Expert Talk: Wallpaper Gains Steam in the Bathroom
Pro designers are making unexpected choices for bathrooms these days, with wallpaper in bold patterns and high-contrast colors
Bold, large-scale-patterned wallpapers may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're thinking about a design for your bathroom or powder room. But here are eight reasons you might want to reconsider your options.
Be well read. "My client had seen a wallpaper at a hotel with a book pattern that she loved," says designer Angela Gutekunst. "So that led me to this classic Brunschwig & Fils paper for her powder bath that worked beautifully."
Pack a powerful punch. "We needed something bold and unexpected to create interest in this tiny, formerly drab powder room," says Jennifer Jones of Niche Interiors. "This graphic packed the perfect punch."
Wallpaper: Osborne & Little
Wallpaper: Osborne & Little
Contrast light and dark. "I wanted something fresh, graphic and unexpected," says Elizabeth Reich of Jenkins Baer Associates. And she got it with this Moroccan-inspired pattern and the contrast of light and dark. "The ebony-stained floors pick up the espresso in the wallpaper," she points out.
Grass cloth: Phillip Jeffries
Grass cloth: Phillip Jeffries
Go (a little) crazy. This powder room adjoins a family room, and Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living took the latter's accent colors as an inspiration in choosing this large blue and green paisley.
"I personally like wallpaper and think you can go bold and a bit crazy in a powder room, since the space is so small," she says. "It makes the room feel grander."
"I personally like wallpaper and think you can go bold and a bit crazy in a powder room, since the space is so small," she says. "It makes the room feel grander."
Have an impact. Trevor Ciona and Curtis Elmy of Atmosphere Interior Design like powder rooms to be like little jewel boxes. "So we searched for a large-scale pattern in the clients' favorite color scheme," they say. "People are often afraid of large patterns, especially in small spaces, but we push for these rooms to have huge impact."
Freshen up. "My client saw this wallpaper and wanted to use it in her new home," says Lisa Ball of Design By Lisa. "It was a great fit, because it had the same qualities that we wanted throughout the house — a classic, timeless look that is also fresh and current."
wallpaper: Zoffany Cordoba
wallpaper: Zoffany Cordoba
Reach for the red. For a guest bedroom and bath, Elizabeth Gordon of Elizabeth Gordon Studio used punches of red against earth tones to emphasize the Asian details of some of the rooms' accessories.
"The guest bath is one of my favorite spaces," she says, "and was designed around the concept of the British colonial empire in Hong Kong — with a dash of Hollywood glam. I think the wallpaper on the ceiling really makes the room."
More:
Wallpaper Ideas for Bedrooms
"The guest bath is one of my favorite spaces," she says, "and was designed around the concept of the British colonial empire in Hong Kong — with a dash of Hollywood glam. I think the wallpaper on the ceiling really makes the room."
More:
Wallpaper Ideas for Bedrooms
She adds, "The right wall covering can elevate a small space, add interest and change the overall look and feel in an instant."