Looking to add major style and visual interest to any room? Consider these wood accent wall ideas. Often budget-friendly and extremely versatile, wood feature walls can look good in every room—from bedrooms to bathrooms—and they work with a variety of design styles.
Options are aplenty when it comes to approaching your wood accent wall: You could leave the timber in its natural weathered state, complete an easy DIY and paint it, or even use slats to create a unique pattern, like chevron. AD PRO Directory member Jeff Andrews, the founder of Jeff Andrews Design in Los Angeles, appreciates how natural wood patina gives walls “an organic quality that can’t be recreated with new or painted wood.”
When planning your project, keep in mind that this feature wall doesn’t just have to be an aesthetic choice, but a functional one too. Think about using your wood accent wall to camouflage storage closets or oddly shaped areas, as some of the interior designers did in the spaces shown below.
What wood is best for an accent wall?
The wood you’ll want to use to create your accent wall is dependent on the type of space you’re designing. Ipe or teak wood is best for bathrooms, says Jessica Dorling, the founder of Dorling Design Studio in Seattle, as it’s known to withstand wet environments. However, if you’re incorporating a wood accent wall into a living room, dining room, or bedroom, try a white oak or walnut, Dorling suggests, noting that the choice you make will depend on if you prefer your feature wall to have a dark or light finish. Michelle Gage, the founder of Michelle Gage Interior Design in Philadelphia, adds, “Each wood type has its own characteristics and undertones, so it’s about selecting the wood species and finish that harmonizes with the other materials and overall design.”
Should my accent wall be lighter or darker than the rest of the wall?
Dorling says that there is no right or wrong approach to selecting wood color for one’s accent wall. “It depends on how you want the wood wall to appear in the space,” she says. A contrasting wall will give the wood wall a strong accent, while matching the wood’s color to the tonal value of the wall color will add texture to the space without creating high contrast.”
How can I make a DIY wood accent wall?
Feel like taking on a DIY project? Interior design pros are here to help you step by step. When DIYing a wood accent wall, remember to “measure twice (or three times) and cut once,” says Arne Jensen, the founder of Arne Jensen Design in Walpole, Massachusetts. “Big-box stores offer a huge variety of woods as well as styles—think tongue and groove, shiplap, and more, or you could talk to your local lumberyard about new or scrap lumber.”
However, before you tackle your project, consider the following wood accent-wall ideas.
