27 Amazing Dining Room Accent Wall Ideas You’ll Love

Dining rooms are a special place to gather with family and friends for celebrations, holidays – and just because it’s Friday.

 

They are one of the most important spaces in the home, and how you feel about your dining room can affect how you feel about mealtimes altogether.

 

Whether your entertaining style is cosy and intimate or theatrical and all-out glam, an accent wall can help create the perfect ambience and delight your dinner guests.

 

But if your dining room is leaving you feeling a little flat, why not revamp your space with a new splash of colour, pattern, or texture?

 

We’ve gathered some of our favourite dining room accent wall ideas to inspire you. Read on and get ready to make your dining room a destination.

 

1. Create a Classic Look With Monochrome

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Want a dining room that oozes class and style? You can’t beat a monochrome pallet. Give your dining room a modern makeover by painting the space white and adding an accent wall of black panelling.

 

Rather than a flat black wall, the panelling will add character and provide an inviting feeling. Complement your walls with black and white artwork and furniture for a sleek and cohesive look.

 

Add touches of warmth with some natural wood and brass elements in the room.

 

2. Go Bold With Colour

[caption id="attachment_3584" align="aligncenter" width="400"] JULIETTE BYRNE[/caption]

Your dining room is a fantastic place to experiment with colour, so don’t be afraid to go bold. I love how this modern space uses a playful purple hue to create vibrancy against white walls and black accessories.

 

Give your dining room personality by painting one wall your favourite bright colour. Choose a wall without any doors or windows for a dazzling, uninterrupted colour block. Remember, it can easily be painted over if your style changes.

 

3. Take Your Paint Onto the Ceiling

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This striking accent wall knows no boundaries. Use the colour blocking technique to create an unusual feature wall in your dining room.

 

Find the centre-point of your main wall as a guide and paint a contrasting colour block vertically on your wall and up to your ceiling. It’s an excellent way to add depth and visual interest.

 

Plus, it’s great if you’re worried an entire wall of colour would overpower your space.

 

4. Create a Feature With Shelving

Built-in shelving is a clever way to create a feature wall in your dining room. With bespoke black shelves, this stunning space packs a punch.

 

It uses books and contemporary artwork to bring colour pops to a monochrome scheme. Get the look in your dining room and install full-height shelving on one wall and paint it a darker colour than your walls for maximum impact.

 

Colour-coding your books and accessories will ensure your guests always have plenty to look at.

 

5. Add Texture With Painted Brick

Add texture to your dining space with a painted brick feature wall. White painted bricks are perfect for this boho space, providing a relaxed yet visually interesting look.

 

Create a dreamy boho dining room by exposing the brick on one wall and painting your entire room white. The bricks will add just enough texture next to smooth plastered walls, giving a subtle yet stylish finish.

 

Dress your brick accent wall with a cultural collection of art, prints, and wall hangings for an authentic boho vibe.

 

6. Curate a Gallery Wall

[caption id="attachment_3586" align="aligncenter" width="500"] EVA_LYKKELIV[/caption]

Think beyond colour and create an accent wall using framed prints and art. This beautiful, pastel dining room has a mix of pink and blue walls with white and green accents, yet the whole pallet is brought together with a mix of artwork.

 

Gallery walls are a great way to show your personality and create visual interest in a space. Make a feature in your dining room by hanging a range of prints across one wall – make sure to use different sizes and frames for maximum effect.

 

It’s the perfect solution if you don’t want to commit to a whole room makeover – plus you can easily swap your prints when you fancy a change.

 

7. Use Pattern for Impact

[caption id="attachment_3587" align="aligncenter" width="400"] CASA OLD CORN[/caption]

Spruce up your dining space with a statement pattern. The use of patterned wallpaper and different wall colours helps to create a sense of zones in this gorgeous open-plan home.

 

Meanwhile, the carefully chosen print helps to unite the kitchen and dining colours, resulting in a design scheme that flows. Your dining room is a space to impress, so don’t be shy when it comes to pattern and colour.

 

Choose a colourful jungle or botanical print to bring the outside in and give your dining room a playful edge.

 

8. Create Interest With Slat Panelling

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Complement a boho dining room with a wooden slat accent wall. This beautiful space blends a range of natural elements and fabrics, with wooden slats on one wall helping to create a contemporary yet relaxed vibe.

 

Install slat panelling on the wall opposite your dining room entrance to make a big, visual impact. Choose a natural wood finish to add warmth and position your slats vertically to add height to smaller rooms.

