Forget Accent Walls: These 12 Stunning Accent Door Ideas Will Transform Any Space

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For years, accent walls dominated interior design as a way to add a pop of color or texture without completely overwhelming a space. As with any popular idea, however, this trend quickly became overplayed, and many designers are now veering away from using one wall as a large focal point in a room. Instead, the interior design trend that's replacing dated accent walls involves creating a more contained splash of interest: Accent doors.

Maximalism and bold choices have become commonplace in the last few years, with many popular trends veering away from cookie cutter "aesthetic" spaces and towards brighter, kitschier, and more personality-filled designs. As such, many people have started to embrace the use of more color, texture, and pattern in their homes. With that being said, however, not everyone is ready to fully coat their walls with the color drench paint trend. If you're looking to add some more interest to your space, one of the easiest places to start is by sprucing up your doors. After all, you're only working with an area that's around 80 by 36 inches on average — even the boldest design decision is sure to feel tasteful and approachable on such a small scale.

Whether you're planning to add some subtle texture in the form of paneling, you want to flex your creative muscles with hand-painted accents, or your goal is to allow the door's natural beauty and history to shine, these accent door ideas are sure to impress. Once you take a look at these creative design choices, those plain white builder-grade doors might just start to feel like blank canvases brimming with potential.

If you're tired of staring at plain, flat doors, consider using some trim to create a bit of texture. All you'll need is some thin wood pieces — lattice works, but feel free to shop around at your local hardware store until you find something that's the ideal thickness and width. Attach it to your door with nails or wood glue, fill any holes, and add a coat of paint. You'll be left with a lovely splash of texture.

Scandinavian decor might lean towards a more minimalistic look, but the same isn't true when it comes to Scandinavian folk art. Furniture painted with simplistic flowers, birds, and patterns mimicking historical art has been trending lately as a way to bring more interest and personality to a space, but the applications don't have to stop there. Consider flexing your artistic muscles and painting similar designs on your doors. Don't worry if they aren't museum-quality — much of the charm of this style lies in its imperfection and straightforwardness.

While most associate stained glass with intricate murals adorning the walls of churches, this material doesn't have to be reserved for religious applications. Stained glass is having a major moment right now trend-wise, and many people are finding ways to incorporate this art form into their spaces. Whether you want to go bold and replace a plain door with a full stained glass  or would rather keep it inexpensive by adding some Stained Glass Window Privacy Film to an existing glass panel, this is a great way to take a door from boring to beautiful.

One of the easiest ways to create an accent door is by painting the door a bold color, but if you want to add even more fun, you don't have to stop there. While the edge of the door isn't visible when it's closed, painting this strip of material a contrasting color or adding a pattern can add a hefty dose of fun when it's open. The possibilities are endless, but if you want to try out a striped look, consider using painter's tape to create crisp, straight lines of each color.

Arched doorways are a beautiful feature in a home, but if you haven't been blessed with this architectural accent, consider creating the same shape with paint. To create your arched accent door, paint your door and frame your desired color (ideally one that contrasts quite sharply with the color of your walls) and sketch out a half circle shape at the top of the frame before filling it in with the same paint. This can be freehanded, but for more precision, use a pencil attached to a string to map out the shape.

Who says wallpaper is just for walls? Whether you want to coat your entire room in a print without interruption or would rather a tiny dose of pattern, wallpapering your doors is a great way to turn them into a statement. While you likely won't have much of a choice if you're choosing to continue a pattern throughout the space, covering your door is the perfect opportunity to use peel-and-stick paper. This way, you won't have to worry about adhesion, and if you're not a fan of the look, you can easily remove the paper.

Painted borders around door frames have been taking over social media, and for good reason. This relatively small splash of pattern and color can make a major impact on a space, and if you want to bring more attention to one of your doors, this is the perfect way to do it. To create a folksy, personality filled accent, hand paint some florals and patterns around the door. If you're not feeling that brave, however, you can also use a printed wallpaper border, vinyl decals, or even peel-and-stick tile.

Antique furniture and decor is an easy way to upgrade a space, but have you ever considered using antique doors? Many antique and salvage stores have old doors on hand that feature gorgeous and intricate carved patterns that would surely act as an accent in your space. With that being said, however, it's not as easy as heading to the store and installing an antique door in an existing frame. Door sizes weren't fully standardized until the mid-1900s, so it might be necessary to carve down or bulk up an antique door to create a perfect fit.

One of the most common ways to create an accent door is with a coat bold of paint, but if your space is already fairly flat, consider letting the door's natural texture shine instead. While this approach won't work with many modern doors — most homes have solid core or hollow core doors that aren't actually made of solid wood — antique doors are perfect for this treatment. A light sand and a coat of stain will bring out the wood's grain, adding a pop of texture that will create a beautiful accent.

Have you been dreaming of a home filled with intricate molding, trim, and woodwork? Making this dream a reality might be an expensive undertaking, but if you're willing to have a little fun, a few splatters of paint can get you halfway there. Trompe-l'œil, literally meaning "deceive the eye," is an artistic technique that creates a 3D look on a 2D surface. While this doodle-inspired doorway might not look exactly like it was created by a master artist, it's certainly a fun way to turn a door into an fun accent.

One of the hallmarks of modern interior design is clean lines, and there's nothing cleaner than sleek vertical slats adorning a door. Thankfully, this look is incredibly easy to achieve on your own, especially if you purchase something like these pre-spaced LarWorks Wood Slat Wall Panels. Simply attach them to the door, and you're good to go. You can even choose to place some on either side of the door to conceal it, creating a stylish hidden door look that's both minimalistic and gorgeous to look at.

Geometric patterns are timeless, especially if you gravitate towards sleek design in your space, and this stunning accent door idea is no exception. To pull this off on one of your own doors, you'll need to start by drafting the pattern and cutting your wood pieces to size. You'll attach them to the door with some wood glue and a brad nailer. After everything dries, it's time to sand, prime, and paint the surface. Another round of drying, and you're set to install and enjoy your geometric accent door.