Design Inspiration: 19 Bedroom Wall Decor Tips

Bedroom Wall Decor
Wall decor creates seemingly endless opportunities to inject personality and style into any bedroom. However, with endless opportunities can come a feeling of overwhelm.

Wall decor creates seemingly endless opportunities to inject personality and style into any bedroom. However, with endless opportunities can come a feeling of overwhelm.

We consulted our experts to create a guide with 19 unique ways to add wall decor to your bedroom– why not fall asleep in a space that reflects your style? 

1. Abstract Artwork

Cozy bedroom with bed, nightstand, and two paintings on the wall.
Credit: Mackenzie Collier Interiors

Bedroom wall art can be a great addition to any empty wall. In the bedroom above, Karen Rohr of MacKenzie Collier Interiors “elevated this master bedroom with abstract artwork to add depth to its neutral palette.” Additionally, Rohr brought in a pop of color by adding a burnt orange tufted bench.

An advantage of bedroom wall decor is that it can be placed everywhere, from side walls to above the bed, so it can enhance a room's appeal from different perspectives. You just need to have available space and create your own aesthetic.

2. Aesthetic Mirrors

A cozy bedroom with a bed, dresser, and a mirror.

Aesthetic mirrors aren’t just for your morning mirror selfie. Stacy Lewis says that “aesthetic mirrors are a thing in home decor these days,” as they “reflect light and can make a small space feel bigger and brighter.” Lewis also uses mirrors as an accent piece, as seen in the bedroom above, to introduce a new shape to the room and an oversized piece that doesn’t take up much space.

3. Brick Accent Wall

Rustic bedroom with brick walls and a cozy bed.
Design by Pamela Hope Designs, photo by Cody Bess

In the above bedroom, Pamela O’Brien introduced a rustic brick accent wall to a space with a neutral color palette. “This relatively new bedroom in a custom suburban home received a facelift following a flood,” O’Brien said. “The repairs allowed for some interesting updates such as installing brick behind the bed as a rustic accent wall and adding hanging pendants over the nightstands for added charm.”

In addition to creating an interesting texture, brick accent walls can totally alter the vibe of any space. The above brick wall transforms a space that would otherwise feel modern into one that has a touch of industrial style to it. Don’t be afraid to use accent walls to curate the vibe that you’re looking for.

4. Grass Cloth Accent Wall

Bedroom featuring white bed, pillows, sidetables and a grass cloth accent wall.
Design by Pamela Hope Designs, photo by Julie Soefer

In the above bedroom, Pamela O’Brien used a grass-cloth accent wall to add a touch of glamor– and an element to build off of. “Keeping the wallpaper, your statement headboard, bed, and linens in the same colorway creates a soothing feeling,” O’Brien said, “while the patterned pillows pull their hue from the warm wood furnishings.”

The above grass cloth accent wall works with the room's established color palette to add a touch of visual interest without altering the look created by the furniture and bedding. In this case, adding an accent wall enhanced the vibe already there instead of creating a new one.

5. Eye-Catching Drapes

 Colorful bedroom featuring bed, nightstands, a modern chandelier, and drapes.
Design by Pamela Hope Designs, photo by Julie Soefer

In this bedroom, Pamela O’Brien uses color to create a whimsical space. “The drapes really make the walls pop in this primary bedroom,” O’Brien says, “while twelve-foot ceilings command attention, festooning them with watercolor-like fabric adds grandeur.”

While adding color and style to any bedroom, drapes also serve as a practical element, creating privacy while filtering in light. This is especially important for bedrooms on the ground floor of a home or apartment building.

6. Fabric Accents

Bedroom with blue shaded fabric accents in a white wall
Credit: State and Season

Fabric accents are a way to give the eye something interesting to look at without creating overwhelm in a space. Lucy Small has found that fabric accents work as both practical and aesthetically pleasing wall decor. “I love using fabric for wall decor in bedrooms because it's soft and friendly to acoustics and makes a great accent piece where you can experiment with color,” Small says. “In this case, we used bestselling midcentury fabrics to cement the midcentury modern interior design of the room.”

