25 Stylish Bedroom Accent Wall Ideas

Sometimes too much of a good thing can be too much. Enter the accent wall, which pares down an eye-catching pattern, color or texture to one wall — eliminating the possibility of overwhelming your space.

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July 02, 2020

By: Chelsey Bowen and H. Camille Smith

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Start With Color

Paint is the easiest and most budget-friendly way to add an accent wall. Not only is the cost minimal but painting a single wall only takes a few hours and it's easy to change the color if you don't love the finished result. You can even jazz up a solid surface with an extra detail, like the sporty stripe seen here.

See More Photos: Bedroom Color Ideas: Which Paint to Pick

From: Elizabeth Bomberger

Think Inside the Box

Really make the bed the star of the show by framing it out. Here, designer Sarah Richardson used inexpensive wood trim to surround a wallpapered inset to cozy up the spacious suite.

See More Photos: Sarah's Suburban House: New Home, Classic Style

Try Out a Temporary Wallpaper

One of the best aspects of using wallpaper for an accent wall is that there are so many removeable options available now. You don't have to feel pinned down by your wallpaper choice because peel-and-stick papers allow you to reposition or completely change them out with ease.

From: Kendall Simmons

Create a Canopy-Bed Effect

The ultimate in easy but impactful additions, adding colorful draperies behind your bed's headboard creates a canopy-bed effect without the canopy. Here, designer Parker Kennedy adds a Chinoiserie twist with bamboo trellis-patterned fabric, trimmed with a green border that ties into the banana leaf headboard.

Opposites Attract

Mimicking the look of a geode, this dramatic wallpaper makes a cool contrasting statement on its own. Paired with the clean lines of the upholstered headboard and the brass-meets-glass nightstands, the graphic wall really turns the bed into the room's focal point.

See More Photos: Tips for Wallpapering a Bedroom

From: Lindye Galloway

Add Interest Overhead

Who says your accent wall has to be one of the four main walls? Papered in coral palm leaves, this ceiling adds bright color and pattern to the contemporary-meets-tropical bedroom. The painted blue wall behind the bed anchors the space without overpowering and, bonus, adds a punchy contrast to the coral.

Learn More: 6 Ways to Perk Up Your Ceiling

From: Grace Blu Interior Design

Go Graphic

A can of paint, a tape measure and painter's tape are all you need to transform a plain white wall into a two-toned, geometric design. White and navy share the wall on a diagonal and reflect the color scheme of the bedding, upholstered benches and rug. Adjustable sconces in a brass finish add a bit of golden glam.

See More Photos: 1 Can of Paint, 50 New DIY Projects

From: Mary Rossi

Feel Like Vacay, Everyday

Big and bold, this wallpaper's tropical-inspired jungle pattern is totally on-trend and coordinates perfectly with the bedroom's rattan headboard. This attention-grabbing paper is a perfect example of what makes an accent wall impactful: covering all four walls with this pattern would be overwhelming but just one wall — jungle-licious!

From: Mollie Openshaw

Add a Bed Crown

An easy DIY project that looks high-end, a bed crown can be made with just a pair of draperies and either a wooden or metal topper or a small fabric valance, as seen here. The draperies are attached to a rod or board hidden within the topper or valance and can either hang straight so they tuck behind the headboard or tied back with drapery hooks for a timeless canopy-bed effect.

See More Photos: 16 Ways to Decorate With Bed Crowns

From: Sarah Richardson

Use Size to Your Advantage

When a bedroom falls on the petite side, it doesn't take much material to create an eye-catching statement. In this small space, reclaimed barnwood was cut into slim rectangles and installed in a herringbone pattern to create a rustic retreat.

From: Brooke Wagner

Make It Dual Purpose

Urban living means looking at how a design element can be multifunctional. This apartment set on The High Line in New York City embraces a cozy, contemporary style. The vertical-slat accent wall brings warmth to the cool gray palette and also doubles as a slim shelf for storing books, photographs and other favorite accessories.

From: B Interior

Add to Your Architecture

For a minimal approach, add dimension with rail-and-stile wainscoting. Subtle yet sophisticated, this tone-on-tone accent wall isn't stealing the show from the streamlined canopy bed, herringbone nightstands or comfy leather sofa. Instead, it gives the room a timeless feel with architectural detailing that will never go out of style.

