Better than Wallpaper – Hand Painted Mural
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!
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)
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.
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.
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The blue pillow is from HomeGoods and it’s total coincidence that it resembles the mural!
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).
I love that the pattern can still be seen through my collection of vintage demijohns.
Can you tell I have a thing for old glass including this trio of mid century decanters set in an old dough bowl.
I painted the switch plates and outlet covers the same color as the walls and had Julia paint the pattern right over them.
Here’s the secret Sushi!
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).
More importantly, Sushi approves and that’s all that really matters isn’t it!
Take my whole home tour HERE.
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore Agreeable Gray
Mural Paint – Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
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.
Thanks so much Deb!
Kelly, your dining room actually looks larger and I love the paint selection, it’s just perfect. Well done you!!
Thanks Liz – it does feel much larger now!
oh i love the secret sushi and she sure looks pleased as well!
Sushi couldn’t let a room re-do go by without letting us know it’s all about her!
Love, love, love this! Especially secret Sushi! Giving me inspiration for a new focal wall in a bedroom I am designing.
Oh how exciting – I want to see what you do to that wall!
I love it….truly one of a kind. Your accessories add just the right pop of color.
Thanks Rachel – it was fun to do!
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…
Sushi is the icing on the cake!
Name and location of you’re very talented artist, please. What a wonderful design! The secret Sushie is adorable. I love this so much!
She lives in North NJ so if that is close to you let me know. She’s super talented!
Kelly, It really looks fantastic. The red bench is a great addition and a steal. Pat S
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!
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!!
Sushi always steals the show!
Wow, what a difference a wall can make. She is very good, i love it and of course Sushi’s picture and approval.
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!
Thanks Jen! I am also in love with how it turned out … and so is Sushi!
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.
So funny Jeanne – because we did our entire downstairs Agreeable Gray too!
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.
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!
Looks fantastic! I love the way it turned out! And the secret Sushi is too cute.
Sushi thinks it makes her look fat!
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!
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!
That’s amazing! I love it and the secret Sushi is the icing on the cake! And, that red bench is the perfect accessory!!!
The secret Sushi is the best thing ever! Everyone needs one!
i love this! i am looking for the tips you posted on how the artist accomplished such a lovely mural?
I’ll try to get a post on that Laurie!
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!! 💕
Hi Amanda! Thanks for getting me to finally write that post! I’ll share tomorrow!
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 🙂
It’s so much better … and cheaper … than wallpaper too Ann!
Ari would love to see how you did these walls
Here you go Penny: https://www.kellyelko.com/how-to-paint-repeating-wall-mural-serena-lily-wallpaper-knockoff/
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?
Oops, sorry, never mind! I see the last poster asked for it and you shared. Thanks so much!