There is no doubt that ceramic tiles are the best finish for wet rooms, but their installation is laborious and requires a lot of time and money. In addition, only a few can lay tiles on their own, the bulk have to invite professionals for this work. Today, ceramics has received quite a worthy alternative, which is plastic panels for the bathroom.
Finishing material of this kind, in addition to the aesthetic appearance, has many more advantages, including practicality and moisture resistance. What adds to the popularity of the panels is the simplicity and speed of assembly. In general, there are all prerequisites to delve into this issue.
Panel types
Of the entire panel variety, only two types can be installed in the bathroom:
1. PVC panels.

PVC bathroom panels
2. MDF panels.

MDF bathroom panels
When we talk about plastic panels, we mean PVC products. They can often be seen in the decoration of the ceilings of kitchens, bathrooms. The material belongs to the budget series. Plastic panels are really not expensive and at the same time, according to their technical characteristics, they are ideal for finishing such a specific room as a bathroom. Walls decorated with such panels will not attract dust, they are easy to put in order, and they do not care about temperature changes.

PVC panels in bathroom decoration
Instead of plastic bathroom panels, they often offer similar MDF products. Despite the fact that pressed wood dust serves as a raw material for their production, MDF panels also perfectly tolerate the difficult microclimatic conditions of a specific room. In addition, the material is a good heat insulator and increases the soundproofing of the walls.

MDF panels have good soundproofing properties
Panels of this quality belong to natural finishes, because MDF boards are nothing more than sawdust pressed under high temperature and pressure. No adhesives are used to connect them. The lignin secreted by the wood helps to hold the small particles together.

No adhesives are required for mounting MDF panels
But back to the plastic panels for the bathroom. Their front surface can be matte and glossy. To give the product a bewitching shine, it is coated with a special varnish.

Matt PVC panels in the bathroom
PVC panels differ in the ways of the applied pattern, which can be printed and painted with paints. They often decorate panels and simply paste over them with a film with a vending print.

PVC panels with printed pattern
How else are the models different? Joining method. There are both seamless options on the market, as well as types whose explicit docking is a design technique.

PVC panels with clear butt joints
Plastic bathroom panels: advantages
“The undeniable advantages include ease of maintenance - plastic panels for the bathroom are predominantly of a seamless type, so there really is nowhere for dirt to clog”
Compared to finishing a bathroom with ceramic tiles, cladding it with wall panels will be a more advantageous solution, and there are several explanations for this.
Modern plastic will allow you to use yourself in almost all areas that need finishing: both in the design of the ceiling and in wall cladding. The only thing that cannot be hidden under plastic panels is the floor.

Ceiling finish and walls in the bathroom with PVC panels
Appreciate the material for the speed and ease of installation. In order to install the panels, it is not necessary to carry out preparatory work to level the sheathed surfaces, because they are installed on a metal frame.

Plastic panels in the bathroom are installed on a metal frame
The undeniable advantages include ease of care. The fact is that plastic panels for the bathroom are predominantly of a seamless type, so there really is nowhere for dirt to clog. To clean the surface, simply wipe it with a damp cloth. Moreover, modern panel models perfectly tolerate washing with household chemicals, so there will be no problems with removing stains either.

Practical seamless plastic panels
The next place is the interchangeability of the skin elements. If one or more components are damaged, they are simply replaced with new ones, rather than starting a global alteration of the entire design.

If necessary, it is not difficult to replace a broken panel
It is impossible not to remember the financial side of the issue. If you calculate how much it will cost to purchase consumables and assemble panels, it becomes clear that this is at least half cheaper than tiling a room.
Plastic panels open up wide possibilities for bathroom decor, because they can be laid in any direction:
1. Horizontally.

Horizontally laid plastic panels in the bathroom
2. Diagonally.

Ceiling in the bathroom of plastic panels laid diagonally
3. Vertical.

Vertical plastic panels in the bathroom
4. Combined.

Combined installation of plastic panels in the bathroom
Like other finishing materials, plastic panels have drawbacks. The first is their artificial origin, the second is low strength.
If you draw a line under the above, then only one conclusion suggests itself - plastic panels should be given the green light when decorating such a complexly functional room as a bathroom.
back to index ↑How to choose quality panels
In order for the walls sewn into plastic to please the eye, you must carefully choose the finishing material. First of all, the surface of the panels should not be wavy. Such a flaw will instantly deprive the walls of attractiveness.

