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30 Elevated Accent Wall Ideas That Add Character to Any Space
From scenic wallpapers to warm wood paneling, these expert-designed spaces each have a unique focal point.
If you want to create a focal point in a room without splurging on a costly piece of luxury furniture, these accent wall ideas are the ideal solution. You can let your creativity shine here—there are so many ways to design an accent wall to add visual interest and personality, no matter how big your space is. From using quick, budget-friendly options like paint and wallpaper to tackling more involved projects like wood paneling and hand-painted murals, there are so many accent wall ideas to choose from, depending on your aesthetic preferences and budget.
While some of the designs on this list are easy to DIY, you'll likely need to bring in a professional to create your vision for others. But the possibilities are truly limitless. No matter the colors, materials, and options you choose, these designer-approved accent wall ideas will make an impact.
For more colorful decor inspiration:
- These Are the Absolute Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room
- 15 Red Bedrooms That Will Inspire You to Be Bold
- 25 Painted Ceilings That Elevate the Entire Room
Neutral Plaid
In this Colorado cabin, designer Barbara Glass added a neutral-colored plaid accent wall to match the overall aesthetic of the rest of the vacation home. Plus, the wallpaper in this accent wall idea adds a bit more color and dimension to the space that just another wood-paneled wall wouldn't do.
A Forest Scene
If your cabin has a fairytale-forest vibe, choose an accent wall idea that'll further enhance that aesthetic. The moody blue wallpaper in this home by designer Betsy Wentz helps capture a more elevated air in this large space.
Loud and Layered
In this maximalist Los Angeles home, designer Francesca Grace chose a vibrant, floral-print wallpaper in her dining nook to add some extra excitement to the room. While all-white walls would've helped the gorgeous chairs pop, the accent wall does integrate them seamlessly into the space.
Natural Brick
If you live in a building with exposed brick, the space's original design can give you an accent wall idea without any extra effort. Keeping the brick its natural color, as HGTV star Alison Victoria did in her Atlanta loft, helps warm up a space and give it a storied look.
Under an Archway
While archways and other alcoves can immediately add character to a space, they may sometimes feel a bit plain. To combat that feeling, designer Madeline Stuart hired artist Jean Horihata to stencil a silver-and-gold motif inside the archway to create a quasi-accent wall and make the room feel royal.
Tell a Story
This whimsical accent wall idea tells a story through visuals. Though this one is in a child's bedroom designed by Whitney Leigh Morris, a similar concept can be replicated in any part of your home. You can also use toile print to add similar aesthetic intrigue while remaining extremely elevated.
Remember the Fifth Wall
The vertical walls aren't the only ones you should be thinking about—choose your ceiling, that fifth wall, to serve as the accent. Designer Mark D. Sikes added a fun patterned wallpaper to the ceiling of this home office, making the room feel lighter without relying on a stark white ceiling to do so.
Curtains and Paint
In Eliza Carter Harris's New York home, the designer painted one wall bright green and layered it with curtains to soften up the space and accentuate the high ceilings. Not to mention, this accent wall idea makes the perfect backdrop for a table that hosts flowers, books, and other treasured objects.
Upholstered Wall
Upholstering a wall can add softness and help soundproof a room. For the bedroom of a Dallas home, designer Denise McGaha covered one wall in a Lee Jofa fabric for a relaxing touch.
Simple and Nature-Inspired
A wallpaper inspired by sediment from DropItModern adds elegance to this office designed by Rydhima Brar of Rterior Studio. The black and cream accent wall idea establishes the room's bold, modern atmosphere.
Thin Wood Paneling
Thin custom wood paneling made of black walnut in this breakfast nook designed by Studio Shamshiri softens the white walls and concrete flooring surrounding it. Custom blue cushions add a pop of color.
Rock-Climbing Wall
If you're working on a kid's room, why not make the accent wall something they can play on, too? By building a rock-climbing wall, like this one in a home designed by Regan Baker, you'll add interest to the room and a fun source of exercise and amusement.
Related: What to Know about Building a Rock-Climbing Wall in Your Home
White Painted Brick
Exposed brick can act as a neutral accent wall idea, but painting it white can help achieve that coveted balance between contemporary and lived-in. Here, designer Shawn Henderson brought this 19th-century home back to its former glory by “stripping the apartment down to a more humble interior.” He whitewashed existing pine floors and then added a faux brick wall to make it feel older.
Matching Pattern
Make furniture seamlessly blend into your accent wall by matching the wallpaper pattern to it, as designer Nick Olsen did in this bedroom with a graphic navy wallpaper and matching upholstered headboard.
Orange Beadboard
To brighten up a dark corner, panel a wall (or two!) in beadboard and paint them orange. In the mudroom of a Nantucket cottage, designer Kevin Isbell used Buttered Yam by Benjamin Moore.
Cozy Stone
For a cozy cottage feel, cover a wall with stone. In this primary bedroom, designer Cathy Chapman used various gray stones to give this accent wall idea an earthy yet modern feel.
Accent Ceiling
If you'd prefer to have a consistent neutral color on your walls, look to the ceiling for an opportunity to introduce an unexpected pop of color or pattern. A baby blue-painted ceiling brightens up this Houston terrace designed by Celerie Kemble and Lindsey Herod, proving the concept works outside, too.
Black Box
Interior designer Heidi Caillier gave this media room the black-box-theater effect without totally overwhelming the space by designating the deep marine paint on the TV wall.
Related: 63 Tried-and-True Blue Paint Colors That Interior Designers Rely On
Just a Splash
Natural stone is easily one of the most expensive surface materials money can buy. To cut costs but still spotlight a beautiful stone, just stick with one accent wall idea. In this kitchen designed by Tamsin Johnson, all eyes are on the smokey purple swirls of the wall ahead.
Bright and Bold
A bright hue is the easiest way to make a statement in a small space. Paint one wall an energizing color, then add contrast with decor, like these blush pink chairs in a dining room designed by 2G Studio.
Related: 16 of the Best Interior Designer-Approved Dining Chairs
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