Believe it or not, wallpaper or wallcovering has a centuries-old, rich history in interior design. People began manufacturing wallpaper in the 17th century in China. By the 1700s it started becoming popular in the West (especially France). Wallpaper has remained a home decor staple around the world. With innovative new products and designs, wallpaper is very popular now as an alternative to paint, especially in bathrooms.
In this article, we’ll explore some bathroom wallpaper ideas including the best types of wallpaper for bathrooms, the most ideal prints and colors, how to use wallpaper to make a small bathroom appear bigger and ideas for a spa bathroom. Let’s Dive In!
Where to Start?
Whether you are designing a large, spa-like bathroom or a small powder room, the bathroom is the perfect space to use wallpaper to create a one-of-a-kind experience. “I love using wallpaper as the foundation of a room.” Says, Christine Jarski, Owner of CJ Dean Designs. “Today’s many colors, patterns, textures, and applications can make wallpaper a focal point or support the design of a room.”
With all of the options available, it can be overwhelming. Start by asking a few simple questions, how big is my space? How do I want it to feel? Can any wallpaper be used in a bathroom?
No Bathroom Is Too Big Or Small
While your color and pattern choice are entirely up to you, some shades and wallpaper prints work better than others depending on a bathroom’s size. Many people struggle with small bathrooms (especially when it comes to the guest bathroom) and want them to feel bigger. Fortunately, colors go a long way in achieving this effect.
When working with a small powder room, we recommend using large-scale prints or geometric shapes if you go the pattern route. That’s because big designs create the illusion of having more space, as they trick the mind into thinking the surface area is greater than it is.
By contrast, small, intricate prints make a room appear more compressed and should, therefore, be limited to just a feature wall or a portion of one wall. Textured wallpaper that imitates material like bricks, wood grass cloth also causes a small space to seem more sizable.
To use color to make a room feel larger, use lighter colors that will reflect light. Wallpaper with a white background or pale hue will make the room more spacious. To create a cozy powder room, use wallpaper that absorbs light.
How Do you Want your Bathroom to Feel?
Do you want your bathroom to be a spa-like oasis where you retreat and relax?
Maybe you want your bathroom to be Art Deco Glam or perhaps you want to show off your sense of Whimsy. The bathroom is one of the best places to experiment with style and truly express yourself. Add coordinating fixtures and accessories that enhance your wallcovering style. This will create a cohesive and intentional design.
To make your bathroom feel like a day at the Spa, select a wallcovering with a light pattern that blends with the other colors in the room. Use small pops of color in your accessories instead of bold colors in your wallpaper, tile or artwork. The subtle color pallet of the spa bathroom will help you relax at the end of a long day or ease you into your morning. For more information on using wallpaper to enhance your design, check out my blog on Called Wallpaper Wonders: Setting the Tone for Your Room with Style.
Can Any Type of Wallpaper be used in a Bathroom?
The short answer to this question is no. When selecting bathroom a wallcovering the type of material is important. Stay clear of printed commercial wallpaper for a powder room. Commercially printed wallpaper typically uses water-based ink is used in this type of wallpaper, which which means the beautiful designs will smudge due to steam and water sprays.
Like printed wallpaper, mylar wallpaper contains a printed paper layer, but it also has an added polyester film. This lining makes it possible to wash the wallpaper. Its water resistance makes it a nice option for bathroom wallpaper. Just be aware that it can highlight any wall defects. CJ Dean Desigs works with a team of professional wallpaper installers who can address this situation.
You will also want to avoid natural fiber wallpapers like Grasscloth or Bamboo. Although, they add beautiful texture, grasscloth and bamboo are poor options for a wet and humid enviornment because they consist of natural, largely untreated materials. A good alternative to a natural grasscloth is a vinyl product that will provide similar physical and visual texture.
Vinyl wallpaper is the most popular and widespread option today. Vinyl wallcovering is made from made from layers of printed wallpaper and vinyl. It’s durable, highly water-resistant and easy to clean, making it ideal for a bathroom.
CJ Dean Designs will help you select the right wallpaper for your space and to consider the environment that it will be in within your home. We work with trained installers to understand the proper undercoating for your project and do the work of prepping and installing the product. The outcome is an amazing space that you will bring you joy!
CJ Dean Designs is a professional Full-Service Interior Design company based in Beaverton/Hillsboro, Oregon. We work through the west Portland, Oregon metro area, creating unique spaces that people love to. Contact owner Christine Jarski today at (503) 858-8603 or cjdeandesigns@decoratingden.com
