Hand-painted murals were once the preserve of grand houses and hours of intricate brushwork. Now, thanks to digital printing, you can turn a plain white wall into a sweeping landscape, a dense botanical or an abstract artwork for a fraction of the cost, often in a single afternoon.
But large-scale imagery is a bold commitment, and it’s easy to worry that a mural will dominate the room rather than lift it.
So are wall murals overpowering, or the shortcut to a feature wall you’ll love for years? We spoke to interior designers, wallpaper brands and tile specialists to find out where they work best, what they cost, how to hang one and the mistakes to avoid.
What is a wall mural?
A wall mural is a single, large-scale image designed to cover a whole wall, rather than a wallpaper pattern that repeats across it. Most are printed wall coverings supplied as a set of numbered panels, which build up one continuous picture when hung in order. Many are also made to measure, so they can be printed to fit your wall exactly.
“A mural allows you to treat a wall almost like a piece of art,” explains John Law, creative director of interiors at Woodhouse & Law. “It can create a focal point, alter the perceived proportions of a room or draw attention to an architectural feature.
Murals aren’t limited to wallpaper either. The same transformative effect can be achieved with hand-painted artwork, decorative wall tiles, fabric, printed waterproof panels or vinyl decals. The only limit is your imagination (and perhaps your budget).
John worked in the advertising and design industries in London for six years before retraining as an interior designer and qualifying with distinction from the highly regarded Ivy House Design School. John has managed and worked across a range of successful high end residential and commercial projects.
Why choose a mural over wallpaper?
The choice between a mural and patterned wallpaper will come down to what you want the wall to do. Repeat-pattern wallpaper is a backdrop, and because the design repeats, it copes well with internal doors, windows and awkward corners breaking it up. In contrast, a mural is the main event.
“I’d recommend choosing a mural when you want to make a statement, create a focal point, or change the atmosphere of a room,” says Sandra Willund, creative director at Rebel Walls.
It’s that last point about ‘atmosphere’ that really sets murals apart from standard wall panelling or paper. “For me, the beauty of a mural is that it can completely change the feeling of a room,” says Tom Kennedy, co-founder and creative director at Divine Savages. “Rather than simply adding pattern to a wall, a mural can create a sense of being somewhere else – a garden, a woodland or an imaginary landscape.”
Scale can make many people nervous about installing a mural – as it’s a big commitment to a single design – but Tom believes it’s often what makes a mural work. “People often assume that a large, detailed design will overwhelm a room, but it can actually have the opposite effect. A good mural creates depth.” The key, he says, is choosing the right wall, in the right room.
Sandra Willund is creative director at Rebel Walls, the Swedish brand bringing almost a century of family wallpaper expertise to modern, made-to-measure murals. She believes your home should feel like you, and that the right mural can express exactly that.
Tom Kennedy co-founded Divine Savages with his husband, Jamie Watkins, in 2016, building it into one of Britain’s boldest wallpaper brands. As creative director, he champions maximalist, painterly designs that turn walls into talking points.
Where do wall murals work best?
The rooms that suit a mural best are the ones that can handle a little drama, such as living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. Caroline Woolmer, head of product design at Lucie Annabel, recommends using one to create a feature wall in these spaces, where there’s room for a design to tell its story.
In the bedroom, the wall behind the bed is the natural choice. Here, Caroline says, a mural acts like a framed backdrop, adding impact without disturbing the room’s "sense of calm". Children’s rooms are the place to have fun, with whimsical, narrative or character-led mural designs that "invite play and spark imagination."
Try this whimisical Woodland Forest Wall Mural from Dunelm for nature-loving children, or this Cloud Gazing Wall Mural, also from Dunelm, to help inspire sleep.
Tempted to go fully immersive? Caroline suggests starting small, like wrapping a powder room, hallway or boot room in a botanical or landscape scene. These are spaces you pass through rather than linger in, so the design can be enjoyed without ever feeling overbearing.
A mural doesn’t have to stop at one wall either. As designers told us when we asked whether feature walls are out of fashion, the way we use them is evolving, and murals are following suit. “Don’t automatically restrict it to one wall – allowing a design to continue around corners or over a ceiling can feel much more sophisticated and immersive,” says John Law. And Tom Kennedy agrees: “We’re seeing people move beyond the traditional ‘accent wall’ and embrace murals that wrap around an entire room.”
Shop wall mural designs
This vibrant wall mural is designed to hang straight from the roll using simple paste the wall application.
This vintage design is perfect for bringing a touch of nostalgia to a room, as its muted greens and browns create a timeless landscape.
For something totally unique, this dusty pink crane mural would be perfect for transforming plain walls into beautiful artwork.
Caroline Woolmer is head of product design at Lucie Annabel, the British premium wallpaper brand known for its illustrative, large-scale designs. She oversees collections such as Secret Garden, Scenic and British Bird, which bring storytelling and nature-inspired artistry to the walls of the home.
Where should you avoid a wall mural?
Caroline Woolmer advises against covering every wall of a large, high-traffic room, where intricate detail can become overwhelming. Busy, functional kitchens are also best avoided, she says, as appliances, cabinets, splashbacks and shelving already create plenty of "visual noise."
