IMO it is dated looking. We have been to a lot of model homes during the search for our new home this winter and I havent seen any accent walls. I do notice that the paint colors are more bold, as well as kitchen backsplashes seem to be over the top.

Thank you, I agree! What types of bold colors are you seeing?

I think it can work...these don't look dated to me at all, but I'm sick of beige, greige, beige, gray, beige rooms. More red accent walls

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Thanks! I do like those but I'm not as excited about them even though red is one of my fave colors. I am also sick of the greige too ..not one wall in my house is going to be grey/greige! haha I'm just not sure what direction I want to take this room. It's a living room/dining room combo. I like to browse the trends and I love color, but, I'm not resonating with what I'm seeing. sighhhh

I have a burgundy accent wall in my DR. I mentioned this once before here and was told how dated and outdated that was. It's my wall and my DR and I happen to like it. It isn't a big wall and on it is a picture that we've had for years and I just hung it there one day while I was shifting art work around and went "wow" because the picture came alive on the wall. The accent wall is still there as is the artwork.

Which is something to consider - why do you (or DH) want the accent wall and what will go with it, on it, in front of it.

Good point blfenton... the wall is in our living room. There is a fireplace on this wall and we plan to mount a tv above the fireplace. I was thinking gold accents elsewhere along the wall and neutral tan and black furniture. DH just wants every wall that color (lol). I was considering it as an option because he likes it and also because I don't want our house to end up being bland and boring.

Well, what's the alternative? I like it, especially with black, white, tan/cream
fireplace accent walls

I bet if you post your wall here, some kind soul would photoshop it as an accent wall in different colors/shades for you to see.

I had a red accent wall about 6 years ago when I went on a painting spree in my house. I loved it! It was a Valspar color. Real Red or something like that. It went beautifully with my golden tan walls. With my new house, I am shooting for more cooler colors, but I loved my red wall.

Any pics of the room(s)?

We had a red accent wall in our last home. I did like it, especially in the winter at night. If this is a room you'll spend time in mostly in the evenings, it can be extremely cozy.

We had a goldish colored couch, and I felt like it worked well with the red wall.

We are building right now as well. We painted our entire living room and carried the same paint color into the kitchen dining on one wall. We used pewter green by SW. We have tons and tons of windows and natural light. I wanted to make it more cozy. I love the color! Not sure what you think of green but it is a dark cool green and reads gray/green and looks sort of blue/green on certain walls. This is not my house but it is pewter green. This photo was my inspiration to use the color.

I don't think good design principles around the use of color in a room will ever go out of style.

I think accent walls can look terrific, esp if they are used in a way that performs a specific function. For example, in an open concept room, painting opposite walls each an accent color can help define separate spaces. In a long narrow room, painting the far wall a dark color can bring it forward and give the impression of a better proportioned room. An accent wall can be a way of adding an intense or deep color without overwhelming the space.

Here's an old thread on the use of color blocking.

Super helpful, thanks everyone! After looking at swatches last night, I'm leaning toward a rusty-brick red. Here is a shot of the wall (it's still a mess due to reno)

I think it'll look great! I also have to say that if my husband got involved to the point where he actually states a decorating preference, I'd be inclined to indulge him. Within reason, of course. This would be one of those cases :)

BM Burnt Sienna?

nosoccermom posted a great picture. With that colour you could leave your fireplace surround white but see how the colours of the wall in nosoccermoms pic are brought into the room with the accent pillows and the candlesticks on the coffee table., it allows the accent wall to become part of the room and not just a stand alone. Great picture.

Take a look at BM Tea Room. Use Aura and it will cover in two coats over any other color. No primer required.

Tearoom

Funny that RoseAbbey didn't see any accent walls on her local home tours and I saw them in every house! Do it if it fits with the overall design of the room/house.

When I was constantly looking at photos of interiors online and in magazines I grew tired of certain looks. Now that I only look occasionally my perception is different.

I have a deep brick red accent wall in my formal living room. It also happens to be a wall with a fireplace. My living room is long and narrow and this wall was the perfect place to add one of my favorite colors without drenching the entire room in red. I recently repainted my entire first floor (with more cohesive thought out colors-compared to what I had slapped up when we first moved in 5 years ago). I had thought about changing this wall because I had read on Gardenweb that accent walls AND the color red are both tacky and no longer on trend. People can be very unkind and judgmental with decorating choices. Ironic because it's such a personal thing. I mean I'm the one that has to live with it right? Ultimately I decided to keep it red (I did choose a better Benjamin Moore color though-Red Rock I think but don't quote me on that because I am not home right now to check). My final decision was based on the fact that I LOVE this color on the wall. It makes ME happy. It looks good in my room. It fits my style. Who cares what others think if I am happy? I am the one living here.

If you like the color and it pleases your husband then I say go for it. Its not like he is asking for something major like cabinets or furniture.

Thank you for your help everyone! We got some samples and ended up going with SW Rustic Red. Can't wait to see it on the wall :-)

Please post because the Rustic Red online has all kinds of different permutations :)

Ok, I will.. it is being painted as we speak!!!

Do you like it so far?

I'm not there right now .. heading there in a few. I did love the little swatch of it I painted earlier today though! It was the perfect warm neutralized red.. not too orange, not too burgundy. I will post pics soon!

Here it is! It was already dark out so this is with a bright light directly on it... I love!!!

Looks great! Is your hubby happy, too? Good choice on the color!

Ohh, very very cool. How many coats did you do? Sometimes with a deep colour more than 2 coats may be needed. But, you'll be able to tell when its completely dry in a couple of days.

Hopefully you'll post pics when it's all dressed up,

Ooooh, that looks very nice. It goes really well with the brick. I too hope you will post pictures when you're feeling more settled. : )

Love it! Great choice and another example of the transformational power of paint. And, yes, please, more pictures.

Thank you! Can't wait to see it in daylight later today, I will post more pics

This is my maroon/burgundy accent wall. 4 coats. I love it. (It has been decorated with shelves and pretties since this pic...)

That's great news! : ) You picked a good color for your space.

That looks even better than your first pic. Fabulous!

Who cares if it's dated or not? If you and DH agree to liking it, then do it. About 7 yeas ago I had the fireplace wall as the accent in a deep red, Ralph Lauren Balmoral Red. I loved it so much I did the bottom portion of the DR, as well as the powder room. If I wouldn't have moved, I would not have change a thing, dated or not.

Thanks, this is my first renovation and I think when I posted the question about it being dated I was just overwhelmed with all the choices I have been making. I'm doing two bathrooms, one kitchen, a dining room and a living room all at once! Its a lot. I lost sight of what I naturally like and want in my own home. Thanks to all for helping me with this! :-)

Oh, do you need any help with your other projects. We stand ready to advise and support.

It looks great!!! What color are the adjoining walls?

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Thank you so much! The adjoining walls are SW Patience like in this photo

Great job! My adjoining walls are a similar color as yours. I just used Benjamin Moore instead (bc the store is much closer-lol). Great choices :)