Mural Wallpaper: The Biggest Wall Trend of 2026

Something remarkable happened in the wallpaper world over the past year. While repeat patterns and textured plains have long dominated interior design, a quieter category has been steadily stealing the spotlight: mural wallpaper.

The numbers tell the story. Google searches for "mural wallpaper" surged by over 1,150% in 2025 compared to the previous year, and by mid-2025, search interest had spiked more than 5,000% from just months earlier. Leading design houses have reported mural sales climbing by over 30% year on year. Pinterest's 2026 trend forecast flagged immersive wall art as a defining look of the year. And interior designers across the industry are confirming what the data suggests: mural wallpaper has moved from a niche choice to a mainstream design essential.

In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly why murals are having their biggest moment, the five styles leading the trend, and how to choose the right wall mural for every room in your home.

The rise of mural wallpaper isn't accidental. It reflects several converging shifts in how people think about their homes and walls.

The Shift from Decoration to Experience

Today's homeowners don't just want walls that look nice. They want walls that feel immersive. After years of spending more time at home, people are investing in spaces that tell a story and create an emotional response. A scenic mural achieves this in a way that a simple stripe or geometric repeat pattern cannot. It transforms a wall from background to focal point, from surface to experience.

Social Media Is Fueling the Fire

Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest have made bold, photogenic walls highly desirable. A well-chosen mural creates an instantly striking backdrop that photographs beautifully, which has accelerated adoption among homeowners, content creators, and hospitality designers alike. The visual impact of a single mural wall often outperforms an entire room of carefully coordinated paint and accessories.

Better Technology, Better Murals

Modern digital printing has elevated mural quality to an entirely new level. Today's wall murals feature painterly detail, rich color depth, and textures that were impossible just a few years ago. Custom sizing means murals now fit any wall perfectly, eliminating the awkward tiling and pattern matching that once made them a headache to install.

Not all murals are created equal. Here are the five styles that designers and homeowners are gravitating toward this year, each reflecting a broader interior design movement.

Lush, painterly scenes of gardens, forests, and overgrown landscapes are the single most popular mural category right now. These designs tap into the biophilic design movement, which connects interior spaces with the natural world to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Think dense tropical foliage rendered in soft watercolors, sprawling forest scenes with light filtering through canopy layers, or botanical illustrations that feel like they belong in a Victorian conservatory.

Sweeping mountain vistas, misty valleys, tranquil ocean horizons, and ethereal sky and cloud formations are bringing a sense of vastness and calm into living spaces. These murals are particularly effective in rooms where you want to create a feeling of openness and serenity. A distant landscape makes a room feel larger and adds a meditative quality that solid colors simply can't match. The 2026 twist on this style leans toward painterly, slightly abstracted scenes rather than photographic realism, giving them a more artistic, timeless quality.

For homeowners who want a mural's impact without a literal scene, abstract murals and artistic wall designs are surging. These include color-wash effects, brushstroke compositions, and paint-splatter textures that turn an entire wall into a piece of contemporary art. They work particularly well in modern and minimalist interiors, where a single statement wall carries the room's visual weight. Watercolor murals are especially popular in 2026, with their soft edges and dreamy, blended color transitions.

The romantic maximalism trend has revived interest in classical narrative murals. Chinoiserie wallpaper featuring birds, blossoming branches, and delicate garden scenes is making a strong comeback, reinterpreted with softer contemporary palettes. Similarly, Japanese-inspired murals with crane motifs, cherry blossoms, and serene ink-wash landscapes bring a sense of cultural richness and refined elegance. These heritage murals pair beautifully with both modern furniture and more traditional interior schemes, which is why designers love their versatility.

Murals that mimic three-dimensional surfaces are gaining traction among those who want depth without the literal scenery. Think marble wallpaper that replicates the veining of Italian stone, concrete and plaster effects with visible texture, or trompe l'oeil brick walls and wood paneling. These work especially well in urban lofts, bathrooms, and kitchens where real material installations would be impractical or expensive. The key difference in 2026? Designers are steering toward subtle, authentic-looking textures rather than glossy or overly processed faux finishes.

The beauty of mural wallpaper is its adaptability. Here's how to use it in every major room, with recommendations tailored to each space's function and mood. (For a more comprehensive room-by-room breakdown, see our complete wallpaper guide for every room.)

The living room is where murals have their greatest impact. A scenic landscape mural behind the sofa creates a dramatic focal point that anchors the entire space. For a modern look, choose an abstract mural in tonal neutrals or warm earthy hues. For a more traditional atmosphere, a botanical panorama or chinoiserie scene adds rich visual depth.

