# How should this accent wall get painted?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [September 19, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327 "2010-09-19T22:13:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/1 "2010-09-19T22:13:35Z")
My apartment bathroom is going to get an accent wall painted (dark brown FWIW) and the wall we want painted has an odd protrusion where the shower starts. I can’t decide if I want the paint to continue over the protrusion and into the shower (or if that will look strange) or if I want the paint to stop at the protrusion (or if that will look even stranger). Any interior decorating advice? Here’s a picture (we’re obviously getting the wall with the mirror painted):
[ ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/2 "2010-09-19T22:18:28Z")
Paint only one plane per room as an accent.
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### Author:  [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/3 "2010-09-19T22:21:55Z")
So are you saying stop at the 1-inch protrusion since it counts as a different plane?
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### Author:  [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/4 "2010-09-19T22:37:33Z")
I agree - stop at the shower section. It’s a different section of the room anyway.
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### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/5 "2010-09-19T23:38:47Z")
Designer here, stop at the protrusion.
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### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/6 "2010-09-19T23:47:17Z")
Missed the edit window, painting that wall dark brown will visually shut down the space, IMO.
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### Author:  [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/7 "2010-09-20T00:06:33Z")
> [@PlainJain](#):
>
> Missed the edit window, painting that wall dark brown will visually shut down the space, IMO.
Agree completely (although I realize you didn’t ask!) and why on earth would you want to paint the wall of a bathroom dark brown… but I digress…
Also agree, stop at the protrusion.
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### Author:  [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/8 "2010-09-20T01:29:42Z")
No, no, this is good! I know nothing when it comes to colors. I’m guessing you’re saying the space will be shut down because dark walls make rooms appear smaller? I can actually choose from five colors that they’ll paint, here’s an image of them:
[ ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)
Any suggestions as to what _would_ look better are gladly accepted (minus the green, which the kitchen is already being painted). Luckily, the shower curtain and rug seems to already include variants of all the colors so it looks like they’ll go with anything. And thanks for the free interior decorating advice! 🙂
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### Author:  [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/9 "2010-09-20T01:33:55Z")
I think the amber is pretty, might reflect nicely on the faces in the mirror.
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### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/10 "2010-09-20T02:25:34Z")
Of the colors available Amber is your best choice. You are correct in guessing that a dark color will make the space seem smaller. Also it will be darker which is not a good thing for make-up application, shaving, etc.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/11 "2010-09-20T03:02:24Z")
Yes. Stop at the protrusion.
Also, I’d choose the amber first, followed by the red. After that, the green, then the blue. The brown would be my last choice, at least in that amount. The only reason I can think of for that much brown is if you’re expecting to have to hide brown stains on the wall…
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### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/12 "2010-09-20T03:11:08Z")
To expand upon my answer a bit, neutral, light colors are best for a base regarding paint. If you want to use dark accent colors choose towels, rugs and art for that. If your tastes change it is easier to change towels than repainting.
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### Author:  [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/13 "2010-09-20T11:37:56Z")
Of the choices, amber, but I would look at lighter colors. That shade of amber is still heavy for a small space. You’re really better off keeping all the walls one lighter color, and as PlainJain suggested, using darker colors for the accent pieces. The single color will keep the room brighter and make it appear larger. You’ll close yourself in with a dark wall.
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/14 "2010-09-20T12:07:47Z")
I guess I’m the dissenter here. I love the brown, and think it will look very nice and dramatic there, in a really warm, intimate way.
[Here’s an even smaller bathroom with a dark brown accent wall](http://hazelbloom.typepad.com/the-hazel-bloom/2009/11/the-powder-room.html). Lovely, IMHO. I think it actually opens the room up more than a solid light color would, with that big mirror there and lighter walls on the sides. The brain interprets “darker” as further away, like the end of a hallway or deep box, making me think the room extends back further than it does.
I wouldn’t use the brown on the whole room, but as the accent, behind a large mirror, I think it’s a great look.
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### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/15 "2010-09-20T14:07:31Z")
> [@WhyNot](#):
>
> I guess I’m the dissenter here. I love the brown, and think it will look very nice and dramatic there, in a really warm, intimate way.
> [Here’s an even smaller bathroom with a dark brown accent wall](http://hazelbloom.typepad.com/the-hazel-bloom/2009/11/the-powder-room.html). Lovely, IMHO. I think it actually opens the room up more than a solid light color would, with that big mirror there and lighter walls on the sides. The brain interprets “darker” as further away, like the end of a hallway or deep box, making me think the room extends back further than it does.
>
> I wouldn’t use the brown on the whole room, but as the accent, behind a large mirror, I think it’s a great look.
The link you provided was to a powder room. That’s fine in that application as it’s not the primary place for grooming.
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### Author:  [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/16 "2010-09-20T20:31:49Z")
I like the brown, too. Safe, light neutral colors get pretty darn boring. The small bathroom that Whynot linked to is gorgeous.
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### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/17 "2010-09-20T22:39:10Z")
> [@PlainJain](#):
>
> > [@WhyNot](#):
> >
> > I guess I’m the dissenter here. I love the brown, and think it will look very nice and dramatic there, in a really warm, intimate way.
> > [Here’s an even smaller bathroom with a dark brown accent wall](http://hazelbloom.typepad.com/the-hazel-bloom/2009/11/the-powder-room.html).
>
> The link you provided was to a powder room. That’s fine in that application as it’s not the primary place for grooming.
I don’t see why the powder room/full bath distinction would make much difference. What does strike me as huge is that the powder room is shown with a window and the OP’s bathroom is not. A room with no windows “closes in” much more easily than a room with a window. Also, the OP scenario envisions a _long_ wall as the dark accent, whereas the powder room’s is a short.
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### Author:  [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/18 "2010-09-20T22:55:08Z")
I’m no designer, but I’d pick that brown over the other colors any day. That amber looks like a Mexican restaurant. . .
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### Author:  [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-this-accent-wall-get-painted/554327/19 "2010-09-20T23:16:42Z")
It’s hard to tell from the pic, but how far ‘down’ does the drywall part go? All the way down to the floor, or is there a few feet of tile just out of view?
Reason why I ask is that can really alter how the room will look/feel with a bold and/or dark color on it. I’ve got [this](http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Valspar-5004-6A-Spa-Green-p/mpc0099725.htm) color on the walls in my bathroom, and it actually wound up making it look bigger. But that’s because the (slightly off-)white tile goes not-quite half-way up, and the white walls looked ‘squat’ above them.
(If the link doesn’t work - ‘spa green’, 5004-6A, Valspar paint.)
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