Before and After: 4 Bathrooms That Wow With Wallpaper
See how pros used wall coverings to add pattern and panache to a diverse collection of bathrooms
Suzanne Ennis
May 26, 2023
Houzz Editorial Staff. I write about all aspects of home design and remodeling, but I have soft spots for historic homes, California modernism and lakefront cabins.
Houzz Editorial Staff. I write about all aspects of home design and remodeling, but... More
Being wary of putting wallpaper anywhere near a shower or tub is understandable. After all, paper and moisture are usually archenemies. But if you do your due diligence — for example, choosing water- and mildew-resistant materials (such as vinyl), ensuring proper ventilation, hiring an expert installer and following manufacturer recommendations — wallpaper can be a durable and beautiful upgrade for bathrooms of all styles and sizes.
Below, see how pros incorporated wallcoverings ranging from subtle and sophisticated to bold and playful in four bathroom transformations.
Below, see how pros incorporated wallcoverings ranging from subtle and sophisticated to bold and playful in four bathroom transformations.
“After” photos by Michael Blevins of MB Productions
1. A Splash of Sparkle
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Burlington, North Carolina
Size: 134 square feet (12 square meters)
Designers: Sydney Foley and Emma Legg of Kindred Interior Studios
Before: The former bathroom in this couple’s 1999 home was functional, but the homeowners disliked the greige walls and the basic vanity with its cultured marble countertop. They also found the shower, tub and vanity layout cramped.
So designers Sydney Foley and Emma Legg removed the shower enclosure and soffit and took the room down to the studs. Then they got to work creating a bathroom with a more open floor plan and updated materials.
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1. A Splash of Sparkle
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Burlington, North Carolina
Size: 134 square feet (12 square meters)
Designers: Sydney Foley and Emma Legg of Kindred Interior Studios
Before: The former bathroom in this couple’s 1999 home was functional, but the homeowners disliked the greige walls and the basic vanity with its cultured marble countertop. They also found the shower, tub and vanity layout cramped.
So designers Sydney Foley and Emma Legg removed the shower enclosure and soffit and took the room down to the studs. Then they got to work creating a bathroom with a more open floor plan and updated materials.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
After: A new freestanding tub and glass-enclosed shower give the room a much airier, brighter look.
The room’s color scheme isn’t dramatically different from the previous one, but artful combinations of pattern and texture add energy and style.
The washable wallpaper, for example, has a flowing leaf pattern that keeps the eye moving, and the distressed print has a touch of sparkle.
A capiz shell chandelier echoes the paper’s pattern and texture, as do the kilim-style rug and the embroidered trim on the custom Roman shade, which is made from indoor-outdoor performance fabric.
A durable light wood-look porcelain floor tile and marble-look porcelain tile in the shower also add subtle variation and movement along with brightness. Because everything stays within that neutral palette, the various patterns play well together without looking busy.
Wallpaper: Arboretum Fog Leaves, Catalina collection, A-Street Prints, Brewster Home Fashions; main flooring: Bryce Wood collection, Mosaic Tile; vanity paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
Can You Use Wallpaper in a Bathroom?
The room’s color scheme isn’t dramatically different from the previous one, but artful combinations of pattern and texture add energy and style.
The washable wallpaper, for example, has a flowing leaf pattern that keeps the eye moving, and the distressed print has a touch of sparkle.
A capiz shell chandelier echoes the paper’s pattern and texture, as do the kilim-style rug and the embroidered trim on the custom Roman shade, which is made from indoor-outdoor performance fabric.
A durable light wood-look porcelain floor tile and marble-look porcelain tile in the shower also add subtle variation and movement along with brightness. Because everything stays within that neutral palette, the various patterns play well together without looking busy.
Wallpaper: Arboretum Fog Leaves, Catalina collection, A-Street Prints, Brewster Home Fashions; main flooring: Bryce Wood collection, Mosaic Tile; vanity paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
Can You Use Wallpaper in a Bathroom?
Here’s a closer look at the wallpaper, which is installed above the white quartz countertops. The mirror’s soft geometric shape and antiqued gold finish complement the leaves’ curves and subtle shimmer.
The short backsplash prevents water from coming into prolonged contact with the wallpaper, which could damage the paper and cause mildew behind it. For the same reasons, it’s best to avoid wallpaper on shower walls and bathtubs used by splash-happy kids.
