We believe every room should a have focal point. Well, that’s easy if you have beautiful architectural elements already in your home. But what if you have a basic builders grade home? What can you do to create that wow factor in your home? How about creating accent walls?  

Textures and treatment on walls can add that wow factor that you may be looking for. While paint colors can certainly transform spaces, a gorgeous wall treatment can really make a beautiful statement.

After a couple of weeks of inspiration at the Northern Wasatch Parade of Homes, our heads are swimming with ideas we want to incorporate into our homes. Today we will share some of our favorite ideas for accent walls from the parade of homes.

You’ll find ideas for the bedroom, living room, dining room, bathroom, office and entry. Not to mention design ideas using millwork that are so creative. Grab a cool drink and enjoy some inspiration.

Sunny Side Design is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, this blog earns from qualifying purchases with no additional cost to you. Click here to read our  full disclosure policy.

Creating accent walls with wallpaper

Beautiful bold oversized wallpaper, create an amazing feature wall.
Beautiful oversized wallpaper immediately draws you into the room.

We all know that wallpaper has made a real reemergence in the last several years. I must admit, I am drawn to these bold oversized florals. They definitely add a wow factor to any room.

Beautiful bold oversized wallpaper, create an amazing feature wall.
Beautiful oversized wallpaper immediately draws you into the room.

These florals are mesmerizing to me. I get drawn in, almost as if I’m carried away into a garden. 

Let me share a little secret with you. I’ve toyed with the idea of adding one of these murals in my home. They really appeal to me. 

I haven’t voiced my idea with Steve yet. I’m not sure how he would feel about them in our master bedroom.

Tile inspired wallpaper as accent wall.
This cleaver use of wallpaper creates the illusion of tile.

Isn’t this medallion motif in this bathroom beautiful? It’s simply elegant! I love how it gives the feel of a beautiful tile.

Ideas for Accent Walls
This wall paper is light and airy, yet adds sophistication to this bedroom.

This playful wallpaper just makes me happy. It’s light, airy and joyful. It just puts a smile on my face.

Can you imagine this room without this whimsical wallpaper?

Ideas for Accent Walls
Wallpaper brings this room to life.

My inner struggle with wallpaper

Although I am drawn to these beautiful wallpapers, there’s something that holds me back.

Let me tell you a little something about me. I grew up in the 60-70’s, when wallpaper was huge. I’m assuming it was huge everywhere.

Clearly in the house I grew up in, it was huge! It was everywhere. We had wallpaper in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms and all the bedrooms. I think the only place my mom forgot was the hallway, bless her soul.

So when I got married and we purchased our first home, what did I do? Yes, I began to wallpaper. 

I wallpapered the kitchen, the stairway, the bedrooms and added a boarder to the living room. 

Well, as time went by, I grew tired of it and I began to remove it. Now that was a chore! That’s what holds me back.

But I love the look and feel of the wallpapers today. With the new peel and stick papers, don’t be surprised if you find it in one of my rooms one day.

Are you enjoying this project? Please Pin It, save it for later and share it with a friend.

Sharing is caring!

Create accent walls with Paint & color

Deep green creates a relaxed feeling in this master bath.
Although this feature wall does have millwork, Its the color that creates the wow factor here.

You can never underestimate the power of paint!

While this accent wall does have texture with the board and batten, it is the color that makes it so fabulous!

This rich pine green immediately creates a calming feeling. It adds a warmth and coziness that is perfect for a bedroom.

Ideas for Accent Walls
Not only is the millwork here adding interest to the walls, but the dark charcoal color adds warmth, depth and drama.

For years now we have seen a lot of light and airy walls, but this dramatic dark charcoal gray makes my heart sing.

Once again there is the detail of the vertical and horizontal planks, but its that fabulous color that creates this cozy family space.

Don’t you just want to cuddle up on the sectional and relax?

Wall treatments with millwork variations

Ideas for Accent Walls
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

For the last several years we have seen a lot of shiplap, board & batten and picture frame molding embellishing walls. 

