How To Use Wallpaper In A Bathroom

 

Wallpaper in a bathroom? We thought you might ask.

The good news is that a properly ventilated bathroom can happily accommodate wallpaper - and with a few clever design choices, it is easy to sidestep the obvious danger areas. In fact, once you know the tricks, there is very little stopping you from bringing pattern, print and personality into even the steamiest corners of the house. Read on for our top tips, plus a little-known trade secret that could revolutionise the way you decorate.

 

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.

 

For areas prone to splashing - behind the sink, beside the bath or near the shower - tiling is a very sensible choice. Better still, there are now so many beautiful tile options to play with, and we love the rich contrast created when they are paired with a bold wallpaper. Tiling the lower half of the wall and wallpapering above is one of our favourite combinations: practical where it needs to be, and deliciously dramatic everywhere else.

 

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. 

 

Wooden panelling is another very handsome option for the lower half of the wall, particularly in a downstairs loo or cloakroom where splashing is less of a concern but protection is still welcome. It brings depth, texture and a touch of formality to the scheme, while giving your wallpaper the perfect stage on which to shine above.

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.

 

The bathroom is often one of the smallest rooms in the house - which, in our view, makes it the perfect place to be brave. A bold wallpaper can have enormous impact in a compact space, transforming it from purely practical to utterly memorable. Better still, you may only need a couple of rolls to do it.

 

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

Still feeling nervous? Allow us to let you in on a trade secret...

A clear decorator’s varnish can be applied over wallpaper to help protect it from water, stains, scuffs and the general wear and tear of daily life. It is one of those marvellously useful products that can revolutionise the way you decorate, giving you the confidence to use wallpaper in places you might once have ruled out entirely.

Applied with a brush or roller, Decorator’s Varnish leaves a clear, highly durable finish that helps protect against finger marks, splashes, staining, scuffing and colour fading - keeping your bathroom wallpaper fresh, fabulous and ready for whatever everyday life throws at it.

It comes in dead flat, gloss or satin. Our preference is dead flat for a beautifully matt, sheen-free finish, though for extra protection in high-traffic areas, satin followed by dead flat is a very clever combination indeed.

And the beauty of it does not stop there. This wonderfully versatile product can also be used on furniture, fabric, plaster, wood and paintwork. We are especially fond of using it around door handles and light switches, where it helps banish grubby fingerprints for good.

 
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 yes, you can absolutely use wallpaper in a bathroom. With good ventilation, thoughtful placement and a little practical protection, there is no reason this most overlooked of rooms cannot be one of the most stylish in the house. And really, why should the bathroom be the sensible one?