How to decorate the walls in the bathroom

Finishing the bathroom is an important issue and one of the main points of renovation in the room, as the bathroom is the second most visited in the house, of course, after the kitchen. Today, there are a lot of finishing options. We have collected for you the most popular, traditional, original and budget options. When choosing how to finish the walls in the bathroom, it is important to know the criteria for selecting materials for finishing the bathroom. Here are a few of them:

  • the most important thing is hygiene and environmental friendliness. This point needs no comment;
  • ease of use and maintenance. Some materials require additional costs for the purchase of cleaning products, or because of their shape they are simply inconvenient to wash;
  • good resistance to high humidity and temperature changes. This item is one of the most important, since it is not scary to place a good finishing material near electrical appliances.
how to decorate bathroom walls

large square tiles in the bathroom

The bathroom can be considered not only as a corner for SPA treatments, but also as an ennobled relaxation area. For some, it is a place of release from the burden of everyday worries and stress, for someone it is a place of solitude and relaxation. Bathroom decoration sets the tone and mood of the room, which is why modern designers are so meticulous in choosing finishes.

The abundance of finishing materials becomes a good help for the implementation of all interior and design solutions. The bathroom is perhaps the most capricious room in the house, due to the high level of humidity and difficult temperature conditions.

how to decorate bathroom walls

marble bathroom walls

Therefore, all materials used for decoration must comply with the following characteristics:

  • hygiene;
  • safety;
  • resistance to detergents and humidity;
  • match the style of the room.

Content

How to finish the walls in the bathroom: materials used

Today, you can choose from hundreds of different finishes, using the latest or traditional materials. Choosing how to decorate bathroom walls, you need to consider your budget, bathroom footage, design style and, of course, preferences.

how to decorate bathroom walls

mosaic accent wall

Here are some examples of wall finishes:

  • Finishing tiles, mosaics, stone.
  • Finishing with wallpaper or self-adhesive film.
  • Finished with moisture resistant paints.
  • Decorative plaster.
  • Glass or mirror tiles.
  • Finishing with PVC panels.
  • Drywall, brick and even linoleum.
how to decorate bathroom walls

using smaller tiles to highlight the area near the washbasin

As you can see, there are an unimaginable number of options for finishing the bathroom. What qualities and properties they possess, and which ones are right for you, read below.

Ceramic tiles - time-tested

how to decorate bathroom walls

3D tiles in the interior of the bathroom

"Before how to decorate bathroom walls ceramics, it should be noted that installing tiles will not be much cheaper than buying material "

Truly ceramic tiles are considered classic for finishing work in the bathroom. It does not lose its popularity to this day, because it has the following qualities:

  • Durability. She has no equal in this.Even in the worst operating conditions, it can last for decades. It is safe to say that ceramic tiles are practically for life.
how to decorate bathroom walls

vertical frieze made of natural stone

  • Hygiene. There is no dispute with this point: the dirt is easily washed out of it, due to the smooth surface. Uniform plus - it is convenient to wash.
  • Decorative. Nowadays, on the shelves of stores you can find tiles of various colors and patterns, shapes and sizes. From miniature mosaics to monumental wall paintings. There are no limits to fantasy.
how to decorate bathroom walls

wall decoration with decorative tiles imitating natural wood

The floor and walls can be laid out with colored or plain tiles, varying the color, size and shape. You can decorate with ready-made panels or whole decorative borders. Before decorating the walls in the bathroom with ceramics, it should be noted that installing tiles will not be much cheaper than buying material. It is better to entrust the design to experienced craftsmen who will install it faster and better. Otherwise, the material will deteriorate and you will have to buy a new one.

how to decorate bathroom walls

brickwork tiles in the bathroom

Before installing the tiles, a number of works should be carried out to level the walls, since very rarely the walls of the room are originally even. Then treat with a moisture-resistant mixture, and after drying, directly glue the tiles using adhesives. It is constantly necessary to control the evenness of laying with the help of a level. Without it, distortions can result, which are visible only on the finished coating.

Mosaic - not easy, but tasteful

One of the most sophisticated, fashionable finishes, but also the most expensive. Its main advantage is the ability to create a unique design by applying unique drawings and even paintings to the surface. You can order a personal mosaic for your bathroom. Mosaics can be made from different materials: colored or plain ceramics (the most common method), special stones (they often decorate the floor, as they are more resistant to moisture than other materials. Marble, onyx and tuff are used for decoration), colored glasses, smalt ( opaque glasses) and others.

how to decorate bathroom walls

using mosaics to create original interior design

Before finishing the walls in the bathroom with mosaics, take into account that its installation requires great skill, because before work you need to prepare the floor and walls, lay the screed, and only after it has completely dried, do the installation directly.

