Would you pay for a mural in your child's room?

[singinintherain]

I've just painted 2 murals, on my children's walls and have had lots of positive feedback from friends who have seen them (obviously they have to be nice and be polite!) and it has been suggested that I should start up a business doing just this. I live in an area dense with children from wealthyish backgrounds, who I think just might pay £100 or so for a unique wall decoration. My plan is to offer to paint murals on friend's kids walls for free in order to get more practice and to have evidence, and testimonials, to put on a website, and if I still think it's a good idea then to launch a website. My main reason for doing this is to have something stimulating to do while fitting in with the school day. I don't expect to earn loads of money or be busy all the time with it. What do you think?

I want one please

Not sure, the only reason I wouldn't is because you can get such fantastic wall stickers and that would be easier and cheaper.

£100+ Look on Not on the High Street- Wall Decals which can be personalised go for around that so a hand painted one would be worth so much more-especially if you could personalise it or maybe add to it over the years for a fee etc

It's a fab idea but you do have to be really good to compete with decals and others who are keen on craft/stencilling

Can we see a pic?

I think it sounds like a good idea.

Don't forget you need to get insurance and include your supplies and time in your costing - also think about things like how far would you travel and would you vary the price depending on size/complexity?

I know, decals are everywhere (and £5 in Tiger, yikes!) but a mural would be completely unique to the room and the child. I wouldn't spend £100 on one myself, but there are lot of rich mummies round here! Would you believe I don't have a camera phone, but will try and get a picture to show you what they look like tomorrow, I know that's a bit rubbish. But they are both partly inspired by books, things my kids like and designed to suit each room.

My other option is to go back to teaching part-time (although have been out of schools for 4 years now and the 7.30-5.30 day means childcare would be a nightmare, and by working, would lose £50 a week I have worked out!)

My friend has done exactly what you are describing OP; DS's room was one of her first trials and it looks brilliant still nearly 3 years later.

Ooooh interesting, do you have any idea what the take up has been like for your friend? And is she still enjoying it?

God don't go back into teaching!!

And I agree, £100 seems pretty cheap for a mural, that's £25 an hour if it takes just four hours. Sounds like a brilliant idea.

Signing She enjoys it, yes, but then she is a set designer by background. Lots of initial take up, but once she had saturated the market of friends and friends of friends, when she started 3 years ago, it's been slow. I know she hasm't had a commission since Christmas. She has advertised in a local "what's on for kids" magazine, and has leafleted play centres, kids clothes shops etc, but getting interest from "outsiders" has been difficult; I think she has only had one this way.

She will do whatever theme you want; for ds she copied the vehicles on his curtain fabric onto a street scene. She also painted some furniture for him.

She does a lot if her work on Mdf boards that screw onto the wall later - that way she can work at home and the client can take the mural down to decorate/move etc.

She also does small canvases of more genetic stuff and sells them at craft fairs, and had started going painting and decorating as "bread and butter" income.

Oh yes, £100 is very cheap, and 4 hours an underestimate of how long it'll take.

I'll be honest and say no.

They grow out of stuff too quickly.

I feel mean, but It's not helpful to fib.

I wouldn't, no, I'd be worried about it being difficult to paint over in future, and we are always rearranging the furniture so it might have ended up half hidden. We did neutral paint with peelable stickers on the DCs walls.

I probably wouldn't but I know a lot of people who happily would, and often have got special design type stuff for nurseries and whatnot (despite the design only being suitable for a year or so!) I think it would work though. I know some schools who have wall paintings in classrooms and so on too.

I'd do it for £100, but I suspect its days of work from your end so unlikely to be profitable. You have to do a site visit, find out about the child, design the mural, draw and paint the mural, and factor in travel and materials. How many hours do you think that will take you?

When you factor in materials, insurance, travel, design time and time to do the mural you wouldn't make anything charging £100 for a wall.

I charge £300 for a wall and that is very cheap. I have lots of different aspects to my business, but murals are picking up at the minute, you need some specialist equipment, and knowledge of surfaces, paints etc too. Plus you have to be careful about copyrights too.

PM me if I can be of any help, I've been doing it for years now and can give a few pointers if you like

No, we like plain walls. £100 is far too cheap though.

I would. DP has been saying he will do one for ages and hasn't so I would bite your arm off if you're near Northampton!