Can you use wallpaper in a bathroom? Will wallpaper be ok with the humidity and moisture? Fear not! A properly ventilated bathroom will happily accommodate wallpaper, and you can easily avoid the ‘danger areas’ by adopting some sensible design choices. Read on for our top tips on getting wallpaper in a bathroom right, plus a little-known trade secret that will revolutionise your decorating, and allows you to use wallpaper pretty much anywhere you want!

Looking for more wallpaper décor ideas, tips and tricks to help inspire your next project? Read more about the magic of wallpaper here.

Our Crane Fonda wallpaper looks the part in this bathroom designed by Almaluna Interiors.

Utilising tiling in areas prone to splashing is a good idea - so behind the sink or near the bath/shower. There are so many gorgeous tile options on the market now, and we love the different combinations you can achieve when pairing this with a bold wallpaper. Tiling on the lower half of the wall and then wallpapering above is a particularly good look, as seen below.

Zsa Zsa wallpaper in candy pink was installed above tiling in this bathroom by Pepper and Co, and we used beautiful metro tiles to pair with our Deco Martini 'Arsenic' wallpaper to create a decadent, green space. 

If tiles aren’t your thing then you could also consider wooden panelling on the lower wall as an alternative. This also helps keep scuff marks to a minimum in smaller, high traffic areas like a downstairs cloakroom.

This stunning bathroom from Drummonds uses wooden panelling with exquisite results, and we love this dark panelling by Brian O Tuama using vibrant De Gourney wallpaper.

So, many people come to us asking whether you can use wallpaper in a bathroom. We say, yes - of course you can! Indeed you totally should use wallpaper in a bathroom. It’s often one of the smaller rooms in your home (unless you’re blessed with mansion-sized proportions) so is the perfect opportunity to have fun and embrace bold pattern and print, and you’ll find you probably only need a couple of rolls to make that big statement.

Go bold with our Geometric Aviary wallpaper, a riot of colour and pattern!

But many people today still choose not to as they worry about the durability and practicality of wallpaper in this space.

Let us put these anxieties to rest once and for all, and let us introduce you to one of our top design secrets and what will become your new DIY best friend - decorators varnish!

Decorator’s Varnish provides a highly durable, clear finish that protects against finger marks, water, stains, scuffing and colour fading. You simply apply it over the wallpaper using a brush or roller to ensure your bathroom wallpaper stays fresh and fabulous for years to come. 

It’s available in dead flat, gloss or satin. We personally prefer the dead flat for a completely sheen free surface, but for extra protection in high traffic areas you can use satin, followed by dead flat. Having this product in your decorating arsenal will ensure your wallpaper stays in perfect condition.

Plus it’s not just for wallpaper, oh no! You can use it on furniture, fabric, plaster, wood and even paintwork. Another top tip is to use this around door handles and light switches -  no more grubby marks!

  Our recent collaboration with Bayswater Bathrooms is the perfect example of how using wallpaper can create a dramatic interior. Our Nocturnal Faunacation pairs perfectly with their vanity unit, and our Safari Soiree adds a cheeky twist with the Victorian ceramics.

So there you have it! Now you have no excuse not to embrace bold pattern and print in your bathroom or cloak room!