Boho Mural Design Process
I received a call one day from a lash and brow salon owner looking for an abstract mural design for her retail area. This was an immediate yes from me because I LOVE working with salons and I especially love working with woman-owned businesses.
This mural needed to cover a single wall usually framed by a gorgeous velvet couch and a plant or two. This area of the salon was already beautifully styled with an impressive retail area and check-in desk. Boho Lash + Co already had a great vibe, but a mural would really create a special statement for the space that would make current and future customers feel right at home as soon as they walk in the door.
To begin the design process, I went to work on three initial design options exploring different layouts, desert cacti and botanicals, and abstract patterns. Although other dusty and feminine colors were considered, the final color palette was largely drawn from the existing brand color palette. This is an example of how murals can be a wonderful tool for drawing in existing brand elements, colors, and overall vibes to further integrate the brand identity inside or outside the business.
Option 1 was the finalist from the initial three design options that were developed.
Above you see the initial design option chosen by the owner. The additional two options played with similar vibes but different elements like cacti and leafy foliage. These initial 3 design options are crafted based on the initial consultation call and these digital sketches are presented in grayscale. Showing grayscale sketches helps focus the decision on the design and helps narrow down feedback for the first round of revisions. Option 1 was the clear winner, so after receiving feedback, we moved on to Round 1 of revisions.
Round 1 revisions involved applying color to to the design. We applied the original suggested color palette drawn directly from the existing brand colors with the addition of a warm yellow to drive home the sunny, desert boho mood we were aiming for. Color placement played an important role in the balance of this design- if any colors were swapped in this design it may not feel so ‘complete.’ See the digital mockup of the design on a picture of the space before application began:
All clients are presented with a mockup of the finalized mural design on a picture of their walls, so they know exactly what they’re getting before application day.
Application day went extremely smoothly and it was a pleasure sharing the space with the sweet staff and owner! This was a full day of painting- so worth it to transform the space! Here are the pictures of the finished work:
The owner has received great feedback from new and existing customers, and the staff was so happy to see the artwork go up in their workplace. I’ve received several inquiries for similar mural designs thanks to this mural, and I love that! Bring more abstracted florals my way, by all means. One inquiry discovered this mural and my work by walking to another store and spotting the artwork through the window. If that doesn’t drive home the power of artwork to drive traffic, I don’t know what does!
For mural inquiries, please reach out through the contact form to start the conversation. I’m based in Tulsa, but always consider travel in the US. What do you think of this design? Let me know!
Kelci