In any walk of life, there certainly are no shortage of items that may make you scratch your head.
Contracting is no different.
Wallpaper in our homes has been variably popular throughout the history of wallcovering availability in general and although it may ebb and flow in terms of its widespread use in any individual home, it is not unusual to see at least one room being wallpapered.
These days, do you know what the most popularly-requested room for us to wallpaper is?
The main bathroom.
Do you know what the one room in the house is that I would personally STRONGLY advise AGAINST wallpapering?
Yep.
The main bathroom.
Why is this the case?
Even though wallpaper can look stylish and fresh, bathrooms bring a unique set of challenges that make wallpapering them a risky choice. Still, many people choose to wallpaper their bathrooms anyway – my only guess is that hoping the beauty outweighs the trouble.
The biggest problem with wallpaper in a bathroom is moisture. Bathrooms are usually full of steam and humidity, especially after a hot shower or bath. All that moisture in the air can cause wallpaper to peel, bubble, or come loose from the wall (steaming off wallpaper is literally one of the techniques we use to remove wallpaper). Over time, the glue/adhesive that holds the wallpaper in place can break down. Once that happens, the wallpaper may start curling at the edges or even fall off completely.
If water gets behind the wallpaper, it can lead to mold and mildew. Mold loves warm, damp places — just like your bathroom. If it grows behind the wallpaper, you might not even know it’s there until it becomes a big problem. Not only can this damage the wall underneath, but it can also affect the air quality in your home and even cause health issues.
Another challenge is cleaning. Bathroom walls can get splashed with water, soap, and even toothpaste. While some wallpapers are washable, many are not made to stand up to constant cleaning or wiping. Paint, on the other hand, can usually be scrubbed gently without much damage (particularly with the more modern paint products available today). Wallpaper may stain or get worn out more easily if washed regularly in a bathroom setting.
So if wallpaper is such a bad idea in bathrooms, why do people still use it?
The answer is simple: looks. Wallpaper can completely change the feel of a space. It comes in so many colors, patterns, and textures that it’s easy to find something that adds personality and style to a bathroom. People often want their bathroom to feel like a mini-spa or a cozy, beautiful retreat. Wallpaper helps create that feeling in a way that plain paint sometimes can’t – wallpaper can absolutely be very ‘Zen’!
Some homeowners take the risk because they want a “wow factor.” Bathrooms are usually small, so a bold wallpaper pattern won’t feel overwhelming. Plus, since the space is often limited, it doesn’t cost as much to wallpaper as it would for a large room. A lot of times folks figure they can always replace it later if it doesn’t hold up.
My feeling is that this is one of those situations where people have to determine for themselves if the “juice” is worth the “squeeze”.
Is having something that is hip and “modern-feeling” on your bathroom walls worth the idea of it starting to gradually peel off, encourage mold/mildew growth, and/or show signs of wear due to washing, etc. over time?
My answer is a resounding “NO!” – but based on how popular wallpapering bathrooms seems to be these, I am the first to admit that I am clearly in the overwhelming minority.
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