Mural wallpapers have surged in popularity as a versatile and visually impactful way to transform interior spaces. These expansive designs bring life and character to dull walls, offering a unique aesthetic that can vary from bold and vibrant to subtle and sophisticated.
Yet, as homeowners and interior designers embrace this trend, the question arises: are mural wallpapers hard to install? We'll delve into the intricacies of mural wallpaper installation, addressing factors that contribute to the perceived difficulty of the process, and how it differs from a traditional wallpaper installation.
Preparation
Installing any wallpaper begins with the preparation. The wall surface must be smooth, clean, and free from imperfections to ensure a flawless result. Any irregularities can disrupt the continuity of the wallpaper, making the installation process more challenging.
Common preparations that you may need to undertake are sanding the wall, painting the wall, and installing lining paper.
Differences from Traditional Wallpaper Installation
Mural wallpapers are not your typical, repeat-pattern wallpaper rolls. Instead, they are large, panoramic images or large scale patterns that cover entire walls, creating a stunning visual effect. The complexity of mural wallpapers lies in their design continuity and the challenge of aligning multiple panels seamlessly to achieve a cohesive look.
Ordering
When ordering traditional repeat-pattern wallpaper, it can be a bit of a minefield with different widths, pattern repeats, straight/drop match etc., but with murals the process if very simple. All you need are your wall dimensions, and you will be sent the perfect amount with each drop pre-cut and pre-matched.
Panel Matching
One of the primary challenges in mural wallpaper installation is achieving perfect panel alignment and matching. Mural wallpapers come in multiple panels that need to be precisely placed to create a seamless image. The alignment must be accurate to ensure that the design flows seamlessly from one panel to the next.
Left to Right
The key difference when installing a mural is that the panels are installed from left to right, rather than starting in the middle. Traditional wallpaper requires an even amount of pattern on either side of the wall, but since a mural is much larger, it is installed with a full drop on the left-hand-side.
Wall Size
The size of the wall contributes significantly to the perceived difficulty of installation. Larger walls mean more panels to install, and also a longer edge to be straight. When installing a mural with many panels, it is absolutely imperative for the first panel to be perfectly straight vertically. Luckily, these days there are excellent tools such as laser levels to help you get that first panel perfect.
Material Considerations
The type of material used for the mural wallpaper can impact the installation process. While some mural wallpapers are made from traditional paper, others use vinyl or fabric materials. Each material has its own set of challenges and requires specific handling techniques.
Vinyl, for instance, is durable and resistant to moisture, making it suitable for high-traffic areas, but it may require extra care during installation to prevent wrinkles or air bubbles.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
Any professional decorator should be able to install a mural, however there are a few caveats to this. Usually murals will come with detailed instructions which need to be followed, which may vary slightly from traditional wallpaper rolls. Other considerations would be material: decorators usually prefer a paste-the-wall material, rather than a peel and stick material.
DIY installations are perfectly achievable for anyone that has a little experience around the house. Peel & stick murals are super easy and mess free, but paste-the-wall wallpaper is just as achievable.
In the world of interior design, mural wallpapers offer a captivating way to enhance and personalize spaces. The perceived difficulty of installing mural wallpapers is rooted in the relative unknown of this format of wallcovering. While challenges do exist, murals can often be simpler to install than traditional wallpaper as they are pre-matched. They are also simpler to order, as by giving exact dimensions, you will receive the perfect amount of wallpaper, all custom printed for you from the same batch.