10 Ideas for Dramatic Bathroom Walls
Bathrooms, being such practical spaces, can sometimes end up being a bit bland. Here are some striking ways to add personality
We rarely think too much about our bathroom walls, generally going for the practical option of tiles and paint. They’re fine like that, of course, but just imagine all the many approaches that could add personality and extra interest.
There are lots of ways to give a plain bathroom a boost – some require small changes, others are more involved – but each of the ideas here make a bathroom look anything but uninteresting. Be inspired by these schemes to start your own transformation.
There are lots of ways to give a plain bathroom a boost – some require small changes, others are more involved – but each of the ideas here make a bathroom look anything but uninteresting. Be inspired by these schemes to start your own transformation.
Be bold with a mural
Bathrooms are separate from the rest of the house, so they can have a completely different style, making them the perfect place for humour and vibrant colour. A huge painted mural or giant decal appeals to young and old alike. Here, the owner has made a feature of the sloping ceiling and kept everything else simple to allow the picture to be the focal point.
A mural artist would be able to do this for you, or you could try wall stickers for a similar bold look and an easy DIY option.
If you have a steady hand, paint something yourself – any acrylic craft paints will withstand the environment. To make sure you’re happy with the colours and design before you commit, try painting a board in your bathroom background colour and experiment with the bright colours to get the right combination.
Add a wow factor to exteriors too, with murals
Bathrooms are separate from the rest of the house, so they can have a completely different style, making them the perfect place for humour and vibrant colour. A huge painted mural or giant decal appeals to young and old alike. Here, the owner has made a feature of the sloping ceiling and kept everything else simple to allow the picture to be the focal point.
A mural artist would be able to do this for you, or you could try wall stickers for a similar bold look and an easy DIY option.
If you have a steady hand, paint something yourself – any acrylic craft paints will withstand the environment. To make sure you’re happy with the colours and design before you commit, try painting a board in your bathroom background colour and experiment with the bright colours to get the right combination.
Add a wow factor to exteriors too, with murals
Be enveloped by greenery
Surround yourself with nature by installing a living wall in your bathing space – the humid environment will be perfect for many plants. You’d need professional help to fit something like this, plus green fingers to maintain it, but the effect is breathtaking and you couldn’t help but relax the minute you walked through the door.
If you go for this option, make the rest of the decor as simple as possible so as not to detract from the greenery. Other natural materials, such as wood or slate, would be good companions.
Surround yourself with nature by installing a living wall in your bathing space – the humid environment will be perfect for many plants. You’d need professional help to fit something like this, plus green fingers to maintain it, but the effect is breathtaking and you couldn’t help but relax the minute you walked through the door.
If you go for this option, make the rest of the decor as simple as possible so as not to detract from the greenery. Other natural materials, such as wood or slate, would be good companions.
Pick floor-to-ceiling panelling
Painted wall panelling makes a space look grand and elegant, with the air of a country house. Always paint it with a product that won’t get damaged by moisture – oil-based paints are best.
This grey-green adds soft colour to a pale room and hides a huge storage area. If you have an alcove, consider shelving it and adding wooden doors in front to create this look. Panelling could then be continued around other walls for cohesion.
Painted wall panelling makes a space look grand and elegant, with the air of a country house. Always paint it with a product that won’t get damaged by moisture – oil-based paints are best.
This grey-green adds soft colour to a pale room and hides a huge storage area. If you have an alcove, consider shelving it and adding wooden doors in front to create this look. Panelling could then be continued around other walls for cohesion.
Showcase timber
Smooth, uniform wood is a contemporary version of rustic chalet style; use timber with as few knots as possible to keep the look sleek.
Wood cladding is incredibly effective when used to draw the eye to a feature, like this beautiful bath. Here, the pale grain blends with limestone for a neat, considered nod to nature. Dark-stained wood would be equally dramatic.
See these bathroom wall cladding ideas
Smooth, uniform wood is a contemporary version of rustic chalet style; use timber with as few knots as possible to keep the look sleek.
Wood cladding is incredibly effective when used to draw the eye to a feature, like this beautiful bath. Here, the pale grain blends with limestone for a neat, considered nod to nature. Dark-stained wood would be equally dramatic.
See these bathroom wall cladding ideas
Do something extraordinary
Using the sides of wine crates to create a feature wall, as shown here, requires effort, but the results are impressive. Once adhered to the wall, these would need to be varnished to protect them from water splashes. Search online auction sites for vintage crates to dismantle and recycle in this way.