It's important to note that wallpaper murals also aren't designed for wet areas such as showers, or for walls that take regular splashes. If you want a mural in a kitchen or bathroom, tiles or printed waterproof panels are a better option (more on those below).
When in doubt, John Law's advice is to "choose the technique according to the architecture and function of the room, rather than simply choosing the most decorative option."
Are wall murals easy to hang?
A mural is no harder to physically hang than standard wallpaper, but it needs more planning. With a repeat pattern, you're matching each drop to the last. With a mural, you're building one picture, so where each panel lands matters far more.
"A mural is designed as one continuous piece of artwork, so the placement of each panel matters," explains Tom Kennedy. "You need to think about where the design starts and finishes, and make sure the panels are in the correct order."
John Law agrees that "positioning is everything." He says: "You need to think about exactly where the composition will sit in relation to doors, windows, fireplaces and other architectural features."
Wall preparation is important, too. "Walls need to be clean, smooth and properly prepared, because imperfections can be much more noticeable across a large-scale image," says Tom. Our guide to how to hang lining paper explains how to create a smooth base.
Other ways to create a mural effect
Printed wallpaper may be the most familiar route to a mural, but it isn’t always the most practical. In kitchens, bathrooms and other hardworking spaces, or rooms where you want something more permanent (or less), a different medium may suit you better.
1. Tiles for kitchens and bathrooms
Tiles let you bring a mural into the kinds of spaces where wallpaper would struggle. "In kitchens and bathrooms they can often be a more practical way of achieving it because you are combining decoration with a surface that is designed to cope with water, steam, splashes and everyday wear," says Lesley Taylor, interior designer and founder of Baked Tiles.
She suggests giving the design room to be appreciated. "Behind a freestanding bath can be beautiful because the tiled wall becomes a backdrop to the bath itself. A full shower wall can work incredibly well too," she says. "In kitchens, I often think people underestimate the potential of the wall between the worktop and cabinetry. It does not just have to be treated as a practical splashback."
You can buy tile sets designed to form one picture, such as Hyperion Tiles' Tropical Oasis mural (£286.17 per m²), or mix illustrated tiles with matching wallpaper. "When the tiles are used together with the wallpaper they create a continuous, almost mural-like story across the wall," says Tom Kennedy.
2. Printed wall panels
Printed waterproof panels offer a larger, grout-free image with fewer joins. "Unlike wallpaper, the panels are designed for wet areas, so they can be used in bathrooms, showers and wet rooms when correctly installed and sealed," says Richard Skeoch, director at Hyperion Tiles, which stocks Splashbax panels. Thinner 3mm and 5mm panels can also be fitted over existing tiles, he says, provided the surface is sound and properly prepared.
Designs like this Tropical Rainforest Shower Panel, or this Copper Concrete Shower Panel, both from Hyperion Tiles needn't be limited to bathrooms either. They would also make a great option in home gyms or indoor swimming pools in basement conversion ideas too.
3. Hand-painted murals and decals
For a truly one-off design, nothing beats going down the hand painted route. “Paint is probably the most versatile alternative,” says John Law. “A hand-painted mural can be tailored precisely to a room, following architectural details or creating an illusion such as a landscape beyond the wall.” He recommends them for bedrooms, studies and dining rooms, where you can afford to be more decorative.
The trade-off is time and cost. A hand-painted mural is usually commissioned from an artist and built up over days rather than hours, so expect to pay more than you would for a printed design. Confident painters can tackle simpler designs themselves, such as bold shapes or a soft colour-block landscape. And if you tire of it, a few coats of paint will take you back to a blank wall.
At the other end of the scale are vinyl decals, which John Law suggests for children’s rooms and playrooms. “They can introduce a large-scale image without committing to a fixed scheme,” he says. That makes them ideal for spaces that need to grow with a child, as a decal can simply be peeled off once a favourite theme has been outgrown. Removable wallpaper offers a similar low-commitment route, with a fuller, more polished finish.
Lesley Taylor is an designer with more than 25 years’ experience across both residential and commercial property. A registered member of BIID – the British Institute of Interior Design – Lesley has authored 10 books on interior design.
With more than three decades of experience in the tile and flooring industry, Richard has developed an expert eye for how tiles can transform a space. As Director, he personally curates distinctive brands and collections to bring to the company's portfolio.
How do you clean and repair a wall mural?
The best way to clean a wall mural will depend on the material you choose. Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions first, as some murals are washable and others can only be wiped gently. Grasscloth and other textured finishes generally need more care than vinyl or printed panels, for example.
Printed wall panels are the simplest of all to maintain. “Regular cleaning using a soft cloth and a suitable bathroom cleaner [is] generally all that is needed,” says Richard Skeoch. “I would avoid abrasive scourers and harsh chemicals, including bleach, as these can damage the finish over time.”
Repairs are trickier than with repeat-pattern wallpaper, because you can’t simply cut a patch from a spare roll. Keep a note of the design, size and order details so you can request a replacement panel if one gets damaged. Hand-painted murals are the exception, as an artist can usually touch up any damage.
