DESIGN
Updated August 27, 2024

ACCENT WALL IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM

Accent walls are one of the easiest ways to bring personality, depth, and visual interest to a space. Whether you're designing a cozy living room, a sophisticated dining room, or a serene master bedroom, an accent wall can instantly change the look and feel of the entire room. In this guide, we explore a wide range of accent wall ideas using materials like wood, paint, fabric, mirrors, wallpaper, and more. These ideas are perfect for a DIY project or a professional install.

 

Accent Wall Ideas – At a Glance

  • Wood: Timeless and warm. Try herringbone, geometric, or batten patterns.

  • Paint: A budget-friendly way to add depth and bold color.

  • Wallpaper: Offers patterns, textures, and a quick style upgrade.

  • Mirrors: Reflect light and make small rooms feel larger.

  • Photographs: Create a personalized gallery wall with a central focal image.

  • Mosaic Tile: Intricate and bold—ideal for skilled DIYers or professionals.

  • Fabric: Softens the room, absorbs sound, and adds color—but needs upkeep.

 


WOOD ACCENT WALL IDEAS

A timeless favorite, a wood accent wall adds warmth, character, and texture to any room. Whether you're opting for rustic reclaimed wood, sleek wood paneling, or a detailed batten accent wall, there are endless possibilities. Mix finishes, experiment with different textures, or combine wood planks of varying widths to elevate the visual appeal.

 

Top Wood Accent Wall Styles:

 

  • Herringbone pattern for modern elegance

  • Geometric patterns for a bold, contemporary twist

  • Batten accent wall for farmhouse charm

  • Picture frame molding for classic sophistication

 

Wood Accent Wall Room Ideas:

 

  • Living room: Create a focal point behind your TV or fireplace.

  • Dining room: Add charm and a feature wall with natural wood tones.

  • Master bedroom: Try a bedroom accent wall behind the headboard using wood panels.

  • Home office: Introduce texture and warmth with a wood accent or black accent wall.

 

14 WOOD WALL IDEAS

feature walls in different styles like modern rustic, japandi, and boho using new and reclaimed wood from House Beautiful.

EXAMPLES OF WOOD IN EVERY ROOM

Creative ways to use wood in living rooms, entryways, dining room, bedrooms, and staircases.


PAINTED ACCENT WALL IDEAS

Paint is an easy way to add a different color and interest to a room. An accent wall creates a focal point and adds depth and dimension to any space. In the links below are some awesome tips for creating a beautiful painted accent wall in your home. From bold, statement-making colors to more subtle, neutral tones, there are a myriad of options for any room. A painted accent wall is a quick and budget-friendly way to transform your space.

 

Better Homes & Gardens 2024 Colors of the Year

2024 Color Picks include shades from Pantone, C2, Dunn-Edwards, Krylon, and more.

  • 12 featured colors
  • Moody paint color trends
  • Nature-inspired tones and forestcore-inspired picks

Benjamin Moore's Fall Lookbook 2024

2024 Fall Lookbook is Benjamin Moore's refresh for room colors made for the coming cooler months.

  • 9 featured colors
  • Standouts include: color couples, tonal colors, graphic paintwork, and statement doorways
  • New warm neutrals, deep & dark shades, and unexpected color combinations

Sherwin-Williams Newest Home Color Palette

Anthology: Volume One is Sherwin-Williams new longer view way of looking at its annual Colormix Forecast.

  • 48 new hues
  • 4 chromatic families: blues/greens, reds/purples, deeps/darks, and delicate tints
  • Moving away from a 12 month forecast of color trends

3 TOP COLORS OF 2024 IN ONE HOUSE

  • Dark Trim in Hale Navy
  • A New Era of Greens
  • Balboa Mist in a Sunlit Room

WALLPAPER & WALL COVERING IDEAS

If you want to add some pattern, texture, and visual appeal to your walls, wallpaper and wall coverings are the way to go. These days, wallpaper has a wide range of styles, patterns, and materials that suit almost every taste and interior design aesthetic. Below are tips for how to add modern, graphic prints or traditional, textured designs to your space. Wallpaper and wall coverings are a stylish and relatively easy way to update any room.

 

WALLPAPER TRENDS

13 wallpaper examples that will dominate our interiors in the coming year.

PEEL AND STICK WALLPAPER TUTORIAL

Instructions from Architectural Digest including a full list of prep/install supplies and step-by-step installation instructions.


MIRRORED ACCENT WALL IDEAS

Before you embark on a mirrored accent wall project, consider the following:

 

 

Placement: Mirrored accent walls are best used in smaller spaces since they create the illusion of more space and natural light. Hallways, bathrooms, or small living areas are common spaces where mirrors are used.

 

Style: Mirrored accent walls literally reflect what they face, so this will reinforce whichever interior design your space is currently decorated in. Often, mirrored accent walls are placed opposite windows to reflect the landscape, bringing the outdoors inside your space.

 

Maintenance: Mirrored accent walls will require the occasional cleaning to keep them looking their best. Be prepared to keep your mirror free of dust, fingerprints, and smudges.

 

Safety: We recommend having a contractor affix your mirror(s) to your wall. If it’s a DIY project, be sure to use the proper safety equipment and follow all instructions carefully. The article below uses a number of small mirrors as opposed to one large mirror, which is much more conducive to a DIY project.

THE ILLUSION OF SPACE

A relatively cheap and time-tested way to increase the size of your room. Items needed:

  • Square Mirrors
  • Adhesive
  • Glass Cutter
  • Windex

ACCENT WALL IDEAS USING PHOTOGRAPHS

Advice on creating an accent wall using photographs:

 

Choosing which photographs to use: What is the overall theme or aesthetic you want to create with your accent wall? Will it be family photos, landscapes, wildlife, or some other theme? A common technique to follow is to choose a single, large photograph as the focal point of the wall and then gather other photographs that fit around that main photo.

