I admit it. I was wrong. Darn it, and there I was thinking I was on top of my decorating game by telling everyone to just paint their walls white. Easy peasy, right? Well, not so fast, Blanche. I still love white walls 😆 . BUT! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with color if that is what you prefer. You just got feel it in your gut, ya know? I still don’t feel it in my gut to go painting every wall a bright color, but an accent wall…oooo doggy. Let’s do it! Presenting our “Stairway Dark Gray Accent Wall”. Actually, I guess you can say there are 2 accent walls.
Below you’ll see the stairs 9 years ago when we moved in. I fell in love with their craftsmanship and thought maybe we would add a runner, or paint the steps white, but I had no idea how far we would actually go with them. It seems, I just keep going further, and further. I think I may even be obsessed with these stairs.
In our home there are 4 sections of steps just like this…
They lead to the upstairs, and our walk-out basement. They really are the very first thing you view when you walk into our home, and the last thing you look at when you escape. What do you think of the “pineapple” finial? Well, we’ll have to talk about that later because I want to show you the painted dark gray accent walls…
Boom.
*** Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Read full disclosure policy here.
The photo above is looking at the staircase from the main floor family room. The foyer is there to the right where the dark navy rug is. You can see our homemade sidelight shutters there, too.
The photo below is looking down (be careful, don’t get dizzy) from the second floor where we have 4 bedrooms & the “Teen Salon Hang Out“. We recently added the colorful runner on this section of steps after already having it on the section in the above photo for a few months. We kind of procrastinated with that because it was a lot of work removing the old runner we had there. I’m happy to finally have them both covered with the same runner.
Aren’t the colors divine together? The bright pink, blue & purples compliment the wood tones in the steps, and the gray settles it all down and adds a touch of modern. The gold gallery wall is meant to be on a diagonal just for fun, and the gold adds a poof of glam.
Here’s the runner if interested in more details…
So, what do you think about the gray color we painted the 2 walls? I can’t get enough of it. I really really like it. I think it adds depth, and really brings out the colors in the runner. I love how the gold pops on it, too.
I picked out the gray paint color with my husband. It’s called Binary Star and it’s produced by Behr Ultra. We used 2 coats in satin sheen.
Kitty Boo Boo (AKA Forest our rescue cat) above doesn’t care about the paint, but he does appreciate a soft runner under his belly.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW WE INSTALL A RUNNER ON OUR WOOD STAIRS EASILY.
Check out my new e-book here.
Tags: accent wall, gallery wall, paint, Rug, runner, stairs
Posted by
Happy November Julie!
Your newly painted walls look amazing! I love the color, and I agree the stair runner rugs and the gold toned wall accents just pop perfectly!!! Love, love, love it Girl!
Kaycee…it’s about time I got out go that dollar store and did some painting, lol. Thank you!!! XO
Love, love the grey wall and of course, the stair runner! A big way to go! Looks great! Love Behr’s colors.
Thank you so much!!
So pretty! I love that dark gray! Such a beautiful transformation. I really love the beautiful rug on your stairs!
Thank you, Heather!! I appreciate you stopping by!!
I love how everything you put on that wall pops. And that runner with those bold colors really is beautiful. Great job–and I think your cat approves.
Awww… thank you, Vikki!!
I love the new accent wall. The decor at the top of the landing is beautifully done and it shows up great on the new wall color.
Thank you, Charlotte!!
I love the stairway transformation! It’s amazing what paint and a creative mind can do. The dark banister finishes the project completely and is what my daughter has in mind for hers. I also love how you painted the side of the steps white, which flows into the walls. The accent wall and runner give it your personal touch. Nicely done!
Let me know if your daughter needs the bannister color. & thank you!
High drama…love it!
I have deleted drama in my life so now I decorate with it 🙂
I so adore it all!! The total effect is so dazzling!! The accent wall is such a bold statement and the gold accent pieces just made it complete!!I am so in love with your runner ????????
Thank you, Edith!
I like the depth that is added to your decor with this latest project. Comparing the Before and After is a good example of how one “grows up” over time in decor. Probably in real life this entry is even more stunning. It will be interesting to see what you do with this area for the holidays.
Probably just a few candles and that’s it!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the color! But to be honest, I am not digging the black bannister. I think the white would have been more cohesive and prettier. The black just seems to come out of nowhere.
