9 Great Accent Wall Tile Ideas

Image: Invictus Ivory Vein Cut 24×48 Rigato Porcelain Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

Accent walls serve a valued purpose in design: to be noticed! Creating an accent wall in any room presents an area of focus and breaks up the décor from the rest of the space. It is also a way to have fun: add a pop of color, add texture, highlight a featured area, and create room separation.

You may love bright or bold colors, for instance, but fear overdoing it; you may desire the texture of a beloved tile but don’t want to surround yourself in it; you may want to ease yourself into a new trend so lean on a feature wall… no matter what the reason, there are excellent accent wall ideas to consider. We want to share nine amazing tile ideas that hopefully inspire you!

Materials and Inspiration

Creativity doesn’t possess a “one-size-fits-all” rule, thus allowing you to use your imagination and think outside the box. While paint, wallpaper, and wood ideas are available, tile accent walls offer so much more. With endless design options that are easy to clean and maintain and are long-lasting, tile accent walls are a stellar choice. Here’s what we will focus on: natural stone-look, full-size slabs, layout options, patterns, colors, texture, and how the tile complements other materials in the space.

1. Natural Stone-Look Tile

Natural stone will always be a valued material. It has proven its longevity and durability through eras of use. While natural stone has a luxurious aesthetic, sometimes it may not be exactly what you want, especially if there is a material that looks like natural stone minus added maintenance.

Invictus Cross Cut porcelain tile series exemplifies this exceptionally well! Resembling travertine, this large-format tile can add an expansive look to a space—either in length or width depending on your chosen layout—and add brightness through its soft coloration. If you’re new to the idea of a tile accent wall, Invictus Cross Cut will definitely serve as a focal point, but without being too bold.

Image: DT-Soapstone Dark Matte Full-Size Slab Living Room Accent Wall from Arizona Tile

2. Full-Size Slabs

When you think of a full-size slab, your mind may jump to countertops in a kitchen or bathroom; however, the use of slab goes far beyond that. The thought of a tile accent wall may not jive with your design preferences, but that doesn’t mean wallpaper or paint are your only options. Della Terra^® Porcelain Slabs are incredibly versatile, low maintenance, and will transform your wall into a majestic surface that is smooth, completely wipeable, unique, and beautiful.  DT- Soapstone Dark Matte porcelain slab is pure luxury. It has a slightly mottled blue/grey background with delicate white veining, like in natural soapstone, and will transform something ordinary to stunningly sophisticated.

Image: Shibusa Wenge Stack & Shibusa Tortora Stack Porcelain Tile Bathroom Accent Wall and Ardesia Black 24×48 Porcelain Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

3. Layout

Who says tile must be laid in an exact horizontal or vertical fashion? If that’s not how you want it, then get creative! In fact, stepping outside of a traditional layout may provide you with the exact edge your design lacks.

Shibusa porcelain has stunning lines of texture to mimic bamboo, making it charming on its own, but when displayed in a fun layout, the tile becomes even more vibrant and unique.

Image: Gem Tabacco 2×16 Glazed Porcelain Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

4. Color

Color can change an entire room—it’s incredible how powerful the color wheel is. Your favorite color may not be suitable for an entire space, so opting for a focal wall to liven up the room is an exceptional idea.Gem glazed porcelain wall tile adds a pop of color and is also a unique and delightful dimensional element—something you can’t achieve by simply painting a wall. While Gem offers great colors, the dimensional element also creates texture. Watch the light in the room dance around the tile surface with Gem tile and some similar options.

Image: Silver Split 3D Travertine Stackstone Bedroom Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

5. Texture

Texture adds a fun, dimensional feel to a space and creates a sense of comfort, especially with 3D Mesh Mount Stack and its 21 different options, both in color and stone type. Natural Stone 3D tile presents a unique, yet organic appearance, that pops off the wall, adding depth and texture. There is a wonderful warmth felt within this category of tile.

Image: CS-Calacatta Gris Honed Lotus Marble Kitchen Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

6. Pattern

Pattern doesn’t need to be about color, but simple shapes and sizes. Even the simplest colors can change the presentation completely when removed from a standard layout.

CS-Calacatta Gris marble exudes luxury and sophistication, but with 13 different size options, cultivating this beautiful white marble into a tailored design will surely serve as a focal point.

Image: Gioia Avocado 4×16 Porcelain Bathroom Backsplash Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

7. Complement to Bold Wallpaper

Wallpaper is definitely back! It has regained popularity significantly over the years, but in certain scenarios, it may not be the most durable and practical material.Gioia porcelain series offers outstanding colors that can pair with even the boldest wallpaper designs. Porcelain tile is so desirable because it is virtually maintenance-free—some simple wiping with a damp cloth and you’re free to move on to your next task. In high-traffic areas, bathrooms, and kitchens, wallpaper may be part of your design, but installing your favorite Gioia color around areas that are frequently wet or heavily trafficked will preserve your design for far longer.

Image: Vector Agglomorate Marble Large-Format Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

8. Accent a Specific Focal Area

Do you have a large wall where your TV will be mounted? A large window with a stunning view? These might be focal areas you want everyone’s eyes to be drawn straight to.

Vector is an agglomerate marble with a unique, cherished appearance, timeless style, and retro flair. Unlike traditional marble, agglomerate marble is manufactured, thus creating a durable surface that is resistant to scratches, stains, and chips.

Image: Cementine Posa 2 Porcelain Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

9. Combining with Other Materials

Mixing materials can be lots of fun! Not only does this present a more personalized aesthetic, but it creates movement and character throughout a room, even on a single wall.

Cementine Posa porcelain is a great statement tile that can be used alone or combined with another tile or material as a focal wall. Have you added a relaxing fireplace to your gathering room, thus making that the focal wall? While the fireplace is an accent, it can be further accentuated with a fireplace surround of patterned tile for ultra-emphasis. Beyond the patterned tile, the remainder of the wall can transform further into another tile series or material altogether.

Create an Accent Wall

Playing with design can be so enjoyable and then relished for a lifetime. There are endless possibilities when gathering tile accent wall ideas; we hope this helps! For more valuable information and a sense of inspiration, our On the Surface Blog and Inspiration Corner have much to offer, including this blog on shower wall accent ideas.

If you have questions, please reach out to us! To see and feel products in person, stop by an Arizona Tile store or slab yard. When you have some product ideas in mind, use our Just Imagine Tile and Slab Visualizer to develop a better sense of how they will look in a layout.