How to choose washable, moisture-resistant wallpaper for the bathroom? Review and Tips +Video

Every detail in the house should please its owner: therefore, even in the bathroom you should put wallpaper. Modern technologies can create wall coverings that are resistant to moisture. Wall decoration can become simple, quick and high-quality if you use wallpaper for the bathroom. Until recently, when renovating a bathroom, only ceramic tiles were used, because there was no sufficiently durable and waterproof wallpaper. But now moisture-resistant wallpaper is widely used to create beautiful and cozy bathroom interiors.

What wallpaper is suitable for the bathroom

Wallpaper in the bathroom can help bring to life many non-standard solutions in the interior design of this room. When choosing wallpaper for a bathroom, you should take into account that there is high humidity and frequent temperature changes.

black wallpaper creates a contrast with snow-white appliances

The best options for finishing a bathroom would be:

Vinyl wallpaper is perfect for covering bathroom walls; it sticks well and tightly to the walls and is absolutely not afraid of exposure to water and water vapor. They will also serve you for quite a long time without losing their appearance under the influence of frequent temperature changes. When choosing vinyl wallpaper to decorate your bathroom, you can glue it with glue, which has a special antifungal component added, it will take care of the walls from the inside, leaving no chance for fungus or mold to appear on the surface.
Liquid wallpaper. Recently, liquid wallpaper has become increasingly popular; it is a water-based plaster, from which you can create embossed or smooth surfaces without leaving seams. They are applied with a roller or spatula to previously prepared and dried walls, and after they have completely dried, they are covered with waterproof varnish. They can be painted and created into the shapes or patterns you need; liquid wallpaper is not susceptible to moisture, so it is ideal for decorating a bathroom.
Glass wallpaper. Their appearance and structure resemble the wonderful interweaving of thin threads of glass. The convenience of using them in the bathroom is that they are absolutely moisture resistant, since they are made of glass and paper (paper is the basis for this type of finish). They are easily modified due to the fact that they can be quickly and easily painted in a different color, which means that the interior of your bathroom can easily be changed as soon as you get bored with it. They are not picky at all when it comes to care, so keeping your bathroom clean will not be difficult for you.
Photo wallpaper will also be a great and unusual solution for your bathroom. With their help, you can brightly and boldly design any design and bring all your wildest ideas to life. Using photo wallpapers, you can create anything in your bathroom, from paintings by world classics to imitation of a brick wall, so they are an indispensable assistant in creating unusual interiors. The most important thing when choosing photo wallpaper for the bathroom is to choose rolls and glue with a moisture-resistant coating, which allows them to last longer in a room with high humidity.
Self-adhesive wallpaper. Such wallpaper is perhaps the most budget-friendly option; the choice of colors will simply amaze you, and the price will pleasantly please you. These wallpapers are impregnated with a special glue and lie very easily on any surface, however, their disadvantage is that on an uneven surface they will only highlight all the flaws of the wall, since they are quite thin. However, the big advantage is that they are impervious to moisture, even at joints; they can be used to cover areas above the bathtub and sink without fear that they will lose their appearance or peel off from the walls.

pink wallpaper with a small floral print is an excellent solution for a country-style bathroom

“It is not recommended to choose paper, bamboo or cork wallpaper for the bathroom, as they have increased moisture absorption properties”

For the bathroom you should choose washable wallpaper, since in this room there are quite a lot of soap splashes and stains, which high-quality wallpaper is not at all afraid of, therefore, keeping this room clean will not be difficult.

However, you should not wallpaper the areas above the bathtub or sink, since here the wallpaper will come into contact with large amounts of water too often, and even the highest quality material may soon become unusable at the joints. The areas of the wall where the greatest contact with water occurs are best finished with tiles or plastic panels; they are not so susceptible to moisture, and in combination with wallpaper in the bathroom, they can create a chic and unforgettable design.

wallpaper in the bathroom with a marine theme

General information

Advantages and disadvantages

For most types of premises, the most suitable finishing materials (including washable wallpaper) have a number of undeniable advantages, but there are also some disadvantages.

