The Art of the Accent Wall

The concept of the accent wall is surprisingly old. It dates all the way back to medieval times, when nobility and wealthy homeowners would use massive tapestries to adorn their walls. Back then, those tapestries were mainly meant as a display of wealth and status — but they were also valuable as a way to break up otherwise bland wood, stone, or plaster walls. 

This is a design technique that has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that it became popularized as the “accent wall” trend that we know now. Over recent decades, this trend has evolved. The accent walls of the early 2000s often involved using bold or bright paint shades to create an eye-catching area to draw the eye. 

More recently, designers started using things like wallpaper or even wall murals to transform accent walls not only into something that contrasts with the rest of the space, but also something that provides visual interest all on its own through patterns or artistry.

Modern accent walls are evolving again — and that’s where we come in. Today, people are adding not only color but texture to accent walls. Designers are using materials to introduce the look of natural wood, stone, brick, and more. Below, we’ll show you several creative accent wall ideas you can capture DIY-style. 

Create Spaces Filled With Character

Faux wall panels from Barron Designs are full of character. Use them strategically to create accent walls that enhance the style and atmosphere of your interior spaces. Below, you’ll find accent wall inspiration that revolves around adding the right kind of character to a variety of settings.

1. Embrace Rugged Rustic Charm

Reclaimed Shiplap Faux Barn Wood Panels in Aged

The rustic style is popular—and this hallway design idea encapsulates it perfectly. This is an accent wall that uses our Reclaimed Shiplap Faux Barn Wood Panels to not only give the space a rustic atmosphere, but also to introduce a wealth of interesting visual elements. These panels deliver clean horizontal lines, eye-catching rough wood textures, interesting grain patterns, and beautiful natural wood color —everything an accent wall needs to fulfill its purpose and draw the eye.

2. Create Timeless Tranquility

Contempo Faux Brick Wall Panels in Rich Burgundy

In a reading room or library, accent wall ideas need to strike just the right tone. You need to create an environment with the kind of cozy charm that invites you to while away the day engrossed in a good book. 

The accent wall design above captures this feeling perfectly. The Contempo Faux Brick Wall Panels bring old-world character and rich, rusty shades of red to a room that already exudes timeless charm through French doors, wood floors, and clean, simple wainscoting.

3. Rejoice in the Warmth of Natural Wood

Thermal Pine Wood Paneling

If there is any space in the home where you want to create a sense of comfort and charm, it’s the living room. This living room design idea relies on Thermal Pine Solid Wood Wall Paneling as an accent wall that adds so much to this space. The warm colors create a sense of richness and comfort, while the eye-catching woodgrain is full of character. Both the sofa and the artwork strike the perfect contrast in terms of color and design, resulting in a look that captures your attention while inviting you to stay and enjoy the cozy atmosphere.

Show Off Your Sophisticated Side

Designers have long relied on decorative wall elements like wainscoting to add a sense of sophistication to interior spaces. We’re here to show you that the right accent wall ideas can help you to achieve that same sense of sophistication. Below, you’ll discover ideas that include faux brick panels, faux wood panels, and other materials to create exquisite looks.

4. Strike a Sharp Contrast

Thermal Poplar Paneling

When people think of mud room design ideas, they generally think in terms of practicality — but as the accent wall inspiration above demonstrates, you can have both functionality and sophistication. 

The genius behind this design lies in geometry and contrasts. For example, the entryway and cabinets provide vertical lines, and our Thermal Poplar Solid Wood Paneling, the bench seat, and the flooring contrast this by adding horizontal lines. 

Then you have the colors: the dark wood contrasting light walls, while meshing beautifully with the midtone wood shades of the bench and the light wood tones in the flooring. As accent wall color ideas go, this one is particularly ingenious for the way it provides both contrasts and blending through a layered gradient of wood tones.

5. Create a Complex Color Palette

Reclaimed Shiplap Faux Barn Wood Panels in Weathered

As this kitchen design idea demonstrates, the use of rustic wood doesn’t always need to create a rustic look. Here, designers used our Reclaimed Shiplap faux barn wood wall panels as both a contrast and a complement to the many other wood tones found throughout this space. The gray shades make it stand out as an accent wall. Meanwhile, this room’s sophisticated feeling comes from a beautifully curated collection of natural wood colors and grain patterns that offer a feast for the eyes no matter where you look.

6. Mix Textures Like a Master

Old Chicago Herringbone Faux Brick Wall Panels in Whitewash Brick

In this entryway design idea, the sense of sophistication comes from a simple color palette that has been spiced up using a carefully selected blend of textures. Most of the room features a traditional design style with smooth walls and floors. It’s this simplistic backdrop that makes the rough texture and interesting geometry of our Old Chicago Herringbone Faux Brick Wall Panels really stand out.

As if the above pairing wasn’t sophisticated enough already, the designers took things a step further through textiles. A plush rug, plump throw pillows, and a lush fur throw take the edge off of sharp lines and rough textures to create a space that is both beautiful and inviting.

Immerse Yourself in Natural Surroundings

One popular interior design trend today is to build a connection between the indoors and the outdoors. With the right accent wall ideas, it’s easy to build that connection. Below, we’ll show you how designers have done it using our handcrafted faux stone panels.

7. Indulge in Nature-Inspired Comfort

Anson Fieldstone Faux Stone Wall Panels in Mist

This living room design idea blends that natural feeling with pure comfort, creating an inviting space that makes you want to curl up and enjoy the view through the windows. To create this look, the designer used Anson Fieldstone Faux Stone Wall panels for a nature-inspired accent wall that contrasts the plush upholstery and textiles while seamlessly blending with the room’s color palette. This balance between matching color tones and contrasting textures creates a beautiful bridge between indoor and outdoor elements. 

8. Enjoy Jungle-Inspired Spaces

Kentucky Dry Stack Faux Stone Wall Panels in Mist

Want to enjoy your next spa day in a space that conjures up imagery of mineral springs and exotic botanicals? That’s what this jungle-inspired bathroom design idea is all about. Here, the accent wall, which is made using Kentucky Dry Stack Faux Stone Wall Panels, is what brings it all together. Without that, you’d have an eclectic mix of greenery and earth tones, plus a pop of color through the terra cotta tub. The accent wall is what unites each individual element to create that natural vibe.

9. Embrace the Simple Elegance of Stone

Somerset Dry Stack Faux Stone Wall Panels in Tierra Gold

Nature-inspired looks don’t have to be complicated. This is a modern living room design idea that uses simple elements to blend natural appeal into a minimalist theme. 

There are two main components working together here: The first is the natural wood, which you see layered throughout the room in the flooring, furniture, and shelving. The second is the Somerset Dry Stack faux stone accent wall, which captures attention by introducing color and texture through the look of real stone. Paired with zen garden-inspired art and decor, this living room feels both natural and harmonious.

Bringing Accent Wall Ideas from Barron Designs to Life

Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to browse through our selection of faux wall panels for even more accent wall ideas. You’ll discover an endless array of beautiful colors and textures, all handcrafted right here in the United States, that can breathe life into any room in your home. Even better, our decorative wall panels are affordable and easy to install. They transform accent wall ideas into simple DIY projects that you can complete in a weekend and enjoy for decades.

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