Paint-by-number murals are a type of do-it-yourself wall decor that is often used in children's bedrooms or nursery rooms to add color and interest to the walls. Typically, a paint-by-number mural will come in a kit with the pattern, instructions and tools for transferring the pattern onto the wall, and a color guide for completing the mural. Paint-by-number murals typically do not come with the paints; this will be up to the homeowner to purchase. They come in a number of different sizes, from small images that only take up a small space on the wall, to larger murals that will take up the whole wall or even go around the entire room.
Paint-by-number murals are popular for children's rooms because pleasant scenes can be painted onto the walls, giving the room a more artistic look without really requiring much artistic ability. Once the pattern is transferred onto the wall, each area of the mural will be numbered, and the number will correspond to a specific paint color. Simply paint within the areas of the number using the correct paint color, and the mural will begin to take shape. Some people use painter's tape to mark off specific areas of the mural to ensure that the paint color for a certain number does not bleed into any of the other areas.
For more complex paint-by-number murals, stencils may be provided; this may be necessary if the mural has a lot of small areas that would be difficult to paint without making a mistake. It is important to purchase a number of paintbrushes of different sizes for painting a more complex mural. Most people find paint-by-number murals much easier than making a freehand design on the wall, unless one has very strong artistic ability. In addition, the mural can simply be painted over once the child outgrows it, or if one simply wants to redesign the decor of the room.
Woodland scenes, animal scenes, or characters and themes from popular children's books are all popular for paint-by-number murals. These are especially good choices for nursery rooms. Some people will also simply paint nature scenes such as trees, clouds, and birds, which can more easily grow with the child. In addition, wall decals are excellent options that can be used in addition to, or in lieu of a wall mural; these can simply be affixed to the wall, and are generally able to be removed without damaging the paint.
