Bathroom wallpaper ideasChoose a point of focus. Create waves with a subtle seascape wallpaper. Look for a large-scale pattern in a larger bathroom. Make a bold statement with color.
Draw on the pattern to distract attention from the radiators. Invite a reflective glow to smaller bathrooms. Bathroom wallpaper can cause problems, as moisture and moisture can cause them to peel off. Even with the greatly improved wallpaper adhesives available in wall coverings today, the conditions that exist in every bathroom can have an effect on the adhesive over time.
If you choose to wallpaper your entire bathroom, or especially the area next to the sink and bathtub, opt for splash-proof wallpaper. This type of wallpaper is designed specifically for areas of high humidity and can even be cleaned, in case something stains it. If your bathroom is well ventilated and there is not a lot of humidity, standard wallpaper should work well in your space. Most homeowners will face a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet or a faulty faucet at some point, and if the spill spoils the wallpaper in the bathroom, it can leave a water stain, usually in the form of a gray ring or stain.
If water seeps to a wooden foundation wall, tannins (pigmented compounds) from wood can seep and transfer to the wallpaper as a yellow or brown stain. The damp, dark environment behind damp bathroom wallpaper is ideal for mold growth. Some molds commonly found behind wallpaper, such as aureobasidium, can cause skin irritation or infection, while toxigenic molds such as fusarium can cause abscesses or even bone infections. The worst part is that you usually won't see mold until you remove the wallpaper, so it's possible that mold spreads quietly into an entire colony without your knowledge.
At this point, it would be necessary to remove the wallpaper and, as recommended by the U.S. UU. The Environmental Protection Agency, a mold remediation specialist, should be consulted to treat the problem if the area of mold growth exceeds 10 square feet. It takes a long time to stamp a basic pattern on a wall with paint or to texture a wall with drywall compound, and the quality of the results will depend on its delicacy with a brush or a palette.
However, wallpaper comes in a printed spectrum of vivid colors, interesting patterns and rich textures, and a do-it-yourselfer will find it relatively simple to hang patterned or textured wallpaper. For a subtle touch of pattern, choose a neutral tone-on-tone wallpaper design. Keep remaining surfaces minimal and white to keep the look serene, or to add a little pop, choose a color accent, as did designer Emily Henderson with a striking cobalt blue wood veneer. Each article on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor.
We may earn commissions on some of the items you choose to buy. Choose a wallpaper with a flourishing display of specimen-style botanists for a cool swim in the garden. A traditional bathroom with a classic black and white palette gets a touch of humor thanks to its Fornasetti graphic wallpaper with women's faces. For an old or more traditional home, Asian-inspired wallpapers are always an excellent choice in a bathroom.
Your bathroom may be the smallest room in the house, but with the right wallpaper, it can easily be the room with the most personality. These are usually smaller rooms in your home, and there aren't many other furnishings and finishes that compete with the color or design of your wallpaper. At first glance, this rustic bathroom wall looks like wallpaper, but it's actually made of 2-inch thick slices of wood glued and nailed to a plywood backing to mimic the look of stacked firewood. Designer Nina Farmer made the retro sink feel new again by adding gorgeous marble effect wallpaper Robert Crowder & Co.
Turn your master bathroom into a relaxing spa-like retreat with walls wrapped in a fresh, large-scale floral wallpaper. However, wallpapers are actually a fantastic design option for small bathrooms, especially those with a metallic sheen. Splashes from sinks and bathtubs, soap scum and dew point moisture prevent homeowners from using expensive paint or fun wallpaper in their bathrooms. This bathroom is papered in a tree design with a black background, with a matching sink cabinet and a modern, streamlined toilet.
If you are in a child's bathroom and your children are known to carry water from one end of the bathroom to the other, you may want to skip using wallpaper. In this bold and striking bathroom, Miles Redd opted for the iconic red zebra print wallpaper and Scalamandré graphic shower tiles for a bold look. . .
