Bathroom Wall Material Options: 8 Finishes from Tile to Plaster

Home PlannerApp Team · December 19, 2022

Eight wall finishes that cope with a humid room, what each one asks of you, and the wall colors and decor that make a small bathroom feel larger.

You are about to redo the bathroom. It is probably the smallest room in your home, and it is the one room no home can do without: an apartment can manage without a dining room, or even a bedroom, but not without a bathroom. The small area leaves less room for ideas, so each choice on the walls carries more weight.

This guide covers the bathroom wall material options that cope with humidity, the wall colors people choose most often, and the decor that keeps the room easy to move around in. With the right choices, a shelf, a counter, the fittings and even a beach seashell art wallpaper can work together as one design.

Start with how you move, then decorate

The bathroom is where each day starts and ends. It is more pleasant when it feels like a small spa: a place for a bubble bath or a contrast shower, not an obstacle course.

So plan the practical part first, down to the small items: a basket for laundry, a plant, plastic storage boxes, the pipes. No plumbing should block your way around the room. Decor comes after that.

Which bathroom wall decor ideas leave room to move?

Mirrors, glass and good lighting. They decorate the walls and make the room look larger at the same time, which is why they suit a bathroom of any size.

Mirrors and glass. Add more mirrors, plus transparent and glass elements. Why it works: they reflect the room and make it look larger. This is worth doing even in a large bathroom.

Lighting on several levels. A modern bathroom often has more than one level of light. It becomes the main accent of the room and also makes the space look larger.

Fixtures with character. Plumbing must work first. Still, stores now sell models in unusual colors and shapes, so a basin or a tap can carry part of the decor.

Common mistake: hanging figurines, photo frames and other decor pieces that do no job. In a bathroom every decorative item should also be useful. Keep the rest for the living room or the bedroom.

What are popular bathroom wall colors?

White, black, red, yellow and orange, brown and blue. The right one depends on your layout, the size of the room and, mostly, on what you like. Bathrooms used to get little design attention; today there are enough ideas to fit almost any room.

• White is the classic choice. It makes the space look larger and adds light.
• Black looks noble, but it suits large bathrooms.
• Red is a bold, unusual choice that brings energy.
• Yellow and orange lift the mood and help you start the day.
• Brown comes in many shades: chocolate, wenge, brick, terracotta and others.
• Blue is calm and suits a bathroom in a nautical style.

What material is good for bathroom walls?

One that handles moisture, temperature changes and condensation for years. Humidity is the main risk in a bathroom, so choose the finish with care: the right one gives a result that lasts for decades, not only a good-looking room.

The good news: the choice is wide. Many manufacturers now design their materials for every room in the house, the bathroom included. Here is how the eight common finishes compare.

Ceramic tile: the most popular finish

Tile comes in a wide range of shades and shapes: square, rectangular, polygonal and more. It resists moisture, temperature changes and mechanical damage. Laid correctly, it can last more than 30 years in hard conditions.

The trade-off is installation. A professional usually takes the measurements, lays the tiles and grouts the joints.

Which bathroom wall ideas instead of tiles work?

Natural stone, PVC panels, wood, glass, metal, paint and decorative plaster all work on bathroom walls. Each one trades something: price, installation or care.

Natural stone. Granite and marble are the usual choices. Stone is not cheap, and its strengths explain the price:

• durability;
• resistance to chemical and mechanical damage;
• strength;
• water resistance;
• an attractive look.

PVC panels. Stores sell plain panels and more decorative ones. Some imitate wood, brickwork, marble or even leather. Their main advantage is simple installation: you can do it without a professional. The one condition is to take all the measurements correctly.

Natural wood. Wood can work in a bathroom. Modern finishing methods make it usable on walls even in a humid room, usually with a special impregnation and a protective varnish. The type of wood matters: beech, cedar, larch, oak and teak suit a bathroom.

Glass. Glass suits high-tech and modern bathrooms. Use plain or multicolored panels, or a glass panel with a printed photo. The surface can be:

• glossy;
• matte;
• embossed.

Metal. Metal can stand alone, but it is often combined with wood or stone. For a bathroom, choose metal sheets, galvanized or chrome. It has a long service life and meets fire safety requirements, because metal does not burn.

Paint. Not every paint suits a bathroom. The common types are:

• latex;
• acrylic;
• silicate;
• silicone.

Decorative plaster. Plaster looks attractive (Venetian plaster in particular) and has a long service life. The trade-offs are a high cost and a difficult application.

Leave room for one unusual idea

Planning a bathroom takes patience, but the result is worth it. Do not be afraid to try something outside the standard: a colorful container, an unusual plant or a patterned wallpaper. That is how the room ends up reflecting your character.

Try the walls on your own plan first

A finish and a color are hard to judge from a photo of someone else's bathroom. Measure your space and draw it as a 2D/3D floor plan in Home Planner. Select a wall to change its color or texture, then furnish the room with products from real brands and check how everything combines. If you need a starting point, open a predesigned layout for a bathroom, a bedroom or a living room.