Does a Mural Need a Smooth Wall?

Investing in a gorgeous printed wall mural is a quick and affordable way to breathe new life into your space. They are also incredibly durable and easy to install. But, does a mural need a smooth wall?

Today, we’ll be covering the ins and outs of mural installation. We’ll be focusing on wall textures and which wall textures work best for installing a printed wall mural. 

Let’s dive in. 

Does A Mural Need A Smooth Wall?

So, the question at hand is does a mural need a smooth wall? And the answer to that is pretty straightforward. If you want the best results and achieve that gorgeous adhered-to finish, you’ll need to have a flat, smooth wall. Murals do need a smooth wall to properly adhere and stick. 

This is because highly textured walls often have less surface area than a flat, smooth wall. This makes it difficult for the mural to stick. This refers to walls with a popcorn texture, stippled walls, brick, or cinder block walls. 

That being said, how well your custom wall mural adheres does depend on how textured the wall is and whether the wall mural installation was done properly. The more textured a wall is, the harder it is for the mural to stick. It is also harder to figure out how to seal a wall mural on a more textured wall. 

Now, if you have textured walls, don’t be discouraged. While textured walls are not the simplest to adhere murals to, murals can still be applied. If the design you have your eye on doesn’t need to last too long – go ahead! 

As a business, you may find it useful to have a reason to replace the mural outside your office. If you’re looking to put up a mural in your small child’s room – they might grow out of it soon anyway. In these cases, we say go ahead with the mural application!

However, at the end of the day, wall murals work best on smooth walls. 

Types Of Walls That Work With A Wall Mural

So, which wall textures work best for installing a mural? And how do you prep the various types of wall textures so that murals adhere to them?  

Textured Walls

Having textured walls can be such a pain, especially if you’re thinking of decorating with wall murals or even paint. Generally, wall textures with a light lemon peel texture or a slightly smoother texture are easier to customize just because there is more surface area. 

But, if you’re stuck with a heavily textured wall type like popcorn, stomp brush, or comb, it can be a bit of a challenge. 

Luckily, with most walls, you can simply scrape or sand those textures down.  

Scraping and sanding a wall is quite simple but it does take quite a bit of elbow grease. First, you’ll need to cover and protect your floors with a canvas drop cloth, not plastic. Spray your walls with water and allow a 15-minute soak. This should soften the texture and allow you to scrape it all off. Be sure to hold your scraper at a 30-degree angle so you don’t end up puncturing the drywall. 

This will only work if your drywall layer hasn’t previously been painted. If it has, adding a skim coat is the best bet. Skimming is a great option for those of us without smooth walls. 

Armed with a mud pan and a squeegee knife, you can easily smooth over rough surfaces with this process. Bear in mind that you will need to skim walls that are made of stone or brick. 

Painted Walls

Non-textured painted walls are easier than textured walls but they do need some prep depending on the type of paint. For example, matte, eggshell, or flat paints need an extra layer of sealant so that the mural sticks well. 

But, if your walls have a satin paint finish or anything glossy, you won’t need a sealant. 

If you are using a sealant, ensure that your walls are completely dry before installing your mural. We recommend you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter or hire a professional. 

Painted walls can take every kind of wall mural, regardless of the material type. But, if it’s a textured, painted wall, you might want to try and smooth it out first. 

Alternatively, you can choose a thicker, studier printed wall mural to hide those lumps. 

Conclusion

Installing wall murals in your space can be quite a challenge. Especially if you’re dealing with textured walls. But, before you even get to that point, you need to work out how much a wall mural costs and decide which type of wall mural material to go for. 

That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced professional in your corner. They’ll be able to help you choose the best wall murals or the best removable wall murals based on your needs. 

At Coastal Creative, we’ll guide you through every step of the process and help you choose a wall mural that suits both your tastes, lifestyle, and home. We’ll ensure that the end product looks exactly as you envisioned it.

Did you enjoy reading our blog? Then consider checking other guides:

• What Is a Wall Mural?
• How to Remove Wall Mural
• How Are Wall Murals Printed?
• Types Of Wall Mural
• Best Wall Murals for Bedroom
• Best Wall Murals for Living Room
• How To Reuse Wall Murals
• Outdoor Wall Murals
• Simple Outdoor Wall Murals
• Garden Wall Mural
• Weatherproof Garden Wall Murals
• Waterproof Wall Murals
• Exterior Wall Elevation Wall Murals
• Wall Murals For Business
• Home Office Wall Mural