The disadvantages include the following:

The main drawback is moisture, which will have a negative effect on the wallpaper. Everyone knows that when exposed to water, paper gets wet and deteriorates, but most wallpaper is made on a paper basis, which makes it unsuitable for use in bathrooms.
On the material that is glued, when wet, glue defects may appear - they sometimes swell and appear, and thereby spoil the appearance.
One of the properties of paper is hygroscopicity, namely the absorption of water vapor, which often causes wallpaper to peel off.

You can avoid all the above disadvantages by choosing the right wallpaper for wet rooms. (for example, moisture-resistant wallpaper or liquid wallpaper).

But besides this, there are also positive aspects to wallpapering in the bathroom:

The main advantage is the low price of material and finishing. In addition, not every person knows how to decorate a room with tiles, but you can paste wallpaper yourself, which will reduce costs.
Another significant plus is that you can always change the interior of the bathroom, since wallpapering is a simple and short-lived task and does not require an investment. This means that, if necessary, you can always remove the already boring pattern and make a new pasting.
The last thing is the choice of pattern, color and relief, since when choosing wallpaper that is suitable for these parameters, everything will be much simpler than with ceramic tiles.

When you have assessed all the pros and cons, you should decide whether to make a choice in their favor. If your decision is positive, keep this nuance in mind: you should never glue wallpaper above the bathtub or sink, since these are places that are in direct contact with water.

Choosing moisture-resistant wallpaper for the bathroom

So, when you have already made a decision, all that remains is to make a choice. You shouldn’t even look at cheap paper-based or low quality wallpaper - they won’t last long on bathroom walls.

Overview of types of wallpaper for the bathroom

It is better to consider these options:

Washable moisture-resistant wallpaper

They have a special coating - it will not allow moisture to penetrate into the deep layers of the material, and this in turn will prevent swelling and delamination, and will ensure a long service life. In addition, it is easy to remove dust, dirt, fungus, etc. from them, due to which they will last a long time and at the same time retain their original appearance.

This wallpaper is glued in stages:

The strip of wallpaper should be coated well with glue, paying special attention to the edges.
The canvas must be pressed tightly against the wall.
Next, smooth the strip using a smoothing roller from the middle to the edges to get rid of air bubbles.
Carefully smooth the joints so that the wallpaper does not peel off.

Vinyl wallpapers

Due to the fact that the top layer of this coating is made of polyvinyl chloride, they got their name. The bottom layer is usually made of paper or non-woven fabric. They differ in that they can withstand even direct contact with water, but constant high humidity does not benefit them.

This coating has its advantages:

Moisture resistance
Possibility of not leveling the walls before pasting
Huge range of colors and designs
A variety of textures that can be made to look like stone, textiles or imitate plaster.

Important! If the bathroom is covered with vinyl wallpaper, then you need to think about good ventilation. Otherwise, an unpleasant odor may occur.

Self-adhesive wallpaper

Stores sell self-adhesive film that can be used in the bathroom. It is glued to a flat, clean base. In this case, the preparation of the walls must be ideal: the film is very thin and it cannot hide any imperfections, but only emphasizes all the irregularities. The properties of this finishing material are determined by the properties of vinyl: the film is durable, dense, does not allow water, steam, or air to pass through. Walls covered with this material can be washed with a brush and non-abrasive detergents. PVC does not allow water to pass through in any form and good ventilation is required to remove high humidity.

Self-adhesive wallpaper for the bathroom - repair without glue

Self-adhesive for the bathroom can be matte or glossy. On a glossy surface, traces of water and soap are more visible, but caring for it is easier: all dirt can be easily removed from a smooth surface. On a matte film, deposits are less visible, but due to the porosity of the surface, they are more difficult to remove. Another nuance: the glossy surface, due to the reflection of light, makes a small room visually more spacious. But in bright light, a large amount of glare has a strong impact on the eyes. They get tired faster.

Before gluing, the surface must be cleaned of dust and degreased. After that, cut the film into strips of the required length. Gradually separating the protective backing, glue the PVC film, using a plastic spatula to expel the air from under the film.

