Accent walls work very well in the right spaces. You can use paint, (see photos below) wallpaper, wood, etc. And stone cladding can work in the right space--there are many types of stone cladding--from real stone veneer to "colored cement stone" choose carefully if you go in that direction.

Not a fan of accent wall colors anymore. Seems that the best designs (at least the ones that I gravitate to) are always neutrals............

Okay David, you say (on your profile) that you like technology, anything new, contemporary, futuristic... So here's an "off the wall" (arr) idea for you:

Search "repper patterns" on google, go to the first website listed, and click on "try demo." Upload photos of your kid or pet into the demo source box to patternize. Experiment with all the different kaleidoscope-like variations until you have a repeat pattern you like.

Now print out enough pages to cover your accent wall with your newly minted DIY wallpaper! Maybe print on old dictionary pages or other old book pages for added interest and texture.

If I had time, I'd try it myself with our giclee printer! If you do it, please post photos ;-)

Steve Eichenberger

(Here's a quick example, repping a for-fun portrait I painted recently based on a Casey L. Jones photo. The pattern was generated from a portion of the painting ...infinite variations are possible, which you can play around with and see the patternized results in real time with the demo. Have fun!)

I like accent walls, Just Browse Accent Walls, I think you will find some you can like.They work especially well in contemporary and modern interiors.

Not a fan here unless it extends the architecture of the house in some fashion.

However, cladding can be amazing - horizontal tongue and groove siding can be updated cottage or ranch styling. A modern approach is something cool like faced plywood cut into squares with rotated grain at each square. I've seen vinyl wood floor tile used horizontally on a wall to great effect, or distressed barnboard in neat patterns. There are some neat embossed leather vinyls now that you could hang like wallcovering - they look like expensive leather. That would make an amazing accent wall. Casework itself makes one of the nicest focal points in a room when it is done on the scale of an entire wall - bookcases & cabinets or a combo of cabinets and shelves can be a work of art when done properly.

Stencils can be a way to highlight just one wall without the big jarring jump of a totally different color - that is one favorite way to call attention and with everything from morrocan grid patterns to african cloth patterns, there are some really great ways to use those. Check out royal design studio gallery shots online.

It would be great to see a photo of your room / some inspiration rooms that work for you. There are already some other new and neat ideas on the board.