The accent or the feature wall acts as the focal point of a room. When walking into a room, having one wall that stands out from the rest is a great way to elevate the appearance of the room. Developing the accent wall, however, can be a confusing task. With an endless array of possibilities in front of you, picking the right design, pattern, colors and material are key to making the accent wall truly stand out. 

Here are some tips and design suggestions you could keep in mind while planning the accent wall to fit your space:  

PAINT IT UP:

Paint is the most common and popular choice amongst consumers to develop an accent wall and for all the right reasons. Paint is fairly affordable and leaves a lot of space for creativity and expression. It can also be used in different ways to create the desired look. The simplest way to incorporate paint to create an accent wall is to paint the selected a deep or a light color. Painting it a dark color could set up a contrast with the rest of the room, also creating a cozy feel for the room. Using a lighter color could give a room a soft and light quality about it while brightening up the space. 

Dark turquoise accent wall

Paying with stripes for accent wall

Paint can also be used to alter the way a room appears with the right design. For instance, using thin vertical lines as a pattern on the accent wall could give an illusion of length to the room, while using thick horizontal strips could make it look wider. The design and pattern possibilities are boundless. You could stamp the wall with designs of your choice. You could also create unique radial, linear or geometric patterns combining different colors. Apart from the conventional designs, livening up a wall with a quote of your choice painted onto could add to the environment of the room with a touch of personalisation.  

ADD DEFINITION WITH TEXTURE 

Textured walls are the most convenient to develop and look simple yet great. A lot of different textures can be etched into the accent wall according to your liking. Mixing up textures and paints can help create a unique look without being too costly. You could either opt for a simple textured wall with a light solid color, or pick a bright and peppy color to enliven your room up. 

Light blue painted wall with a textured finish 

USE WOOD: 

Wood could prove to be a great addition to your accent wall. It is a versatile material and can be used in different ways to deck up the wall. Using wooden bars in the texture and shade can help give a classy and natural look to a room. To switch it up, you could also paint textured wood in different colors to match your ideal design. Using wooden decals is another way to go. Leaving the base of the wall in a solid color but adding wood decals in the shape and design of your choice could give the wall an eye-catching look. 

Wooden boards used to create an accent wall 

CUSHION IT UP 

Upholstering your accent wall is another great way to go. Upholstering the entire wall, or a certain portion of it can give it a luxurious finish. Different fabrics and shades can easily be used to give the wall a cushioned effect and add to it’s luxe factor. Such an accent wall is especially a great fit for bedrooms as they give a cozy and comfortable feel to the room. For a quicker and simpler alternative, using fabric wall panels with cushioned finish may be a good way to go as they are ready to install and give a great look as well. 

Upholstered accent wall 

INCORPORATE TILES 

Incorporating tiles into your accent wall designs could be a great and affordable way to spruce up your room. Tiles of various colors and finishes could be used to develop the accent wall. For a simple look, neutral or deep colored tiles can be placed on the wall, according to the theme of the room. For a more vibrant or fun look, a mosaic pattern could also be created on the accent wall, preferably in the living space for a fun addition to your home. 

Textured tiles on accent wall

TAKE THE 3D ROUTE

To give a room a more modern and defined look, 3D wall panels could be a great product to use. 3D wall panels are ready to install and leave almost no mess in the installation process. They come in a lot of designs and shades giving you a lot of options to find the right one for your space. 3D wall panels help give the room an edgy finish, even when kept simple and thus could prove to be a great pick for your accent wall. 

3D panelled wall 

ACHIEVE THE LOOK WITH WALLPAPERS 

Wallpapers are a great and cost effective way to create an accent wall. Wallpapers come in simple ready to apply rolls and can easily be stuck onto the wall with adhesive. They come in a whole lot of different designs, patterns, prints and colors to accommodate almost any space easily. You could opt for a solid colored wallpaper for a fairly simple and classy look. On the other hand, using fun print and patterns could help alter the look of the room altogether for a more lively finish. Different patterns could also be combined to create a unique and abstract look for the wall. 

Pastel themed printed wallpaper for a fun look 

GO THE GREEN WAY 

Going green is another great way to form an accent wall. Creating a green accent wall can be done in two ways. For outdoor spaces where direct sunlight is available, going for a vertical garden accent wall might be a great idea. It gives a lush, fresh and lively look to a place. However, in space where forming vertical gardens isn’t feasible, artificial green leaf mats can be easily installed giving a similar finish. Artificial leaf mats give an illusion of greenery and freshness and are fairly easy to clean as well. A green wall is especially a great idea for reception areas and offices as they give off a bright and welcoming feeling. 

Artificial green leaf mats used to create an accent wall

CLASS IT UP WITH MIRRORS 

Mirrors are a simple yet classy element, which used rightly can transform the way a room looks. Using mirrors to form the accent wall can be done in both a minimal and grand way. Going the minimal route, you can opt for a simple wall decked with mirror decals, giving a beautiful yet subtle look. Adding extravagant mirror decals can also be done for a more luxe look. Another way to go is fully deck up the accent wall with mirrors from top to bottom. It not only looks beautiful but gives an illusion of space to the room, making it seem bigger. It also amplifies the lighting in a room, making it a great pick for your wall to truly stand apart. 

Mirror piece and decal used on accent wall 

LIGHT IT UP 

Blending lights with your accent wall is a simple yet elegant way to give it a lively look. Adding a simple string of LED lights in a color complementary to that of the room can elevate the entire room’s ambience. You could simply line up the periphery of the accent wall with lights or embed them with wall panels for a simple, sophisticated yet modern look. 

Lit up accent wall 

CREATE A GALLERY WALL

Gallery walls have of late been trending. Using simple frames, framed fabrics, subtle paintings or personal photos, gallery walls can be customised to fit your need and vision of each space. You can create a simple accent wall with just a few frames arranged symmetrically or in an abstract manner, giving it a subtle and gorgeous look. Monochromatic gallery walls are especially popular and look very graceful. If you wish to deck up and fill the wall up, you could easily do so with more frames and pictures. Filling up the entire wall is recommended in comparatively bigger rooms as in a smaller room it could make the space feel crammed. In totality, gallery walls are a simple yet beautiful way to develop an aesthetically pleasing accent wall. 

Gallery wall 

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Accent walls are a great way to create a central point in a room, and an ambience for it. Creating an accent wall requires a lot of attention to detail and what the space requires, so that the accent wall catches the eye of anyone who walks into a room, creating a pleasant impression.