When I shared our guest bathroom makeover I got a lot of questions about using wallpaper in bathrooms and whether it was a good idea. I totally get your hesitation because I had the same concerns about whether a bathroom was a wisest spot for me to fulfill my wallpaper dreams when I first started thinking about doing it! But I did my research and ended up finding some great answers that led me to feel comfortable moving forward with my plan so I wanted to share what I learned (post includes some affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here}). We’ll kick the questions off with the one I got the most…
Are You Sure It’s OK to Use Wallpaper in a Bathroom? Really sure?
In most cases, yes! The biggest factors to consider are whether it’s a bathroom where a lot of water is going to get splashed on the wallpaper and (if it’s a full bath) whether the bathroom has a good fan. If it’s in a kids’ bathroom and your kids are notorious for getting water from one end of their bathroom to the other, you might want to skip using wallpaper. And if it’s a bathroom with a frequently used shower but a poorly working fan or no fan, that would be another reason to say no to wallpaper. But otherwise, you should be in good shape and can totally make wallpaper work, especially with the secret weapon that I learned about (read on for more on that!).
Is There A Way to Seal Wallpaper or Prevent Damage Due to Moisture?
Yes! There’s a secret weapon to use on wallpaper in areas of high moisture that my wallpaperer clued me into – it’s called Decorators Varnish (available {here}) – he swears by it and after seeing it in action, now I do too!
You brush a thin coat on the wallpaper after it’s hung and it protects and seals without adding shine like most varnishes do. I was pretty hesitant about using it because one thing that I love about the wallpaper I chose for our bathroom is that it’s cork-based and has a really cool texture with no sheen. But my wallpaperer is very experienced and has used this product for years so I trusted him and gave him the go-ahead. He was right! This stuff is truly dead flat and the finish on my wallpaper looks the same after applying it as it did before. It does come in other sheens so if you have wallpaper with a sheen or if you want to add sheen to your wallpaper, you could go with satin or gloss.
My wallpaperer also uses it on wallpapered light switches in rooms all over the house because it keeps them from getting dirty over time – smart! No matter what you use it on, just be sure to test it on a wallpaper sample before applying it to your wallpaper – it’s always good practice to play it safe and be 100% sure you’re happy with the product before applying it to a whole room.
What Kind of Wallpaper is Best to Use in a Bathroom?
If you’re worried about how wallpaper will fare in your bathroom and/or you don’t want to use Decorators Varnish, you might want to stick with vinyl wallpaper. It’s the most durable, washable type of wallpaper and a great choice for spaces with high humidity. But my wallpaperer has successfully hung all kinds of wallpapers that you might think would be no-no’s in a bathroom (like my cork wallpaper or grasscloth wallpapers) and said almost any wallpaper is fine to use as long as it’s coated with the varnish and isn’t in a room where it’s getting directly splashed with water or constantly exposed to high humidity.
Just keep in mind that certain wallpapers like grasscloth are not very cleanable, regardless of what room they’re used in. So personally, I wouldn’t want to use grasscloth in a bathroom where it would be near the toilet (gross!) unless it was just on the upper half of the wall.
Why Would You Want to Use Wallpaper in a Bathroom?
Because it makes such a HUGE impact! A small bathroom is the perfect spot to use a wallpaper that’s on the pricer side and would be outside of your budget if you were doing a larger room. It’s also a fun place to go a little bolder than you might in a larger space! I LOVE the wallpaper that I chose for our guest bathroom but think that if I hung it on every wall in a large room, it would be a little too much pattern for me. In a small bathroom, it’s perfect! Check out {this post} on my favorite wallpapers for some beautiful options!
And how about this gorgeous wallpaper that CC + Mike used in their recent bathroom remodel?! All the heart eyes! You can find more pics of this beautiful bathroom remodel along with sources for the wallpaper and everything else in the room on CC + Mike’s blog {here}!