7. An Oil Painting

Bedroom with an oil painting in a white wall
Credit: State and Season

The use of art as wall decor can serve as a way to display meaningful family heirlooms and personal projects… or it can be a way to tie the room together. When looking to decorate a space professionally, Lucy Small has found that using a traditional style of art, like oil paintings, can add an element of class to any space. However, Small “tries to make oil paintings as modern as possible.” In the bedroom above, Small has used an abstract neutral piece featuring what she calls “‘‘skin tone art,’ as it’s very modern but also fits in with other styles.”

8. Wooden Accents and Wall Art

A cozy bedroom featuring white walls, wooden floors, wood accents, and wall art.
Credit: State and Season

Often forgotten when the focus is on color, Lucy Small utilizes wooden accents and wall art in a space where she already incorporates many different colors. “I like to use wooden accents or wall art because they won’t contrast with anything already present but add a slightly rustic touch,” she says. A simple way to add wood accents is by hanging wall art with a wood frame.

9. Mirror and Dressing Area

White vanity with mirror next to a bed
Design by Pamela Hope Designs, photo by Cody Bess

Playing with mirrors can add light, decoration, and depth to a space– no matter the size. “In this beautiful bedroom remodel, we took a small, shallow closet and turned it into a glamorous vanity,” says Pamela O’Brien. “The antiqued mirror glass back wall increases the light within the room, while the gilded decorative mirror and sconces add glamor.”

10. Nature-Inspired Decor

Warm bedroom with bed, mirror, and wooden decor pieces on the wall
Credit: Mackenzie Collier Interiors

It’s never a mistake to take inspiration from nature. In the space above, designer Karen Rohr used earthy, camping-inspired decor to transform a master bedroom into a space that brings the outdoors in. “Folk-inspired textiles and throw pillows add a softness to the space,” Rohr said.

Additionally, nature-inspired bedroom décor or wall sculptures usually add neutrals to a space for those wanting to stick to a soothing color palette or use one item as a statement piece.

11. Acrylic Artwork

Acrylic Artwork above a colorful bed in a white bedroom
Credit: Mackenzie Collier Interiors

As mentioned above, artwork can be the final touch that brings a bedroom together. In the above master bedroom, Karen Rohr uses acrylic artwork to do just that. Rohr brought together textural army green linen bedding and petrol blue metal nightstands topped with vintage brass lamps for a lived-in, desert feel, and used black and white acrylic artwork featuring the Sonoran Desert to create a color palette that meshed with the bedding and emphasized the theme brought in by the nightstands and brass lamps.

12. Gallery Wall

Dark blue wall with multiple art pieces above the bed headboard.
Credit: Pistachio Designs

Gallery walls are more than just a way for art lovers to showcase multiple pieces at a time: they can serve as a focal point for the rest of the room, especially if mounted on a wall with color that draws the eye in. “The clients of this particular project were very open to bold, saturated colors, so we used an accent wall to serve as a grounding focal point,” said designer Elaine Thompson. “The blue wall balanced with the warmer tones from the artwork tie in with the other accents throughout the space, making everything feel cohesive.” Decorative wall space in the bedroom is a visual appeal for those looking to keep the rest of the room minimalist.

This is an ideal place to display a family photo or a piece of art that embodies a love story or a treasured memory. By thoughtfully choosing items that hold personal significance, you can craft a gallery wall that not only showcases your style but also narrates your unique story.

13. Textured Elements

Textured Elements hanging on a bedroom wall
Credit: Concept2Design

Erika Souza-Mejia uses texture to create dimension. In the above bedroom, “the starting point with this chevron wood veneer wallpaper, as it lent to our coastal/boho aesthetic and tied in all the colors perfectly,” Souza-Mejia said. In addition to adding dimension, texture creates areas of interest throughout any bedroom. Elements such as 3-dimensional art prints, wall mirrors, or macrame hangings are an easy way to add textured elements to your space.

