20 Accent Wall Ideas & Inspiration to Add Character to Every Room

A bedroom with two blue-painted accent walls, a wooden bed frame, rust coloured throw, contemporary beige chair, and reading lamps on both sides of bed. A bedroom with two blue-painted accent walls, a wooden bed frame, rust coloured throw, contemporary beige chair, and reading lamps on both sides of bed.

Upgrade a plain, boxy room with energetic, bold colour. Refresh your favourite nook with soft, subtle hues. Read on for inspiration and how-to guidance for a DIY accent wall you’ll love!

If you know how to paint a wall, you know how to paint an accent wall. How to choose an accent wall often presents the bigger challenge!

An accent wall often showcases a room’s focal point, like a built-in bookcase, fireplace, or art. You can also use an accent wall to easily elevate a basic apartment space. Other considerations for which wall to choose include…

  • Adding dimension to a room that has minimal architectural detail.
  • Breaking up open floor plans, bright rooms, and rooms with high ceilings.
  • Creating a specific mood, since colour impacts how a space makes you feel.

Accent colours are meant to pop, and create visual interest in a space. When choosing an accent wall, select a wall with purpose–your eye will be drawn to it immediately. For rooms with darker colour walls, consider going lighter for an accent wall. If the walls are light and airy, consider a deeper, bolder colour.

In need of some accent wall inspiration? Look to the other colours featured in the space, picking up a similar colour from a piece of artwork or textile can help tie the room together. Don’t forget to consider the direction your room faces and the type of natural light it receives when choosing paint colours for your accent wall.

Best Accent Wall Colours

From the zing of a red accent wall to the softest, most calming neutral, there is no “right” answer to choosing the best accent wall colour. The paint hues shown here, however, are the ones that homeowners turn to again and again.

A woman sits at a contemporary desk in a small office space with a sloped white ceiling with wooden beams and a soft green-painted accent wall framing windows. A woman sits at a contemporary desk in a small office space with a sloped white ceiling with wooden beams and a soft green-painted accent wall framing windows.

20 Accent Walls for Every Room

An accent wall provides an easy way to experiment with paint colour, while breathing personality and design impact into your space.

Use an accent wall to spice up busy functional spaces like your entryway, laundry room or mudroom. A well-chosen accent colour can also enliven small spaces, giving them instant personality. Love off-whites, neutrals or fresh, pale hues? Greige, taupe and soft gray accent walls lend a layer of sophistication to minimalist styling.

Read on for a tour of how accent walls can enhance any space in your home, guided by colour suggestions and tips from Benjamin Moore’s colour experts.

Dining Room Accent Walls

A dining room with a red-painted accent wall, a white wall, trim and ceiling, wood floors, a white table set with white dishes, and black spindle-back chairs. A dining room with a red-painted accent wall, a white wall, trim and ceiling, wood floors, a white table set with white dishes, and black spindle-back chairs.

1. Red Accent Wall: Fiery and Fun

Red paint colours deliver a design glow-up in any room. A red accent wall in the dining room adds the perfect pop for a space where both conversation and wine flow effortlessly. Rosy Apple 2006-30, seen here, offers a dramatic foil for the natural wooden floors and traditional spindle-back chairs. Other accent wall-ready reds include:

A modern apartment dining area with a dark brown-painted accent panel on a white wall, crate wall shelves, a wood table and chairs, and orange and brown table runner. A modern apartment dining area with a dark brown-painted accent panel on a white wall, crate wall shelves, a wood table and chairs, and orange and brown table runner.

2. Brown Accent Wall: Easy Elegance

A graphic swath of bold colour enhances any room. In this dining room, Wenge AF-180, a rich brown from our mix-and-match Affinity® Colour Collection, adds design depth in an otherwise neutral space. Other rich browns we love include:

An open dining area with a light-green painted accent wall, white walls and ceiling, multi-coloured chairs and a white table near a white open staircase with wood steps and banister. An open dining area with a light-green painted accent wall, white walls and ceiling, multi-coloured chairs and a white table near a white open staircase with wood steps and banister.

3. Green Accent Wall: Verdant Vibes

Fresh, organic-inspired green paint colours are perfect for the dining room. Leafy Fernwood Green 2145-40 warms up this contemporary dining space. This accent wall also helps delineate a dining space for guests and family to linger in an open floor plan.

