8 Farmhouse Accent Wall Ideas You Will Love

Bailie Losleben
May 20, 2017
3 min read

Accent walls are a great way to add some personality to your home, but it can be daunting trying to pick materials, decide on a color, and decide what the focal point of the room should actually be. There is nothing more confusing to a house guest or prospective buyer than walking into a room and having your eye drawn to an odd location due to the placement of an accent feature.

Here are some tips to get you started and some great ideas for a farmhouse accent wall.

What to Accent?

When I moved into my first home the colors on the walls were straight up confusing. There were colored accent walls opposite of where they should be. For example, walking into the master bedroom the focal point should be the wall behind the bed]. In this house, however, the accent wall was on the wall opposite the bed, which you couldn’t even see upon first entering the room.

Luckily, the accent walls were just paint and easy to fix- putting a wood, brick, or tile wall up in the wrong place can cause some serious irritation down the road.

It is really important to think about the space before you decide to create an accent wall- where does your eye automatically go in the room? What do you want people to see?

Materials for a Farmhouse Accent Wall

The days of painted accent walls are over and have evolved into much more interesting materials that also happen to be a bit harder to install.

Shiplap

Of course shiplap has to be mentioned with the farmhouse style. If you like the shiplap look, don’t be afraid to experiment with color. Black, blue, and green are all very popular right now.

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Wood

This can kind of tie in with shiplap, but natural wood planks are a beautiful additional to both a farmhouse style home and a modern home. Weathered looking grays, and rich natural wood colors can be a great focal point behind a bed, in an entryway, or in a cozy reading nook.

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Wood Accent Ceiling

Wood Ceilings

Sometimes a ceiling can serve as a better accent feature than a wall and there are some definite benefits to highlighting a ceiling. In smaller rooms making the focal point the ceiling can make the room feel much larger- especially if you have high ceilings.And you don’t ever have to worry about dinging up the feature wall or worry about it being in the incorrect location if you decide to move furniture around.

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Wood Beams

Another way to draw attention upward is with wood beams. You can use either natural wood beams which can have a rather hefty price tag-- or if the beams have nothing to do with structural integrity you can get away with using faux wood beams for a fraction of the cost.

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Cement Tiles

In a bathroom or laundry room cement tiles are a fun way to add a little charm. Cement tiles come in a wide array of colors and patterns. They can be a little pricey, but are well worth the cost.

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Subway Tile

Subway tile can add some interest to a bathroom or kitchen as a stylish and functional accent feature.

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Exposed Brick

Brick done right is gorgeous and can be quite stunning as a farmhouse accent wall. Incorporated in a kitchen, bedroom, or living area can make for a show stopping feature wall. Whitewashed brick is particularly popular right now.

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Shelving

Shelving can provide both a functional and beautiful accent feature (so long as you keep it organized). In a kitchen, reading room, or living room, open shelving gives you versatility because you are able to change out the accent items as often as you would like to keep it fresh and interesting.