14. Wallpaper Accent Wall

Wallpaper Accent Wall in a light gray color, a white bed with black frames and a black side table

Karen Rohr likes to use wallpaper to create a bedroom accent wall. Wallpaper “can be used for anything, such as adding a subtle touch of texture, all the while showcasing gorgeous artwork or design elements that will make any room stand out,” says Rohr. If you’re feeling spontaneous, try to opt for a bolder option that might be enough to create that effect on its own.” 

Wallpaper is also an easy way for renters to create accent walls, as peel-and-stick wallpaper is often renter-friendly. 

In the above design, Rohr explains: “We elevated this master bedroom with an ombre wallpaper, adding depth to the neutral palette of this bedroom. A tufted bench brings in a pop of color underneath the abstract paintings on the wall.”

Another renter-friendly option is bedroom wall decals. They're a versatile way to personalize your space without the permanence of paint or wallpaper. Vinyl wall decals can be used to create intricate designs or incorporate patterns into a room. They are easy to apply and remove, making them ideal for anyone who likes to change their decor frequently.

15. Abstract Paneling

Abstract Paneling wall in a modern bedroom
Credit: Devon Grace Interiors

For a fun and playful addition, Rachel Howard used geometric paneling. “This added some dimension to the space,” said Howard. “We opted to paint the wall panels a dark gray to add even more depth,” Howard added color to the room with accent pillows and bedding.

16. Board and Batten

Bedroom with a board and batten accent wall in white

The classic board and batten accent wall adds dimension, texture, and an area of interest. Kim Emery used board and batten in the bedroom above to create a subtle accent wall in a room with a light color palette.

While she used the classic rectangular board and batten, she says “you can also do a vertical board and batten, square board and batten, or partial board and batten.”

17. Showcase a Tapestry

A cozy bedroom with a white bed, a gray chair, and a floral tapestry on the wall.

For a classic addition to any bedroom, try a tapestry or wall hanging. “Decorating your wall space with pretty textiles and fabric creates a sense of softness in a neutral space,” says Stacy Lewis.

Lindsey Graziano even uses rug fragments as wall hangings—an excellent way to repurpose the textiles she works with on a daily basis. She says, “I love using our rug fragments as wall hangings, either framed or loose. It’s an inexpensive way to get a pop of color and help unify a room.”

18. Large Scale Art

A stylish bedroom with a large yellow artwork in white wall

Just as using oversized mirrors can add personality to a space, you can also go big with art pieces. “An oversized painting or photograph adds dimension to any blank wall or small space,” says Stacy Lewis. Add a pop of color to a minimalist room with a vibrant abstract piece or a nature-inspired painting for instant charm.”

Consider supporting emerging artists to discover new talents and add a unique statement piece to your space. By investing in their work, you enhance your environment and contribute to the growth of the art community, and you actually know who the real artist is.

19. Install Shelving

A shelve above the bed with some decorative pieces and plants

For wall decor that doubles as a practical way to display beloved odds and ends, try installing shelving. Stacy Lewis says that she “installs floating shelves to display art pieces, small sculptures, hardcovers, and other trinkets for a play of materials, textures, and colors.”

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Written by
Sasha Weilbaker
Sasha Weilbaker is a freelance writer with bylines in Thrillist, Business Insider, and The Vegetarian Times. She's particularly interested in the intersection of sustainability and materials. In the wild, she can be found cycling around New England, scouting coffee shops, or obsessing over new podcasts.
Sasha Weilbaker
Written by
Sasha Weilbaker
Sasha Weilbaker is a freelance writer with bylines in Thrillist, Business Insider, and The Vegetarian Times. She's particularly interested in the intersection of sustainability and materials. In the wild, she can be found cycling around New England, scouting coffee shops, or obsessing over new podcasts.
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