Whether you have plans to paint a room in your home or you’re looking for a simple way to amplify a design scheme, accent walls are a great addition to consider.
Accent walls offer the opportunity to create a statement piece or focal point in any room. It makes a conversation starter that your guests won’t forget. It’s a design trend that can be used to bring different colors or patterns together to match your theme. No matter the purpose of an accent wall, it’s designed to give a living space an additional personal touch of style that amplifies throughout the room.
But what exactly is an accent wall, and how can you incorporate this design concept into your home? Let’s take a closer look at what defines an accent wall, different examples of wall accents and how to get your project in motion:
What is an accent wall?
The accent wall is defined as a wall with a different color, texture or design from the rest of the room. Its purpose is to stick out and draw attention to the space, making it a unique focal point out of the four walls.
You can incorporate an accent wall into any room in your home, but it might make the biggest statement in a room that gets a lot of traction, such as the kitchen, living room or family room. The perfect conversation starter in a place to socialize, an accent wall in these areas can make your home the go-to gathering spot for family and friends.
Top 10 accent wall ideas
Interested in adding an accent wall to your living room? Need a new look in your master bedroom? Here are 10 different style techniques to consider throughout your home:
1. A bold colored wall
One of the most common routes to an accent wall, painting with a bold color is a simple way to claim the attention in a certain area of the room. Maybe you want to highlight your fireplace and mantel, or you want to steal the focus away from the television. No matter the reason, painting an accent wall is a quick and effective way to add more character to your space.
2. A wallpaper wall
While many people have shied away from wallpaper based on the horror story that’s related to its removal, today’s wallpaper is more efficient and functional. Wallpaper accent walls are very trendy at the moment, with many homeowners taking advantage of the opportunity to spruce up a small space like the guest bathroom or the home office. But a wallpaper wall can easily fill any space in your home as long as you’re willing to make the effort.
Soft monochromatic wallpaper creates a romantic mood in this bedroom.
3. A shiplap wall
If you love modern farmhouse design and need an accent wall to follow your theme, shiplap makes a great option. A white shiplap feature wall can make a gorgeous statement in a modern neutral kitchen as well.
4. A natural exposed brick wall
If you want to achieve a more industrial modern look in your living room, an exposed brick wall can add the perfect touch to the design.
5. A chalkboard wall
Are you the mother of a busy family? Do you want to incorporate a stylish yet fully functional accent into one of your gathering spaces? A chalkboard wall accent is fun and versatile in so many ways. Create your calendars, to-do lists and so much more, or leave it bare as a clean black slate.
6. A gallery wall
Whether you want to showcase pictures of your family or you want to display your favorite works of photography, a full gallery accent wall can turn heads in your home. This is one of many design ideas that can be used to tell a story in your living space and fill the room with love.
Gallery wall of botanical prints enlivens this foyer.
7. A bookshelf wall
If you’re looking for a fun accent wall idea for your home office or entryway, a bookshelf display across an entire wall is chic and sophisticated. This is a simple way to incorporate more wall decor or wall art into the scheme.
8. A tile wall
A fun and unique option for an accent wall in the bathroom or kitchen is a tile wall. You can match this vertical accent with the tile backsplash in either of these spaces, or you can go in with a completely different style.
A fully tiled wall lends textural interest to this updated master bath.
9. An entertainment center wall
Do you want to incorporate an accent wall into one of your high-traffic visiting spaces? Take up an entire wall with an entertainment center. You can build this directly into the wall to make the most of the space.
10. A mural wall
If you’re a fan of art and want to incorporate a large piece of work into your home, paint a mural wall. This is an impressive option that can bring your living space to life and make a memorable impression on your guests.
How do I choose my accent wall type?
With so many different options for an accent wall, you might feel overwhelmed trying to choose the right style for you. However, your current room setup or design scheme can play a significant role in the end result. As the Spruce suggests, your accent wall should have meaning and bring the rest of the room together:
“Be purposeful when picking your accent wall. Rooms without an architectural feature can benefit from an accent wall, especially one with texture. A wall of windows can also be your accent wall, but be mindful that a dark accent color surrounding windows can create a bright light effect and overwhelm the room.”
It can take courage to design an accent wall.
A wall of windows with stunning window treatments creates a focal point.
Deborah Bettcher of Decorating Den Interiors is always available to offer creative ideas to suit your decor and expert guidance to see the project through!