 

9. Do Something Different With Two-Tone Colour

A twist on the classic accent wall, this dining room boasts a beautiful two-tone feature. With painted reclaimed wood panelling, it brings a rustic yet contemporary charm to the space.

 

The rich, green paint is also an excellent choice for embracing nature and creating a feeling of serenity. Get the look in your dining room by painting half of your wall a bold colour – or for a really bright look, try using two different shades of the same colour.

 

You could install a half-wall of panelling or simply paint the wall. Keep your other walls neutral to allow your paint to pop.

 

10. Create a Cohesive Scheme

[caption id="attachment_3589" align="aligncenter" width="450"] HOUSE OF EILERS[/caption]

Enhance your home with cohesive décor throughout your dining, kitchen, and living spaces. This gorgeous open-plan room features a dark accent wall that complements the kitchen units and helps to create zones in a large space.

 

Pick an accent colour from your kitchen or living area and bring it into your dining room with a painted feature wall. It doesn’t need to be exact – simply using shades of the same colour pallet throughout will ensure a seamless scheme.

 

11. Experiment With Colour Blocking

Create a unique accent wall with colourful shapes. This chic, boho dining room has a playful edge thanks to a painted green arch. Try painting two or three curved shapes on your main wall to create lots of interest in your dining room.

 

Choose contrasting colours for a big impact – it’s a brilliant way to add a pop of colour to your space without painting an entire wall.

 

12. Make a Feature of Freestanding Shelves

If you shy away from colour or live in a rented property, it can be hard to know how to create a feature wall. Freestanding shelves could be the ideal solution to your décor dilemma.

 

This relaxed, boho space has a tall display of shelving, housing carefully-selected books, art, and houseplants. It creates a focal point in the room and plenty of visual interest for you and your dinner party guests to enjoy.

 

13. Colour Pop Fireplace

[caption id="attachment_3590" align="aligncenter" width="400"] DESIGN: BLACK SHEEP INTERIOR DESIGN, PHOTO: STEPHANI BUCHMAN[/caption]

If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your dining room, why not use it to make an accent wall? This beautiful surround creates a striking focal point in this neutral dining room, but thanks to the neutral blue-grey tones, it doesn’t overpower the space.

 

Paint your entire feature wall and fireplace surround one colour to add depth to your dining room. Alternatively, keep your walls neutral and paint your fireplace a contrasting colour to turn it into a real feature.

 

14. Make a Book Rainbow

[caption id="attachment_3591" align="aligncenter" width="400"] EMPTY NESTERS FEATHERS THEIR NEST[/caption]

Frankly, we think this dining area has it all. But the centrepiece has to be the fabulous rainbow arrangement that proves your walls don’t need to be colourful to pack a punch.

 

Use your books and accessories to make a feature wall in your own dining room. Colour code your items and you’ll have a beautiful display that’s sure to be a talking point for your dinner party guests.

 

15. Hang Statement Art

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If you want to keep your walls as they are, why not create a feature wall using a piece of statement art? This neutral space is brought to life with a vibrant, abstract canvas in the centre of the wall.

 

Choose a piece that brings in lots of bold colours to make a big impact in your dining room. Keep your furniture and walls simple so the room doesn’t look too busy.

 

16. Add Character With Panelling

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Panelling is a fantastic way to add character and interest to your home. Use it on one wall in your dining room to create an inviting space with bags of style.

 

Choose simple Jacobean-style panels up to the ceiling and paint it at least two shades darker than your other walls. Pale greens and pinks are great for creating a serene space, while rich navy and emerald hues bring timeless elegance.

 

17. Go Ultra-Modern With Tiles

With gleaming wall tiles, this ultra-modern dining room is the very definition of sleek. Use tiles to create a stylish accent wall in your own dining room.

 

Whether you opt for glossy marble or rustic brick slips, tiles are an extremely durable alternative to painted walls.

 

18. Install a Statement Mural

Make a big impact in your dining room with a statement mural. This gorgeous floral display brings art and drama that wouldn’t be out of place in a boutique hotel.

 

Use a dramatic botanical or woodland mural to transform your dining area into a destination – you’ll want to lose yourself in it every night. Keep your other walls a pale neutral to complement your mural and help reflect light.

 

19. Make a Room Divider

Got an open plan dining and living area? You can still create a statement feature wall. This airy space features a wooden slat accent wall that acts as a divider between the dining area and the lounge.

