15 Gorgeous Accent Wall Ideas

Can we talk about accent walls? I feel like in 2023, accent walls are a bit of a controversial topic. Are they still even in style? Is it totally dated to do one? How do I make an accent wall feel modern and timeless? Well – I think you can assume I’ve got some big opinions about this, and today, I’m here to prove that accent walls are here to stay. I’m also sharing a ton of accent wall ideas to get you inspired.

So, buckle in and get ready for a little bit of soapboxing and a ton of inspiration!

Are Accent Walls Still in Style?

This is the question for the ages. I often hear people talking about how accent walls are dated, out of style, or just not something to be done anymore. And, as I’m sure you could guess, I couldn’t disagree more!

I think accent walls are timeless, and I think when they’re done right they can add so much to your space.

The bottom line? It doesn’t matter whether or not accent walls are in style. Who cares?!

If you love the look, that’s all that matters. I think we’d all be a lot happier with our homes if we spend more time thinking about what we love and less time thinking about what’s in or out of style.

Which wall should be my accent wall?

A great rule of thumb to remember with your accent walls if you don’t know where to start is that your accent wall should be the first wall you see when you walk into a room. This really makes it the focal point and allows it to shine.

Of course, that rule can be broken – I’ll show you an example of that below! But, it’s a good place to start.

A few other things to consider when choosing your accent wall:

• Are there a lot of obstacles like outlets, windows, or doors? This can make it harder to add things like trim or a unique paint treatment.
• Is there a wall that’s naturally the focal point already? This might be due to a unique nook, a fireplace, or some other feature that makes it stand out. If so, run with that one!
• Which wall do you want to be the focal point? It might be different from the natural one, but if you want to shift the focus in a room to a certain spot, an accent wall is a great way to do it!

Accent Wall Ideas

Okay, now that I’ve (hopefully) convinced you that accent walls are a great idea, let’s talk about some ideas. I went through my archives and found 15 accent wall ideas that I’ve done in my house or in friends’ houses. Fifteen different ideas! And those are just the ones I’ve done!

Check out my ideas below, and at the bottom there’s a few more accent wall ideas that I haven’t tried (yet).

Idea 1: Keep it Simple

If you’ve never done an accent wall and don’t know where to start, a great place to begin is just by painting one wall a different color from the rest! This is a really great way to play around with paint colors that might normally make you nervous.

Maybe you want to try incorporating a really dark and moody color, or maybe you’re looking to try something super bright. Either way, an accent wall is a fantastic way to try it out without committing to the whole room. If you just want a pop of color, this is the perfect solution!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ROOM.

Idea 2: Try a Mural

There are a few different ways you can add a mural to your walls. For the accent wall pictured above on the left, I used a projector to paint a map of the world on a wall! Using a projector is a really easy way to get a cool design on your wall without needing to actually have any painting skills.

I’ve also painted rainbows on the walls, or just freehanded some cool designs that made me smile (as seen on the right)! This is a really loose and fun way to create an accent wall and it’s perfect for a space where you want to get a little creative.

Another idea is to create a mural accent wall using wallpaper. This is very on-trend right now (not that we care about that!), and it’s easy to find a ton of gorgeous options. Below, find a few of my favorites.

Idea 3: Use a Stencil

This is the very first accent wall I ever created in any of my homes, and it honestly still makes me smile so big! This was in our living room going up our staircase, and it was something that everyone who visited commented on and loved.

A stencil can feel a little intimidating, but it’s really easy if you take your time, and it creates such a gorgeous look!This is a really heavily patterned look, which is great because it hides a lot of imperfections (and I promise, there are imperfections).

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TUTORIAL.

Idea 4: Paint Some Stripes

We’re on idea number four and we’re still talking about accent walls that can be created just using paint! I mean…if nothing else convinces you that they’re a really affordable and easy way to add some dimension and interest to your home, surely that does?!

You’ll notice that in this space we actually kind of have two accent walls happening. There’s a small nook in Jackson’s bedroom and it felt like a natural stopping point for the horizontal stripes I painted on his walls. So, I wrapped the stripes around the corner and it was such a fun look. I honestly miss this version of his room sometimes!

This is such an easy project – just tape off the stripes and pick a few colors that make you smile. Done and done!

SEE THE ENTIRE PROJECT HERE.

Idea 5: Create a Faux Wood Accent Wall

I’ve done a faux wood accent wall using vinyl planks in my house twice now! Once in Jackson’s room, and once in our laundry room. The image above is a great example of how you can create an accent wall on a wall that isn’t necessarily the focal point. This is the same wall as the door leading into his room, so it’s not the first thing you see. But, it’s the wall where his floating shelves are and it felt like the right spot for a little fun.

Remember – when you’re playing with interior design, the rules are made to be broken. You can make a feature wall anywhere you want, as long as it makes you smile.

Idea 6: Or, Use REAL Wood!

Of course, if you want to add a ton of depth and texture to the space, using real wood is a great way to do it! We added this charred wood accent wall in the bedroom of our first house, and it was such a fun look. It makes the headboard and bedding pop so nicely, and is such a great backdrop for just about any style.

This is a bold look, so I recommend keeping the rest of the space a little more neutral. White walls would look beautiful next to an accent wall like this!

Idea 7: Get Geometric

I created this geometric accent wall in a friend’s room, and it was one of the more challenging projects I’ve taken on, but it was so rewarding! There are endless geometric designs you could choose for an accent wall like this, and you could create it using trim like I did, or just with paint!

