Creative and Unique Wall Mural Inspirations

If your walls are feeling dull and listless, adding some framed artwork or photographs can do a lot to up the room’s energy. But why not go straight to the source with these wall mural ideas?

Interior (and exterior) wall murals are an amazing way to add color and movement to your living spaces. You don’t need to be a skilled artist, either, since you can just as easily install a mural using large-scale wallpaper or decals as you can a bucket of paint. So if your walls are in need of a facelift, adding a mural might be the perfect solution.

Check out these wall mural ideas to get those creative juices really flowing.

1. Exploring the World of 3D

If you really want to bring a room to life, nothing is more impactful than a 3D mural. These wall murals come in two styles. The first features a regular pattern with an embossed design over top. The second features a printed image that creates an optical illusion of 3D depth.

You can create 3D wall art of literally any subject matter. Natural elements are incredibly popular, from botanical imagery to animal life. Many murals also feature geometric patterns that play with perspective for a 3D effect.

Embossed wallpaper can bring an extra dimension (no pun intended) to an otherwise plain accent wall. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even design your own multi-dimensional mural from scratch using wood panels and paint.

2. Embracing the Beauty of Abstract Designs

It can be hard to choose a theme for a wall mural. If the room in question doesn’t already have a curated theme, you might be afraid to box yourself in with an ultra-specific mural. In these scenarios, an abstract statement wall is the ideal solution.

An abstract wall mural is easy to create with decals or removable wallpaper. Play around with shape and texture—there are no real rules when it comes to abstract artwork.

For an abstract mural with a more organic aesthetic, look into macro images. These images feature zoomed-in photos of stone, wood, plant life, and more. While these murals boast all of the color and texture of their original subject matter, the macro perspective makes them undeniably abstract.

3. Transforming Your Bathroom

If you’re unsure where to include a wall mural in your interior design, turn to your home’s smallest rooms. A space like a bathroom can really benefit from a wall mural because it won’t take up any floor space or elbow room.

Nature-inspired artwork is particularly popular for the bathroom. For a tranquil, feminine touch, go with a floral wall mural. Of course, murals depicting the ocean, or water in general, are classic choices for this room.

To avoid overpowering a small powder room, opt for a mural design with a singular image instead of a floor-to-ceiling pattern. This could be anything from a watercolor painting to an abstract silhouette.

4. Enhancing Your Bedroom

When choosing a custom wallpaper or mural design for your bedroom, err on the side of subtlety. You don’t want your bedroom to become overwhelmed by a mural that’s too loud and in your face. It should gracefully fade into the background.

Select a soft color palette for your mural wall. Botanical designs work great in a bedroom. Or go with an abstract pattern featuring brush strokes and other textures.

If you do opt for a more dramatic bedroom wall mural, keep the rest of the room comparatively simple. This includes the surrounding walls. While an accent wall is perfect for a relaxing space like the bedroom, too much of a good thing will drown out the rest of your room decor.

5. Garage Makeover

The garage is often an afterthought in interior design. So why not give it the attention it deserves with a stunning wall mural of its own?

For the ideal blank canvas, look no further than your garage door. Or fill the blank wall space inside your garage with vibrant colors and intriguing designs.

Graffiti-inspired artwork is a great idea if you’re looking to give your garage exterior a facelift. No matter your personal aesthetic—pop art, floral, realistic, or something else entirely—a custom wall mural is a perfect way to up your garage’s curb appeal.

6. Elegant and Timeless

Wall murals and bright colors often go hand-in-hand. But you can enjoy just as much artistry in grayscale as you can in full color. Gray murals are great at showcasing black-and-white photos or detailed artwork that would be muddied by a vibrant color scheme.

Natural subject matter, whether photo-realistic or artistically rendered, will ensure your mural conveys plenty of energy even without the use of color. Choose a design with lots of depth.

Be sure to introduce some color to the rest of your home decor. Deep muted tones and pops of bright color are both great options to contrast your gray wall decor. The more subdued your room’s palette, the more your mural will stand out as its focal point.

7. Hand Painted Artistry

Although custom wall decals have made designing a mural easier than ever before, nothing can replace the charm of a hand-painted feature wall.

Hand-painted murals are especially lovely in a nursery or children’s bedroom. However, nothing is stopping you from getting creative on your kitchen or dining room walls, either.

You don’t need to be exceptionally talented to create your own wall mural from scratch. All you need are some high-quality stencils, the right tools, and a bit of patience. Of course, there’s always the option of hiring an artist to complete your mural for you!

8. Sparking Imagination

Designing a kid’s room is never easy, especially when trying to do so on a budget. A wall mural is an excellent way to reinvent a young child’s room without the expense of new furniture or decor.

A kid-approved mural could be anything from an abstract pattern to their favorite cartoon character. If your child’s interests change on a whim, invest in a removable wall sticker instead of permanent wallpaper or paint.

If you want to try your hand at creating a nursery mural, remember that color is the most important factor. Choose a simple subject matter that includes lots of bright, contrasting colors for a wall mural design that will stimulate young minds.

9. Kitchen Ambiance

Due to cabinets, appliances, and countertops, the kitchen tends to have more standalone wall segments than any other room in the house. These small sections are the perfect spot to bring a wallpaper mural idea to life. Since you’re not covering a full-size wall, you can be much bolder with your design choice.

