We all tend to think that doing a large mural is such an overwhelming project that we don’t dare even try. But beautiful wall murals are a growing trend that can be included in your room make-over or design.

Wall murals are a regular feature in “Street of Dreams” and showcase homes across the nation, sparking more and more of us to want them in our own homes.

Murals don’t have to be overwhelming when thought of in “layers”. That’s exactly what any “scene” is. Look at any photo of interesting scenery (or even out your living room window). Everything you see is simply “layers” of elements that when combined, make up that beautiful picture.

Pinpoint the elements that are the farthest away; sky, mountains, trees, buildings.
Come forward, in toward the next layer and notice what is there: closer trees? a flowing brook or small trees or bushes? Now focus on the front layers. Are there flowers, a bed of stones or delightful pathway? You are beginning to get the idea. Everything we look at is simply a mural waiting to be painted.

Adapt that same principal to your own murals.

A rough sketch on the wall is important to keeping your perspective and reserving room for more forward elements. So decide the basics of your mural lay out and simply sketch a rough design to keep you focused.

Decide what is in the background and begin with only those elements. Think of it as a “mini-mural”. By completing your mural in stages, it helps to ease the feeling of being overwhelmed by the bigger picture (so to speak).

Few elements in a mural require detailed design. Sometimes, simply mimicking the appearance of a sky of clouds, a mountain vista, a leaf, stone, or a bush is all that is needed to make a mural realistic.

Popular mural designs today also feature less color and more monochromatic color palettes. For instance, consider a mural with a pale beige background and simple, deeper beige or light brown trees. These more muted, less colorful murals give a room a relaxed feeling. They are soothing and easy on the eyes.

Muting a mural is actually very easy. Once your mural is complete, you can mute the color depth by simply mixing ? cup of wall paint (the same color as your walls is a good choice) and 4 cups of translucent wall glaze (available at your local home or paint store). Mix well, then with a large, dry brush, dip the brush in to the mixture and wipe all excess off on to a paper towel. Begin in one corner of your mural and brush the mixture lightly over the surface. This will begin to lighten and mute the design and its colors. Repeat the process until you have achieved the degree of lightness you were looking for.

If you are not experienced with hand painting your own designs, remember that there are life-sized elements in stencil form offered by an array of very talented designers that can achieve exactly what you are looking for.

So you don’t have any ideas for a mural but want one? Thumb through your favorite gardening magazine! There are choices in those pictures that you might not have even thought of.

Another method for creating a mural is to choose a photo or magazine picture that attracts you, renting an enlarging projector from your local library, focusing the design on your wall then tracing it and filling in with craft paint. It’s truly not difficult to do.

In conclusion, designing a mural and its execution needn’t be a daunting task when it’s performed in layers. Sure, any mural worth gazing at for years to come is going to take time. But isn’t that what “art” is all about? To me, my murals are an extension of myself. It’s certainly worth putting time and my best effort in to it. I don’t want to rush something that will be around for a very long time.

By: Victoria Larsen

About the Author:
Victoria Larsen is a profession wall stencil designer specializing in Raised Plaster Stencils and Ornamental Wall Molds and who features the talents of professionals and beginners alike on her website at www.victorialarsen.com Copyright © Victoria Larsen 2006