers this wall with a window on each side. On the far wall is one window on left and to the right a door that goes out to a deck. A dresser sits in-between the two. On the far caddy corner is the entrance to the bath. The wall on right of entry is plain except for closet on the far left. The entry walls is plain except for the entry door that sits on the right side of the wall. My thoughts are to do the darker color on the wall with bed. Is that correct?? Also I want to make the room look bigger then it is. Any suggestions??

Answer: Hi Tara,
You are in the fortunate position of not being able to be "wrong". This is completely a preference issue. It's your room, do what you want. But here are some things to keep in mind while making your choices.

Bright and light colors make a room look larger. Darker colors make a room look smaller. A dark wall will make it appear closer than it is. Colors on the same wall as windows appear darker because the light coming in is so much brighter than the light in the room. Walls with a lot of light on them appear lighter. You may have to make some compromises to get a better balance of colors.

What I have noticed is that on walls with window light shining on them from the adjoining wall has a very nice mottling effect from the window. The color is bright and light next to the window and gradually gets darker the farther away you go. This is a great place to put a complex paint color with several underlying hues. The underlying hues come through next to the window and the dominant color takes over somewhere down the wall. Add colored curtains and it could either add to or ruin what you are trying to achieve.

If you like the dark color of the furniture but want that open feeling a lighter wall color gives, you may want to use the dark color in other accents. Things like picture frames, vases, lamps or throw pillows make nice accent colors.

Good Luck,

Tim Hoeffel
Better Painting
Colorado Springs, CO