An airy, white-painted dining room with two yellow-painted alcoves, yellow decorative plates, dark wood ceiling beams, a rustic metal chandelier, and a round wood table and chair. An airy, white-painted dining room with two yellow-painted alcoves, yellow decorative plates, dark wood ceiling beams, a rustic metal chandelier, and a round wood table and chair.

4. Yellow Accent Wall: Energizing & Optimistic

Add some zest to your dining room with a bold yellow accent wall—or, in this case, accented inset shelves. Inviting and warm, York Harbour Yellow 2154-40 is a reliable option anytime a pop of colour is needed, especially when balanced with flattering Atrium White OC-145. Other yellows to try include:

Bedroom Accent Walls

A cozy, sunlit bedroom with a light blue-painted accent wall, a two-tone muted silver and white wall behind a bed, a wood slatted wall with hanging artwork and a raised wood floor. A cozy, sunlit bedroom with a light blue-painted accent wall, a two-tone muted silver and white wall behind a bed, a wood slatted wall with hanging artwork and a raised wood floor.

1. Light Blue Accent Wall: Breezy and Beautiful

Combine three hues in the same colour family to elevate the impact of colour in your bedroom. Here a silvery neutral, soft gray-blue, and pop of stormy blue create a trilogy of charm in this loft bedroom. Steal this look with these blue trilogies:

A bedroom with white-painted walls and ceiling, a cheery pink-painted accent wall, two twin beds with black and white polka dot and striped bedding, and a sliding door to a deck with views of palm trees and open sky. A bedroom with white-painted walls and ceiling, a cheery pink-painted accent wall, two twin beds with black and white polka dot and striped bedding, and a sliding door to a deck with views of palm trees and open sky.

2. Pink Accent Wall: Add a Wink of Colour

Bring some play into a guest room with a cheery pink accent wall. When paired with rich brown, as seen here on the bedding and ceiling beam, the look combines elegance with fun. More pinks we love include:

A white bedroom with a violet painted inset behind a bed with white and pink bedding, and a blue-green accent wall behind white shelving. A white bedroom with a violet painted inset behind a bed with white and pink bedding, and a blue-green accent wall behind white shelving.

3. Painted Bedroom Accent Walls: Intriguing Pairings

Tapping into the softer side of colour pairings in your bedroom can create a calming, harmonious cocoon. Here, Hint of Violet 2114-60 and Quiet Moments CC-700 refreshes the space. More soft bedroom colour combinations we love include:

A white bedroom with a teal green-painted accent wall and peach painted arch behind a bed with teal and orange bohemian style bedding and pillows. A white bedroom with a teal green-painted accent wall and peach painted arch behind a bed with teal and orange bohemian style bedding and pillows.

4. Green Accent Wall: Graphic Decadence

Adore your bedding? Build a colour scheme around it! Here, teal green Casco Bay 2051-30 in this bedroom, pulls fluidly from the print duvet. The homeowner softens the look with a peachy Pirates Cove Beach OC-80 painted arch “headboard” that enlivens the small bedroom. Consider these punchy accent wall pairings:

Living Spaces

A modern white living room space with a rich, purple-painted accent wall and mantel over an active fireplace, and pretty blue hallway and back walls. A modern white living room space with a rich, purple-painted accent wall and mantel over an active fireplace, and pretty blue hallway and back walls.

1. Purple Accent Wall: A Royal Touch

Use analogous colours—colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel—for striking contrast against crisp white.

Here, Tear Drop Blue 2053-60 draws the eye down the hallway, a pretty pairing with the Shadow 2117-30 accent wall, a rich purple and former Colour of the Year. Other analogous accent wall pairings to consider include:

A loft entryway with a dark indigo blue pegboard wall holding hats, scarves, a jacket and umbrellas with a light pink front door. A loft entryway with a dark indigo blue pegboard wall holding hats, scarves, a jacket and umbrellas with a light pink front door.

2. Blue Accent Wall: Entryway

Give your oft-overlooked entryway a bold makeover with a stunning blue paint colour. Whether you go for the nearly black undertone of Deep Royal 2061-10 or lean towards indigo with Starry Night Blue 2067-20, an eye-catching blue hue is sure to enliven the place you hang your hat. Make it really pop with a pink front door, like we do here with Tofino Sunset CC-156.

