When I shared the guest bathroom ideas we incorporated into our makeover, I got a lot of questions about using wallpaper in bathrooms and whether it was a good idea. I totally understand the 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 after doing my research, I found some great answers that led me to feel comfortable moving forward with my bathroom wallpaper plans. Today I’m sharing everything I learned about wallpaper in bathrooms so you’ll know the answers too! (post may include paid links; for more information, see my 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 Bathrooms? 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. 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!).
We installed this black and white lattice wallpaper (unfortunately no longer available) in our guest bathroom and it’s held up beautifully!
Guest Bathroom Sources: Vanity faucet | Faucet handles | Chrome towel ring | Gray vanity (similar) | Brass and pearl vanity knobs | Brass flush mount light | Black marble toilet tray (similar) | Toilet seat with night light
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 Bathrooms?
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!
For example, I used {this indigo wallpaper} in the bathroom of our current home. It would be a bit overwhelming on all four walls of a bedroom but it definitely works in this small space:
Check out my post on Serena & Lily wallpapers to see some other beautiful wallpaper options!
Want to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Still not sure you want to use wallpaper in your bathroom? Consider stenciling! It’s a great alternative that mimics the look of wallpaper at a fraction of the price. I stenciled the walls of the powder room in our previous home as part of our budget bathroom remodel and it looked just like wallpaper! Get all of my stenciling tips in my how-to post on wall stencils.
If you still have questions that I didn’t answer, leave them in the comments and I’ll get back to you! I’ll see you guys back on the blog this weekend but until then, hope you have a great week!
Nicky says
The varnish to protect wallpaper…does it turn yellow in time?
Amy says
Hi there!
I am a first time wallpapered. Yay! What type of wallpaper would you recommend? Pre-pasted? Peel and stick? There are so many options!
Thanks!
Amy
chris hullopeter says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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.
Shirley says
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.
Kris Jarrett says
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.
Melissa says
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!
rachel says
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
Becky says
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.
Mary says
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?
SHANNON SMALL says
Do you have a recommendation on pre-pasted or unpasted? Does it make a difference in a bathroom application?
Kris Jarrett says
I’ve used both and don’t really have a preference one way or another – either can be used in a bathroom!
Kara says
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!
Margaret says
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.
Kumari.j says
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