Long reserved for facades and gardens, the wall fresco is now coming indoors. An original alternative to wallpaper, it brings character and instantly transforms a room. But where to do it, with what paint, and who to call on for a truly artistic result? We tell you everything you need to know about adopting this trend without any missteps.
Lovers of frescoes signed by street artists all over the city? This trend which brings urban art into the home may well seduce you. Jungle spirit, graphic or abstract, trompe l’oeil style, in black and white as well as in color… The frescoes leave the street to better decorate the wall at home. Unique, often original and sometimes even unusual, this way of dressing the walls, but not that impresses us and not just a little!
The painted wall fresco, a good alternative to wallpaper?
Although it is often more expensive, wall murals have many advantages when compared to wallpaper. First of all, in terms of form, the wall fresco can take on tons of shapes since it is tailor-made and thus responds to all your desires, even the craziest. Real work of wall artthe fresco allows an infinite number of styles and patterns : from dreamy flat colors to wall frescoes imbued with nature, both plant-based and colorful, including graphic black and white frescoes. Basically too, the wall fresco has everything right since it can convey messages thanks to lettering or creative lettering. Personalized and customizable, the wall fresco offers great freedom of expression and adopts an artistic dimension by its unlimited possibilities compared to wallpaper, even panoramic.
If it is usually found on walls, the fresco can also be painted on the floor or ceiling, Outside as well as in the house, you will see that the wall mural feels at home anywhere. Last but not leastin case of weariness for this or that reason, the wall fresco can be easily covered with just a few brush strokes whereas it turns out to be more complicated to change wallpaper. And yes, of course you have to take the latter off. An operation which can damage the wall below and require re-plastering before being able to paint or install new wallpaper.
In which rooms should you create a wall fresco?
Whatever your inspirations, the wall fresco will satisfy them and that is why it can be invited everywhere: outside – on a wall on the garden side, not far from the terrace or on the balcony – as well as inside, in the four corners of the house! And here’s how to do it.
- a wall mural in the living room : here, we offer it a place of choice on a section of wall or an entire wall and we listen to its desires, while keeping in mind that the wall fresco must be in harmony with the style of your living room,
- a wall mural in the bedroom : on the sleeping area side, it can easily create a trendy headboard and even hang on the ceiling for sweet dreams,
- a wall mural in baby’s room : by favoring soft colors, we will be able to create a soothing decor or bring in life-size animals whose mission will be to awaken baby until he is old enough to identify them,
- a hallway side wall fresco : perfect in this passage space, the fresco will energize the walls and give a new function to the corridor, that of surprising those who will have the chance to use it.
For a easy to make wall muralstart with a simple pattern with few details and if you prefer to entrust the creation of the latter to a professional, they will know how to go about it. Once the pattern has been defined in advance, the first step will consist of cleaning and protecting the surface to be painted and its surroundings. Next comes the preparation of the support with the application of an undercoat. Then you have to draw the shapes of the wall fresco to the appropriate dimensions, either freehand or by projecting them onto the wall. All that remains – so to speak – is to paint the fresco, ventilating the room well and adding details or shading if necessary. Finally, once the paint has dried, you can protect the work using an appropriate varnish.
What type of paint to use for a wall fresco?
When you want to create a wall fresco, the appropriate paint will depend on the support on which it will come to life. Unless you have a very specific request, the choice of paint falls to the artist or craftsman who will create it. Most often, acrylic or latex paints are preferred.but also the aerosol can, a nod to street artists. As for wall frescoes created outdoors, we will opt for facade paint, capable of resisting bad weather.
Which painters should you turn to for a mural?
Whether you don’t feel like an artist or you want to entrust the creation of your mural to a professional, know that there are many trades qualified to make this dream a reality. Painters, muralists, decorators, illustrators, street artists… To help you find that rare gem, here is a small, non-exhaustive list of our favorite talents:
- Maïlys Huby/@mailys.huby: the gourmet, poetic and animal-filled universe of this graphic designer specializing in visual identity, logos, illustrations and frescoes of course (!) will not leave you indifferent,
- Amy Jones/@studiojonesie; a Franco-American illustrator based in Paris who will make you see life in colors!
- Steffi Lynn/@haveanicedayy_: this American artist and muralist created frescoes feel good his signature!
- Lauren Hom/@homsweethom: this designer has become a true lettering ace with boundless creativity.
Without forgetting all the artists, painters and decorators with diverse and varied styles who collaborate with PALM aka Peint À La Main, the platform dedicated to artistic and decorative frescoes, created by Monsieur Peinture.
How much does a wall mural cost?
While the purchase and installation of wallpaper by a craftsman costs, on average, between 50 and 100 euros per square meter, the price of a wall fresco is higher and it costs between 200 and 500 euros per m², depending on the complexity of the project and the surface to be painted. And this of course includes advice and artistic direction, preparation of the support, production (with or without additional labor) as well as supplies. To this, travel and accommodation costs may need to be added, if necessary.
