Best Wall Accents

Wall accents are most often chosen based on the theme or style of the room. It allows you to quickly eliminate what does not work. For instance, you know right off the bat that a large abstract painting does not belong in a rustic kitchen or a Victorian-themed sitting room. So decorating by theme narrows down your choices, but you still have plenty to consider.

Antique

Whether your room is decorated with cherished family heirlooms or treasures found in shops scattered along winding country roads, it has an emotional appeal in its reverence for the past, whether or not we know the stories that the furnishings could tell.

Suggestion: A gallery wall of black & white family photos in a charming variety of frame styles and sizes. Color photos can be easily printed out in black & white, by a professional or on your computer.

Country

Country décor pays homage to nature with raw or unrefined materials, weathered finishes and earth tones. It is old-fashioned, warm and welcoming.

Suggestions: Metal flowers, prints of country life or handcrafted wood signs.

Art Deco

The Roaring Twenties were bold and flashy, daring and elegant, as represented in the artistic, lavish, colorful Art Deco décor. It is fun and extravagant, but with a nod to the venerable history of that time.

Suggestions: Bold, geometric paintings or metal sculptures that pick up the dominant color in the room or a sophisticated copper and brass geometrically designed mirror. 

Industrial

We usually find an industrial décor in an urban setting - a loft or a converted warehouse. Architectural details are exposed, such as bare bricks, timbers and steel. Furnishings are dark and heavy and often created from salvaged and recycled materials or bought second-hand.

Suggestions: Ultra-modern sculpture of a cityscape, colorful geometrical abstract, or an antique world map.

Coastal

For the home overlooking the sea or a beach cottage, walls are light or bright and often made from distressed wood. The color blue predominates, echoing the ocean waters. Lightweight curtains sway in the sea breeze. Furnishings may be nautical themed.

Suggestions: Driftwood art, whether real or manufactured; a wooden anchor or antique compass; a stained-glass mosaic turtle or other sea creature.

Bohemian

Your room is carefree organized chaos, a mixture of metal and natural materials, with beaded and whimsical accessories.

Suggestions: A Cubist print, a vertical garden or a wall-mounted chess board - that you can actually play chess on!

Asian

Can be a fusion of Asian designs or Japanese minimalist with earth tones or Chinese lavish with golds, reds and jade. It is an exotic décor regardless. It is also the easiest of the themes for choosing wall art. We all recognize Asian designs.

Suggestions: a metal sculpture of tree branches, lacy porcelain or a sunburst mirror.

It's the room that everybody in the house shares and where you entertain guests. The wall accents should reflect the interests of the residents while being welcoming. The wall above the sofa cries out for decoration! The width of the decoration should be no longer than two-thirds the length of the sofa, and it should be hung between 8-10 inches (20-25 centimeters) above the sofa.

Metal sculpture circles are stylish and the more intriguing the more you look at them. They come in many styles, lengths and widths, so you can find one that is perfect for your décor. You might want to try an irregular arrangement of glass bowls and plates in colors that pick up those used throughout the room.

Your dining room may be the least-used room in your house if you save it for special occasions. Why not decorate the walls in ways that will encourage the family and/or guests to visit it more often?

Firstly, hang a beautiful chandelier that will beguilingly reflect candlelight. Then make an arrangement of wall-mounted candle holders with flameless candles in varying heights and thicknesses. You may also add mirrors that will add glamour and make the candlelight and the chandelier light play with each other.

Your bedroom should be your space. Choose wall art that you love and that excite and/or inspire you. That will be soft colors for some, bright colors for others. The general rule of thumb is, however, that bedroom decor should promote relaxation, so using disturbing wall accents that may negatively impact your subconscious mind or glaring colors that may stir your emotions is advised against.

Over the bed is the usual spot for wall accents, such as a large painting in "your" colors of a meaningful subject or an abstract that enthralls you. Make sure the painting is not wider than the bed and is roughly one-quarter of the distance between the highest part of the headboard and the ceiling.

You may also want to highlight another item of furniture, perhaps a dresser or nightstand. Place an eye-catching wall accent over it, such as a resin sculpture finished in faux bronze that represents the intertwining of hearts, bodies and minds.

For greeting your guests dramatically, place a large painting or decorative element right where they see it first. If you have a large space available, a three-piece panel, somewhat like a small divider screen, with intricate carvings will draw the eyes and stun with its subtle beauty.

For a quieter introduction to your home but a very personal one, you might hang embroidery hoops of different sizes with fabric of complementary colors and patterns.

Size really does matter when you are choosing wall accents. You need to know the measurements of the space and how to use the various sizes to their best advantage.

Oversized

An oversized accent is at least 40 inches (100 centimeters) long and acts as a focal point in the room. It draws attention as soon as someone enters the room, and so must be used wisely. Make sure the wall, and the room, is large enough to handle it and the rest of your room decor is kept to a minimum.

Suggestions: Wall tapestry or exotic doors.

Large

A large accent measures from 33 to 40 inches (84 to 100 centimeters) and are often used as a centerpiece with small or mini items on each side. Hang above furniture, such as a sofa, but to give it its due, let it stand alone.

Suggestions: Metal wall art with an Asian influence, with or without corresponding (but not matching) side accents.

Medium

A medium-sized wall accent measures 25-32 inches (64-80 centimeters) and can stand alone on smaller walls, but works best when as a focal point of a gallery wall or when in groups of two, maybe three. Stylish when hung at the far end of sofa or arranged in line with the middle of a headboard.

Suggestions: A European medallion that brings Old World charm or stylized representations of your favorite animal in burnished wood - cats are especially sleek.

Small

A small accent measures 18-24 inches (46-60 centimeters) and is ideally hung in multiples of three to six (for some reason, the human eye likes odd numbers). Use on smaller walls, above shelving or in a hallway.

Suggestions: Metal scrolls in distressed wooden frames with a Gothic charm or a variety of found objects (shells, leaves, stones) in shadowbox frames.

Size really does matter when you are choosing wall accents. You need to know the measurements of the space and how to use the various sizes to their best advantage.

Oversized

An oversized accent is at least 40 inches (100 centimeters) long and acts as a focal point in the room. It draws attention as soon as someone enters the room, and so must be used wisely. Make sure the wall, and the room, is large enough to handle it and the rest of your room decor is kept to a minimum.

Suggestions: Wall tapestry or exotic doors.

Large

A large accent measures from 33 to 40 inches (84 to 100 centimeters) and are often used as a centerpiece with small or mini items on each side. Hang above furniture, such as a sofa, but to give it its due, let it stand alone.

Suggestions: Metal wall art with an Asian influence, with or without corresponding (but not matching) side accents.

Medium

A medium-sized wall accent measures 25-32 inches (64-80 centimeters) and can stand alone on smaller walls, but works best when as a focal point of a gallery wall or when in groups of two, maybe three. Stylish when hung at the far end of sofa or arranged in line with the middle of a headboard.

Suggestions: A European medallion that brings Old World charm or stylized representations of your favorite animal in burnished wood - cats are especially sleek.

Small

A small accent measures 18-24 inches (46-60 centimeters) and is ideally hung in multiples of three to six (for some reason, the human eye likes odd numbers). Use on smaller walls, above shelving or in a hallway.

Suggestions: Metal scrolls in distressed wooden frames with a Gothic charm or a variety of found objects (shells, leaves, stones) in shadowbox frames.

Mini

A mini measures 10-17 inches (25-42 centimeters) and works well in clusters or alone in a small personal space, such as a bathroom or home office.

Suggestions: Framed family photos, self-adhesive 3D transparent plastic butterflies or musical notes.