Wallpaper for the bathroom: types, choices and finishes

There are many materials for decorating the walls of the bathroom. Despite the wide range, the choice of buyers often dwells on wallpaper. From the material in this article you will learn about the pros and cons of using this cladding, its varieties and the nuances of choice.

Wallpaper can not be called a universal facing material for the bathroom. The microclimate in the bathrooms is special: it is condensation, constant evaporation and high humidity, water splashes, temperature changes. therefore The choice of wallpaper as an alternative to wall cladding is not always justified.

The advantages of their use in the bathroom include:

• aesthetic appeal;
• the widest selection of colors;
• a variety of type of texture of the front surface;
• the possibility of combining with any cladding;
• simplicity of gluing on the bases of different materials;
• optimally fast transformation of the room;
• undemanding care and wet cleaning;
• ability to accent any interior style;
• a variety of composition and type of panels;
• ability to visually expand the space;
• giving the interior an atmosphere of home comfort;
• wide price range.

This allows you to realize not only the usual, but also the original methods of surface lining. Wall-paper can accent walls both completely and partially. They can be used as panels, contrasting inserts on a plain or textured background.

Besides, dismantling the wallpaper is much easier than changing tiles or wall panels. Some of them are moisture resistant, and therefore can be used to design wash zones.

Along with the advantages, the use of wallpaper in the bathroom has disadvantages. For example, the key ones are:

• high hygroscopicity (absorption of vapors);
• lagging from the surface (bloating from constant humidity);
• instability to the fungus (the appearance of mold with poor ventilation);
• loss of a protective layer when lagging behind the surface;
• short term of operation;
• the impossibility of sticking in wet areas of the bathroom.

With the accumulation of moisture, other types of wallpaper material not only damp, but also swell. Due to the wet microclimate and temperature changes, it changes the properties and glue. As a result, sometimes the canvases move away from the walls with almost whole stripes. And if in large rooms it is still possible to glue wallpaper as the main cladding, then in small bathrooms this is practically impossible.

The choice of wallpaper for the bathroom is subject to certain criteria. Unlike analogues for living rooms, these varieties must first be practical and durable. Decorativeity is in the background, because every day the panels will be exposed to the microclimate of the bathroom.

The main requirements for this cladding include:

• moisture resistance;
• durability;
• reliability of fixation;
• antistatic;
• environmental friendliness;
• ease of care;
• aesthetics.

They are inert to moisture, and therefore will stay on the walls for a long time. It is important to pay attention to abrasion resistance, as well as the possibility of adjustment or minor repairs (painting, gluing).

From the widest range of brand offers, only a few types of wallpaper material are suitable for decorating the bathroom. Each of them differs in composition, thickness, designed for a certain service life.

Moisture resistant wallpaper differ from other varieties by the presence of a special protective layer located on the front side of the panels. It does not leak moisture, and therefore there will be no fungus or mold under it.

Washable wallpapers are universal, This is a group of wallpapers intended for use in rooms with high humidity. They are durable, can stay on the walls for about 10-15 years without the need for correction.

Mark them with different letters:

• BB - foamed vinyl;
• RV - embossed vinyl;
• PV - flat vinyl;
• STL - fiberglass;
• STR - structural for painting.

At the same time, products can have a different class of water resistance. Indicate it on the marking in the form of lines. Each type has its own notation.

• One line denotes waterproof wallpaper. They do not provide for washing.
• Two lines mark finishing materials that can be cleaned with mild detergents.
• 3 lines say that the wallpaper can be cleaned with a sponge and soapy solution.
• Brush and line indicate the possibility of processing the material with a brush and detergent.
• 3-line brush note waterproof wallpaper with high abrasion resistance.

To improve adhesion, the surface of the base before gluing is treated with a deep penetration primer.

Plastic wallpaper can have a paper or non-woven backing. Due to the polymer (polyvinyl chloride), of which the upper layer consists, the canvas is resistant to moisture and fumes. They are durable, withstand high temperatures, do not lose their original brightness and decorativeness for a long time.

