Are you remodeling your bathroom and looking for some fun bathroom accent wall ideas? To be honest, there are so many options that it can be a little overwhelming.
In this article, I will guide you through the process of deciding whether your bathroom should — or shouldn’t — have an accent wall, which wall to highlight, and all of your options for materials (including some great accent paint color ideas).
An accent wall should create visual interest, whether it’s a fun color, pattern, or texture. It shouldn’t, however, create visual clutter.
In other words, if you’re accenting with a busy wallpaper or colorful tiles, you’ll want to make sure the rest of the room is more subdued so that it doesn’t compete with your accent wall.
Let’s start out by deciding whether your bathroom should have an accent wall.
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Should a Bathroom Have an Accent Wall?
An accent wall draws the eye to a part of the room that you want to feature, such as the vanity wall or behind a soaking tub. If you have an area in the bathroom that you want to highlight, then by all means — add an accent wall!
So, you might be wondering… Is there ever a time when you shouldn’t put an accent wall in the bathroom?
Absolutely. We’ll cover that in the next section.
Should You Have an Accent Wall in a Small Bathroom?
While accent walls add an interesting touch to the master bath, they can absolutely add a big punch to the powder room, too.
But…
Because an accent wall breaks up the space and disrupts the “flow”, it could make a small bathroom look even smaller and more disjointed. So you might not necessarily want to put an accent wall in a small bathroom.
BUT…
There are still ways that you can add visual interest to a smaller space. You could accent the ceiling with a different paint color instead, especially if it’s fairly high. A darker paint color could potentially help to bring it down a bit.
Otherwise, consider adding your “accent color” in the accessories: a rug, towels, or even a wall hanging that complements your color scheme.
Where Do You Put an Accent Wall in a Bathroom?
Ultimately, where you put an accent wall is up to you. However, you’re here for ideas, so here are a few great places to put an accent wall in the bathroom:
- On the vanity wall (behind the mirror)
- Inside the shower
- Behind a soaking tub
These are a few of the most common accent walls in bathrooms, but of course, you might have a different wall that you want to highlight (and that’s completely fine!).
Ideas for Your Bathroom Accent Wall
There are so many fun ways to create an accent wall in the bathroom! The first step is to determine your personal style and the look you’re trying to achieve.
For example, board and batten, shiplap, and rustic shelving are all great choices in the modern farmhouse. A floral wallpaper can help to add a feminine or romantic touch to any bathroom. And, when it comes to tile, your options are limitless.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, paint is often more affordable, and you can create some really neat effects with just a can of paint and a brush.
Let’s talk about each of these options in a little more depth, and hopefully you’ll be able to narrow down your options and make a decision.
1. Board and Batten
Board and batten is a popular choice for nearly any room in the home, and it can add the perfect finishing touch to the bathroom. It’s extremely versatile — board and batten can work well with both traditional and contemporary stylings.
Plus, you can implement it as either a full or partial wall, and it can be painted any color of your choice.
2. Shiplap
Shiplap has become increasingly more common due to the popularity of the modern farmhouse style in today’s homes. You’ll often see white shiplap; however, shiplap in black or darker colors can give your bathroom a dramatic modern aesthetic.
3. Tile
With tile, your options are virtually limitless. It’s available in nearly any size, color, and material type you could possibly desire. You can create intricate patterns on your accent wall, or you could go with a more neutral (or natural) look.
4. Natural Stone
While costly, the variations in natural stone (marble, granite, slate, etc.) creates a luxurious effect in a spa-like bathroom. Keep in mind that natural stone gets slippery when wet, and can be brittle, so it may not be a great flooring choice — however, it would look stunning on an accent wall.
5. Wallpaper
Wallpaper is back! And it’s not your grandma’s wallpaper… Bold florals and textured papers, like grasscloth, are hot on today’s market, and they’re a popular choice amongst Interior Designers as an accent in the bathroom.
6. Open Shelving
Open shelving adds both function and beauty to the bathroom accent wall. It’s particularly common to see a couple shelves in a little nook, such as above the toilet.
While shelves can be functional, they are often decorated with plants, candles, decorative bowls, and baskets of neatly rolled hand towels for a more aesthetically pleasing look.
7. Paint
Paint is usually one of the easiest, and most obvious, choices when it comes to adding an accent wall in the bathroom. For one, it’s more affordable than most of the other materials, and it can be easily re-painted if you don’t like how it turns out.
In the next section, we’re going to cover some of the most popular bathroom accent wall paint color ideas.
Bathroom Accent Wall Paint Color Ideas
You have an entire world of paint colors at your disposal — so, where do you start? While the accent color you choose will depend entirely on the other colors in your bathroom, along with the look you’re trying to achieve, I’ve put together a few ideas below to help you get started.
Benjamin Moore Jasper Opal
While yellow can be overwhelming when used on all of the walls, it makes a great accent color. Consider adding a partial white board and batten to your bathroom walls, and then paint the wall above it yellow.
Sherwin Williams Storm Cloud
Blue-gray is a popular color, not only in bathrooms, but throughout the house. A darker blue-gray would pair well with lighter blue-gray, beige, or other neutral colors.
Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
You don’t have to use a bright or dark color for your bathroom accent wall! Lighter neutral paint colors can work, too, especially when paired with other light neutral hues and white.
Order a sample of Agreeable Gray
Sherwin Williams Window Pane
Want to add a pretty, soothing hue to your spa-like bathroom? Consider a light green or blue-green paint color.
Benjamin Moore Black Satin
Would you rather add a dramatic punch than keep it neutral? If you think painting the entire bathroom black is a bit, uh, much…why not just add a black accent wall? Or just paint the wall black above white wainscoting (don’t forget the ceiling!).
Conclusion
Now that you have some ideas for your bathroom accent wall, what will you choose? Which wall do you plan to feature? There are a lot of different options, but hopefully after reading this article, you’ve been able to come up with some awesome ideas!
Read More:
13 of the Best Paint Colors for Small Bathrooms Without Windows
Love these bathroom accent wall ideas! They are so unique and stylish.