How To Wallpaper A Bathroom

Wallpapered powder rooms, also know as downstairs cloakrooms are very popular at the moment. As those rooms are rather small with just little furniture and decoration, you can go wild with prints. No wonder that many like to go further and wallpaper the bathroom as well. But can you use wallpaper in a bathroom? And will it last in a humid environment?

Many bathroom wallpapers are made of vinyl, PVC. But did you know that vinyl happens to be the plastic with the most toxic environmental impact? If you love nature as much as we do, you probably don’t want vinyl wallpaper in your home. There is still a way to hang wallpaper, like our non-woven wallcoverings, in your bathroom that isn't made of vinyl. Read through our tips on getting wallpaper in your bathroom that is environmentally friendly. ⠀

(Left) Floral wallpaper Secret Garden in Copper by Good & Craft (Right) Tropical wallpaper mural with parrots in colourway powder by Good & Craft

Why No Vinyl

Vinyl wallpapers are, as their name says, made of vinyl (PVC plastic). Polyvinyl chloride plastic is uniquely toxic among plastics because of its ingredients, extreme pollution from production, and last but not least its disposal. The essential raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil, and it is produced with chlorine. This results in the release of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals. PVC, therefore, is the most environmentally damaging of all plastics. Sadly about 40 million tonnes are produced per year. We do not support the environmentally damaging production of vinyl. Instead, our wallpapers are non-woven wallpapers, they do not contain vinyl and therefore they have a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Combine With Colourful Tiles and Wood Paneling

Always consult a professional and experienced wallpaper installer. Ask them to come and check your space to make sure that your wall is suitable for the installation of wallpaper.

Make sure that you choose a paper that is durable: Non-woven wallpapers, like our Good & Craft wallcoverings, also know as paste the wall wallpapers are renowned for their sturdiness and are wipeable.

To avoid getting water splashes onto your wallpaper it is a good idea to use tiles or wood paneling in areas near the sink or bath/shower. The tiles/paneling does not only have a functional option, moreover you can play with colour and tiles in different shapes that combine beautifully with your wallpaper to get a unique interior.

(Left) Floral Wallpaper Morning Glory in Powder by Good & Craft

(Right) Wallpaper Hummingbirds Secret Garden in Powder by Good & Craft

There are some gorgeous tiles on the market in various shapes and colours, like those beautiful tiles by Claybrook in London. (Photo Credit: Claybrook through Pinterest).

Good Ventilation is Key

Most important when wallpapering a bathroom is a good ventilation system. Keep your bathroom well ventilated by leaving windows and the door open in case the room got too humid to not let moisture build up on the walls. Wallpaper seams and top/bottom edges need to be well stuck down to the wall, that no condensation can go behind the paper. Additionally the top/bottom can be sealed with waterproof silicone sealant.

To be on the safe side, you can apply Polyvine Decorator’s Varnish to your wallpaper which creates a moisture barrier. Go for a finish like dead flat to retain the look of the print. Always test the varnish on a sample before applying it to the whole wall as it may affect the colours of the wallpaper. The best is that Polyvine Decorator’s Varnish is water-based with low-odour and can be used for other materials as well, such as fabric, plaster and wood.

(Left) Wallpaper Living waters with Jelly Fishes by Good & Craft (Right) Forgotten Lagoon Wallpaper in Charcoal with nautical print by Good & Craft