Glue them on a special adhesive with a high level of adhesion. The best version of the line are considered varieties with an opaque layer, masking the unevenness of the base. The ideal place for wallpapering this species is the dry zone of the bathrooms.

This kind of coating is nothing more than a water-repellent film with an adhesive base on the back, on which the wallpaper is glued. They are classified as a special type of vinyl coating. Oilcloth wallpapers do not allow moisture to pass through, they are high-strength, durable and do not collapse under its influence. The material can imitate the texture of stone, wood, marble.

Self-adhesive cloths are produced in rolls of half a meter and a meter wide. The film is very thin, and therefore it is necessary to prepare the base for gluing thoroughly. Gluing them to walls or doors is more difficult than conventional counterparts.

Coatings of this type are made of fiberglass material, treating it with starch impregnation. They are inert to moisture, high strength and environmentally friendly. Cullets are purchased for gluing for painting, since they can be painted up to 25 times with special latex paint. In this case, the texture of the panels can be very diverse.

These are not only smooth, but also textured varieties that can convey the most diverse texture (from matting to an extraordinary ornament). They are sold in rolls of a meter wide, made in white base color. Such coatings serve about 15 years, providing for periodic surface painting.

This material differs from ordinary wallpaper in appearance and method of application. This is a white or colored powder, which is smeared on the walls after preliminary soaking. The scheme of work resembles facing surfaces with plaster. In this case, if desired, a different pattern can be created on the surface. It is pre-painted directly on the wall, and then fill the areas of the picture with material of different colors.

The use of liquid wallpaper in the bathroom is controversial, despite the fact that the finished finish after drying is covered with acrylic varnish. Someone believes that they are suitable for finishing dry areas of bathrooms. Others are convinced that the material is not practical.

In terms of design, A universal solution for emphasizing individual areas of the bathroom is the use of moisture-proof wallpaper with photo printing. This technique allows you to highlight one place in the room, making the interior expressive and fresh. The composition of such material is different, and therefore its operational characteristics are different.

These coatings can be washable, vinyl, self-adhesive, they are consistently popular with customers. They can be adjusted to any interior, such wallpapers stand out at a reasonable price, immunity to ultraviolet, ease of gluing and dismantling. They are durable and perfectly combined with various facing materials for bathrooms.

Of great importance when choosing wallpaper is not only a picture, but also the texture. It is thanks to her that she is able to convey this or that feature of a particular style, increasing its recognition.

If earlier on the shelves of stores there were mostly smooth wallpapers, today the buyer can choose options with realistic imitation:

• draped textiles, jeans, curtains;
• skins of reptiles or exotic animals;
• building material (stone, brick, concrete, textured plaster);
• three-dimensional drawing that changes the perception of space.

Thanks to the use of modern technologies, the texture of the front side of the wallpaper can reliably convey the radiance of silk, the ebb of velvet, the bumpiness of brick, the roughness of clinker and concrete. Manufacturers produce wallpapers not only standard, but also paired type. This material is convenient in that it saves the buyer from the tedious selection of shades and textures.

The choice of color scheme depends on the preferences of the buyer, the interior style, as well as the size of the room. For instance, small bathrooms are not customary to decorate with wallpapers of overly bright colors. This design looks aggressive, bright colors sharply indicate the boundaries of the room, and this is unacceptable in a small space.

Selecting a picture and the optimal shade of wallpaper to create an atmosphere of comfort in the bathroom, you need to build on a few rules:

• Wallpaper is selected taking into account the color scheme of the main finish (tiles, panels, mosaics);
• in a small room they take light-colored panels (red, black and blue are undesirable);
• the colors of the wallpaper should not be too catchy and sharp (they violate the harmony of perception of space);
• the tone of the wallpaper should overlap;
• large drawings in the bathroom are undesirable (against such a background plumbing and furniture are lost);
• if possible, it is necessary to combine the facing (highlighting the accent sections of the walls is relevant);
• 3D wallpapers look appropriate only in a large space.

