Wallpaper vs. Mural | What’s the Difference?

I recently helped my sister hang a gorgeous floral mural in her apartment; and I was struck by how similar but also how different murals are compared to rolls of patterned wallpaper. Believe it or not, I actually find murals so much easier (shocking, right?!?) If you’ve considered a wall mural but weren’t quite sure what you were getting yourself into, here’s a quick guide to this super gratifying and (surprisingly) beginner-friendly project!

The Design

One of the defining features between a mural and wallpaper is the design itself.

Wallpaper is (usually) a smaller-scale image or series of images that all together create a larger design. There is a discernible pattern that repeats frequently (usually about every 18-24”), and panels are identical across the entire wall.

A mural, on the other hand,  is one, large, distinct image, that is then “sliced” into vertical strips (panels) of wallpaper. There is no discernible pattern and there is no repeat. As such, each panel of paper is different from the one next to it.

How It’s Ordered

When you choose a patterned wallpaper for your wall, you typically purchase however many (identical) rolls you need to cover the surface. And because every roll of paper is the same, you can always buy an extra roll if you run out.

That is not the case with a mural. Remember, a mural is a single, defined image with a left edge, a right edge, top, and bottom. When you purchase a mural, you typically order it to fit a predetermined size (e.g., 8×14’).

If your wall is smaller than that size, it’s not usually a problem because you can trim off excess. But if your wall is bigger than that size, there is no ordering additional rolls of paper because there is no repeatable pattern to continue. 

How It’s Prepped

Both wallpaper and wall murals are hung in panels (each usually 16-24” wide). And the actual process of hanging the panels is pretty similar (e.g., peel off the paper backing, line up the design, smooth the paper down the wall as you go, trim off any excess). 

However, there is one (noteworthy) difference: there is hardly any paper prep with murals, which means no confusion and zero waste. Let me explain.

When you hang wallpaper, you spend a lot of time unrolling the roll, finding the correct pattern repeat, lining it up to the panel already on the wall, and trimming it down to size. 

You do all of this before you even peel off the paper backing and put it on the wall.

For novice DIYers, this process can be frustrating and time-consuming, and can cause a lot of wasted paper.

But when hanging a wall mural, there is none of that.

When you open a mural, the panels are pre-cut and numbered for you. As long as you ordered the right size for your wall, there will be no wondering if you have enough and there will be no trying to figure out where the repeat is or where to cut it.

Each panel is cut to fit your wall and numbered so you know exactly which one comes next. It’s essentially like assembling a puzzle…on your wall…with the pieces in order.

I can’t emphasize what a huge time and frustration saver this is!

How It’s Hung

The final big difference between murals and wallpaper is how the panels are actually hung on the wall. And it’s the one aspect I actually don’t like about murals over wallpaper.

Most wallpapers are hung edge-to-edge in order for the pattern to line up perfectly. 

Murals, at least in my experience, are hung with one panel overlapping the previous one, usually by about 1.”

I, personally, find it very difficult to find the right “overlap spot” so that the pattern lines up correctly down the entire panel. I think edge-to-edge matching is much easier.

Additionally, I don’t like the little bump you can see in the mural from the overlap. However, I suspect the overlap ultimately ensures that the overall image remains complete and consistent across the entire wall.

Our Mural Installation

The mural we installed in my sister’s apartment is this one from Love vs. Design. I have long wanted to try their papers (because you can customize the colors).

Having only installed a mural one other time, I was surprisingly nervous to take on this project. But as soon as we got going, I realized there was no cause for jitters and remembered how easy murals are compared to wallpaper.

Sure…the stickiness of the paper and getting the design to match up is the same process for both projects. And this can take some time and patience if you’ve never done it. But having each panel pre-measured, cut, and number-ordered for you takes eliminates so much of the work that the whole project really goes up in no time!

If you’re craving some pattern on your wall, I urge you to give a mural a try. If you master a mural, you’ll be ready to try “traditional” wallpaper pattern next!

Dive Deeper Into This Project

Curious what to do IF your mural doesn’t fit your wall like you expected? Don’t stress, hope is not lost! In this week’s Voice Notes, I explain my process for turning unusable scraps into 3″ more of mural width!