:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/accent-wall-ideas-GettyImages-942920076-7049321a6de74b0a83b4536da0002878.jpg "26 Accent Wall Ideas to Help Your Room Stand Out")
It’s funny how just one small design change can make your entire room come alive. Case in point: A bold statement wall. The best accent wall ideas can instantly transform your space, helping to anchor your design scheme, solidify your layout, and draw all eyes into the room. The good news is that creating a memorable (and stylish!) accent wall doesn’t have to break the bank—or suck up your entire weekend.
Whether you’re looking to try out a new paint method or find a home for vintage woodwork, an accent wall can be the easy, impactful solution to your design woes. To help get the wheels of inspiration turning, here are 26 standout accent wall ideas that’ll earn a place on your Pinterest board. From unique wallpaper applications to faux finishes, these clever upgrades will level up your home in an instant.
Keep it Simple with a Solid Color
Life Created
Whether you’re a minimalist or simply want to keep your design streamlined, sometimes just painting an accent wall a singular color is enough to elevate a space. Here, interior design firm Living with Lolo opted for a saturated forest green color in the bedroom.
Soften the Bedroom With Fabric Panels
Kieran Reeves Photography
The accent wall designed by Ashley Ferguson Interiors in this elegant primary bedroom serves multiple purposes at once. Not only does it create a beautiful headboard, but the fabric-covered paneling helps soften the space while creating some insulation for quieter rest.
Hang a Photo Series
Brian Bieder
This fresh take on a gallery wall by interior designer Maggie Griffin feels elevated and playful at the same time. Wainscotting and a neutral paint color set the stage for a series of colorful dog illustrations with matching frames.
Add Textured Tile in the Bathroom
Anastassios Mentis Photography; Design Determination
Architect and design firm Design Determination transformed this New York City brownstone into a modern masterpiece. “We designed an accent wall for the primary bathroom to create a separate space with a spa and a relaxed feeling for bath time,” says founder TC Chou. “With the selection of a three-dimensional tile to provide texture to the bathroom walls, we created a different experience from the everyday routine shower area.”
Paint an Abstract Design
Avery Nicole Photography
Even if you don’t fancy yourself an artist you can recreate this fun, hand-painted accent wall by Blueberry Jones Design. It’s an unexpected approach and bold way to add some customized art to any room in the house.
Create Some Drama in the Foyer
Design Determination
Your entryway is one of the first places guests see, so why not make a bold statement? “We introduced an accent wall at the entry foyer with artisan custom paint finish with glass beads; the pattern is sea grass inspired by the oceanfront nature,” Chou says. “It provides a welcome and leading visual experience to enter and continue to the apartment living space, which has a panorama view of the oceanfront.”
Elevate Niches with Artwork
Jessie Preza
Niches or recesses naturally lend themselves to a wow-worthy moment, so consider leaning into it further by adding some color, paint, texture, or art to the space. Here, Gray Walker Interirors added artwork that precisely fit the space and added a table with fun decor touches.
Create a Photo Moment with Wallpaper
iSPY Home Design
There are so many ways you can use wallpaper in a space, but Catherine Hooper of iSPY Home Design encourages you to get creative. “What I love about this project is the client’s intention to use wallpaper like you would a piece of art, tapestry, or wall moulding,” she says. “This poppy print is almost too large to cover a whole wall; it works so much better as a way to frame sections of her bathroom.”
Use Thrifted Art to Make a Statement
Clay Grier
Who says you have to spend a fortune to beautify your space? Take some design inspiration from Anne Grandinetti of the Ashby Collective and hit the thrift store or antique market. “Many wall décor items in this Texas Ranch are sourced from the Round Top Antique Fair, like the textured baskets, or collectables gathered along the way,” she says.
Infuse Eclectic Flair with Handcrafted Tiles
Taggart C Sorensen
The main living area in this beautiful Villa showcases an entire wall of beautiful pasta tiles handcrafted in Merida, Yucatan. These are a traditional craft that adds a touch of cultural heritage and elegance to the space. “I selected the pattern and customized the color palette to match the colors of the ocean and the jungle that envelopes the space,” says Jenny Blizard, the Specht Novak architect who designed this space for Casa Xixim.
Hang Pretty Wallpaper
Toll Brothers
For an easy way to add pattern and color to your room, look no further than a wallpaper accent wall. While blanketing an entire room in wallpaper can get pricey, sticking to just a single accent wall is a great way to stay on budget while still making a big impact. To ensure the print has synergy with the rest of your space, repeat the colors seen in the pattern throughout the rest of the room. Here, Toll Brothers echoed the soft cornflower blue of the wallpaper through the curtains, upholstered sitting chairs, and even the painted tray ceiling detail.
Create Architectural Interest
Jenna Sue Design Co.
If you have the time (and the DIY willpower), you can create an accent wall that adds depth and architectural interest to your space, like the modern, Mediterranean-inspired bedroom seen here by Jenna Sue Design. In order to bring visual depth to the builder-grade room, Jenna created old-world arches out of plywood and drywall, eventually painting the whole thing with limewash paint for a timeless feature wall that looks like it could have been there for centuries.
