I LOVE using wallpaper to bring personality and character to small spaces like bathrooms. But, fear of bathroom moisture had me reserving wallpaper for half baths. Well, now I’ve learned from other seasoned designers that there is a way for your bathroom wallpaper to stay put! And I’m sharing those tips today.
Moisture is the nemesis of wallpaper and is what causes it to peel, bubble, and all the things you don’t want. Given that the wrong choices could make that bathroom wallpaper a disaster, be picky and do it right!
Here’s how:
3 Ways to Make Bathroom Wallpaper LAST
These are easy tips to ensure your bathroom wallpaper lasts for years without issue. I remember in my childhood bathroom(s), there was wallpaper everywhere! And it lasted decades. It seems like in our money and time saving era, quality has fallen by the wayside in many ways, but by understanding how bathroom wallpaper of decades past has lasted, we can replicate that formula with great success!
1. Use high quality thick paper (or vinyl)
I started this conversation on Natalie Myer’s instagram post, curious why she chose to use wallpaper in her kids’ full bathroom, after noting that they destroyed the previous iteration of the bathroom (lol). It seems her needs were something indestructible. So then why use wallpaper?
The paper she used is House of Hackney in the pattern ‘Hollyhocks’ (you can see it in action here). They are famous for their thick papers and *extremely* high quality offerings. So like I said earlier, quality for sure matters here. She also noted that her kids mostly shower in her bathroom, so filling that room with steam multiple times a day wasn’t going to happen.
Natalie said that her installer assured her that the paper was robust and could handle it. Another reason to find yourself a great tradesperson! Someone also responded to my query o Instagram that her own parents’ wallpaper lasted 30 years before it started to bubble with daily use. So it is possible, if selected and installed correctly, that bathroom wallpaper can last.
Pro tip: get wallpaper samples first to ensure the papers are nice and thick. Try to tear them, spritz with water, etc. See how they handle it. You want something that feels much thicker than paper; it needs some heft to it.
2. Use high quality paste
Just like everything else, not all wallpapers are created equally. I wouldn’t use a peel and stick in the bathroom; you need the good stuff with the thick paste. A quick google search (and a chat with a talented installer) will point you in the right direction. You want a paste that has superior adhesion for this wet application.
3. Hire a professional
House Beautiful | photo: Bjorn Wallander
You can install wallpaper yourself in any room of the house, but I would spring for professional installation in your bathroom wallpaper. The reason? It needs to be installed perfectly. You’re already springing for the good quality paper and paste, so finish the job by outsourcing to a pro to ensure proper adhesion and guarantee your bathroom wallpaper lasts decades.
PS: The wallpaper featured here is Morris & Co.
Are you tempted to put wallpaper in your bathroom? Personally, I’ve only used it once in a client’s bathroom. The paper was from Hygge & West (a personal favorite brand for its whimsical patterns), so I knew it was quality and could be trusted.
Don’t forget to read reviews!!! Thankfully, we are in the golden age of online reviews so you should be able to figure out the bathroom wallpaper that would be perfect for your project based on information others give. Good luck!
Don’t forget to check out my latest post on affordable spring pillows! It’s a fun list of goodies:-)