Counter: Arctic White quartz, MSI; sinks: Verticyl in white, Kohler; sconces: Clout in Soft Brass with linen shade, Visual Comfort; mirrors: Duronia in antiqued gold, Uttermost; cabinet hardware: Cone in brushed bronze, Top Knobs
Read more about this bathroom remodel
The short backsplash prevents water from coming into prolonged contact with the wallpaper, which could damage the paper and cause mildew behind it. For the same reasons, it’s best to avoid wallpaper on shower walls and bathtubs used by splash-happy kids.
Counter: Arctic White quartz, MSI; sinks: Verticyl in white, Kohler; sconces: Clout in Soft Brass with linen shade, Visual Comfort; mirrors: Duronia in antiqued gold, Uttermost; cabinet hardware: Cone in brushed bronze, Top Knobs
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Before Photo
“After” photos by David Paul Bayles
2. Forest Bathing
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Size: 115 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Anna Clink of G. Christianson Construction
Before: For 25 years, the owners of this bathroom had lived with its awkward floor plan and bulky soffit and linen closet, all the while wishing for a soaking tub under its large window.
Finally deciding to put in that tub was the impetus for a full remodel. The couple hired G. Christianson Construction for the design and build.
Browse a curated collection of bathroom vanities
2. Forest Bathing
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Size: 115 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Anna Clink of G. Christianson Construction
Before: For 25 years, the owners of this bathroom had lived with its awkward floor plan and bulky soffit and linen closet, all the while wishing for a soaking tub under its large window.
Finally deciding to put in that tub was the impetus for a full remodel. The couple hired G. Christianson Construction for the design and build.
Browse a curated collection of bathroom vanities
After: Nature and Japanese design inspired the new bathroom in multiple ways. The homeowners had created a garden like those they admired in Japan in their own backyard, and they wanted a view of it and the surrounding forest from the tub. They also wanted to replicate the calm, peaceful vibe they felt in their garden in the bathroom.
G. Christianson Construction took cues from Japanese Craftsman-style cherry cabinets elsewhere in the home when building the cherry cabinetry and mirror. The charcoal-finish cement countertop and sink are from Bend, Oregon-based Cement Elegance.
Fortunately, the room gets a lot of natural light, so designer Anna Clink felt comfortable going dark and moody with the room’s color scheme and materials, which conjure a stream running through a forest.
Pendant lights: Delta mini, Quorum International
G. Christianson Construction took cues from Japanese Craftsman-style cherry cabinets elsewhere in the home when building the cherry cabinetry and mirror. The charcoal-finish cement countertop and sink are from Bend, Oregon-based Cement Elegance.
Fortunately, the room gets a lot of natural light, so designer Anna Clink felt comfortable going dark and moody with the room’s color scheme and materials, which conjure a stream running through a forest.
Pendant lights: Delta mini, Quorum International
After debating paint colors and wallpapers with repeating patterns, one of the homeowners found the self-adhesive “foggy forest” wallcovering toward the end of the project. (You can buy a similar version from Houzz.) The budget-friendly mural’s large-scale image of a forest, which dissolves into the wooded view beyond the windows, creates a sensation of being surrounded by trees. The lot is very private, so the homeowners can enjoy a soak without the need for a window covering.
To ensure the homeowners could enjoy their new bathroom safely as they age, Clink had two grab bars mounted within the tub basin, as well as a grab bar that looks like and functions as a towel bar over the other end. Covered in porcelain tile that resembles slate, the surround is wide enough for the homeowners to sit on when maneuvering in and out of the tub. A new shower, not pictured here, has a barrier-free entry, a built-in bench and a grab bar.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
To ensure the homeowners could enjoy their new bathroom safely as they age, Clink had two grab bars mounted within the tub basin, as well as a grab bar that looks like and functions as a towel bar over the other end. Covered in porcelain tile that resembles slate, the surround is wide enough for the homeowners to sit on when maneuvering in and out of the tub. A new shower, not pictured here, has a barrier-free entry, a built-in bench and a grab bar.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
“After” photos by Dandelion Dreams Photography
3. The Grasscloth Is Greener
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Susan Wintersteen and her husband, along with their daughter and dog
Location: Del Mar, California
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters)
Designer: Susan Wintersteen of Savvy Interiors
Before: With their youngest headed to college, designer Susan Wintersteen and her husband downsized to a smaller house with this primary bathroom. She was eager to replace its large 1990s-era tub and tub surround, low vanities and a small, dark shower stall with a design better suited to their taste and lifestyle. That included ditching the tub, which she knew they’d never use.
Shop for wallpaper
3. The Grasscloth Is Greener
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Susan Wintersteen and her husband, along with their daughter and dog
Location: Del Mar, California
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters)
Designer: Susan Wintersteen of Savvy Interiors
Before: With their youngest headed to college, designer Susan Wintersteen and her husband downsized to a smaller house with this primary bathroom. She was eager to replace its large 1990s-era tub and tub surround, low vanities and a small, dark shower stall with a design better suited to their taste and lifestyle. That included ditching the tub, which she knew they’d never use.
