Feeling like a dull wall is diminishing the overall aesthetic of your home decor? If that’s the case, it could be the perfect moment to add an accent wall to your living space. These creative installations can differ significantly in design, but they often incorporate a blend of bold colors, natural textures, and intriguing patterns to enhance a room’s visual appeal. Accent walls are also an excellent way to establish or support your chosen interior design theme. For instance, a selection of intricately-cut wooden trim pieces might be the ideal solution to infuse your dining room with a mid-century modern flair. Alternatively, if you’re aiming for a luxurious vintage feel, ornate peel-and-stick wallpaper might be the way to go.
To give your bedroom a modern makeover, consider building an accent wall featuring stained wood slats, compact decor shelves, and a bold paint color. By arranging the slats in a ladder-like pattern, you can easily insert shelves between them, allowing your smaller decor items to play an integral role in the wall’s final appearance. This project idea, inspired by thenavagepatch on TikTok, is sure to enhance your modern or contemporary decor. It’s undoubtedly one of the top accent wall ideas to invigorate your entire home.
How to install an accent wall with decor shelves
@thenavagepatch
$15 DIY Accent Wall #diy #homeimprovement #homeimprovements #homeimprovementprojects #accentwall #diyproject #budgetdecor #diyproject #roommakeover #budgetmakeover #wallideas #wallinspiration
♬ original sound – TheNavagePatch – DIY & Crafts
To begin your accent wall project, choose a bold, dark paint color for the wall surface. You’ll need 1-inch by 2-inch furring strips, pre-stain, and a can of walnut wood stain (Varathane Dark Walnut Fast Dry Wood Stain is highly recommended). Additionally, acquire a ¾-inch thick board to cut into shelves, along with brad nails and construction adhesive. Start by painting your wall. While it dries, cut your furring strips to varying lengths between 1 and 3 feet, and sand them. Then, trim your shelves to your desired size. Smaller shelves are preferable since they won’t have brackets for support. Apply pre-stain followed by walnut stain to all wood components.
Next, use a stud finder to locate your wall studs, marking their positions with painter’s tape. Attach the furring strips horizontally to the wall using brad nails, starting just below the crown molding. Ensure they are level and use shelf pieces as spacers to maintain even gaps between strips. Secure them to the studs where possible and use adhesive where necessary. Finally, nail small pieces of ¾-inch wood onto the strips below each shelf location and drill the shelves onto these new pieces, positioning their back edges between the furring strips.
How to upgrade the style of your accent wall shelves
Though the decor items on your accent wall shelves may be small, they play a significant role in enhancing the wall’s elegance. A mix of small houseplants can add a refreshing touch of greenery and tranquility to your space. Alternatively, small framed photos or artwork can personalize the area. For a more ornate appearance, consider displaying decorative cups or bowls. Vary the heights of your decor items and ensure there’s ample negative space between them to avoid a cluttered look.
The tutorial above accommodates smaller shelves with limited weight capacity. If you plan to display larger decor pieces, you’ll need bigger shelves, which means creating space for shelf brackets. Fortunately, options like Goovilla Heavy Duty Floating Shelf Brackets require minimal additional space. You can make room by either trimming a section from the furring strips or widening the gap for the shelf. Ensure the brackets are drilled into wall studs for stability. You’ll also need to select the ideal material for your DIY floating shelf; metal or glass shelves, for instance, could offer a stylish contrast to your accent wall panels.