Wallpaper

Contrary to popular belief that wallpaper in the bathroom - just absurd, manufacturers prove the opposite: waterproof wallpaper is a convenient and practical thing. It is worth mentioning right away that we are not talking about ordinary paper wallpapers, but about waterproof ones (on the label, the symbol of resistance to moisture is three waves). For bathrooms we recommend:

  • Non-woven. The main advantage is that they are made of non-woven material. They are also picky in care, easy to install and not subject to deformation when dried.
  • Vinyl, they are indifferent to water splashes, are easy to care for and fungus does not form on them. The only negative is the high price, but this is due to their strength and durability.
how to decorate bathroom walls

wallpaper with a pattern in the bathroom

Recently, such a thing as "washable" wallpaper has appeared. They do not accumulate dirt and are resistant to detergents. One of the downsides is that they can absorb fumes, which can lead to detachment of the material. The Achilles' heel of these wallpapers is the joints. If water gets in, they will not last long, but they are perfect for bathrooms with showers.

Self-adhesive film - what a miracle?

Self-adhesive film occupies one of the leading places in the ranking of budgetary finishing methods. And not in vain, for bathrooms - a very convenient and practical thing. It has such advantages as: moisture resistance, strength, environmental friendliness and durability.It can withstand 80 degrees, so it can be placed near gas stoves and electrical appliances. Using film, you can create drawings, patterns and abstractions. Often, in color, it is matte or glossy in various colors and shades. It is difficult to glue the entire room on your own, because you will need a building hair dryer for better styling, in order to avoid wrinkles. Before finishing the walls in the bathroom with a film, their surface should be primed. There are two types of films - special and standard.

Decorative plaster in the bathroom

how to decorate bathroom walls

the design of the accent wall with decorative plaster will bring zest to the interior of the bathroom

From the name it is clear that this is not about silicate or cement-sand plaster, but decorative. It needs protection from moisture, so hardware stores are full of special protective varnishes. With a larger assortment, several favorites are distinguished: velveteen, Venetian, Marseille wax or bark beetle. As in the case of ceramic tiles, it is better not to install decorative plaster yourself, this will only destroy the material, and you will waste your money and time.

Glass tile is a clear favorite

how to decorate bathroom walls

glass tiles - a practical and durable material for decorating bathroom walls

"Before how to decorate the walls in the bathroom glass tiles, please note that this design creates the effect of increasing space "

Glass tiles are in high demand in terms of bathroom decoration. Why? Therefore, it contains a number of excellent qualities: durability, because it is made of tempered glass, and it is not defragmented by the influence of the external environment. Then hygiene, because microorganisms do not progress on its surface, due to the smooth and durable surface. Before decorating the walls in the bathroom with glass tiles, please note that this design creates the effect of increasing space. In any store you can find the widest and most diverse range of tiles: with different images, imitating ice, flame, metals, stones, wood, and more. If desired, you can order a tile with photos of your loved ones, friends or even idols in a photo studio. Your imagination is limited only by the budget, because it is not a cheap pleasure. But you can please yourself with an expensive decoration not of the whole room, but of some part of it, or with a mosaic or a small picture.

Plastic bathroom panels

how to decorate bathroom walls

PVC panels are a practical and inexpensive material for wall decoration in the bathroom

 

If you decide to save on the construction team and do the repairs yourself, then finishing the bathroom with plastic panels is the kind of work that even a novice in repair matters can do. This material is practical, simple and easy to use, and most importantly - affordable. This option will not only save money, but also create a reliable coating that is resistant to steam and moisture. The pluses include their resistance to the influence of chemicals, deformation and temperature extremes. It is clear that the panels do not stand next to ceramic tiles, but in installation, that is, installation, they do not require extra costs. So you can place them yourself in your bathroom. Before how to decorate the walls in the bathroom with plastic, it is important to familiarize yourself with a few generally accepted rules:

