How to Make a Mural

Murals are generally large paintings attached to a wall. A mural can also be drawn or painted directly on the surface of the wall. A mural is a great way to enhance the look of any room. Murals can serve as a room's focal point, add interest to otherwise plain walls and express your personality directly. Even if you aren't an artist, you can easily create one of your own with a few simple tools.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stencil paint Stencil paintbrushes Stencils Overhead projector Painter's tape Pencil Supplies to clean wall, such as trisodium phosphate

An easy home decorating project

1. Decide on the design you want to use. Many home decorating stores offer suggestions and have sample mural designs available for purchase.

2. Once you've decided on your design, you'll need a picture of it. Also decide on the colors for your design. Many paint stores can exactly match paint colors. You will need to turn your design into a transparency for use in an overhead projector. The transparency will allow you to trace the design on the wall. Some computer programs will allow you to do this. You can also take your design to a home decorating store.

3. Before you begin, prepare the surface wall that you're planning to paint. Putty any nails and sand any wood or wood moldings lightly. Clean the wall thoroughly with water and trisodium phosphate. Position your drawing on the overhead projector. Trace the drawing in pencil.

4. Mark out the elements of the design in painter's tape. If you have lots of small areas where colors may bleed into each other, cut up the tape into little strips and position them carefully. Then paint your design on the wall.

5. Stencil paints dry quickly. If you don't like the results, you can paint over it and try again.