I Bought A Huge, Gorgeous Wall Mural (With No Idea Where To Use It)
Have you ever been browsing online only to find something that looks like it was made just for you at an amazing price, but you had no idea where you’d put it? Of course you have. You’re reading a blog called Addicted 2 Decorating. I would bet that at least 95% of you have done that. 😀
Well, that’s exactly what I did. I was just browsing the Anthropologie website, looking specifically at wallpaper and murals, as I do on a fairly regular basis just because. But this time, I was hoping to find inspiration for the walls in our soon-to-be bedroom, and one particular mural stopped me in my scroll — the Paradise Mural (affiliate link). Just look at this!
I mean, the last thing I need is another project added to my “to do” list right now, but I couldn’t pass this up. This mural may as well have had my name written on it. This mural is gorgeous and perfect in every way. It’s 10 feet high and 20 feet wide, and it’s on sale for $264.60. If you’ve ever shopped for murals, you know that murals that size are generally at least $600, if not much more. And sometimes they’re much more. So I had to buy it, right?! 😀
Of course, I bought it with no definite plan of where to use it. I was looking for ideas and inspiration for our bedroom walls, but I can’t and won’t put that mural in a room right next to the bathroom in which this mural is the star of the show…
When it comes to the bedroom, I was looking for something that’s more of a geometric pattern that can complement the floral mural in the next room. Adding another floral mural isn’t in the plan. So I have to find another place for this one.
I’ve narrowed it down to three spots. The first and most obvious option is the entryway wall.
If I use it there, I’d get rid of the ottomans (I can hear some of you cheering right now 😀 ) and the pillows. I’d find another place for the mirrors and the bird pictures (probably the future dining room), and I’d hang a very simple something above the credenza, like one large mirror.
The second spot that came to mind is the hallway. I think it would be beautiful and dramatic, but it would also make this area pretty dark.
Also, I think it would look terrible next to the bathroom once I add the new wallpaper to the bathroom walls. (And yes, I’ll be removing the tile accent.)
Another idea that came to mind is to wait until we turn the pantry into the laundry room, with the doorway into the laundry room on the wall shared with the future kitchen, rather than its current doorway in the wall shared with the breakfast room. Right now, the TV in that room hangs on the side wall — the wall shared with my studio…
But after the kitchen is added and the doorway to the pantry (future laundry room) is moved, the current doorway will be closed up to turn this into a solid wall, and the TV will go here. This wall will be almost the exact dimensions as the entryway wall. Those are the only two big, solid walls available in the house.
There is actually one other option. In a recent post, someone mentioned the option of building banquette seating in the dining room. I really like that idea, so I’ve been searching for an looking at dining areas with banquette seating to get inspiration. That’s when I came across this amazing space from Michelle Berwick Design.
I love that so much that I found the wallpaper and ordered a sample, but if I did something like this in our dining area, I could use the mural there. Obviously, I could only use a portion of it since it’s so big, but I’m sure I could pick out a favorite portion to use there.
I’m still not sure that banquette seating will work in our future dining area, but I really love the idea. It would give me a legitimate reason to shift the table and chairs over (instead of sitting right smack dab in the center, as my need for symmetry would necessitate) to give more breathing room between the dining table/chairs and the furniture in the TV room. But I’m still thinking about it.
So right now, I’m leaning towards using it in the entryway, mostly because I don’t want to wait until after our kitchen is finished to put that mural up. 😀 But also, I really do think that’s the best spot for it. It’ll make quite an impact when people enter our house!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I love that mural. It is stunning. I think the entryway is a fabulous idea. Would the entryway credenza be placed in front of the mural, as it sits now? I wouldn’t want to put anything in front of it. It is too gorgeous to cover. 🙂
What a stunning find. I think my vote is the new dining room or your current tv wall when that is empty, as in the hallway the credenza would hide quite a bit of the beautiful flowers and possibly most of those teal leaves in the bottom half? You can’t hide teal in your home!
What about the long wall in your future closet/work-out room? It’s nice to have something beautiful to look at while sweating!
I was thinking the same!
Me too. My thoughts exactly!
Beautiful! Entry, yes!
I could see that ravishing design up on a ceiling. What an impact that would make in an entrance hall, (or anywhere really), and with the added bonus that it would not fade so quickly from sun exposure, so you could enjoy it for longer!
Win-win.
GREAT idea! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I concur!
I vote for the entry! It would look stunning! I wouldn’t mind the credenza covering a portion of the mural. I’d hesitate to put the mural behind a banquette where people would lean against it.
How about triptych?
No banquet. Just the mural in the dining room on the wall that is currently where the range is. Or the entryway.
I thought about that, but I don’t like that there’s a cased opening in that wall. So unless I frame it in to keep it just in the main area of that wall, I’ll have to wrap it up and around that doorway. I don’t like that idea at all. That’s why I liked the banquette. It forms a frame that gives a very natural “frame” for the mural.
This was what came to my mind also. I think it would look beautiful there. But placing it in the entryway would also be an eye catcher. It definitely says Kristi!
Agree, entryway.
