Accent wall

Risk is, of course, a noble thing, but caution is never superfluous. As the aphorism goes, “folly must be done with caution.” This saying would be worth taking into account for everyone who is engaged in or intends to engage in interior design. Choosing a rich palette and dynamic ornament is always a risk. But there is an opportunity to significantly reduce it and play a safe game. “How to do this?” you ask. The answer is simple: know, feel and observe moderation.

Even a small dose of bright, energetic color or pattern can make a very bold statement. Such inclusions are called accents. We have already written about that. This time we will dwell in more detail on such an element as an accent wall.

What is an accent wall?

This is a special wall, different in design from the other walls in the room. An accent wall may differ in color, texture, pattern, and material. The accent can be the entire surface of the wall or only part of it in the form of a wide strip.

What is the point of creating an accent wall? Firstly, this makes it possible to introduce a share into the interior bright color, but in small, strictly limited quantities. In addition to color, you can introduce additional textures, shapes, and lines into the interior. Thanks to the accent wall, the surfaces of the room do not look uniform and flat. The interior turns out to be spectacular and extraordinary.

Secondly, the creation of accent surfaces allows you to manipulate attention. People entering the room will first notice the accent wall and what is next to it. This way you can attract interest to something worthy and divert attention from some unattractive object.

Accent wall in the interior: where and why?

Many people remember well the times when almost every home had a wall hanging. With its help, they created a kind of accent wall - the one that I wanted to especially highlight. Most often, carpet was used to highlight the walls behind the sofa in the living room and behind the bed in the bedroom. It is on these walls that attention is focused in our time. True, they do not use carpets for this, but a combined finish.

The wall behind the TV and is often used as an accent. A slightly less popular option is an accent wall near. In these cases, accentuation helps solve the problem of zoning in the room.

You can accentuate the part of the wall on which you plan to place an expensive painting or other luxurious decor. It is customary to decorate the wall near the fireplace in a special way. Here already we're talking about about solving decorative problems.

Partitions, piers, and projections can also be accentuated. Highlighting these areas allows you to more clearly separate zones and rooms. This option also works for zoning.

Parts of the walls are distinguished in corridors and halls. The area is divided into fragments - this makes the hall not so monotonous and dull.

Accent walls are also decorated in bathrooms. Walls behind the toilet and washbasin, as well as near the bathtub, are often highlighted.

In addition to those discussed, other options are possible. Before deciding on an accent wall, you need to answer the following questions:

• Why do you need to highlight this wall?
• why her and not another?

It should be remembered that the accent wall draws the main attention. If you want guests to definitely notice your collection of still lifes, do not highlight the opposite or adjacent wall. It may happen that the area with still lifes will simply be ignored because a bright accent wall will overshadow it.

Accent wall in the interior: how to highlight it?

Highlighting

Most effective way highlight the wall - decorate it in a bright color. The richer and more contrasting the color of the main finish, the more spectacular the accent. To create such an accent wall, painting or wallpapering is usually used.

There are several design secrets that will help you make right choice colors for an accent wall. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of perception. “Hot” colors visually come closer to us. Therefore, if the room is narrow, you should not paint long walls in a “hot” color. “Hot” colors include red, orange, warm and many of their shades. If you paint a long wall in one of these shades narrow room, the room will visually narrow even more.

But one of the short walls can be made “hot”. Thanks to this, the room will visually decrease in length and appear a little more square.

Cool shades, on the contrary, are able to move away from us. Therefore, for a long wall in an oblong narrow room, it is better to choose one of the cool colors. These include blue, cyan, violet, cold green, and many of their shades.

If you prefer a calm, peaceful atmosphere, choose a color for the accent wall that is close to the dominant color in the room. Look at the color wheel: close or, in other words, similar colors are colors located in the neighborhood.

For example: If the room is decorated in blue tones, a soft green accent wall will be a similar color. The atmosphere will be quite calm and restrained, but the green wall will still stand out and attract attention.

