26 Stunning Bathroom Accent Wall Ideas

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Bathrooms are meant to be practical and efficient, but that doesn’t mean they have to lack style. From paint colors to wallpaper, bathrooms offer plenty of opportunities to be fun and stylish while still being functional.

Take inspiration from our roundup of bathroom accent wall ideas to try the next time you’re giving your bathroom a facelift.

Shower Accent Wall

Make an accent wall inside your shower by covering it with a bold tile. Here, glass shower doors let colorful green tile walls take center stage.

Choose to cover all the walls of your shower with tile, or stick to just one for a true accent wall look.

Neutral Bathroom Accent Wall

wood bathroom vanity with gray tile wall

If bright and bold colors aren’t your style but you still want visual interest, create a neutral accent wall with fun patterns.

Use patterned tile or wallpaper in a neutral color palette to achieve the look without overwhelming your space and style.

Shower Focal Point

Make your shower the focal point of your bathroom by adding patterned tiles. Showers and bathtubs are natural focal points in bathrooms, making them a great candidate for accent wall additions.

Use a patterned tile on the walls surrounding your shower or tub to create a seamless look.

Green Tile Accent Wall

Green is a naturally soothing color, making it a great option for relaxing bathrooms. Use green tile, paint, or wallpaper for a spa-like accent wall.

If you want something more bold, use a darker, jewel-toned shade of green and light grout to accentuate the shape of the tiles.

Subtle Bathroom Accent Wall

Not all accent walls have to be big and bold. Create a minimalistic accent wall by using neutral wood, stone, or wallpaper.

Round out the neutral bathroom with natural accents like a stone tub and woven light fixture.

Bathroom Alcove Accent Wall

bathroom alcove with free-standing tub; heated porcelain floors; banana leaf wallpaper and animal-print upholstered stool

Accent walls can be any shape or size. If your tub sits inside a small alcove, you can still easily transform the nook into a stand-out space.

Cover the alcove in colorful tile to lighten up a space that can quickly feel dark.

Wallpaper Accent Wall

Hanging wallpaper is a quick and easy way to transform a room. Here, a geometric wallpaper mimics the look of hand-crafted tiles behind a bathroom sink and mirror.

Choose to apply patterned wallpaper to mimic tile, or use a colorful, abstract wallpaper to create a more mural-like look.

Tile and Paint Combo

Tile and paint is a tried and true bathroom (and kitchen) combination. Use a neutral subway tile and dark paint to create a sleek bathroom look.

Or, use colorful tile and white or black paint to switch the room’s focal point.

Colorful Shower Wall Tile

Make an artistic accent wall with tile in your shower. Here, a column of blush pink tiles stands out against all-white walls, floor, and ceiling.

Make a more extravagant design with tile in your bathroom, or keep it clean and simple by using colored tile to create a single-column design.

Vintage Reproduction Bathroom Accent Wall

Use vintage tiles to create an accent wall that matches your home’s style.

Here, vintage, geometric tile pairs with antique fixtures and wooden cabinets to make a French-country-style look.

Focus on Tile Pattern

Bathroom sink with mirror above it and a herringbone tile wall behind it

Simple tiles arranged in fun patterns is a great formula for accent walls. To get the look at home, use neutral color tiles to create a simple herringbone pattern.

The skinnier the tiles, the more compact the pattern will appear. Conversely, the larger the tiles, the more spread apart the pattern will look.

Creative Tile Installation

white bathroom with black and gray tile wall

Turn your tile backsplash into a work of art by mixing colors, shapes, and designs. Try mixing different neutral-colored tiles for a more minimalistic look.

Or add to the artistic feeling by making a gradient with the tiles, starting with darkest color on the bottom and the lightest at the top.

Bathroom Accent Ceiling

bathroom with blue wallpaper and ceiling

Don’t stop with just bathroom accent walls. Use wallpaper or paint to make an accent ceiling.

Choose to continue the same color or patterned wallpaper as the other walls onto the ceiling, or go with something totally different to make it stand out even more.

Framed Window View

This medallion-printed wallpaper accentuates the room’s arched picture window.

Simple cream curtains and a freestanding tub make the bathroom view even more luxurious.

Colorful Bathroom Accent Wall

Make a bathroom playful for kids (or for yourself!) by using graphic prints and bright tiles. Use wallpaper and tile in classic color combos like pink and blue, yellow and white, or orange and earth tones.

If you’re using a bold print but want to keep the colors more subtle, consider using different shades of the same color for a more cohesive look.

Large-Scale Shapes

green bathroom with black and white shower

Go big with your tile and design to make a statement bathroom accent wall.

Here, black and white tiles are used in a large-scale geometric design. By keeping the accent wall in the shower, the bold design doesn’t overwhelm the small space.

Bathroom Mural Wallpaper

Use artistic wallpaper to create an accent wall that resembles a mural. Choose a repeating pattern or use a wallpaper that depicts an artistic scene.

Not only is wallpaper easy to apply, but the mural-like results will make your space seem anything other than a regular bathroom.

Seamless Tile Transition

Create a seamless and artistic look in your bathroom by tiling not only a wall in your shower but also continuing the tile around the sink and floor.

Before installing, choose a tile that is waterproof and durable enough to withstand walking.

While covering your entire wall and floor with tile may be more time-consuming than just doing a shower wall, the end result will be worth it.

Playful Bathroom Accent Wall

While bathrooms are meant to be practical and functional rooms in the house, that doesn’t mean they have to be boring.

Use a fun, patterned wallpaper and colorful paint to deck out your bathroom to enjoy spending time in the space.

Highlight Architectural Features

white bathtub with arched blue tile wall

Highlight your home’s architectural features with an accent wall. For example, paint or tile around a window in your bathroom for an easy way to showcase the window.

Plus, you’ll save time and money by painting or tiling around a window than you would doing an entire wall.

Temporary Wallpaper Accent Wall

If you want to switch up your bathroom, but don’t want to commit to installing tile or painting a wall, try using peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Not only can you complete the project in a few hours, but if you don’t like the finished look, the wallpaper can be easily removed.

You can also try peel-and-stick tile if you prefer tile accent walls.

Small Space Accent Wall

white bathroom with aqua blue subway tile

An accent wall doesn’t have to be big to make an impact. Here a teal tile accent wall above the bathroom sink lightens up the entire space.

Pair the accent wall with other simplistic materials and colors to not overwhelm the small space.

Themed Bathroom Accent Wall

Lean into a theme when designing your bathroom. Here, a small bathroom gets a nautical makeover, complete with a wave-inspired tile accent wall.

Use matching mirrors, towels, and other bathroom accessories to complete the look.

Natural Stone Accent Wall

bathroom with white tub and tan stone wall

Use stone to make a natural, textured accent wall. If your accent wall is in the shower, use water-resistant stones like slate, limestone, quartz, and granite.

While marble, travertine, and sandstone are not water-resistant, you can still use them in your shower and bathroom if you use a waterproof sealant.

Bathroom Accent Wall Shelf

Upgrade your tile accent wall by installing a useful shelf. Not only does a shelf add a clean finishing touch to the wall, but it’s also a practical storage solution for small bathrooms.

Here, the small ledge is mounted above the tile that covers half of the wall.

Exposed Brick Bathroom Accent Wall

Authentic exposed brick can be hard to come by, so think twice before covering it up in your bathroom.

Leaving the exposed brick untouched creates a natural, cozy accent wall in your space.