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Interior Wall Paintings and Murals: A Creative Enhancement or A Decorating Faux Pas?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with North Sky Realty LLC 6502410580

When you find murals and other kinds of wall paintings inside a home, are they a creative appealing enhancement of a home or a decorating faux pas?  I have taken some photos recently of some very creative wall murals inside some foreclosed homes that look like they took quite some time to create. 

Wall Paintings & MuralsHowever, some people might say that if you want to sell your home down the road, you should avoid decorating with something so permanent.  Mostly I have seen it in children's rooms, but there have been some homes I have come across that had some very bad attempt at murals, and they were done with dark paint. 

The prospect of having to paint over such an atrocity may not be something every potential buyer is interested in undertaking.  So when does it stop being creative artwork Wall Paintings & Muralsthat appeals to everyone and when does it cross the line to becoming a faux pas? 

Perhaps the best advice I could offer as a Realtor to someone interested in doing such decorating is to do a little survey with friends, family and even complete strangers.  Take a drawing that you propose to paint as a mural and get some feedback from others, to see if it is indeed appealing. 

Wall Paintings & MuralsI have seen some very aesthetic artwork painted on walls of some homes, and I have even wished I knew who did it in some cases to commission them to do similar work in my home.  So there is something to be said about good art, by talented people versus ones taken on by an inexperienced amateur developing into a failed project. 

For example, let's examine some of the photos I depict here.  The tree and stick on leaves were in a childs bedroom or perhaps a nursery.  Doesn't look too bad, but the three dimensional leaves did not appeal to the buyers I was showing it to.  An elephant and rhino might also be cute in a child's bedroom, but in the living room?  Not sure about that decision.

In either case, it is one of the benefits of homeownership ultimately to be able to do what you want with your home, and make it your space. I guess the time you might consider caution on this is when you intend to sell in the short term.  Otherwise, make yourself at home.  Those are my thoughts on it.

So I tend to like wall murals, mainly because you do not see them too often.  When you see a really creative one, it kind of makes you pause and admire it. 

What are your thoughts on wall paintings and murals inside a home?

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Comments (3)

Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

For a dedicated children's room, this can be "involving", if it's good work.    Same for a "wine room".    Anything else works against one, in a sale situation...too particular.

Feb 28, 2011 05:39 AM
Michael Delaware
North Sky Realty LLC - Battle Creek, MI
REALTOR®, CRS, GRI

I would have to agree with you on that!  Good points.

Feb 28, 2011 05:46 AM
Anonymous
S.Smith
When I decorate my home, I don't like to think about the next person that will live here. Right now it's my place and I'm going to enjoy it. I love murals also and ya, you sure don't see them much. I've got a wallpaper mural in my sons bedroom (a jungle and animals scene). I think though that I like it more than he does; darn! My boy is very cautious and gets scared at night sometimes, so I thought all the animals in the mural would make him feel safer.
Mar 05, 2011 02:17 PM
#3