An open, modern dining room with a brown-painted accent wall and three large windows, a white ceiling and side wall with sliding glass doors, and brown granite kitchen island in the forefront. An open, modern dining room with a brown-painted accent wall and three large windows, a white ceiling and side wall with sliding glass doors, and brown granite kitchen island in the forefront.

3. Brown Accent Wall: Earthy & Engaging

Create a vibrant space for conversing over a good meal with a dining area accented by a sumptuous brown accent wall. As smooth and rich as your favourite coffee, dark brown paint colours bring a luxurious feel to your home, especially in spaces where people gather. Get the look with one of these hues:

A bright, open living space with wood grooved panelling and cabinets, white walls, a black chair, and a modern wood chair against a light blue-painted hallway wall. A bright, open living space with wood grooved panelling and cabinets, white walls, a black chair, and a modern wood chair against a light blue-painted hallway wall.

4. Light Blue Accent Wall: Bring the Skies Inside

Light blue paint colours bring summer skies inside. A favourite for ceilings and accent walls alike, light blue acts like a breezy hue in white and neutral spaces. Love light blue? Consider these options:

A soft pink-painted accent wall is the highlight of this inviting white painted living room with a vaulted beamed ceiling, fireplace and casual white and black furnishings. A soft pink-painted accent wall is the highlight of this inviting white painted living room with a vaulted beamed ceiling, fireplace and casual white and black furnishings.

5. Pink Accent Wall: A Fresh Take

Comforting with an added air of sophistication, light pink paint colours give living rooms and other spaces an alternative to neutrals or gray, while being just as flattering. To get the look, try former Colour of the Year, First Light 2102-70, shown here, or one of these other pretty hues:

Kitchen Accent Walls

A welcoming small kitchen with charcoal gray-painted cabinets, pearl gray tile backsplash, a pink accent wall and blue striped area rug. A welcoming small kitchen with charcoal gray-painted cabinets, pearl gray tile backsplash, a pink accent wall and blue striped area rug.

1. Pink Accent Wall: A Kitchen Staple

Go for a modern twist on a classic colour combination when you pair gray kitchen cabinets with a pink kitchen accent wall. Steeped in vintage vibes, gray and pink help bridge the gap between warm and cool, creating a welcoming space for cooking, entertaining and more. Other gray and pink combos we love include:

A sleek, contemporary kitchen with white-painted walls and ceiling, a black accent wall, painted black cabinets, and a large island, open to a white hallway. A sleek, contemporary kitchen with white-painted walls and ceiling, a black accent wall, painted black cabinets, and a large island, open to a white hallway.

2. Black Accent Wall: Posh & Practical

A black accent wall adds instant style to any room. On the pragmatic side, darker paint colours tend to mask splatter and dirt. It’s a win win.

Black paint colors we love include:

A sleek kitchen corner with a coral- painted wall, a white- tiled backsplash wall and floor, white upper wall and exposed pipes, and three sets of drawers: one painted white, the second black, and the third woodgrain. A sleek kitchen corner with a coral- painted wall, a white- tiled backsplash wall and floor, white upper wall and exposed pipes, and three sets of drawers: one painted white, the second black, and the third woodgrain.

3. Raspberry Red Accent Wall: Colour Block with Ease

Colour accent walls are a fun and creative way to infuse a fresh look into your home, especially in multi-functional spaces. Make them pop with a statement-making raspberry paint colour, like the Colour of the Year 2023, Raspberry Blush 2008-30. Other red-coral hues that can elevate a space include:

An English heritage-style kitchen with blue-painted cabinets, an accent wall painted in navy, and wood furniture. An English heritage-style kitchen with blue-painted cabinets, an accent wall painted in navy, and wood furniture.

4. Navy Blue Accent Wall: Anchors Away

Ramp up the wow factor in your kitchen with a navy blue and white colour combination. Pairings we love for this high-impact look include:

Bathroom Accent Walls

A fun, orange-painted accent wall separates the walk-in shower from a free-standing bathtub in a white painted bathroom with white subway tile. A fun, orange-painted accent wall separates the walk-in shower from a free-standing bathtub in a white painted bathroom with white subway tile.

