Today I can’t wait to show you how to easily add dimensional interest to a focal wall in your home. Installing a Brick Wall Mural is definitely a DIY project you can tackle if you have a friend or two to help you. When Wallpaper Direct contacted me to offer to let me try some of their products, I was still a bit wary (having stripped my fair share of wallpaper.) But, then I stumbled upon the white brick wallpaper and saw how cool it looked. I decided to give it a try and let them send me a wallpaper mural specifically for my son’s bedroom. But, let’s back up. Remember last week when I admitted to being a procrastinator? Well, this is what I started with:
After staring at Nickelodeon green for 6 years, my son and I decided it would be calming to paint the walls a soothing gray. And, I thought it would be really cool to create a loft look by installing a giant wall mural of white brick. (Note: The large mural panels has since been discontinued, but you can purchase white brick wallpaper that looks very similar and may actually be easier to install by yourself.)
I ordered the mural and it arrived safely to our house in a few days. I quickly organized a few friends who had installed wallpaper to help me.
To install a wallpaper mural, you’ll need a few tools.
(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)
Materials:
- Wallpaper application brush
- Squeegee
- Platforms or step ladder
- Wallpaper paste
- Paint roller
- Paint tray
- Wallpaper mural
- Wet rag
- X-acto knife
- Two DIY friends who are also wallpaper experts
Prep Work:
Before wallpapering your wall, clean it with a mild cleanser (diluted TSP is wonderful, but you can use regular multi-purpose spray cleaner.) Patch any holes or imperfections with spackle (joint compound). After the compound has dried, lightly sand the wall.
Wipe off the sanding dust with a damp rag.
Coat the wall with primer and let dry. This may seem like overkill, but you never know what the wall condition is (for example, how many sticky fingers left their mark on there. And I won’t mention the booger memorial. Parents of boys, you so get this right?!) It’s better to prime and be certain your wallpaper will stick to the wall the first time. If you are going to repaint the rest of the walls, go ahead and paint around the edges of your soon to be wallpapered wall. This will avoid the headache of trying to cut around the wallpaper after the fact.
Once the primer is dry, gather your supplies for hanging the wallpaper. Set out the platforms or step ladders to help you install the top panels.
Read the instructions that come with your wallpaper mural. It should direct you to the correct installation order. (The wall mural I bought has codes in the corner and a corresponding diagram to tell us where to hang the panels.) Locate your first panel.
Gather your DIY Wallpaper experts to help you. Spread wallpaper paste onto the first panel using the paint roller.
Carefully lift the panel up and position it on the wall. The directions told us to install the first panel in the upper right corner.
Pull each side taut and line up your mural panel against the corner and the ceiling. Some overlap is okay, you can trim it off later.
The panel is still re-positionable while the paste is wet. Make sure you get the panel in position before proceeding.
Use the wallpaper application brush to sweep from the center out. This will force air bubbles and wrinkles out of your panel.
Then you can use the squeegee to really smooth the panel and remove any remaining air bubbles.
After the first panel is installed, move on to the next panel (as instructed by the directions from the manufacturer.)
Continue installing each panel until your wall is complete.
Trim any excess above the baseboard and at the ceiling using an x-acto knife (with a clean sharp blade.) For a super straight line, you can use a metal ruler as a guide.
You should have a fabulous feature wall now!
Do you love the look of that brick wall? You can find it and more at WallpaperDirect.com?
Thank you soooo much to my sweet girlfriends Holly & Claire (soon to be blogger). I owe them both for their friendship and help.
See you later alligator!
Disclosure: WallpaperDirect.com sent me complimentary wallpaper products. I was not told what to say about Wallpaper Direct or their products. All opinions and words are my own.
It really looks good…thank goodness you had the experts to help you with that! I have never tried to put up wallpaper although my husband has and he says it is easy? It really does look great!
I have a BIG bedroom wall that is crying for this! Now…hoping that wallpapering with my husband doesn’t cause a divorce…HA!