Liquid wallpaper

In rooms with high humidity, they are water-based plaster, which, after drying, becomes impervious to splashes of water and steam.

They are applied this way:

Before you start applying, the walls need to be well primed with a certain composition, and then secured with a colorless water-repellent varnish.
The dry mixture should be stirred until it has the consistency of sour cream.
Liquid moisture-resistant wallpaper for the bathroom should be applied using a sprayer with a plastic float, or by hand throwing small portions of the composition, after which it is rolled out with a simple paint roller.

Glass wallpaper

If you like painted walls in your bathroom, you can use glass wallpaper for painting. They are a fabric woven from glass fibers, which are intertwined in a special way, due to which a pattern is formed. The range of designs is not so wide, but due to the fact that these canvases can be repainted up to 20-30 times, you can quickly change the design of the bathroom.

Some types of fiberglass wallpaper

Fiberglass wallpaper for the bathroom has a long service life, is not afraid of moisture, is breathable, does not rot, is made from natural raw materials, and does not support combustion. The canvases have a certain texture, due to which they can be glued to imperfect walls. In general, a good option. There are few disadvantages. The first is that they cost more than the same vinyl wallpaper. But they can be repainted, which allows you to quickly change a boring style. The second disadvantage is that they are difficult to glue. You have to be careful not to “flatten” the relief and use special glue. The third drawback is that you still need to buy paint and paint the glass wallpaper several times to obtain a uniform color. This further increases the cost of this type of finishing.

Photo wallpaper

Also an interesting option for the bathroom for a quick and inexpensive change of design in the room. They allow you to achieve a complete transformation and create the most interesting fantasies in just a few hours. The main thing is that you choose moisture-resistant photo wallpaper. The gluing of this type of coating is similar to the previous ones described.

Non-woven wallpaper

This finishing material is made on a special non-woven base, which combines natural and chemical fibers.

Non-woven fabric can act as a base or be the only material for manufacturing. There are different types of such canvases: plain, paintable, patterned or textured, which are shown in the photo.

The advantages of this material are:

Easy to paste. It is not necessary to apply glue directly to the canvas; you can simply cover the wall with it and glue the desired section of wallpaper.
Environmental friendliness of the material
Ease of removal for repeated repairs
Possibility of painting in any desired color

Important! Non-woven wallpaper is not intended for wet cleaning.

Decorating toilet walls with photo wallpapers

In the design of a hygiene room with a compact area, compositions with images are very successful, with the help of which the effect of visually expanding the space is created. This could be a view from the window of the city landscape, a marine theme, or a panoramic view of a flowering meadow from a high cliff. Fashionable abstract sketches, geographical maps, or even photo wallpaper for the toilet in the form of reproductions of paintings by famous artists are also successful.

The nuances of wallpapering a bathroom

Be sure to paste the bathroom only with waterproof glue, the purchase of which must be arranged in advance. To ensure that the use of the wallpaper is long and comfortable, the wall is treated with anti-mold, anti-fungal agents before pasting.

Even if moisture-resistant materials are used, it is not recommended to glue them near the sink and bathtub. In places where there will be direct contact with water, it is best to lay tiles or plastic panels. This combination is shown in the photo.

When using wallpaper in the bathroom, you must not forget about maintaining the overall style with the plumbing, other coatings and surfaces. Since the range of canvases is huge, there is a risk of going too far with patterns and relief. In this case, it is very important to think in advance about where and how the wallpaper will be pasted and whether it fits well into the interior.

There is no need to choose very bright or dark colors, since the bathroom is a place where a person rests and relaxes, so it is better to stick to a calm design. Contrasting wallpapers look great, for example, a horizontal combination with a dark bottom and a light top. The main rule is a complete combination, as in the photo.

As with any other modest-sized room, it is best to choose wallpaper with a small pattern for the bath so that the room does not look even smaller.

Using wallpaper of different colors and textures, you can zone a room and highlight functional areas. This solution is shown in the photo.

