Joanna Gaines is an expert on accent walls. These DIY-friendly features can significantly change a room by adding depth and personality. They break up the monotony of plain walls or highlight larger features like fireplaces, nooks, or built-in shelves. Accent walls also help define areas in open-concept spaces, such as breakfast or study areas, enhancing your home’s overall structure and flow.
However, if not executed well, accent walls can appear dull — something Gaines is well aware of. “To me, if you’re going to do an accent wall, go all out and let it have some dimension,” she remarked in a design workshop, as noted by Country Living. While Gaines is renowned for her love of shiplap, she also explores bold wallpapers, various wooden textures, and even stone. Here are some of Joanna Gaines’ most stunning accent wall ideas to transform your home.
Using tiles can make a niche seem larger and set it apart from its surroundings
Accent walls can unify rooms and distinguish a specific space from the surrounding area. Joanna Gaines expertly does this in places like bedroom alcoves and designated dining areas. “A tiled accent wall and a place to gather set this breakfast nook apart,” Gaines shared on Instagram, showcasing the completed look. The vibrant tile colors capture attention and make the breakfast area feel more distinct from the rest of the kitchen. As the tiles extend up to the ceiling, your eyes follow the vertical line, a classic trick that makes the entire niche appear larger.
Creating a tiled accent wall at home is relatively simple and typically requires no demolition, as you can tile directly over a sheetrock wall. Even DIY beginners can master wall tiling. Gaines’ team used a method called dry stack for this look, meaning there are no gaps between the tiles, making grout or mortar unnecessary. You can use products like MusselBound’s White Plastic Tile Membrane, a double-sided adhesive sheet, to easily install tiles on the wall.
Stone can create a chic, rustic look in any space
Accent walls don’t have to rely solely on paint. Texture can create a dynamic space, as Joanna Gaines demonstrates in this cozy bedroom. “We loved the rock so much on the outside that we thought, ‘let’s do it inside,'” she mentioned during the “Mediterranean Money Pit” episode of “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home.” Although the home had a rock accent on most of its exterior walls, the team showed that “outside-only” materials are not a limitation if your vision is expansive. The motif appears multiple times throughout the project, such as in the living room mantel.
If you’re concerned about stone feeling too rough indoors, there are tricks to soften its appearance. First, remember you can hang items on it. Typically, use items like Booda Brand Brick Hook Clips or screws instead of nails for easy installation. Place them between the stones to avoid cracking. Gaines added two sconces for softer lighting, but tapestries or artwork can achieve a similar effect. Incorporating greenery, such as English Ivy, Croton, or an Umbrella Plant, enhances natural vibes and adds color.
Consider a mural instead of just wallpaper
Bold wallpaper is back in style, but graphic patterns aren’t the only way to make a statement on an accent wall. In the “Mediterranean Money Pit” episode of “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home,” Gaines commissioned an artist to paint a mural used as wallpaper to enliven the dining room. “The look I am thinking of is definitely not loud; it doesn’t have a ton of color,” she stated in the episode. “And that’s what I’m really needing because it’s off the kitchen, and I want it to tie into it, but not steal the show.”
For a similar look in your home, consider painting your own mural if you’re artistically inclined. The process is similar to painting a solid color: clean and prime the space first, and begin with a plan. Many artists outline their work in pencil before starting. For those less inclined to take on the project, commissioning an outside artist, as Gaines did, is an option. To find a suitable painter, explore artists in your community on Instagram and TikTok. If you don’t succeed, consider using an art consultancy firm, although it may be more expensive.
Using cedarwood creates cozier vibes
While Gaines is known for using shiplap to create texture and visual interest, it’s not the only wood option available. Depending on the mood you want to cultivate in your space, she also recommends cedar. “The couple wanted a cozy cabin feel, so we incorporated an accent wall made from fresh-cut cedar. This brought a warm, homey vibe and added an element of interest to the space,” Gaines wrote about a project on her blog, Magnolia.
