Ideas for Separating One Wall With Paint

Subtle Two-Tone

For a subtle look, separate your chosen wall from the rest of the room by painting it a color that is a shade lighter or darker than the rest of the walls. Keeping the paint colors in the same family creates a monochromatic look for the room, but using a slightly different tone for your focal wall draws the eye to it and separates it from the rest of the room. It is a subtle way to highlight a piece of artwork or item of furniture without creating too busy a look for the space.

If you prefer a stronger look for your separated wall, use a color that contrasts boldly with the rest of the walls. Try a variety of neutral colors for the other walls, such as cream, beige, tan or gray. For your separated wall, you can go bright and funky with shades like red, yellow, orange, turquoise or lime green, or select a sophisticated jewel-toned palette with colors of wine, eggplant, emerald and navy. Painting your wall with a sharply contrasting color typically works best if you are trying to create a separate area in the room, such as dividing a large great room into living and dining areas.

Another way to separate your wall boldly from the rest of the room is to add a pattern. Stripes are an easy pattern to paint on a wall because you can use painter's tape to mark off the different colors and create a straight edge. Give the room a sense of unity by using the color from the other walls for one of the stripes on the focal wall, or you can try a bolder look by choosing entirely different colors that complement the other shade. Depending on the look that your prefer, you can create subtle pin stripes or go wide and thick for a more modern look.

Varying the texture of the wall that you want to separate is another way to distinguish it from the other walls in the room. Faux finishing techniques are an easy way to add texture to a wall with paint. While there are a variety of methods to choose from, sponging and ragging are two of the easiest. Paint your separated wall with a base coat that matches the other walls, or one that is slightly darker or lighter. Next, thin a complimentary paint shade with water to create a tinted glaze, and use a sponge or a rag to press it onto the wall. The finished wall has an interesting texture that gives it added dimension and instantly separates it from the room.