Bold and Beautiful Accent Wall Ideas to Make a Statement

An accent wall can change the look and feel of a room. Try one of these incredible ideas to create a focal point in your home.

Painting all of your walls the same color is boring. Having an accent wall can create a bold statement and a focal point in the room. The old school method of creating an accent wall is to paint one of the walls a second color. But with today’s modern design trends, there are plenty of other options available.

Consider one of these accent wall ideas for your home. Choosing the right accent can enhance the overall feel of your home, whether it be rustic, elegant, playful, or modern.

1. Enhancing Your Space

Adding a brick or stone accent wall to your room can add texture, neutral color, and warmth to the room. It’s perfect for creating a rustic feel. There are three ways you can go about adding this type of accent wall.

The first way is to expose the stone or brick used in the construction of your home. You can expose it on one wall and create an authentic accent wall. Embrace the imperfections and authenticity of the bricks and stone.

If your home isn’t brick or stone, another way to create the look is with either faux brick or wallpaper. Both of these let you create a realistic look without the expense of using actual bricks or stone.

Faux brick and stone come as a series of panels made of cement board. The high-quality versions of faux panels come with patterns to create a realistic look. Some only require adhesive, and others require a thin set to mount the panels on the wall.

If this is too much work, the easiest way is to use a wallpaper printed with a brick wall or stone pattern instead. While it will lack the texture and three-dimensional aspect that the faux panels have, it’ll still give you the same visual effect.

Modern dining room with an accent wall, long table, leather chairs, stone fireplace, and view of a sleek kitchen

Cozy living room with a gray armchair, accent brick wall, plants, framed art, and a patterned round rug

Modern living room with accent wall, stone fireplace, large windows, gray furniture, and wooden shelves

Cozy bedroom with a brick accent wall, large windows, and a neatly made bed with lamps on nightstands

Elegant living room with a white sofa, accent wall, wall-mounted TV, chandelier, and large windows letting in natural light

Modern living room with beige sofas, stone accent wall, and dining area in the background; warm lighting and sleek decor

Cozy living room with a brick accent wall, fireplace, comfortable sofas, and a glass-top coffee table

Modern bathroom with a stone accent wall, freestanding bathtub, and wooden vanity topped by a large mirror

Cozy attic bedroom with an accent wall, bed, wooden bench, small desk, and bright window light — happybeams/Instagram

Stylish bathroom with dual sinks, oval mirror, freestanding bathtub, accent wall, green plants, and herringbone tiles — redbricks_lifestyle/Instagram

Brick fireplace with TV above and greenery on the mantel, framed by an accent wall and large windows on each side — spacefordreaming/Instagram

2. Creative Geometric Patterns

If you like the idea of an accent wall but want something subtler, try geometric accenting. This is a modern take on wainscoting. You’ll use thin wood strips to create a geometric pattern across the entire wall.

What’s nice about this is that you can paint the wall any accent color you want and still create the geometric pattern. So you could have a bold and bright color or a black accent wall.

You don’t have to get fancy with the design; a simple square pattern is achievable by anyone. Place evenly spaced rows both horizontally and vertically across the wall. For something slightly more elegant, you can place these two sets of rows at 45-degree angles to create a diamond pattern.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with the shapes you make. You could create lines going in multiple directions. This will create a variety of geometric shapes.

When creating your shapes, consider the size of the wall. The width of the wood trim strips that you use needs to be proportional. The same goes for the size of the geometric shapes you create with the strips.

If you have art you’d like to hang, you can create subtle “frames” around each piece to create a gallery wall effect. If you plan to do this, keep the accent wall color neutral so that it doesn’t conflict with the art you’re hanging.

Modern bedroom with a striking accent wall, dark bedding, and minimalist decor

Cozy room with a patterned armchair, large clock, and plants against a dark textured accent wall

Bright bedroom with a geometric accent wall, large windows, white bedding, and a wooden nightstand with a lamp

Modern bedroom with green accent wall, white bed linens, two nightstands, lamps, artwork, and small plants — abstratman/Instagram

A blue accent wall complements dark wood flooring and a white rug — edgehilldesignsllc/Instagram

Bedroom with lush accent wall, plush headboard, green bed runner, decorative pillows, and modern decor with plants — onceaplotnowahome/Instagram

Living room with gray sectional sofa, round wooden coffee table, plants, and a striking dark accent wall — ourrojas_homeadventures/Instagram

3. Artistic Expressions

A mural is a great way to create an impressive focal point in a room. The most common place for a mural is in a child’s bedroom or playroom. But this isn’t the only place you can use a mural to create a statement wall. They can also look beautiful in your living room, office, hallway, or bathroom.