If you want something more energetic and impressive, choose an antagonist color, that is, a color located on the circle opposite the shade that predominates in the interior. For example: if the room is decorated in beige and lilac tones, the accent wall can be made light green.

In a neutral (white, black and white, gray, beige, beige-brown, etc.) room, the accent wall can be absolutely any color - for example, your favorite one.

Highlighting with an ornament or pattern

To make one wall different from the others, you can use not only color, but also drawings, patterns, and ornaments. This will introduce new shapes and lines into the interior, which will allow you to influence the perception of the geometry of the room. In addition, the drawing of an accent wall can work on the idea, creating a particular mood.

For example, an accent wall could be striped. If the stripes are placed horizontally, the accent wall will visually expand, and the room will seem a little more spacious, but lower. In addition, a striped wall will create some dynamics and make the room more energetic.

Floral ornaments will soften the atmosphere. Even if the room contains rough furniture and a large number of technique, thanks to the floral accent wall the room will turn out to be balanced, cozy, pleasing to the eye and not at all rude. But a checkered accent wall in the interior, on the contrary, will add brutality and some stiffness to it.

Read more about the role and perception of drawings, patterns and ornaments in our articles:

Accenting with patterns and ornaments is especially suitable for those who prefer monochrome interiors. You don't have to enter additional colors. Let the accent wall be made in the same color as the rest of the surfaces, but thanks to the ornament, this wall will stand out from the general space and become dominant.

Highlighting with texture

You can rely not on color and design, but on the texture of the surface. Adding new textures to the interior makes it deep, heterogeneous, and interesting. An accent wall can be finished with stone, tiles, mosaics, wood panels, bamboo cloth, etc.

Brick and stone will fit perfectly into both urban and rustic styles. Wood and bamboo will emphasize the rural or natural component. Mosaics will decorate an interior in which the emphasis is on decorativeness and luxury (for example, in the Arabic style).

Highlighting the plot

There is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: highlight a wall, ridding the interior of flat impersonality, and introduce a thematic component into the room. To solve these problems, photo wallpapers are usually used.

If an accent wall is created using photo wallpaper, the decor in the room should be kept to a minimum. And the palette should be quite meager. Otherwise, it will be difficult to avoid some redundancy that tires the eye.

How to choose a subject for an accent wall? If you don't want to contribute additional topic, you can focus on a neutral subject - for example, on an image of plants. To emphasize the modern urban essence of the interior, use photo wallpaper with a fragment of a city street or building. If you want to emphasize the “pastoral” nature of the interior, choose photo wallpapers with a natural or rural theme.

In addition to photo wallpaper, there are other options for highlighting the subject. For example, an accent wall can be papered... . This will support the theme of distant travels present in the interior.

More expensive and incomparable beautiful way creating a thematic accent wall - story painting, fresco.

Accent wall in the interior: what to tie it with?

Is it worth doing something to support the color and pattern of the accent wall? This is optional. An accent wall can stand alone, not depending on anything and not being combined with anything. However, this solution is successful mainly only for light, neutral and rather featureless interiors. If there are several in the room different colors, it is advisable to support the accent wall with something. For example, other accents in the same color: pillows, carpet, lampshade, or even pieces of furniture.

The photo shows a bathroom with dark walls. White ceiling, light tiles, glass and mirrors soften the luxury of black wallpaper with an embossed pattern.

Pros and cons of decorating bathroom walls with wallpaper

Advantages:

• a large selection of patterns, colors and textures from manufacturers;
• originality of finishing, the ability to combine with other materials;
• You can cover the walls with wallpaper yourself without involving specialists;
• cost-effectiveness (when purchasing materials, you can reduce the quantity of purchased tiles);
• easy to change when changing bathroom style;
• easy dismantling, unlike tiles;
• choice special wallpaper, which are resistant to moisture.

On the picture pastel wallpaper with a bright pattern combine with decorative bricks and set the mood in a white bathroom.

