Bathroom wallpaper ideas

The palette

Which wallpapers work in bathrooms

Look for vinyl, vinyl-coated or non-woven papers labelled as washable or scrubbable. They resist humidity far better than traditional uncoated papers. Use a mould-resistant, ready-mixed adhesive rather than standard paste.

Avoid grasscloth, flock and hand-printed papers in family bathrooms that get steamy daily. They can be used in a cloakroom or a well-ventilated en suite, but expect them to be more delicate.

Tiles take the splashes around the basin, leaving the walls above free for paper.

Where to hang it

• Above a panelled or tiled dado — the classic solution: tiles or painted tongue-and-groove take the splashes, paper takes the glory.
• On the wall opposite the bath or shower — away from direct water, but on show as you walk in.
• On the ceiling — a small-scale print on a bathroom ceiling is unexpected and charming.
• In the cloakroom — the downstairs loo is the perfect place to be brave, because you don't spend long there.

Keep paper away from areas that are directly splashed: shower enclosures, behind basins without a splashback, and the wall at the tap end of a bath.

Pattern ideas for small bathrooms

Counter-intuitively, bold pattern often works better in a small bathroom than a timid one. A large-scale botanical or a confident stripe blurs the corners and makes the walls feel further away. Small-scale ditsy prints suit cottage bathrooms and sloping ceilings.

Pick out one colour from the paper for the woodwork, vanity unit or bath panel — it makes the scheme feel considered rather than busy.

A small room is an invitation to be bold. Nobody ever regretted a brilliant cloakroom.

Protecting wallpaper in a bathroom

Prime the walls before papering so the paper can be stripped later. Seal the edges along tiles and skirting with a thin bead of clear decorator's caulk. Where splashes are likely, a clear water-based matt varnish brushed over washable vinyl adds another layer of protection — test it on an offcut first, as it can slightly change the colour.

Frequently asked questions