First, let’s look at the different ways of preparing a wall for papering and to maximise your mural’s longevity.
- Fill cracks
Problem areas in walls are easily smoothed over using a filling compound. Filling compound is recommended for larger cracks in particular to create as even a surface as possible. However, filling and smoothing a wall takes skill and practice.
- Cover with plasterboard
This method avoids you having to use a filling compound on the entire wall. Simply select the thinnest plasterboard panels and fix to the problem wall using plasterboard adhesive. Then fill the gaps between the boards and connection joints with an elastic sealing material (e.g. acrylic joint compound) and the wall is ready for papering. This also requires some skill and practice.
- Apply lining paper
Lining paper is applied before decorating to provide a plaster-like base for paint and wallpaper. It evens out the wall and conceals problem areas. This method is the simplest and quickest solution for a smooth, even wall. However, it is always advisable to repair larger cracks or irregularities with filler before applying the lining paper.
Once the wall is as smooth as possible and ready for papering, care should still be taken to choose the right mural. Some mural styles, colours and designs are better suited to uneven walls than others. Here are our recommendations:
- Murals with dark and matt colours absorb incident light, which helps to conceal any irregularities
- Murals with multi-layered patterns have a similar effect to murals with dark and matt colours
- Murals with a non-woven backing, such as textile murals or natural material-based murals conceal unevenness with their textile or natural material surface.
- Textured or embossed murals create a three-dimensional depth effect that helps to distract the eye from any unevenness
In conclusion
Murals can be hung on uneven walls. However, to achieve optimum results, it is worth preparing the wall beforehand by filling bigger cracks, covering any imperfections with plasterboard or applying lining paper. If you lack the necessary skills, it is also worth calling in a reliable painter or decorator.
