Can You Use Wallpaper in a Bathroom?
Here’s what to know about this beautiful way to uplift your bath, including which type to choose and where to put it
Houzz is full of photos of beautiful bathrooms with gorgeously decorated walls — some decked out with wallpaper. It’s one thing to put wallpaper in a powder room that has no shower or tub, but how durable is this type of wall treatment in a more humid environment? That depends on the kind of wallpaper you use and where you place it. Here’s what to know.
How Can You Protect Wallpaper in the Bathroom?
If you can’t find a vinyl wallpaper you like, or if you’re set on having a particular wallpaper in your bathroom, designer Stephanie Blanda of U.S. Bath Systems in Burnsville, Minnesota, recommends using a clear varnish over the paper to seal it from moisture (as in this London bathroom). Blanda also advises using mildew-resistant primer (to prep the walls) and adhesive (to glue down the wallpaper) to reduce the risk of moisture accumulating behind the wallcovering.
Work with a bathroom designer to get the right wallpaper
If you can’t find a vinyl wallpaper you like, or if you’re set on having a particular wallpaper in your bathroom, designer Stephanie Blanda of U.S. Bath Systems in Burnsville, Minnesota, recommends using a clear varnish over the paper to seal it from moisture (as in this London bathroom). Blanda also advises using mildew-resistant primer (to prep the walls) and adhesive (to glue down the wallpaper) to reduce the risk of moisture accumulating behind the wallcovering.
Work with a bathroom designer to get the right wallpaper
Where Can You Put Wallpaper in a Bathroom?
Wallpaper can go just about anywhere in a bathroom except the shower area, including the shower walls and any open wall space above the enclosure. However, wallpaper can work on a wall behind a clawfoot tub “because you’re not planning on getting the walls wet,” designer Michelle Fee of Change Your Bathroom in Atlanta says.
Wallpaper can go just about anywhere in a bathroom except the shower area, including the shower walls and any open wall space above the enclosure. However, wallpaper can work on a wall behind a clawfoot tub “because you’re not planning on getting the walls wet,” designer Michelle Fee of Change Your Bathroom in Atlanta says.
And that’s the key. You generally don’t want to get wallpaper wet, not only because it could damage the wallcovering itself (especially if the material is paper or fabric), but because damp wallpaper can develop mold or mildew behind it. This is the reason some designers caution against putting wallpaper in bathrooms at all. “If you don’t have a great fan or you have children where there’s a lot of splashing, it’s probably not the best option,” Blanda says.
The wallpaper you’re considering should have product information that explains which environments it’s suitable for and whether it can be wiped down or even scrubbed. For a happy outcome, pay attention to these manufacturer recommendations.
Other Considerations for Wallpaper in the Bath
Expertise matters. If you’re planning to wallpaper your bathroom — or any room, for that matter — you’ll want to first be sure that the walls are smooth. Unless you’re a confident and experienced DIYer, you’ll probably want to hire a pro to assess your walls and install the paper. There’s more involved than you might think, from prepping the walls to hanging the wallpaper so that the pattern matches up perfectly and the seams are invisible.
Expertise matters. If you’re planning to wallpaper your bathroom — or any room, for that matter — you’ll want to first be sure that the walls are smooth. Unless you’re a confident and experienced DIYer, you’ll probably want to hire a pro to assess your walls and install the paper. There’s more involved than you might think, from prepping the walls to hanging the wallpaper so that the pattern matches up perfectly and the seams are invisible.
Get a sample. Catlin advises that homeowners see a wallpaper in person before committing. If the paper you’re interested in is sold only online, she suggests ordering a sample to get a realistic idea of the quality and look of the paper you’re considering.
You (or someone else) may want to replace it in a few years. Choosing a pattern you personally love for the bathroom could either enhance or detract from your property’s appeal to would-be buyers. Whether they’ll love it or want to rip it out probably isn’t something you can predict, Fee says. “I would say a lot of our younger clients would be more open to wallpaper and a lot of our more seasoned clients would be more averse to wallpaper because they were doing that in the ’90s,” she says.
Cost. Installation costs range from $300 to $700 for a daylong project, not including the wallpaper. A small bathroom typically might take a day to paper. Prices for a roll of wallpaper range from $20 to more than $250.
Vinyl wallpaper is the best type to install in a humid bathroom environment, the experts we spoke with agreed. Vinyl wallpaper is water-resistant and can easily be wiped down, and it shouldn’t absorb water that could lead to mildew or mold problems. While most vinyl wallpaper is applied with adhesive, peel-and-stick vinyl paper can be a good alternative for renters, designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin of Signature Designs Kitchen Bath in San Diego says.
Find vinyl wallpaper on Houzz