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Better than Wallpaper – Hand Painted Mural

June 14, 2018  Decorating | My House | Uncategorized

I transformed my dining room walls with a hand painted mural. This “faux wallpaper” gives the space a real wow factor. See how to make a faux wallpaper hand painted mural the easy way!

How to make a faux wallpaper hand painted mural - Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

Update: See my tips for creating this wall mural here.

My dining room has had many different looks (see my dining room through the years HERE) but I have to say, this one takes the cake.

I’ve been on a mission to clear the clutter but living with blank walls wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

BEFORE

(complete with smoothie, Easter egg garland, and missing chair – it broke and I’m on the hunt for replacements)

Before dining room - wait until you see the amazing after and what she did to the walls! kellyelko.com #diningroom #graypaint

It pays to know artistic people and my friend’s daughter is a very talented college student who I hired to create my vision and she nailed it (there’s even a “secret Sushi” – a tiny painting of my dog – hidden on the wall)!

I’ll share all of Julia’s tips and tricks on how she did it in a separate post, but for now, let’s just admire the finished product.

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

While Julia was painting, I found this red bench on one of my Facebook buy and sell pages (see my tips for buying and selling on Facebook HERE) for only $30 and knew it would add the perfect pop of color and it led me to hang the apple art that is a piece of Ikea fabric that I framed.

The Danish modern bar cart was a $5 thrift store find.

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense. Love the pop of red from the bench kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

post contains affiliate links

The blue pillow is from HomeGoods and it’s total coincidence that it resembles the mural!

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense an I love the red lacquer bench with woven seat kellyelko.com #bench #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

In my quest to clear the clutter, I cleaned out my industrial cabinet (it’s on sale for 50% off HERE) to display only things that I actually use.

I like to set the table with vintage drinking glasses and mismatched plates (I mix thrift store finds with new ones from HomeGoods).

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and I love the industrial metal cabinet and demijohn collection kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted #collections #vintage

I love that the pattern can still be seen through my collection of vintage demijohns.

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and I love the vintage demijohn collection kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted #collections #vintagedecor

Can you tell I have a thing for old glass including this trio of mid century decanters set in an old dough bowl.

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and I love the mid century decanters in an old dough bowl kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

Vintage seltzer bottles kellyelko.com #vintage #collections #vintagedecor

I painted the switch plates and outlet covers the same color as the walls and had Julia paint the pattern right over them.

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and I love how she even painted the switch plates kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and she even painted a tiny portrait of her dog! kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

Here’s the secret Sushi!

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and she even added a tiny painting of her dog! kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

I love the way the dining room turned out but I have other changes I’d like to make including getting a rug with some blue in it and finally finding the perfect side chairs (since one of mine broke).

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and I love the rope chairs and pair of giant lanterns kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

More importantly, Sushi approves and that’s all that really matters isn’t it!

Take my whole home tour HERE.

Forget wallpaper! This hand painted mural is like faux wallpaper minus the expense and she even painted a tiny portrait of her dog! kellyelko.com #wallpaper #mural #diningroom #wallart #handpainted

Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore Agreeable Gray

Mural Paint – Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

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Comments

  1. Deb

    June 14, 2018 at 6:25 am

    Wow! I love those walls and tiny Sushi! I especially love the addition of the glassware for that see thru yet colorful accent. Great call.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 7:27 am

      Thanks so much Deb!

      Reply
  2. Liz

    June 14, 2018 at 6:59 am

    Kelly, your dining room actually looks larger and I love the paint selection, it’s just perfect. Well done you!!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 7:28 am

      Thanks Liz – it does feel much larger now!

      Reply
  3. cassie bustamante

    June 14, 2018 at 7:37 am

    oh i love the secret sushi and she sure looks pleased as well!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:13 am

      Sushi couldn’t let a room re-do go by without letting us know it’s all about her!

      Reply
  4. Susan

    June 14, 2018 at 8:09 am

    Love, love, love this! Especially secret Sushi! Giving me inspiration for a new focal wall in a bedroom I am designing.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Oh how exciting – I want to see what you do to that wall!

      Reply
  5. Rachel

    June 14, 2018 at 8:50 am

    I love it….truly one of a kind. Your accessories add just the right pop of color.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Thanks Rachel – it was fun to do!

      Reply
  6. T. Malone

    June 14, 2018 at 9:46 am

    Love it! Hand painted and really well done. It’s lovely, artistic, and one of a kind. And of course, love the addition of Sushi…

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Sushi is the icing on the cake!

      Reply
  7. Barbara Warga

    June 14, 2018 at 10:02 am

    Name and location of you’re very talented artist, please. What a wonderful design! The secret Sushie is adorable. I love this so much!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:13 am

      She lives in North NJ so if that is close to you let me know. She’s super talented!

      Reply
  8. Pat Schwab

    June 14, 2018 at 10:24 am

    Kelly, It really looks fantastic. The red bench is a great addition and a steal. Pat S

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:15 am

      I couldn’t believe the bench Pat – and people usually snap up all the deals before I even see them so I was thrilled to get it!

      Reply
  9. Emily

    June 14, 2018 at 10:43 am

    I am blown away! It is just STUNNING!! What an awesome wall treatment and the hidden Sushi is the cherry on top! LOL! Love Love Love! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 14, 2018 at 11:15 am

      Sushi always steals the show!

