An accent wall done correctly adds depth and interest to a room. Done incorrectly, it draws attention to the failure rather than enhancing the space. Color selection for Boston homes has specific considerations that national design guides don't address.
The accent wall should be the wall that naturally draws the eye — typically the wall furniture is arranged against (sofa wall in a living room, headboard wall in a bedroom) or the wall with a focal architectural feature (fireplace, built-ins). Accenting a side wall that isn't naturally focal creates visual confusion rather than emphasis. The decision of which wall to accent should precede color selection — the wall choice is more important than the color. Benjamin Moore color tools →
Boston receives significantly less direct sunlight than cities at lower latitudes, particularly November through March. Colors that look warm and saturated in California read cold and dark in Boston's diffuse gray winter light. When selecting accent wall colors, test samples on the actual wall at multiple times of day — morning, afternoon, and evening artificial light — over at least a week. A color that looks beautiful at 2pm in October can look oppressively dark at 6pm in January. Warmer undertones (yellow, red, orange bases) hold up better in low-light conditions than cool tones (blue, green, gray bases). Sherwin-Williams color visualizer →
Every paint color has an undertone — a secondary hue that becomes visible in certain lighting conditions. A supposedly gray wall can read distinctly purple in warm evening light or green in cool morning light depending on its undertone. Store lighting is typically cooler and brighter than most Boston home interiors. The only reliable way to evaluate an accent wall color is a large sample painted on the actual wall in the actual room — at least 8x10 inches, ideally a full 2-foot square. We apply color samples before any commitment on accent wall projects.
Accent walls in matte or eggshell finish create a sophisticated, subtle effect. Satin or semi-gloss accent walls read as more dramatic and highlight every surface imperfection — appropriate in perfect new construction, problematic in older Boston homes with textured or irregular plaster walls. We use eggshell for most accent wall applications in Boston's housing stock — it provides just enough sheen to differentiate from flat ceiling paint while hiding the texture variations that Boston walls almost always have. InterNACHI painting standards →
Need Accent Wall in Boston?
AURA Painting Inc serves all Boston neighborhoods. Licensed MA #193121, fully insured, 2-year warranty. Free estimates — most jobs scheduled within the week.
Call (617) 777-7700 ← Back to Accent Wall