Not only is it a creative and clever way to add architectural elements to a home, but it also is very economical.

We are no strangers to adding these wall treatments in our homes. Adding molding certainly elevates the overall feel of a room.

You will see some innovative ways of taking basic molding and lumber to create unique feature walls.

Take a look at this amazing wall for instance. It is created by cutting 3/4″ MDF lumber into small rectangles and mounting them to the wall in a grid pattern.

I’m sure it was time consuming, but you must admit the results are stunning!

If you’re new here, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.

Let us introduce ourselves, we’re Michelle and Steph, a mom and daughter team who love to DIY and decorate our homes.

Not only are we passionate about making our homes warm, comfortable and unique, but it’s our mission to help you create that same feeling in your own home.

You’ll find ideas for repurposing, creating, decorating and making your home truly yours, while always mindful of a tight budget.

Undoubtedly we love finding ways to make your home look high-end on a small budget.

Plus you’ll also find a recipe or two as we share our family favorites with you.

We’d love it if you’d join our community of doers so you won’t miss any inspiration for your home.

We love new friends.

Shiplap and planks

Two styles of millwork.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

This wall is so simple, yet so spectacular! The lower portion is shiplap planks, while the upper portion is a simple flat molding mounted in an herringbone pattern. 

Vertical shiplap creates interest.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

The fireplace is definitely the showstopper in this living room. However, the addition of the vertical planks on either side of the fireplace is that little detail that makes the design.

Creative use of millwork on this entry wall.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

This subtle and striking pattern of shiplap accentuates the attractive iron work on the stairway.

Creative Flat Panel Molding

Basic stock molding in a creative pattern.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

Ok, I went a little crazy when I saw this pattern. Look at the details in the pattern here. It is incredible! 

Once again, it is a simple flat molding installed in a creative pattern. Affordable and doable!

Simple flat molding installed in a traditional picture frame molding style.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

Love, love, love the modern take on a traditional picture frame molding. Simple flat panel molding installed in a very traditional way is so refreshing!

A new take on the traditional board and batten look.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

Horizontal molding creates an interesting detail on this accent wall. Not to mention that it would be easy to install and so affordable!

A more modern approach to picture molding on these walls.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

Once again, love the modern take on a traditional picture molding design.

A more modern approach to a board and batten accent wall.
Creating an accent wall with millwork.

Clever design with a basic flat panel molding! It’s like taking board and batten to the next level. I’m dying to try this pattern somewhere in my home. 

Let’s stay connected! Follow us on social media!

Ideas for Accent Walls with Brick & Tile

Brick as an accent wall.
This feature accent wall spans 20+ feet and we love the use of brick here. It creates a warm and relaxed fill in this living room.

What are your thoughts on brick walls?

For me they are cozy, relaxing and classic. I think we took more photos of this wall than any other in the entire parade of homes. 

You will soon be seeing brick in Steph’s home as they finish their basement. I can’t wait!

Tile as an accent wall.
Covering an entire wall with tile creates a beautiful accent wall.

A pretty tile, covering an entire wall absolutely makes a statement.

Unusual materials create a stunning accent wall.
Faux stone creates a stunning feature in this home. The faux stone is actually styrofoam panels, painted to look like stone.

While this wall looks like huge cement tiles, in reality it’s styrofoam that is painted to resemble concrete. Isn’t that amazing! This wall treatment not only was a feature in the living room, but it was carried down the stairway into the basement rec room. 

Accent Wall Ideas with Built ins

Built in bookcases create an amazing feature wall.
Never underestimate the beauty and sophistication of built ins. They always look great flanking a fireplace. Not to mention that the color is fabulous!

Built ins are a must in my home. I love the way they anchor a room. They make a home feel so custom. They are such a nice compliment to the brick fireplace.

You can never go wrong with built ins as an accent wall.
A wall of built ins creates a stunning focal point in this space.

Are you starting to look for a wall that would be perfect for a built in in your home? 