Thank you for your honesty! The bannisters are dark brown. They are meant to match the moldings on the floor (doors are same color) that flow through the house. White wouldn’t be enough contrast for me. Maybe your idea will help someone else though!!
it is a beautiful color and hides finger smudges as well…really does look lovely.
Thanks, Carol!
I love it! It looks sooooo classy!!!!!!
Awww…thank you, Roxann!
When a blogger asks “what do you think of,” I always give an honest opinion. I absolutely love the new painted walls, and the gold accent pieces make a great statement. I’m not a fan of the stair runner. While all the colors complement each other, I feel that the runner distracts from the beautiful staircase and accent walls. My eye goes right to the pink/purple runner and not to the beautiful architecture and stylish wall color.
Just one person’s opinion …..
Don’t ever be afraid to leave your opinion! The runner is not for everyone.
Hey Julie:
Wow you did it again!! Love everything you have done. I wish I had a stair case so I could do the same.
I know it’s your Thanksgiving soon, so I am sending you early greetings from Canada. We have had ours.
Cheers, Bette
Hi Bette!! Happy belated Thanksgiving my Canadian friend!!
That looks beautiful! ❤️
Awww, thanks Kristen!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Thank you, Mickey! Happy to hear from you!
I like the runner on the stairs, the gray accent wall……but the items hanging on the accent wall is just ‘confusing’ for me. I am looking for a theme and it doesn’t seem like it is there. It looks as though you went through your house (or some place) and selected a lot of different things to hang on the wall. I just cannot find the cohesiveness of the design on that gray wall. Perhaps something on the walls to pick up a couple of colors in the runner rug along with some white on the gray wall. All of the gold items are just not pretty on a gray wall. Silver or a silver metal, again with some colors from the rug would have been better. Just my opinion.
Hi, Virginia! I almost deleted your comment, but figured I would educate you on cohesive design. I try to inspire my readers to decorate more from their heart than from a stuffy perspective. The theme, is “family”…the F is our last name initial, the photo with the gold frame is one of my favorite photos of the four of us picking apples, the angel above us is from my brother who passed from Aids in 1995 and happen to love angels, the photo on the floor is my beautiful Mom & her siblings back in the late 40’s, the deer antlers are real and my loyal husband’s, the antique WHITE clock was my mother’s and I cherish it, the gold mirror my husband and I started out 30 years ago with that on our wall when we had close to no furniture, the arrow is for fun (imagine THAT!), the Dream Big message is for my children as they rush down the steps every day, and the big star in the middle is the love exploding from my heart for my family & my life. So, although you are confused about it, I am not. When I asked folks to tell me what they thought, I wasn’t asking for rude “just my opinion” opinions. I definitely don’t expect everyone to love my choices, that would be silly. However when you comment/leave your opinion on my blog, I expect kindness, and maybe even a little class or sensitivity. Words like “confusing” and “not pretty” are down right not welcome. If you desire matchy matchy hotel decor, please do not waste your time searching for it here.
It’s an absolutely beautiful update and I love all the pieces you chose that have so much meaning to your family. I’m sorry people leave rude comments. Blogging is meant to be our happy place! Keep up the great work which inspires so many of us!
So sweet, Michelle! Thank you!
Hello Ms. Julie,
Regarding your accent wall: I wholeheartedly agree that reader comments should be tactful & courteous, not rude. I applaud your reply!! Your blog is one of my favorites & your projects “knock it out of the park”!!! Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Anna! Happy early Thanksgiving! I can’t believe I just said that. Where did time go!
Love it!! I love how the colors work together!! I love how the gold items pop against the wall! Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful ideas!!
One of my clients is re-branding and completely redecorating her boutique – her inspiration for the whole project? A paint chip called Amazing Gray! That color is the basis for not only the new store look, but the merchandise she plans to carry. We are developing a house branded jewelry line centered around the this fantastic color – it truly has a ‘vibe’ that translates well beyond paint on a wall . Thanks for sharing your project, I will share it!
Wow, I just can’t believe how rude some people are but what am I saying, yes I can. Loved your reply and that runner on the stairs is beautiful along with all your other treasures.
2 words for your wall décor; Amazing & Stunning. Love the gold accents on your beautiful wall.
I kinda figured out what some of your collage items where on the wall but not all, so I’m glad that you went through and explained them all which gives a much better understanding of your wonderful family items/ memories.
Thank you, Colleen!!
[…] DIY Gray Accent Wall […]