Office walls are essentially a blank canvas. There are endless possibilities for what you can do with them to help your business growth.

One particular way to utilize wall space is catching on among thought leaders in the field of corporate design. The likes of Spotify, Airbnb, and Google are decking out their headquarters around the globe with custom office wall murals.

Wall murals, especially the types commissioned by tech royalty, feel extremely modern and edgy. They often draw from the aesthetics of street graffiti, which lends them a young and urban look that fits well in the big cities that attract tech talent.

But despite their modern feel, wall murals are an artform with ancient roots. From prehistoric cave paintings to Michaelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, people have been turning walls into visual stories since the beginning of time.

Wall murals are such an enduring form of decoration because they are at once highly attractive, endlessly versatile, and incredibly efficient. These reasons are compelling enough for leading tech companies, but they also make wall murals an excellent design choice for offices and businesses of all kinds.

If you have plans to design or renovate your office space in the near future, here are 6 convincing arguments for why you should include a wall mural in your office design:

1. Wall murals maximize space.

Two dimensional decorations have huge benefits when it comes to the efficient use of space. Wall murals take up exactly zero floor space. They do not block electrical outlets or natural lighting. They won’t interfere with wi-fi signals or obstruct foot traffic.

2. Wall murals instantly liven up a room.

If there is a single office design element you can introduce to your space to make the biggest improvement, it is a wall mural. Rows of plain desks topped with computers; a cramped conference room; an empty hallway. Without changing anything else about the space, you could make all of these rooms much more dynamic and attractive with a wall mural.

3. Wall murals tell your brand’s story.

Office wall murals are one form of visual marketing that offer limitless branding potential and give you an opportunity to showcase who you are. You can fill a mural with company colors and brand imagery or emblazon it with your corporate values. With some thoughtfulness and creativity, a custom wall mural can bring your company culture and community identity to life.

4. Wall murals contribute to employee productivity.

Numerous studies link artwork and thoughtful design in the workplace to higher employee satisfaction and productivity. An inspiring office wall mural can serve as a daily source of motivation for your workforce. A well-designed office space is also a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining the best talent. After all, you are trying to convince potential hires to commit to spending upwards of 40 hours a week in your office. You might as well give them a work of art to gaze at while they’re there.

5. Wall murals are low-maintenance and versatile.

Unlike plants, wall murals don’t need to be watered. Unlike furniture, they don’t need to be dusted. And unlike a foosball table in the breakroom, they won’t spark bitter rivalries among your employees. Furthermore, rapid hiring won’t lead you to outgrow your wall mural. As a permanent and unimposing fixture in a space, a wall mural can stay put even as your workforce expands and furniture gets rearranged.

6. Wall murals can be anything you want them to be.

Sky's the limit when planning a wall mural. Because you can illustrate literally anything in a wall mural, there is no company culture or industry too conservative or too specific to benefit from an office wall mural.

Office Wall Mural Ideas to Boost Your Company's Productivity

The following graphic from Coastal Creative shows a diverse selection of office wall mural ideas currently popular among companies that prioritize effective workplace design: