*In collaboration with Mural Wonder.
I’ve been wanting to redecorate my youngest daughter’s bedroom for ages. The wallpaper was starting to peel off and the paint was chipping. It also didn’t reflect her personality and she had no input on the colour scheme, wallpaper style etc. Decorating this house has taken us longer than before but slow decorating is a much more sensible thing to do. It means we can pick better quality products and let the design evolve over time. No wonder it has become such a buzzword in the interior design industry!
We had been eyeing up colourful wallpapers for quite a while before we found what we were looking for. I loved the idea of a delicate watercolour pattern in blues and pastels. I didn’t fancy anything too busy but I wanted to create a soft, calming feel on the walls (while still being colourful and fun). I couldn’t believe my luck when I came across a brand-new wallpaper online company, Mural Wonder. They had just the wallpaper we’d been searching for. I knew straight away that the Abstract Flower Art Wall Mural was ‘it’. My daughter loved it too which was so important to me.
Mural Wonder has a huge selection of ecologically printed wall murals in various different designs, colours and styles. You can also create your own custom wall mural if you wish. Just send them an email and they’ll help you out!
Here are my thoughts on design, quality, durability, and the whole wallpapering a feature wall process.
THE DESIGN
My daughter wanted a colourful accent wall but wasn’t too fussed about the design. I was quite pleased about that. It meant I could pick something timeless that wouldn’t date so quickly. I didn’t want to limit myself to a kid’s wallpaper either. We all know how quickly children change their minds, so it’s better to pick something you will both happily look at for the next 5 to 10 years. That is why I love abstract wall murals. They are timeless and add unique interest to any room. And you only need to do one wall which means it’s cheaper than having to wallpaper an entire room. Plus, I just prefer the look of an accent wall, especially with white walls.
The Abstract Flower Art wall mural features a stunning watercolour pattern with distinctive veins, swirls and flowers. The flower motif isn’t too dominant on the wall, as we had to cut quite a bit out due to the window. I don’t mind this at all since my favourite part about the wall mural is the organic pattern and the base colour. The colour harmonies just work so beautifully together.
MEASURING & ORDERING
We measured up the wall and allowed 5 cm on each side extra for any wastage (per the manufacturer’s instructions). There were no pattern repeats on the wall mural, so we had to calculate the coverage as accurately as possible. I emailed the measurements to Mural Wonder and they helped me to figure out how much I needed. They will also have an online tool on the website very soon that will calculate how much wallpaper you’ll need, which will come in very handy. And since this is a kid’s room, I knew ordering the premium paper would be worth it. It’s thicker than the non-woven paper without looking plasticky. Worth the extra cost, in my opinion!
THE PREP
The walls were in a bad way. Our decorator had quite a job getting three different layers of wallpaper off, plus the lining paper. It always baffles me when people wallpaper over wallpaper. It never looks as good and you can guarantee it will start to peel after a year or two. I mean, if you’re going to do something, do it properly! After removing the old wallpaper (or the multiple layers of it!), it was time to prep the wall. Our decorator made sure to sand down the wall and make good on any imperfections before installing the lining paper. We used extra-thick lining paper to smooth out the finish. We allowed it to dry for a few days before using a filler to fill the gaps. If your walls are in good condition, you can save time and money and skip the lining paper part. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an option for us in an over-100-year-old house.
INSTALLATION
The wall mural came in 6 numbered sections with detailed instructions. It was paste-to-wall wallpaper which is always more pleasant to work with, according to our decorator. Although the paste was included, our decorator insisted on using his own paste which he is used to. It’s good to keep in mind that when installing premium or any vinyl wallpaper, you’ll need a high-strength adhesive with some antifungal properties in it. The paper itself was pretty thick which made the hanging part easier. Our decorator did point out that it wasn’t very flexible though, so you need to make sure you are lining the paper correctly on the wall as once it’s on, it’s hard to adjust it.
PREMIUM (WATERPROOF) QUALITY
The quality of the print is just superb, as you can see. It really does bring the whole room to life. We haven’t had the wall mural long enough to comment on the durability but so far so good. Again, we opted for the premium paper but you can get it in non-woven or peal & stick as well. I would definitely go for the premium paper every time, especially in kids’s rooms or wet rooms, or other high-traffic areas. I also love that the wall murals are odourless and use non-toxic components making them a suitable choice for families and bedrooms.
CHALLENGES
Wallpapering is not easy, especially if you want a perfect finish. That’s why I would always hire a pro rather than attempt it myself. In some ways, I think wall murals can be trickier because there is no pattern repeat. You have to get it right and deal with windows and door frames, which can affect the result. If you have a straight wall, it will be much easier. I was a bit worried about how our window would look and if the pattern would be ruined, especially since we were going inside the window recess. Thankfully, our decorator got a bit creative and made it work. I think wallpapering inside the window recess is always the way to go, if you have the skills for it. It makes the wall look neater and more finished. I wouldn’t hesitate to install another wall mural somewhere but I’m hoping we will be able to avoid any windows next time.
I do love the finished look. But most importantly, my daughter adores her new feature wall. It reflects her fun and quirky personality perfectly!
I will share a more detailed blogpost of the entire makeover soon, including some before and after pictures, so stay tuned for more info!
PS. Mural Wonder is currently offering 25% off on all orders over £100.
