How to use accent walls
The Essential Dos and Don'ts
By
Diana Hathaway Timmons
Diana Hathaway Timmons
Diana Hathaway Timmons has over 10 years as a color and interior design consultant. She writes about ideas and tips for beautifying your space and incorporating decor trends into your home. She wrote the book "How to Sell Your Home Without Losing Your Zen" and has been featured in the "Huffington Post," "Better Homes & Gardens," and additional publications.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 05/16/22
Reviewed by
Deane Biermeier
Reviewed by Deane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily Estep
Emily Estep is a plant biologist and fact-checker focused on environmental sciences. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Science in Plant Biology from Ohio University. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Accent walls are alive and well in the decorating industry. These easy and stylish color accents will always be popular because of their flexibility. You have unlimited paint options for your accent wall, as well as other surfaces and materials. Even the location of your accent wall is purely personal. Your home is unique, so your accent wall should be just as special. Accent walls can be used in any room if you know the essential dos and don'ts.
What Is an Accent Wall?
An accent wall is an interior or exterior wall that can have a different color, shade, design or material from the other walls around it.
Click Play to Learn the Dos and Don'ts of Accent Walls
Do Think Beyond Solid Colors
Maite Granda
Think outside of the box when you are considering your new accent wall. You are not limited to simple wall paint covering the wall. Think about other ways to use paint color. Your accent wall may be perfect for stripes or for a specialty paint finish. Metallics are powerful style statements for an accent wall.
Don't Forget About Texture
There is more to accent walls than just paint. Have you considered stone or tile for your accent wall? Extensive shelving can also work as an accent wall in a room that lacks an architectural feature and storage. Your accent wall can also include a gallery of photos or artwork, or even a fabric-draped wall.
A recent trend is the addition of a wall-mounted electric fireplace on an accent wall.
The secret to accent walls is that they are the most flexible decorating secret weapon you can have. (The only rule for accent walls is that they accent a wall—that's it.)
Do Go for an Accent Wall in a Neutral Room
You should still consider an accent wall even if you're keeping your room neutral. Accent walls can work just as well in a neutral color, as a bright one. The initial idea of an accent wall conjures up visions of bright red or blue, but in a neutral color scheme, a dark brown wall is just as dramatic.
Don't Shy Away from Bold Colors
HouseofHarvee / Instagram
As long as you have the right accents around the room to coordinate with your new color, you can choose whatever color makes you happy.
Do Consider the Other Wall Colors
Take into account the color on your other walls. Most accent walls look best when they adjoin walls in a light to medium shade. Accent walls in an all-white room are stunning but tricky.
The contrast of a bright accent wall against white walls can look very modern and even stark. Balance your strong accent wall color with neutral wall colors on the other walls. Your neutral walls can be gray, or greige, or beige — whatever works best with your accent color.
If you do choose to accent a wall in a white room, soften the contrast with mid-tone accent colors to bridge the difference.
Don't Just Think About Walls
Think about other ways to use an accent wall. Have you considered the ceiling? A chic decorating trend is to add color to the ceiling. This ceiling color can be your accent wall. Accent ceilings can be created with soft colors or even vivid colors. White crown molding helps separate the wall color from the ceiling and creates a stylish look.
Do Choose the Right Wall
Home By Polly
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.
Don't Forget About Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a gorgeous choice for accent walls. The latest temporary wallpapers can give you a designer look without a long-term commitment. Look for wallpaper with pretty designs and colors for a chic style. For renters, temporary wallpaper is a clever way to personalize your home.
Still not sure which color to choose? Take our short personality quiz and learn which color palette is right for you!
16 Awesome Budget-Friendly Accent Wall Ideas
16 Awesome Budget-Friendly Accent Wall Ideas
By
Diana Hathaway Timmons
Diana Hathaway Timmons
Diana Hathaway Timmons has over 10 years as a color and interior design consultant. She writes about ideas and tips for beautifying your space and incorporating decor trends into your home.
She wrote the book "How to Sell Your Home Without Losing Your Zen" and has been featured in the "Huffington Post," "Better Homes & Gardens," and additional publications.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
and
Lacey Ramburger
Lacey Ramburger
Lacey Ramburger is a personality assessment expert based in Kansas City, Missouri, with more than five years of experience. Her areas of expertise include Zodiac, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. She is the author of the book "Being Whole" and dozens of articles on personality assessments and relationships.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 01/11/22
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to make a big impact in any space, an accent wall is the answer. Forget the "one red wall" style of accent walls from several years ago; accent walls have gone creative.
