Refresh your space with these 20 accent wall ideas for 2025
Accent walls are an interior designer's best friend. Ideal for drawing the eye to a focal piece of furniture or giving a room more personality, accent walls make the daunting task of redecorating much more enjoyable.
From faux brick walls to striking headboards, feature walls can be used in any room of the home, but we’ve decided to focus on the big two: the living room and bedroom.
These cosy spaces of your home are all about love, joy and relaxation, so why not give them a fresh look this year? Explore our living room and bedroom feature wall ideas and find your inner interior designer.
20 accent wall ideas for bedrooms and living rooms
10 bedroom accent wall ideas
1. Split accent wall feature
Painting half your bedroom wall a contrasting colour to the other half creates an effortless accent wall. Cream walls can be split halfway with deep oranges, muted greens can be cut with darker greens and peachy pink can be split with rich blues.
The colour combinations are endless and often provide a great starting point for decorating the rest of your space. Choose bedroom accessories that match your accent wall colour for a cohesive, modern finish.
How gorgeous is Maison & Objet’s split-way feature wall? The yellow/white split gives a chic look while also being super easy to recreate.
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2. Wooden panelling
Wooden panelling is a popular feature wall idea that can be handmade or professionally designed. There are plenty of different panelling designs you can create using wood, including geometric, rectangles and herringbone.
Sarah Vidotto’s Victorian villa has a gorgeous half-wooden panel feature in their bedroom. The timber battens and grey paint perfectly combine the panelling and split accent wall trend.
Make sure you also check out our wood panelling ideas, which feature lots of accent wall inspiration.
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3. Statement canvases
Statement canvases make brilliant bedroom accent walls. They draw the eye, and when hung above a bed, create an interesting focal point for your space.
There are plenty of canvas choices on the market too. Think graphic prints, bright artwork or even personal photography. Try to match the colours in the canvas with the colours of your bedroom walls and accessories.
We love this coastal bedroom accent wall idea from Shine Rugs. The statement beach canvas complements the white, airy feel of the room.
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Discover more bedroom feature wall ideas
Look through our master bedroom ideas to find more unique interior design trends.
4. Bold headboards
One easy way of creating an accent wall is by choosing furniture that does the job for you! You can often purchase unique headboards separately or custom design your frame to feature a bold design.
This incredible wavy headboard from Urban Outfitters is the ultimate standout piece. The striped colours and wavy design bring a fun feature to even the plainest of spaces.
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5. Paint your own accent wall mural
If you have an arty streak, why not paint your own mural? Murals are often used in children’s rooms to bring colour and joy, but they’re great for adult spaces too.
Clare hand-painted this funky mural for her bedroom and we love the results. There are so many mural accent wall ideas out there; we recommend browsing Pinterest to find some designs you love and then recreating them in your home.
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6. Low shelving
Low shelving makes both a practical and pretty accent wall idea. It’s perfect for small bedrooms and can create a striking feature if accessorised properly.
Play with different heights on your shelving, such as using tall candle sticks and photo frames to offset draping plants and tiny trinkets.
Books also make a great statement feature, as do rattan plates. We love the accessories Homemade Graceful has used on their shelving.
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7. Hand-painted archways
@lisamarieprang Our Charlotte, NC bedroom reveal! A fun DIY paited arched headboard that was SO easy 🧡 #diyhomedecor #archedheadboard #bedroomdesign #diydecor ♬ TEXAS HOLD 'EM - Beyoncé
Over the last few years, archways have been a huge accent wall trend on TikTok. Easy to paint yourself, they add a pop of colour and create a statement in any room.
We love this DIY archway by Lisa Marie Prang. It draws the eye to her beautiful bed and immediately makes the space warm and comforting.
8. Bedroom banners
Banners have become popular in the last few years and make brilliant accent wall features. There’s a huge range available on Etsy, all suited to different tastes and decor styles.
This Long Live Boyhood banner from Primrose Co Designs is a fantastic way of bringing childhood joy into your kid's bedroom.
9. Scalloped trim
Whether added through wooden accents or handpainted, there’s no denying scallop trim makes a lovely accent wall idea. This wooden scallop trim from Etsy adds a subtly decorative touch while keeping to a neutral palette.
