Bedroom, Living Room

18 Black and White Accent Walls With a Flair for Drama

written by Zakhar (aka Zee)

December 20, 2021

If your bland walls are leaving you a little uninspired or you want to infuse some drama into your décor, a black and white accent wall is the perfect touch. These timeless walls offer instant contrast, vibrancy, and intrigue. They work exceptionally well in both modern and farmhouse spaces but are still neutral enough to work with most design styles. Plus, they look phenomenal in any room!

Beyond their bold aesthetic and uncanny ability to fit in anywhere, black and white accent walls also come in a wide range of styles. Wallpaper patterns with diagonal lines are brimming with energy and movement, while horizontal stripes are calming, and vertical lines give the illusion of height. For those that want to skip bold patterns, a black board and batten wall, like #16 on our list, is a fantastic option. It may not have contrast built-in, but by pairing it with white furniture and accessories, you have the start of a wow-worthy design. Prefer something bold yet minimal? The color-blocked black and white wall featured at #13 is a must-see!

Black and white accent walls keep the drama exactly where you need it—your décor. The following 18 stunners in our curated collection below have a knack for doing just that!

01
of 18

Rent-Friendly Black and White Accent Wall

Photo: briannabrowndesigns

This bright boho dining room is no stranger to contrast. The white walls mingle with dark accents like the industrial café chairs, sleek piano, and sensationally chic blue dresser. The accent wall plays into this aesthetic with wide-set black stripes juxtaposing a white background. While this look is achievable with wallpaper, this homeowner got creative and used washi tape for the bold lines. Washi tape is widely available and easy to apply. Many types of washi tape can also be easily removed without causing damage—perfect for renters or those who don’t want to deal with sticky wallpaper paste!

02
of 18

Enchanting Striped Bathroom Wallpaper

Photo: diyinspiredhouse

When going big with patterned wallpaper, a simple color palette works best. This stunning striped bathroom uses a black and white palette offset with bronzed gold fixtures like sink taps and outlet covers. The tightly packed black and white stripes add contrast and movement to the design while vertically elongating the room.

03
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Black and White Plaid Bedroom Accent Wall

Photo: the_whole_9_yards_design

04
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Mid-Century Modern Starburst

Photo: farmhousetofrills

The white space between the starburst pattern on this bathroom accent wall keeps in line with the airy essence of the room. In contrast, the black starburst pattern infuses a bold element and mid-century modern flair. The round mirror mimics the circles of the wallpaper on a larger scale. A set of matching floating shelves completes the look with light wood accents that gives the room a smidgen of warmth. Their thin build and black hardware recede into the patterned wall.

05
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Black and White Faux Tile Accent Wall With Fall Flair

Photo: westcottonwoodlane

06
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Considering Wallpaper Placement

Photo: scullyhouse_

Beyond a wallpaper’s pattern, you should also consider its placement. In this example, a broad strip backs the shelves, instead of gracing the entire wall. This puts the focus on the floating shelves and creates the illusion of a shorter ceiling. The same laundry room would look very different with a full wallpaper wall. See for yourself in our next pick!

07
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Fully Wallpapered Accent Wall in Farmhouse Laundry Room

Photo: scullyhouse_

08
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Diamonds are a Laundry Room's Best Friend

Photo: 1900stonefarmhouse

In this crisp and farmhouse laundry room, black and white wallpaper becomes a dynamic force with its diagonal lines. It helps draw attention to the floating shelves and creates extra allure. Other black and white elements like the washer, dryer and framed prints create a cohesive look within this space.

09
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Diamond Drama

Photo: ourperfectingmanor

10
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Bold Black Stripe

Photo: vt.diy.home

White board and batten topped with a bold block of black is quite the attention grabber in this living room. The black draws the eye to the décor above the sofa where a collection of prints pop against the dark hue. Overall, it makes this sofa nook feel expertly curated and divinely cozy.

11
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Creating Visual Balance

Photo: farmhousetofrills

White beadboard offsets the energetic pattern of brushstroke wallpaper in this chic dining room. The beadboard paired with basic white blinds free up visual space, giving the eye a place to rest and balances the busyness of the black and white brushstroke pattern. Want to get the look? This freeform brushstroke pattern is available as wallpaper. If you’re feeling crafty, you can use black paint to freehand your own motif.

12
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Brushstroke Wallpaper for Farmhouse Entryway

Photo: westcottonwoodlane

You May Also Like: 41 Farmhouse Benches to Beautify Your Home

13
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Black and White Color Blocked Accent Wall

Photo: briannabrowndesigns

Some painter’s tape and black paint transform this bedroom wall from standard to showpiece! The black beautifully balances out the gray bed and luxe weighted blanket. The shelf is a nice touch, as it not only features space to display plants and décor, but also stretches into the white portion, giving the wall flow and uniformity.

14
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All Black Accent Wall

Photo: greybirchdesigns

You can still achieve the crisp and dynamic look of a black and white accent wall by just going with black. In this example, a farmhouse accent wall with a chevron plank pattern is coated in black paint. The while plush rug, plaid bedding, and white walls play off the textural wall and turn the space into a black and white sensation.

15
of 18

Family Room Drama

Photo: greeneacresfarmhouse

Instead of disguising the sloped ceiling, this black accent wall uses it to its advantage. The dark color plays up the interesting angles—and throws in a few of its own with this wall’s textured criss-cross pattern. In addition, the surrounding walls and linen sectional give it a bright infusion of white and light gray. The patterned rug gorgeously marries the two neutral tones in one accessory and pulls the entire room together.

16
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Textured Black Accent Wall

Photo: myhousefromscratch

17
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Dreamy Black and White Office

Photo: vt.diy.home

18
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Moody Black Wall With White Built in Shelves

Photo: redbrickfauxfarmhouse

A unique design, built-in storage, and amazing style—this dining room accent wall has it all! The textured black wall adds texture with its vertical planks. It’s intriguing enough to draw the eye without overpowering the duo of white built-ins. The light wood shelves incorporate warmth and mimic the dining table’s grain and tone.

Zakhar (aka Zee)

I'm Zakhar but my friends call me Zee. I've always been obsessed about making my home a cozy and inviting place to relax. A few years ago, I launched my own line of home products so more people could express themselves in their home décor. This is the site where I share our products and tips for inspiration to make your home a place to enjoy.

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18 Black and White Accent Walls With a Flair for Drama

01 of 18

Rent-Friendly Black and White Accent Wall

02 of 18

Enchanting Striped Bathroom Wallpaper

03 of 18