The choice of themes for wallpaper should be approached thoroughly. Do not try to create a safari park or sea depths from the bathroom. You need to understand that print theme affects the perception of space. Few people will feel comfortable in a bathroom with walls overloaded with large photographic prints. No need for excessive ripples.

For example, floral prints are relevant in the design of country, vintage and provence. However, for art Nouveau, hi-tech, art deco, such colors will not work. Here you need plain, but textured wallpaper with an original relief.

The choice of pattern for different styles may vary. To make the interior look expressive and expensive, finishing material must be selected for the characteristic features of the style. In this case, current trends must be taken into account. For example, for some ethnic branches of style it is appropriate to buy wallpaper with a floral print and characteristic ornaments.

To the bathroom classic style it is worth choosing a facing with golden monograms, for registration eastern Interior - with damask patterns. Convey the atmosphere moroccan style You can use the patchwork wallpaper. When you need to stick wallpaper in a style bathroom minimalism, take monophonic coatings with a simple texture.

The best color scheme - bright. Among the actual shades of the season, it can be noted beige, blue-gray, peach, sand-milk, creamy, mint. Fashionable combinations are contrasts of white and beige, blue with white and brown, warm green with wood and white. Also in fashion duets of beige and wood, white and black, light gray and beige, mint and white.

The choice of wallpaper for lining the walls of the bathroom must be approached thoroughly. To take the option that best fits into the designed interior styling, you need to pay attention to a number of factors. One of them will be marking: Wallpaper is by no means universal. You need to take varieties with high resistance to moisture and cleaning.

They can be wiped with a cloth or a soft sponge. However, do not count on the fact that the wallpaper can be washed in the literal sense of the word. From this, spots and smudges will appear on them, the brush will damage the texture of the front surface.

It is important to ensure the same thickness of the paintings on both sides. It is necessary to pay attention to the color. Check when paying take without fail. If at home, when opening the packaging on the front side of the wallpaper, a marriage is found, they can be exchanged or returned to the store.

If you select companion wallpapers, you must pay attention to the markings. You need to take products from one batch. This eliminates the difference in shades characteristic of the purchase of rolls from different lots. In addition, this will allow you to choose the coating as accurately as possible with the coincidence of color shades.

For example, if a smooth surface can look rustic, then options with a grainy or embossed structure will already add a high-level touch to the background design. In addition, textured wallpaper is in fashion today. You can choose varieties with the texture of Venetian or Versailles stucco, the effect of “bark beetle” or “fur coat”, random strokes, diagonal or wavy relief lines.

When buying, you need to consider the status of the finish. If furniture, plumbing are expensive, wallpapers pick them to match. Rustic wallpaper will make the interior tasteless. You should not take too catchy canvases. Against this background, no plumbing, no furniture, no accessories are visible.

For example, in the wash zone canvases can look like marble or other stone, as well as with stains or a simple pattern. In addition to floral and floral themes, actual prints are monograms, Christmas tree, ethnic patterns and Scandinavian motifs.

The humidity zones of each bathroom are different. They are conditionally divided into dry and wet. And if tiles and panels can be glued in places of more moisture, then wallpaper in such places do not glue.

The most dangerous area is the wall above the bathroom or shower. Not a single type of wallpaper can stand here for a year. Even water-resistant get wet and become worthless. These walls are covered with tiles or panels, decorated with mosaics, less often they are painted.

The walls near the bathtub are considered to be the second most dangerous hazardous area. It is undesirable to glue wallpaper here, because large splashes of water often fall into these places. Here you need wallpapers with special resistance to moisture and pollution (for example, glass). The canvas must withstand regular cleaning.

The third zone is considered to be walls located at a distance of 60 cm from the sides of the bathtub or the edges of the shower. These are relatively dry areas, as splashes rarely get here. You can glue here all kinds of waterproof wallpapers.

For example, it can be the doorway canvas, part of the wall at the location of the boiler and the washing machine. The farther the wallpaper is from the wash area (bath or shower), the better. They can be located on the wall opposite the bath or shower.

