Wallpaper Mural Tricks: How to Choose and Install    by Carlo Morelli

You can personalize any interior space and make it your own with custom wallpaper murals. There are many companies that specialize in this unique service. They will let you send in any photograph, artwork, illustration, or anything you can imagine, and make it into a wallpaper mural just for you. Slides, digital photos, high-resolution computer graphics files, original paintings or drawings, all work great. Most of these companies will send you a small sample of what the finished mural will look like, so you can see if it is going to match your room décor and ensure it is the quality you expect.

The most popular use for the wallpaper mural is to decorate children's rooms. Crafting a fun and lively environment that both kids and parent's love is easy. Fairy tales, animals, fish, ballet and sports are some typical themes, but the best way to choose a wallpaper mural is to involve your child in the decision - you may be surprised by what you learn about his or her tastes, and the whole family will have fun looking through the sample books in the store or online. Don't forget if you can't find a design that your child and you can agree on, you can always create a custom wallpaper mural.

Once you've settled on a design, you'll want to measure the wall area's height and width with a tape measure to get a good idea what size wallpaper mural will work in your room. To get a clearer picture of how the mural will look in the room, you can temporarily outline the prospective destination of your wallpaper mural using masking tape.

Once your wallpaper mural is delivered, it is time to hang it. Take your time and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. There are four steps to hanging your mural: Preparing the Wall Surface, Preparing the Adhesive, Application or Hanging, and Drying. Since adhesive types vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, these steps will be detailed in the instructions that come with your mural.

Your wallpaper mural will come in panels. We recommend you lay out the panels on the floor in the proper order before you start, but make sure to do this well away from the mounting surface to avoid any paste spillage. Since the placement of the first panel determines the overall look of the finished mural, take extra time and care to place it accurately.

A few more tips to keep in mind: Dampen the paper with the adhesive, do not soak or saturate it. Don't fold the mural paper. Make sure the wall is clean and grease-free. Overlap each panel slightly to prevent the seams from showing when dry.

When installed correctly and chosen well, wallpaper murals will enhance the warmth and appearance of any room, make a small room look bigger, and add a personal touch to your home. Whether you want a wall to stand out dramatically or blend into a backdrop to highlight your furnishings, a wallpaper mural can do the trick.

About the Author

Carlo Morelli is a contributor to OnlineTips.Org, where you can read about venetian blinds and cabinet refacing