The house, featured in Season 3, Episode 8 of “Fixer Upper,” used cedarwood panels across the entire wall, anchoring the master bedroom. In a sleeping space, the wall behind the bed is typically the best place to introduce accents, as it serves as the focal point. However, it’s essential to integrate it into the rest of the room — ensuring the cedar doesn’t appear out of place. “[We] added new windows, light fixtures, drywall, a fresh coat of paint, and natural cedar, clear-sealed window trim, and baseboards,” she continued. Incorporating cedar as trim helps the accent wall material feel cohesive. It’s also an excellent way to add texture to the bedroom. If you already have wooden molding and want it to resemble cedar, you can use a product like Old Master’s Wiping Stain for the effect without replacing anything.
You don’t need to cover the entire wall for it to count
Sometimes, an accent wall finish can cover only a portion of the wall and still achieve the desired effect. “I wanted to add a masculine color in here while not overpowering the room, so we installed this navy wallpaper to the lower half of the walls and painted the upper half white,” Gaines explained on her blog, Magnolia. “Wallpaper can bring a lot of character into an otherwise basic room, and because this grid pattern is subtle, it makes for a good foundation to layer in colors and additional patterns.” While all-over wallpaper can be visually intense, Gaines used a clever design trick to avoid overdoing it by only covering half the surface.
Creating this look at home depends on your DIY experience. With graphic paper, Gaines advises, “If you’re new to installing wallpaper, a pattern like this may be challenging to keep the grid straight. Hire a professional or opt for a more organic pattern.” Regardless, she recommends pairing the wallpaper with a calmer paint color on the other half to prevent overwhelming visuals. For this specific project, she used One Horne White from her Magnolia collection.
Shiplap isn’t the only option for wood – try a thinner lath look instead
Wood is another excellent option for those wanting to use texture to differentiate a wall, rather than just color. Gaines employed this material in a home featured in Season 3, Episode 16 of “Fixer Upper.” While the look pays homage to shiplap, it’s distinct enough not to date a space like the farmhouse style might. “For a little something unique in this space, we put a modern spin on our beloved shiplap for a feature wall in the kitchen,” Gaines wrote on her blog, Magnolia. “We used white oak panels made to look like ‘lath’ and are about a third the width of our classic shiplap. This made for a fun accent wall that matched Kaley’s eclectic style.”
To incorporate a similar accent wall into your space, consider the overall vibe you want to create. Different wood finishes can significantly alter how the boards interact with the room. In this instance, Gaines finished the panels with a matte sealant, offering a natural, cabin-like appearance. However, you could mix wood stains among the boards for a rustic feel or use a solid color like Envy by All-In-One Paint for a sleeker, modern look.
Exposed brick doesn’t have to be industrial
Exposed brick walls are often associated with urban lofts or gritty spaces, but Gaines demonstrates on “Fixer Upper” that the styling of this type of accent wall defines its aesthetic. “One of my favorite projects in the home was the master bedroom. The room originally felt dark and unimpressive, so I hoped to transform it into a place the couple enjoyed,” Gaines wrote on her blog, Magnolia, about the home featured in Season 2, Episode 9 of the show. “We installed new windows and a brick accent wall along with eclectic light fixtures from Shades of Light.”
In its original red state, exposed brick tends to lean industrial, but it doesn’t have to — especially with a fresh coat of paint. With the light blue hue Gaines selected, the look becomes soft, airy, and almost coastal. However, there is a correct way to paint brick to avoid damage. Thoroughly clean the surface before applying a complete coat of primer. Next, choose a specialized formula, like Kilz’s Self-Priming Brick Paint, to ensure better adhesion and reduce the likelihood of bubbling or cracking.
Play with bold patterns alongside materials
In the stunning home on “Fixer Upper” Season 5, Episode 19, three of the four kitchen walls feature subway tile in its typical configuration, but on the fourth, Gaines makes a bold statement. “This tile has a longer shape than classic subway tile, but it still gives the same clean finish as the original,” she wrote on her blog, Magnolia, about the look. “To add interest, we installed it in a herringbone pattern behind the vent hood and then framed it on both sides with a traditional pattern.” While tile in the kitchen is common, Gaines explains that contrasting layouts right next to each other “adds subtle interest to the overall design.”
This technique is easy to recreate at home, but Gaines offers additional tips to enhance the accent wall. The Magnolia team explains that the grout color can also make a bold impact. Complementary grout colors (like white on white) create a seamless look, while contrasting colors, like dark grout with light tiles — as in this kitchen — provide a distinct edge.
