Fireplaces, in and of themselves, are a focal point in a room – usually living rooms. But there are several things that you can do to the wall around and behind a fireplace to make it more of an accent wall.
Bring the attention to your fireplace that it deserves with a creative and unique accent wall. Whether you build a large craftsman-style mantle, add built-ins around the fireplace, or cover the wall behind the fireplace with shiplap, wallpaper, or tile – there are countless ideas for adding decorative and useful features to your fireplace.
15 Unique Fireplace Accent Wall Ideas
These faux concrete wall tongue and groove panels helped us create this beautiful easy DIY fireplace accent wall idea as part of our living room makeover. It was so easy to install and required NO power tools.
This project would be great for a beginner or someone without a big budget for power tools.
The interlocking panels made it so easy to install that we really only needed to use a little construction adhesive to hold it all together!
The entire installation process took about an hour with two people working.
Give Your Fireplace and Media Center A Modern Makeover With Storage & Stone
Updating this 80's fireplace wall was a fantastic transformation! Dated cabinets and a brick fireplace were replaced with new, modern elements that make this room's focal point.
New built-in shelving added a modern media center for the television with storage, while the stone was taken all the way to the ceiling to create a great architectural feature.
Stone veneer was used for the fireplace section and it's much lighter weight than actual stone making this fireplace accent wall idea an much easier DIY project.
Electric fireplaces don't require venting which allows for this gorgeous wall of bookshelves.
The shelves were built using MDF, making painting them a lot easier than if they had been made from wood.
Building your own shelves allows you to customize the size you need them for. Think about what you will display on your shelves before designing your own fireplace accent wall.
Related - Learn how to decorate shelves here!
This fireplace accent wall makeover is night and day from what it started out as. You really have to see the before to appreciate the progress that has already been made.
Bookcases and dark paneling were painted to bring this space from dark and dated to light and bright.
Shiplap above the fireplace is a simple design choice that, along with the vintage mantel, brings farmhouse charm to this living room.
Looking at this built-in fireplace, you would never know that it isn't original to the house. All the details tie it into the space as if it has always been there.
Shiplap that goes all the way to the ceiling makes this fireplace accent wall idea the focal point in this room.
I love the mixture of roman clay on the fireplace surround and the shiplap, it gives it a rustic modern style.
Installing shiplap in a vertical pattern gives this fireplace accent wall a completely different look than what we have seen before.
The warm brown tones of the concrete keep the fireplace from feeling too cold and the shiplap helps give it a modern farmhouse vibe that works perfectly with the decor.
A modern electric fireplace wall is a great way to add architectural detail to a room that doesn't have any.
This fireplace accent wall idea was built entirely from scratch and features pull-out cubbies left their natural wood tone.
The rest is painted black to match the sleek modern look of the electric fireplace insert.
This fireplace accent wall stands out against the white walls, giving this room an amazing focal point.
Brightening up a dated and dark brick fireplace wall doesn't mean you have to paint all the brick. Why not try a mortar wash instead?
White mortar when wiped across brick will give it a whitewashed look or a German Schmear type finish.
This fireplace accent wall idea is easy to do and will update that old brick fireplace. Be sure to buy white mortar, not regular mortar that is gray.
Once was what two spaces with freestanding shelving that didn't fit, became this entire wall of built-ins that look like they have always been there.
With plenty of storage in the bottom cabinets, this fireplace accent wall idea is symmetrical in design. Both sides have an equal amount of shelving and cabinets and the cabinet doors mimic the style of the molding on the mantle.
The original inset space above the fireplace became the home for the television which makes this the ultimate built-in entertainment center.
Related - Learn more about decorating around a TV here!
The things you can do with paint are endless. Like this fireplace accent wall idea.
The painted arch adds a faux architectural detail to the wall behind this fireplace and you could paint it any color you want.
I love the simplicity of this idea and how creative and budget-friendly it is. You can get this look in a day and don't have to build a single thing.
An entire wall of shiplap took this plain fireplace wall and turned it into a focal point for this room.
The clean minimal look of the white shiplap complements the craftsman-style fireplace perfectly.
Pre-primed MDF shiplap is easy to install using finishing nails and a final coat of paint covers it and finishes the look.
I love this rustic fireplace accent wall idea. It may be because we have a wood stove and not a traditional fireplace, but this project is an easy one and give the electric stove a place to live.
A faux brick panel and 6x6 lumber come together for this fireplace wall giving it a rustic charm it wouldn't have on its own.
This fireplace surround was built using the original firebox and extended the height of the ceiling to also include a space to house the television.
The marble tile is sleek and modern with black accents to make this an amazing focal wall.
Add in a cute bench seat with shelving underneath, wall sconces on either side, and this fireplace accent wall is a stand-out feature in this space.
Wallpaper has come a long way and has grown in popularity over the years. There are all types now and you can even buy peel and stick wallpaper that doesn't require paste and all the mess that comes with it.
Adding wallpaper to a fireplace wall is an easy way to showcase your fireplace and create an accent wall.
It's also low commitment compared to building out shelving because you change it anytime you want.
Related - Check out these 30+ DIY wall treatment ideas for more inspiration!
The look of reclaimed wood is still popular, but finding enough for an entire wall might be challenging.
This fireplace accent wall idea was made using pre-made wood planks with adhesive backing.
They are thin and light enough to adhere to the wall and you don't have to pull apart a bunch of dirty pallets to get enough to do an entire wall.
Related - Check out these other wood accent walls for more ideas!
Which of these fireplace accent wall ideas is your favorite?
Let us know in the comments below!