Using the sides of wine crates to create a feature wall, as shown here, requires effort, but the results are impressive. Once adhered to the wall, these would need to be varnished to protect them from water splashes. Search online auction sites for vintage crates to dismantle and recycle in this way.
Feel as if you’re somewhere else
The use of a photographic mural makes a small space like this look huge. These images come on a roll and are hung like wallpaper, so they make a straightforward DIY task. Just ensure you centre the image and work outwards if the positioning is important, as in this example.
You can make a bathroom look as if it’s in a forest, on a beach, at the end of a pier or in any of numerous other beautiful places. Lots of wallpaper companies offer this option now, so shop around.
The use of a photographic mural makes a small space like this look huge. These images come on a roll and are hung like wallpaper, so they make a straightforward DIY task. Just ensure you centre the image and work outwards if the positioning is important, as in this example.
You can make a bathroom look as if it’s in a forest, on a beach, at the end of a pier or in any of numerous other beautiful places. Lots of wallpaper companies offer this option now, so shop around.
Go halves
Half-height panelling looks elegant and is a classic alternative to wall tiling (in an area that won’t be getting wet all the time). This can be fitted by a carpenter or confident DIYer over a few days, depending on the size of the area and the ability of the fitter.
If you use wide battens fixed to the wall to hold the panelling, you’ll create a shelf at the top, which will make a useful place to display anything from toiletries to ornaments and framed pictures.
Half-height panelling looks elegant and is a classic alternative to wall tiling (in an area that won’t be getting wet all the time). This can be fitted by a carpenter or confident DIYer over a few days, depending on the size of the area and the ability of the fitter.
If you use wide battens fixed to the wall to hold the panelling, you’ll create a shelf at the top, which will make a useful place to display anything from toiletries to ornaments and framed pictures.
Weave in beautiful bricks
Bricks are eye-catching and they bring a warm feeling to any space. They’re a great base for industrial style in a contemporary property, or rustic design in a cottage-style home. If you have an older property where bricks can be revealed by removing the plaster, that’s one option, but cleaning and sealing bricks is quite hard work and there’s a chance you may need to redo the pointing, too.
Alternatively, you can create the same feel for less hassle using brick slips. These are wall tiles made from thin pieces of real brick that look so good it’s hard to tell the difference.
Here’s how exposed bricks make a home shine
Bricks are eye-catching and they bring a warm feeling to any space. They’re a great base for industrial style in a contemporary property, or rustic design in a cottage-style home. If you have an older property where bricks can be revealed by removing the plaster, that’s one option, but cleaning and sealing bricks is quite hard work and there’s a chance you may need to redo the pointing, too.
Alternatively, you can create the same feel for less hassle using brick slips. These are wall tiles made from thin pieces of real brick that look so good it’s hard to tell the difference.
Here’s how exposed bricks make a home shine
Take tongue and groove up and over
Tongue-and-groove planks are a good way to create a relaxed coastal style. Laying them horizontally, as here, gives them a different twist to the more usual vertical treatment, and taking them up onto the ceiling creates further interest.
Tongue and groove consists of thin planks of wood slotted together and either glued to the wall or fixed to battens for an easy DIY installation. All bare wood needs to be protected with varnish or paint for longevity. Choose an oil-based paint and don’t forget to use sealant along the edge of the bath in this type of installation to stop water escaping.
Read more:
Which Tiles to Choose for Bathroom Walls?
Tell us:
What are your plans for your bathroom walls? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Tongue-and-groove planks are a good way to create a relaxed coastal style. Laying them horizontally, as here, gives them a different twist to the more usual vertical treatment, and taking them up onto the ceiling creates further interest.
Tongue and groove consists of thin planks of wood slotted together and either glued to the wall or fixed to battens for an easy DIY installation. All bare wood needs to be protected with varnish or paint for longevity. Choose an oil-based paint and don’t forget to use sealant along the edge of the bath in this type of installation to stop water escaping.
Read more:
Which Tiles to Choose for Bathroom Walls?
Tell us:
What are your plans for your bathroom walls? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Not just for your living room, wallpaper is a wonderful way to make a bathroom look immediately homely. Use something boldly patterned for drama and really go for it – people don’t expect wallpaper in bathrooms, so the results are always eye-catching.
Make sure you hang it somewhere that won’t get soaked – as with this panel above backsplash tiles – and coat it in decorators varnish to protect it from moisture.