ᐅ Wallpaper or paint in the bathroom?

Hello everyone,
I want to renovate my guest bathroom. Currently, it is tiled all the way up to the ceiling. I would like to make the space a bit lighter and not retile the entire room (which feels like a butcher shop). The idea is to use large tiles for the shower area and around the washbasin (splash zone), and then finish the rest with paint or wallpaper (+ sealant?) for color. I plan to keep the old tiles underneath and level them with reinforcing mortar. After that, the paint or wallpaper will be applied. Does anyone have experience with which paint or wallpaper is suitable for a bathroom? It should, of course, withstand the bathroom’s "climatic" conditions and be easy to clean without showing marks right away. I am especially concerned about the area around the toilet at the moment. (Issue with "standing users" :confused 🙂

Thanks for your advice

Hello @RaumFrei,

Personally, I believe that if you renovate, it should be done properly and sustainably. That means removing the old tiles. Wallpaper in the bathroom is possible, but I would prefer smooth plaster or plaster with a fine texture. Maybe you could share a photo, then it would be easier to give advice. And as for your "habit," just change it — your wife will appreciate that. 😉

Regards,
Sigi

Hello Sigi,
I’ll start from the "end." By habits, I mean guests who I would rather not annoy with various prohibition signs. 🙂
I’d prefer not to risk removing the old tiles, as there are drywall (plasterboard) walls underneath them. The idea of using plaster is good. What kind of paint would you use or would you leave it unpainted?

Sorry, when it comes to colors, I have to admit that I am colorblind, so it’s difficult for me to give advice on that—others can definitely do better.

If you want to keep the tiles (I would still tear them down despite the drywall), I could only imagine using a smooth plaster finish. There are many great design options for this. Properly sealed, it might even make tiles unnecessary while being just as easy to maintain. Just a thought.

And for standing urination, maybe installing a urinal is an option.
Best regards, Sigi

Are standing urinals still a thing? Fortunately, not in our circle of friends anymore, since men also help with cleaning now. At least, no one stands around in friends’ houses anymore 🙂

Regarding the renovation: I would also prefer the sit-down option.

You seem to have fixated on the urination topic 🙁. The question was simply about which wall surfaces (paint, wallpaper) are suitable for bathrooms and if anyone has any experience with them. I could imagine that, for example, vinyl wallpaper with a textured finish might look quite good. It should also be easy to maintain...

Regards