How to Paint A DIY Wall Mural At Home

You’ll be inspired to paint your own after learning just how easy it is to paint a wall mural. If you’re looking to add a big impact to a wall, adding a mural is the way to go. It’s a statement piece that will grab every visitor’s attention. It’s a big project to take on because of the amount of painting, but the results are going to be fantastic. And don’t think that murals are outdated; many mural designs are fresh and modern.

If you’ve ever painted a room before, then this material list will look quite familiar and, apart from the paint, you probably have most of this on hand:

• Quarts or test pot cans of each paint color
• Short-handled paint brush
• 4″ or 6″ foam rollers
• Roller try or roller tray liners
• Ziploc bags for storing brushes and rollers
• Drop cloth
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Ladder or stepstool
• Ruler (optional)

Once you get the products you can start by following the mentioned simple steps:

Start with a clean canvas 

Starting with a clean canvas is very important, whether you’re working on a traditional canvas or on a wall! Bedrooms and living rooms are popular choices but other areas like kitchens and hallways can be ideal places for a mural. Look for a large area of the wall that’s going to be big enough for your design.

Nextvoyage/ Pexels | Art is an experience, not an object.

Once you’ve selected the location, it is important to protect the area. Your floor, carpet, furniture and baseboards (anything you don’t want to get paint on) should all be covered with either drop cloths or painter’s tape. It is critical that you use a canvas or lined drop cloth—something that paint can’t seep through.

Clean the wall

It’s important to start with a clean surface so the paint you apply adheres to the wall without any issues. Use a mild dishwashing soap along with some warm water to clean the wall with a rag where the mural is going to go. If you see any grease or stubborn dirt on the wall you may need to use a commercial cleaner to get it off the wall. After you’ve cleaned the wall once, do it one more time to make sure that it’s well cleaned and ready to go. Allow the wall to completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Prepare your design

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You may want to sketch your mural image onto the wall first. You can use the grid method by first drawing a grid over your design on paper. Then draw your grid on the wall in chalk or a watercolour pencil. Regular pencils might show through even after you’ve painted over it. Next, outline the main parts of your image in each grid box. Another option is to use a projector to project your design onto the wall so that you can simply trace it.

Painting the mural

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Use a paintbrush or roller to apply the paint in the area you’d like it. Start with the large areas that need to be painted, such as the background. Switch to a smaller paintbrush when it comes time to add details to your mural. Refer to your sketch when adding the details, penciling in before you paint when needed.