DIY accent wall - paint a pattern to look like wallpaper

A DIY accent wall is a perfect way to add interest to your space. Accent walls can be as simple as painting one wall a slightly different shade than the rest of your room, to using a different (more bold) color, to adding pattern or texture on the wall.

When I was searching for accent wall ideas, I came across so many wallpapers that I loved, but they can be expensive. The accent wall I did in my daughter's room, was worth the investment, but in our recent under stairs closet makeover, I couldn't justify the price of wallpaper so I came up with a DIY accent wall to create the look of wallpaper for less.

Supplies for a hand painted accent wall:

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Interior wall paint: I used Behr Marquee Key Largo
Small artists brush: I used a brush from my kid's art supply bin. I chose one that was flat on one side, the thickness I wanted my lines to be.
Pencil
level

How To Paint A Geometric Lines Accent Wall

What I love about this geometric accent wall is that close up you can see the detail, but when you stand back, the pattern fades into the background and doesn't look too busy.

Step 1: Plan your pattern

Using a sheet of paper, practice your imperfect line pattern to make sure you like the look.

Tape the paper to the wall and stand back.

Do you like the pattern? The thickness of the lines? Are the lines big enough to show, but when you stand back do you like the scale of the pattern?

Step 2: Plan your lines

Starting at the top of your accent wall, decide how long you want your imperfect lines to be. I used my iphone as the length of my lines.

Using a level and a pencil make tiny marks along the width of your wall to indicate where you'll want your fist line of lines to stop.

You don't want to draw a solid line because it won't be covered by paint.

Once you have your first level line of marks, you can use the original item you indicated the line length with to work your way down your wall so you have indicators of where you'll stop each row of lines.

Step 3: Paint your lines

Starting at the top, start paining your imperfect lines. To get a good end result you'll want to start and stop each line at a slightly different spot.

Make sure you have enough paint on your brush and move your brush directly down and then back up.

Once you're done with your first row, move to the next row.

You'll use the stopping point of your first row as a guide for the starting point of your next row and the small pencil marks you made to know where to stop the lines.

The imperfectness of the lines comes from the fact that each line in the row doesn't start and stop at the same spot.

Tip: Stand back every so often and make sure there’s some consistency, but don’t focus on getting it too perfect.

When you're all done, stand back and see what you've accomplished! An accent wall that makes big impact, but didn't cost nearly as much as wallpaper!

How to paint a wall to look like wallpaper

I love the pop of color this hand painted accent wall gives this space and it's just enough pattern when you stand back!

See how this under stairs closet looks all finished with really good storage solutions!

Want to learn how to create a color palette you love, even if there are colors in your home you can’t change? Click here to learn about my course, Color Made Clear