How to Paint a DIY Mural (Beginner-Friendly + No Gatekeeping)

I get asked this all the time:“How do you actually paint a mural?”

The honest answer? There are many ways to do it.But for your first mural, you don’t need fancy tools, art school training, or a perfectly smooth process.

This post breaks down the most simple, streamlined way to paint a mural as a beginner—without overwhelming yourself or your wall.

Step 1: Find Your Wall (and Really Look at It)

Before you think about design or paint, start with the wall itself.

Ask yourself:

• Is it flat?

• Lightly textured (like orange peel)?

• Heavy texture (stucco, brick, concrete)?

Wall texture matters a lot. Some surfaces—especially stucco—are not beginner-friendly and make clean lines very difficult.

For your first mural, I recommend:

• A flat wall, or

• A lightly textured wall if that’s all you have access to

Save heavy textures for later when you’ve built confidence.

Step 2: Choose a Design That Matches the Wall

Once you’ve chosen your wall, it’s time to decide on the design.

Most muralists design digitally using tools like Procreate or other tablet drawing apps.

Digital design makes it easy to:

• Make changes

• Fix mistakes

• Superimpose your design onto a photo of the wall to preview the final result

That said—you do not need a tablet to be a muralist.I started the old-school way: pencil and paper, and it works just fine.

Choose a design with:

• Simple shapes

• Limited colors

• Minimal tight detail for your first mural

Step 3: Transfer the Design to the Wall (Doodle Grid Explained)

How to Grid Map a Mural (Beginner Method)

1. Make the Grid on the Wall First

Using chalk or a pencil, draw a grid directly onto your wall.

• Draw doodle like characters on the wall (using you ABC is an easy option)

• The grid does not need to be perfect; have fun with it

This grid becomes your guide.

2. Overlay Your Design Using a Phone or Tablet

Once the doodle grid is up, open your design on your phone or tablet.

Snap a photo of the wall. Upload it to your design app. Then put your design over it and make it be 50% opacity. Now use that image as a reference to draw your design.

3. Transfer using the doodle grid

Now comes the magic. Work little by litte:

• Focus on basic shapes

• Ignore details at first

• Think “where does this line enter and exit the doodle?”

  
  

Repeat this process across the wall until the full design is sketched in.

Why a Doodle Grid Works So Well

This method:

• Keeps proportions accurate

• Prevents stretching or distortion

• Helps beginners avoid getting overwhelmed

• Requires zero expensive equipment

It is slower than freehand, but much more forgiving, which is exactly what you want for your first mural.

Step 4: Choose the Right Paint (You Don’t Need to Overspend)

Good paint matters, especially if you want your mural to last.

You can find quality mural paint from brands like:

• Miller Paint

• Sherwin-Williams

• Behr

If this is your first mural, you don’t need to splurge. Here’s a budget-friendly trick:

Ask the paint counter what their sample quarts are made of. If they’re rated:

• 10-year interior for indoor murals

• 10-year exterior for outdoor murals

You’re totally fine using those to start.

Step 5: Paint the Mural

This part is refreshingly simple.

Once your design is transferred:

• Follow the shapes

• Work background to foreground

• Don’t rush the process

You’ll learn so much just by doing.

Step 6: Decide Whether to Seal the Mural

Sealing is optional, but recommended for:

• Outdoor murals

• Walls exposed to UV light or moisture

If you do seal:

• Use a mural-safe clear sealer

• Apply with a high-density foam roller

• Follow manufacturer instructions carefully

You Did It

That’s it. You found the wall, designed the piece, transferred it, painted it, and optionally sealed it.

You painted a mural.

Beginner Mural Supply List (Quick Reference)

• Pencil or chalk

• Ruler or tape measure

• Level

• Paint brushes (various sizes)

• Small rollers

• Paint trays

• Quality acrylic or latex paint

• Drop cloth

• High-density foam roller (for sealing)

All these supplies and more can be found on my storefront.

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