How to Paint a DIY Mural (Beginner-Friendly + No Gatekeeping)
- Ana Gabriela
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
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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