You don't need a huge budget to create a stunning custom look in your home with an accent wall. There are accent wall ideas no matter your taste or budget. Color is the least expensive and easiest way to create an accent wall, but there are many other stylish ways to customize your space.
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Pick a Paint Color
D Burns Interiors
Creating a stunning accent wall can take little more than a gallon of paint and an afternoon for painting it. Choosing the right accent wall paint color is important as it will become your room's focal point. Choose a color that works well with your other colors in the space. 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 and temperature that can make your accent wall look out of place. Faux-finish accent walls are not as popular as they once were, but using metallic paints or plaster techniques are still very much in style. Be sure to try your faux-finish technique on a piece of wallboard before trying it on your wall, that way you'll have practice time and a preview of how it will look. Consider taking a free workshop at a local home improvement store to perfect your technique and get help recreating your accent wall at home.
Figure out how much paint you need with The Spruce's Paint Calculator.
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Add Curtains
Cathie Hong
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.
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Try Temporary Wallpaper
Ann Living
Temporary wallpaper is a huge trend and is very budget-friendly.
Also called "renter's wallpaper," this product is removable and requires no paste or water. You can have a lot of fun with patterns and colors you might not want to live with permanently. Temporary wallpaper is perfect if you'd love a stylish look without the commitment. The best spots for a temporary wallpaper accent wall in your foyer, behind a headboard, and in a room lacking any real architectural features. Choosing bold wallpaper patterns in vertical stripes can make your ceiling look taller, and horizontal stripes make your room look larger. You can use temporary wallpaper in clever ways to update your space easily and affordably. Don't limit yourself to a simple wall application; you can use this wallpaper to line the back of shelves or inside cabinets to add a peek of color and pattern.
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Add Temporary Wood Planking
Arbor & Co.
Everywhere you look reclaimed wood is popping up in home decor. You can easily and affordably add that weathered style to your home with this innovative product.
The simple wood planks can help you create a warm accent wall without the heavy lifting. There are no limitations to where a wood accent wall could go in your home. You can create a warm and inviting family room or add style to your foyer. 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.
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Use Tile On an Accent Wall
Erin Williamson Design
Tile accent walls are stunning and can change your space. Your options for the tile accent wall include tiling the entire wall in gorgeous glass or stone for a high-end look. This is the most dramatic way to add a tile accent wall but may not be affordable for every budget.
If you love the look of a sleek tiled accent wall but don't have the time or budget for a big tiling project, consider peel and stick tiles to create your room's focal point. The new peel and stick tiles are much more elegant than past products and include more design options.
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Go Small and Subtle
Afro Bohemian Living
An accent wall doesn't necessarily need to take up an entire wall—especially if you're dealing with small nooks or awkward spaces. Choosing an interior color that actually highlights is key. This corner space gets a facelift with the neutral brown paint on one side, allowing it to stand out amongst the rest of the white decor.
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Use Mirrors
Ashley Montgomery Design
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 gamechanger, 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.
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Paint a Mural
Brexton Cole Interiors
If you're feeling artistic, you can't go wrong with painting a mural to serve as an accent. 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.
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Get Colorful Behind Shelving
Casa Watkins Living
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.
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Paint Geometric Shapes
Dazey Den
Paint doesn't have to reach all four corners to make an impact. The trend of painting geometric shapes on walls, particularly headboards, isn't an unknown concept—but can be applied to other rooms as well.
The white wall with a simple yellow circle still creates a contrasting accent, yet still feels cohesive with the rest of the space given it matches the golden hue on the remaining walls. -
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Use a Vibrant Hue
Erin Williamson Design
When opting to paint an accent wall, you have plenty of colors to choose from. While staying neutral or subtle is one route to take, don't hesitate to get bolder in your color choice, especially if you have a theme in your room that supports it. This room already boasts a midcentury modern vibe, and the stunning blue wall only adds to its charm.
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Pair Fun Wallpaper With a Gallery Wall
Dazey Den
Another wallpaper pairing that is vastly underrated? Gallery walls. Choosing one wall in your home to be the focal point, add a festive or vibrant print, and then layer photos, artwork, or other types of decor to create an eclectic gallery wall. 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.
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Try Felt Stickers
Home by Polly
If you're not much of a painter or muralist, but still want to create a striking scene in your child's bedroom, there are other options available to work with. Peel and stick felt stickers can transform a simple wall into a galaxy, as shown in the bedroom above.
