A blank canvas can either be tantalizing or terrifying — and your bedroom walls are no exception to that rule. While furniture and textiles might be top of mind when it comes to styling this space, your bedroom wall design can have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of the space.

So what can you do to make an otherwise blank wall look intentional, exciting, or elevated? There are countless options to consider. Some of our favorite bedroom wall design ideas are as simple as installing wallpaper or making good use of an accent hue, while others — installing wall paneling or molding — are decidedly more involved yet offer a high payoff. The structure of your space will also play a role in determining which approach aligns best with your personal style preferences.

Still, we know that empty walls can be intimidating — which is why Havenly designer Kelsey Fischer is here to share 16 of her favorite bedroom wall design ideas. Gather your inspiration now, and you may soon find a reno project in your near future.

1. Bedroom Wall Design: Classic Fireplace

A built-in fireplace is a luxury in any part of the home — but in a bedroom, styling it may feel less intuitive. While a fireplace makes a great central focal point in a living room, in a bedroom, this structural detail works best when it’s not competing too many other details. A single framed piece of art and a vase are all this mantel needs to look complete in this understated, contemporary space.

2. Bedroom Wall Design: Checkered Board and Batten 

A touch of texture makes even a monochromatic space more dynamic. Checkered board and batten paneling lend the wall in this mostly white bedroom a modern, geometric look that’s as chic as it is subtle. This kind of detail works just as well on an accent wall as it does throughout a room.

3. Bedroom Wall Design: Wooden Slats

Consider this an updated take on wainscoting: Dark green wooden slats create a moody canvas against which nightstands and an upholstered headboard look intentional and refined. This wall design is decidedly a more daring option — but it has a high payoff that gives a bedroom a more luxurious finish.

4. Bedroom Wall Design: Vertical Board and Batten

To exaggerate the height of a bedroom ceiling, board and batten paneling — arranged in vertical stripes — can work wonders. Think of it as a sleeker, more current alternative to rustic-leaning shiplap.

5. Bedroom Wall Design: Crown Wallpaper

Just a sliver of detailed wallpaper can reinvigorate a space, as in the case of this bedroom. To pull it off, install wainscoting that extends beyond your headboard to create a jewel box effect and apply wallpaper to the foot or so of space in between your crown molding and that paneling. Painting the wainscoting in a similar hue to your bedframe adds to the cozy, intimate illusion.

6. Bedroom Wall Design: High Contrast Accent Wall

Black paint can — admittedly — be an intimidating choice for a bedroom. But a little goes a long way: A patterned, upholstered bed frame looks more dynamic against the dark hue, and a textured, glossy finish helps it to bounce light off its surface.

7. Bedroom Wall Design: Floral Wallpaper

A delicate floral print adds charm to a bedroom, especially when it establishes a pretty color palette that can continue through furniture and textile choices. The pattern is ornate but still breezy — which prevents it from looking stuffy or outdated.

8. Bedroom Wall Design: Vertical Shiplap 

Similar to vertical board and batten paneling, vertical shiplap can emphasize a ceiling’s height — an effect that this bedroom’s extra-tall headboard and chandelier further enhance. This kind of paneling looks best used as a concentrated detail rather than an all-over feature, especially when it’s accentuated by glossy black paint.

9. Bedroom Wall Design: Wood Paneling

It may be a touch retro, but wood-paneled walls have such a cozy charm that makes them perfect for a welcoming, cottagecore bedroom. To prevent them from looking dated, style your space with more modern furniture, like a sleek bedframe and a simple nightstand.

10. Bedroom Wall Design: Horizontal Shiplap 

There’s something effortless and classic about white horizontal shiplap walls. This paneling is a great way to add a bit of texture and dimension to a space, either as an accent wall or all over. Paired with blue textiles and natural details — like wicker lampshades — this design reads perfectly coastal cool.

11. Bedroom Wall Design: French Wall Molding 

There are few better ways to give a space a dignified and luxurious look than with French wall molding. This simple detail can lend a cookie-cutter space a touch of history; that’s why it works so well with traditional details, like a chinoiserie-inspired headboard and gilded picture frames.

12. Bedroom Wall Design: Wallpaper Panels 

Framing your bed with a wall detail — an accent color, textured paneling, etc. — is a solid strategy for making it look more intentionally styled. Here, wallpaper panels framed with simple white molding create a pretty foundation against which a patterned headboard can stand out. 

13. Bedroom Wall Design: Beadboard

A classic design feature in a kitchen, beadboard works almost shockingly well in a bedroom. Not only does it create a textured plane against which a low headboard and matching nightstands are settled — it also adds a decorative element with a handy built-in shelf. 

14. Bedroom Wall Design: Diagonal Shiplap

Vaulted ceilings can be tricky. So when it comes to styling bedrooms with them, it’s best to work with the room’s features rather than against them. Here, a combination of vertical and diagonal shiplap plays up this space’s unique architecture and complements its wooden slat ceiling. 

15. Bedroom Wall Design: Expansive Windows

You know what they say: If you’ve got it, flaunt it. That’s the right strategy to follow if your bedroom has ample windows that stream plenty of light into the space. While it might not seem obvious, setting a headboard against the windows — rather than opposite them — can create a serene centerpiece. Just be sure to opt for a low headboard; a patterned option works especially well.

16. Bedroom Wall Design: DIY Wall Headboard

Built-in features always add to a space’s charm, and a built-in upholstered headboard can transform an otherwise simplistic bedroom. The upholstery brings texture and pattern to the space and altogether gives off a designer, hotel-quality feel. It’s custom, it’s cool, it’s contemporary, and it’s a DIY — here’s the full step-by-step guide!

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