The surface of plastic panels should not be wavy
Make sure that all elements have a uniform color, mistakes in this matter will help to avoid choosing plastic panels for your bathroom from the same batch. If you ignore this rule and succumb to the persuasion of cunning sellers who assure you that there is no difference, the result can be disastrous. The discrepancy in color in halftones, which is imperceptible at first glance, will instantly appear when assembling the structure.

Uniform coloration of plastic panels is a very important quality indicator.
What else to look for when choosing finishing elements:
1. The number of stiffeners.
2. The degree of impact resistance.
3. The level of moisture protection.

When buying, pay attention to the level of moisture protection of plastic panels
And finally, do not forget to check the certificate confirming the safety of the batch of goods and guaranteeing its quality.
back to index ↑Ideas and tips for decorating the bathroom with plastic panels
“Any pattern can be applied to selected plastic panels for bathroom decor today”
Bathroom interior decoration with plastic panels is a rare combination of aesthetics and economy, but this will only happen when the right choice of consumables is made and it is correctly decided how to use them.
In addition to the quality of products, modern manufacturers are increasingly concerned about the aesthetics of their appearance. In this perspective, the use of plastic panels for bathroom decoration moves from the category of temporary decoration and extremely budgetary repairs to the category of nice interiors and successful design solutions, while maintaining minimal power costs and without increasing financial investments.

Bathroom design with plastic panels
Even now, plastic finishing seems to many to be a monophonic, uninteresting option, but this is only until the critics see the bathrooms repaired in this way with their own eyes.

Stylish bathroom finished with plastic panels
Plastic doesn't have to be used alone. It is perfectly combined with textured plaster and paint. For example, you can decorate one and a half meter panels on the walls with narrow plastic, and paint the rest of the wall in a suitable shade.

Combination of plastic panels with painted surfaces
The play of colors or sizes of plastic panels will look original.

Combination of plastic panels in different colors
Panels imitating wood texture are played well in such an interior. The main thing is to use them in the appropriate style, say, ethnic. Complemented with rough wooden furniture and cotton curtains with small floral prints, it will look very rustic.

Plastic panels imitating a wooden surface
Fans of bathroom tiles may argue that plastic panels for a stylish bathroom are not quite the right material. They cannot be combined with borders, columns, modern friezes. This is not true! There is plenty of plastic in the assortment of stores that imitates the laying of ceramic tiles, and not just plain, but with prints and patterns.

Plastic panels imitating mosaic tiles
If you design a bathroom with light panels, you can get the effect of spaciousness, which, at times, these rooms lack so much. By installing the panels vertically, get the effect of a high ceiling. When laying horizontally, the walls will “push apart”.

Vertical plastic panels visually increase the height of the ceiling
Mirror inserts on the ceiling will also contribute to the idea of expanding space.

Mirror plastic panels on the bathroom ceiling
Panels are an excellent solution in a situation where you need to hide some surface flaws. They instantly veil all the bumps and ugliness, including sewer pipes and other communication wiring. The room will look nice and tidy.

Sheet plastic panels will hide all the irregularities of the walls
Today, any pattern can be applied to selected plastic panels for bathroom decor. This is done using photo printing technology. At your request, even a whole picture will appear on the wall. Such masterpieces will look especially impressive on the wall spaces above the font. The decorative element is called a mural.

Mural of plastic panels in the bathroom
In addition to complex technologies, you can ennoble nondescript plastic with any stickers. They are made to order or purchased ready-made.

Vinyl stickers on plastic panels in the bathroom
An excellent addition to plastic walls will be rack or mirror ceiling.

Mirror ceiling made of plastic panels in the bathroom
Plastic panels in stylish interiors
Is it possible to talk about a stylish interior when working with plastic panels? Why not! With them, it is quite possible to realize the most daring dreams. A guarantee of this is a variety of colors and textures, which will allow you to recreate both vintage and high-tech.
classic bathroom
It will be obtained by using light panels, which are an exact imitation of natural materials, for example, granite or marble.

Plastic panels with granite imitation for a classic style bath
mediterranean bathroom
To recreate this style, PVC with mosaic imitation is required.

