Creating a focal point in a room is sometimes already done for you. If you have a spectacular view or a gorgeous fireplace, the choice is already made. When people enter your room their eyes are immediately drawn to the feature in the room that demands attention – the focal point. Some rooms, though, seem to lack any single feature that automatically draws the eyes of all who enter. In such cases, discuss an accent or feature wall with the real estate stylist you have chosen to help you with the sale of your property.

There are hundreds of ways to set a single wall apart from the others in a room and many are inexpensive and DIY-friendly. We’ve gathered a few accent wall ideas that you might consider as you and your home staging professional prepare your home for sale.

Colour

Paint is one of the least expensive ways to dress your rooms up to add the sophistication and interest of an accent wall.

Painting a single wall in your room a different, more intense shade is an excellent way to add a focal point. You and your home stager may have already chosen a colour scheme long on neutral tones. The reason for using neutral colours in a listed home is to please as many different buyers as possible. Big colours can be overwhelming to some people. Neutrals, however, rarely generate intense feelings one way or another. It is for this reason that professional designers choose to add big pops of colour in throw pillows, art, and furnishings. A single wall that can stand out and give the room new dimension is an excellent way to create interest.

Another way to make the colour on an accent wall stand out even more is to use one of several faux painting techniques or tools to create interest. Your paint store will stock paint roller covers, for example, that are covered with natural sponge. These can be used to roll on a secondary colour over the basic wall colour. The effect can be intense or subtle, depending upon the depth of the accent colour you’ve selected.

Other faux techniques can create the look of stone, wood, crackled vintage paint, or even a foil background to match a wallpaper border.

Texture

Texture is another way to make a wall stand out – sometimes literally – and create interest in an otherwise bland room. Texture can be as simple as changing the finish of the paint on one wall from eggshell to flat or as challenging as covering the wall with timber panelling or shiplap siding. Depending on the advice given by the real estate stylist you’ve put in charge of your home, a little or a lot of texture can add appeal and value to your property. Here are a few ideas.

• Textured paint is regular wall paint to which spackling compound has been added in to make the paint thicker. This mixture, once blended, can be sprayed on using a paint sprayer then left as is, or trowelled over to create a ‘knock down’ effect. It’s a great way to cover small imperfections in the wall.

• Plaster was once the crowning glory of fine old homes. Today’s pre-fab plaster medallions, corbels, and mouldings can transform an otherwise flat and un-interesting wall.

• Wallpaper and/or borders are brilliant ways to create interest in your room particularly if you use the paper sparingly on just one wall. (Think about using the matching border elsewhere in the room to tie it all together.)

• Murals or tromp l’oeil wallpaper elements can serve to fool the eye and create enchanting vignettes that seem to expand the size of the room. Today these products are inexpensive and when applied according to directions, can visually create a view where none existed before, stretching the sense of space in any room.

• Stencils are another inexpensive way to change the look of the room by introducing pattern and colour to a wall without the expense and time it takes to wallpaper.

Creating an accent wall with the help of a staging professional can be an adventure in creativity. We recommend that you consult closely with the real estate stylist of your choice before you attempt any of these projects since the time, trouble, and expense may not be necessary to your particular property. Your house stager is an invaluable asset when it comes to plans that include upgrading or adding value to your home.