Best Accent Wall Paint Colors

We have entered a trend where white paint and white neutral walls is our go to neutral paint color. Yes white paint is the #1 selling paint color right now. Who would have thought! And we see stunning white decorated rooms all over Instagram and the Internet. White interiors look great but they can they look mundane if not styled properly. And you just may not want an entire main floor painted one color. One easy way to add a pop to the all white interior trend, is to add interest to the room by painting one wall a different color that coordinates with the room. This wall then becomes the accent wall, and the focal point in the room.

Accent walls were out of date for a while BUT painted accent walls have come back with a vengeance and for good reason. They’re easy to do, they’re the most cost effective of all the different types of accent walls, and if you get tired of the paint color or just change your mind, you can paint it over and start fresh. Another reason we’re seeing a resurgence of painted accent walls is because it adds a splash of color to a room that is painted white or another neutral.

Accent walls were out of date for a while but they’re coming back with a vengeance. As we enter the all-white or neutral walls phase that we find ourselves in, we want and need a pop of color in our rooms for variety and interest.

Which wall should be the accent wall?

If you already have a featured focal point like a fireplace or TV wall in a living space, this would be the most natural choice for your accent wall. In a bedroom, the biggest wall, where you place the head of your bed, becomes your accent wall because the bed is the focal point in your bedroom. If you don’t have a featured natural focal point, like an architectural design, then the accent wall becomes the focal point in the room. The long wall in a hallway also makes a great accent wall to add interest and color to a space.

Best Accent Wall Colors

Believe it or not, there are trending and popular accent wall colors. Trending paint colors for accent walls are black, charcoal gray, navy blue, and most shade of greens since green is still a trending color. Most of the major paint companies had a shade of green as their Color of the Year for the last couple of years. This year we are seeing various shades of blue as Colors of the year.

Darker shades of green, beiges and terra cotta can give a room an earthy and warm vibe. Painting an entire room a dark color is intimating for most of us, BUT painted this shade of green may be overwhelming for most, but one accent wall in this shade is warm & inviting. What a cozy home office!

Black Accent Walls

Black accent walls are a classic. Black makes a dramatic statement and stands the test of time. They can add drama and excitement to a room just because they’re black.

Classic & Timeless Pure Black

Both Benjamin Moore’s Jet Black 2120-10 and Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW6258 are popular bold stark black colors that would look stunning for an accent wall. Both colors are very similar to each other and are considered to be a true black which means they do not have any undertones to them. They would add a dramatic impact to any room. Great color choices if you want a contemporary look.

For some people, you may want a bit of warmth to the black and there are no shortage of choices for those that want a warmer black. HGTV Sherwin Williams announced SW7083 Dark Room as Color of the Year for 2023 and it does not disappoint.

HGTV Sherwin Williams SW7083 Dark Room

As we enter the season of new dramatic colors, we are also seeing a new and refreshing take on some old classics. HGTV Sherwin Williams has named Dark Room SW7083 as the 2023 Color of the Year. Its black with a purple undertone. Its fresh, moody and has drama as shown in the picture above. If an entire room is too much, having the color on the fireplace wall would make just as powerful as a statement. This color is a bit softer than the pure black colors of BM Jet Black and Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.

Gray Accent Walls

Unless you live under a rock, you are likely aware that gray walls are trending out. However, not all gray paint is out. The all gray interiors is out, but gray accent walls are very popular and a great option for those that like the dramatic look of a black accent wall but want something a little less stark. Its also a great way to slowly transition your home out of the all gray trend but to keep your home looking styled if you still have gray floors or other gray accent pieces. Paint your walls a neutral like white, cream, or taupe, and paint a stunning accent wall one of the trending grays.

One of the most, if not THE most trending color in gray right now is Sherwin Williams Urban Bronze. Its a gray with a green undertone, making it both a rich and warm gray at the same time. If you want something a tad different than your traditional gray, this one would be worth a try. Sherwin Williams shocked the design world in 2021 when it name this luscious gray Color of The Year, but it has caught on by storm and its not dying out in popularity any time soon.

If you’re looking for something more of a tradional gray, these next two colors will not disappoint.

Photo: Benjamin Moore’s C2-885 Jabberwocky

My friend, wanted to create an accent wall feature in her family room above. She felt it needed a pop of color since it was all one neutral color and bland in her opinion. She picked out Benjamin Moore’s Jabberwocky C2-885 and I approved as this color co-ordinated well with her fireplace, and furnishings. It gave their room the pop it needed. This is a great example of how to add a dramatic color to otherwise neural walls.

Photo: Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC-168

Another popular and traditional gray, is Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Gray. Its a warm gray with violet undertones. Using a gray accent wall is an effective way to tone down any gray you might have, but to tie in hard to change fixed gray elements like gray flooring or gray countertops.

If you got caught up in the all gray craze, all gray walls, flooring, furniture etc., painting your walls a neutral paint color and adding a classic gray accent wall will tone down the gay inn your, make it feel up to date, and not break the bank.

Green Accent Walls

The color green became a very popular paint color last year as most paint companies, named a shade of green as their color of the year. Greens are very calming and remind us of the outdoors. Sage green dominated the color choices, but dark & moody greens were also popular as well. We will continue to see dark & moody greens as a popular color choices for interiors, exteriors and for accent walls.

