At a Glance:
How to: Designing a Dining Room Accent Wall
Popular Dining Room Accent Wall Trends
Picking Furniture for Your Dining Room Accent Wall
Trendy Ideas for Dining Room Accent Walls
An accent wall done the right way can add purpose and personality to a space. When not done correctly, an accent wall ends up as a half-hearted attempt to be bold without any clear use. The key is to do more than simply paint one wall in a room a different color. Take the next step and ask your accent wall to do some work by utilizing its architectural feature, distinguishing a space, or adding contrast to a dining area.
Our interior design pros break down how to design a dining room accent wall that sets your space apart, offering tips on how to choose furniture to complete the look and trendy ideas. In this guide, we offer dining room accent wall ideas to achieve the look you’re searching for from modern to farmhouse and other popular designs.
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Shop NowHow to: Designing a Dining Room Accent Wall
When planning an accent wall in your dining room, you first have to decide which wall you want to act as your focal point.
Choosing a Wall
Deciding which wall to make the accent wall can be tricky. Take the room in as a whole and make a plan. Here are a few tips for making the decision:
| Accent Wall Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| ✔ Create a Focal Point | If your room doesn’t have a clear focal point, figure out what wall or area in the room grabs your attention when you walk in and use it as your canvas. |
| ✔ Highlight an Existing Focal Point | If you already have a key architectural feature such as a built-in bookcase, a fireplace, or even a curved wall, consider making it an accent wall to accentuate its character. |
| ✔Think About Windows | If you have a picture window with a wonderful view, that might be the perfect choice for an accent wall in the dining room. If you choose a wall with a window, make sure to choose your color accordingly. Play up lighter colors to create the illusion of a larger area along with natural lighting. |
| ✔ Choose a Symmetrical Wall | If you have a slanted wall or a gable ceiling that only affects certain walls, we recommend skipping them as accent walls. Drawing attention to their irregular shape may be distracting rather than achieve the stunning effect you’re after. |
| ✔Accentuate the Accent Wall with Art | An accent wall is the perfect spot to hang a gallery wall, shelving, or curated art. It’s an affordable way to spruce up the surface without having to paint or drastically alter the wall. |
| ✔Don’t Forget About the Fifth Wall | By the fifth wall, we mean the ceiling! You can paint the ceiling a dramatic color or cover it with wallpaper to create an unexpected moment. This draws the eye upward, and it’s the perfect time to bring in a statement-making chandelier or light fixture to maximize the design moment. |
Popular Dining Room Accent Wall Trends
Accent walls are all over Pinterest and Instagram, popping up in unusual and inspiring applications. From bold colors to wallpaper and board and batten, dining room design ideas are endless. Let’s take a look at what’s on-trend in the world of dining room interior design when it comes to materials, colors and patterns, and design styles.
Materials
An accent wall doesn’t just mean painting one of your walls a different color. Think outside the paint can and consider wallpaper, wood paneling, board and batten, or a special paint technique like lime wash or Roman clay. Mixing mediums is a great way to give dining room settings texture with little effort.
Colors & Patterns
Popular colors for dining room accent walls include deep shades like navy blue or forest green, while lighter hues such as soft gray or muted teal can create a more subtle, calming atmosphere. Geometric patterns such as chevron and herringbone are classic choices, adding visual interest without overwhelming the space. If you’re feeling adventurous, textured wallpaper and faux finishes can provide depth and sophistication to your dining area's decor.
Design Styles
Maximalism and minimalism are both having a moment. For major impact, use a loud floral wallpaper for a bold accent wall, pairing it with a patterned rug and a dramatic chandelier. Or you could combine sleek materials like glass, metal, and polished wood with a deep blue accent wall to create a minimal and modern space.
Whichever you prefer, think about the rooms that connect to your dining room and what you can see through the openings and doorways in your space. Make sure what you choose for your dining room complements the rooms nearby and creates continuity. Draw from your overall design and color story to create your unexpected moment.