If you’re especially creative and crafty, then you could paint the mural yourself. There are also plenty of tutorials online to show you DIY accent wall ideas for murals.

A stencil is even easier to do yourself. Buy a stencil that will create a pattern that you like. Then work in sections across your wall as you tape the stencil, paint, and then move the stencil to the next position.

However, not all of us have the creativity, skills, or time to create a custom mural. Don’t fret, you can still enjoy the benefits of a wall stencil or mural. Some websites sell wallpaper specifically designed to be an accent wall. You’ll select the size of your wall, and they’ll show you what your mural will look like. All you’ll have to do is install the wallpaper in the correct order.

Modern bedroom with mountain accent wall, teal bedding, gray pillows, and an armchair by a window with a small table

Modern bedroom with geometric accent wall, cozy bed, gray bedding, and sheer curtains on a large window

Safari-themed bedroom with an accent wall mural of a giraffe, zebra, and lions above a bed with decorative pillows — jj_homeaccount/Instagram

A cozy room with an accent wall, rattan mirror, green lamp, and a bed with a teddy bear and doll — lana_rose_interiors_staffor/Instagram

Child's room with mountain mural accent wall, white bed, dinosaur decor, and playful bedding in blue and green tones — malmesbury_home/Instagram

A large ornate mirror reflects plants in black pots on the accent wall; abstract face art decorates it — number.fortyfive/Instagram

Cozy room with a wooden table, plant, woven basket, and a large nature-themed accent wall mural — our_home_on_sandridge/Instagram

Cozy living room with a beige couch, accent wall, patterned pillows, and terrazzo wallpaper. Large window and rattan light fixture — redbricks_lifestyle/Instagram

4. Vibrant Transformations

The easiest way to breathe life into a plain white wall is to paint it. The best part about painting an accent wall is that you only need enough paint for a single wall and not the entire room. Think about the color scheme of the room when deciding on your paint color.

The simplest approach is to paint the entire accent wall one color. But this isn’t your only option when it comes to painting your feature wall. Another simple option is to create stripes. They could be wide and few of them or skinny and numerous.

If you’re painting an accent wall in your master bedroom, you could paint a shape on the wall to frame your headboard. This could be a larger rectangle or a half-circle creating a halo effect around your bed.

One creative option is to create geometric shapes with paint. A simple method is to take masking tape and create your desired shapes. Then paint the empty spaces around the tape with different paint colors. Finish by pulling the tape off and enjoying your new wall.

If you decide to create vertical or horizontal lines, be sure to use a level. This will ensure you have straight and level lines. If your lines are off, this will become even more noticeable once you’ve painted.

Modern living room with an accent wall, TV, wooden console, chair draped in a red blanket, and plant on carpeted floor

Minimalist bedroom with a woven headboard, white bedding, modern chandelier, and small plant on a side table — mihogartienealma/Instagram

Cozy bedroom with a geometric accent wall, wooden beams, bed, ceiling fan, window seat, and natural light — elkislandrustics/Instagram

A hallway with a polka dot accent wall, large arched mirror, white cabinet, vase with greenery, and woven floor lamp — itskaterinarose/Instagram

Minimalist room with a hanging chair, wooden chest, and framed artwork on a vibrant pink accent wall — mihogartienealma/Instagram

Bed with pink pillows and geometric wall art in black, gray, pink on the accent wall — paigevictoria92/Instagram

Room with an accent wall design, paper lanterns, pillows on a white bench, and small flowers on a side table — redbricks_lifestyle/Instagram

Bedroom with a green accent wall, queen bed, patterned bedding, two chairs, lamp, and balcony sliding door

Modern living room with an accent wall, geometric art, gold decor, vibrant plants, and blue armchairs

Cozy bedroom with a wooden bed, vibrant wall art, potted plants, and an accent rug on a tiled floor

Cozy office with a beige couch, brown chair, and accent wall window featuring geometric drapes

Modern living room with an accent wall in purple, gray sofas, and a sleek TV unit under skylights

Modern dining room with white chairs, wooden table, accent blue wall, hexagonal decor, and a small table with plants

Modern living room with white sofas, a turquoise accent wall, large windows, and minimal decor

5. Personalize with Style

Decals and stickers are easy, quick, and temporary accent wall ideas for creating a beautiful focal point. Both are made out of vinyl material with adhesive on the back. To install them, you’ll peel the paper backing off of the decals and stick them onto the wall. You’ll need to smooth them out by rubbing from the center outward to push the air bubbles out.

