How to Paint Murals for Kids

Paintbrushes

Painting a mural in a child's room is a great way to personalize the space and highlight the child's personality. There are several creative methods to paint a beautiful children's wall mural.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Dropcloths
• Roller
• Paint tray
• Warm, soapy water
• Rags

Instructions

1. Collaborate with your child on ideas for a mural theme. Consider existing room design and fabrics such as comforters and curtains in selecting the theme. Consider the existing wall color and furniture colors. Select a theme that will reflect the child's personality and interests. Make sure you explain to the child that the mural will be in the room for a long period of time, so it should be something ageless and enjoyable.

2. Once you have selected a theme, find an image that matches the theme to transfer to the wall. Search for free images online. Children's books are also a great place to find images. Visit a local library to find pictures, or review interior decorating magazines.

3. Prepare the wall by cleaning it thoroughly. Mix a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Submerge a clean sponge in the solution and clean the wall. Allow the wall to air-dry. If desired, give the wall a fresh coat of paint to complement the new colors. Again, allow the paint to air-dry before proceeding to transfer the image.

4. There are several methods to transfer an image to a wall, including the use of a projector, designing a wall grid, using stencils, or freehand drawing. The projector method involves copying the image onto a transparency, then projecting the image onto the wall. The grid method involves creating an art grid on the image using a ruler to mark equally sized squares. Measure and mark corresponding squares on your wall, allowing for increase in scale. Use a level and chalk tape to create straight lines for the grid. Match up the grids and begin to draw the desired mural. Stencil kits or individual stencils provide the image for you. You may draw or paint directly depending on the type of stencil. Freehand drawing is the most challenging method of transferring an image to a wall. Scale is very difficult to view in freehand, and unless a free-form image is being used for the mural, freehand drawing is not recommended.

5. Prepare the area for painting by remove any furniture, and carefully covering carpet with dropcloths. Use masking tape to protect other parts of the wall from paint. Both latex- and oil-based paints work well for wall murals. Purchase a variety of high quality synthetic brushes to apply the paint. Use wide, flat brushes to paint larger mural areas, and small, round brushes to paint outlines and details. Always keep a rag and warm, soapy water close when painting so you can immediately correct drips and errors. Allow the paint to air-dry. If the painting is in a high-traffic area, consider using a clear varnish to protect your work.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative.

• Allow yourself enough time to enjoy painting the mural.

• Practice painting the mural on a large board or piece of cardboard.

• Use a paint-by-numbers mural if available.

References

• Wall Murals 1-2-3: Your Online Guide to Do-It-Yourself Murals

Resources

• Magic Mural Factory