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Painting Wall Murals - Tips for
Do-It-Yourself Projects
by Dawn Hall
When it comes to painting wall murals, are you confused? If so, it's no
wonder! Should you use oil-based paints or acrylics? Varnish or no
varnish? How much site prep is really necessary? And what's up with
brushes!
Step One: Properly Prepare Your Site for Painting
The first step is to properly prepare your site. Painting wall murals is
just like any other painting project. To do it right, pull out the
masking tape and drop cloths. Many people also apply a fresh coat of
paint to the room before painting wall murals. Use a satin finish or
eggshell finish latex wall paint for the best sheen and chose a color
that will look great with your mural. If you are not putting on a fresh
coat of paint, make sure the wall surface is completely clean to ensure
the best adhesion. Use a product specially formulated for cleaning walls
for best results.
Step Two: Choose the Right Paint
You may read elsewhere that oil-based paints are the way to go when
painting wall murals. If you are a professional muralist, that statement
is probably true. However, if you're just an average homeowner that
wants to do something creative and original with your home, acrylic
paints are actually your best option. Acrylic paints are quick drying
and water soluble. They are very similar to latex wall paints, but can
be purchased in smaller sizes. You can find acrylic paints at your local
hobby store or even the craft section of your local Wal-Mart.
Do you have some latex wall paint left over from another project? If you
want to use it, go ahead! Latex wall paints and acrylic craft paints are
compatible products and can by used interchangeably when painting
murals.
Step Three: Choose the Right Brushes
As tempting as it may be, now is not the time to raid your son's crayon
box for the paintbrush that came with his watercolor set. However, a
quick trip to the craft store may leave you scratching your head. There
are so many options when it comes to paintbrushes. How do you pick the
right one for your project?
Paintbrushes are made with natural animal hair, synthetic fibers, or a
combination of both. The best brushes for use with acrylic paints are
high quality synthetic brushes. The heads on brushes also come in many
different shapes and sizes. For painting wall murals, you will need more
than one type of brush. At a minimum, you should purchase a wide, flat
brush for painting the large areas of your mural and a round paintbrush
for adding details and outlining images.
Step Four: Applying Varnish
When painting wall murals, the last step is to protect your finished
masterpiece. After all, you want it to look great for many years to
come, right? If your mural is located in a high traffic area, such as an
entryway or busy hallway, it is especially important that you seal it
with a water-based varnish.
About the author
This article was written by Dawn Hall. Visit her website at
http://www.wallmurals123.com for additional articles and practical do it
yourself advice for adding spark to your home with wall murals. Dawn
also sells Wallies wallpaper cutouts and murals at
http://www.wallmurals123.com.
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