Plastic panels for mosaic tiles
ethnic bathroom
More precisely than plastic panels with a bamboo pattern, no other finish will convey the specifics of style.

Bamboo effect panels
minimalist bathroom
The main stylistic concept: a minimum of furniture with a maximum of space - will be supported in the interior:
– decorating the walls with plastic panels for the bathroom, interpreted in discreet shades,
- their clear lines of joints,
- decor made of glass and metal.

Plastic panels in a minimalist bathroom interior
Country in the bathroom
Rustic style is an adherent of naturalness, but if you want to see it in the bathroom, it is quite logical to replace the wood paneling of surfaces with plastic that imitates the structure of the material. Such panels will convey the original atmosphere of rural life just as well, especially if the decoration is supplemented with thoughtful elements of decor and furnishings. Instead of doors, for example, you can hang simple curtains, instead of newfangled spotlights, use a chandelier. It is still better to furnish a country-style bathroom with rough wood furniture, of course, additionally treated with water-repellent compounds.

Wood effect pvc panels in country style bathroom
Provence in the bathroom
Plastic panels for the Provence bathroom should be without any frills. Finishing should emphasize the simplicity and comfort of the stylistic solution, so the material is chosen in light, soft pastel shades. Furnish the room with the most simple, without signs of pretentiousness, furniture. You can decorate the bathroom with airy floral patterns and ceramics with porcelain.

Panels with a floral pattern for the bathroom in Provence style
Kitsch in the bathroom
Here, plastic panels will be completely at ease, because the main task of interiors of this kind is the ability to pass off cheap stuff for a diamond, which, by the way, is incredibly important for our lives today. The style welcomes flashy colors in the finishes and stylization of elite materials. Giving preference to kitsch, you are guaranteed to take your soul away.

Original kitsch style in the bathroom
Constructivism in the bathroom
This is a style of clear geometry and plastic panels for finishing such a bathroom are perfect. With their help, it is easy to give the room a round shape or emphasize the clarity of the corners. With regard to the color of the background finish. The surface of the panels should be plain or covered with geometric patterns.

Plastic panels in the bathroom will fit perfectly into the interior in the style of constructivism
Panel mounting
Plastic panels are mounted in two main ways:
1. Using a crate or guides.

Installation of plastic panels on the crate
2. Fastening with screws and adhesives to the wall itself.

Installation of PVC panels on the adhesive composition
Each option has its own work order, imposes its own requirements for the preparation of sheathed surfaces, and also regulates the amount of area that can be saved. The last factor is especially relevant for small-sized bathrooms, which are “rich” in all, without exception, Khrushchev, as well as apartments in small families. In their bathrooms, every centimeter is valuable. In such spaces, it is irrational and even contraindicated to equip a crate for fixing plastic panels for finishing the bathroom. Here you need to save space as much as possible, so all the structural elements of the skin will be fixed directly to the wall. In this aspect, you will have to work on the preparation of the most ennobled surface. At least it needs to be leveled so that the decor does not turn out to be humpbacked and wavy. The process will require both physical and material costs.

Before mounting the panels on the adhesive, the walls must be carefully aligned
If the dimensions of the sanitary zone allow you to slightly reduce its volume, then it makes sense to give preference to the first option for installing plastic panels for the bathroom. The crate is best made from metal profiles. If it is planned to use wood for its creation, then make sure that these are elements treated with protective compounds. With this method of decorating the walls, the surfaces of the latter are not subject to mandatory preparation in terms of leveling and similar work.

It is recommended to mount PVC panels on a metal crate
All problems will be hidden under the decorative layer. An exception is the fungicidal treatment and priming of the walls, which is carried out to prevent the formation of fungus in the gaps. Panels attached to rails will take at least three centimeters from each side. In principle, not so much, however, there may not be enough space to install a washing machine, so it’s worth calculating everything before starting work.
back to index ↑Conclusion
Plastic bathroom panels they may not turn her interior into a luxurious one, but they can easily transform it beyond recognition. Thanks to a wide range of colors and patterns, the finish will be an excellent backdrop for any stylistic design decisions, allowing you to get a completely modernly equipped room for modest money.
Photo gallery - plastic bathroom panels
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