Still not sure you want to wallpaper your bathroom? Consider stenciling! It’s a great alternative that mimics the look of wallpaper at a fraction of the price! Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that I stenciled the walls in our powder room a few years back but if you’re someone who hasn’t seen that project you can check out “before” and “after” pics of my stenciled bathroom {here} and read my stenciling how-to tutorial {here}.
If you still have questions about my bathroom makeover that I didn’t answer, leave them in the comments and I’ll get back to you! And if you landed here from Pinterest or Google and missed my bathroom makeover post, you can check it out {here}.
Cassidy™ Chrome Two Handle Lavatory Faucet with Cross Handles (faucet available {here} & cross handles available {here}) | Chrome towel ring | Turkish towel on towel bar | Fluffy white towels under vanity | Chrome towel bar | Chrome toilet paper holder |Gray/marble bath vanity (25″) – no longer available but {this vanity} is a great alternative | Brass and pearl vanity knobs | wood “soap dish” – found in cutting board aisle at HomeGoods and coated with Waterlox to make water resistant | Black and white cork wallpaper – no longer available | Black and white bath mat (similar) | White towels with black border | Brass flush mount light | Black marble toilet tray – exact one is no longer available but {this tray} is similar) | Candle in brass vessel with tassel – no longer available | Toilet seat with night light
I’ll see you guys back on the blog this weekend but until then, hope you have a great week!
Thank you for the tip about protective varnish! Good to know! Love the gray tones!
Thank you so much Monique!
Will the varnish make it harder to remove the wallpaper at a later date?
Joanna I can’t say for sure but I doubt it because you just put a thin coat on the surface – I don’t think it penetrates to the back of the paper where it would affect its removal.
I had similar wallpaper in the 70s…just goes to show you that good design lasts the test of time, huh?
How do you like the big mirror going straight across? Would be nice element maybe in our tiny guest bathroom
Hi Toni,
I have a big mirror in my guest bath that the builder installed. At first, I wanted to remove it but then I realized that it made the room appear bigger and brighter. I had it framed and now I love it!
Joanna I thought about framing mine too – I still might in the future. Good to hear you love yours that way!
Toni that’s pretty funny! I was initially thinking about removing that mirror in favor of a smaller decorative mirror but decided I liked how it opened up the space. It’s also nice for two people to be able to use it at one time so I think it’s there to stay!
Great tips, Kris! You know I love wallpaper!
Thank you Haneen! XOXO
Does the wall need to be retextured to a smooth finish before wallpapering? My husband insists all walls must have a smooth surface for wallpaper.
(Please help say it isn’t so)
Well…. shoot. Unfortunately, yes I would say that the wall should be smooth underneath wallpaper. You’ll see those lumps and bumps otherwise – even with grasscloth. For walls that are hard to get smooth, you can use an underlayment under wallpaper but I think that’s more work than just doing good wall prep.
Your guest bath is so lovely, Kris!
Thank you! Come visit and check it out for yourself! 🙂
Great tips, Kris! I am hoping to wallpaper my powder room sometime soon. I just love how a wallpapered bathroom looks. Yours came out fantastic!
Can’t wait to see it! It’s a fun spot to splurge on something that would be megabucks in a normal room!
Your stenciled bathroom is one of my all time favorite walls. You did a great job picking paint colors and a design that work so well together. I’ve lived in too many old houses where wallpaper was hard to remove, so I think I’m jaded against it,
Susie you’re too sweet – thank you!! And I her you about being jaded because of having to remove wallpaper in the past – I said I’d never wallpaper again after I took it out of our hall bath but them here I am a few years later jumping right back in! 🙂
Love it!
Thank you!
What a wonderful blog! So nicely put together with really great ideas!
Rosa + Eugenie Bellemaisonmagazine.com
Thanks Rosa!
Thank you for sharing this tip! I had used a clear lacquer to seal my wallpaper. It does show as shiny, but I used painter’s tape on the wallpaper and wall to at least make sure that the shine is just one stripe. I guess with this lacquer I won’t need to!