Disadvantages of decorating a bathroom with wallpaper if chosen incorrectly:

• high hygroscopicity (absorption of vapors and bloating);
• if ventilation is poor, mold may appear;
• Regular wallpaper glue quickly loses its properties after getting wet and does not protect against fungus.

In the photo, a classic-style bathroom is covered with wallpaper with ornaments. This design is possible with good ventilation.

What kind of wallpaper can be glued in the bathroom?

Moisture-resistant wallpaper for the bathroom must meet the most important indicator that you should pay attention to, this is low hygroscopicity (the ability of the material not to absorb moisture). Those on which the manufacturer gives one of the markings depicting waves from one to three can be considered moisture resistant, where the more waves, the higher the moisture resistance.

Washable wallpaper for the bathroom is one of economical options wall decoration. They are protected by an outer special layer that prevents moisture from penetrating into the remaining layers. They do not swell or delaminate, are resistant to changes in humidity, washing with a damp sponge and removing dirt from the surface.

Liquid wallpaper in the bathroom is applied like plaster, which is based on fabric fibers, glitter and an adhesive mixture. So how are u liquid wallpaper the base is water-based, then after hardening on the wall they need to be coated acrylic varnish(this will preserve the wallpaper and provide protection from moisture). They are interesting due to the variety of the final result and the ability to mix different textures. The resulting result will be unique.

Vinyl wallpaper for the bathroom is a common type when choosing a finishing material. Upper layer consists of a polymer that protects deep layers from steam and temperature changes, and also withstands contact with water, which does not affect its service life and decorative features.

Their disadvantage is their high cost, which is justified by the expected quality. By using special glue, the level of fixation can be increased. For the bathroom, it is better to choose vinyl ones with a non-woven base, which have an additional opaque layer.

Self-adhesive wallpaper for the bathroom are made of a film that repels water and does not absorb moisture. They already have a layer of glue applied on them, so there is no need to purchase additional adhesive mixture.

In the photo, the wall is decorated with self-adhesive wallpaper to match the texture natural stone. They consist of film and are not afraid of moisture, which is important for the bathroom.

Fiberglass wallpaper consists of fiberglass and is impregnated with starch. Do not absorb moisture, durable, environmentally friendly, can be repainted up to 25 times latex paint, which is a particular advantage.

Photo wallpapers will decorate the bathroom wall, provided that they are not located near the shower and are made of durable material (they should not be afraid of moisture). It is best to choose a water theme: river, aquarium, beach, ships, seabed).

In the photo, the sink is protected by a glossy monochromatic mosaic, and the free wall imitates tree trunks. The design of photo wallpaper can be varied, the main thing is that it matches the concept of the bathroom.

Selecting wallpaper color

Using wallpaper in a damp room always involves a combination with plaster or tiles, so it is important to correctly combine these types of finishes in color and texture.

• Wallpaper in bathroom design should be combined with general style, from color palette It is worth paying attention to shades of blue and green, which create the effect of purity.
• In small bathrooms, it is better to avoid deep shades of red, blue and black.
• Beige and nude shades are suitable for classic style, for high-tech, white glass wallpaper is suitable, for Provence - with a small floral print or vertical stripes.
• For medium-sized and large sizes yellow and orange colors that will bring energy and light (in a small bathroom you can limit yourself to bright objects against the background of pastel walls).

3D or photo wallpaper should occupy the entire wall and should not be interfered with by shelves, pipes and other equipment. If dimensions do not allow, then let it be a small painting or two-part panel paintings.

Where can I hang wallpaper?

You can wallpaper the walls near the sink, washing machine, toilets and splash-proof walls. It is better to tile the wall near the bathroom or shower with antifungal glue or putty. If there are free remains of material, they can be used to diversify plain wallpaper, inserting them into the frame.

The photo shows an example of a successful and correct combination of two types of finishes in color and texture: vinyl wallpapers at the sink and tiles in the shower and toilet.

On the picture black and white design, with white dominance. Tiles protect the bathtub and shower area, and realistic-sized patterned wallpaper is applied throughout.