  • When mounted on a crate, the walls do not need alignment or preliminary preparation. It is enough to remove the old coating and clean the walls of debris.
  • To prevent mold and other fungi from forming, you need to treat the walls with a mixture with an antifungal and antiseptic effect.
  • If your bathroom crate is made of wooden profiles, it should be treated with moisture-repellent agents. Often the crate for the bathroom is made of plastic or metal profiles.
  • Always the installation of panels starts from the corner. In it, for convenience, they place a special thing - the starting corner.
  • It is worth remembering: screws are screwed into the mounting shelf, which is wider; and the narrow one is screwed into the groove of the previous part.
how to decorate bathroom walls

wall and ceiling decoration with light plastic panels

For those who do not like plain panels, manufacturers produce colored ones and even different textures. Thanks to this, you can choose a variety of types of cladding to match your preferences. You can choose not only color, but also options for placing panels. Can be placed diagonally, which looks very spectacular, vertically and horizontally. If you have a small bathroom, the best solution for you is to install the panels vertically. So they will make the ceiling visually higher.

Drywall Finishing - Mission Possible

how to decorate bathroom walls

walls painted white with drawings

Beginners and even experienced builders are wondering: is it possible to decorate the bathroom with drywall? The answer to this question is yes, as long as you use a moisture-repellent or at least moisture-resistant material. When using ordinary drywall, it can very quickly become damp and break into pieces. Moisture resistant panels, that's why they are moisture resistant - their coating is not affected by water and the negative effects of steam. It should be noted that there are two ways to decorate the bathroom with drywall:

  • The easiest and most inexpensive is to stick drywall sheets on the walls. When choosing this method, the space of the room will hardly change, only you will need to pre-prepare the walls.
  • More complex - sticking drywall sheets on a frame made of plastic or metal profiles. The advantage of this method is that you can create structures of different sizes: miniature and bulky; different shapes: wavy, angular, trapezoidal and others. The only negative is that the area decreases, and, accordingly, the space of the room. This method is not suitable for small baths.

Brickwork - the effect of the village in the bathroom

how to decorate bathroom walls

brick - the basic element of vintage style

Recently, more and more often you can see rough, uncouth design in the bathrooms. This effect is achieved by decorating the walls with bricks. It looks a little pretentious, but very stylish. Modern interior designers generally do not recommend covering brickwork in any way, especially in old houses, because after about a hundred years the brick becomes more noble in appearance, which emphasizes the rich history of the building. Today, parapets of various sizes, as well as doorways, are distinguished with decorative bricks. In order for the brick to serve for a sufficiently long time, the finished surface is covered with a matte colorless varnish.

Linoleum for wall decoration - fiction or reality?

how to decorate bathroom walls

11

Of the variety of finishing materials, linoleum is the most original. Of course, this method cannot be called popular, but due to its low price and ease of installation, it deserves the attention of buyers. Someone glues ordinary linoleum for the floor on the walls, but there are also special, finishing linoleums. For installation, ordinary mounting glue is suitable, but the walls should be primed before finishing. The most important thing is to seal the seams correctly so that the material does not deteriorate from moisture. Another tip: treat problem areas with silicone sealant.

Before you finish your bathroom walls with linoleum, keep in mind that there is a small selection of colors that can look good on the walls. It is not advised to glue dark colors or those that imitate stone, wood, marble, because visually they make the room smaller and darker.

Fresco is an expensive pleasure

how to decorate bathroom walls

decorating the walls with a fresco in the bathroom, decorated in a classic style

In a broad sense, a fresco is a wall painting, using special water-based paints on wet plaster. The fact is that the fresco is handmade, therefore it is, accordingly, not cheap, but the uniqueness and sophistication of the result fully pays off.Moreover, improved application methods have been created not so long ago. Here is one of them: to achieve the maximum effect, the fresco is first painted on canvas, then attached to the walls using a self-adhesive base. The principle of the typewriter works. Fresco is the choice of true gourmet interiors. A common design technique is the fresco of a doorway or an entire wall. So you get an excellent picture right in the bathroom.

Stone trim - strength test

how to decorate bathroom walls

accent wall with natural stone

It is worth mentioning another way of cladding - finishing with natural stone. This method is not popular, because the stone itself is very expensive. Yes, by weight, of all the finishes, it is the heaviest, so before installing, make sure that the ceiling of the house will withstand.

Conclusion

You have looked at different types of finishes: traditional and extraordinary, inconspicuous and artsy, sophisticated and budget. How to finish the walls in the bathroom is up to you: each type of material has its own advantages and disadvantages, features of installation, care and choice of colors. The most important thing is that you find yours from the proposed options. We wish you success!

back to index ↑

Photo gallery - how to finish the walls in the bathroom:


Interior

Landscape