Jan 06, 2025

Color Blocking Your Walls: How To Incorporate the Look Into Your Home

Color blocking has been a popular trend in fashion since the 1960s, when it first appeared on runways and the streets of New York, London, and Paris. The famous Mondrian Dress exemplifies the iconic style. Soon after, color blocking and geometric patterns made their way into interior designs, infusing a modern artistic flair into trendy condos and family homes alike.

Although the trend has evolved over the years, it's still as relevant now as it was in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Today, color blocking is often thought of as a core feature of mid-century modern designs. But it can be incorporated into a wide range of styles and spaces. In this guide, we’re introducing you to the wonderful world of color blocking your walls with paint and wallpaper.

What Are Color Blocked Walls?

grey and red striped wallpaper

Color blocking is an interior design technique that involves incorporating two or more solid colors into a space. This method is often used to add drama and contrast or highlight certain features within a room. It may involve using multiple colors on the same wall surface to create unique shapes or painting or wallpapering different walls with separate colors.

How To Choose a Color Pallette

a circle of different colors on a table

Selecting a color palette for your walls depends largely on your goals for the space and personal preferences. Are you looking to make a bold statement, or are you interested in adding subtle intrigue.

Here are some popular color palettes for color blocked walls:

Complementary colors, meaning colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g. red and green or yellow and purple)
Black and white
Earthy and neutral colors (beige, tan, cream, olive green, muted orange)
Pastels
Patterned color blocking with multicolored wallpaper
One color in different tones (e.g. dark purple and lavender, blue and navy, forest green and sage)

Color Blocked Wall Ideas

Striped Color Blocking

Color blocked stripes are a chic and elegant way to incorporate different colors into your space. They can also be used strategically to affect the spatial effect of a room. For example, vertical stripes can create the illusion of higher ceilings, while horizontal stripes can make a room feel wider and more expansive.

Geometric Color Blocking

For a bold contemporary look, geometric color blocking is an excellent way to make a statement. Geometric patterns may include regular or irregular shapes. This approach is especially impactful when using dramatic contrasting colors.

While geometric color blocking can be done with paint, you can also achieve the same effect with one or more geometric wallpapers.

Split Wall Color Blocking

Split wall color blocking is when two colors are used side by side on the same wall, but not in a consistent striped pattern. Split color blocking can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal depending on your style. For example, if you have children that share a room, you can use split color blocking with paint or kids wallpaper to provide some separation between each side of the room.

Wall Molding Color Blocking

If your home has architectural molding, color blocking is a great way to highlight this feature and add a bit of dramatic flair. If the room is partially molded, you can simply paint the molded sections of the wall a different solid color than the flat section of the wall.

You can also incorporate color blocking into the molding pattern itself. You can do this by lining the edges of the molding with one color and then contrast it by painting the recessed section with a contrasting color or hanging a unique wallpaper.

Accent Wall Color Blocking

If you’re interested in entering the world of color blocking but still want to maintain a more subtle or streamlined look, then an accent wall is a great option. Accent walls may feature bold, striking colors or classic and versatile tones such as black.

This approach can add depth and interest without completely overwhelming the space. For example, you might opt for a solid color on three walls and highlight the fourth with an eclectic wallpaper design.

Focal Point Color Blocking

Focal point color blocking is when you use the technique to highlight specific features within your space. For example, you might use a different color or wallpaper pattern in a recessed nook or alcove, behind a fireplace, on a bedroom headboard wall, or on bookshelf back panels or stair risers.

Wayward Petal - Chimney Black Floral Wallpaper

Other Ways To Use Color Blocking in Your Home

Color blocking your walls using different paint colors or wallpaper patterns is fun and creative, but it can be time-consuming and often challenging as a DIY project.

There are some other simpler, yet still impactful ways to incorporate the trend. You can try using furniture to color block your space; for example, try incorporating a teal armchair, a yellow loveseat, and a purple sofa. You can also use large colorful wall art to color block your space. For example, paint your walls a burnt terracotta and incorporate muted greens and cream tones with larger canvas artwork.

Another super-simple approach is to opt for a single wallpaper that incorporates color blocking into the pattern. This achieves the same creative look without the need to sketch out your design and paint individual sections of your walls.

Here are a few creative color-blocked wallpaper designs to consider for your space:

Infuse Color and Creativity Into Your Space With Mitchell Black Wallpapers

Color blocking your walls is a fun and artistic way to bring your space to life with different hues. There’s a reason this stunning interior design style hasn’t faded in popularity since it made its first splash in the 1960s. Designers and homeowners are always looking for new ways to incorporate it into their spaces.

At Mitchell Black, we offer an incredibly diverse collection of wallpaper patterns, color combinations, and geometric prints that allow you to incorporate color blocking into your home in a way that speaks to your sense of style and creativity. Not sure exactly what you’re looking for? Schedule a free consultation with an expert through our concierge service.