Upgrade a plain, boxy room with bold color or refresh your favorite nook with something more subtle. Get inspiration from our accent wall ideas and go!

A bold yellow accent wall frames an armless sofa with geometric patterned throw pillows.

A white couch sits in front of a sleek black accent wall flanked by black chairs.

An elegant, bright office space with a large fireplace and a striking brown accent wall.

A flush pink accent wall brightens a child’s desk space.

A cozy living room with a black accent wall.

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How do you choose an accent wall? By virtue of its star power, aesthetics and functionality must hold equal sway. Once you decide, opt for Aura^® Interior paint with Color Lock^®, a technology exclusive to Aura that locks color pigments into the paint film so color doesn’t fade, even after repeated washings.

Your Accent Wall, Your Way

When picking an accent wall color, look for a complementary shade darker or bolder than the rest of the room. Consider an accent wall that highlights existing architectural details like a fireplace, built-in bookcases, or an arched alcove. Consider framing your favorite art with a bright paint color. In this entrance way, the accent wall not only makes the art pop, the Royal Flush 2076-20-painted wall calls attention to the double doors and refined staircase.

Entrance way gallery wall painted in Royal Flush 2076-20.

A slick, black kitchen accent wall painted in Black Tar 2126-10.

Dark Paint Color, Big Impact

A black accent wall adds instant style to any room. Not only does a dark accent wall pop in a well-lit room and provide a striking contrast against whites and off-whites, practically speaking–darker paint colors mask dirt. Here, a kitchen accent wall in Black Tar 2126-10 — also on cabinets — creates a slick monochromatic color scheme.

We also love dark colors as a way to seamlessly camouflage TV screens or computer monitors in a living room or home office. Take a look at Deep Space 2125-20, Regent Green 2136-20 and Mysterious AF-565 for dark colors that provide striking backdrops for screens of all sizes.

Bold and Beautiful

A colorful accent wall adds sophistication to an otherwise staid room, enhancing fabrics, furnishings, area rugs and other room accessories.

This bright blue accent wall makes the mundane task of washing and drying a lot more fun. The woven baskets, simple striped area rug, and white stepstool all get a visual upgrade thanks to the Blue Danube 2062-30-painted wall, one of the colors in the Color Trends 2020 palette.

Other homeowner accent wall faves include Slate Teal 2058-20, Shadow 2117-30 and Million Dollar Red 2003-10....and speaking of red, why not shake up the classic red accent wall with our bounty of red hues!

A bright blue laundry room accent wall painted with Blue Danube 2062-30.

A soft, neutral green accent wall framed by a wooden console.

Not Ready to Go Big? Accent with Softer Hues

Green offers a robust range of shades, from earthy moss tones to springtime kelly greens.

A neutral green accent wall, like Thicket AF-405 or Guilford Green HC-116, a former Benjamin Moore Color of the Year, pairs beautifully with whites and off-whites, offering a more restrained version of the characteristic bold accent wall. Consider using wainscoting to create an elegant color block effect, as seen here.

Looking for accent color in your hallway? Be sure to think about how your chosen hue will flow through adjoining rooms.

Behold! The Bathroom Accent Wall

The bathroom invites you to play with paint color. Here, a gray accent wall is the perfect window surround, highlighting both the outdoor landscape and the bathroom’s rustic-meets-modern design.

Sometimes referred to as the “fifth wall,” the ceiling provides a great space to experiment with paint color. Homeowners love light blues for bathroom ceilings, like Whispering Spring 2136-70 and Woodlawn Blue HC-147, bringing the outside in while relaxing in a bathtub or simply enjoying alone time.