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Accent walls with wallpaper: do it with intention!
Accent walls are still a thing — when they actually earn their place. A random painted wall in a room full of other random painted walls? That’s just… a wall. If you want a true focal point, skip the paint can and reach for wallpaper: either a repeat pattern for subtle texture or a wall mural for a big, room-defining moment.
Below is a simple guide to making an accent wall that looks designed, not accidental, by using home wallpapers and wall murals.
First: what should an accent wall do?
A good accent wall should:
- Anchor the room (think behind the bed or the sofa).
- Change the mood (calm, cozy, playful, or bold).
- Add depth and texture you can’t get from flat paint.
If the wall doesn’t guide the eye or tell a story, pick a different wall or a different idea.
Paint vs. wallpaper for walls
Paint on a flat wall often stops at “different color.” Wallpaper on walls adds pattern, scale, and texture. You can go two ways:
- Repeat pattern wallpapers
Great for gentle rhythm and texture: stripes, florals, damask, geometrics. They’re easy to style with textiles and art, because the pattern repeats evenly. - Wall mural or a photo wallpapers
One image, sized to your wall (forest, coastlines, botanicals, chinoiserie, abstract brushwork). A mural reads like a window or art wall, it is perfect when you want a single, confident statement.
Quick test: If you can swap your accent wall for a framed poster and it feels the same, go mural. If you want the room to hum quietly in the background, choose a repeat.
Scale is everything (especially for murals)
- Small room ≠ tiny pattern only. A larger repeat can make a small space feel bigger by reducing visual fuss.
- Wall murals need breathing room. If your wall is broken up by doors or tall wardrobes, choose a mural with a calm center or go for a repeat pattern instead.
- Color: pick a partner, not a rival
- Accent walls should support the room, not fight it.
- Match or echo existing textiles (rugs, curtains, bedding).
- Create a micro-palette from the wallpaper: 1 main, 1 support, 1 accent. Use those across cushions, throws, and lampshades.
- Warm neutrals for calm rooms: beige, clay, oat, warm gray.
- Moody tones for cocooning: forest green, indigo, aubergine.
- Playful spaces: add one citrus or blush note that repeats elsewhere.
Common mistakes (and easy fixes)
- Mistake: Picking the longest wall just because it’s there.
Fix: Choose the wall that frames your main activity (sleeping, lounging, dining, working).- Mistake: Bold mural + busy curtains + patterned rug.
Fix: Balance. If the wall is singing lead, let textiles hum backup.- Mistake: A tiny pattern lost behind a large sofa.
Fix: Scale up the repeat or pick a mural with strong focus behind the seating.Accent walls still work — just be intentional. Use repeat pattern wallpaper for gentle texture and layering. Choose a photo wallpaper or a wall mural when you want a single, room-defining view. Pick the right wall, respect scale, and let the rest of the room support the star.
