How To Paint A Feature Wall: Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-step guide on how to paint a feature wall: Unleash the power of paint

Hello friends, are you feeling uninspired by your living space? Is your home in need of a bold and captivating makeover? Recently I have been feeling as such in my living room. It has been looking very mundane and uninteresting lately. I needed a change, a bold, transformative change. It took months of contemplating how to make this space more interesting. I finally decided to transform the space with a painted black feature wall. This was the best and the most cost-effective way to gain the needed change. Painting a room is one of the most budget-friendly ways to breathe new life into any room.

Incorporating deep rich color in design choices has taken the interior design world by storm. Deep color offers a striking and sophisticated solution to renew a space.

In the realm of interior design, color holds immense power. It can influence mood, perception, and even the perceived size of a space.

Choosing the Feature Wall

A feature wall or an accent wall, is one wall within a room that is designed to stand out. Painting this wall with a contrasting color instantly becomes the focal point, adding depth, drama, and visual interest to the space. It also can evoke emotions and significantly influence the ambiance of a room. It adds depth, creates contrast, and creates a sense of mystery and sophistication.

Traditionally, feature walls were painted in vibrant hues or adorned with wallpaper to highlight a space. The trend of painting a feature wall black has emerged as a bold and contemporary approach.

We have added a feature wall to many rooms in our home. You can see some of them throughout our house here, and here. I also added a feature wall in our bathroom using tile and in our powder room.

First I had to choose the right wall for this striking change. Not every wall is suitable for a dramatic black makeover. Selecting the right wall to paint black was important for me to achieve the right effect. I had to consider the room’s layout, natural light sources, and existing decor.

I was contemplating painting the wall that our large TV sits against to make the TV blend into the wall. But I feared there would have been too much black in the room so I chose to paint the smaller walls with windows. Small steps… This wall was perfect because as soon as you walk into the house, you are immediately drawn to this wall. The wall is broken up by the large white fireplace and two windows with floor-to-ceiling curtains. This provides perfect contrast and interest.

How to prepare your space to paint a black feature wall

After we decided on the wall that was best suited to be the feature wall, it was time to prep. We then took the time to prepare the floors, furniture, and adjacent walls. Proper preparation is key to achieving a flawless finish when painting walls. This included cleaning the wall surface and taping the areas to create a straight painting line. You can cover the floors with rosin paper or drop cloth, we used drop cloths. Once you’ve completed the necessary preparations, it’s time to unleash the power of black and transform your space.

Adding Depth to a Space

Contrary to popular belief, painting a feature wall black can make a small room appear larger and more spacious. The dark color on the wall made our living room appear wider by defining the space. The color created the illusion of depth, tricking the eye into perceiving the space as more expansive.

Lighting Consideration

Proper lighting is important in a room when you’re planning to paint a black feature wall. Consider the light coming from the windows and how it will appear with the dark wall. Ambient lighting from floor lamps or table lamps can create a warm and inviting glow, softening the intensity of the black hue.

Paint and Techniques for Painting

We went to our local Lowe’s Home Improvement store and we looked through so many black paints. There’s such a great selection of paints so taking the time to pick the one we wanted was important. We chose Tricorn Black from Sherwin Williams, which was the perfect black for this space. Painting a wall black requires a careful approach to get good results. First, we cut in (painting along the edges) with a brush. I used this angle paint brush from Zibra Paint and it especially made cutting along the jagged edges of our stone fireplace so much easier. Using a roller for larger areas ensured even coverage and a smooth finish. We applied two coats of paint to ensure the lighter color didn’t come through.

How to paint a feature wall

1. Lay down a rosin paper or drop cloths
2. Lightly sand down bumps on the wall with sandpaper if necessary. This will ensure that you will achieve a smooth finish.
3. Remove any dust or dirt from the walls
4. Apply painter’s tape around the edges and protect adjacent walls that are not getting painted. Do the same with any plug sockets or light switches too.
5. Dip half the bristles of a paintbrush into the paint and wipe off the excess on the rim of paint cup.
6. Use a 2-1/2” paint brush and cut in around the edges of the wall, overlapping the paint slightly with the painter’s tape for a crisp line.
7. After the edges have been painted, put the paint into a roller tray and load the roller with paint. Make sure the roller is completely covered with paint.
8. Apply the paint to the wall with light pressure in a W motion to evenly spread it around.
9. Let the first coat to dry.
10. Apply a second coat.
11. Slowly remove the tape at a 90-degree angle while the second coat is still dry. This will give you a crisp finish. If you remove the tape after the paint dries, it can leave uneven edges.

These Zibra paint brushes were gifted to me and worked so well when cutting the edges.

While the black feature wall will undoubtedly be the star of the show, it should be complemented with the right accents and decor. The stone beige color curtain is a perfect contrast against the black wall.

Transforming the space with the contrasting color gave our white furniture and white fireplace the perfect backdrop. The deep color helped to enrich the visual interest and depth.

Transform your space with a black feature wall

Learning the simple tricks on how to paint a feature wall can make the process easy and fun. Painting this feature wall black was daring but a bold design choice that transformed our living room. It can turn any space into a stunning and sophisticated room. Whether you’re seeking to create a cozy and intimate ambiance or add depth to a small room, this dramatic transformation is sure to leave a lasting impression. Embracing the power of black this feature wall became the canvas for your space.

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