Photo: HGTVHomebySherwinWilliams.com

HGTV’s Sherwin Williams Pewter Green HGSW6208, above, is a warm moody green-gray that would make a bold statement as an accent wall and would pair well with warm white neutral walls.

Photo: Brook of Cribbs Style

In the photo above, Brook of Cribbs Style blog used moody green, Sherwin Williams Riverway SW6222, for her bedroom accent wall. Its a lovely deep green that pairs well with soft warm whites and beiges. Very calm and relaxing for a primary bedroom.

Sage Green took the storm last year as Benjamin Moore announced October Mist BM CC-550 as their color of the year. Since then, many paint color companies quickly promoted various shades of sage green that has donned many interior rooms. Sage green is a calm neutral green that will still be popular throughout 2023 due to our need for nature and its calming effect.

This office above, using Behr Royal Orchard PPU11-01, is a perfect earthy, warm, bold color for an accent wall, for an office, bedroom, a dining room or a living room.

Terra Cotta/Rose Beige/Moody Brown Accent Walls

Photo: Sherwin Williams.com 2023 Color of the Year, Redent Point, SW9081.

From 2022 into 2023, we are seeing warm terra cottas and warm pink beiges, yes I said pink beiges, trending in our homes as part of the boho trend that started during the end of the pandemic. Sherwin Williams has made a bold move in naming pink-beige SW9081, Redend Point as Color of the Year for 2023. Personally, I LOVE this color, but it is receiving mixed reviews. It would look great in a girl boss office, bedroom, or even a bathroom if you want to keep it away from the more higher traffic areas like the living room, kitchen & dining areas.

Brown Accent Walls

Photo: Jillian Harris’s Master Bedroom Reveal, Benjamin Moore Rustic Taupe 999

Jillian Harris, Canadian Influencer & former co-host of HGTV’s Love It Or List It Vancouver, recently changed her white walls and famous pink headboard to a moody brown, Benjamin Moore. She painted her whole bedroom this trendy moody brown color which may be too much for most, but painting the back wall this brown would be super cute as well.

The terra cotta, rose beige and moody brown trend is just starting to take off. But if you’re looking for a dramatic warm moody color for an accent wall that’s different than black or gray, you might one to try one of these trending shades.

Blue Accent Walls

The color blue is a very calming and relaxing color. More calm. More serenity. In fact, blue is considered THE most calming and serene color. Blue is found in nature. Pale blue skies, rich deep blues in water. Any shade of blue would work well as an accent color that co-ordinates with the other colors & accessories in your room.

The current shades of blues that are trending in accent wall colors for 2023 are blue-grays, and the darker blues like the classic navy blues. Blues are always trending in water front/costal properties. It never goes out of style.

This beautiful shade of blue-gray accent wall above, is a stunning example of how a calming shade of blue can light up a room with white walls.

Photo: Benjamin Moore

In our photo above, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2024, Blue Nova, would make a great accent wall in a bedroom or dining room.

Classic Navy Blue options that would make an amazing accent wall:

Left: Benjamin Moore Van Duesen Blue HC-156. Its considered one of the navy’s but more of a dark denim look. Not as dark as a typical navy if you find the typical navy’s a tad too dark. See “traditional” navy below.

Middle: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154 or Sherwin Williams Naval SW 6244. Both of these companies “traditional” navy paint colors. Timeless classic colors.

Right: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20. A very rich navy, with a touch of black in it, thus they call it Gentleman’s Gray!?!

So are you game to try out a color for your accent wall? Which color do you think you’ll choose?

Read: Best Blue-Gray Interior Paint Colors

Read: Is Gray out of Style? 5 Tips to Neutralize Gray

Read: How to Test Paint Colors the right way

Read: Accent walls that will make your home stunning + add value to your home

DOES PICKING COLORS OVERWHELM YOU?

You have picked out a neutral for your room and you like how it looks on your walls but you feel your room needs more.  More impact, more drama.  You want an accent wall to create a focal point in your room but you’re not sure where to start in picking an accent color.

Your room lacks focus and does not pop.  You know an accent wall will help bring the room together and give focus and drama with an accent wall.

You have bought or are thinking of purchasing some new furniture and/or accessories for your space but you want to pick out the color for your accent wall first to tie the room together. 

Choosing the right color(s) for your room(s) can be daunting but it doesn’t need to be.  I will take the guess work out of choosing an accent color for your room that complements your walls, furniture & accessories.  

Click here to check out my Accent Wall Paint Color e-design consult

I help busy homeowners, just like you, to style their house to make it a stunning retreat, where they can live and enjoy their home. I help homeowners, make money beyond their wildest expectations from the sale of their house by guiding them when they’re getting their house ready to sell.

Hi! I’m Debi Collinson. Designer. Color Consultant & Real Estate Investor. 

I grew up looking at blue prints, going on construction sites and helping my dad, an Engineer|General Contractor and Co-Owner of a Design|Build|Engineering firm pick out paint colors for his buildings. Since 2006, I have been styling & staging hundreds of homes to make them look like they belong in a magazine page whether the client is styling to stay or staging to sell. 

In my spare time, LOL, I buy “fixer uppers” to fix up & either sell for a healthy profit or to rent. I’m currently looking for my 10th “fixer upper.” Sign up to receive my e-mails of how to make your home stunning, how to sell your house for top dollar AND how to become financially independent one fixer upper at a time! 

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