What are the most common wall mural mistakes?
A mural is a big investment in both money and impact, so small slip-ups are more noticeable than with a plain painted wall or a busy repeat pattern. Most mistakes happen before the paste comes out, at the planning, measuring and ordering stages. Here’s what our experts say to watch out for:
Not planning where the image will fall
Think about how the design meets doors, windows, fireplaces and fittings before you start. You don't want to make your cuts and then discover that you've lost an important part of the image. "Moving the starting point by only a few centimetres can sometimes make the whole wall feel much more balanced," says Lesley Taylor.
Measuring without a margin
"Always add the recommended safety margin, so you have enough wallpaper to work with," says Sandra Willund. If you're covering several walls, she advises adding the widths together and ordering them as one mural. "Otherwise, the design won't align from one wall to the next."
Making the feature too small
"People can become nervous around pattern and end up restricting it to a tiny panel, but that can make it feel more like an afterthought," says Lesley. "A complete patterned wall can actually feel calmer than a small patch of pattern."
Skimping on preparation
Lumps, cracks and uneven plaster show up more across a large image, so take time to get walls smooth. See our guide to preparing walls for painting, which applies to wall coverings too. Then, says Sandra, "get the first panel perfectly straight – it makes the rest much easier."
Choosing a mural in isolation
It’s easy to fall for a design on screen without picturing it in your own space. “Consider the whole room before choosing your mural,” says John Law. “Look at the natural light, flooring, furniture and what you see when you enter the room.” A design that looks fresh in a bright, south-facing room can feel heavy in a darker one, so think about how the room is used and lit throughout the day.
Skipping the sample
Colours on screen rarely match the real thing, and the finish of a mural (matte, textured or glossy) can change how it reads in a room. Richard Skeoch recommends, “ordering a sample first so you can see the colour, finish and scale of the design in the actual room.” Samples are usually inexpensive; Divine Savages’ start from £3, for example. Pin one to the wall and check it in both daylight and artificial light before you commit.
How much do wall murals costs?
The cost of a wall mural depends on the size of your wall, the material and whether the design is made to measure. Most are priced by area rather than by the roll, so measure up before you start comparing.
Printed made-to-measure murals are the most affordable option. Rebel Walls’ designs start from £43 per square metre. “You simply enter your wall dimensions, and the mural is produced to fit your space,” says Sandra Willund. Designer and textured finishes cost more.
Tiled and panel murals sit at the top end, with many designs costing around £200-300 per square metre. For made-to-measure printed panels, Richard Skeoch advises budgeting, “based on the complete area rather than a simple price per panel,” and factoring in labour if you’re using a professional installer.
Speaking of labour, a decorator typically charges around £150–£250 per day, according to our guide to how much it costs to wallpaper a room. That makes a professional finish worth considering for a large or bespoke design. As John Law puts it, “the cost of getting the installation right is relatively small compared with the cost of the wallcovering itself."
FAQs
How do you stop a mural overpowering a room?
If you're worried about a mural dominating a room, Caroline Woolmer says a single feature wall is the easiest way in. A large-scale scenic design can also be softened with a dado rail or wall panelling, which adds structure and a more traditional feel.
Treat the rest of the room as the supporting cast. Caroline suggests picking a handful of colours from the mural to repeat as accents, and choosing small-scale patterns such as ditsy florals, fine stripes or subtle geometrics. Avoid large, bold prints and high-contrast colours that compete with the design.
Tom Kennedy offers two routes. "If the design is particularly detailed or colourful, I'd keep the rest of the scheme relatively calm and let the walls do the talking," he says. "Alternatively, you can take one or two colours from the mural and repeat them through curtains, upholstery or furniture to create a more cocooning, colour-drenched look."
Can you hang a wall mural yourself?
"Hanging a wall mural is much easier than many people think, and it's definitely a realistic DIY project," says Sandra Willund. Many murals use paste-the-wall papers, which are easier to position than traditional paste-the-paper designs.
Our other experts urge a little more caution. "If you've never wallpapered before, a mural isn't necessarily where I'd start," Tom Kennedy says. "There's a certain amount of pressure because you're dealing with a large-scale image rather than a repeating pattern, so for an expensive or bespoke mural we'd personally use a professional decorator."
John Law takes the same view. "A confident DIY decorator could certainly tackle one, but for a large or bespoke mural I'd use a professional. The cost of getting the installation right is relatively small compared with the cost of the wallcovering itself."
Can you paint over a wall mural if you change your mind?
You can, but it's not usually the best option. Our guide to painting over wallpaper explains that experts generally recommend stripping first for the best finish. Bold, high-contrast imagery may need a specialist primer and several coats to cover, and vinyl or textured papers can stop paint from adhering properly.
Sandra Willund agrees: "When it comes to painting over a mural, I'd recommend removing the wallpaper first and properly preparing the wall," she says. "This gives you the best foundation for whatever comes next." If you like to change your interiors often, she suggests a peel-and-stick mural, which is "designed to be easy to put up and take down."
If you're going it alone, make sure you also read our expert guides on how to wallpaper around a window and how to hang patterned wallpaper.