Shop for wallpaper
After: In place of the tub, Wintersteen installed a luxurious 6-by-6-foot shower with a surround covered in an earthy zellige-inspired tile from Bedrosians. The stall’s large windows flood the room with natural light. That corner of the house is private, but for good measure Wintersteen added trees outside to block views in.
The richly textured, variegated green grasscloth wallcovering above the vanity prompted the room’s nature-inspired material and color palette. Wintersteen wasn’t concerned about the grasscloth’s durability since the large size of the shower stall and the windows help limit moisture in the room. The marble countertop’s small backsplash adds a measure of protection too.
Wintersteen designed the custom white-stained white oak cabinetry, including the vanity and adjacent towers. The vertical reeded texture complements the horizontal texture of the grasscloth.
Polished nickel faucets: Brizo
The richly textured, variegated green grasscloth wallcovering above the vanity prompted the room’s nature-inspired material and color palette. Wintersteen wasn’t concerned about the grasscloth’s durability since the large size of the shower stall and the windows help limit moisture in the room. The marble countertop’s small backsplash adds a measure of protection too.
Wintersteen designed the custom white-stained white oak cabinetry, including the vanity and adjacent towers. The vertical reeded texture complements the horizontal texture of the grasscloth.
Polished nickel faucets: Brizo
Wintersteen also installed the grasscloth and additional cabinetry in the toilet room, which used to house the shower. A painting of lotuses both picks up the green tones in the wallcovering and reinforces the nature theme.
In this photo, you can also see the digitally printed porcelain floor tiles that resemble cement. Wintersteen had a tile installer cut and place half-inch penny rounds in the grout lines — another subtle but impactful design detail.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
In this photo, you can also see the digitally printed porcelain floor tiles that resemble cement. Wintersteen had a tile installer cut and place half-inch penny rounds in the grout lines — another subtle but impactful design detail.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Before Photo
“After” photos by Sheryl Kalis Photography
4. Fishing for Compliments
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Designer: Katrina Bogart of Bogart Interiors
Contractor: Mike Bogart of The Bogart Finish
Before: Shared by two siblings under 10, this bathroom in a 1950s Garrison Colonial was remodeled in the late 1980s or early 1990s with nondescript beige and brown finishes. Not only was the look no fun for the kids, but it also didn’t appeal to their mother’s sense of whimsy.
4. Fishing for Compliments
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Designer: Katrina Bogart of Bogart Interiors
Contractor: Mike Bogart of The Bogart Finish
Before: Shared by two siblings under 10, this bathroom in a 1950s Garrison Colonial was remodeled in the late 1980s or early 1990s with nondescript beige and brown finishes. Not only was the look no fun for the kids, but it also didn’t appeal to their mother’s sense of whimsy.
After: Designer Katrina Bogart immediately hooked the owner when she showed her a youthful but not too juvenile blowfish-patterned wallpaper. Its cream background adds warmth to the room and balances the playful design with a sophisticated palette.
A quartz remnant from the concurrent kitchen renovation tops the emerald green custom vanity, in which each child has a drawer, plus one to share. Brass hardware with star-shaped backplates coordinate with the mirror, while the faucet and nautical light fixture are polished nickel.
Classic black penny tile covers the floor.
Wallpaper: Mr. Blow, Abnormals Anonymous
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
A quartz remnant from the concurrent kitchen renovation tops the emerald green custom vanity, in which each child has a drawer, plus one to share. Brass hardware with star-shaped backplates coordinate with the mirror, while the faucet and nautical light fixture are polished nickel.
Classic black penny tile covers the floor.
Wallpaper: Mr. Blow, Abnormals Anonymous
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
The bathroom is compact, so Bogart installed a clear glass shower enclosure to create a more open feel. She covered the walls in classic subway tile and backed the long nook in the same black penny tile used on the floor.
You can’t see it here, but there’s a new fan light in the shower too.
See more of this remodel
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You can’t see it here, but there’s a new fan light in the shower too.
See more of this remodel
More on Houzz
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Browse bathroom photos
Find a local bathroom remodeler
Shop for your bathroom
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Grout on floors is hard enough to clean without having to clean around penny round tiles implanted in the grout. And how do you seal grout that has penny round tiles in it?
Bold and colorful this paper inspired the teal vanity as well. This went from builder’s choice blah to wow!
Such great ideas