      Reply
  10. Marlene Stephenson

    June 14, 2018 at 11:44 am

    Wow, what a difference a wall can make. She is very good, i love it and of course Sushi’s picture and approval.

    Reply
  11. Jen van Gruting.

    June 15, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    I just love your wallpaper. And your furniture and objets d’art are very tastefully arranged with Julia’s clever design as a backdrop. I covert the red bench! Beautiful piece. Everthing is most tasteful. And the tin, almost hidden Sushi adds an air of mystery!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 18, 2018 at 5:47 pm

      Thanks Jen! I am also in love with how it turned out … and so is Sushi!

      Reply
  12. Jeanne

    June 15, 2018 at 7:03 pm

    Love it! Kelly, is the agreeable grey wall color a warmer tone than you would expect from grey? It’s a coincidence I just spoke with someone who said they did their whole downstairs in that paint and loved it. It looks great. Beautiful job and I love the red bench.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 18, 2018 at 5:46 pm

      So funny Jeanne – because we did our entire downstairs Agreeable Gray too!

      Reply
  13. LeAnn

    June 16, 2018 at 10:55 am

    I love the dining room…what a talent she has for painting. I have totally decluttered and it feels good to breathe. What a fabulous find on FB, that bench is awesome. I miss your Saturday home tours.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 18, 2018 at 5:45 pm

      Thanks LeAnn! I miss the home tours too but usually take a break in the summer. I plan to get back to them hopefully in September!

      Reply
  14. [email protected]

    June 19, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    Looks fantastic! I love the way it turned out! And the secret Sushi is too cute.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 22, 2018 at 10:20 am

      Sushi thinks it makes her look fat!

      Reply
  15. Lisa K.

    June 24, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    This looks great Kelly, just like always! Did you help paint at all, or did Julia do it all? The hidden Sushi is great, and so special!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 28, 2018 at 8:50 pm

      I supervised LOL! She did the whole thing on her own and my favorite is that tiny little Sushi too which was all Julia’s idea!

      Reply
  16. Doreen @ Hymns and Verses

    March 28, 2019 at 9:08 am

    That’s amazing! I love it and the secret Sushi is the icing on the cake! And, that red bench is the perfect accessory!!!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      March 28, 2019 at 11:40 am

      The secret Sushi is the best thing ever! Everyone needs one!

      Reply
  17. Laurie McKinnon

    June 12, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    i love this! i am looking for the tips you posted on how the artist accomplished such a lovely mural?

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      June 13, 2019 at 5:10 pm

      I’ll try to get a post on that Laurie!

      Reply
    • Amanda R

      April 19, 2020 at 7:14 pm

      Hi there! I am also looking for the mural tips post but I can’t find anything. (I came here from Pinterest, looking for helpful mural tips.) If you would share your very talented artist’s tips, we’d be so grateful. Especially during this stay-at-home order while we have nothing to do!
      Thanks in advance!! 💕

      Reply
      • Kelly Elko

        April 20, 2020 at 1:55 pm

        Hi Amanda! Thanks for getting me to finally write that post! I’ll share tomorrow!

        Reply
  18. Ann

    February 22, 2020 at 11:31 am

    That is a game changing idea! Trying to figure out how to add some pizzazz to my very drab and boring walls with out wall paper! Inspiring indeed 🙂

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      February 24, 2020 at 10:38 am

      It’s so much better … and cheaper … than wallpaper too Ann!

      Reply
  19. Penny

    September 5, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    Ari would love to see how you did these walls

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      September 5, 2020 at 7:43 pm

      Here you go Penny: https://www.kellyelko.com/how-to-paint-repeating-wall-mural-serena-lily-wallpaper-knockoff/

      Reply
  20. Desirée

    January 9, 2021 at 10:22 am

    Hello! This came out gorgeous! You noted in this post that you would share Julia’s tricks in another post. Did you ever do that? Would you mind sharing the link to it?

    Reply
    • Desirée

      January 9, 2021 at 10:24 am

      Oops, sorry, never mind! I see the last poster asked for it and you shared. Thanks so much!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Five Favorite Garden Plants, Tools & Tips - Shine Your Light says:
    July 11, 2018 at 6:24 am

    […] garden projects and inspirations, including a whole series on hydrangeas and how to maintain them. See Kelly’s dining room here and find the hydrangea posts […]

    Reply
  2. New Dining Room Table and Vintage Chairs - Kelly Elko says:
    September 18, 2018 at 8:55 am

    […] You can see what my dining room looked like before HERE. […]

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  3. Christmas Chalkboard Art - Kelly Elko says:
    December 11, 2019 at 5:55 am

    […] I’ve shared this secret with you before and I’ll tell you again. If you think you can’t draw, do what I did and have a talented friend create stunning chalk art for you. I hired my friends college age daughter to create this chalk masterpiece (the same gal who did my amazing dining room wall mural). […]

    Reply
  4. Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery - Kelly Elko says:
    December 18, 2019 at 5:55 am

    […] Here’s the original on my Christmas mantel last year. My friends daughter brought my vision to life! She’s the same gal that painted my dining room wall mural and you can see it here. […]

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KELLY

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Join me as I decorate my 100 year old home, scour thrift stores, create pretty things, putter in my peony and hydrangea filled garden, and mix up a mean cocktail all with a touch of sarcasm and a side of bacon - Cheers!



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Love where you live by mixing high and low, new and old to create a home that shows off your personality. My mantra ... simple projects equals more time for cocktails!
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