How to Use Wall Murals in the Bedroom

Bedroom murals add new dreamscapes to cramped apartment bedrooms.

Wake up generic bedroom walls with wall murals. Ideally, wall murals soothe anxiety and create a private alcove for the professional who feels eaten alive by the maddening crowd every day. A magical bedroom mural captivates attention. A complicated tromp l'oeil creates a 3-D illusion to extend sleeping space, while a simple stencil tree decal gives necessary apartment therapy to a cramped bedroom cubbyhole. Soothe the senses and calm jangled nerves by stepping into a bedroom with a floor-to-ceiling image of woods, waterfalls, art deco or stenciled shadows.

Things You'll Need

• Spackle
• Spackle knife
• Flat latex paint
• Wallpaper mural panels
• Ladder
• Pencil
• Plumb line
• Colored chalk
• Cellulose wallpaper paste
• 2 buckets
• Paste brush
• Smoothing brush
• Large cellulose sponge
• Metal straight edge
• Utility knife

Instructions

Prepare, Apply and Finish

1. 

   Example of a bedroom wallpaper mural made to resemble a fresco texture.

   Spackle any holes in the wall and sand lightly. Paint the bedroom wall with flat latex paint. Arrange mural panels. Butt the edges against one another to match colors and patterns. Mix the paste powder with warm water in a bucket, and let it set.

2. 

   Release a plumb line like a bow string to mark guide lines.

   Measure the panel perimeter and mark wall placement for hanging. Climb the ladder to where the wall meets the ceiling, and use a plumb line and chalk to make guides for straight panel lines. Brush a thin coat of paste on the first panel's wall area and on the panel itself. Hang the first panel and use a smoothing brush to remove air bubbles. Overlap adjacent panels a quarter-inch to avoid shrinkage.

3. 

   A grayish-tone wave scene is a trendy bedroom look.

   Allow each panel to dry. Trim excess overhang from the panel's top and bottom using a utility knife and a straight edge. Use a wet sponge to wipe excess glue from the mural.

Tips & Warnings

• Another bedroom mural technique involves the use of self-stick vinyl decals. Wet each piece for 20 seconds and apply each piece directly to the wall surface -- this is a quick fix for a generic bedroom wall instead of using wall murals. Layer and overlap decals for added interest. If apartment policy frowns on wallpapering walls, choose a beautiful fabric, install grommets in the corners and hang from the floor to the ceiling on a decorative rod. Another tip is to use a mural as a headboard.

• Don't use wall murals or decals if walls have an orange-peel, brick, cinder block or stucco texture. Avoid excessive trimming because it can ruin a scene. Teens prefer offbeat, pop-culture murals, but stay away from macabre or drug fantasy murals. Avoid cartoon and superhero characters for a child's room because young tastes change often. Pick a darker, contrasting solid paint color for the background wall space when using a decal mural.

References

• Environmental Graphics Products: How to Install a Wall Mural
• Wall Decor Shops: Wallies Stick-ups Installation Instructions