Paint A Wall Mural That Lasts

When you think about painting wall murals, you may not have any worries about the creative end of what you are thinking of doing. If you have an idea, you probably have what you want to do all laid out in your head and you may have already done your research so you know how to blend and paint what you want. However, there are a few other things to consider when it comes to creating a mural that will stand the test of time. Here’s a few tips to ensure the longevity of your project.

First, you should make sure that the surface of your existing wall is ready to take the paint. The worst thing you can do is to paint a mural over old or dirty paint. You could be putting a huge amount of work into the painting only to have the condition of the wall make a mess of it. Its best to start with a freshly painted wall to give you a good base. Take a trip to your local hardware store and let them know what you are trying to accomplish so they can suggest the best paint to use.

If no painting is necessary, make sure your wall is clean. A clean wall is an essential in painting wall murals that are going to last. If your walls have any type of grease or dirt on them, the paint you add when creating your wall mural is not going to properly adhere and will begin to peel off (not a good look). This may not happen right away, but it will happen. Use a grease cutting detergent in water to scrub the walls clean from top to bottom. You may be surprised to see what comes off when you do this. Do this twice and then allow to dry, thoroughly, before you start to paint.

In some cases, you may want to lightly sand the paint on the wall as well. If you have a flat paint on your wall, that might not be something you have to do, but remember that flat paint is not easy to clean and may need to be refreshed with a can of paint. If you have shiny paint finishes in your home, you will need to lightly sand the surface with ultra fine sand paper, the paint will go on much easier. Use some type of protective cover once you have finished to make the mural last even longer and stay looking beautiful for years to come.

Finally, remember that something as simple as the wrong light bulb can mess up your painting. When you paint wall murals, be sure to use natural light (there are good natural light bulbs available) when you are choosing colors and applying the paint. If you use florescent lights, the color is not going to look the same as it would under natural light or other bulbs. Florescent lights save money and last a long time, but they also alter the color of your paints.

That said, if the thought of drawing your own mural frightens you – you can purchase a beautiful wall-paper type mural that’s easy to install. Myself, I can barely draw a stick-figure….