If you change out the entry way credenza to something more open feeling (antiqued brass/glass or just a less heavy piece of furniture–that would eliminate covering up a lot of the mural.
I like the entry hall for placement. Or a long wall in the closet? Don’t know if there will be one. Fun to dream and plan.
My first thought was, “Your new dining room!” And it is still my favorite spot, whether you do banquette seating or not.
Ok, I’m definitely Team dining room!
I love the entry as is. Definitely you!
Using a banquettte against the wall would allow the most mural to show. The table can remain against the seat when no company. Easier navigation for Matt. If no back to the long seat, more of that beautiful mural will show!
Boy, I sure get why you snatched that gorgeous thing in a heartbeat.
To me, the entry is the winner. Next to your living room, how beautiful! Good because it would not be near a window (no fading over time) and because everybody should have the joy of seeing it. They would gasp. I’ll bet you would every time you stepped into the house. Nothing in front of it to obscure the impact. No tables, chairs– nuttin’ (Hang me for saying this, but, the entry is the only area of your house that seems ‘off.’ A bit too rigid to say “welcome.” Too busy. Whatever.)
And yes, because I laughed out loud to read your remark in this post, I am a volunteer on Team “Please-Find-A- New-Spot” for those hassocks or recover them or?? I know you mentioned it is nice having a spot to put on shoes (agreed) but nonetheless, for that there could be a quieter look to them. As is, they attract too much attention.
P.S. banquette seating looks pretty but I don’t think it is as comfortable as sitting on a chair to eat. Maybe others would correct my observation.
I am so glad you found that gorgeous mural. Hmmm, any possibility of doing something to the credenza to lower it? Otherwise, I guess you would have to sacrifice some part of the art piece.
I like the idea of the entryway with the credenza where it is, a eye catching lamp on one end of the credenza and a few nick-nacks. Don’t hang a mirror, what is the point on having a beautiful mural if you cover it with a mirror.
What about in the dining room on the wall that is shared with the music room? That looks to be a sizable wall and the mural could be on full glorious display.
My next choice would be the new wall in the family room but the mural will be covered with a TV, so I’m not real excited about that option. I just will hate seeing you cover up a large part of the mural with anything.
As usual you will ponder on it for awhile and whatever you come up with will be beautiful.
I could swear that an IG I follow (ponderosa_and_plaid) hung that same mural in her bathroom off of her kitchen! She had a long space there for it, and she added more flowers to it with paint. It came out pretty incredible for a long, narrow room! She’s always buying stuff from Anthro, like that huge mirror they’ve been selling for a few years. I think you should save it for the dining room! (No mirrors in the dining room, people don’t want to see themselves eating!) And let it be THE ART, and not hang anything to cover it up!
I vote entryway. It will work with all the other colors in the living room, it is gorgeous, and…and…did I say it’s GORGEOUS?
The mural is gorgeous and I can really visualise it being in your studio bathroom! I think it would look absolutely perfect in there!
Kristi…Gosh that is a beautiful mural. I wouldn’t even guess where to put it inside. However, wouldn’t it be something to look at if you could find a big mural….big and as serene as this one, and somehow put it up across the back of your house when you get your big deck built. I looked up where your deck will be and saw there are too many windows and such to do this….but wouldn’t it be beautiful if it could be done. Of course it would need to be weatherized. I’m just dreaming about this wishing I could do it on my patio. Where ever you put this beautiful it in your home I know it will look fantastic.
Entry for sure, then you get to buy another for the banquette if and when that happens.
Before reading your thought process about where to put it, my immediate thought was your bedroom behind the headboard. It has the same feel and mood as the one in your master bathroom. And the flow and mood would be beautiful between the two rooms. They wouldn’t diminish each other because the rooms are large enough, they would stand on their own. (Might have to change plans for the headboard fabric, though). For the most part, all of the colors and artwork elsewhere in the house have a crisp and vibrant feel. Brighter colors, sharper and more defined images. That’s why I couldn’t picture this mural in among them. But for extending a mood between the master bedroom and master bathroom, it would be phenomenal. And soothing.
Totally gorgeous mural. Looks “Roccoco” to me but less fluffy than that, and I love all the pinks and greens.
I vote entry or breakfast room wall. I know you’ll figure some good credenza arrangement since you know what you like. Would you be willing to make an entryway mock-up?
Curious to see how it would look with the LR.
I definitely feel like the entryway would be perfect. I love the credenza you built, and I personally think it would look great, but I would have to remove everything else. No sconces, no ottomans, etc. The mural, your credenza, a simple beautiful lamp and a plant (or some other unobtrusive decor) on the credenza and MAYBE a mirror. I’d have to see it with and without.
The entryway makes the most sense because it could make use of a bigger portion of the mural. How about taking the shelf and legs of the buffet and padding the top? You would still have the storage it provides as well as a great place to sit and put your shoes on and it would not hide so much of the mural. It would feel like you were sitting in that gorgeous garden.
Mural=perfect! Entryway=Perfect! If I had some spare change and a wall to accommodate a mural I believe I would buy the same one. Your style/taste=PERFECT!
Wow. Love your ideas!