The large, colorful mural we recently painted in our daughter’s room turned out to be one of the most fun and effective painting projects we’ve done. It combined straightforward planning with some last-minute improvisation, and it was simple enough that the kids wanted to help. Best of all, it was budget-friendly and transformed a tall, blank wall into the room’s focal point.
We painted the mural by hand using basic brushes and rollers—no paint sprayers, no projector, and no painter’s tape. Below we cover everything from planning to execution, including:
- How to plan a mural
- Materials and tools you’ll need
- Step-by-step painting instructions
- Why this style is forgiving and easy to adapt
The mural took about five hours of active work spread over a few days to allow paint to dry between stages. The end result added cheerful color and personality to the room without a big expense.
Materials & Tools
If you’ve painted a room before, this list will look familiar. Aside from the paint, you likely have most of these on hand:
- Quarts or test pots of each paint color
- Short-handled paint brush
- 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 have a brush and roller dedicated to each color so you can keep them at hand until the mural is complete.
Step 1: Choose Your Wall
We chose a tall 10-foot wall created when we vaulted the ceilings in the room. A large blank wall like this benefits from a bold treatment because smaller decor options felt underscaled. A mural lets you fill a big vertical space with color without relying on heavy furniture or oversized frames.
Step 2: Find Your Art or Inspiration
We drew inspiration from an abstract mural we admired at a local restaurant. The colors felt energetic yet relaxed, and the design was simple enough to reproduce by hand. If you don’t have a specific reference, searching for “abstract mural” or “abstract artwork” on image boards will help you gather ideas.
Step 3: Mock Up Your Mural on Paper
Abstract murals aren’t precise, which makes them forgiving, but a simple mock-up helps translate the design to the wall. We used a digital overlay of the mural on a photo of our wall to check proportions. You can also sketch by hand or use your phone to roughly plan shapes and spacing.
This step is optional, but a loose plan makes the process quicker and reduces second-guessing while you paint.
Step 4: Trace Your Design onto the Wall
We used a simple grid method to transfer the mock-up to the wall rather than a projector. Overlay a grid on your mock-up, measure corresponding points on the wall, mark termination points with pencil, then connect them to outline each stripe. Keep lines loose—minor wiggles are fine and easy to refine while painting.
Step 5: Choose Your Paint Colors
We selected a coordinated palette, mostly sticking to tones from the same swatch card to ensure harmony. Choosing colors from the same family is an easy way to guarantee they work together, but this technique will look great in many palettes.
We used several shades to create depth and contrast, and labeled them on our mock-up to keep track while painting.
Step 6: Purchase Your Paint
We bought quarts of each color in an eggshell finish. If you need smaller amounts for tiny accents, some stores offer test pots. Budget-wise, this approach keeps costs down while giving you enough paint for two coats where needed.
Step 7: Paint Your First Set of Stripes—Roughly
Start by painting alternating stripes so adjacent areas can dry before you paint next to them. Use a foam roller for larger areas and a brush for edges. We intentionally rolled slightly over pencil lines to avoid white gaps between colors. Two coats per color gave consistent coverage.
Tip: Keep brushes and rollers in plastic bags between sessions for quick touch-ups.
Step 8: Edge Your Next Set of Stripes Carefully
After base coats dry, use a steady hand and a short-handled brush to define clean curves between colors. Aim for long, even strokes, avoid heavy pressure or excess paint, and feather any paint ridges with short vertical strokes. Go slow and allow the design to evolve.
Step 9: Fill In the Stripes
Fill in between edged lines with small rollers or brushes. Darker colors and overlapping areas often need two coats. Follow your established edges carefully on the second pass to preserve crisp lines.
Step 10: Step Back and Adjust
Once coats are dry, step back to evaluate the overall composition. Small tweaks can improve balance—we adjusted a dark section so it read less like a round shape and more like a flowing stripe. Keeping brushes ready makes edits quick and easy.
Step 11: Improvise and Have Fun
A few days after finishing the mural, our daughter wanted to add beachy elements. We roughly doodled ideas on a photo, sketched with pencil on the wall, and then painted the shapes. This part was playful and easy to change—if you don’t like something, paint over it. Involving kids in the lower sections gives them ownership and makes the space feel personal.
We used the same paint for the added shapes, which required 2–3 coats with a small brush for smooth coverage. Frequent hand washing is a simple way to keep kids from transferring paint around while they take turns.
A mural like this transforms a large wall without needing bulky furniture or oversized artwork. It’s easy to update later and is a fun, low-cost way to add personality. If painting a mural still feels intimidating, consider simpler treatments like painted slats or planked walls that achieve a bold look without freehand painting.
Note: This project was done with basic supplies, a clear plan, and a willingness to play. The result is a joyful wall that the whole family helped create.