Deciding to display artwork on your walls gives you many directions to explore. Murals provide a wholesome opportunity to do something different and make art much more prominent in your flat.
A mural is any artwork that’s painted directly onto the wall. As such, it can be a lot bigger and much more impactful than a painting or a photograph.
Because of the pronounced effect, however, adding a mural can become an absolute disaster to the interior design of the home if done incorrectly. There are a few basic rules to follow when choosing murals in order to make them work well with the rest of the interior design without blending in.
Start With Place Selection
Mural placement is very important.
As already mentioned, a mural is created to stand out and be noticeable. Thus, you need to choose a part of the flat that ensures enough visibility. Also, that area should be fairly deprived of other standout pieces. A mural can be minimised through placement and unless that’s something you want to achieve intentionally, make sure that the piece is the star of the show.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a wall that’s not obstructed by furniture and fixtures. It’s also a good idea to refrain from hanging other art pieces nearby.
If you have a lengthy hallway that opens into the living room, you’ll definitely benefit from the placement of a mural there. Usually, hallways have no windows or other obstructions that stand in the way of the art piece.
You may also want to select a wall that gets enough sunlight (opposite a window) in order to naturally highlight the colours of the mural.
Nothing Overly-Complicated
While murals can be quite intricate, choose a simpler design for your home.
An intricate, large painting on a wall can be difficult to observe and savour in its full glory at a close distance. Such murals are best when painted on exterior walls. Inside a home, a complex design can start looking very busy and even claustrophobic.
A more simplistic design will work better. Pick a theme and a minimal composition to represent it. There can still be some ornaments and intricate patterns. Just make sure there aren’t too many of those fighting for attention. A single ornamental element (like leaves on a vine, for example) executed throughout the mural will create some cohesiveness and give you beautiful details without looking too busy.
Intricate and complex murals can work in large flats but there is still the risk of overdoing the artwork. If you’re adamant on featuring such wall art in your place, consult a professional mural painter and an interior designer. These two professionals can pick the size, scale and the colour scheme that will work best within the room you’ve chosen for mural placement.
Get The Wall Prepped and Protect the Art Piece
Mural creation isn’t just about the painting itself. There’s a preparatory step and a final process that both need to occur for the artwork to be fully protected.
Wall preparation involves painting with a primer or applying a base coat for the mural. Also, make sure there’s no damage to the wall and if you need to, deal with some caulking to fill in gaps. This is something you can execute on your own in order to save some money. Many painters include the preparatory step in their service fee so inquire before attempting a DIY project.
Murals also need to be protected from the elements, even if they’re located inside.
Protective coating and varnishes should be applied on top of the painting. These protective layers eliminate the risk of damage due to moisture and sunlight exposure. They protect the colours and their brightness in the long run.
If You Are Not An Artist, Leave It To The Professionals
Mural creation isn’t the same as applying a coat of paint. The job is a lot more intricate, a lot more difficult and specialised. When working on details, you can lose sight of the big picture. If this happens, the composition is going to lack balance and unity. Also, there’s always the risk of ending up with something that looks devastatingly amateurish.
Professionals know how to come up with the concept, how to compose, scale and translate that concept to the wall. They also have specialised paints and tools that result in impeccable visuals.
The DIY approach can be very expensive, especially if you commit various mistakes along the way. It’s a much better idea to share the concept with a professional and let them do their job.
If you’re confident that you want to have a mural in your flat, let your home interior design company know. An experienced interior designer works with various contractors and home improvement professionals. They’ll be capable of recommending the right expert for mural creation.
A mural is definitely worth looking into if you want something dramatic, artistic, unique and outstandingly beautiful to feature in your home. Contact Home Guide to work on such a bold vision for your space. We’ll embrace the concept and support it with the interior design that will let the mural shine. Learn about why Home Guide is the home interior design and home renovation partner you should work with.
