Wallpaper Design Ideas for Your Bathroom

The best wallpaper for a bathroom is a material specifically designed to withstand humidity, such as Casavono’s Pre-Pasted paper. Your design choice should complement the room's size and light. Proper wall preparation and good ventilation are crucial for ensuring the wallpaper adheres correctly and avoids peeling.

What is the best wallpaper for bathrooms?

The best wallpaper for bathrooms is one that combines moisture resistance with your desired aesthetic. While traditional wallpapers made from standard paper are not suitable, modern materials offer excellent durability. The key is to choose a paper type that can cope with steam and condensation without compromising the adhesive or the finish.

Casavono's Pre-Pasted wallpaper has a textured matte finish and is specifically designed to suit kitchens and bathrooms with everyday humidity. The water-activated adhesive creates a strong bond with the wall, making it a reliable choice. Unlike some traditional options, all Casavono papers are PVC-free, offering a more sustainable choice for your home.

When selecting your wallpaper, ordering a sample is a practical first step. A sample, which at Casavono is a generous 30 x 20 inches (76 x 50 cm), allows you to see how the colours and pattern look in your bathroom's unique lighting. You can also feel the texture and assess the material's quality before committing to a full wall.

Can you use any wallpaper design in a bathroom?

While the material is a technical choice, the design is a personal one. You can use almost any wallpaper design in a bathroom, provided the material is appropriate for the humidity. The right pattern can transform a purely functional room into a stylish sanctuary. Your choice of design can make the space feel larger, brighter, or more luxurious.

For small bathrooms or powder rooms, a large-scale mural can create a surprising sense of depth. A continuous image, such as a calming landscape like the Seaview, Rosehip mural, draws the eye outward and makes the walls recede. This is a powerful technique detailed in our guide to how panoramic wall murals make a room look bigger.

For a calming atmosphere. Consider designs that evoke a sense of tranquility. A quiet botanical such as the Mallow, Clay mural can introduce a soft, organic element without overwhelming a small space. The key is to balance pattern scale with the room's dimensions. In a room you use every day, a design that feels restful is often the most successful.

Murals made to your measure

Mallow, ClayPrinted to your wall sizePortland, OatPrinted to your wall sizeSeaview, RosehipPrinted to your wall size

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What is the best waterproof wallpaper for a bathroom?

The term “waterproof” can be misleading. No wallpaper, including vinyl, should be used inside a shower or in areas of constant, direct water contact. The correct term is water-resistant, meaning the material can handle ambient moisture, steam, and the occasional splash, which can be wiped away with a damp cloth. This is the quality you need for bathroom walls.

The best wallcovering for bathrooms in terms of water resistance is one where the surface prevents moisture from soaking into the paper's core and weakening the adhesive. Casavono’s Pre-Pasted paper is engineered for this purpose, making it an excellent choice for well-ventilated bathrooms. Its durability comes from the material composition and the reliable bond formed by its water-activated paste.

Good ventilation is just as important as the wallpaper material itself. Always use an extractor fan during and after a shower or bath to remove excess steam from the air. This simple habit significantly reduces the amount of condensation that settles on the walls, protecting your investment and preventing issues like peeling or mildew growth down the line.

Is vinyl the best wallpaper for bathrooms?

Solid vinyl wallpaper has long been a popular choice for bathrooms due to its non-porous surface. However, modern, high-quality alternatives now offer comparable performance without the environmental concerns associated with PVC. When choosing the best wallpaper for bathroom walls, it is helpful to compare the options available.

A made to measure mural from Casavono offers a distinct advantage over standard rolls. Each mural is printed to your wall's exact dimensions, which means fewer seams. In a humid environment, seams can be a weak point where moisture might penetrate. A single, continuous image printed in wide panels creates a more robust and visually clean surface.

Here is a comparison of common choices:

What is the best wallcovering for bathrooms besides tile?

Wallpaper murals are the best wallcovering for bathrooms if you want to move beyond tiles. They offer a world of design possibilities that tiles cannot, from vast, photographic landscapes to intricate, artistic patterns. A mural transforms a wall into a single, stunning feature, which is particularly effective in a smaller room like a bathroom.

Unlike the grid of grout lines that comes with tiles, a made to measure mural provides a smooth, continuous surface. This lack of grout is not just a visual advantage; it also means there are fewer places for mould or mildew to grow.

Cleaning is simpler too, typically requiring just a wipe with a damp sponge. You can find more details on how ordering a made to measure mural works on our site.

Create a feature wall. A mural is perfect for an accent wall, for instance, the wall behind a freestanding bath or vanity. It creates a focal point without the commitment of tiling the entire room. A design like the Pietra Serena, Linen mural can even mimic the look of natural stone, offering a textured, sophisticated finish with the ease of wallpaper installation.

How do you prepare bathroom walls for wallpaper?

Proper wall preparation is the most critical factor for a long-lasting finish in a bathroom. Any shortcuts taken at this stage can lead to peeling or bubbling later on, especially in a humid environment. The goal is to create a surface that is perfectly smooth, dry, clean, and non-porous so the adhesive can form a strong, permanent bond.

Before you begin, ensure the room is well-ventilated and the walls are completely dry. If you are dealing with persistent dampness, you must resolve the underlying cause before considering wallpaper. For detailed instructions on every step, our guide on how to prepare a wall for wallpaper is an essential resource.

Follow these steps for a professional result:

1. Clean the Walls: Wash the walls thoroughly with a sugar soap solution or a mild detergent to remove any soap scum, grime, or dust. Rinse with clean water and allow the wall to dry completely for at least 24 hours.
2. Remove Obstacles: Take down any pictures, shelves, towel rails, and switch plates. Turn off the electricity to the room at the circuit breaker before removing any electrical coverings.
3. Create a Smooth Surface: Fill any cracks or holes with a good quality filler. Once dry, sand the filled areas until they are perfectly flush with the wall. Remove any old, flaking paint or existing wallpaper.
4. Prime the Wall: This is a non-negotiable step in a bathroom. Apply a coat of mould-resistant wallpaper primer. This seals the wall, prevents moisture from the adhesive being absorbed too quickly, and makes future removal much easier. Let it cure for the time recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Measure Your Wall: Once the wall is ready, you can take your final measurements. Use our free online wallpaper calculator to determine exactly how much material you need.

Where should you place wallpaper on bathroom walls?

The best placement for wallpaper depends on your bathroom's layout and how you use the space. While you can wallpaper all four walls for an immersive, jewel-box effect, an accent wall is often a more practical and equally impactful choice. This is particularly true in bathrooms where fixtures and tiles already cover significant surface area.

An accent wall behind the vanity or on the wall opposite the door can introduce colour and pattern without overwhelming the room. A bold design, like the Mustard Wave Abstract Mural, can turn a simple wall into a piece of art. This approach is also a great starting point if you are new to using wallpaper.

Powder rooms or guest toilets, which do not have a bath or shower, are ideal candidates for full wallpaper coverage. Since there is no steam from bathing, you can be more adventurous with placement. You can even use a renter-friendly Peel & Stick paper, although our guide to peel and stick quality recommends checking its suitability for your specific environment.

More murals to consider

Pietra Serena, LinenPrinted to your wall sizeMarinière, SlatePrinted to your wall sizeMustard Wave Abstract MuralPrinted to your wall size

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Common questions