How to Use Wallpaper to Instantly Elevate Your Bathroom, According to Designers

Wallpaper can completely transform any room. However, it's most often used in living areas, where bold colors and elegant patterns feel most at home. Many are hesitant to use wallpaper elsewhere for practical and aesthetic reasons—especially in the bathroom.

However, wallpaper can look beautiful in a bathroom—if you choose the right kind, and you make sure it pairs well with your overall vision. Here, we spoke to experts about how to use wallpaper in this all-important space.

Why Designers Love It

Your bathroom doesn't need to be all-white or completely neutral. Wallpaper can bring in color and pattern—something sorely lacking in many of these spaces.

"Wallpaper brings warmth, depth, and character to a bathroom in a way paint alone often cannot," says Shelley McIlroy, principal designer of Shelley McIlroy Design. "Because bathrooms are typically smaller and more enclosed, they offer a wonderful opportunity to embrace pattern and texture."

It's a wonderful way to add a sense of personal style to a bathroom. Powder rooms, in particular, are often designated as a room where you can be more experimental and bold with your design decisions. This approach "[makes] it feel personal and layered, rather than stark and builder basic," says Trudy Stump, lead designer of Huff Harrington.

Types of Wallpaper

It's important to choose not just the right color, but the right type of wallpaper. Bathrooms are working spaces, so some materials simply won't be durable enough.

"I recommend vinyl or vinyl-coated wallpaper because it's durable, washable, and designed to perform well in humid environments," says McIlroy. "Today’s options are remarkably refined, offering both practicality and beauty without compromise."

Powder rooms can be a different story, as these spaces aren't exposed to as much moisture. Since they don't have bathtubs or showers, you can opt for regular wallpaper or grasscloth, says Stump. Additionally, if you're working with a larger bathroom that has good ventilation, then you may be able to explore non-vinyl options.

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Choosing a Color and Pattern

Wallpaper can feel intimidating, as there are many different colors to choose from. Selecting one that's too bold will make the space feel cramped, claustrophobic, and loud; an option that's too subtle will make your bathroom look flat and uninspired.

So how do you ensure your wallpaper has synergy with the rest of your space? "I often begin with the tile, allowing its color and tone to guide the overall palette," says McIlroy. "This approach ensures the wallpaper feels connected to the permanent finishes and contributes to a cohesive, layered look."

The finishes and layout of the space are other factors, says Stump. You'll also want to consider the size of your room and its location in the home. For example, an en-suite bathroom should match adjoining hallways and dressing rooms, but powder rooms can more or less stand on their own.

It's a balancing act too—you don't want one design element to overpower the other. "If the design direction of the bathroom includes a knockout modern vanity and [sculptural] tiles, we might opt for a subtle, solid-color grasscloth or small-scale pattern," says Stump. "[This approach] lets the other elements take center stage."