Be sure to think about the proper operation of ventilation in advance before repairs. It is necessary to clean the old one or, if its work is not enough, install a new forced one. This is done so that the newly pasted wallpaper dries faster, and in the future does not accumulate excess moisture inside itself.

Advantages and disadvantages

In the modern building materials market, it is not difficult to choose fabrics for decorating a toilet. This type of wall decoration has many advantages:

It’s easy to choose both expensive and affordable wallpapers. The area of toilets is usually small, so the decoration can be updated frequently;
No special skills or special equipment are required to carry out the work;
availability of a wide range of canvases of different shades, styles, textures.

Like any building material, wallpaper has disadvantages. Some types do not mask surface defects in walls, so preliminary leveling is required. The canvas is easy to damage (scratch or tear).

Selecting wallpaper color

Using wallpaper in a damp room always involves a combination with plaster or tiles, so it is important to correctly combine these types of finishes in color and texture.

Wallpaper in a bathroom design should be combined with the overall style; from the color palette, you should pay attention to shades of blue and green, which create the effect of purity.
In small bathrooms, it is better to avoid deep shades of red, blue and black.
Beige and nude shades are suitable for a classic style; for high-tech, white glass wallpaper is suitable; for Provence, with a small floral print or vertical stripes.
For medium-sized and large-sized rooms, yellow and orange colors are suitable, which will bring energy and light (in a small bathroom, you can limit yourself to bright objects against pastel walls).

3D or photo wallpaper should occupy the entire wall and should not be interfered with by shelves, pipes and other equipment. If dimensions do not allow, then let it be a small painting or two-part panel paintings.

Design nuances depending on the size of the toilet

The main conditions when planning and decorating a toilet are the most efficient use of space, practicality, and beauty. Typically, about 1 square meter is allocated for a toilet in an apartment. m of area, sometimes - 2 sq. m. For such a small room, choose plumbing fixtures of a simple shape and small size.

To save space in the interior of a small toilet, it is recommended to choose a wall-hung toilet. If the choice falls on the classic floor option, it is recommended to install it directly against the wall. The tank and communications are covered with decorative panels.

Design with sink

A sink in the toilet should only be installed if there is free space. The model chosen is compact, most often angular or narrow, with a depth of no more than 20-30 cm. Such a sink takes up little space in a cramped toilet, but provides increased comfort.

Hang a towel holder or hand dryer nearby. Installing a mirror on the wall above the sink allows you to visually enlarge the room.

When installing a sink, you should adhere to the following rules:

If the toilet has a narrow, elongated shape, the washbasin is placed on a wide wall, and the toilet is moved to the wall opposite the entrance.
A toilet is mounted against a long wall (not closed by a door), and the sink is placed in a corner. There should be a space of at least 60 cm between them, so this method is not suitable for narrow spaces.
It is advisable to equip a very small room with a wall-hung toilet and place a small sink in the corner.

Glue selection

In order for the wallpaper for the bathroom to stick well, so that mold and fungi do not grow on it, you need to choose the right glue. It is chosen depending on the type of wallpaper: for vinyl - its own composition, for non-woven fabric - its own. But at the same time, you need to ensure that bactericidal additives are included in the glue.

For a good result, you need to choose the right glue

For greater reliability, it is advisable to treat the prepared surface with a primer that has a bactericidal effect. In addition to the fact that the soil prevents the development of harmful microorganisms, it evens out the absorbency of the walls, reducing glue consumption, and prevents the formation of bubbles.

Gluing process

Pasting in the bathroom is a fairly simple procedure, in which the most important thing is to follow certain rules and make a choice in favor of the wallpaper that is suitable for this room.

In addition, you should choose wallpaper that matches the color of the interior so that the result will definitely please you. Just as the bathroom is important in everyone’s home, correctly selected wallpaper is also important, since it is in the bathroom that a person receives the boost of energy he needs for the whole day, and in the evening he relieves stress after working days.

In addition, you can use photo wallpaper or wallpaper panels with colors, patterns and other additions that can be used to decorate your walls, which can be enhanced with the right lighting, accessories and more.

