Wallpaper Murals

“I Can’t Believe That’s Wallpaper!”

Wallpaper murals are everywhere!

Take a second look at that wall mural in your favorite restaurant – you might be surprised to find out it’s not hand painted after all!

Not only do wallpaper murals appear hand painted, they have many other benefits as well. They come in styles to suit just about anyone’s taste, they can be customized, they cost substantially less than hiring a professional artist, and most homeowners can do the installation.

Completely Customizable

“That’s great”, you say, “but I really want a wall mural of my daughter playing under the oak tree out back. Only a professional artist can make that happen, right?” Wrong! If you have a favorite photo or an original piece of art, there are companies that can transform your image into a full wall mural.

And the customization doesn’t stop there. If the preset size options are not for you, you can special order wall paper murals in sizes to fit your needs (or should I say, walls!).

“But Isn’t It Difficult to Hang Wallpaper Murals?”

Like any project, preparation is the key to successfully hanging wallpaper murals. The wall should be smooth and free of irregularities – remove any loose paint and patch any cracks or nail holes. The wall should also be clean and dry, and the surface should be painted or primed.

For best adhesion, most manufacturers of wallpaper murals recommend that you install wallpaper murals over a flat latex paint surface. However, it’s not necessary to repaint if your wall is already painted with a glossy or semi-gloss paint. Simply use a medium grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface so the wallpaper will adhere.

If you want to install the mural over a textured wall surface, such as paneling, hang liner paper on the wall and paint with two coats of flat latex wall paint before hanging the wallpaper mural.

There are two basic types of wallpaper murals – without paste and prepasted murals. Because installation varies, make sure that the manufacturer or retailer provides you with instructions.

Don’t be deterred if the wallpaper mural you choose is not prepasted. Many professional wallpaper installers apply paste to even prepasted wall murals. If you take this approach, first verify that you will not void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Speaking of Professional Wallpaper Installers…

If you have never hung wallpaper or are concerned about your ability to hang wallpaper murals, you want to consider hiring a professional installer. The Guild of Professional Wallpaper Hangers is a good place to start if you are looking for a professional paperhanger.

The no-cost alternative is to seek out the help of a friend or family member that has experience hanging wallpaper or a special knack for home decorating.

Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Wallpaper Murals

Wallpaper murals are an investment. Before finalizing your purchase, there are a couple questions you may want to ask the manufacturer or retailer:

• On what type of material are your wallpaper murals printed? For easy application, verify that the material is tear resistant and washable.
  
  
• Do you use inks that are fade resistant and UV protected? This is particularly important if your mural is hung in an area that will receive a lot of natural sunlight.
  
  
• Can the mural be cleaned, and if so, how?
  
  
• What is the easiest way to remove your product, and will my walls be damaged upon removal? Wallpaper murals are not reusable after they are removed. If you are looking for a product that can be reused, check out the article about hand painted removable murals.
  
  
• Can your wallpaper murals be coated with a polyurethane product after it is installed, and if so, do you recommend a particular brand? Your may want to protect the mural with a polyurethane coating if it is installed in a high traffic area, such as a foyer, or a high moisture area, such as a bathroom.