A New View

Photo Courtesy of Magpie Painting

Step inside some of Colorado’s most thoughtfully designed homes today and you’ll notice something quietly transformative happening on the walls. After years of clean, minimalist interiors, some Coloradans are once again embracing sweeping vistas—painted panoramas, mist-soft forests and atmospheric horizons that wrap a room in story and mood. Landscape murals, once the hallmark of ancient villas and grand European estates, are experiencing a renaissance, and here in the Mountain West, their resurgence feels especially at home.

The idea isn’t new. In the ruins of Pompeii, frescoed gardens once opened interior rooms to imagined courtyards and distant hills. Renaissance artists expanded the illusion, blurring architecture with nature. By the 18th and 19th centuries, panoramic wallpapers—lush, transportive and meticulously detailed—were coveted décor in refined homes across Europe and America.

Photo Courtesy of Susie Brenner Photography

However, as modernism took hold in the 20th century, murals faded from favor. They were too ornate, too permanent, too much for the clean lines and neutral palettes that dominated design for decades. Yet design, like nature, moves in cycles; and today, murals have returned with a fresh, contemporary sensibility that feels perfectly aligned with the way Coloradans live.

Local muralist Genevieve Smith of Magpie Painting, who specializes in interior and exterior murals as well as traditional and contemporary decorative painting and fine art, says that part of the appeal is emotional. “As more people work from home and spend long hours indoors, the desire for spaces that feel restorative has grown.” 

Smith adds that a mural doesn’t just decorate a wall—it also shifts the energy of a room. “A misty forest can turn a bedroom into a retreat. A sherbet-colored beach scene can warm a dining space. A grove of trees can bring the rhythm of the seasons inside.” 

While Smith has adorned many distinguished Colorado homes, she has also transformed notable spaces such as the Populous Hotel in downtown Denver, which brings new meaning to “bringing the outdoors in” with its “inside-out” architecture and design elements. Smith’s aspen tree mural is a key component to the hotel’s aura and personality. magpiepainting.net

Photo Courtesy of Susie Brenner Photography

Another notable muralist is artist Mimi Finn of Wall Creations by Mimi. For more than 20 years, Finn has transformed walls, furniture and interiors into one-of-a-kind expressions, bringing personality, playfulness and meaning into the spaces people call home. From Santa Monica to Colorado and through commissioned mural work in Italy, France and China, her work ranges from bold statement pieces to subtle, story-filled details, always created in close collaboration with her clients. Originally a professional musician, Finn approaches each project like a composition, balancing color, movement and mood to create spaces that feel alive. 

In a recent Denver project, Finn designed an English garden-themed playroom layered with sentimental elements. “The client asked me to include flowers representing the birth months of family members, and a nest with eggs for each grandchild,” Finn says. “This year I returned to add a third egg—and a baby carriage for the newest arrival.” She thrives on creative challenges and loves working with homeowners who want something unexpected, personal or just a little bit magical in their everyday spaces. wallcreations.org

Wallcoverings are another way to personalize your home. Kay Teitelbaum of La Maison Louise, a curated wallpaper and fabric boutique in Denver, works with artisans who design wallpapers and fabrics that elevate any home. One line in particular, Zardi & Zardi by PJ Keeling, showcases the historic beauty of European tapestries that portray local landscapes and flora by creating a range of high-quality decorative wall hangings on natural linen. 

Photo Courtesy of Zardi & Zardi

Over the years, Zardi & Zardi’s portfolio of tapestries has grown to include a range of products derived from original tapestry designs, allowing more people to own a beautiful piece of history. “Zardi & Zardi recently launched in the U.S. market, and I am so honored to be one of two showrooms carrying their papers and fabrics,” says Teitelbaum. “Each piece is such a work of art that truly transforms rooms into a stunning masterpiece.” All wallpapers are printed to order in England on non-woven paper. lamaison-louise.com 

Perhaps the strongest reason for murals’ return is the one that resonates most deeply here: a longing for connection to the natural world. Colorado’s landscapes have always shaped the way we live—our architecture, our art, our sense of identity. Bringing those outdoor views indoors feels less like a trend and more like a continuation of that relationship.

In a time when life moves fast and the world can feel uncertain, these murals offer a moment of pause. They remind us that beauty can be expansive, even within four walls. They invite us to look up, breathe deeper and feel rooted in something larger. Custom murals aren’t just back—they’re also becoming part of the modern home, and in a state largely defined by its views, it’s no surprise that Coloradans are finding new ways to bring the outside in.