If you want to try a geometric accent wall, I recommend sketching out a few different designs on a piece of paper before you dive in. Play around with the angles and styles before you dive in. Painting your geometric pattern on the walls is obviously a much easier (and cheaper) route, but if you go with trim it’ll add a ton of visual interest that’s impossible to beat!

Idea 8: Use Wallpaper

You know I love me some wallpaper. I’ve used it a ton of times over the years and I keep coming back to it because it’s just such an easy way to make a huge impact. Above, you’ll see the wallpapered accent wall in our entryway, but I’ve also done it in a dining room. That one is more of an accent nook, but it still counts!

If you have smooth walls, peel and stick wallpaper is a great low-commitment option that allows you to try it out without the long-term commitment. If you have textured walls like I do, it’s a little harder to use and I recommend sticking with the real thing.

Idea 9: Create a Board & Batten Accent Wall

Board and batten is a really classic wall treatment that will never ever ever go out of style. I’ve used it multiple times in the past, but the first time I ever did it was for an accent wall in Grant’s nursery!

Board and batten looks really impactful when it’s fully wrapped around a room, but it can also be a fantastic accent wall. Bonus points if you have fun with frames on the top of the board and batten and add some wall art for even more interest!

Idea 10: Install Vertical Shiplap

I love a shiplap accent wall. In our bonus room upstairs, we hung shiplap vertically and painted it a moody green – it’s one of my favorite wall colors in the entire house! Eventually I think we’d like to take the green walls and shiplap all the way around the room, but this is a perfect example of how an accent wall can give you the chance to try something out before fully committing.

Shiplap obviously can also be installed in the traditional horizontal pattern, and I’ve even seen people have fun with herringbone, or only install the shiplap partway up the wall. Get creative with it and think outside the box. It’ll make it feel more you, and that’s the whole point, right?!

Idea 11: Use Furniture

You don’t just have to use paint or trim or paneling to create an accent wall. In Jackson’s room in our second house, we created a focal wall where his bed was using some built-in bookcases!

You can click here for all of the details on this space, but we created a built-in bed with shelving on either side. Then, we painted the wall behind it all a different color from the rest of the walls. It created an accent wall of sorts that really made sure this area of the room was the star of the show! This was one of my favorite things about this house. You can also do this with built-in bookcases, a fireplace, an entertainment center, or built-in shelving!

Idea 12: In the Bathroom

A lot of times when we think about accent walls, we focus primarily on the bedrooms, living rooms, and play rooms. But, why not have an accent wall somewhere else…like the bathroom?! The boys’ bathroom upstairs in this house is small and narrow, and I really wanted to add some visual interest.

There’s one big blank wall, and the other wall has everything on it (like the toilet, vanity, etc.). So, I decided an accent wall was the perfect way to create a little balance and make the space feel less visually heavy on one side. It worked like a charm, and it really elevated this builder-basic bathroom!

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS ON THIS ACCENT WALL.

Idea 13: Hang Something Up

Another unique accent wall idea? Create an accent wall by hanging things up! Here, you can see I’ve got a mini accent wall of cutting boards in our kitchen. Other ideas could include an accent wall with curtains (for a wall with lots of windows), a gallery wall, or a wall full of shelving.

Remember – all an accent wall is is a wall that looks a little different from the rest and creates the focal point in the room. This can be done in a zillion different ways, and not all of them require paint or adding anything permanently to the wall! Artwork is a great way to create an accent wall.

Idea 14: Create a Grid

Another favorite trim accent wall I’ve done is this grid accent wall in my best friend’s bedroom. This accent wall design is classic, but feels so modern and fresh! She chose a bright green color that creates such a serene feel in the room, and it’s honestly one of my favorite spaces I’ve designed.

If you want to elevate this design and make it feel a little more traditional, you could add some trim to the inside of the grids (like I did in the bathroom above). This is the perfect example of how any accent wall trim treatment can be adjusted to fit your needs and your home decor style. There’s no right or wrong way to do it!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS PROJECT.

Idea 15: Tile Accent Wall

Tile isn’t just for your kitchen backsplash – you can create a really beautiful accent wall with it, too! Here, you can see that I created an accent wall with a bold black tile in our laundry room. A tile accent wall would also look gorgeous in a bathroom, a kitchen, or even in an outdoor space!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

BONUS: Don’t Forget the Ceiling!

When we talk about accent walls it’s easy to just think about the four walls that surround your room. But, the ceiling is often called the fifth wall for a reason! You can also have a ton of fun with accents on the ceiling, and it’s a bold and unexpected look that I can almost guarantee you’ll love.

Other Accent Wall Ideas…

Need a few more ideas for how you can create the accent wall of your dreams? Here are a few accent wall ideas that I haven’t tried yet but have been dying to!

• Create a faux brick wall. I love this look, and it’s especially fun if you whitewash it to make it feel super weathered. I’ve been trying to find the right spot to try this for years.
• Slat wall. I love a wood accent wall created with smaller slats of wood placed really closely together. It adds a ton of texture and has a mid of a mid-century vibe that I cannot resist!
• Stone accent wall. Perfect for a fireplace wall or a really cozy cabin!
• Use bead board. I’ve used it all over the place in my home (see some examples here), but I’ve yet to use it just as an accent wall!
• Roman clay. I’ve used this on our fireplace and I love the texture it brings to a space. It would make a beautiful accent wall!
• Anything you want. Remember: there are no rules here! Play around with bold colors, unique shades, and wall decor that makes your heart soar. In the end, all that matters is that the space feels like YOU. Get weird and try something new…because WHY NOT?!

Can’t wait to see what sorts of accent walls you create in your home!