 

It’s a clever way of creating the illusion of zones and privacy within an open-plan space. Install a wooden slat wall beside your dining table to make an informal divide. Keep the slats natural for a relaxed, Scandi vibe.

 

Or, if you’re looking for a high-impact statement, why not paint them a bold colour like orange or electric blue?

 

20. Create a Feature With Furniture

Instead of painting your wall, make a feature with a bold piece of furniture. This coral dresser is the perfect statement piece in this neutral dining room, bringing a pop of colour and warmth to the space.

 

Find an old piece of furniture and upcycle it by painting it a bright colour – it’s a great way to bring something quirky and unique to your dining space.

 

Complement your accent furniture with touches of the same colour throughout your art and furnishings, too.

 

21. Warm Your Space With Paint

Liven up your dining room with a warming accent wall. Terracotta and coral tones look fantastic paired with beige walls and luscious houseplants, creating a bright yet cosy vibe.

 

Paint your largest wall a warming red tone and complement it with wood furniture or accessories for an earthy feel. For added texture and character, install panelling on your feature wall.

 

22. Mix Panelling and Paper

[caption id="attachment_3594" align="aligncenter" width="550"] NATE FISCHER INTERIORS[/caption]

If you’re searching for the perfect classic design scheme for your dining room, consider combining wallpaper with panelling. This timeless space has a subtle patterned paper on three walls, with a feature wall of navy panelling.

 

But you could also wallpaper your entire room, and then create a feature wall by adding a half-wall of panelling on the lower part of one wall.

 

23. Experiment With Geometric Panelling

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Looking for something a little different? Refresh your dining room with a modern, geometric panelling design on one wall. We love how this pink panelling offers plenty to look at – and the geometric design helps disguise the awkward ceiling angles, too.

 

Try planning out your design with masking tape or pieces of cardboard until you find a pattern you’re happy with.

 

24. Get a High-End Look With Polished Plaster

Choose polished plaster to create a feature wall with real wow-factor. Polished, or Venetian, plaster can give any space a distinctly high-end look.

 

Available in a range of lustrous finishes, it’s an extremely durable, low-maintenance, and versatile addition to your dining room. Use polished plaster on your main dining room wall and keep your other walls simple with white or pale neutral paint.

 

25. Add Texture With a 3D Display

This 3D artwork helps to make the most of the view through the open-plan space, creating a stunning focal point that draws your eye along the room.

 

Choose some 3D artwork to bring texture to your dining room – even the most simplistic 3D design can have a huge impact.

 

26. Use Sustainable Materials

This modern dining room uses sustainable and reclaimed elements to create a warm and inviting feel. The natural wood feature wall complements the wood door and window frames, while white walls add to the sense of light and space.

 

If you’re looking to minimise your impact on the environment, consider using reclaimed wood like floorboards or scaffolding boards to create a characterful feature wall in your dining room.

 

27. Make a Feature of Architectural Details

[caption id="attachment_3596" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BURNETT BUNGALOW[/caption]

This open-plan space has a central pillar that’s transformed into an accent wall with beautifully patterned wallpaper.

 

Why not use pattern and colour to make a feature out of architectural details in your own dining room? Consider painting alcoves a contrasting colour, or adding wallpaper to a chimney breast to make an accent wall.

 

28. Enhance a Small Dining Space

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Even the tiniest dining rooms can benefit from a colourful feature wall. This cosy yet modern space uses a splash of emerald green on one wall to create zones and bring contrast against white walls.

 

If you have a small dining area in an open-plan space, experiment with a pop of colour. It doesn’t need to be a large wall to make an impact – you could create an accent wall simply by painting a beam or column by your dining table.

 

How Much Colour Is Needed for a Dining Room Accent Wall?

The choice of colour is up to you – but as a general guide, paint your accent wall two to three shades darker than your other walls.

 

If you’ve opted for a very deep hue of blue or green, instead of pairing it with white, consider a light grey or warm beige to soften the overall look.

 

How to Choose an Accent Wall in a Dining Room

If your dining room only has one door, the wall opposite your door is a natural choice. This will make a high-impact entrance as it’s the first wall you and your guests will see.

 

If you have an open-plan kitchen-dining area, choose the back wall behind your dining table. For huge open-plan spaces, consider several different feature walls to create zones – choose different tones of the same colours for a seamless design.

 

What Is the Rule for Accent Walls?

Accent colours should take up around 10% of your space – this will ensure your chosen colour makes a big impact against the other tones in your room.

 

Make your accent colour the boldest or deepest hue, and pair it with one or two other paler, neutral colours for maximum effect.