by The last time Carrie Johnson’s decorating decisions made headlines, it was for designer wallpaper rolls; now it’s for a hand-painted mural she’s commissioned from decorative artist Meg Boscawen for her children’s bedrooms.
One of them is circus tents, mythical characters, carriages and buses; another has a woodland theme that goes around the room. “A mural can let a child’s imagination run free,” says Boscawen, “and because it’s customized for the client, it can feel very personal.”
Johnson is jumping on a trend that is becoming increasingly popular among tastemakers and social media influencers.
For those in the know, Tess Newall is the best choice for hand painted wall decorations. She has worked for TV presenter Laura Jackson and shoe designer Charlotte Olympia, as well as interior design studios including Isabella Worsley and Turner Pocock.
One of her first mural commissions was for Jackson’s eldest daughter’s bedroom: “We built a design together that brought nature into the room and that could be a talking point for the children when we put them to bed. It’s so whimsical and beautiful, it’s both exciting and relaxing,” says Jackson.
For herself, Newall particularly enjoys painting a mural in a child’s room. “I love knowing that what we’re painting will be the backdrop for their plays and puppet shows, and maybe even shape their imaginations and memories,” she says. “I remember decorating my first bedrooms and playrooms so clearly and I have no doubt that it influenced how I played and created. I try to imagine the ‘look’ of the children, paint flowers that tower over them, and hide details, like a caterpillar wearing glasses.”
Whether it’s a mural for a child or an adult, “Murals have to be magical for them,” says Newall.
They are definitely an investment: a hand-painted mural covering a small room can cost around £3,500 for five working days. Both Boscawen and Newall agree that it’s a very collaborative process that starts with ideas from the client and sketches go back and forth.
Newall says she advises clients to always think about what the room could be used for, within a time frame of at least the next five years. “I recently painted a playroom inspired by Greek mythology, in a fresco style,” she says. “The parents also use this room for occasional dinners and drinks, so although some of their children’s favorite creatures like Totoro are hidden away, it’s a very beautiful and sophisticated space for adults. to be there.”
Murals are certainly not a child’s only preserve: designer Paolo Moschino painted his home in West Sussex, and commissioned Isabella Worsley Newall and artist Melissa White to paint designs for her projects, including one at the Wildhive Callow Hall hotel. in Derbyshire.
Moschino says his dining room – a main entertainment area for him and his partner, Philip – “felt like a dark void; The delicate hand-painted floral mural brightened up the entire room and made it feel welcoming,” he says.
For those who want to adopt the decorative flower in a low-key way, look to Louise Roe, founder of Sharwood England, whose wardrobe was painted by artist Amy Balfour with Bloomsbury-inspired motifs.
Making it yourself is the budget-friendly option, if you have the skills. Designer Matilda Goad painted stripes on her four-poster bed using old sample paint pots, and Worsley suggests that “stenciling is a great alternative to a more similar design motif – and often a more cost-effective one too.”
You can get the same great look of a mural with smart wallpaper or tiles. Interior designer Beata Heuman commissioned a custom wallpaper mural from design company The Finished Effect, inspired by writer and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, for her daughters’ room. “Some wallpapers do a great job of capturing a more painterly feel,” agrees Worsley. The famous hand-painted wallpapers by de Gournay, used by designer Martin Brudnizski in the Annabel’s club, and the Schumacher fabric house panel series, are created by artists.
For a more affordable option, Worsley has recently released a range of wallpapers, including its Cadogan Vine wallpaper which “retains a painted drawn ground, to give a more artisan feel”, while Newall also has a range of designs in the form of wallpaper. . “I am often sent videos of little hands ‘picking’ the flowers from my Herbarium wallpaper, which is very heartwarming to see,” she says.
Mid-range brands such as Graham & Brown offer murals from £37 per square metre, while Surface View has a huge range of styles that can be printed on custom murals, from £45, or tiles. Indeed, bathrooms and kitchens are not exempt from the mural trend: designer Sophie Ashby recently commissioned artist Anna Glover for a kitchen-dining area, while French-Lebanese designer Annabel Karim Kassar painted a stunning tile mural for a bedroom.
A wall mural is not for everyone – including renters or frequent movers – but those who have made the investment have no regrets. Jackson says she was worried she might tire of her mural, “but actually the scene changes as I move furniture around, and it takes on a new life. It is so special and special to my family and will be central to my children’s memories.”