Scalloped edging can also be placed anywhere on your accent wall, not just halfway. We’ve seen scallop paintings that edge skirting boards, ceilings and shelving.
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10. Wall hangings
Wall hangings are a cousin of the statement canvas and a wonderful way of bringing texture into your space. They make fantastic talking points and ideal accent walls.
You can make a DIY woven wall hanging using our tutorial here on Gathered, or shop online for many gorgeous alternatives.
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10 living room accent wall ideas
11. Faux plaster feature wall
Chanel the Parisian look with a faux plaster feature wall. This stunning washed effect gives a cool, laidback vibe, creating the chicest of living rooms.
Collective Gen has a brilliant DIY tutorial showing you how to make your own faux plaster wall.
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12. Intricate wallpaper
Wallpaper is an age-old accent wall idea but the resurgence of artistic designs makes this a trend not to be sniffed at.
From abstract illustrations to unusual artworks, there are plenty of wallpapers on the market that would make striking feature walls. We love this highly illustrative wallpaper from Ever Wallpaper.
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Got a smaller living room?
Never fear! Use our small living room ideas to maximise your space.
13. Checkered accent walls
Bring some fun into your living room with this checkered feature wall idea. Go bold with bright-coloured, big checks, or keep it more subtle with white and pastel grids. Delineate Your Dwelling shows you how to DIY this accent wall idea on her website.
Ash & Olive Co. sell these pastel checkered wall decals if you’d rather buy the checkered effect. There are loads of colours to choose from too!
14. Gallery feature wall
Gallery walls are a classic feature wall idea and work well as a focal point for your living room. Hang above your mantlepiece or sofa, and mix and match different sizes of prints and frames to create a gallery effect.
Read Your Home Style’s handy guide on creating a gallery wall for more help.
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15. Neon lights
Put your living room feature wall in lights! Alicia Murphy’s neon sign is the star of the show in her living room and adds playful colour to the space.
Adding neon lighting doesn’t have to be as extravagant as this either. For a more paired back look, tape lighting strips under your mantlepiece, shelving, cabinets or frame to add a homely glow.
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16. Feature wall mirrors
Mirrors are brilliant for opening up spaces and making them feel bigger. They also make fantastic accent wall features too. Large ornate mirrors are the perfect luxe living room addition and will give your space a sense of grandiosity.
This trend can also be combined with the gallery wall idea. Mix and match both mirrors and prints or use a selection of different-sized mirrors to create an accent wall.
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17. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases
Photo credit: Pinterest
Floor-to-ceiling bookcases are arguably one of the classiest and oldest accent wall ideas around. Adorning the walls of sociable spaces for years, bookcases make grand accent features and double up as handy storage.
Display your books alongside foliage, frames and plenty of glowing lamps. Use books of varying heights, widths and colours, stacking them in different formations to create interest. Place some with the spines facing out, some with the pages facing out and some stacked lengthways.
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18. Plant feature wall
Carrie Kline has created the ultimate living room feature wall for plant lovers! Using clever shelving, she’s incorporated greenery into her accent wall (which already features this amazing geometric structure). As the plants grow, this accent wall idea will bloom into life.
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19. Plywood accent walls
Wooden walls are back! Perfect for creating a rustic, Scandinavian feel in your home, wooden accent walls give a modern look for a fraction of the price. Recipes Time has a tutorial on creating a DIY plywood wall on their site.
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20. Faux brick accent walls
Photo credit: Pinterest
An exposed brick wall makes a wonderful, earthy accent feature, but sadly, many newer builds no longer have them.
But never fear! Faux brick walls are easier than ever to install, with many sponge painting hacks, realistic wallpaper versions or stick-on decals now available.
It’s the perfect feature wall idea for fans of the farmhouse living room style.
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Accent wall ideas to make your room pop!
All the feature wall ideas we’ve included in this round-up are brilliant ways of adding interest to your living room or bedroom. Often more affordable than repainting or wallpapering the whole room, accent walls enhance your space while showing your personality and style.
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