Wall Mural

My first big project inside our new house was to bring more interest to our great room. It was a sea of flat color:

I considered painting it a fun color, but I couldn't come up with a color that would complement our furnishings and have the impact I was wanting without being overwhelming. Then I came across an article on wall murals in This Old House magazine that I picked up at Home Depot. Here are the steps to create your own wall mural:

1. Sketch out your design to scale on grid paper. {Download my template here}

2. Snap chalk lines on the wall that match the grid on your sketch. Mine were every 22 inches. Hint: Cover your floors prior to snapping the chalk lines, as the chalk has the potential to be VERY messy!

3. Sketch your design on the wall with sidewalk chalk. Work one block at a time from your pattern.

4. Paint the lines over your chalk sketch using a small round artist's brush.

5. Fill in your design with a second color. Use a roller on the larger areas and a 2-3" angled brush for the smaller areas.

Touch up any spots that need it, and you're finished!

 

We're absolutely thrilled with how our wall mural turned out, it adds a wonderful touch of whimsy and surprise to our great room. It's such a unique focal point and has really set the tone for the rest of our house. For less than $80 and about 15 hours of time, it certainly makes a huge impact!