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Walls indoor and out can be given a new look with a painted mural, even if you're not a skilled artist. Plain outdoor walls, living rooms and kid's rooms are all ideal places to create murals. You will need to plan carefully and perhaps practice a bit before you start, but with the help of products you can buy today, almost anyone can create a striking mural painting.

Inspirations for Murals

Whatever your taste, there are murals to suit you. Peaceful, unspoiled landscapes are an especially popular choice for murals, particularly if there is a large wall to be made over. Trompe l'oeil paintings (paintings that deceive the eye) and picture windows create an illusion of reality, so that every home can have a view of the sea, the countryside or even a scenic city skyline.

Murals can also be images painted onto walls that serve the same purpose as framed pictures. Motifs that complement your decor and architecture are another idea. Tuscan murals, with grape and foliage motifs, provide an attractive finishing touch to a room and are popular for their old-world charm.

Images drawn from nature can always complement a room. Alternatively, in a contemporary decor scheme, geometric designs and abstract patterns can be very effective. Workplaces, schools and other premises can be cheered up with an imaginative mural that creates a bright, individual look.

Before You Start

Your finished product will only be as good as your surface. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth, unless you're looking for a flat, glossy finish. It does need to be well cleaned and grease-free. Any holes and cracks must be filled with putty and sanded. The last step before painting is to apply a good quality primer or sealer as a base coat.

Paint Types

Indoor and outdoor murals will require different paints, with exposed walls needing hard-wearing, waterproof and weatherproof paints and perhaps a sunscreen to make sure it doesn't fade. For indoors, water-based acrylic paints are an ideal choice. As a final coat, a clear sealer may be needed.

Applying Your Design

Once you have a background color, you can apply further layers. Next might be the outlines of trees and mountains, while your final layer will be the fine detailing. Marking out your design onto your background can be tricky if you're not an artist. Doing this using the freehand method can be disastrous. Luckily there are techniques to help. To scale up a design from a photo or other image, you can use computer software.

For the less experienced, stencils are the perfect solution. You will find an extraordinary range of designs that even the novice decorator can use to achieve effective results (or you could make your own stencils). You can also buy kits that let you transfer a design onto the wall. All you have to do then is apply the paint - not unlike painting by numbers.

For a stylish finish indoors or outdoors, or as a worthwhile work or community project to brighten your workplace or neighborhood, painted murals are hard to beat.