26 Colorful Wall Mural Ideas You Can DIY

Energizing blank walls with an eye-catching mural is an easy way to instantly personalize your space. Whether you are painting it yourself or hiring a professional, painting a simple wall mural is a budget-friendly project that will create an instant focal point in any room. From muted landscapes to bold geometric patterns, whimsical nature-inspired themes, or abstract forms, there’s a wall mural for every taste, style, and color palette.

Check out these wall mural ideas that will inspire you to transform your blank walls from drab to fab with a dose of imagination, a little elbow grease, and a few cans of paint.

01 of 26

Terrific Terrazzo

@lacasavera / Instagram

Bring the popular terrazzo tile look to your front entryway by painting a colorful mural like this one. You know what they say about first impressions, after all. This splashy design definitely makes an impact.

Continue to 2 of 26 below
02 of 26

Leafy Entryway

@stephckwilliams / Instagram

Make use of the wall space beside your basement or garage door and paint a fun mural that will add a pop of color to the space. Leaves and nature motifs are commonly incorporated into murals and add visual interest to any room.

Continue to 3 of 26 below
03 of 26

Birds in Flight

@jvd_designs / Instagram

A soothing mural featuring various shades of blue is perfect for the bedroom. Note that not all murals need to be very vibrant; sometimes more calming colors work best.

Continue to 4 of 26 below
04 of 26

Black and White All Over

@foundandfree / Instagram

Black and white murals are also having a moment. This one frames a doorway and almost looks like a wallpaper pattern. Grab some black paint and a brush and take your plain white walls to the next level by creating a design like this one.

Continue to 5 of 26 below
05 of 26

Mountain Region

@leepicardart / Instagram

This expansive mural adds tons of personality to this dining space. Pick a theme that inspires you—mountains, animals, or a geometric pattern—and get painting.

Continue to 6 of 26 below
06 of 26

Wavy Wonder

@mid_centurymillennial / Instagram

If you're not inclined to coat every inch of your wall in paint, experiment with a smaller-scale mural. Green stripes look contemporary and fresh and add a laid-back touch to this space.

Continue to 7 of 26 below
07 of 26

Abstract and Geometric

@becs_bakers_abode / Instagram

Geometric shapes look totally groovy in this welcoming dining room. These muted 70s colors look anything but dated, though, and prove that retro style design is still majorly in vogue.

Continue to 8 of 26 below
08 of 26

Natural Nook

@mclayhome / Instagram

We see a mountain theme again in this hallway, where a mural adds a sophisticated touch to a simple reading nook. There's no need to hang artwork from floor to ceiling when you can use paint to create something magical instead.

Continue to 9 of 26 below
09 of 26

Boho-Style Beauty

@midnitetalkshow / Instagram

This boho-style mural warms up a primary bedroom and brings in many luscious pink, red, and orange hues. The burnt orange bed pillows tie this space together wonderfully.

Continue to 10 of 26 below
10 of 26

Child's Play

@biancasotelofireside / Instagram

Kids' bedrooms are excellent places for murals; children will love drifting off to sleep in a room that feels ultra-magical. This mountain design is perfect for young ones who love the outdoors.

Continue to 11 of 26 below
11 of 26

Subtly Leafy

@elleehome / Instagram

A gray and white mural adds elegance to this dining space while still being subdued in color. The leaf pattern complements the nearby plant wonderfully, too.

Continue to 12 of 26 below
12 of 26

Chic Stairway

@jasmine_bible_design / Instagram

Not sure what to do with that tricky stairway area? If you don't feel inclined to hang photos or install wallpaper, painting a mural is another great way to give this space more life. Every time you run up and down the stairs, you'll be confronted with peppy hues that make you smile.

Continue to 13 of 26 below
13 of 26

Two-Toned Twist

@hobnobery / Instagram

This two-toned mural is charming and makes use of an L-shaped space perfectly. There's no need for a headboard when your bed is pushed up against a mural as lovely as this one.

Continue to 14 of 26 below
14 of 26

Stripy and Spirited

@kvyainc / Instagram

Who says your dining room has to be dull? Paint bold stripes on the walls and your dinner parties will get a whole lot more festive. These bright, imperfect stripes are full of whimsy.