There are thousands of decal options ranging from large designs that take up the entire wall to small one-inch dots. They come in every color possible and come in themes from geometric to floral and everything in between.

Don’t be afraid to be creative in how you apply your decals and stickers. You could take a systematic approach and evenly place the decals across the wall to create a pattern. Or you could take a free-form approach and randomly place them on the wall for a scattered look.

Children's room with an accent wall of polka dots, teddy bear, small table, chairs, and framed rabbit artwork

Contemporary kids' bedroom with an accent wall, geometric decor, black cross accents, green chair, and a cactus lamp

Minimalist bedroom with black sheep decals on an accent wall, single bed, blue chair, and soft lighting

Small, stylish bathroom with a toilet, sink, and an accent wall; gold-framed mirror and shelf with plants — homewiththeteasdales/Instagram

Shelf with decorative items against an accent wall featuring pink cactus patterns and a framed photo of llamas — hudsonandalexander/Instagram

6. Adding Dimension

Textured walls create a subtle effect on your wall. They add detail to the decor of the room without taking away from the other features of the room. This makes an excellent option for dining rooms, where the focus of the room is the table.

The other great thing about a textured wall is that you can easily hang wall decor on the wall without it looking too cluttered or busy.

The easiest way to create texture on the wall is to use a three-dimensional tile. Another option is to use premade wall panels. You’ll mount them on the wall in a similar manner as the faux brick and stone panels. A third option is to use concrete. This could be either a natural texture or one that’s molded into shapes.

Modern dining room with a wooden table, six white chairs, an accent chalkboard wall, and framed plant art

Modern living room with white sofa, TV, wooden coffee table with decor, and large window view featuring an accent wall

Cozy hotel room with a double bed, yellow bedding, an accent wall, bedside lamps, and a desk by a large window

Modern bedroom with accent wall, large mirror, and a cozy bed with layered pillows and blankets

Modern bedroom with a geometric wooden accent wall, cozy bed, orange flowers, and large windows with brown blinds

Stylish living room with an accent wall, two sofas, patterned rug, wall art, plants, and a chandelier on a checkered floor

Modern living room with blue sofa, TV on accent wall, and large windows letting in natural light

Modern living room with a grey sofa, yellow chair, wooden accents, and an accent wall featuring a black clock and plant print

Modern living room with an accent wall, marble fireplace, flat-screen TV, sofa set, and glass coffee table — allisonkeevandesign/Instagram

Modern kitchen with a blue accent wall, black cabinets, and red chair; decorative items on black console table — modulararts/Instagram

Modern living room featuring abstract art, an electric fireplace, an accent wall, and sleek furniture — allisonkeevandesign/Instagram

Dining table with wooden bowls, green chairs, and an accent wall of geometric white tiles — bedrosianstile/Instagram

Modern bathroom with round tub, textured accent wall, dark chair with fur throw, and a small clear side table — kellyordont/Instagram

Modern interior with an accent wall, wooden staircase, glass railings, a plant, and a bookshelf on the side — modulararts/Instagram

7. Tile Elegance

You may find that some of the other accent wall ideas on this list won’t work well in a bathroom. The increased humidity can have a negative effect on your accent wall application. This is when tile becomes the ideal choice. Keep your other tile choice neutral and then choose one wall to create a bold pattern. You could do this with either a bold color or a tile.

You could choose one wall of your shower to create the accent. This will add detail and interest to the shower, which makes it the focal point of the bathroom.

If the shower is less than attractive, then consider making the vanity wall the accent wall. This wall typically isn’t tiled, so tiling it will make it stand out even more.

You aren’t limited to the bathroom when it comes to using tile. If you have a fireplace, consider using tile around it. This will enhance this natural focal point of the room. Start the tile on the floor and extend it up the living room wall to the ceiling.

Modern fireplace with decorative shelves, vases, firewood, and a woven ottoman on a patterned rug against an accent wall

Elegant bathroom with an accent wall, large round mirror, black vanity, marble floor, and tropical view

Modern living room with marble fireplace, black armchair, and white flowers on a marble table; accent wall with abstract art

Small modern bathroom with hexagonal accent wall, a white sink, black faucet, and a pendant light above — shadowcreekhomes/Instagram

Modern fireplace with herringbone tile pattern, creating an accent wall flanked by white shelves on a wooden floor — shadowcreekhomes/Instagram

Modern bathroom with blue tile accent wall, large mirror, gray vanity, and flowers in a vase next to towels in a basket — milano.granite/Instagram

Modern bathroom with dark patterned accent wall, black countertop, and a small window — shadowcreekhomes/Instagram

8. Stylish Sophistication

Having a natural wood accent wall can add warmth and natural color to your room. It also creates a natural texture from the grain in the wood. The easiest wood paneling to install is shiplap. This comes in sheets and has the look of multiple long planks of wood with a slight gap between each plank.

