Idea to steal: Color accent instead of painting the whole wall

Whether magnetic, for scribbling or simply as decoration – with this DIY idea you can set colorful accents on white walls

Are you obsessed with color and need a change? Instead of painting the whole room in one color , save yourself time and effort: accentuate the wall with a color area and create a colorful highlight that looks more than just chic!

Inspired by...

...this simple color square. The interior design from Vint agency originally applied it as a test coat. The apartment owner liked it so much that he left the gray area on the wall. Whether as a color accent, uncomplicated wall decoration or background for pictures and notes - a color area like this brings verve and freshness to your home without changing the entire feel of the room like completely painted walls.

What you need:

a brush or a paint roller
the desired color (e.g. wall paint, chalkboard or magnetic paint)
Ideally: the original wall color (to pre-paint the edges)
Painter’s tape for masking the painted surface
Ladder (or a telescopic pole for the paint roller)
Newspaper or foil for the floor and wall area below the paint surface to protect against paint splashes

Costs:

depending on the paint manufacturer and the size of the wall surface, from 15 euros

Here's how it works:

Preparation:

1. First, think about the color, shape and size of your area. Function also plays a role: chalkboard or magnetic paint can give the area an additional use.

2. Then mark the corner points measured with a folding rule or tape measure with a soft pencil. Then tape off the edge of the area with masking tape - a spirit level will help you to place the edges precisely and straight. Important: Before masking, the surface should be dust-free and dry to avoid later stains and unevenness.

3. Move all furniture in the immediate vicinity a little to the side or cover the objects with foil. The floor must also be covered. Painter's fleece is best for this. It is also advisable to cover the wall area under the planned paint area with foil so that no paint splashes land there. Simply attach the foil to the lower masking tape.

Painting a rectangle of paint:

1. Do you still have the original wall paint to hand? Then you can achieve the best result if you first paint the adhesive edges with this paint. This seals the adhesive joint and ensures a sharp edge and the new wall paint does not run.

2. When the paint has dried, repeat the process with the new wall paint. Tip: For the fine work, use a brush rather than a paint roller, as this makes it easier to control the paint application.

3. Once the edges have been painted, the entire area can be painted. You will be finished in no time because it is only a section of the wall. Depending on the quality and opacity of the paint, a second coat may be necessary.

4. When everything is dry, remove the masking tape and erase the pencil marks - your painted area is ready!

Variation 1: Blackboard surface

The colored surface is particularly practical as a notepad. Whether it is a weekly plan, shopping list or drawing wall for the little ones – the blackboard will definitely never be empty.

Variation 2: The background

A colored surface is also ideal for highlighting certain areas. Here, a large grey rectangle brings together helmet and coat hooks, shelves and picture frames, making the individual elements part of a whole.

Variation 3: Surface puzzle

If you dare, you can of course combine several colors and surfaces with one another. This great idea for wall design plays with different surface sizes and accentuates the individual shelves of the String shelf .

Have our ideas inspired you to get started yourself? Or have you already designed a color surface that you would like to show us in the comments?

Author

Elizabeth Demolat

Elizabeth Demolat is a Foodie, travel and lifestyle writer. Elizabeth loves exploring new destinations. Right now, Elizabeth is focused on finding cool local spots and taking trips through the southeastern Canada.

View all posts