37 Best Accent Wall Colors for an Instant Room Makeover

Painting an accent wall to change up your decor is an easy and affordable DIY project or a budget-friendly endeavor. While accent walls seem to go perpetually in and out of style, interior designers and home decor enthusiasts are always finding new ways to reinvent them. From bold shades to dark hues to vivid color combinations to subtle, low-contrast variations that introduce a hint of color and texture to modern interiors, there’s an accent wall color and style for everyone.

Check out these wide ranging feature walls that use paint in creative ways to create accent walls that will give your living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, powder room, basement bar, or any other room in the house an instant lift that's easy to change when the mood strikes.

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Matte Black

Alvin Wayne

This NYC bedroom from interior designer Alvin Wayne has floor-to-ceiling windows and city views. A matte black accent wall behind the bed grounds the space, and the room's natural light keeps it from feeling too dark or oppressive. A bright, bold, multicolored piece of art above the bed pops against the matte black walls, and mirrored nightstands reflect light and add depth.

Paint suggestion: Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black

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Terracotta

Caroline Andreoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd

This charming Parisian kids' room from Caroline Andreoni Interior Design has a calming and earthy terracotta accent wall that's decorated with a flock of white birds for a note of whimsy.

Paint suggestion: Atlelier Ellis Warm Mud Brown

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Neon Yellow

Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Photo by Hotel Henriette

You don't have to paint the whole of an accent wall, which can be overwhelming in a small space. In this compact room designed by Vanessa Scoffier at the Hotel Henriette, a neon yellow paint border with a purposefully uneven edge creates an offbeat take on an accent wall that energizes the space.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Bright Yellow

Tips for Choosing Interior Paint Colors

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Forest Green

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photo

Matte forest green walls give this minimalist San Francisco bedroom from Cathie Hong Interiors a calming feel. An emerald green velvet headboard adds dimension and a shiny brass sconce adds contrast.

Paint suggestion: Clare Field Trip

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Soft Sage Green

Fantastic Frank

This light and airy Barcelona apartment from Fantastic Frank has white walls, pale wood flooring, and sage green paint on the ceiling above the dining area that turns the room's fifth wall into a modern accent wall that complements the neutral space.

Paint suggestion: Farrow & Ball Calke Green

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Taupe

Gray Space Interiors

This kids' room from Gray Space Interiors has a dark taupe accent wall that grounds the space and prevents the pastel accents from feeling overly sweet.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Hampshire Taupe

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Deep Teal

Erin Williamson Design

A deep teal accent wall adds bold color and sets off a curvy white sofa and midcentury modern wall sculpture in this Austin, TX, living room from Erin Williamson Design. A vibrant deep pink Moroccan rug adds another strong dose of color that makes the room feel balanced.

Paint suggestion: Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue

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Coral Pink

Most Lovely Things

Most Lovely Things gave this NYC apartment a simple makeover with a bright coral pink half accent wall that defines the dining area. Just pick up a paint brush to restore the walls to neutral before you move out.

Paint suggestion: Sherwin-Williams Coral Reef

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Charcoal Gray

Erin Williamson Design

A painted charcoal gray accent wall in this twin bedroom from Erin Williamson Design complements the stone wall while making the space feel cozier.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Evening Dove

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Ochre

@afrobohemianliving / Instagram

This sliver of a dining room accent wall from Afro Bohemian Living is painted in a deep earthy shade of ochre that adds contrast with the white walls and creates a backdrop for a framed museum poster.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Ochre

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Navy

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Zeke Ruelas

This dining room from Emily Henderson Design is visible from the living room through a wide arched opening. Dark navy paint on the far wall adds depth and dimension that defines the space.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Admiral Blue

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Purple

Dekay & Tate

This bedroom ceiling from Dekay & Tate is coated in a luminous shade of medium purple that makes it feel cozy and inviting.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Purple Haze CC-980

