Wallpaper in Bathroom: How to Choose and Apply?

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

Ksenia Muzenets, designer, member of ADDI

What should you remember first? Ensure good ventilation in the room

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

Choose moisture-resistant wallpapers

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

Design: Anna Veretennikova

Use special adhesive

It is preferable to use the same brand’s adhesive. Avoid relying on universal glue; instead, choose one specifically designed for your type of wallpaper.

Protect the wallpaper after installation

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

Design: Marina Zhukova

Do not apply wallpaper 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 the bathroom walls completely, but choose a small print.

Design: Irina Petrova and Olga Vasilieva

How to Design the Joint Between Tiles and Wallpaper?

• Trimming and Cornices. Select a suitable option that matches your tiles, plan the layout of the joints, 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 corresponds to the edge of the tiles.
• Moldings. These can be painted in the color of tiles or in the wall and wallpaper colors.
• Wallpaper with Tile Overlap. The key is to cut it evenly and apply it neatly.
• Painting the Tile Edge to Match the Wall. This looks great if the tiles have a smooth, beautiful edge without gaps.
• Polished Tile Edge. You can polish the edge and leave it as is.

Design: Viktoria Lazareva

Design: Ksenia Muzenets

6 More Great Ideas from Projects

Vibrant wallpapers by designer Natalya Yashuzakova were combined with white subway tiles.

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

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

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

By the way, wallpapers can be combined not only with tiles — designer Viktoria Lazareva partially painted the walls.

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