Learn more: Modern Dining Room: Essential Furniture & Style Tips
Picking Furniture for Your Dining Room Accent Wall
Remember, the accent wall may be doing the heavy lifting, but furniture can help tell the story. Here are a few popular choices for furniture to pair with accent walls for dining room settings:
- Sideboards are multifunctional and come in a wide variety of materials and styles. They’re a great way to add natural elements, as well as texture and shape.
- Hutches are larger than sideboards, so they are great at anchoring larger accent walls.
- Bar carts don’t take up much space but are great as accents, especially when finished in metallic tones.
- Don’t forget about décor—lighting, wall art, clocks, and more can bring cohesion to a dining room.
Trendy Ideas for Dining Room Accent Walls
It’s time to move from the vision board and into action with these inspirational dining room pieces that go great with an accent wall. From classic to modern, use these ideas for your home or as the muse for the dining room design you’ve always wanted for dinnertime.
Modern Dining Room Accent Wall
Here are a few ideas for creating a modern accent wall dining room:
➕Opt for a bold, contrasting color like black or charcoal gray to make a statement against neutral surroundings.
➕Incorporate geometric patterns or asymmetrical designs using painter's tape for a contemporary touch.
➕Consider adding metallic accents or a sleek wallpaper with metallic finishes to introduce an element of luxury and sophistication.
➕Use minimalist artwork or framed prints with clean lines to complement the modern aesthetic without overwhelming the space.
Once you’ve set the scene, it’s time to complement it with modern dining room furniture such as these beautiful pieces.
Drew & Jonathan Home Boulevard Black Fox Server
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Dark brown wood adds texture while metal accents provide just the right amount of contrast. Uniquely shaped drawer pulls and handles are chunky and slightly retro while the metallic finish gives them a sophisticated feel. Overall, the neutral colors and simple silhouette of this dining room storage piece allow your accent wall to shine while playing on modern themes.
Drew & Jonathan Home Boulevard Black Fox Stiletto Leg Dining Table
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A perfect pairing with the mid-century modern server, this dining table is crafted in a two-tone finish that lightens the room thanks to tapered metal legs. This 84” table seats six and has one 20” leaf that makes room for more or shrinks for cozier settings. We love the simple silhouette and mix of materials. You could pair it with wood chairs or lean into a more glam look with upholstered chairs.
Farmhouse Dining Room Accent Wall
A popular dining room wall design is the ever-ubiquitous farmhouse wall. The trend might be waning, but homeowners still aren’t over the cozy feel farmhouse furniture brings to any space. When used in the dining room, a farmhouse accent wall provides a homespun backdrop that is never stuffy and always welcoming. Here are a few pointers.
➕Choose a warm, rustic color palette such as creamy white, soft beige, or weathered taupe to evoke a cozy farmhouse ambiance.
➕Install a shiplap dining room accent wall or beadboard paneling horizontally across the accent wall for a classic farmhouse look (for a bigger effect, consider distressing the wood for added character).
➕Enhance the wall with vintage-inspired decor like reclaimed wood shelves, antique signs, or woven baskets filled with dried flowers for a charming touch.
➕Incorporate natural elements such as woven rattan chairs, a reclaimed wood dining table, or potted herbs to complete the farmhouse-inspired decor.
Learn more: Farmhouse-Style Dining Room Trends to Uplift Your Home
American Drew Litchfield Sullivan Buffet Hutch
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This dining hutch is perfect for a large dining room and gives you an opportunity to display your favorite items in the glass cabinets. You can match or complement the color of your accent wall with the pottery, vases, and art you choose to display. It also provides ample storage for dinnerware. With its whitewashed finish, this piece is quintessentially farmhouse and perfect for creating a cozy and inviting space.
