VJ on the bottom of the wall-is this painted the darker or the lighter accent colour?

Answer 1

Dark colors are heavy. Always put dark on bottom and lighter on top. A lot is what you want to accent, make look larger or smaller.
Dark looks smaller and heavier and bolder.
Light looks larger and lighter and more sublte

Answer 2

light on top, darker on bottom. chair rail / baseboards in cream or white.

Be Blessed!