You can also create a wood wall from reclaimed wood. This will add more color and variety.

If you want to create a less rustic look, consider using high-quality wood or paint. It would help if you also tried mounting the wood in a more artful design. A herringbone pattern can elevate the look of your wood wall for a modern or luxurious home.

Modern living room with a geometric wall design, yellow chair, white sofa, and round coffee tables

Modern living room with a gray sofa, chair, and a wooden coffee table on a geometric rug; natural light fills the space

Cozy bedroom with a wooden accent wall, barn door, bed, nightstands, and ceiling fan; carpeted floor and open bathroom

Modern living room with wood panel wall, blue chair, and patterned lamp beside a framed picture

Modern living room with wall-mounted TV, sectional sofa, and open kitchen

Modern bathroom with a white freestanding tub, gold fixtures, a geometric pendant light, and dark accent wall — 2birdsdesign/Instagram

Cozy living room with a wood accent wall, fireplace, white sofas, and a wooden coffee table — christine_the_woodworker/Instagram

Cozy bedroom with a white bed, a herringbone wood accent wall, decorated mantel, and a framed quote sign — greeneacresfarmhouse/Instagram

9. Unleashing Creativity

Modern wallpaper today is nothing like the messy stuff of yesteryears. The process is easier and goes smoother. There’s even temporary wallpaper that sticks to the wall and is removed easily later on.

What’s nice about modern wallpaper is that the colors are more vibrant, and the printing is sharper. There are repeating patterns and modern mural-style patterns and everything in between.

You can use wallpaper in any room in the house. For example, try creating a bedroom accent wall behind the headboard of your bed.

Or create an accent wall in your bathroom if your toilet is in a separate area that sees less moisture. The wall behind your couch in the living room is another perfect wall for wallpaper.

Elegant bedroom with a tufted bed, decorative wallpaper, mirrored closet doors, and a chandelier

A gray sofa with a floral cushion in a living room featuring a floral wallpaper, plants, and a modern chandelier

Living room with leafy wallpaper, teal sofa, pink chair, wooden desk, and plants; light and airy decor

Modern living room with wood-themed decor, white chairs, wooden table, sofa, and a stacked log wall design

Modern living room with a gray sofa, geometric wall design, rug, fireplace, and pendant lights — globalcovering/Instagram

Living room with palm leaf wallpaper, TV on a console, teal bean bag chairs, and a black ceiling light fixture — crofton_in_codsall/Instagram

Modern living room with blue sofa, abstract wall art, vintage TV, and wooden furniture — globalcovering/Instagram

Cozy living room with a patterned wall, gray sofa, cushions, plants, and warm lighting from a woven lamp and candles — houseatnumber30/Instagram

Stylish vanity area with leaf-patterned wallpaper, round mirror, pink chair, and small stool on cozy carpet — itskaterinarose/Instagram

A cozy nursery with a forest mural, white crib with mustard canopy, and soft toys scattered on wooden floor — rebelwalls/Instagram

Bedroom with animal-themed wallpaper, wooden bed, patterned pillows, and a tall mirror on the side — redbricks_lifestyle/Instagram

Cozy bedroom with tropical wallpaper, pastel bedding, plants, and a chandelier — step_into_no.17/Instagram

Bedroom with white ornate bed, botanical wallpaper, wicker chair, and warm lighting from lamps on nightstands — the_1882_house/Instagram

FAQs

How do I choose which wall I should make the accent?

There are three things you need to consider when choosing your accent wall; focal point, symmetry, and inside corners. Think about where your eye naturally travels in the room. The wall where your eye goes naturally is a good choice. Next, consider the symmetry of that wall. It needs to have a balance for it to look good visually. Finally, make sure where you start and stop colors are on the inside corner. This will make it look purposeful.

Can I have multiple accent walls in my house?

Of course, you can! Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t be able to see multiple accent walls at the same time. This defeats the purpose. Another thing to think about is the decor in the rest of the room. There might be a different focal point in there already. You don’t want an accent wall to take away from that.

Can I make my accent wall functional?

You can use paint to create a chalkboard wall in your kitchen or gym. It will look like a black wall, but you can use chalk on it like you would a chalkboard. You can then write notes, recipes, a shopping list, or gym progress. The great part about this kind of accent wall is that you can erase it and start over. This makes your accent wall both functional and beautiful.