Get the How-To: How to Install Timeless Rail-and-Stile Wainscoting

From: Blissful Design Studio

Mix Motifs

Fresh yet classic, bold yet bright, navy and pink are a completely self-assured pairing. Grounded by a vibrant pink rug, this inviting bedroom shows the power of mixing patterns. The accent wall is papered in an indigo batik print, while throw pillows pull the two main hues together in a graphic design.

See More Photos: New Ways to Decorate With Shades of Blue

From: Michelle Gage

Build In a Bookcase

Take a cue from designer Marian Parsons and put an accent wall to work with a set of custom bookshelves that make smart use of a small space by maximizing available storage while creating a beautiful bed niche.

See More Photos: Coastal Bedroom Decorating Tips

From: Marian Parsons

Not Meant to Be a Wallflower

Definitely not meant to be overlooked, this romantic wallpaper combines a dramatic black and blush palette reminiscent of Old Hollywood. Ready for its close-up, the eye-catching wall covering doesn't distract but instead complements the bedroom's rich, velvet furnishings and neutral color scheme. Limiting the heavily patterned paper to just one wall lets the pattern shine without overwhelming the space.

See More Photos: 30 Wallpaper Designs for Every Room of the House

From: Veronica Solomon

Embrace the 'Next Shiplap'

While interest in shiplap may be fading, adding architectural trim is still tops with designers who predict that geometric patterns, instead of overlapping horizontal or vertical boards, will be the next big wallcovering trend.

See More Photos: The Next Shiplap: An Interior Designer's Trend Prediction for 2019

From: HGTV Magazine

Rustic Meets Refined

Embrace the beauty of simple materials. This bedroom displays the homeowner's love of wood's natural beauty with large slabs of exposed-grain lumber, interspersed with chinking to evoke the atmosphere of a rustic, log cabin.

Combine Patterns

Watercolor-inspired cloud wallpaper blends shades of violet to create a dreamy backdrop to menswear-inspired stripes in the bedding, rug and Roman shades, proving that you don't have to stick with just one pattern. Mix it up for maximum interest.

From: Natalie Myers

Lean Into Your Surroundings

Work with what you have. A dated stone wall doesn't have to stay stuck in the past or require removal. A fresh coat of white paint turns the former eyesore into a texture-rich focal point.

From: Leanne Ford

Made for You

Have a custom mural painted as a backdrop to your bed. For HGTV Dream Home 2018, artist Celery Jones painted a mural inspired by travel billboards from the 1940s. Whether it's showing off your love for your state, a stunning vista or a more abstract look, a mural will give your bedroom a totally personalized vibe.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Black Out

Achieve one-of-a-kind style by looking at materials in a different light. Instead of leaving the wood in its organic state, each board was burned until it was completely black. The charred accent wall injects depth and drama into an otherwise restrained palette.

See More Photos: Master Suite With Charred Wall

From: FLO Design Studio

Step Away From the Typical

Not your everyday wood paneling, this high-end accent wall uses rich wood tones in simple yet elegant cuts to add warmth to the serenely cool bedroom. Shades of pink, black and white convey a modern palette that juxtaposes nicely against the warm woods.

Incorporate Texture

Flat wallpaper is not your only option when highlighting an accent wall. Full of texture, this fabric wall covering not only delivers tactile appeal, but also provides a bit of soundproofing between apartments. Mod wall sconces and streamlined tables flank the bed, keeping the environment down-to-basics and functional.

From: B Interior

Easy-to-Achieve Design

Take a weekend and tackle a DIY accent wall by installing wood paneling behind your headboard. And, although it's hard to beat classic white, try an unexpected shade — like this royal blue — to infuse the space with color. If you tire of the hue, all it takes is a free day and a can of paint to change the look.

See More Photos: 12 Wood-Paneled Walls That Are Anything But Dated

From: Terracotta Design Build

Brick by Brick

Even if your home is in the 'burbs, get the look of living in a loft with exposed brick, as seen here in this Old World-inspired bedroom. The remaining walls are painted a soft gray, and other architectural elements, like the rough-hewn wood beams, vaulted ceiling and wide, farmhouse-style millwork, reinforce the bedroom's new-meets-old aesthetic.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC