Ideas for Accent Walls

Here are some ideas for painting accent walls that may inspire you to move forward and create a fascinating area in your home. Ideally an accent wall is used to bring interest towards an area, to enhance objects, furniture and artwork. Just adding a single color to an area will change the dynamics of the space.
The photos below are just the beginning of what you can achieve with paint. There are endless painting techniques which will make your accent wall unique and stand out in a cookie cutter world.

 Solid brick red adds to conversation and appetite, you'll see this color in restaurants,dining rooms and kitchens. If you ask me, red looks great in many areas.
                             

                                         Dare to be different! Add a distressed wall
                  

                                 Ragging technique, lighter glaze over a darker base
 

                                      Distressed stripes add a whimsical feel   

                                              Tone on tone smooshing technique    
           

                                   Accent color taken from fabric, smooshing technique    

                                        Add painted moldings to enhance an area
                         

                                              Sponging technique using glaze

                                                        Faux inside a frame

                                                    Sponging over a light base

                                                          

                                              Multi  framed in areas faux painted                 

                                                            Distressed strie

                                                    Create a distressed faux brick wall     

                                     

                                               Metallic Blue painted wall, crosshatch technique

Faux Painted Marble

                                                              Faux Painted Marble

Faux painted marble can be used in many areas of your home. Boarders of painted faux marble in your bath room are a great way to enhance the architectural lines. Applying this finish to fireplace surrounds, table tops and accent walls will create an air of sophistication at a fraction of the cost of real marble. Follow the steps below and please practice this technique until your comfortable with your results. Examine real marble, this will be time well spent.

Latex paint was used to produce this faux marble shown above. The base coat a blackish green was applied with a muslin roller with a low nap. A dark green glaze is applied randomly with a sponge .   Blend this glaze threw out the surface without it becoming a solid color, leave breaks in the finish. Allow the base coat to come threw while sponging. Keep in mind that each application of paint or glaze needs to have its own shape and size to keep it from forming a pattern.

Before this coat dries apply a lighter green glaze randomly and sponge in to create a 45 degree flow which most marble have. Let this dry before adding the off white. I use an artist angled brush to apply the floating drifts of minerals which you would find in marble. The drifts should be applied over an area of water lightly applied to the surface. Now, you can add color to accent areas of your marble to create a more realistic piece. I use artist acrylic paint to add accent color glazes to add interest.

 Use a cotton swab to move the glaze around and or remove glaze as needed. Veining is not necessary for this project. When all is completely dry apply a couple coats of gloss urethane. Gloss urethane will produce the look of polished marble and become more believable.

See more marble ideas at  http://arrayofcolorinc.blogspot.com/2012/02/marble-faux-boarder.html