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Is a backsplash needed in a powder room with wallpaper?

3 years ago

First time home owner seeking some advice-- we are creating a new, miniature powder room out of a coat closet and plan to splurge on some Hygge & West wallpaper on all four walls. Our contractor suggested that we tile up behind the vanity to protect the paper, but I'm hoping to avoid that. I do think we'll use the room quite a bit, but no small kids and I don't foresee a lot of abuse. I had already purchased a small vanity with no backsplash but I could exchange it for something else.... Thanks so much for your suggestions, these forums have been incredibly helpful!

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Comments (3)

kempek01
3 years ago
The purpose of a backsplash is to protect the wall from the water.

In a powder room that will get light use, you probably don't need a backsplash.

If you're bathing your gerbils in the sink, you'll probably want a backsplash!
amy_m_h
Original Author
3 years ago
Good thing we have a separate, tiled gerbil sauna, we should be good to go! Thanks :)
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I like Jan's idea. But I would also add some interesting decorative sconces and a black and white tile floor, similar to the Art Deco Ann Sacks tile shown in one of your photos above. A gold tone finish on the sconces and for the faucets would be very elegant.
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Helen
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I have wallpaper in both my master and guest baths. There is only one section in which the wallpaper meets the counter and so I decided to have a remnant from my marble counter installed just in that section. I realized that there would probably be some amount of moisture meeting the wall just from having someone potentially clean the counters. It is just the standard six inch type of splash guard that is typically installed when there is no full backsplash.

The wallpaper is just to the left of my sink ajd I am not worried about splashing the wallpaper but what wouid happen over time as the bottom of the wallpaper continually came into contact with moisture and cleansers.

Clarifying that I have ceiling to counter mirrors in front of the vanity so the wallpaper is only in a small section to the left of the vanity. Prior to my remodel I had one of the six inch splash guards extending the length of the double vanity. Perhaps I wasn't the most meticulous housekeeper but it would accumulate gunk and periodically would be resealed with caulking. I would imagine over the long term that would happen if wallpaper met the counter and there would be no effective way of keeping it de-gunked. Having one of those six inch splash guards is done pretty regularly in kitchens and bathrooms when there is no backsplash.

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