Are you looking for your next DIY project during quarantine?
I have been meaning to get this post up ever since the Momma’s House room with IDS (Interior Design Society) was complete.
I am now finally getting around to the DIY Mountain Mural tutorial.
For anyone looking to completely makeover their kid’s room, update the playroom, or add an accent wall this project is perfect for you.
It really does not require any skills other than painting because the tape lines you will use are going to help you with the “artist” part.
If you are thinking that you are not an artist and can’t draw trust me you can do this!
Here is the final wall mural from the Momma’s House project.
Leftover paint in three shades of gray with metallic silver at the mountain peaks was used.
My design process always starts off with the market research phase which includes looking for inspiration.
I like to see what others have done not to copy it but to take it in and then create my own version.
As a designer, it would be easy to knock off other people’s designs but for me, I just can’t copy the inspiration exactly.
Here are a few of the images I found on Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration for this project.
Cute Right!
SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED TO PAINT THE NURSERY MOUNTAIN MURAL:
[Some links may be affiliate.]
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Wall Paint in 3 colors:
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Dark gray: I used Benjamin Moore Silver Gray 2131-60 (eggshell finish)
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Med gray: I used Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23 (eggshell finish)
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Light gray: I used Benjamin Moore Horizon OC-53 (eggshell finish)
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Metallic Silver: (optional for the mountain peaks)
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Good Quality Painter’s Tape – I have had great results using this brand
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Damp Washcloth – Any washcloth that you have in your home is fine!
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Paintbrush & Rollers:
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Paint Roller love this brand for doing the large mountains
Pro Tip: Learned from Oscar the painter to wrap the roller with blue tape to remove the lint before your first use.
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Any of these small foam rollers and a tray for smaller mountains
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Paintbrush (my favorite brand)
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A fine paintbrush like these for any touch-ups needed
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MY PAINT COLORS:
HOW TO CREATE YOUR NURSERY MOUNTAIN MURAL:
STEP 1: TAPE OUT THE MOUNTAINS
For the mountain design I created, I planned to use the three shades of gray in two sections of the murals each.
I did not tape out the cloud shape since it was curved lines and I free-form drew this.
At the bottom of the mountains where two meet, you need to go and trim the tape so that you don’t have overlapping pieces that go down to the floor. Just use scissors to get a precise line with your tape.
Use quality painter’s tape such as 3M scotchblue painter’s tape or you will be sorry when it comes time to take the tape off.
STEP 2: GO OVER TAPE WITH DAMP CLOTH
One trick I learned to ensure that the tape gives the crispest line possible, is to go over it with a damp cloth. The wetness supposedly activates some element of the tape glue. Since I wanted my lines to be really crisp, I went over all the tape with a damp cloth before painting.
The other option is to edge the tape with the ground paint color (in this case white). This creates a seal since if the paint bleeds underneath the tape it will be the ground color, not the contrast mountain color. This will create crisp lines when you remove the tape. Be sure to let this dry before applying the mountain color.
STEP 3: PAINT FOREGROUND MOUNTAINS
I painted the front mountains in the darkest gray color I did two coats, about an hour apart, before I pulled off the tape.
STEP 4: PULL OFF TAPE + FILL IN GAPS
Don’t let the paint dry for hours and hours before you pull off the tape. Always best to get it off after say 30-60 minutes when it’s only partially dry, to avoid lifting off super dried paint.
STEP 5:
Next, do the second paint color and follow the same process. You are going to want to reapply the tape along the edge of the dark gray (foreground mountain color).
STEP 6:
Apply the third color. For the cloud, you are going to want to tape off the edges of the connecting mountains and then free form draw the cloud.
STEP 7: ADD YOUR “SNOW”
I used metallic paint for the tips of the clouds. Again tape off the edges and apply the metallic paint.
Here is the finished wall mural!
Let me know in the comments if you tackle this project in your space.
Stay healthy, well, and have an inspired night full of rainbows and unicorns.
xo Nicole
How did you end up taping on the darker portion after just painting it? Or did you free hand once you got to the line?
I’m just wondering since I don’t want the darkest paint to peel after just painting it but I want to get those precise lines.
I painted the darker sections and let them dry overnight.
The next day put the delicate blue tape on top of the darker section.
I painted the medium grey and peeled the blue table off on the darker section right after the medium grey section was painted. I left the blue tape at the tops of the medium gray sections overnight since I wasn’t worried about that area.
It’s ok to put it on the darker color just pull it up after the second area is painted. Pull the tape off at an angle to get the crisp lines. Send pictures when you finish. I’d love to see it. : )
It is so useful! thank you, hope to recreate this at home)
Welcome! Let me know how it turns out : ))