Wallpapers for Bathroom: How to Choose and Apply?

This year printed wallpapers are back in style. If you want to use them in the bathroom, read our guide — and avoid common mistakes.

Ksenia Mizenzeva, designer, member of ADDI

What should you remember first?

Ensure good ventilation in the room

Before applying wallpapers in a bathroom, make sure there is enough fresh air in the room. Poor ventilation can cause mold to grow on the wallpapers.

Choose moisture-resistant wallpapers

There is a wide selection: vinyl, cork, satin, or liquid wallpapers are suitable. However, paper wallpapers are better suited for other rooms — not bathrooms.

Design: Anna Veretennikova

Use special adhesive

It is preferable to use the same brand’s adhesive. Do not rely on universal glue; instead, choose one tailored for the specific type of wallpaper you purchased.

Protect the wallpapers after application

For this purpose, transparent lacquer is best — it gives the surface additional protection against moisture.

Design: Marina Zhukova

Do not apply wallpapers in direct contact with water

Even the most moisture-resistant wallpapers cannot withstand constant splashes and steam.

Create an accent wall

Try fully or partially covering it (and combine with tiles). Alternatively, you can cover all bathroom walls entirely, but choose a small print.

Design: Irina Petrova and Olga Vasilieva

How to Design the Joint Between Tiles and Wallpapers?

• Trim and Cornices. Select a suitable option that complements your tiles, plan the layout of the joint, and you'll already have a beautiful solution.
• Metal Profiles. They come in various colors and sizes. It's important to select the thickness that matches the edge of the tile.
• Mouldings. These can be painted in the color of tiles or walls and wallpapers.
• Wallpapers That Extend onto Tiles. The key is to cut precisely and apply neatly.
• Painting the Tile Edge in Wall Color. Looks great if the tiles have a clean, even edge without gaps.
• Polished Tile Edges. You can polish the edges and leave them as is.

Design: Viktoria Lazardova

Design: Ksenia Mizenzeva

Additional 6 Great Ideas from Projects

Vibrant wallpapers designed by Natalia Yashuzhakova were combined with white cabinet tiles.

Here’s how to protect wallpapers in “wet” zones. A great example from Margarita Rasskazovaya's project.

Designer Marina Zhukova chose neutral gray wallpapers — they don’t draw unnecessary attention.

If you like unconventional solutions, check how Lab21Studio designers used black wallpapers.

By the way, wallpapers can be combined not only with tiles — designer Viktoria Lazardova decided to partially paint the walls.

Designer Olga Kulikovskaya-Eshbi chose golden wallpapers with a floral print for her project.