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Robin's Egg Blue

Louis Duncan-He Designs / Photo by Heather Dunbar

This primary bedroom accent wall from Louis Duncan-He Designs is painted in a fresh and soothing shade of robin's egg blue. Blue decor accents are carried throughout the room for an integrated feel. Simple wood detailing in an asymmetrical pattern adds dimension and texture to the wall.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Bird's Egg

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Pistachio Green

Brexton Cole Interiors

This soothing pistachio green accent wall from Brexton Cole Interiors covers the built-in cabinetry and open shelving of this home office that adds subtle color without overwhelming, and makes the gilded accents pop even more.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Pistachio

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Midnight Black

Desiree Burns Interiors

This beach house bedroom from Desiree Burns Interiors has a deep matte midnight black accent wall that highlights the architecture and makes the room feel cozier. Paired with crisp white and vivid green accents, the room feels fresh, relaxing, and bright.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Black Beauty

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Tan Beige

Louis Duncan-He Designs / KM Photography Interiors

In a neutral space dominated by white walls, you don't have to go crazy with a bold saturated color to make an impact. In this living room from Louis Duncan-He Designs, a tan beige accent wall broken up by a central fireplace adds warmth and depth while blending in with the light palette.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Yorkshire Tan

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Medium Gray

Design by Kate Marker Interiors / Stoffer Photography

Medium gray shiplap is carried from the wall down to the cabinetry in this modern farmhouse laundry room from Kate Marker Interiors for a neutral take on the accent wall.

Paint suggestion: Farrow & Ball Plummett

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Two-Tone Blue

Louis Duncan-He Designs / Genevieve Renee Photography

Louis Duncan-He Designs painted a graphic two-tone blue accent wall in this dining room that helps take the focus off of the high-placed windows.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Teal, Benjamin Moore Hydrangea

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Pink Ombre

Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Photo by Hotel Henriette

An accent wall doesn't have to be painted in a solid color. In this room designed by Vanessa Scoffier at the Hotel Henriette in Paris, a pink ombre wall adds subtle color and is complemented by shades of blue throughout.

Paint suggestion: Farrow & Ball Calamine

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Royal Blue

Erin Williamson Design

Erin Williamson Design turned the ceiling into an accent wall with bold royal blue paint that highlights the A-frame shape of this Texas lakehouse.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Deep Ocean

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Pearl Gray

Caroline Andreoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd

A pearl gray accent wall helps to define the kitchen and dining area of this open-plan Paris apartment from Caroline Andreoni Interior Design without demanding too much attention, adding subtle dimension to the mix of cool and warm neutral tones of the space.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Pearl

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Sky Blue

Michelle Berwick Design

Accent walls don't have to be loud or bold. In a neutral bedroom, you can add subtle variation to the wall behind the bed by painting it in a pale neutral like this icy sky blue wall from Michelle Berwick Design.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Blue Lace

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Turquoise

Louis Duncan-He Designs / Heather Dunbar Photography

Louis Duncan-He Designs added a bright painted turquoise shiplap accent wall that gives this coastal bedroom a jolt of color and helps the sculptural sconces and wall art to stand out.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Turquoise Powder

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Rainbow Stripes

Michelle Berwick Design

In a kids' playroom, Michelle Berwick Design created a multicolored rainbow stripe accent wall that turns what could have been an awkward corner into a bright and cheerful signature feature in the finished basement.

Paint suggestion: (left to right) Benjamin Moore Purple Haze, Benjamin Moore Splash, Benjamin Moore Margarita, Benjamin Moore Delightful Yellow, Benjamin Moore Springtime Peach, Benjamin Moore Pearly Pink

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Deep Sea Blue

White Sands

This coastal bathroom from White Sands has textured deep sea blue walls that give it a dynamic but calming feel and complement the white and wood tones of the room.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Jet Blue

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Pastel Pink + Blue

Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Photo by Hotel Henriette

This twin room designed by Vanessa Scoffier at the Hotel Henriette in Paris has a two-toned, pastel pink-and-blue accent wall that visually divides the space.