1. Orange Accent Wall: Wakey Wakey!

While you want your bathroom to be clean, you don’t want it to feel sterile. Enter the colourful painted accent wall!

A vibrant orange, Golden Vista 308 is like a fresh glass of orange juice on a summer morning. Other sunny hues we love for a morning energy infusion:

A pretty, white-painted bathroom with decorative moulding, a double wooden vanity set in a blue-painted alcove, a colourful tile floor, wood bench and doors opening to a bedroom. A pretty, white-painted bathroom with decorative moulding, a double wooden vanity set in a blue-painted alcove, a colourful tile floor, wood bench and doors opening to a bedroom.

2. Dark Blue Accent Wall: Make Waves

Dark blue oceanic energy in your bathroom just makes sense. Whether you are highlighting an architectural detail like the alcove here or using colour creatively—think a perfectly painted circle with a mirror at its centre, or a swath of blue for ornate towel hooks—dark blue is majestic in any room. Consider:

A bathroom with a red-painted accent wall, round mirror with black frame, a red-painted chair holding towels, white tiled walls and black tiled flooring with a beige bathmat. A bathroom with a red-painted accent wall, round mirror with black frame, a red-painted chair holding towels, white tiled walls and black tiled flooring with a beige bathmat.

3. Red Accent Wall: Ravishing & Fun

A vintage chair in the same colour as your perfectly painted bathroom accent wall? Why not!

Painted in Advance® Interior, which cures to a furniture-like finish beloved for cabinets, trim, doors and more, the monochromatic wall and chair are subtle and sweet.

Cheery reds we love for the bathroom—matching chair or not—include:

“Using paint to highlight the architectural details in your space can take your designs to new heights—try painting the ceiling with a bold colour for a dramatic twist on the accent wall.”

Molly Lynch, Colour & Design Expert

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. What is the rule for accent walls?

A. An accent wall is an opportunity to bring a pop of colour and dimension into your palette. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to accent walls, your eye will be drawn there once you walk into the room, so be sure to choose somewhere you want people to focus on. You should also ensure the accent wall isn’t competing with anything else in the room, so be sure to work with the décor and architecture already in the space.



Q. How can I easily create an accent wall?

A. Think about the focal point in the space. It could be a gallery wall, the wall behind the headboard in a bedroom, a wall with a fireplace, or a ceiling with an ornate lighting fixture. Choose the wall with purpose, with the intent of creating visual interest in your space. Once the wall is chosen, head to your locally owned Benjamin Moore store for colour samples, project advice and more.



Q. Should my accent wall be lighter or darker?

A. Look to the colour of the other walls in the space to determine the accent wall colour. We recommend choosing a colour a few shades lighter or darker to create optimal contrast. If walls are a midtone or deeper hue, try a lighter accent wall colour. For rooms with lighter, softer colours, bring in depth with dark, bold accent colours.



Q. Which wall to accent to make a room look bigger?

A. There are no strict rules to choosing your accent wall, as it really depends on all of the design elements in the space as well as the architecture of the room. Contrast can bring dimension and depth to a room, which can help make it feel larger. Generally, cooler colours tend to recede and give the illusion of opening up the space, while warmer colours make things feel cozier. So, choosing a warm paint colour for an accent wall can make it feel smaller than a cooler, breezier hue.



Q. Do you paint an accent wall first or second?

A. If there is a particular colour that you really want to accent from a piece of artwork or textile, choose your accent wall colour first and then your remaining wall colours. If you are choosing an accent wall colour for more of an open concept space, or somewhere that connects several rooms, consider picking your wall colours first, and then your accent wall colour.



Q. How much paint do I need for a feature wall?

A. For a feature wall, also called an accent wall, you will only need one gallon of premium Benjamin Moore paint for two coats, and likely have paint leftover!



Q. Which wall should I choose for a feature wall?

A. Many choose a wall with a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, art, or special architectural details like wainscotting. You can also use furnishings to delineate an accent wall; choose the wall behind your headboard in the bedroom, or add a collection of images and wall décor to create a gallery wall. Most importantly, you’ll want to take into consideration how you use and interact with the space. Highlight walls you want to draw attention to, but avoid walls you’d like to hide or blend into the room.



A contemporary dining room with a red accent wall.

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