Important: wallpaper with a large pattern can also decorate the bathroom, but it will also visually make it smaller, so the use of such wallpaper will only be appropriate in large rooms.

Bathroom: wallpaper or tiles?

Wallpapering a bathroom is an excellent, original, bold solution. The main thing here is to choose the type of paintings, their texture and shade, so that the finish goes well with other elements. It is very good if the renovation is carried out starting with the rough finishing of the bathroom. After reading the information, please leave your ratings and reasoning in the comments. They will be useful to other readers. Your opinion is very important to us. Thank you for your participation. We appreciate your every feedback and time spent.

A wide selection of color options (in the case of liquid wallpaper, unlimited due to the use of colors).
Low cost (even the most expensive canvases cost about the same as high-quality domestically produced ceramic tiles).
Originality of decoration (wallpaper is rarely used in bathrooms, so you can create an attractive and non-standard interior).

Minuses

The ability of a material to absorb water vapor.
The appearance of mold on the finishing surface in case of insufficient ventilation in the room.
The need to use special adhesive compositions suitable for use in rooms with high humidity. Regular glue will not work, because... When wet, it loses its properties.

Sources
_https://yellowhome.ru/2015/06/07/kak-vybrat-oboi-v-vannuyu/ _https://domsdelat.ru/steni/vlagostojkie-oboi-dlya-vannoj-komnaty-nepromokaemye-i-moyushhiesya .html _https://bouw.ru/article/vlagostoykie-oboi-dlya-vannoy-komnati _https://stroychik.ru/sanuzel/oboi-dlya-vannoj-komnaty _https://design-homes.ru/komnaty/ vannaya-komnata/oboi-dlya-vannoj-komnaty _https://modernplace.ru/oboi-dlya-vannoj/

Ways to combine materials in the toilet

Toilet design with wallpaper and tiles

tiles cover the walls most in contact with water; the upper part can be covered with wallpaper

This method is becoming one of the most justified for combined bathrooms. By tiling the area near the sink, you can easily protect the walls from water splashes and not worry about the finish deteriorating. The tile can cover only one area that is most in contact with water. It can also encircle the lower part of the walls. Everything else is covered with wallpaper. The colors of tiles and wallpaper should duplicate or complement each other.

Combination with a painted wall

combination of wallpaper with decorative stone in toilet design

If you don’t want to tile sections of the walls, you can simply paint them. A layer of paint will create a similar protective effect, thanks to which the wall will not be afraid of either water or mold. Dry areas not exposed to water can be decorated with wallpaper. If the lower half of the walls is painted and the upper half is pasted over, the tails of the wallpaper can be hidden behind the horizontal wall moldings.

Separation by color

dark-colored wallpaper is suitable for spacious bathrooms

This method is suitable for combining several types of wallpaper. With its help you can also visually transform the space of the room. For a small toilet, a mix of light-colored fabrics is preferable. Dark tones will be visually attractive, and this will make the wall appear smaller, so when using them, it is important not to overdo it. You can combine colored and plain wallpapers. Combinations of simple canvases with catchy patterns or a 3D effect look great.

Alternative options

For a small toilet room you can come up with a huge number of stylistic solutions. Wallpaper, when properly combined with flooring, plumbing, lighting fixtures and ceilings, will form a harmonious style.

Often different types of material are used for the side and back surfaces. Sometimes the far wall, on which meters and pipes are located, is masked with PVC panels and drywall.

The walls are also made of different wallpapers - dark from below at a height of about 100 cm, then light. The thresholds are tiled. It is original and practical to use. The lower part is less dirty, and the brightened top will add light and space.

Light finish option

There are many ideas for renovating toilets of different sizes, and there are more and more of them every day. Therefore, it is important that different types and brands of finishing materials of good quality appear on the markets, while competing in cost.

Bathroom renovation is a real field for experimentation. When using wallpaper, the interior can be changed, updated or completely remodeled, as well as damage in local areas can be eliminated.