 

Choose a layout: Decide which layout type you prefer. Will it be an evenly spaced grid or a more organic, asymmetrical arrangement?

 

Arrange: Use a sketch or digital design tool to plan out the arrangement of your photos. Measure the wall and the photographs to ensure that everything will fit on the entire wall as planned. Add decorative elements such as wood trim, black accent wall paint, or subtle wood accents to enhance your gallery wall.

 

 

PHOTO MURALS

26 examples to cover complete walls for a stunning effect, examples include:

  • Nature Scenes
  • Floral Shots
  • Statement Photos

TO FRAME OR NOT TO FRAME

30 + ideas to create an accent wall using both framed and unframed photographs. Ideas include creating rows/columns, using foam board/old windows, and creating timelines.


MOSAIC ACCENT WALL IDEAS

Mosaic accent walls are the most involved type of accent wall to install yourself. Be sure to consider the following:

 

Level of Difficulty: Creating a mosaic accent wall can be an extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive process, so be sure to set aside enough time to plan, gather the tiles, and complete the project.

 

Cost: High-end materials like glass or stone tiles can be expensive. Choose materials that fit within your budget or look for budget, broken, or repurposed tile to save money.

 

Design: Decide on the design, theme, and color scheme of your mosaic accent wall. Sketch out a detailed design or use a digital design tool for your unique pattern or geometric design.

 

Surface Preparation: Make sure the wall surface is clean, smooth, and relatively flat. If the wall is wavy at all, fix it before starting, so the mortar/grout will hold your tiles properly.

 

Grout Color: Choose a grout color that works with the colors and overall design of the wall. Note that darker grout makes tiles appear smaller, and lighter grout makes them appear larger.

 

TRENDY AND FASCINATING MOSAIC WALLS

A wonderful variety of interior and exterior mosaics including an example using mirrored glass pieces from Decoratorist.

WALLS WITH A HEART OF GLASS

We ran across glass tile mosaics by Alison Eden on Linkedin of all places. Her profile showcases her fun and vibrant work and we look forward to seeing her posts while on the platform. Check her our if you’d like to contract the studio for a custom piece as work like this is definitely not for amateurs!


FABRIC ACCENT WALL IDEAS

Steps for creating a feature wall using fabric:

 

Selection: Choose a fabric with an overall theme and different color(s) that suits your room. Consider the weight and thickness as well as texture.

 

Size: Measure the wall and cut the fabric so that it will extend past all edges of the wall. Once the fabric is affixed to the wall, it can be trimmed flush to the edges of the wall.

 

Attaching: Use fabric glue, staple guns, or a combination of both. When using fabric glue, be sure to apply it evenly to the back of the fabric and that it is smoothed out as you go. When using a staple gun, start at the center of the fabric and work your way outwards. With each successive stage of staples, be sure to pull the fabric taut to avoid wrinkling.

 

Trimming: Once the fabric is taut and installed on the wall, it is time for trimming. You may need to add some more staples along the very end of all edges of the wall to neatly trim flush using a razor blade. If the edges don’t turn out as you had hoped, you can add wood trim over the edges of the fabric to hide uneven cut lines.

 

The pros and cons of a fabric accent wall:

 

Pros: Fabric is an affordable material. Fabric accent walls add texture and vibrance to a room. Fabric absorbs sound, making it a great choice for TV rooms or home offices

 

Cons: Fabric is not a good choice for rooms with high moisture levels, like bathrooms. Fabric accent walls can be time-consuming and frustrating to install. Fabric requires time-intensive cleaning and maintenance.

 

DIY FABRIC WALLPAPER

A how to guide on using your favorite fabric instead of wallpaper for your accent wall. Installation steps include:

  • Measuring & Marking the Wall
  • Trimming & Cutting
  • Applying Adhesive (Firm yet Removable)

FABRIC FOR EVERY ROOM AND MOOD

27 accent wall ideas using fabric that can be installed relatively quickly and also act as sound-proofing. Ideas include textures, patterns, handwriting, tropical patterns, and using remnants to create a patchwork.


Why Choose Reclaimed Wood from Centennial Woods for Your Accent Wall?

If you're inspired to create a wood accent wall, Centennial Woods offers a sustainable and stunning way to bring natural texture into your home. Our reclaimed wood planks are sourced from Wyoming snow fences, weathered naturally by the elements and aged to perfection. This not only gives each board a unique character, but also makes them an eco-friendly choice—free of VOCs, kiln-dried, and easy to install. Whether you want a rustic, modern, or farmhouse-style wall, our wood and experts helps you achieve an authentic look that’s backed by decades of durability.

 

Wood is just one of many creative options for accent walls, but it continues to stand out for its warmth, timeless appeal, and versatility across design styles. From painted statement walls to intricate mosaics, mirrored illusions, wallpaper patterns, and even fabric panels, there’s an idea here for every room and every level of DIY confidence. Still, few materials offer the visual impact and natural story that reclaimed wood does.

 

Ready to bring your space to life? Explore our collection of sustainable, American-made wood products at Centennial Woods, and start building a feature wall that’s as beautiful as it is meaningful.

 


MORE RESOURCES

Check out some of our other blog posts: Wood Accents On House Exterior, or 15 Reclaimed Wood Design Ideas.

See our reclaimed wood featured on HGTV and Netflix's Instant Dream Home.