Feature walls that become the Headboard

Warm and rustic accent wall.
Accent wall becomes part of the headboard.

These clever accent walls become the headboard. Not only is it a great use of space, but it also creates that custom, designer look that makes your home unique.

We love the warmth that wood adds to this bedroom.

Another variation of board and batten.
Accent wall becomes part of the headboard.

This stylish accent wall not only creates a headboard, but it also extends all the way to the ceiling, drawing the eye up. A brilliant design trick!

Let’s not forget the 5th wall!

Beautiful details on the ceiling create a lovely accent.
Often overlooked in a space is the 5th wall, the ceiling. We love the texture of the plank ceiling along with beams in this incredible kitchen.

Too often when designing a room, we overlook the ceiling. It is really the 5th wall in a room. It deserves some creativity, just like the rest of the room.

We love the texture with planks and beams on this modern and rustic kitchen.

A grid of beams adds amazing architectural elements.
There is much we love about this room. But the attention to detail on the often overlook ceiling is amazing here.

This great room has so many wonderful features in it. However, we love that the designers of the home added visual interest on the ceiling as well.

Look at that beautiful millwork! It is a sight to behold.

Warm and rustic beams in coffered ceiling.
Often overlooked in a space is the 5th wall, the ceiling. We love the warmth of the wooden beams in this coffered ceiling.

While this coffered ceiling would be great without the beams, the addition of the natural wooden beams really draws the eye up.

Windows as Accent Walls

Amazing wall of windows.
This home is one of our favorite this year. Several of the rooms featured a wall of windows. And with a terrific view, it is a creative accent wall.

Have you every considered a window to be a feature wall?

This was one of our favorite homes this year. We love everything that CF Olson homes does.

He did not disappoint this year! Many of the rooms feature a wall of windows. 

Isn’t this amazing in the master bedroom. Look at that view!

Amazing wall of windows.
This home is one of our favorite this year. Several of the rooms featured a wall of windows. And with a terrific view, it is a creative accent wall.

When we walked in this home and saw the wall of windows, we were in awe!

The living room, dining room and kitchen all flow together with this amazing wall of windows. It truly was a feature in this home.

There are so many clever ideas. We hope you enjoyed some of our favorites. Be on the lookout for more of our favorites from this year’s tour of the parade of homes!

We hope you found some inspiration for your home today.

Please share your tips and ideas with us.

We love hearing from you!

If you’re new here, WELCOME! We love having new readers and friends!

You can learn more about us here.

Let’s stay connected! Join our DIY community of doers and you won’t miss the weekly updates and more inspiration for you always on a budget.

Sharing is caring!

Ideas for accent walls
Great ideas for wall treatments.

Thanks for stopping by Sunny Side Design. Empowering you to create a home you love!

DISCLAIMER


This blog’s content is for entertainment purposes only and is not professional advice. By reading this blog and attempting to recreate a project, you assume all responsibility for any injuries or damages incurred. Read my full disclaimer here.

PHOTO USE AND CONTENT SHARING

All of the photographs you see here are the property of Sunny Side Design unless otherwise credited.

We love for others to share our work, so please feel free to use one photo with a link back to our website.

Pinning and sharing is always encouraged!

Please do not reproduce other Sunny Side Design content without permission.

Retailers We Love

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for even more home decor and DIY ideas.

To see what we are working on before it’s on our blog, follow us on Instagram.

You will also find our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

I have always had a passion for transforming spaces and creating organized, functional homes. Even as a child, I loved rearranging furniture and decorating my childhood home. In fact my dad would comment he was afraid to come home from work and sit, for fear the furniture would be rearranged. I enjoy the challenge of turning ordinary items into extraordinary pieces, whether it’s a piece of furniture or an entire room. My creativity and attention to detail drive me to find unique ways to breathe new life into any space.

As a wife (to a supportive and patient husband, Steve), mother of three, and grandmother of five, I balance my love for home improvement with family life. I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, and exploring nature. I also frequent yard sales, thrift stores, and vintage markets, always on the lookout for my next project.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *