Adding an accent wall to your bathroom can completely transform the space, providing visual interest and flair. Choosing the right look can be tricky, but eye-catching accent walls do not have to be complicated. From vivid wallpaper prints to textured tile designs, there are many options that can upgrade your bathroom while suiting your personal style.
Whether you want something bold and graphic or prefer refined and organic textures, accent walls create focal points that make even the most utilitarian bathroom feel special. Consider these 10 eye-catching styles to find inspiration for your next bathroom project.
Lively Botanical Wallpaper
Nothing energizes a bathroom quite like vibrant floral wallpaper. Choose a graphic print with large-scale botanicals to make the biggest visual impact on an accent wall. Go for bold and tropical or soft and impressionistic – either style makes a statement.
Select wallpaper with a peel-and-stick design for the easiest application. Use it to transform a tub or shower surround, or create an invigorating backdrop behind vanities or sinks. Complement it with natural materials like bamboo, rattan, or wood accents to enhance the organic vibe. Vivid blooms feel energizing and lush.
Benefits of lively botanical wallpaper:
- Makes a bold, artistic statement in any bathroom
- Available in endless floral themes to match your tastes
- Peel-and-stick application makes DIY installation easy
- Adds lush, tropical vibe and energetic flair
- Complements natural materials like bamboo, wood, rattan
- Ranges from soft impressionistic to vivid graphic prints
Go big and give your bathroom a dose of the tropics with exuberant floral wallpaper. The vivid colors and organic shapes create an eye-catching accent wall with artistic appeal.
Geometric Moroccan-Style Tile
For a worldly yet elegant accent wall, look to Moroccan-inspired geometric tile designs. This style combines repeating graphic shapes in vivid hues for mesmerizing optical effects.
Handpainted encaustic cement tiles are most authentic but easier peel-and-stick varieties capture the same visual impact. Use them to decorate a tub surround or vanity backsplash in any size bathroom. Pair the tiles with neutral walls and wood tones for a stylish, exotic feel.
Key benefits of geometric Moroccan-style tile include:
- Eye-catching graphic impact in bold colors
- Creates dimension with 3D optical illusions
- Adds global flair with Moroccan-inspired motifs
- Patterned tiles range from vivid to neutral palettes
- Geometric shapes feel modern yet timeless
- Peel-and-stick makes application straightforward
- Works in small and large bathrooms alike
Make a strong artistic statement by using graphic encaustic cement or peel-and-stick tiles. The colorful repeating shapes energize a bathroom with exotic Moroccan style.
Modern Graphic Wallpaper
For contemporary flair, choose a bold graphic print wallpaper in contrasting hues. Geometric patterns, abstract shapes, and optically mesmerizing designs make fixed focal points.
Select a style that complements your bathroom’s modern aesthetic, whether clean-lined minimalism or sleek industrial. Pair with wall sconces, vessel sinks, and matte black metal hardware for an integrated look.
Key perks of using modern graphic wallpaper include:
- Makes a contemporary artistic statement
- Geometric and abstract prints offer many themes
- Contrasting colors create visual vibrancy
- Effortless application with peel-and-stick
- Pairs well with modern bathroom elements
- Draws the eye as an accent focal point
- Freshens up a bathroom easily
Modern graphic wallpaper brings artistic style to any bathroom. Choose complementary colors and shapes to accentuate your contemporary design vision.
Natural Stone Mosaic Tile
For a soothing and elegant accent wall, natural stone mosaic tiles create an organic focal point. Materials like marble, travertine and slate add subtle texture. Watery blues, greys and creams evoke spa-like tranquility.
Use mosaic tiles to decorate a tub surround, shower wall or vanity backsplash. Add white grout to accentuate the stone’s organic veins and patterns. Keep other bathroom surfaces simple to let the stone texture shine.
Key features of natural stone mosaic tile include:
- Organic, soothing earth tones and textures
- Marvelous veining and patterns in natural slate or marble
- Cream, grey and blue-green hues feel peaceful
- Tile mosaics create depth and visual interest
- Natural material adds warmth and elegance
- Suitable for both classic and modern bathrooms
- Provides a spa-like, refreshing focal point
With its refined yet visually appealing texture, natural stone mosaic tile creates a casually elegant focal wall. The effect is organic, zen-like and timelessly stylish.
Rustic Wood Plank Wall
Rustic wood planks offer cozy, nature-inspired style on an accent wall. The rich graining and organic texture bring warmth to any bathroom. Materials like cedar, teak or barnwood add casual elegance.
Use reclaimed boards or faux wood planks to panel a wall behind a clawfoot tub or double vanity. For ease, choose peel-and-stick wood with adhesive backing. Add potted plants, woven baskets and antique-inspired mirrors to enhance the earthy aesthetic.
Key virtues of rustic wood plank walls include:
- Warm, welcoming texture and natural beauty
- Reclaimed or faux boards offer budget-friendly options
- Relaxed, organic look complements many aesthetics
- Easy to install with peel-and-stick adhesive backing
- Beautiful grain patterns add visual interest
- Classic focal point that feels cozy and timeless
- Pairs well with antique, vintage or industrial details
Wood plank accent walls lend a causal, inviting warmth to bathroom spaces. The textured organic finish feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh.
Blackboard Paint Wall
Make your accent wall interactive with custom blackboard paint. This chalkboard-effect finish lets you write messages, draw artwork or make updating to-do lists.
Use blackboard paint on a focal wall in contemporary rustic bathrooms. The matte black finish has an urban art studio vibe. Pair it with industrial pipes, woven baskets, and antique signs for an eclectic look.
Key features of blackboard paint walls include:
- Chalkboard finish allows drawing and writing
- Matte black color makes a graphic impact
- Adds interactive element and customization
- Creates focal point in rustic, urban and modern bathrooms
- Can display artwork, messages, or changeable notes
- Easy to apply blackboard paint options
- Adds artistic flair and versatility
Make your bathroom accent wall hands-on with fun blackboard paint. The chalkboard finish lets you add creative, changing personal touches.
Vertical Shiplap Wood
The classic elegance of vertical shiplap wood adds textural intrigue to bathroom walls. Neatly overlapping boards create clean linear shadow lines. This reclaimed-style look pairs well with industrial, rustic or farmhouse décor.
Use real or faux vertical shiplap boards to accent a bathtub wall or vanity backdrop. For ease, opt for adhesive peel-and-stick boards to avoid nailing. Add touches like matte black fixtures, woven baskets or antique mirror frames to complement the textured wall.
Key advantages of vertical shiplap wood include:
- Attractive, rustic-chic linear texture
- Shadow lines between boards add visual interest
- Reclaimed, salvaged wood look on a budget
- Clean, versatile look suits many aesthetics
- Modern versions have peel-and-stick installation
- Easy to cut boards to size if needed
- Warms up bathrooms with wood’s rich patina
Vertical shiplap wood adds textural appeal and rustic style to accent walls with its reclaimed wooden aesthetic. The look easily fits contemporary, industrial, or farmhouse spaces.
Brick-Effect Wallpaper
For vintage loft flair, brick-effect wallpaper adds industrial edge to your bathroom accent wall. Faux brick designs realistically mimic worn, distressed masonry. Create the look of an urban art studio or retro factory space.
Use brick wallpaper behind a tub or sink to add gritty yet refined contrast. Keep other finishes sleek and modern to balance the vintage vibe. Exposed pipes, chrome fixtures, and pendant lights enhance the look.
**Key advantages of brick-effect wallpaper include: **
- Realistic aged brickwork visual effect
- Distressed finishes in red, grey or white
- Industrial, urban feel with a vintage edge
- Easy peel-and-stick application
- Adds loft-style flair to many bathroom aesthetics
- Complements modern, industrial or eclectic decors
- More affordable than genuine brickwork
Brick wallpaper easily delivers the edgy, loft-inspired look of exposed brickwork. Create a textural focal point that feels nostalgic yet fresh at the same time.
Mirrored Tiles
For glam contemporary sparkle, try mirrored glass tiles on your accent wall. These mosaic-like squares reflect light around the room. Their multifaceted surfaces pick up colors and shapes from the surrounding space for mesmerizing effect.
Use small mirrored tiles to decorate the wall behind a vanity or tub. Opt for silver, gold or checkerboard layouts. Pair with sleek modern bathroom elements like wall-mounted faucets, vessel sinks and pendant lighting.
Key benefits of mirrored tiles include:
- Reflective surfaces add light and dimension
- Glamorous, eye-catching focal point
- Small tile size creates intriguing mosaic effect
- Suits modern, contemporary, glam or eclectic décor
- Metallic shimmer complements many color schemes
- Creates illusion of a larger, brighter bathroom
- Easy peel-and-stick tile options available
Add modern dazzle with the reflective brilliance of mirrored glass tiles on your bathroom accent wall. Their glimmering facets become an elegant focal point.
