When updating your space, accent walls can add a pop of color to any room, giving it a refresh with a focal point or an anchor for your design theme. It’s less effort than repainting an entire room, but still. There’s prepping, the application of at least one coat, it can be messy, plus the fumes, and what if you want to change it? You’ll have to do the process all over again. Save it for another day! If you need a change and are not quite ready for the commitment of an entire renovation but want a step below applying color to a wall, there are a few decor tricks that you can use to give your space a little accent.

1. Statement Rugs That Ground Your Space

If you have a mostly neutral room with cohesive furniture, set your sights on the ground and create magic in an unlikely focal point — a vibrant and unique rug. It’s especially dramatic if you have really light furniture since it creates a sense of gravity in an otherwise open and airy space.

If you’re looking for a rug that packs a punch, consider something like a Persian kilim rug with bold geometric patterns in bright, contrasting colors. Its eye-catching design adds a pop of personality to any room without making it feel busy.

For a more modern twist, opt for a Moroccan-style rug in a vibrant palette of blues, oranges, and yellows. Its intricate patterns and rich hues bring warmth and character to even the most minimalist of spaces. Feeling adventurous? How about a rug inspired by traditional Navajo designs, featuring bold stripes and tribal motifs in electrifying shades of red, turquoise, and gold?

2. Artful Lighting Fixtures

Lighting is a powerful element that changes the mood of the room to adapt to your vibe. Maybe your style is unwinding in a cozy reading nook, enveloped in the soft ambiance of a pendant light that resembles a cluster of balloons. Add some glamour to a room where you entertain or relax with loved ones with the twinkling light of a cascading waterfall chandelier. You can also dress up the space with sprawling floor lamps that hang delicately over your sofa. Or, go minimalist with paper lantern lights or add a soft glow with hidden LEDs.

3. Textured Throws and Pillows

Throws and accent pillows are great, minimal-effort accessories you can use to dress up any space. Style a basic sofa with complimentary colored pillows in all shapes and sizes, then add layers and layers of coziness with multiple throws.

Pro tip: You can make these items work together by getting them in similar colors, patterns and textures to keep cohesion. There’s still plenty of space to experiment with different materials. For example, velvet accent pillows in gem tones go great with faux fur throws in the same color.

4. Go Plant-Powered

What if you have something more along the lines of an oasis in mind? Curate an entire wall with living green. Start with the classics. A towering fiddle leaf fig tree commands attention with its majestic presence in a room with natural light. It’s perfect if your wall is near a sunny corner or beside a large window. If you have less light to work with, add some shelves and decorate them with cascading spider plants. Their arching foliage adds a sense of movement and grace, while their air-purifying qualities make them as practical as they are beautiful.

For something a little more delicate, try the same approach with succulents. They’re charming and low-maintenance, plus they come in a rainbow of shapes, sizes, and colors. From the sculptural elegance of echeverias to the playful quirkiness of haworthias, there’s a succulent for every style and space. Cluster them together on shelves or ditch the wall all together and spread them around the room.