accent
AK-sent
/ˈæksɛnt/
A distinctive feature, detail, or color that stands out from its surroundings; to emphasize or draw attention to.
In decorating, an 'accent' is used in small quantities to break up monotony and add visual interest, such as a single bright wall or a patterned pillow.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'accentus,' meaning 'a song added to speech.' Just as a vocal accent adds a unique tone or emphasis to spoken words, a design accent adds a visual 'song' or emphasis to a quiet room.
Word relationships
- highlight: Highlight refers to drawing attention to something, while accent often refers to a physical decorative object or color that does the highlighting.
- contrast: Contrast refers to the juxtaposition of opposing elements, whereas an accent is a specific element used to create that contrast.
- background: The background consists of the dominant, subtle elements that fade into the rear to let other things stand out.
Commonly confused with
- accessory: An accessory is any extra decorative item (like a vase or clock), while an accent is specifically chosen to stand out and create visual contrast.
Word family
- accentuate (verb): To make more noticeable or prominent.
- accented (adjective): Emphasized or decorated with a contrasting feature.
Collocations
- accent wall
- accent color
- accent piece
- accent lighting
Example sentences
- "The living room was mostly neutral, but we added a few mustard yellow cushions as an accent to brighten the space." Using color to liven up a room
- "They decided to paint the wall behind the bed a deep navy blue to accent the headboard." Designing a focal wall
Memory hook
Just as a vocal accent stands out in a conversation, a design accent stands out in a room. The standout feature.
When not to use
Do not use 'accent' to describe the dominant, main theme of a room; it must be a minor, highlighting element.
Fun facts
- In interior design, the '60-30-10 rule' suggests that 60% of a room should be the dominant color, 30% the secondary color, and only 10% should be the accent color.
Explore more words
enunciate, elocution, articulation, articulate, voice, diction
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