Photo examples of decorating a bathroom with wallpaper

Below are photos of decorating a bathroom with wallpaper of different styles, options for combining them with the design concept and functionality of the room.

Ceramic tiles have been and remain the most the best material for finishing bathrooms and toilets. It is not only practical, but also beautiful. The choice today is huge: a variety of sizes, many colors, and an abundance of decors. I would like to take the opportunity and create something different in the interior of my bathroom - not like everyone else’s. Covering walls with tiles of the same color is an elegant, but rather boring solution. The combination of colors not only ensures the originality of the interior - this scheme also has another advantage: proper layout of the tiles allows you to make the room more comfortable and even correct its shortcomings.

How to combine two or three tile colors so as to achieve not only high aesthetics, but also favorable visual effects? Firstly, it is necessary to objectively assess the “possibilities” of the room: is it high or low, spacious or similar to narrow corridor? You need to immediately decide what nuances you would like to adjust. The tile layout is selected in accordance with the goals.

If there are several basic patterns for laying out tiles in the bathroom and toilet.

Options for laying out tiles in the bathroom and toilet

1. By type of wall panel. This classic solution, which is suitable for any bathroom, regardless of its size and style. It makes the room look a little smaller, but adds volume to it. The scheme is simple: about a third of the height from the floor, the wall is lined with more dark tiles, and above and up to the ceiling - light. The joint can be decorated with a decorative border.

Floors with this layout can match the color of the “panel” or contrast with it - this is a matter of taste.

A bold interpretation - light bottom and darker top. This tile layout is suitable for narrow and very high rooms. A light “panel” at the bottom will visually expand the room, and top part as if it will dissolve.

If the room is very high, you can raise the “panel”, that is, lay out an area not from the floor, but from half the wall or even higher, with contrasting tiles.

2. Horizontal stripes. The top "panel" mentioned above can be classified as this type of layout. Horizontal stripes can be narrow, created from decors, or wide, consisting of several tiles.

The strips can be located on the lower third of the wall, in the middle or under the ceiling. There can be several horizontal stripes, and in different colors.

This tile layout visually expands the room, adding volume and creating a feeling of order.

Popular scheme for a bathroom in modern style: , light walls and a wide strip (for example, in the color of the floor), located somewhere at half the height of the wall.

3. Vertical stripes. This tile layout visually increases the height, adds some monumentality to the bathroom and toilet, but makes the room narrower in appearance. Therefore, this scheme is not recommended for hallway-like bathrooms.

However, if you combine two types of layouts - horizontal and vertical stripes- the narrowing effect can be avoided.

Like horizontal stripes, vertical stripes can be wide or narrow. The length and location of the strips vary:
1. Strip from floor to ceiling
2. Strip “hanging” above the floor
3. A strip that breaks before reaching the ceiling
4. Several stripes starting and ending at different heights.

Vertical stripes, especially multi-level ones, are the pattern most often used for modern-style bathrooms and toilets.

4. Floor with a “border”. The tiles used for the floor extend onto the wall. In other words, a strip identical to the floor is laid along the bottom of the wall, one or two tiles high. A simple scheme that makes the room visually a little wider, but lower.

5. Accent fragments. This tile layout is very popular today. However, it is not suitable for every bathroom.

The scheme involves the use of background tiles to cover most of the surfaces, while functional areas stand out in contrast or decorative tiles(panel). This allows you to zone the space and organize it. However, in small rooms such accent pieces can create disproportions.

For example, a high strip behind a toilet in a narrow one can visually narrow it even more, making the bathroom look like a pipe. If you select several areas in the bathroom, “confusion” may occur.

You should not emphasize more than two or three areas in a bathroom, even a very spacious one. You can, for example, create accent pieces in the area of ​​the washbasin and heated towel rail.

To prevent the vertical accent section of tile from increasing the height of the bathroom, it should not start from the floor. Or, conversely, touch the floors, but do not bring the “focal” element to the ceiling.

