Any loyal This Old House fan knows that putting sweat equity into your powder room has a generous payoff. It’s a well-used space that visitors to your home often see—and it’s a prime spot for a little design experimentation. That includes installing wallpaper for a decorative touch without incurring high tile costs.
You might think a bathroom’s humidity would cause wallpaper to peel over time, but manufacturers are evolving to meet bathroom wallpaper needs with better adhesives. All you need to do is choose the right design and follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions. We’ll add a few extra tips from our experts in this guide.
Choosing the Perfect Wallpaper for Your Small Bathroom
Find the perfect wallpaper design for your bath by taking color cues from your hard surfaces. If you find a wallpaper pattern you like but aren’t sold on using it at a large scale, Gina Shaw of York Wallcoverings bets it would look fantastic in your small bathroom. “Wallpaper offers perhaps the single most dramatic statement you can make in a small space,” she says, “and many patterns are perfect for the bathroom. Large- or small-scale geometrics and florals or novelty patterns are all fair game.”
Your wallpaper does not have to match the rest of your house. Instead, Shaw encourages using over-the-top wallpaper for a statement that guests will remember. For a striking look, pair neutral hard surfaces with a contrasting color—similar tones will create a soothing environment. Shaw points out that blues, greens, and lilacs, especially in pearlized finishes, are popular choices to brighten a room, while black and white tiles provide a good background for pops of bright teal or red.
Installing the Wallpaper
Before you start, inspect your walls for any imperfections. Repair cracks or holes, sand down rough spots, clean the surfaces thoroughly, and let the wall dry.
The specific wallpaper installation instructions you need to follow will depend on the paper type you choose. Many wallpapers are now prepasted, which is more convenient for DIYers. On the other hand, many homeowners hire professionals to install high-end wallpapers, so these often come unpasted by contrast.
Applying Primer and Sizing
Start by applying a “universal” wall-covering primer for easier installation and a lasting look. Primer helps wallpaper grip onto slick surfaces and prevents the paste from absorbing into porous surfaces. Sizing generates additional grip and makes sliding pieces into position on the wall easier. Using a sealer makes it easier to remove wallpaper. Look for combo sealer/sizer—“universal” products designed to work on different surfaces under varying conditions.
Measuring and Lining Up
Find your starting point in your powder room’s least visible corner. This corner—where the wallpaper’s beginning and end will meet—is the only spot where your wallpaper designs won’t match. Shaw suggests choosing the corner closest to the room’s entryway.
As you go, pay close attention to the match and pattern repeat of the wallpaper. Lining up the pattern correctly will make or break your project. It’ll also affect how many paper scraps you have at the end. Large-scale patterns create more project waste if you line them up precisely, but you can cut down on waste by staggering the pattern so it doesn’t match exactly.
Booking the Wallpaper
Booking prepares your wallpaper for installation. Wallpaper can expand its width on a wall by as much as one-fourth of an inch. Booking stops this expansion so the paper won’t cause unsightly wrinkles or bubbling.
Fold the wallpaper over like a book cover—with the pasted side in—for several minutes so it can expand and relax its curl from the roll packaging.
Applying the Wallpaper
Now it’s time to install your new wallpaper. Here’s how to do this:
- Resist the urge to precut pieces for tough spots like corners, doors, and windows. Instead, make cuts in the wallpaper around those spots.
- Hang a strip as usual, then cut all but 1 inch of the extra paper all the way around the obstacle.
- Make small diagonal cuts on the corners to prevent tearing.
- Use the edge of a scraper to trim excess paper off.
Trimming and Finishing
Use a seam roller to flatten the edges where your wallpaper strips meet and wipe away excess paste with a damp sponge. The wallpaper should have a chance to dry completely before you start hanging fixtures and artwork.
Maintenance and Care for Bathroom Wallpaper
Modern wallpaper is better at withstanding bathroom conditions, but you can still take the following steps to protect it:
- Address any peeling or damage as soon as possible to prevent further issues.
- Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for the wallpaper.
- Keep your powder room well-ventilated.
- Use a dehumidifier if moisture is a persistent problem.
To keep your powder room wallpaper looking fresh, wipe it down periodically with a damp cloth. Don’t use abrasive cleaners as they could damage the wallpaper surface.