Using a Mural in Interior Design

Mural Basics

A mural is basically a painting which is applied directly to a wall, ceiling, or other sizable stable surface. The term “mural” hit the mainstream with the 20th century “muralista” art movement in Mexico. The technique of using murals goes all the way back to prehistoric cave paintings such as those in the south of France. The ancient Egyptians painted murals on tomb walls, and the ancient Greeks made regular use of frescos and other murals.

Fresco paintings were also popular with ancient Romans who enjoyed replicating scenes of homes and lush gardens often using trompe l'oeil methods. Trompe l’oeil means “trick the eye” in French and is used to create murals with stunningly realistic qualities. The illusion of three dimensions is made with attention to perspective and shading. The ancient Greeks and Romans employed trompe l'oeil murals to mimic architectural and organic elements.

During the Middle Ages, castles and churches were adorned with murals of religious imagery and Biblical allegories. During the 17th century, the royal palaces of Europe were frequently decorated with elaborate wall murals commissioned by kings and queens. Later on in the 19th century, the trend trickled down to the upper class and middle class homeowners who desired the stunning frescos and trompe l'oeil murals and who began using murals in interior design in their homes.

Using Murals

Modern murals can be abstract or realistic and are found in public places, inside homes, and in outdoor rooms. Great spots for a mural include foyers, hallways, children’s rooms, game rooms, basements, and bedrooms. Using a mural in interior design can involve painting techniques, pre-designed wallpaper murals, or using tile mosaics. Often, a professional decorative painter or fine artist is called in to design and paint the large-scale paintings. Another exciting trend is the use of words, phrases, and quotes as wall art. These can be painted on freehand, done by stencil, or ordered from a vinyl word art company.

The new wallpaper murals open the world of murals to more consumers than ever before. Wallpaper murals can mimic a true painted mural or feature photographic quality images. The themes are endless and include nature scenes of all types as well as images of famous locales. Pre-made wallpaper murals are typically comprised of several panels which are pre-pasted and come with easy installation instructions. Paper or vinyl wallpaper murals come in various dimensions including wall-size, door size, and accent size.

Murals for children’s rooms are increasingly popular. Hand-painted murals can be created with fun kid themes like castles, sports, and other fantastical motifs. There are also ready-to-hang murals with a range of themes for children. These paper murals are a fast and inexpensive way to play up a theme or make the room more colorful and interesting. Stenciling is yet another way to add a design motif to kids rooms. Stencil kits can help create murals, borders, and word art.

Resources for Using a Mural in Interior Design

Murals Your Way – Create a custom vinyl mural using one of their 5,000 gallery images or upload your own image.

Berlin Wallpaper – Large selection of wall murals, accent murals, kids murals, and more.

Décor Place – Affordable full-color DIY wall murals and faux wall painting kits.

Mosaic Art Murals – Choose from stock mosaic tile murals and patterns made of stone, glass and ceramic, or order a custom design. All come ready to install.

Wall Art Murals – Paint-by-number wall mural kits that come with acrylic paints.

Words Anywhere – Self-adhesive decorative lettering to accent your mural or create a simple word mural.