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Combine Textures
Home and Spirit
Accent walls do not require you to stick rigidly to one texture. This living room includes a working space and having the desk against the accent wall almost gives the impression of a separate room. The olive green paint pairs flawlessly with the warm wood pannels covering only 1/3 of the area. The natural colors and texture align to create a wall you can't take your eyes off of.
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Go Neutral
Michelle Berwick Design
If you prefer a more minimalist vibe but still want to try an accent wall, then simply keep the color palette neutral, but create a distinct design on one wall.
This bedroom adds a foggy forest nature backdrop in grayscale to only one wall—and the results are striking. -
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Use Vintage Book Covers
Mid Century Jo
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.
Watch Now: This Paint Roller Instantly Gives You Custom Wallpaper
Accent Wall: Decorating Tips
House in Tangier, designed by Cassandra Karinsky. In tourist booklets, Moroccan Tangier is called the "white city". It is in this color that the locals have been painting the walls of their houses for centuries. Without disturbing the harmony, the designer diluted it with dark blue — one of the walls in the living room is painted in this color. A blue sofa is matched to her tone.
- Photo
- Gaelle le Boulicaut
Ideal for small spaces
Wall painted in a contrasting color, perfect for small spaces.
This technique will allow you to beat a cramped room, especially if you use a deep saturated shade. Painting one of the walls in a small room a rich dark color (or black) will create visual depth in the interior, making the space appear larger.
Room dedicated to Madeleine Castaing in the Saint James Hotel in Paris, designed in turquoise tones. A contrasting navy blue hue adds depth to the space.
- Photo
- Antoine Baralhe
Lots of styles
You have several options for this fashion trend. In addition to paint and wallpaper, there are ways to play not only with color, but also with texture. For example, using panels that mimic brickwork or wood. You can drape the wall with a cloth or lay it out with tiles or mosaics. For a children's room, an interesting option would be a wall painted with slate paint. A child can boldly paint and paint such a wall with colored crayons, without fear of incurring the wrath of their parents.
Trianon decorative panel, design by Carlo dal Bianco, Bisazza, www.bisazza.com
A way to divide space
Apartment of Patrick and Laurence Chavannes in Lyon. Its interior is built on panoramic wallpaper, including the interior of the owner's eldest daughter's room. Now it is decorated with wallpapers with the image of New York. What will be on this wall in a couple of years is unknown. The interior of the room changes as often as the tastes of the maturing hostess.
- Photo
- Anne-Catherine Scoffoni
Contrasting one or more walls in a room is a great way to divide up a space. For example, an open living room can be easily divided into zones (living room, dining room, study, etc.) if you use different wallpapers or paint colors for wall decor. At your request, one space will turn into two, or even more.
Apartment in Madrid. Designed by Gonzalo Pardo and Ana Torres.
- Photo
- ImagenSubliminal.com
The main accent of the interior
When planning your interior, keep in mind that the accent wall is the very first thing everyone entering the room will see. This is the focal point that will stand out and distract attention from everything else. To make the interior look more harmonious and balanced, it should have two or more accents. Therefore, to “support” the accent wall, it is better to choose pieces of furniture or accessories that match in color.
Decorator Milla Rezanova used wallpapers with a bright zigzag print, made according to her own sketches, to decorate one of the walls of the living room in a Moscow apartment.
- Photo
- Kirill Ovchinnikov
The right choice of color
An ineptly chosen accent wall color can spoil the space.
To avoid this, give up random shades, even if the color itself is bright and you really like it. A red wall in a pastel interior is too much! The color palette of your home should be unified and clearly planned. Therefore, choose a color for a contrasting wall based on the overall range of the interior, including furniture, finishing materials and textiles.
Designed by Julia Sheipunas.
Change the accents
A bedroom in a Parisian apartment designed by decorator Pierre Jovanovich. One of the walls is sheathed with cork panels from top to bottom. This technique made it possible to hide the door leading to the dressing room.
- Photo
- Catherine Scotto
It is not necessary to build an interior around an accent wall. Art objects will give originality to the interior. Instead of papering or painting one wall, choose art pieces that match the style and mood of your home decor.
Framed photos or paintings that you like and are in tune with the overall style of the interior are what will give your home a personality, creating a memorable image.
Moscow apartment of collectors Natalia Semyonova and Dmitry Gurzhy. Brickwork has been preserved on one of the walls in the office. It focuses on the art canvas, which is the central element of the interior.