Paint suggestions: Sherwin-Williams Mint Condition, Farrow & Ball Pink Ground

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Medium Blue

Louis Duncan-He Designs / Photo by Eymeric Wilding

Louis Duncan-He Designs painted a simple graphic accent on the wall of this living room home office that helps to visually divide the hybrid space. A painting hung above the desk that straddles both the blue and white sections of the wall makes it feel pulled together. This is a simple DIY that just requires a small pot of blue paint and some painter's tape to keep the line looking sharp.

Paint suggestion: Clare Blue Ivy

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Saffron Yellow

Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Photo by Hotel Henriette

An accent wall doesn't have to dominate the room. In this compact bedroom suite designed by Vanessa Scoffier at the Hotel Henriette, vibrant saffron yellow paint turns what could be a forgotten corner into a vibrant feature that marks the transition between the bathroom and entry. Textiles in shades of yellow carry the color throughout the room for an integrated feel.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Yellow 2022-10

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Peach + Blue

Michelle Berwick Design

This finished basement accent wall fro Michelle Berwick Design has a play of geometric shapes and variations of blue and peach that make it feel fun and family-friendly.

Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore Springtime Peach, Clare Blue Ivy

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Blue-Black

Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona used a deep bluish-black paint that looks more blue by daylight and more black by night for the accent wall of built-ins that grounds the space and makes it feel cozy while helping to hide the flat-screen TV.

Paint suggestion: Clare Goodnight Moon

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Green-Gray

Alvin Wayne

Create a soothing feel in the bedroom with a green accent wall with gray undertones. Interior designer Alvin Wayne paired soft green walls with wall art in contrasting shades of purple for a high-contrast look.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Louisburg Green

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Candy Pink

Fantastic Frank

Define the kitchen in an open-plan space with an unexpected color, like this bubblegum pink kitchen from Fantastic Frank.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Sweet 16 Pink

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Midnight Blue

Michelle Berwick Design

Paint a shiplap accent wall in midnight blue to add depth and texture to a bathroom with cool white finishes, like this space from Michelle Berwick Design.

Paint suggestion: Clare Goodnight Moon

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Orange-Yellow

Dazey Den

A vibrant orange-yellow accent wall will wake up a bathroom, like this space from Dazey Den.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Yellow Marigold

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Chard Green

A Beautiful Mess

Add texture to an accent wall with thrifted picture frames. A Beautiful Mess attached a bunch of empty picture frames sourced affordably at thrift stores, then painted the wall in a dark shade of green to create a focal point in the living room.

Paint used: Behr Chard

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Mustard

Twelve 15 Design Studio

A mustard accent wall create a focal point in a formal dining room decorated in earth tones like this space from Twelve 15 Design Studio. Complement with dark gold drapes, warm woods, and brass accents for an inviting feel.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Fields of Gold

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Saturated Black

Alvin Wayne

Paint a slim wall in a large open-plan space in a saturated black to create a dramatic focal point. Interior designer Alvin Wayne used jet black paint to define the wall above a decorative fireplace, using it as a backdrop for vibrant multicolored art.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Jet Black

What accent wall colors make a room look bigger?

In a long and narrow space, a dark accent wall color such as charcoal, matte black, or chocolate brown can make the room look bigger by making it hard to see where the walls begin or end. You can make a small room look bigger with a luminous shade of yellow, pink, coral, or pale blue that will brighten the space and reflect natural light.

Should an accent wall be brighter or darker than the rest of the room?

An accent wall color should be at least a couple of shades lighter or darker than the rest of the room to create an impression. You can opt for a lower contrast accent wall by going lighter if your aim is to be subtle, or a high contrast accent wall that is brighter or darker than the other walls for a more dramatic look. If your chosen accent wall is a ceiling, use a dark color to make the room feel more grounded, sky blue for a dreamy feel, or your favorite shade to personalize a bedroom or kids' room.

Essential Tips for Painting Accent Walls