Dress up your walls in a unique way with wall murals

What are Wall Murals?

Before we reveal designs and patterns that experts vouch for, let’s understand what wall murals are and how they are different from other wall decorations. Explains Sahiba Madan, principal architect and founder of Insitu Design Studio and Kalakaari Haath, “Murals, wallpapers and decals are all various mediums of applications of art on walls. Decals are dynamic and can be applied on multiple surfaces such as walls, ceiling, etc. These are less limiting in terms of wall coverage and hence become a cost-efficient option for wall décor. Wallpapers usually cover a single wall of a space. However, smaller spaces such as the powder bathroom, study room, prayer room with wallpaper on multiple walls create an interesting nook in the home. Murals are a great way of including a personal story or adding a layer of personality to a space.”

The reason murals are unique is because they are often hand-drawn and painted by a mural artist, directly on the wall of your choice. “Techniques such as fresco, mosaic, and graffiti are considered traditional mural styles that involve manual painting directly on surfaces,” adds Zahabiyah Gabajiwala, founder and creative head of ZA works.

The Process

The client’s wish remains imperative in creating murals. After understanding what they have in mind, most designers and artists create either a digital sketch or hand drawing to help showcase what the final result is likely to look like. “Budgets are also discussed, and sometimes this determines if the mural will have many small details with shading or if it will be line drawing in one colour,” says Roy. Madan shares, “Small designs can be as low as Rs 499 while custom work can be anywhere up to Rs 1,000 per square-foot.”

The design is locked in keeping other visual details of the room in mind. Next, the wall is prepped by cleaning and priming, to ensure that it has a smooth surface. The base paint also is determined depending on where the wall is located and what external factors affect it. “If the light that falls on the mural wall is not too harsh, I use regular acrylic paints. If the wall gets a lot of light, I use Asian Paints,” says Jesrani.

Next, the artist starts the drawing process followed by painting and sealing the mural. “The time required for a hand-painted wall mural art typically ranges from three to 30 days. The duration depends on factors such as the size of the wall, colour scheme, and most significantly, the chosen art style. Different art styles may have varying time requirements to complete the mural,” reveals Gabajiwala.

Wall Mural Ideas for Your Home

Now that you know the process, here are suggestions recommended by experts on what kind of murals you can get at home. “I don’t think it's one size fits all, and that’s the beauty of murals in the first place. But a lot of people generally gravitate towards leafy or floral patterns. They just uplift any space,” says Jesrani. Roy agrees, she adds, “Just like our homes respond to a theme, so should the murals. But some of the popular styles are tropical scenes, Japanese motifs, line art, vintage, natural landscapes.”

Noronha suggests choosing abstract and geometric murals to add a modern and artistic touch to any room. “These work particularly well in contemporary or minimalist interiors. For children's room, opt for fantasy mural designs such as outer space, underwater world or a fairytale to ignite their imagination and create a magical ambience indoors,” she recommends.

When it comes to where to get a mural, design experts offer varied options ranging from the main wall in your room to ceiling, powder bathroom and the passage.