When it comes to color, I'm a middle of the road person. While I admire people who go for the gusto with four walls of bright, bold color, I'm more in tune with moderated uses. Accent walls deliver a robust dose of color with less work, more flexibility and require slightly less color confidence. In other words, they're perfect for lazy, timid, commitment phobes like me.
I rounded up twenty rooms from our archives to inspire readers who are looking to incorporate more color in a room, but who aren't quite ready to take the 4-wall plunge. You can follow the links in the captions to learn more about each room. As you can see, wallpaper is as effective as paint in adding color and pattern on an accent wall and walls with paint treatments like stripes and chevron equal more than the sum of their parts.
(Images credited in the original posts)
Related posts on Apartment Therapy:
• Roundup: Bright Accent Walls
• Accent Walls Using Wallpaper
• 7 Ways to Decorate an Accent Wall


















White Enamel Flatwa...
As a designer of children' rooms I am so often suggesting to clients to do a bold accent wall. And once they see a large sampling, they go for it. It takes some getting used to if you are a 4 walls of a kind, kind of person. And not just in kids rooms, all rooms can use that touch of WOW!
I love accent walls. My living room is a nice warm beige with a rich brick red accent wall. It's just enough to keep the room lively without being overwhelming. I love the brightness in the rooms above--a pop of orange really breaks up an otherwise fussy, crisp white room.
I like playing with one outstanding wall for my clients. Yours colors look so bright. I love them, thanks!