No More Framed Pictures: The Creative Way To Add Bold Charm To A Bathroom

I grew up seeing my granddad paint and draw all the time. He'd illustrate portraits of newlyweds, make caricatures of freshly retired colleagues from the airline he used to work at, and paint rice farmers against scenic Filipino landscapes. But more recently, painting mural walls has become his pastime. Apart from creating gallery walls in his living room, murals are his go-to method to add more charm to different parts of the house, from entrances down to bathroom interiors. And while others may think it's unusual to paint murals in bathrooms, they're actually a great, creative way to make the space look a little more lively – perhaps more than adding framed pictures, because that's another surface you'll have to clean quite often.

Hanging framed pictures in bathrooms isn't a bad idea, but if done incorrectly, it can irredeemably expose the whole thing to moisture that can lead to warping or other types of damage. So instead of stressing out on what you should frame and hang in perhaps one of the smallest rooms you have in your home, you can pour that focus on planning and painting a mural wall. That way, the wall immediately creates a stunning focal point that can make your tired bathroom look more luxe.

Remember, there's no need to go full Michelangelo here, especially if you've never painted your own wall mural before. Compared to other murals around my granddad's house, he kept his bathroom mural simple: five large, yellow flowers of different heights against a textured beige background — and you can try this concept, too. But before you get started, it's best to start planning a design that aligns your envisioned mural with your bathroom's current aesthetic.

If your bathroom mostly consists of neutral colors, painting a few oversized flora and fauna can effortlessly accentuate blank walls. If you plan to paint over your original wall and start from scratch, there's practically no limit to what you can create. You can go for landscapes, minimalist lined art, or freehand lines and shapes altogether.

To prepare your bathroom wall for the mural art, make sure to clean the surface to remove any hidden grime, cover furniture and fixtures to protect them from drips and splatters, then prime your wall to help keep your mural intact as you work on it. From here, you can sketch your design directly onto the wall or go ahead and paint your design freehand. You want the paint to settle in properly as you build your mural, so make sure to keep your environment nice, dry, and properly ventilated. When the mural painting is dry, it's best to apply a coat of varnish to keep it safe from damage.