How to Design an Accent Wall That Actually Looks Good
Don’t Forget the Ceiling
Accent wall? No, no—accent tunnel. Going full maximalist, covering the walls and ceiling—can actually feel surprisingly serene. In this Patrick Mele-designed Manhattan home, Jennifer Shorto’s Orange & Leaves pattern transforms a corridor into a citrus grove, and the striped runner grounds all that botanical drama.
Hidden Accent Wall
Here is an accent wall for commitment-phobes. In the primary dressing room of this colorful New York townhouse, designer Danielle Colding tucked a rich landscape wallpaper by Fromental behind sleek black cabinetry.
Storybook Wallpaper
A young family tapped Rodney Lawrence to design a space where they could entertain summer visitors, many with young children. So, the designer took a page out of Maurice Sendak’s book (literally), and covered a children’s guest bedroom in a scene from Where the Wild Things Are.
Maximalist Pink
Recessed Wall
In the main bedroom of a breathtaking Malibu home, the bed is recessed into a niche with a floral Foglie Di Vite wallpaper by Lizzo, creating a blooming backdrop that makes every morning feel like waking up in a Mediterranean villa.
Checkered Plate Wall
Who said a plate wall can’t double as an accent wall? “Those plates are so fun to me. It’s a conversation topic with my kids. They make me happy. They bring color in,” Hill House founder and homeowner Nell Diamond told ELLE Decor.
Transitional Space
How to make transitional spaces interesting: a double accent wall. For the entry staircase of this Harlem duplex, ELLE Decor A-List designer Rayman Boozer of Apartment 48 selected a Pierre Frey wallpaper to create movement that mirrors the staircase’s function.
Use Art
The ultimate flex? Perhaps an accent wall that appreciates in value. This Portland home proves that art-as-architecture works when you commit fully to the concept.
Gilded Age Glamor
Redd Kaihoi transformed this late-19th-century foyer with custom Iksel wallpaper that turns every arrival into a Gilded Age forest fantasy. Against the wallpaper, the antique furnishings feel like curated treasures rather than stuffy heirlooms.
Delicate Blossoms
One statement wall can transform the entire space without overwhelming the room’s elegant bones. Dior executive Mathilde Favier opted for a wall mural by Rosie Mennem in her Paris bedroom, and we love how it ties the entire room together.
Kid-Friendly Mural
This Upper East Side apartment designed by ELLE Decor A-List firm Husband Wife is the definition of sophisticated. The pretty mural in the children’s room by Jeremiah Britton is the perfect, light accent wall for children to grow into.
Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she oversees the brand’s social media platforms, covers design trends and culture, and writes the monthly ELLE Decoroscope column. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art, and lifestyle.
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