I so want to do a wallpaper accent wall in the master bath. I am in love with a bold black and white lattice print from Wayfair, but I am having difficulty in executing because I then have to consider a rug style/color; shower curtain style/color and window treament style/color. I will also have to paint the walls. Additionally, my countertops are a speckled creme/beige; walls are the “knock-down” texture; trim is stained wood; faucets are oil rubbed bronze. Help!!! ????
The good news is that some of the most gorgeous rooms are the ones where there’s a mix of different finishes! Good luck with your space!
Hi Kris. I have a question about your sink/vanity. When I click on the link to source it, the original one seems to have a back splash attached. How did you remove yours? Thanks!
Good question – it comes with the backsplash but it’s actually unattached so you can choose to use it or not!
I would like to know if wallpaper can be put on a bath tub, like wall uninterrupted?
I wouldn’t recommend wallpapering a bath tub – I think the water and humidity would be too much for it.
Should I remove old wallpaper before applying new? If so, HOW?
David
Yes, you should definitely remove the old wallpaper – my favorite way to do this is with a steamer!
I was planning on painting my bathroom cabinets with chalk paint. Would I be able to use this varnish on the cabinets to seal them? And if I’m adding a palletwall to my bathroom could this be used on that as well??
I’ve never tried it for that before – I would probably either wax it or use a polyurethane finish instead.
I liked your wallpaper it s so innovative and creative plz kindly do share ideas and plz were I’ll get these materials wat is d procedure I want to know
I put ordinary inexpensive wallpaper in my bathroom. It’s lasted 9 years and still looks perfect. It’s in the Sea Cliff section of San Francisco constant fog and damp, the foggiest part of SF. Plus 2 kids who take long hot showers .
Don’t be afraid of bathroom wallpaper.
Hi, I love your bathroom! I am looking at your bead board trim (top) and wondering what you used. I would like to use something simple as you have. If you can share, please do.
Thanks!
Do you have a recommendation on pre-pasted or unpasted? Does it make a difference in a bathroom application?
I’ve used both and don’t really have a preference one way or another – either can be used in a bathroom!
Thank you for all of the tips – you are so talented Kris! I’m copying this beautiful bathroom for our new powder room. I might change the floor tile because we have two little boys. Is there a color other than white you would recommend?
Hi Kris!
Crazy question… what do you think of wallpapering floating shelves? My hubby just DIYd someone our bathroom and instead of paint of stain, I want to wallpaper them. We have dark teal-y blue walls and classic white subway tile with dark grey grout. I’m so nervous it will look ridiculous.
Hey Kris – Thanks for the tip… I have my heart set on an underwater scene wallpaper from Etsy for an accent wall behind a freestanding tub and I really want to make it work. Your varnish reco sounds good, do you have a preference for the glue / paste? Is there one that you use that helps reduce chances of mold and also the possibility of peeling? Sounds like the varnish is more for protecting of the paper for splash and wipability, but I am specifically wondering about the paper staying on. If it comes off –> my husband will kill me. : )
Thanks so much!
rachel
Thank you for this great tip with the varnish! Do you know whether your wallpaperer applied it with a brush or roller? Want to avoid brush strokes and bubbles!
We wallpapered our small bathroom about six months ago. Some seams are starting to come up. Would you recommend using the decorative varnish at this time. I had purchased some but my husband was hesitant about using it initially.
The varnish would definitely help to keep that from happening again but you’d want to repair the seams first – putting the varnish on won’t fix seams that have already come up.
I had a question about which sheen to use in a kitchen. Would Satin be best? I want something that will be durable and easy to clean and stand the test of time. I ordered the Potagerie wallpaper by Angel Strawbridge and I plan on using it on my sink/stove wall. I started thinking that I better seal it somehow in order to keep it clean. Also, two coats or one? Thank you!
I would use the Flat regardless of the room that you’re sealing or it will be obvious that there’s a shiny finish on top of your wallpaper. We just used one coat in our bathroom.