Wallpaper is a popular design choice in the home. Its use for statement walls is very much on trend right now, with many retailers seeing increased demand for rolls of wallpaper. 

While wallpaper is well known for its deployment in living spaces — such as the living room or bedroom — rarely do you find it in locations like the kitchen or bathroom. 

Why is this? Is wallpaper in the bathroom a good idea?

Can You Put Wallpaper in the Bathroom?

It’s not often that you find wallpaper in a bathroom, simply because it’s not a good idea to put it in there.

Why? 

Wallpaper is made from paper-based materials to provide flexibility and easy printing. The problem is that paper and water do not mix very well. While you may not actively splash your walls every time you go into the bathroom, there is still the humidity factor to contend with in this space.

Even with good ventilation and a powerful extractor fan, it’s common for moisture to build up in a bathroom while you’re having a hot shower or bath — particularly in the winter months. The moisture in the air penetrates the wallpaper, causing it to bend and crease. It also reaches the adhesive layer below, reducing its ability to hold your wallpaper to the wall, which means it will start to peel.

And that’s all there is to it.

The simple reason you don’t find wallpaper in bathrooms is that, fundamentally, it’s just not a good idea. Wallpaper is not designed for the kind of environment a bathroom produces. 

Why Would You Want Wallpaper in Your Bathroom?

Wallpaper is beloved by homeowners and designers across the nation because it enables you to introduce details and intricacies not available through paint. You can bring your walls to life with colours, patterns, images and mosaics that cannot be achieved with a can of paint from a hardware store. 

It’s this design allure that draws us towards the idea of wallpaper in the bathroom. We don’t just want bland, white paint jobs or simple tiling. We want something that brightens up the space and injects personality into it. 

The bathroom is a place that we spend a lot of our time —1 and a half years of our lives, in fact. It’s an important space in the home and its design prospects should not be ignored. 

But, if wallpaper isn’t a good idea in the bathroom, is there another way to bring it to life? 

Hand-Painted Tiles: A Great Bathroom Design Alternative to Wallpaper

Here at Art on Tiles, we specialise in hand-painted wall tiles that are suitable for all kinds of living spaces, but are most popular in kitchens and bathrooms. Our decorative wall displays are both practical and visually captivating.

We can produce fine and intricate detailing that rivals that of wallpaper designs. This provides your bathroom with the best of both worlds: great design opportunities that bring a sense of personality and uniqueness to your space, while also avoiding the problems that arise when using wallpaper in a moisture-rich environment. 

Browse our stunning range of bespoke tiles. Discover striking designs and beautiful tiling, perfect for your bathroom and a great replacement for wallpaper.