The 2026 bedroom trend is all about "cocooning" — creating an enveloping space designed for rest. Murals are ideal for this. A misty forest mural or soft cloud and sky scene behind the headboard creates a serene, dreamy atmosphere. For a bolder approach, a dark botanical mural with deep greens and rich foliage adds warmth and intimacy to a bedroom without feeling heavy.

The dining room is an underrated mural opportunity. A chinoiserie scene or a lush tropical mural creates a theatrical backdrop for evening meals and entertaining. Because dining rooms are typically used for shorter periods, you can afford to be bolder with color and detail here. Deep jewel tones, rich botanical scenes, and heritage patterns all shine in dining spaces.

Small bathrooms and powder rooms are perfect for mural experiments because the limited wall area makes even a bold mural feel balanced rather than overwhelming. An ocean mural creates a spa-like retreat, while a dramatic marble mural can give a powder room a luxurious finish at a fraction of the cost of real stone. For more ideas, explore our bathroom wallpaper ideas guide.

An often-overlooked space, the hallway benefits enormously from a mural. A scenic landscape or tree-lined path mural draws the eye forward and makes a narrow space feel deeper and more open. Since hallways tend to lack natural light, murals in lighter palettes — soft blues, muted greens, warm creams — help brighten the space visually.

Mural wallpaper is tailor-made for children's spaces. A jungle adventure mural, underwater ocean scene, or whimsical sky with floating clouds transforms a child's room into an imaginative playground. These large-scale designs capture children's attention far more effectively than small repeat patterns. Explore our dedicated kids' wallpaper collection for age-appropriate mural designs.

With so many stunning options available, choosing the right mural can feel overwhelming. Here's a simple framework to guide your decision.

Consider the Room's Purpose

Rooms designed for rest (bedrooms, reading nooks) call for calming, low-contrast murals in cool or muted tones. Social spaces (living rooms, dining rooms) can handle more drama, richer colors, and more complex scenes. Transition spaces (hallways, entryways) benefit from murals that create depth and draw the eye forward.

Match the Scale to the Wall

A mural that's too small for the wall looks like a poster. One that's perfectly proportioned feels intentional and architectural. Measure your wall dimensions carefully, and look for murals specifically designed for custom sizing. At Giffywalls, every mural is made to order and tailored to your exact wall measurements, so the proportions are always right.

Work with Your Existing Palette

The most successful mural installations complement, rather than clash with, the room's existing furniture and finishes. Pull one or two colors from the mural and echo them in soft furnishings, cushions, or accent pieces to create a cohesive scheme.

Decide on Impact Level

Both mural wallpaper and traditional repeat patterns have their place. Here's when each one shines.

Choose a mural when you want a single, commanding focal point; when you're decorating a feature wall or accent wall; when you want to create a sense of depth, story, or atmosphere; or when you're working with a large, uninterrupted wall surface.

Choose a repeat pattern when you want an all-over, consistent look across multiple walls; when the room has many windows, doors, or interruptions that would break up a scene; when you prefer a more traditional, structured aesthetic; or when you want a subtle texture rather than a focal point.

Many designers in 2026 are combining both: a scenic mural on the main wall, paired with a complementary textured or geometric pattern on adjacent walls. This layered approach is a hallmark of the crafted maximalism trend and creates a rich, curated look. Browse our full collection to see how mural and pattern wallpapers can work together.

Getting the most from your mural wallpaper comes down to preparation and patience.

Prep the wall properly. Smooth, clean, primed walls are essential. Fill any holes, sand rough patches, and apply a primer coat if the wall has been freshly plastered or painted in a dark color. This ensures the mural's colors appear true and the adhesive bonds properly.

Start from a true vertical. Use a level or plumb line to establish your starting edge. Mural panels must be aligned precisely because, unlike repeat patterns, there's no tolerance for drift.

Work panel by panel. Mural wallpapers arrive in numbered panels. Lay them out in order on the floor first to familiarize yourself with the sequence. Hang one panel at a time, smoothing from center outward to eliminate air bubbles.

Consider peel-and-stick for flexibility. If you're a renter, new to wallpapering, or simply like to refresh your decor regularly, our peel-and-stick murals offer the same visual impact with easier installation and damage-free removal.

Mural wallpaper has evolved from a bold, occasionally risky design choice into the most exciting and accessible wall trend of 2026. Whether you're drawn to the serenity of a misty mountain landscape, the lushness of a tropical botanical scene, the sophistication of a chinoiserie garden, or the modern edge of an abstract art wall, there's a mural that can transform your space from ordinary to extraordinary.

At Giffywalls, every mural is made to order to your exact wall dimensions, ensuring a perfect fit every time. With options in premium paper, canvas, and peel-and-stick materials, you'll find the right solution for any room, any wall, and any style.