That turned out great! I’ve been thinking about wallpaper for my living room so thanks for a chance to win some!
I’d love to wallpaper my bathroom. It’s pretty small which would make it a doable project (I think) and could use some drama.
I would love to wallpaper one wall in my kitchen. The wallpaper in your sons room looks great!
I’ve been doing countless online searches about faux brick walls – this must be a sign that I’m really supposed to do it! Yours looks great.
i would love to try a focal wall in our bedroom. Or as we like to call it, the most forgotten, neglected room in the house that we’re afraid someone will stumble into and never come out of again… i think a cool focal wall would be a great jumping off point!
I would love to wallpaper an accent wall in our laundry room or guest room!
I am thinking I’d like to wallpaper part of my bedroom. LOVE the brick wall!
There is a wall in my bathroom that I would love to make an accent wall!
Looks so real! Great option for a low budget option as a wall covering.
my daughter’s room, definitely !
My bedroom or kitchen!
The eating area is screaming for this treatment! Thanks for the opportunity – my fingers are crossed!
Wallpaper sure has come a long way from way back when. It looks awesome, you’d never know it was wallpaper until you touched I’m sure. What a wonderful touch to your son’s room. What great friends you have, lucky you!
This looks fabulous. I thought I was “still” over wallpaper until I saw this. Now I have to re-think that and decide where I’d like to hang a brick mural. Great job.
I am working on re-doing the small front room of our house that we are using as an office/piano room. I’d love to do something really dramatic, like a strong color, or a bold graphic wallpaper…or both!
I’d use it in the kitchen.
This looks much easier than the faux brick I did with drywall compound. I like!
Your wall looks great :-)!
I haven’t decided which wall in our home yet…so many choices…still thinking.
Thank you for the opportunity 🙂
God Bless You 🙂
Looks really good! Can’t wait to see the finished room!
I would use this in my home gym.
Brittany….love this post! And hanging the awesome wallpaper in little guy’s room with you and Holly was a blast…yes, friendship is messy in a good way. 🙂 Even though I was there….this post will be a great tutorial for another day, another project. Keep them coming! xoxo
So glad I have you as a great friend! Thanks for your help.
Very cool, love this wallpaper effect!
LOVE! We are finishing our attic and this brick wall would rock the space! Love, love and more love!
If only it was that easy to have real exposed brick on any wall we chose! But this is a great alternative!
My daughter’s bedroom.
This is awesome wallpaper! I live in a track home and this would be a great way to add some character! Hope I win and thanks for the tips!
I can’t decide where I’d use it first! Either behind the stove or in the laundry room/back porch area. Both areas need some sprucing up! That’s for the play by play picture install.
I would love to add some life to my bedroom!
Our future daughter through adoption 🙂
So cool. I wonder if they have red brick and how it would look in our den?
I love brick walls, so I am super excited to see this project!
Brittany,
I love your wall. This will last a while in your sons bedroom. I love a soft dove gray for a soothing color. Neutral grey with your famous pops of color, will be changing this room for some time to come.
Karen Marie
Dragonfly & Lily Pads
Love this! This wallpaper, would add some nice texture and dimension to any room.
That wall looks great! I’ve been meaning to do a cool wallpaper in the stairwell. 🙂
Looks really good & just like a real brick wall
I seriously thought that was textured.. it looks so real. Love it!
I would love to wallpaper my teen girl’s room.
I have been trying to figure out a non-permanent backsplash solution for my rental kitchen. Wallpapering that little space may fit the bill, especially something that looks textured like this brick wall
I am amazed at how realistic this looks or you are just an amazing photographer….probably both. Gorgeous!
LOL…no it really looks real!
I have a lot of walls to fill up in the basement. We just finished it so I’m hoping to win so I can decorate my walls!
I would decorate the half bath and the guest bedroom.
This looks amazing! Thank you for arranging the giveaway!