6. Equality of colors. According to this scheme, two or three primary colors are introduced approximately evenly, but do not mix with each other. One half of the bathroom is finished with one tile, the other half is finished with another, etc.

In this case, the layout of the tiles is carried out taking into account the location of the elements: for example, the half where the bathtub is installed is tiled with tiles of one color, and the wall opposite it and the areas adjacent to it are tiled with another. The shower area can be highlighted with one color, the washroom with another, and the “locker room” with a third.

The floors can be tiled with tiles of both colors, arranging them in a checkerboard pattern or joining them approximately in the middle.

7. “Patchwork” or “Kaleidoscope”. This pattern involves combining tiles of several colors, alternating randomly or orderly. This is a solution for creative people with strong nervous system, easy to perceive " creative chaos" A cheerful environment in the bathroom or toilet will charge them with positive energy and create a cheerful mood.

8. "Splashes". The main part of the wall is tiled with calm, monochromatic tiles, while several noticeably prominent tiles are introduced, randomly located against this serene background. Accent tiles really look like splashes or drops of color. This effective technique is best used only in spacious rooms. IN small bathroom walls with “splashes” will create a feeling of disorder.

9. Layering. We gave this name to the scheme, which implies the use of several of the listed templates in one room.

Two types of layouts were used: panel type and three accent fragments

Two types of layout: panel type and emphasizing the area behind the washbasin

Accent fragment + kaleidoscope

For example, in the bathroom the following combined layout can be used:“panel” along the bottom of the wall, several narrow horizontal stripes, accent fragments behind the washbasin and heated towel rail.

The larger the room, the more templates can be layered on top of each other. And vice versa: in compact room It’s better to focus on one or two schemes, nothing more.

These are just a few of the possible options layouts. Tile is a “flexible” material in terms of design and allows you to create all kinds of geometric and patterns on the floor and walls: rhombuses, ladders, “ziggurats”, triangles and much more. Remember that than smaller room, the simpler the tile layout should be.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the tiles with which the so-called “screen” for the bathtub is lined. How to include this section in general scheme? It is best to clad the frame in accordance with the basic layout template. So, if a decision is made to lay a “panel” along the bottom of the wall, then the frame into which the bathtub is built can be “sheathed” with this “panel”, that is, covered with the same tiles. If the walls are decorated vertical stripes, the bathtub frame is tiled with background tiles and complemented by a similar strip that can extend to the floor and wall. Using the “equality of colors” pattern, the box under the bathtub is lined with tiles corresponding to this half of the interior. In addition, the frame can be accent, background or merging with the font itself.

Tile in the hallway

Well, modern bathroom tiles definitely can’t be called boring. And the question even arises: what is its main function - to protect against moisture or to bring pleasure to the owners of the house with its appearance? Various colors and patterns, sizes and even materials - the choice of bathroom tiles is huge!

Marble panels and wood tiles in a small bathroom

Do you have a small bathroom in a Khrushchev building? We'll show you a few tricky tricks How to not only arrange everything you need in a small bathroom, but also visually enlarge it. Some ideas won't even require special effort for re-equipment and cash costs. In addition, you will find photos here modern tiles for the bathroom different styles and color design of small bathrooms.

Bathroom interior in Khrushchev with gray mosaic tiles

Contrasting small bathroom with matte black tiles

Gray mosaic tiles for bathroom

Light. Perhaps the most important factor to consider when decorating small spaces. Glossy tiles reflect light; In addition, the glossy surface is easier to care for. Glass door the shower stall and the mirror “deceive” the eye and confuse a person: at first glance it is not clear where the room begins and where it ends. Large catalog of bathroom tiles various styles and from many manufacturers you can.

Bright glossy mosaic tiles for the bathroom

Calm beige tiles for a small bathroom

Best suited for small bathroom walls light tiles. However, it is worth considering that white tiles in a small, poorly lit room look gray and leave a not very pleasant impression. Natural color accents will add comfort. Bright towels, a rug, and beautiful plants will help you with this.

