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Accent walls. Some people loathe them, and some people can’t get enough. Team Loathe doesn’t understand why you wouldn’t just paint an entire room instead of just one wall. Team Love doesn’t want their entire room to be busy or bright. I happen to be on team Love, and today I’m sharing the best accent wall ideas. Team Loathe, I’m sorry, but today is not your day.

10 Best Accent Wall Ideas

1. Paint

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If you’re looking for a punch in your room, you can’t go wrong with a dark accent wall. This style looks amazing in every style, from modern to bohemian. Just make sure you lighten up the rest of the room or you will feel like you’re in a dungeon. Also, don’t skimp on the natural elements to balance out the harsh color.

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Ughhhhh how good is this bedroom by JDP Interiors? Joyce is a design goddess. If she’s using accent walls, you know it’s stylish (looking at you, Team Loathe). Paint is one of the best accent wall ideas because the possibilities are as endless as your creativity.

Painting is the easiest and most cost effective way to get an accent wall. This we already know, but have you thought about painting a pattern or mural instead of a solid color? The creativity doesn’t have to end at choosing a color and slapping it on the entire wall, although that is all well and good. You can use paint to create something super interesting, and it doesn’t have to be complex or difficult. All you need is some good quality painter’s tape and you can really have fun with the space.

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This technique would be especially great in a family room, play room, media room, or children’s room. The playful pattern would evoke a sense of fun. My favorite designs don’t take themselves too seriously, and neither should yours! Some patterns to try include: stripes, checkerboard, chevron, herringbone, triangles, circles, rain drops, freehand shapes and patterns, florals, or other geometric shapes. When I say florals, I don’t mean something super complex. You could just paint the outline of flowers all over the wall in different colors. The trend in art and paper goods lately has been a more illustrative look, so that’s perfect.

Source | DIY instructions here

You already know that I used to be a nanny when I first moved to NYC. One of the families I worked for had painted the little girl’s room pale pink, accenting the crib’s wall with painted tangerines. It was delightful and really special for a toddler room. You can afford to be playful!

Pro tip: an accent wall doesn’t have to be one of the four walls enclosing the space; the ceiling counts as a wall too! Maybe try something fun with the ceiling? Ceiling murals looks AMAZING in dining rooms.

2. Wood

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Wood planking is a really great way to add a rustic element to the space. The farmhouse style is (still) really popular, and people are looking for more ways to add wooden elements to their space. No, this isn’t your 1980s wood paneling; this is a refined and rustic element that would be perfect for any style room. Remember my recent blog post about How Interior Design Affects Your Mood? You learned that adding natural elements is really important to establish a good feel to the room.

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You aren’t limited to just using stained or reclaimed wood, either. How fun is this painted feature wall between the built-ins? It also serves as a headboard or even art piece so you really get an all in one with this idea. Wood is actually a pretty affordable option if you’re looking to add texture. Because it isn’t acting as a furniture piece, the planks can be thinner than you would use for other applications. You can paint and stain to your heart’s content. It’s one of the best accent wall ideas to get a lot of bang for your buck. Check your local lumber yard for heavily discounted scraps.

3. Moldings

Box Molding

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It’s a pretty established fact that moldings are very modern and mature. They help to enclose a room like no other wall covering can. If you do a good ol’ DIY, you can get this look affordably.

Ceiling Molding

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Like I’ve said above, the ceiling is a wall too! Adding moldings on the ceiling would make any room super special, especially a master bedroom or dining room.

How to install box moldings tutorial here.

Vertical Panels

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Last but not least, we have vertical wall panels. This includes your beadboard, wainscoting, and shiplap that has become so popular. White is great if you’re looking to add texture to a feature wall without color. For those more daring, instead of leaving it white, try painting it a color!

Shop different types of moldings here.

4. Wallpaper

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Wallpaper is great for adding texture, color, and pattern to a wall. Many wallpapers would be too busy to cover an entire room, so adding this pop to just one wall (or ceiling) is a great alternative. My favorite place for wallpaper accent walls is of course a nursery or kid room. My favorite wallpaper sources are Hygge & West and Blik.

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Thought wallpaper was only for bold rooms? Think again. You can get a really mature and luxe tonal option for your neutral living dreams! If you’re a renter, fear not. Remember my last blog post about the Best Budget Home Updates? It includes removable wallpaper so your landlord won’t hate you.

5. Gallery 

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Jordan Carlyle is the king of sophistication. His luxe fabrics, mixed metals, and layered textures are what dreams are made of. His gallery wall is a brilliant mix of modern and vintage art.

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Dark and moody not your style? You can mix many different colors and styles of art. The great thing about a gallery wall is that you’re not limited to the number of pieces you can  have, ensuring that your have some color repetition. Our friends at Homepolish created this great tutorial on how to create the perfect gallery wall. If you’re not looking to change your space too much, a gallery wall is one of the best accent wall ideas for you.

6. Tile

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I recently posted about the Perfect Places for Cement Tile, and an accent wall would be it. Most people don’t think about having an accent wall in smaller spaces like a bathroom or mud room, but you totally should! Adding tile to a wall really amps up the interest and makes you look like a design queen. Why do you think patterned backsplashes are so popular?

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This bathroom is glorious. I love how the floor tile extends up the wall; it gives the space a cool Mediterranean vibe. And how great is that shower curtain rod? You’ll know from my Designing a Calming Bathroom post, that an updated shower curtain rod is essential in giving you that luxury style you crave. Installing tile is one of the best accent wall ideas because of the sheer amount of options you have for color, pattern, material.

7. Chalkboard

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I would reserve a chalkboard wall for spaces that don’t take themselves too seriously, like a playroom, kids room, or kitchen. Even a basement would be a cool place for friends to sign their names.

8. Cork

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Coco Lapine is one of my favorite designers embodying a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic. Here, a cork wall is perfectly accenting a small work space, providing both design and function.

9. Brick

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I kind of feel bad even adding brick, because it is SUCH a New York thing to do. Ugh. But, the truth is, brick is one of the best accent wall ideas because of the great texture. Even better if you are in an old building and can tear down some drywall to reveal a brick interior. Oh glorious! This is the second NYC apartment I’ve lived in that has beautiful red brick behind the drywall. WHYYYYYYYYY.

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If you don’t have brick behind your drywall, never fear. It’s pretty easy to install, or you can even fake it with a textured wallpaper with a brick pattern. Sneaky sneaky.

10. Fabric

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Never thought of using fabric as a wall covering, have ya? Fabric on the walls is a great way of adding luxury to your space. It’s one of the best accent wall ideas and is more affordable than covering the entire room. This would be great for master bedrooms and formal dining rooms.

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You can have a lot more fabric options if you’re looking for something vibrant or unusual. Architectural Digest shows us that we can also use the same fabric as curtains for extra pow.

How to install a fabric wall covering tutorial here, courtesy of Brian Patrick Flynn.

And there you have it, the best accent wall ideas. What do you think? Would you try any of these accent wall materials? Are you Team Loathe or Team Love?

-Kristen