Can I wallpaper the shower?

Dear Pablo,
This is a question I get asked quite often by customers all over the world. Let’s look at your question, starting with:

Why would I want to wallpaper my shower wall?

The walls of our showers are more or less the first thing we see in the morning as we get ready to start our day, and sometimes also the last thing before going to bed. Their look can have a profound impact on us. It is entirely reasonable that you might want to make them more appealing by decorating them with a nice wallpaper, as this offers the following benefits:

• A fresh look without undergoing major renovations
  Renovating a bathroom can be costly and very time-consuming. Being able to create a brand-new look in a few hours without breaking the bank and involving contractors is certainly appealing.
• A wider variety of options
  While tiles and marble slates offer a limited variety of shades, when it comes to wallpaper the choice is virtually limitless.

Can I hang wallpaper on the shower walls?

While it is technically possible to wallpaper the walls of the shower cubicle, in my opinion it is preferrable not to do so. Bathroom conditions - a combination of humidity, water splashes and heat - are already difficult to withstand for most wallpaper materials. Shower cubicles present an even greater set of challenges:

• Heat and humidity
  There is nothing more relaxing than a long, hot shower to wash away the grime and the stress of the day. However, this results in the air heating up and in extremely high levels of humidity.
• Shampoos, detergents and other cosmetic products
  It’s not just the water landing on the shower cubicle walls. Naturally, there is a large number of cosmetic products that are also used there, from shampoos to conditioners to shower gels. They contain a vast range of chemicals that might do wonders to your hair, but can negatively impact the surface of a wallpaper, e.g. in terms of its permeability or colour.
• Water splashes
  We are not talking about a few drops here and there, but the full force of an open shower, with water bouncing off your body and landing on the wallpaper in large quantities. This can damage seams and edges.
• Moisture remaining on the shower walls
  Even if the water is wiped away after each shower, a substantial amount of moisture will be left to dry on the wallpaper surface. Day after day, this will have a negative effect on its appearance.

What alternatives do I have if I want to wallpaper the shower cubicle?

You can still benefit from the positive aesthetic impact of a patterned wallpaper with these options:

• Wallpapering above the shower cubicle, away from direct splashes
  A possible solution adopted by many DIYers is to keep the area directly below the shower tiled and decorate above it with vinyl-coated wallpaper. Choose a wallpaper pattern that matches the style of the tiles and you will still benefit from the visual appeal of a designer wallpaper while avoiding the major challenges involved in decorating the splash area.
• Wallpapering just the wall on the far side of the shower cubicle
  This is only possible if your bathroom has a large shower cubicle with a separate entrance area. In these cases, when the shower heads are positioned away from the wall, it is possible to install a decorative vinyl-coated wallpaper on the far side of the shower cubicle.

What if I am determined to put wallpaper up on the walls of my shower cubicle?

If you are committed to wallpapering the walls of your shower, there are a number of possible options, each with some drawbacks:

• Use special fiberglass wallpaper, specially designed for shower walls
  Introduced into the market a few years ago, this unique wallpaper type consists of a fiberglass backing and a vinyl surface layer. This ensures impermeability which means it can withstand the tricky conditions of shower cubicles. However, this is no standard wallpaper: it requires a specially designed adhesive plus primer and needs to be installed by a professional contractor. As it is also quite expensive, the total cost of the installation might exceed your budget.
• Use vinyl-coated wallpaper
  Vinyl-coated wallpaper is a type of wall décor where the decorative surface has been sprayed or coated with a layer of vinyl. Able to withstand moisture, vinyl-coated wallpaper is often used in areas with higher humidity levels, like bathrooms or kitchens. It can also work on shower walls, and it is easy to install. It is the best possible option for those wanting to wallpaper the shower walls on a budget. Keep in mind that the combination of heat and high moisture involved might seep through the seams and edges over time, affecting its longevity.

How do I install vinyl wallpaper in the shower?

Installing vinyl wallpaper in shower cubicles requires some extra prepping steps. Let’s look at them in detail:

1. Check the surface of the wall
   The surface of the wall needs to be as even as possible for the wallpaper to adhere to it properly. Any gap should be filled and sanded down. If you plan to install it over a tiled wall, please check the instructions on How to wallpaper over tiles.
2. Make sure the walls are completely dry
   Air the bathroom for at least 24 hours before beginning your wallpapering project, and make sure the surface to be wallpapered is completely dry. Any moisture trapped underneath your wallpaper can result in mould and mildew, and you definitely want to avoid that.
3. Apply a mould-resistant primer
   Choose a mould-resistant primer and apply it to the entire area to be wallpapered. It will create the best possible surface for the wallpaper adhesive while preventing mould. Protect your health by keeping the bathroom well aired while applying it.
4. Use a dispersion wallpaper adhesive to install the wallpaper strips
   Dispersion adhesives are ready-to-use synthetic resin-based glues with greater strength than normal wallpapering paste. Apply some extra adhesive around the edges of the area you're wallpapering to make sure the wallpaper properly sticks to the wall, thus reducing the risk of water penetrating it.
5. Wait a few days before using the shower again
   Once you have completed your installation project, let the wallpaper fully dry and set before taking the first shower.

Please note that it is not possible to add extra coats of sealant to vinyl-coated wallpaper, as the sealant liquid will not stick to its surface and just drip down. This means that there is no additional protection for edges and seams - and this is the weak spot of this solution. As a result, expect the lifespan of your shower cubicle wallpaper to be slightly reduced. A few years down the line, you might need to replace it. Take it as a chance to give your shower a fresh new look.

How do I extend the lifespan of my wallpapered shower walls?

If you want to increase the lifespan of your shower wallpaper, make sure that your bathroom is ventilated thoroughly after each shower. Leave the shower door open and allow steam to escape from the area after you are done showering. Installing a good-quality bathroom fan will also help to reduce moisture buildup.

Is peel-and-stick wallpaper an option for the shower cubicle?

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a relatively recent addition to the wallpaper market. Thanks to its adhesive backing it does not require wallpapering paste to adhere to a surface and it can be gently peeled away once no longer needed. Since peel-and-stick wallpaper models often have a moisture-resistant vinyl surface, they can in theory be used to decorate shower walls. However, you should expect reduced longevity, as over time the heat generated by steam will impact the adhesive strength of its backing.

Your wallpaper expert
Isabel