Wood Dining Room Accent Wall
More of a traditionalist? Not to worry: a wood accent wall dining room can still provide major impact with a touch of rustic character that diners will appreciate. But take caution: wooden accent walls work best for larger dining room areas, so if your mealtime setting is on the cozier side, consider an option that’s friendlier to the space. Here’s what our design experts suggest:
➕Highlight the natural beauty of wood by choosing a rich, warm stain or a clear finish that allows the wood grain to shine through.
➕Install reclaimed wood planks vertically or horizontally to create a striking focal point, and consider varying the plank widths for added visual interest.
➕Pair the wood accent wall with modern furnishings and minimalist decor to achieve a contemporary yet inviting look.
➕Incorporate texture through layered textiles like linen curtains, jute rugs, and plush upholstered dining chairs to soften the wood's rugged appearance.
Coast2Coast Home™ Cement Gray/Natural Wine Cabinet
Shop This Coast2Coast Dining Cabinet
You can mix wood tones in your home by identifying a dominant wood tone and carrying its undertones throughout wall accents and pieces for a balanced look with wood as the main medium. In this case, the accent wall will be your dominant wood, and you can create balance with this wood dining server. The geometric design of the cabinet doors provides just the right amount of playful contrast against a paneled wall.
Brick Dining Room Accent Wall
That’s right—a brick accent wall dining room backdrop can be successful, and it’s the perfect choice for industrial-style dining settings. Equally rugged and modern, a brick accent wall beautifully anchors large dining areas with an unexpected twist of personality that is surprisingly versatile. Follow these tips:
➕Expose an existing brick wall for an authentic industrial look, or use faux brick panels for a budget-friendly alternative.
➕Lean into the industrial feel of brick, and contrast it with materials like wood, glass, metal, and concrete.
➕You can also go in the opposite direction and utilize the warm tones of natural brick to warm up your space. Brick has plenty of texture, so it’s ideal for creating a cozy and rustic design.
➕Balance the rough texture of the brick with soft furnishings like upholstered dining chairs in neutral tones or plush seat cushions.
➕Add warmth and dimension to the space with soft lighting fixtures like pendant lights or wall sconces that cast a gentle glow over the brick wall.
Benchcraft Anibecca Gray Dining Server
We love the way this server’s door handles blend seamlessly into the piece even as the metallic accent shines. Mixing materials works well with brick, and the cool tones of this wood and metal server perfectly contrast the warmth of a brick accent wall. Not only that, but this piece provides plenty of storage in your dining room. The solid front cabinets help you create a minimalist or industrial look as it keeps any clutter out of sight.
Board and Batten Dining Room Accent Wall
If you’re unfamiliar with board and batten wall trim, think of wainscotting or coffered ceilings. Essentially, these reliefs add three-dimensional texture to walls on low-profile embossing. Best of all, there’s a variety of geometric designs to choose from, so you can really let your creativity shine with this idea. These are a few of our favorite ways to use board and batten surfaces:
➕Install vertical boards evenly spaced apart to create the batten effect. Consider painting them a crisp white for a classic look or a muted hue for a more subdued aesthetic.
➕Create visual interest by painting the upper portion of the wall a different color from the lower portion, or opt for a tone-on-tone approach for a subtle contrast.
➕Enhance the wall with decorative molding or trim details like crown molding or chair railings to add architectural interest and sophistication.
Modus Furniture Sunrise Fevano Smoked Brown Rectangular Dining Table
Shop This Modus Furniture Table
Board and batten is a trendy way to bring geometric shapes into your space, so the legs of this table play off of that beautifully. While board and batten can be used in a variety of design styles, this table would work well in a boho, organic modern, or eclectic design. It’s made of solid mango wood with a matte lacquer top coat so that it will last for years to come.
Whether you want to create a cozy farmhouse dining room or a sophisticated modern space, adding an accent wall can make every dining experience feel special. If you’ve been wanting to try out a new design, it’s the perfect time to try it in your dining room. To complete your look, Colder’s Appliance is the best place to shop for dining room furniture in the area. Stop by one of our Milwaukee furniture stores to browse dining room furniture in person today.
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