There’s no shortage of culinary, food, and botanical-themed mural ideas to choose from when designing a kitchen accent wall. But don’t limit yourself to these themes. Abstract and geometric designs work just as well.

You’ll want to think about stain and moisture resistance when installing a mural in your kitchen. Whether going with paint or wallpaper, choose one that is easy to wipe clean and won’t discolor.

10. Embracing the Outdoors

When searching for wall mural ideas, you can’t go wrong by turning to nature for a little inspiration. These motifs work especially well in rooms meant to be intimate and relaxing, like the bathroom or master bedroom.

Floral wallpaper and murals are probably the most popular in home decor. If flowers aren’t your style, transform a boring wall with a design of lush foliage or succulents. You can also choose a wallpaper pattern featuring abstract or geometric botanicals.

Don’t forget to pair your flora with some fauna. Decorate a nursery with a forest wall mural starring rich greenery and woodland critters. Or select wallpaper panels with a mix of plant life and birds or insects.

11. From Work to Wow

Decorating a home office can be tricky. While you want to make the room feel like part of your living space, it also needs to have a professional touch. This is especially true if you see in-person clients or take regular video calls.

Many corporate offices use murals to show off their industry achievements and wow customers. No matter your career, a wall mural is a great, inoffensive way to add style to your home office.

Adorn your office wall with an inspiring mural that motivates you to do your best work. You can also go with a photo mural that shows off your local city skyline or favorite spot in nature.

12. Enlivening Outdoor Spaces

Most notable wall murals are installed outside. So when it comes time to design a mural for your own home, don’t forget to (literally) think outside of the box.

Fencing of any kind will make a great canvas for a painted mural. Paint a pattern or image on your fence’s interior for a design that won’t bother the neighbors. You can also place small motifs on your home’s exterior or brighten up the siding on a garden shed.

Outdoor murals will take a beating from the elements, so make sure to invest in weather-safe paint and materials. This definitely isn’t the place for a wallpaper mural.

13. Captivating Trees

Just because a particular mural design is extremely popular does not mean it’s any less stylish. This is a good thing since trees are some of the most attractive (and most commonplace) subjects found in contemporary murals!

There is so much you can accomplish with a mural that features trees and nothing more. They can serve as a dramatic backdrop to a master bedroom or a child-friendly addition to a nursery wall.

Trees are some of the easiest subject matter for amateur mural artists to try out their skills on. Installing a wallpaper mural featuring a stunning forestscape or minimalist birch trees will take your room design to a whole new level without the artistic labor.

14. Stylish and Versatile

Wallpaper is slowly coming back into style. While wallpaper from a few decades ago featured extremely small imagery, the trend today is oversized, maximalist prints that resemble hand-painted murals more than anything else.

Wallpaper is the easiest way to create a full-coverage mural on an accent wall. It’s even an option for renters, with many companies releasing temporary peel-and-stick wallpaper in all different designs.

There really is no shortage of designs to choose from. From your favorite storybook characters to a photorealistic beach wall mural, anything can be printed onto modern wallpaper.

15. More Wall Mural Ideas

In addition to the popular wall mural ideas such as nature scenes, cityscapes, and abstract designs, there are numerous other captivating options to consider. One idea is to bring the beauty of underwater worlds into your space with a marine-themed mural, featuring colorful fish, coral reefs, and mesmerizing seascapes. Another unique concept is a celestial mural, showcasing the wonders of the night sky with stars, galaxies, and constellations. For a touch of whimsy, you can opt for a playful mural with cartoon characters, fairytale motifs, or imaginative landscapes.

Additionally, there is a growing trend of using geometric patterns and optical illusions to create visually striking murals that add depth and dimension to a room. From inspirational quotes and intricate mandalas to vintage maps and cultural motifs, the possibilities for wall murals are virtually limitless. Explore various themes, styles, and artistic techniques to find the perfect wall mural that captures your imagination and transforms your space into a true work of art.

FAQs

What type of paint works best for a wall mural?

For murals with large, geometric traditional latex paint is all you need. If you want to hand-paint a mural with fine details, use acrylic paint. You can still use regular interior latex paint for the wall’s base coat and the first layer of color. Choose an eggshell finish—it’s the easiest to paint over with acrylic. Be sure to prep the wall with an appropriate primer for the best results.

How do you choose the best wall for a mural?

Bringing your favorite wall mural ideas means choosing the right canvas. After all, not every wall in your home is the ideal backdrop for a mural or dramatic wallpaper. Try to pick a wall with as few architectural features as possible. While you can work around obstacles like windows and doorways, they can just as easily disrupt your mural design. Remember that you don’t always need to use an entire wall for a mural. You also don’t need to limit your design to just one wall.

Can I install a wall mural by myself, or do I need professional assistance?

Installing a wall mural can be a DIY project, depending on the complexity of the design and your comfort level with handling wallpaper or adhesive materials. Many wall murals come with detailed installation instructions that make the process easier. However, for larger or more intricate murals, it may be beneficial to seek professional assistance to ensure a seamless and professional-looking installation. Professional installers have the experience and tools to handle complex mural installations, ensuring optimal results.