- Photo
- Richard Powers
Legendary villa on the Li Galli archipelago, once owned by Leonid Myasin and Rudolf Nureyev. In the design of the guest bedroom, the accent wall at the head, painted in yellow and white stripes, sets the tone.
- Photo
- Massimo Listri
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45 ways to equip an accent wall in the bedroom
We continue to study classic techniques and new trends in interior design. The use of accents is not just a fashion trend, but one of the most effective ways to emphasize the pluses of the situation and distract from the minuses (of course, forced and, of course, temporary).
However, as they say, before you use any weapon, you must first learn how to use it.
So, in order not to turn the room into bad taste, you should know the main canons and be sure to observe the measure! So, first things first.
Accent wall in the bedroom, or how to get rid of boredom
Such a method as creating an accent wall has long established itself as the main favorite of designers when working on decorating a room. An advantageous combination of neutral colors and a modern energetic pattern is the optimal solution for decorating vertical surfaces.
It is the bedroom, as a rule, that becomes the starting point, from where creative searches and all kinds of experiments begin. The intimacy and privacy of this room completely untie the hands, which means that they provide the freedom to choose any, even the most daring style, playful pattern and spicy shades.
Let's take a look at some fabulous projects that can serve as a powerful source of inspiration. Plain walls look rather dull and monotonous, so we offer you several options for color contrasts that go beyond the usual idea of \u200b\u200bwall decoration in a room.
Add some color!
The design technique that we are talking about now is used in cases where it is necessary to bring a little color into the interior, as well as some additional textures, shapes and lines. Just one accent surface can make a calm bedroom, made in pastel colors, more spectacular and attractive.
And if you complement it with several pillows or a bedspread of a similar design, you will have an integral composition. The advantages of such a wall are most obvious in small bedrooms. With its help, you can create a so-called focal point in order to draw attention to a certain area of the room.
In 2014, the discreet gray-lilac gamma is still relevant and trendy. Despite the fact that gray is traditionally associated with a neutral background, modern designers are increasingly choosing warmer and bolder shades for an accent wall, while the main decoration of the room is white and plain.
It gives the space a certain sophistication and style that is difficult to achieve with other colors.
And sparkling purple confidently retains its leadership position and the status of “the color of luxury”.
Taunting textures and chic patterns
You can highlight a particular surface not only with color, but also with texture and pattern. An indelible impression is made by a wall with a contrasting texture, which, moreover, has the effect of a three-dimensional 3D image. An additional dimension seems to enliven the room.
It is impossible not to notice how this changes the atmosphere and sensations in the room. And for more cautious people who are not prone to design adventures, we can offer elegant and proven alternatives, such as brickwork or wallpaper with amazing paisley patterns (aka “Indian cucumber”).
In this article we are discussing bedroom interiors, so let's look at examples of accent walls that are especially appropriate in these rooms. The whole wall or its separate fragment with various bulges and irregularities exudes luxury and gives a feeling of incredible comfort.
A huge headboard, repeating the pattern on the wall, will certainly appeal to fans of the style of "Old Hollywood" (Hollywood Regency), whose characteristic features are chic and entourage.
Let's unleash the full potential of accent wallpaper
Have you decided to diversify the room with an accent wall, but you are not sure that the paint will cope with this important task? In this case, you should pay attention to both. They come in a fantastic variety of colors as well as floral and patterned prints.
This excellent, affordable option opens up just a huge scope for creativity, allows you to implement any idea in a short time.
Accent wallpaper in the bedroom is often used to enhance the impression of some design features in the area of the bed. And again, pillows and a bedspread with a similar pattern will help complete the composition. As a result, the bedroom is transformed and takes on a more organized look.
And do not forget the main rule: if you choose wallpaper with a bold and complex pattern, make sure that the design of the rest of the walls is as simple and calm as possible.
Otherwise, the room will look untidy, overloaded and cause discomfort.
Wooden accent wall - this is cosiness and comfort in the room
What do we associate wood texture with? The majority, probably, with firewood, which crackle measuredly in the stove or fireplace and, embraced by the heat of the fire, help people warm up on cold winter evenings. The stunning wood surface of the accent wall has its own unique charm.
Of course, creating such splendor will take more time and effort than traditional painting, but believe me, it's worth it! If you're the proud owner of a modern or minimalist home built primarily from concrete, glass, and stone, then a wood-paneled accent wall is just the thing for you.
It will give the atmosphere softness, tenderness and make it more inviting.
Discover the magic of stripes!
Stripes have a truly amazing property: they are able to transform even the most ridiculous environment, give it a certain rhythm, and also bring some organization.
