When it’s done right, accent walls can add a ton of positive features to a room – a pop of color, some added dimension, a unique visual design. However, if it goes wrong, they can take away from a design scheme.
“Too often, people make the mistake of adding an accent wall without thinking through the placement and reason behind it. Accent walls can either draw attention to an area or make the wall fade into the background – so considering which wall to accent depends on the end goal,” says Gideon Mendelson, founder and creative director of Mendelson Group.
Unfortunately, it’s actually quite easy to make a mistake while designing an accent wall because of all the moving parts involved (texture, color, wall placement, surface and artwork, to name a few). Whether you’re unsure of what material to use or you’re nervous about going too bold, interior designers are here to offer advice on how to perfect the art of the accent wall, including the most common mistakes to avoid.
❌ Failing to Read the Room
The first step in executing an accent wall is to become properly acquainted with your space to be confident in all of your design choices to come. Take the time to get to know every aspect of the room – the last thing you want is to accent the wrong wall.
“I find that the house tells you where the focus goes. You have to look at the architecture and how the use of an accent wall will inform the overall design of the space,” says James Yarosh, interior designer and gallerist at James Yarosh Associates. “Failing to read the room might leave you with wallpaper that looks uncomfortable – like when you wear the wrong clothes, they look like they’re wearing you and not the other way around.”
❌ Botching the Execution
Regardless of how sure you are of the accent wall design, there’s nothing that could ruin that vision more than a poor paint job.
“When it comes to painting, execution is as important as intent. If you’re not a great painter, hire one! No matter how creative or beautiful your accent wall is, there is nothing worse than sloppy corners,” says Dan Mazzarini, principal and creative director of BHDM.
It may sound simple, but the importance of a clean design cannot be understated. Any sort of small mistake in execution can draw attention away from the accent wall.
❌ Neglecting Texture
When we think about accent walls, the first thing that comes to mind may be color. Although that’s also an important feature, the texture and material used on the surface of the accent wall could change the entire feel of the design, literally. Plus, texture adds new dimension to a room.
“I’m wide open to embracing color, textures and anything unique that can add interest to the overall wall portfolio of a space. Metallics/foils, wood veneers and hand painted panoramas all have their place in creating an identity that is unique and fitting to the goals of a space,” says Yarosh.
❌ Having an Unclear End Goal
Before you can execute your design, decide what you want the accent wall to do for your space. Do you want the accent wall to be the focal point of the room? Or do you want it to act as a supporting character in conversation with other design elements in the room?
“Good design requires understanding how to marry and create visual relationships in order to tell a bigger story. It’s helpful to know what you are looking to create,” says Yarosh.
While it can be thrilling to revamp a space and accent it with fun patterns and colors, it’s important to have an objective in mind to guide the design. The completed project will be much more satisfying.
❌ Overlooking Decor
While creating an accent wall is an art in itself, weaving in different forms of decor like sculptures, framed paintings or other decorative pieces will add much-needed character to the space.
“A bold accent wall with a patterned wallpaper or bright color can be balanced by other artwork or decor that blend the color into the entire design. Vice versa, a muted accent wall can allow for more bold and colorful decoration,” says Mendelson.
The interaction between various forms of art, color and texture can do magical things for an accent wall. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different wallpapers, color schemes and artwork to create a layered masterpiece.
“As a gallerist and designer, the pairing of art and wallpaper is one of my favorite engagements to explore for clients – the results can become transcendent,” says Yarosh.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com where she covered everything from entertainment news to product reviews to pop culture updates.