Textured Subway Tile
Updated subway tiles make an enticing contemporary accent wall with added 3D texture. Options like ribbed, wavy, fishscale, or faceted tiles add intrigue. Crisp white or muted colors keep the look refined.
Use textured tiles on a shower surround or tub backsplash. Pair with minimalist white or black bathroom fixtures and accessories. The tiles’ dimensional surface catches light for subtle visual drama while maintaining an uncluttered aesthetic.
Key advantages of textured subway tiles:
- Tactile depth and architectural shape interest
- Patterns like waves and fishscales
- Color choices beyond basic white
- Contemporary update of a classic tile shape
- Embossed surface adds flair without fuss
- Sleek, neutral and easy to match
- Clean complement to modern bathrooms
Textured subway tiles lend tactile depth to an accent wall without overpowering a space. Their subtle dimensional patterns add just a hint of modern drama.
Hexagon Motif Wallpaper
Bold, graphic honeycomb patterns energize a bathroom accent wall with mod flair. Hexagon wallpaper comes in varied prints from organic to geometric. The repeating shapes grab attention in any space.
Use hexagon prints to add playful accent style behind vanities, tubs or standalone walls. Pair with modern fixtures, black accents, or pops of vibrant contrasting color. Hexagonal floor tiles can echo the motif.
Benefits of hexagon wallpaper include:
- Eye-catching honeycomb pattern makes a statement
- Graphic, retro-inspired visual impact
- Colorful prints available, from bold to pastel
- Organic or geometric themes suit varied aesthetics
- Adds energy and flair to a boring wall
- Peel-and-stick application is simple
- Complements eclectic, modern or minimalist rooms
With its iconic honeycomb design, hexagon wallpaper transforms any blank wall into a vibrant focal point. The graphic appeal complements contemporary to boho spaces.
FAQs About Bathroom Accent Walls
What are some good accent wall ideas for a small bathroom?
Great small bathroom accent wall ideas include vivid botanical wallpaper, fun blackboard paint, or mosaic marble tile. Dark hues help walls recede. Mirrored tiles or a two-tone look with chair-rail molding also work well.
What wall is best for an accent wall in a bathroom?
The wall behind a tub, vanity or sink is ideal for a bold bathroom accent wall. These fixed focal points draw the eye naturally. Accent walls also work well on the wall opposite the bathroom door for visual impact.
What color should I avoid for a bathroom accent wall?
Avoid bright, saturated accent wall colors like hot pink or neon orange in bathrooms, as these tend to visually overwhelm small spaces. Soft, muted, lighter or darker hues usually work best.
How do I choose bathroom wallpaper?
When choosing wallpaper, ensure it is designed for high-moisture areas like bathrooms. Seek out mold/mildew-resistant paper with a washable surface. Peel-and-stick vinyl or other waterproof materials are excellent choices.
What are good paint ideas for a bathroom accent wall?
Great bathroom accent wall paint ideas include earthy terracotta, soothing light blue, elegant charcoal grey, or glossy lacquer black. Consider moisture-resistant paints like satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss which stand up to humidity.
How do I add an accent in my all white bathroom?
Fun ways to accent an all-white bathroom include graphic black and white tile, natural wood shelves, vibrant artwork, or pops of color with towels, stools, planters or rugs. Bold wallpaper, black metal fixtures, or patterned shower tile also add nice contrast.
Conclusion
A well-designed bathroom accent wall can completely transform the look and feel of your space. Whether you prefer modern graphic prints, organic materials like wood or stone, or vintage-industrial motifs, the options are virtually endless. Choosing wallpapers, specialty paints, or tiles in shapes ranging from traditional to honeycomb hexagon can upgrade any utilitarian bathroom into a eye-catching oasis.
With so many possibilities, focus on selecting an accent wall style that reflects your personal taste and complements the existing aesthetic. Use bold prints and textures to add flair without overpowering a small space. No matter which material you choose, a focal feature wall draws the eye, creates style and becomes a makes a bathroom pop.
Have fun designing your bathroom’s showstopping new centerpiece. With one of these 10 eye-catching accent wall ideas, your necessary room can transform from bland to beautiful in no time.