Continue to 15 of 26 below
15 of 26

Snake-Like Style

@alyssamakessomething / Instagram

Not even the bathroom is off-limits when it comes to mural painting. This rainbow, snake-like mural takes a plain bathroom and turns it into an Instagram-worthy space. Bring on those mirror selfies.

Continue to 16 of 26 below
16 of 26

Neon Kitchen

@tallulahcottage / Instagram

For everyone who goes wild over an all-white kitchen, there's someone else who can't imagine cooking in a soft, subdued space. If that's you, why not introduce bold colors in mural form? Given how much time we spend in our kitchens, we should design them to be spaces we truly love. Take some hints from this bright mural that incorporates natural elements that can easily be complemented by real (or faux) plants.

Continue to 17 of 26 below
17 of 26

Creatively Inclined

@made.on.mapleridge / Instagram

Jazz up even the smallest of workspaces with a mural. This black-and-white two-wall mural is chic yet not too distracting. Sit down and get ready to feel those creative juices flowing.

Continue to 18 of 26 below
18 of 26

Laundry Room Love

@cottageandblossom / Instagram

The laundry room is another well-utilized yet often neglected space that deserves some love. Make it feel more special with a mural and perhaps folding t-shirt after t-shirt will feel like less of a chore.

Continue to 19 of 26 below
19 of 26

Out of This World

@kf_at_home / Instagram

Outer space-themed designs are sure to please family members of all ages. A mural like this one would be fabulous in a playroom; kids will enjoy letting their imaginations soar.

Continue to 20 of 26 below
20 of 26

Ravishing Rainbow

@second.hand.home / Instagram

A cheerful rainbow paired with a scalloped border looks right at home in a nursery. The rainbow design may even inspire kids to learn and recite their colors.

Continue to 21 of 26 below
21 of 26

Artsy Arch

@dwellaware / Instagram

The painted arch doesn't appear to be going anywhere. While these often are seen solo, consider incorporating yours as part of a larger mural for a more complex and interesting design.

Continue to 22 of 26 below
22 of 26

Bathroom Views

@barnhomeliving / Instagram

A mountain mural made its way into this bathroom, and the blue mirrors and vanity complement the design to a T. Why shouldn't you be able to brush your teeth while enjoying a gorgeous view?

Continue to 23 of 26 below
23 of 26

Flower Power

Dazey Den

Channel the 1960s with a flower power wall mural. Dazey Den used the retro floral wallpaper accent wall behind the bed as inspiration for this large scale daisy wall mural, pulling colors from the pattern and painting large flowers on the white brick wall.

Continue to 24 of 26 below
24 of 26

Pink Flamingos

Dazey Den

Painting a plethora of pink flamingos on the wall above the bed is one way to add a throwback feel to a modern retro bedroom. This bedroom from Dazey Den includes an abstract wall mural of midcentury modern pink flamingos on a green background. Matching bedside brass flamingo lamps and a feathered pendant light add whimsy.

Continue to 25 of 26 below
25 of 26

Midcentury Modern Vibes

Dazey Den

Pick a midcentury modern color palette to energize a space decorated in warm woods and clean lines. This updated midcentury modern space from Dazey Den includes an abstract mural on the wall behind the sofa in the study that complements the midcentury modern-inspired color palette of blues and oranges.

Continue to 26 of 26 below
26 of 26

Abstract Accent Wall

Dazey Den

Use a wall mural to define zones in an open-plan space. This abstract wall mural from Dazey Den anchors the seating area of this living and dining room. Paler shades of the room's palette of pinks, oranges, blues, and greens are used on the wall mural to lighten up the lounge space.

What type of paint is best for wall murals?

For a small indoor wall mural, choose acrylic paint in an eggshell or matte finish to prevent glare. Choose latex paint to cover a large surface.

How do you prepare a wall for a mural?

Before you paint a mural, clean the wall. Use a rag dipped in warm water and some mild dishwashing soap to remove dust and surface dirt. Allow it to completely dry before applying an acrylic primer to get the wall ready for paint. Taking these steps will ensure that paint sticks evenly to the surface and that your wall mural is durable for years to come.

How do you choose a wall mural?

Choosing a wall mural is a matter of personal taste. Because it will set the tone for the rest of the room, pick a theme, scene, or pattern that will project the feeling you want to create in the room. This may mean painting a soothing landscape scene in a dining room, a colorful abstract pattern in a playroom, or a realistic animal-themed jungle scene in a nursery.