People have created murals for thousands of years. The oldest is a cave picture of a babirusa, a pig-deer hybrid dated to be at least 35,400 years old.

Since that time, we’ve developed the technology to create fully customizable artwork to adorn our walls. You can invest hours into the project by painting one yourself or you can opt for a made-to-fit wallpaper.

Keep reading to learn about creating a wall mural to bring new life to your space.

Painted Wall Murals

Although it takes more time, many people opt for painted wall murals to give their space an authentic look.

If you’re creative and brave, you can freehand a design or trace a premade stencil. It may also be helpful to use a projector to trace an image onto the wall before lathering up your paintbrush.

Alternatively, you could commission a local artist or an art school student to do the job.

Whichever route you choose, be sure to make a solid draft of your concept and prime the wall before starting the piece.

If you want something that’s dynamic and easy to change, consider putting down a few thick layers of chalkboard paint. Then, you can wash away the artwork whenever you’re ready for something new.

Wallpaper Murals

Should you choose to go the wallpaper route, you have several options to choose from.

You can get removable self-adhesive (peel and stick), traditional paste the wall, vinyl, or removable decals. The right choice depends on how long you want the piece to be there and what the manufacturer you decide to go with makes.

If you’re not a painter, wallpaper murals allow you to showcase a lot of detail without the need for a refined hand. Plus, you can get prints of any design that you desire.

Wall Mural Ideas

The first choice at your disposal is whether you want to do an entire wall or a portion of it. You can customize any wall mural to meet the specifications of your office, bedroom, living room, bathroom, and hallway.

From there, you’ll want to land on a specific design. Most wall murals have a refined color palette, making it easy to match existing or new furniture.

You can go with a personal design, such as a giant photo or a collage. Alternatively, you could put a map up of the world or one of your favorite places.

If you want to keep things feeling natural, opt for a mural that mimics brick, stone, or wood. You can also incorporate plants with pops of color, like this banana leaf wallpaper.

To keep a modern feel in your space, you could choose a textured or abstract patterned mural in neutral colors. You can put an urban twist on things if that’s your style, mimicking city murals found in cities across the world. Take inspiration from Philadelphia, the City of Murals that hosts nearly 4,000 outdoor pieces of art.

Adorn Your Space With a Beautiful Accent Piece

Now that your gears are turning about all of your wall mural options, you can choose a design that fits the atmosphere you want to create.

Remember, wall murals are completely customizable. Make it your own to create a unique atmosphere in your space.

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