By You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or an expert in interior design to know that a wet bathroom is not the ideal place for installing peel-and-stick wallpaper unless you have all the information and tricks. With some clever tricks and DIY tips, you can make it work for your needs. Even if you live in a tropical climate. So, it’s clear that you can use peel and stick wallpaper in a humid bathroom, but do you know how to go about it?
Bathroom peel-off wallpaper pros and cons
One of the most interesting aspects of a peel and stick wallpaper is how easy it is to remove. There is a reason why it has become so popular in homes. And that’s because of the ease with which you can pull off the paper to put up another one. It’s also what makes it so popular for nurseries and children’s rooms, where you need to be able to easily change the decor regularly. There are plenty of designs and patterns to try for your bathroom and each of these options is cheaper than repainting the bathroom walls. Additionally, wallpapers are easy to install and remove, so you don’t have to worry about sticking with the same design for years. All that said, there are some downsides. For example, the peel off wallpaper won’t stick to tiles or smooth surfaces very well. The second downside is that there will be extra wall preparations before installation and lastly, there’s the possibility of peeling and mold.
Hallmarks of a too humid bathroom
Not all the bathrooms are humid meaning that there are some special hallmarks that you can use to determine whether your bathroom is too humid or not. Here are some of these hallmarks to consider.
- The bathroom is regularly used
- There’s no wide functional window
- Iffy ventilation
- Less than 40 square feet
- The walls feel moist
What type of peelable wallpaper to use in humid bathrooms?
There are different types of peelable wallpaper out there but not all of them will work in a humid bathroom. These types of wallpapers are typically made from paper and vinyl. Because of that, you can use them in humid bathrooms with some extra care.
Paper wallpaper
These are the traditional wallpaper that are usually applied with an adhesive tape. These kinds of wallpapers won’t stick to smooth surfaces very well, and as such, you’ll have to prepare the room first by making it smooth and dust-free. You can use a smooth cloth to wipe off any particles in the room and you might need to open up a window before the paper is applied.
Vinyl wallpaper
Vinyl wallpaper is better compared to traditional wallpaper because they are flexible and can be applied to most surfaces. However, they do cost more than the traditional ones.
It’s also good to get a vinyl wallpaper that has a matte finish so light won’t reflect off it making it shiny and noticeable.
Protective coating for peel off wallpaper in humid bathrooms
One of the biggest issues with peel off wallpapers is mold and mildew growth but you can prevent this by applying a special protective coating that will keep the wall dry and sweat-free.
Some of the materials that you can use for this include silicone, vinyl, acrylic and fiberglass.
Silicone is commonly used for this purpose and it’s pretty cheap too. Also, it’s waterproof and you can use it on smooth surfaces. But when applied to porous surface such as tiles around the bathroom, it might create a film that could look like mold. So, stick to smooth surfaces only. Use good ventilation while installing the wallpaper otherwise you’ll end up with bubbles on your walls where the wallpaper is applied.
Vinyl Waterproof Bathroom wallpaper
In case the bathroom is too moist and you have the fear of water splashes and mold, the alternative is to use vinyl waterproof bathroom wallpaper. Vinyl waterproof wallpaper for bathroom walls are designed to be used in high humidity areas and they can withstand high moisture levels. Such wallpapers require taping and smoothening of the walls before applying the design. Most of these vinyl wallpapers are easy to clean and they dry up quickly as well.
It’s also important to choose the right kind of pattern for your bathroom so that it blends perfectly with your other decorations. There are different kinds of patterns for different rooms such as floral, tribal, animal designs, etc.
Tips on choosing high humid Bathroom wallpaper
Here are some of the main things to consider when choosing wallpaper for your bathroom:
What’s the budget? Are you willing to invest a great amount of money in this project?
Are you going to apply it yourself or do you want to hire someone to do so?
Use Big prints in the bathroom
When it comes to choosing patterns, plus-sized ones are better. The reason being they don’t have a lot of intricacies that would attract water droplets.
Detailed designs and intricate details could result in bubbles on the walls when applied to a wet wall.
Shiny surfaces
If you want something that dries up fast, go for something that has a silky or dull surface such as satin or matte finish. Shiny surfaces will only reflect the light making it noticeable when applied to the bathroom walls.
Prepare the walls well for easy application
You need to make sure that the wall gets well-cleaned, and free of dust. Another thing you need to remember is to open a window before any of the work is done. If the walls are well prepared, there will be little issues during the application.
Consider the level of Humidity
Finally, you need to take into consideration the high level of humidity in your bathroom before applying any type of wallpaper. Your aim should be to make the bathroom dryer and more comfortable for you and your family members.
Conclusion
This article gives a number of things to consider when trying to find a good wallpaper for the bathroom walls. You’ll also find out about some popular types that work well for bathrooms and their drawbacks. Finally, we took a look at some helpful tips that will help you choose a suitable wallpaper for your bathroom minus the worries.
