Can You Put Wallpaper in a Bathroom? Here’s What to Know

We’ve all seen those bathrooms carefully decorated with elaborate wallpaper, and we’ve all wondered the same thing: Can you put wallpaper in a bathroom without it becoming a hot, peeling mess? 

The good news is that you can indeed put wallpaper in your bathroom—but not without a few protective preliminary steps. It’s important to choose the right wallpaper and know how to prep your bathroom beforehand. With a little know-how—and waterproof glue—you can have your beautifully wallpapered bathroom and actually enjoy it, too

Why Put Wallpaper in a Bathroom? 

Between the risks of peeling, water damage, and mold, wallpapering a bathroom is a hard sell to many. However, the truth is that it’s totally doable—provided you use water-resistant wallpaper. Additionally, there are ways to limit the risks of water damage in spaces like this, from improving your ventilation system to being more deliberate about where the wallpaper is applied, like away from the sink or shower rather than right next to it. 

What Kinds of Wallpaper Can You Put in a Bathroom?

You should avoid using traditional wallpaper, especially peel-and-stick varieties, because they lack protective measures to defend against steam and splashing. Instead, the best types of wallpaper for bathrooms include vinyl and fabric-backed vinyl wallpaper because they naturally repel moisture and are less likely to let steam seep into the space between the paper and the wall, the most common reason wallpaper peels in bathrooms. A local wallpaper installation pro can help you choose the perfect wallpaper for your space.

How to Get Your Bathroom Wallpaper-Ready

It’s not enough to pick the right kind of wallpaper—you also need to take a few additional protective measures to prevent peeling and water damage in the long run. 

Prep the Walls

If there are a few tiny holes, dents, scratches, or chips on your bathroom walls and you were hoping to gloss over them, don’t. Though they’re small, they can damage your wallpaper in a big way, because these openings make it easier for steam to get behind the wallpaper and cause it to crack and peel over time. 

Minimize Contact Between Wallpaper and Moisture

Avoid placing wallpaper near water sources at all costs. Instead of letting it bump up right next to your tub, shower, or sink, you should aim to leave an inch or two of space or put a border between them, whether that be a new splashback or additional trim. Maybe it’s finally time for a bathroom remodel, or perhaps you’re better off investing in a dehumidifier to limit moisture levels during installation and afterwards. 

Choose a Durable and Waterproof Wallpaper Glue 

While easy-to-remove wallpaper glue is ideal for other rooms—or if you’re renting and don’t want to lose a security deposit—opt for a heavy-duty clear paste option when it comes to the bathroom. Vinyl-over-vinyl adhesives are another solid choice because they’re naturally water resistant and won’t degrade from exposure to steam or contact with water. 

Vet the Ventilation System 

Steam is enemy number one against the longevity of wallpaper in bathrooms, so it’s important to make sure your ventilation is up to the task of limiting its presence in these spaces. Evaluate your current bathroom HVAC system and whether it’s living up to its full potential, and consider if it’s time for a new exhaust fan before installing new wallpaper. 

Lower the Temp of Your Water Heater

Hot showers are great, but they shouldn’t be too hot all the time—especially if there’s wallpaper in your bathroom. Lowering the temperature of your water heater is an easy way to ensure you’re less likely to go overboard on accident. Similarly, keep in mind that there’s a best temperature to install wallpaper at, and definitely avoid doing it if you’ve used the shower or bath recently. 

3 Tips for Maintaining Wallpaper in a Bathroom

Once the paper is up, here are a few ways to keep it that way. 

Avoid Using Water to Clean

Even if you’ve selected a water-resistant wallpaper, err on the side of caution and use as little moisture as possible when cleaning. Try to remove spots or marks with a dry cloth and use a lightly damp sponge and a bit of dish soap only when absolutely necessary. Even washable wallpaper should only be treated with light amounts of water. 

Stock Up On Backup Wallpaper

In the event of a leak that does irreparable damage to your wallpaper, it’s a good idea to have extra on hand. That way, you can make repairs without additional costs or the fear that you won’t be able to replace it because the style is out of stock. 

Keep the Door or Windows Open After Showers

In addition to a dehumidifier and a well-performing exhaust fan, air out your bathroom after use, like opening the door or leaving the window cracked until all the steam has aired out.