25 Stunning Accent Wall Ideas for Every Room

Pick a Paint Color

Creating a stunning accent wall can take little more than a gallon of paint and an afternoon of painting. Choosing the right accent wall paint color is important as it will become your room's focal point.

If your existing wall color is warm, you'll want to choose a warm wall color. Be careful even with neutral colors, as they have color undertones that can make your accent wall look out of place.

Add Curtains

Ditch the paint and wallpaper—floor-to-ceiling curtains can add a dose of unexpected drama to a space. These white curtains flow with the rest of the walls, yet the fabric provides texture that still creates a perfect accent wall.

Go Bold

If you're a fan of sit-down family meals or hosting dinners for friends, a conversation-starting accent wall in a bold and colorful print like this multicolored floral number will set the tone and boost the mood.

Try Temporary Wallpaper

Also called "renter's wallpaper," temporary wallpaper is trendy, budget-friendly, removable, and requires no paste or water to hang. Temporary wallpaper is perfect for a stylish look without the commitment to create an accent wall in a room lacking any real architectural features. 

Choose bold wallpaper patterns in vertical stripes to make your ceiling look taller, and horizontal stripes to make your room look larger.

Fake a Brick Wall

Create a low key accent wall that will add texture and character to a plain wall in a living room or home library using peel and stick wallpaper with a brick motif.

Build a DIY Shiplap Wall

Shiplap is not going out of style any time soon. These white planks brighten up any room for a light and airy feel while adding the necessary texture. If you find that actual shiplap planks won't fit in your budget, opt for shiplap wallpaper instead to achieve the board look for a fraction of the cost.

Add Wood Paneling

Everywhere you look reclaimed wood is popping up in home decor. You can easily and affordably add that weathered style to your home by cladding a wall with wood planks.

Try it anywhere from the wall behind the bed to the family room or foyer to create a warm and inviting look. You can also add the look of reclaimed wood to the sides of a kitchen island, a bar, or the back of open shelving or cabinets. 

Use Tile

In an open-plan kitchen, the backsplash functions as a type of accent wall, an opportunity to showcase color, pattern, or texture that will add interest to the room.

If you have the space or the budget, try tiling the entire wall for a dramatic, high-end look. And if you want to achieve the look of tile on a budget, consider peel and stick tiles to create a focal point.

The new peel and stick tiles are much more elegant than past products and include more design options. 

Go Small and Subtle

An accent wall doesn't necessarily need to be large to make an impact—especially if you're dealing with small nooks or awkward spaces. Choosing a color that adds contrast is key. This corner space gets a facelift with mustard brown paint on one side, allowing it to stand out amongst the rest of the white decor.

Use Mirrors

Paint and wallpaper are far from your only option when creating an accent wall. Especially in a smaller room, a wall covered in mirrors can be a game-changer, allowing the space to appear larger. While mirrors themselves can be pricey, there is a budget-friendly alternative—mirror panels.

These thin sheets of reflective paneling allow you to stick the sheets onto the wall to give the appearance of traditional mirrors. They come in various sizes, shapes, and styles that can help you bring your accent wall ideas to life.

Install Board and Batten

Board and batten adds dimension to a flat wall. You can arrange strips in a square or rectangular pattern, or stick to vertical strips like this dining room for a subtle effect.

Paint your board and batten accent wall in the same tone as the rest of the room for an understated feel, or in a contrasting color to make it stand out.

Paint a Mural

If you're feeling artistic, you can't go wrong with painting a mural to serve as an accent wall in a hallway, kids' room, or other space. Keeping the art on one wall keeps everyone's attention focused on the masterpiece, and allows you to make a giant impression without going all out on every wall.

Add Shelving

Wallpaper is not just for bedrooms and living rooms—kitchens can join the fun as well. Pairing colorful, eclectic wallpaper as a backdrop for floating shelves can help the space from feeling too overwhelming.

Additionally, knowing you're only using the style on one wall gives your permission to go outside the box a bit more than you might when having to keep the entire room in mind.

Try a Stenciled Accent

This adorable stenciled wall from Liz makes quite a welcoming impression. Wall stencils are the perfect counterpart to wallpaper that is affordable and easier to apply. Simply find a stencil with a design you like, select a color, and paint the cut out onto your wall for a personal accent wall.

Paint Geometric Shapes

Paint doesn't have to reach all four corners to make an impact. The white wall with a simple yellow circle still creates a contrasting accent, yet still feels cohesive with the rest of the space given that it matches the golden hue on the remaining walls.

The trend of painting geometric shapes on walls, particularly headboards, isn't an unknown concept—but can be applied to other rooms as well.

Try a Brick Wall

We love the industrial vibes that exposed brick accent walls create in loft spaces and older homes. If you uncover the original brick, leave it alone to allow the color and patina to add character to your space.

Modernize the look of traditional brick with paint or a lime wash, as seen here. Or mimic the look with lightweight brick veneer that can be installed on top of drywall.

Layer It Up

Create an eclectic accent meets gallery wall by layering photos, artwork, or other types of decor over wallpaper. You will likely be surprised how many items in your home can easily be added to the concept, as well as how many inexpensive art prints exist online, so you don't have to blow your budget in the process.

Try Felt Stickers

If you're not much of a painter or muralist, but still want to create a striking accent wall in your child's bedroom, try peel-and-stick felt stickers to transform the wall above the bed into a galaxy.

Attach Some Wall Decals

Wall decals are great for adding an accent to your wall that's quick and easy. Try abstract shapes and designs for a bedroom or living room, or colorful, safari-themed decals for a nursery as seen here. Use removable decals if you're a renter.

Highlight Exposed Stone

A stone accent wall adds rustic European charm and texture that will give your space a sense of history. Highlight original stone in an older home or install a stone veneer wall to add character to a newer build.

Combine Textures

This living room includes a working space anchored by an accent wall that pairs warm wood panels and soothing green paint, demonstrating the benefits of combining textures when planning your accent wall design.

Use Vintage Book Covers

If you're big into the DIY scene and want to be a bit more eclectic, then it's time to step outside the norm. This accent wall is covered floor to ceiling in vintage book covers—which can be found inexpensively at thrift shops and donation centers.

Add Wood Detailing

Adding simple wood detailing in an abstract pattern and painting it the same color as the wall adds dimension to an accent wall behind the bed.

This easy DIY requires nothing more than a nail gun and a few strips of wood, an idea that could work just as well in a living room, family room, playroom, or any other space that needs a little oomph.

Make It Two Tone

Painting a simple graphic accent on the wall of this living room home office helps to visually divide the hybrid space while dressing up the workspace to make it flow with the rest of the room's design.

A painting hung above the desk that straddles both the blue and white sections of the wall making it feel pulled together. This is a simple DIY that just requires a small pot of blue paint and some painter's tape to keep the line looking sharp.

Have Fun

In a multi-purpose open-plan space, an accent wall can help define zones. This finished basement is a hybrid space with zones for work and play.

A colorful accent wall with geometric shapes and a friendly wall sign anchors an at-home movie night bar cart stocked with popcorn and candy in the fun zone.