Top 5 Kids Mural Considerations
Thinking of painting a mural or having a mural painted in your child’s bedroom or nursery? One of our favorite things with Iron Brush Murals is to create a special and inviting space for a child. A lot of our clients come to us knowing they want something painted, but aren't quite sure how to go about choosing what they want. An important part of our job is to walk alongside our clients and help them think through all the considerations. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when choosing a mural design for your child’s room.
1. Choose a mural design that will grow with them
Before you make an investment in a mural, consider a design that your child will want to have around for several years. Although your child may really be into a certain character or really like fire trucks, that may not last long. They aren’t going to love Paw Patrol forever! You want to choose a mural that shows their personality, but will also grow with them. This mural is in a shared girl’s room with four year old and nine year old sisters. It is a perfect blend between the younger sister’s girly-girl personality and the older sister’s spunky disposition. An adaptable design works for more than one age group, expresses their individual personalities and can even transition into the tween years. Want to paint this mural? Click here for a DIY tutorial video and here for the timelapse video.
This mountain silhouette mural was painted for some nature loving brothers. The green mountain landscape design is perfect for these three year-old and seven year-old brothers who love to explore and hike the outdoors. It will grow with them for years to come as it will be easy to update the other room decor for pre-teen interests. Simple murals like this one allow freshening up the accessories without having to replace the entire mural.
2. Choose a mural that is not too busy or overwhelming for a bedroom
Keep in mind that your child will spend the majority of their time sleeping in their bedroom. You don’t want to pick a mural that has too bright of colors or a really busy and overstimulating design. We often recommend painting a mural on one focal wall with a coordinating color or a neutral color on the adjacent walls. Another option is a simple design that only covers a portion of all the walls still leaving plenty of open space so it’s not overwhelming. This moon themed nursery has one focal wall with the moon and stars creating a calm, but fun environment. Sure to make for some sweet dreams!
3. Think of how the mural will work in your space if you move or change the furniture
As your child grows, their furniture needs will change as well. Your baby will transition from a crib to a toddler bed and from a toddler bed to a larger bed or even bunk beds. Or your teen or tween may want a desk or a hangout area in their room one day. As you are designing, imagine how the mural will look with the furniture moved around or a new furniture piece added to the room. Think: what would this mural look like if it has a bed in front of it or a dresser instead. This purple princess mural has multiple layers of visual interest so even if a dresser, chair, or desk were moved in front of it, it would still work in the space and frame in whatever furniture is in front of it.
4. Don’t go too trendy on the mural’s color scheme
Color trends come and go quickly. Remember the teal and brown of the early 2000’s? Or the hot pink and lime green that was all the rage around 2010? Nurseries and kid’s room were plastered in those colors only to go out of style within a year or two. When choosing a mural for a children’s room, go with a classic or subtle color palette that will stand the test of time. The ombre mural in this tween room transitions from light blue to peachy tones to light pink. While the colors create a beautiful focal point for the room, they are subtle enough to not overwhelm and will not go out of style for years.
5. Don’t be afraid to go big.
If you find something you love, go for it. One of the biggest mistakes is thinking too small and only focusing on one area of the room or painting your design in a limited size. A too-small mural may not transform the room in the way you want. Unlike products like decals, you an choose the size of your mural and make it custom fit to your space. Large designs affect the entire space and add to the overall cohesiveness of your room design. This sweet floral mural was painted for a tween girl’s bedroom and makes a big impact on the large fifteen foot wall. Having a variety of colors and different flowers creates interest without being too overwhelming.
Go for it!
Whether you are a DIY'er or planning to hire a mural artist, we hope taking the time to think through these considerations will help you make the right choices when investing in a mural.
Have a question we didn't answer here? We'd love to hear from you! You can find us on social media @ironbrushmurals or send us a note here.