Bring the Outdoors In
Madison Bess for The Honest Home
If timeless, nature-inspired design is your thing, look to textural accents like wood or rock to create an accent wall in your home. When it came to upgrading her closet-turned-office, creator Molly of The Honest Home turned to stones to create a centuries-old look. Fun fact: While these rocks look like they were laid by hand, they’re actually faux stone panels, which are lighter-weight and easier to install.
Paint on a Playful Mural
Racheal Jackson for Banyan Bridges
We get it—the thought of painting your own mural can sound intimidating, but some designs can be easier to execute than you think. Creator and artist Racheal Jackson of Banyan Bridges painted a playful squiggle design (affectionately referred to as a “gummy worm”) in the home of a client for an eye-catching and graphic accent wall.
Install an Unexpected Finish
Bert & May
Who says tile is just for bathrooms and kitchens? For a creative accent wall idea, steal a page from the home of Lee Thornley, the founder of tile company Bert & May. He installed graphic tile (from the brand’s Living Etc. Arch collection) behind his bed for a playful and creative twist on traditional bedroom decor.
Stick Up Wall Decals
Minnie and Me Interiors
Whether you’re a renter looking for a less permanent solution or a parent aiming to please a toddler whose preferences change like the wind, decals are a simple and stress-free means of achieving an accent wall. Look for designs that incorporate graphic shapes—like the arch collection seen here from Minnie and Me Interiors—instead of figurines or characters to ensure your application feels chic and design-forward.
Go Old School With a Mural
The Goodies Wallpapers
Decades ago, you couldn’t walk into a home without seeing some sort of mural up on the wall. While the art of hand-painted creations has fallen a bit to the wayside, there are plenty of mural-style wallpapers out there for a stylish (and instantaneous) take on the trend.
Add Modern Paneling
Anita Yokota
To bring visual interest to an otherwise plain bedroom, Anita Yokota (designer and author of Home Therapy) turned to board and batten to create an easy accent wall. “This room was calling for character, and it wasn’t a large space so we knew it would have to be the vertical area of the room that would give us our biggest architectural impact,” Yokota says. “Batten became the perfect solution. It’s a great way for beginners to put their DIY skills to the test, and always results in a beautiful upgrade to a space, without the big price tag.”
Don’t Forget About Your Fifth Wall
Emily Gilbert for Colleen Simonds Design
When it comes to making a design statement, there’s no need to feel closed in by the four walls of your room. Instead, look to the ceiling for an unexpected way to turn the idea of an accent wall on its head—literally. Here, designer Colleen Simonds added a bit of whimsy and wonder to a little girl’s room by papering the ceiling with colorful botanical wallpaper.
Freehand Some Funky Shapes
Ricki Snyder for Hilary Matt Interiors; Styled by Frances Bailey
When it came time to add personality to the den of this Upper East Side home, designer Hilary Matt called on an accent wall of angular shapes to bring edge and funk to the space. To achieve a similar look, go high-contrast with your paint picks (like the taupe and charcoal gray seen here), and make sure your shapes take on a free-flowing arrangement so they don’t look too structured or uniform.
Put Up Planking
Holly Blain for Rusticx Wild Arrow
When it comes to adding texture and old-school appeal, nothing beats a wood plank accent wall. Painting your planks is always an option, but we think they look extra pretty when stained or left raw, as seen here in the home of creator Holly Blain of Rustic Wild Arrow. The end result? An accent wall idea that costs almost nothing (especially if you use reclaimed wood!) and adds decades’ worth of well-worn charm.
Frame Wallpaper Panels
Lauren Shaver for Bless’er House
Here’s another great idea if you’re feeling apprehensive about committing to a whole room of wallpaper. Instead of going floor-to-ceiling with this beautiful botanical print in her daughter’s room, Lauren Shaver of Bless’er House decided to team a Chinoiserie-inspired wallpaper from Rebel Walls with molding for a classically inspired accent wall that’s budget-friendly and beautiful.
Go White on White
Lindsay Harrington for Woods and Ivory
White…for an accent wall? You bet! Sometimes, making a quiet statement can be just as effective as making a colorful, bold, loud one. Case in point? This tonal accent wall from Lindsay Harrington of Woods and Ivory. To bring subtle dimension to her primary bedroom, Lindsay turned to decorative trim painted the same shade as the wall for a soothing, hotel-worthy retreat.
Or, Try Black on Black
Life Created
On the flip side, go bold with black, as pictured in this bedroom designed by Living with Lolo. Wall paneling was added for some textural depth, then the entire wall was painted an inky black. Artwork with black details and a long, black throw pillow help tie everything together.
Lean Into a Complimentary Color Palette
Ashley Maeda
Even a room that’s painted from top to bottom can benefit from an accent wall to anchor the space. In this bedroom by muralist Ashley Maeda, a graphic combination of colors and shapes collide for a bed backdrop that’s both eye-catching and serene.
Try a Paint Technique
Jean Parker for Le Jean Design
If subtlety is your goal, skip the bright colors in lieu of a specialty painting technique, like the velvety lime wash wall seen in this project from Jean Parker of Le Jean Design. Instead of a wall that screams “Look at me!” you’ll score a subtle and sophisticated accent that brings a cozy layer of comfort to your space.
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