The large, colorful mural we painted in our daughter’s room was one of the most enjoyable and transformative projects we’ve done in a long time. It combined thoughtful planning with some last-minute improvisation, and it was easy enough that the kids grabbed paintbrushes and joined in. Best of all, it was budget-friendly.
We painted the whole mural by hand with basic paintbrushes and rollers—no paint sprayers, no projector, and not even painter’s tape. Below we cover:
- How to plan a wall mural
- The materials and tools you’ll need
- A step-by-step painting process
- Why this style is forgiving and easy to adjust
The mural took about five hours of work spread over 2.5 days to allow paint to dry between steps. The time investment was worth it—the wall now feels cheerful and perfectly scaled to the room.
Materials & Tools
If you’ve ever painted a room, most of this list will be familiar. Aside from paint, you likely already have many of these items:
- Quarts (or test pots) of each paint color
- Short-handled paintbrush
- 4″ or 6″ foam rollers
- Roller tray (or tray liners)
- Ziploc bags for storing brushes and rollers
- Drop cloth
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Ladder or stepstool
- Ruler (optional)
Tip: ideally keep one brush and one roller per color so you can return to each color quickly without cleaning tools mid-project.
Step 1: Choose Your Wall
We recently vaulted the ceilings in this room, which created a bright, airy space and left us with a tall 10-foot wall—perfect for a mural. If you have a large blank wall that feels awkward with standard decor, a mural can be a great way to make it feel intentional.
We’d tried gallery walls and removable wallpaper before, but for a wall of this scale we wanted something bold and painterly that felt lively without being fussy.
Step 2: Find Your Art or Inspiration
We started with a photo of an accent wall we loved at a local restaurant. The artist’s work inspired our color choices and the relaxed, energetic feel we wanted. If you don’t have a specific image in mind, searching for “abstract mural” or “abstract artwork” on Pinterest or image searches will give plenty of ideas.
We liked that the design looked lively but approachable, and that it would be easy to reproduce by hand.
Step 3: Mock Up Your Mural on Paper
Abstract murals are forgiving, but a mock-up helps you judge scale and spacing. We digitally overlaid our inspiration onto a photo of the blank wall to check proportions. If you don’t have editing software, a simple photo on your phone or a hand sketch will work.
This mock-up is optional, but it’s a helpful guideline for transferring shapes to a tall wall.
Step 4: Trace Your Design onto the Wall
If you have a projector, you can project your design directly onto the wall. We didn’t, so we used a simple grid method: overlay a 1×1 foot grid on your mock-up and transfer key termination points to the wall with a pencil and tape measure. Connect the marks with loose, wiggly lines—precise curves aren’t necessary, and you can refine them as you paint.
Step back periodically to evaluate spacing, and erase or redraw lines until you’re happy with the general layout.
Step 5: Choose Your Paint Colors
We selected colors by comparing swatches and getting approval from our lead designer—our ten-year-old. Picking colors from the same swatch card (varying lightness/darkness) is an easy way to ensure harmony. You can also stick to the original palette or choose a completely different one depending on your style.
We used Sherwin-Williams colors including Ebbtide, Stream, Snowdrop, Feather White, Blushing, Lotus Flower, and Memorable Rose. Using labeled swatches helped us track which stripe would be which color.
Step 6: Purchase Your Paint
We bought quarts of each color in an eggshell latex finish. For smaller areas you could try test pots from other stores, but quarts were convenient and affordable for our project. The total paint cost was modest for a large visual impact.
Step 7: Paint Your First Set of Stripes—Roughly
Work in alternating stripes so adjacent colors have time to dry and won’t bleed. We started with three base stripes, using a small foam roller for most of the area and a brush for edges. Each color received two coats. At this stage, don’t worry about crisp edges—roll slightly over your pencil lines to avoid white gaps between colors.
Tip: store brushes and rollers in plastic bags so you can reuse them for touch-ups as you progress.
Step 8: Edge Your Next Set of Stripes—Carefully
After the base stripes are fully dry, refine the edges with a steady hand and a short-handled brush to create smooth curves. Aim for long, even strokes, avoid pressing too hard or using excess paint, and feather out any raised beads with short vertical strokes. Go slowly and let the design evolve—this part is more art than science.
Step 9: Fill In Your Stripes
Fill in areas between the edged lines with small rollers or brushes. Darker colors and overlapping sections may need two coats for even coverage. Follow your edges carefully on the second pass—having established the curves makes this easier.
Step 10: Step Back & Adjust
After the second coats are dry, step back and consider any final adjustments. We changed one dark section that read too much like a circle and softened its edge into a curve. Keep brushes handy so you can make subtle edits—minimizing raised ridges along edges makes later adjustments blend in more naturally.
Step 11: Improvise—Have Fun!
After the mural was “finished,” our daughter wanted to add more. We embraced it. Using a photo of the mural, Sherry and our daughter doodled ideas in Instagram Stories to preview shapes, then sketched directly on the wall with pencil. If a doodle didn’t work, we erased it or painted over it—easy to change because it’s just paint.
We filled in the doodles with the same mural colors, often needing two to three coats for solid coverage. Involving the kids on lower sections gave them ownership and pride in the space. Frequent hand washing between turns helped keep paint off fabrics and furniture.
The process only took a few extra hours and added playful beachy elements like kelp and coral that enhanced the mural’s character.
A mural like this makes a large wall feel intentional without needing oversized furniture or a complicated installation. It’s flexible, budget-friendly, and easy to update if taste changes—just paint over it.
If painting a mural still feels intimidating, consider simpler alternatives like a colorful slat or planked wall treatment that creates impact without requiring freehand painting skills.
In short: plan a simple mock-up, pick a cohesive palette, work in alternating stripes, refine edges carefully, and don’t be afraid to improvise. A painted mural is an affordable, creative way to transform a tall blank wall into something joyful and personal.