Depending on the method of gluing, wallpaper can be used to decorate part of the wall in the area where the toilet is placed. For example, if panels are located below, splashes of water will not be able to get on the wallpaper.By this principle, you can glue the wall over the sink in the wash area. Sometimes wall-paper is pasted over distant walls, ledges and columns of spacious bathrooms adapted for living rooms of the house.

Even in an interior with a free-standing bathtub, wallpapers are glued where they will be minimally exposed to steam and splashes. You can glue over canvases over the mirror. They can decorate the walls near the front door, as well as partitions from the dry areas of the sanitary room. In addition, they can decorate only the upper parts of the walls, leaving the rest of the space under the panel or tile.

It's no secret that wallpapers look more expressive if they have something to contrast with. Finishing-contrast may be different: You can combine wallpapers with panels, plastic siding, tile, board and painting.

By wall-paper it is possible to designate a wall completely, and also partially, having issued them in the form of a colorful panel, suitable for a specific interior stylistics. They look great on the walls above, contrasting with the background trim of other materials.

You can combine them with different wall material.

• Wallpapering in the upper part of the wall in the wash area will change the interior for the better, without reducing the practicality of the bathroom. The finish is perfectly combined with plastic sheet panels with a brickwork texture.

• Combining wallpaper with a board brings a special touch to the bathroom interior. With the successful selection of fixtures and plumbing, the atmosphere of the old era can reign here.

• Floral Wallpapermade in gentle colors, perfectly combined with ceramic tiles decorated with a border. A harmonious choice of colors allows you to fill the interior with light, making the atmosphere as comfortable as possible.

• Self-adhesive floral wallpaper harmoniously combined with plastic slats located in the wash zone. The exact choice of color and the selection of textures enhance the effect of vintage, conveying an atmosphere of retrostyle.

• Practical wallpapering in the wash area with the transition to the so-called wet area. Monogram wallpapers look harmoniously with a small tile.

• Combination of finishing materials in a bathroom made in neutral colors. Contrast of a smooth covering of wall-paper and a relief tile-boar, opaque and glossy invoices.

In addition, with the help of such material, you can create the effect of tiled cladding. There are also ready-made chopped squares from a self-adhesive cloth on sale. Thanks to them, you can make a special style in the interior design of the bathroom.

Wallpaper design of the bathroom walls can be not only practical, but also aesthetically attractive. This is evidenced by examples of photo galleries.

Practical design example the walls of the bathroom with wallpaper with a pattern contrasting against the background of narrow panel battens.

Sticking wallpaper on a wall with a niche gives the bathroom an atmosphere of home comfort, visually expanding the space.

The choice of accent finishes to decorate the wall of the bathroom located in the attic.

Creating a special mood in the interior of the bathroom is achieved by designing the wash zone with wallpaper with birds.

The contrast of wallpaper and mosaic tiles, emphasized by a wide decorative border.

Highlighting one of the functional areas of the bathroom with bright wallpaper, sticking at the location of the dressing table.

Finishing the wall of the washbasin with bright wallpaper in retrodesign, contrasting with plastic battens.

A good choice of wallpapers for the embodiment of retrodesign, a harmonious combination with panels and interior accessories.

The original version of the location of the wallpaper with an emphasis on practicality, adaptation of the room to the living room.

Bright wallpaper with floral print in a vintage bathroom design.

Facing the walls of the bathroom with wallpaper in the wash and toilet area, selecting a shade of coatings to match the furniture.

Wallpaper is not a universal decoration material for wall lining of a bathroom. This is evidenced by customer reviews left on thematic forums and information portals of the Internet. Someone believes that they look beautiful in pictures, but in practice they are not so practical. At the same time, there is an opinion that after gluing they very quickly depart from the base.

Others are convinced of the opposite, noting that the canvases are held tight enough on the walls of the bathroom for several years. In the comments, people write that they are buying oil-based wallpapers for wall decoration. To keep the wallpaper longer, air is dried before work, removing moisture from the work base.

In the next video, you will learn about some of the features of wallpaper for the bathroom.