Color accents in the design of a small bathroom

Brown bathroom tiles

Colored textiles transform the bathroom without major expenses

What tiles should I use for a small bathroom? There is no need to limit yourself to single-color tiles. Vertical lines and irregular details visually enlarge the room. Sharp contrasts should be avoided and based on the characteristics of a particular room. Kind of long and narrow rooms will enhance subtle elongated details and patterns. For square bathrooms, rooms on curves or with many corners, tiles with patterns should be avoided. Instead, you can separate the floor from the walls by using tiles in a darker color, such as gray. Use every available niche: hang a cabinet in it or place open shelves.

Vertical stripes of tiles for the bathroom

Floral Bathroom Tiles

Beige walls and blue mosaic tiles in a small bathroom

Bathroom tiles with a delicate floral pattern

And many more photos with options for finishing a small bathroom with tiles

Bathroom tiles in warm colors

Create an oasis in your bathroom filled with peace and security. Warm shades brown and beige give coziness, gray anthracite will add modernity, fashionable sand color will optically enlarge the room. Don't underestimate the power of color. See if you find yours in our photo collection ceramic tiles For bathroom?

Combination of cream and dark orange tiles in a small bathroom

Large gray bathroom tiles and blue mosaic tiles

Classic technique modern designers became an accent wall in the interior. Placing the right accents in a room by highlighting one wall with color or texture is an easy way to create a special, unique living space.

However, the design of an accent wall has its own subtleties and rules. If you want to know how to properly accent a wall, “Dream House” will help you understand this issue.

Creating an accent wall: simple rules

An accent wall can solve quite a lot of problems when decorating a room, if you properly use the basic techniques of interior design. The following rules will help you place an emphasis on the wall, which can not only attract attention, but also improve the design of the room:

• There should be one accent wall in the room, very rarely two. But you should never place three accents on the walls at once - this will introduce dissonance into the room and will look grotesque;
• you can highlight only part of one of the walls, or even focus exclusively on architectural elements walls: arches and;
• build an interior with accent wall possible both in color contrast and in more soft combination tones, depending on the desired effect;
• using warm and cold shades, you can visually both bring the accented wall closer and visually move it away;
• an accent wall is an excellent option for. Using this simple technique, you can designate a relaxation area in the living room or separate the dining area from the kitchen;
• Do not forget that the emphasis on one wall sets the tone for the entire interior, and it is this designer’s decision that can finally balance the design of the room.

Accent wall: interesting solutions and basic techniques

Possibilities modern world when designing an interior, including an accent wall, the options are truly limitless. However, there are always techniques that are used most often.

Color

It can be either contrasting with the main shade of the room or in tune with it. This technique is often used when painting a room or wallpapering a room.

Texture

The accent wall can be in the same color scheme like the rest of the walls of the room, but be decorated with 3D panels, wood, artificial stone, brickwork, mosaic or something else that is opposite in texture to the rest of the walls of the room.

Accent on the wall behind the head of the bed

Print

The color of the room can be identical or different on each of the walls, but one of them - the one on which the emphasis is placed - is decorated with an active print using wallpaper, a specific pattern, etc. Sometimes a graphic design is created on one of the walls.

Decorative elements

You can create an accent on one or two walls without starting a renovation - just decorate necessary walls elements of interior decor. Frames, baguettes, rosettes, photographs, plates, bamboo elements, or soft panels are suitable for this - whatever suits your taste!

Photo wallpapers and vinyl stickers

Accent wall behind the head of the bed

Accent on the wall behind the headboard

Accent on the wall behind the headboard photo

In the kitchen

Which walls in the kitchen are reasonable to make leading? Of course this work zone – kitchen apron, which can act as an accent wall in the kitchen, drawing increased attention to the cooking area.

However, this technique has already become boring for designers, and accent walls designed to draw attention to the dining area.

Accent wall in the kitchen photo