How to Install Your Wall Mural
Congratulations! You decided to have a wallpaper wall mural installed in your family room wall. You cannot wait to have this exquisite addition transform the entire look of your room, and who could blame you? Knowing you want a desert scene complete with cacti, mountains, and a beautiful cloud-filled sky, you chose a photo mural of Organ Pipe State Park, a breathtaking choice indeed.
The family room is a great location for your mural. The wall you chose is one most easily seen when entering the room. Even better, it doesn’t even have many electrical outlets on it. Having already purchased the wall mural, you are now wondering about the cost of professional installation. You want to save money, right? Excellent. Well then, invite a buddy over, roll up your sleeves and set aside a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. You can even keep the game on while you install the mural yourself! Similar to hanging regular wallpaper, installing your wall mural is not difficult at all.
Before you begin your project, be sure to unroll and inspect the wallpaper panels. Be sure all the pieces are present and in good condition. To achieve the best results, please don’t wing it. Instead, consult the manufacturer’s instructions, and keep this article on hand for quick reference.
Prior to hanging, make sure that family room wall is clean and flat. Fix any holes or dents in the wall if there are any. Wash the wall with a mild, soapy water to remove dust and dirt. Then rinse with cool clean water on a sponge or cloth. Allow the wall to air dry completely before you start.
Now you need to determine the exact place on the wall where you will start to hang the first panel of your wall mural. Using a plumb bob, you can make a straight chalk line.
Select the first panel. This piece should be the left edge panel. On a flat clean surface, roll out the panel with the printed side down. Now apply a thin, even coat of wallpaper paste along the entire backside. Next, carefully roll the panel up inside out and let the piece lay undisturbed for a few minutes. This will help prevent it from curling when you are applying it to the wall itself.
After a few minutes, you can apply the wallpaper panel to the intended spot marked on your wall. Position the left edge of the panel along the straight chalk line you made with the plumb bob. Carefully unroll it while aligning it with the line.
Once in place, use a damp sponge or finishing brush and gently push any air pockets that may be trapped under the panel. Use gentle, sweeping movements to remove the air pockets without harming the wall mural image. Firmly press down on the outer edges to assure adherence of the panel to the wall.
The next panel you choose should be the one that goes directly adjacent the first one. You’ll notice there is a small amount of overlap for each panel. This is to help you align the mural panels together easily yet precisely.
Now simply repeat the above process over again with each adjoining panel of the wall mural. Once you have the entire image hung, gently wipe over the entire mural with a damp cloth or sponge. This helps the wallpaper paste to adhere uniformly. It also helps to remove the excess paste that drips out.
After rinsing all paste from the printed surface of the mural, you must now allow it to air dry completely. Once dried, check all the seams, making sure they are glued down properly. If necessary, use some additional paste to seal any loose edges.
Well, what do you know? Your wallpaper mural has transformed your family room into a beautiful rendition of Organ Pipe State Park! Wasn’t that easy?
By: Lisa Herbik
About the Author:
Find a large selection of wallpaper murals at http://www.ArtisticHomeowner.com.