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How Much Does a Mural or a Trompe L'oeil Cost?

Last Updated: January 21, 2022

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Trompe L'oeil is French for "something that tricks the eye". A mural and a trompe l'oeil could be synonyms except for the fact that a trompe l'oeil is a mural with a 3-dimesnional illusion. This 3-dimensional illusion is used to make it seem like there is something beyond the wall on which it is painted.

A painting on a wall can brighten up any room. A wall mural or a trompe l'oeil will brighten your whole house, not just one room. It is a great conversation piece and can be a great addition to a family room or study to enhance the appeal of the room. You can hire an artist to come and stencil a premade design for relatively cheap, or you can hire a team of artists to paint a whole room with a trompe l'oeil of a beautiful mountainscape for thousands of dollars.

Wall Mural or a Trompe L'oeil #

When deciding which type of wall painting you want, you must decide how much you are willing to spend and how much wall space you are willing to use. Wall murals can be as small as a 2x2 painting, or as large as an entire wall. Trompe L'oeil typically takes up large spaces, because of the 3 dimensional effects it is trying to produce. They usually cost more than a wall mural for this fact and the extra detail they require. Ideas for a wall mural or a Trompe L'oeil can be found almost anywhere. You can replicate an old painting of Monet or Van Gogh on your wall, or you can paint some fish. The possibilities are endless.

Wall Mural Prices #

Wall mural costs will differ due to the type of wall you are painting and the size of the mural. Most companies typically charge by the hour for a painted mural. Most companies and freelance mural artists will charge between $45 and $60 per hour to paint on a sheetrock type wall. The price will go up if you are painting on a wooden surface due to the extra prep work involved. If your mural is an extremely complicated one, you may need a master mural artist, and they charge $80 to $150 per hour for their time. Materials costs will vary depending on the size of the mural and again, the type of wall you choose. Typically, barring extreme conditions, you should expect to pay $5 to $10 per square foot of mural for materials. Most mural artists can give you a rough time frame on how long they think a project will take and a rough materials list, but don't expect the final cost to reflect the estimate.

Trompe L'oeil Prices #

Trompe L'oeil murals are a little more expensive than wall murals due to their complexity and size, but an average artist who paints these should charge a similar hourly rate as murals. If you want a real work of art for your trompe l'oeil, you may need to hire an expert trompe l'oeil artist, and this also runs around $90 to $100 per hour.

Sometimes an artist will work at a reduced rate for a piece he is desperately seeking a canvas for. In other words, he has an idea in mind for a mural or a Trompe L'oeil but has not had the opportunity to showcase it yet. In return for showcasing your piece in his portfolio or studio, he will give you a substantial discount on your project.

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