Updating Bathrooms With Paneled Walls
Bathroom wall paneling offers a simpler alternative to tile and an alternative to paint and wallpaper with more design options. Plus, you can combine bathroom wall panels with these traditional wall coverings to create your perfect look. Some panels use peel-and-stick installation or require only construction adhesive while many install with nails and adhesive.
Bathroom Wall Paneling Ideas
You can use panels in a variety of ways in a bathroom, from paneling all the walls to just using the panels as accents. You can also mix and match with other wall coverings and treatments. Here are a few ideas.
Tile Patterns
Panels with embossed tile designs give you the look of a tiled bathroom wall with a fraction of the effort and mess. Each water-resistant panel is embossed to look like traditional tile. Interlocking panels continue the pattern across the wall. Different colors, designs and themes let you work with your existing style or create a new one you can accent with artwork and décor items. Use for full walls or half walls.
Shiplap
Shiplap walls give a bathroom a comfortable, rustic feel and can work in a traditional horizontal pattern or an unexpected vertical layout. If you can’t find full shiplap panels, look for shiplap planks that are suitable for use in a bathroom to create your own wall paneling. Use white shiplap walls to maintain a classic feel or paint them for a colorful or dramatic look.
Beadboard
Beadboard offers a traditional feel like shiplap, but the pattern is exclusively vertical. You typically use beadboard as wainscotting. Beadboard panels in a bathroom give you the freedom to build on a traditional design while painting or wallpapering the rest of the space to fit your color scheme or décor style.
Slat Designs
Slat designs give your bathroom a modern look with a tight, complex design. You can typically install the panels to create vertical or horizontal designs. Too much slat paneling might be overpowering, particularly in a small bathroom, so consider using it to create an accent wall or to panel a half-wall separating a tub area from the rest of the bathroom.
Faux Brick
Create industrial appeal or simply a unique look with faux brick panels. These water-resistant interlocking panels fit together to create the look of a continuous brick wall. As with slat panels, use faux brick paneling on an accent wall or a half-wall if paneling a full bathroom feels too busy. Paint the panels to fit your space or find panels with the look of red brick, marble and more.
Trim and Moulding Designs
Accent your bathroom with trim and moulding panels to give your wall the classic look of wainscotting with less cutting and measuring. Create a custom look with these moulding pieces by painting the moulding and walls in contrasting or complementary colors or applying wallpaper or paint inside the trim work.
Other Bathroom Wall Panel Designs
You can find other wall panels for bathrooms that create unique looks:
- Panels with stone designs create a natural feel and work well with plants and other natural décor.
- Panels with the look of wood boards create a similar appeal to natural wood with less maintenance.
- Wood fretwork adds simple or intricate dimensional designs to your bathroom walls and different wood species create different looks.
- Embossed panels with metallic, abstract or geometric designs give you another option for adding three-dimensional touches to your bathroom walls.
Small Bathroom Wall Paneling Ideas
The bathroom wall paneling ideas above add character to small bathrooms or half-baths as well as full-size bathrooms. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to capture the look you want in a small bathroom and prevent the space from feeling too confined:
- Panels with a vertical pattern create the feel of a higher ceiling.
- Panels with a horizontal pattern create the illusion of more floor space.
- White panels or panels in light colors make a small bathroom feel more comfortable and open than dark colors.
- Panels with detailed or complex designs might be overpowering in a small bathroom.
If you like a specific wall panel color or design, you can adapt it to a smaller space. For example, you can use some types of paneling as wainscotting or for accent décor on the walls.
Wall Panel Materials and Colors
Different materials offer a variety of looks and design features:
- Wood: Wooden paneling in bathrooms is often MDF (medium density fiberboard) with natural wood veneer. You need to paint or seal wood paneling to resist moisture in a bathroom. Installing wood paneling in a bathroom gives you options for different looks depending on the design and wood species.
- PVC: Polyvinyl chloride bathroom wall panels are highly durable plastic panels that are highly resistant to moisture. PVC also resists rot and mold. PVC wall panels with the look of wood, brick and stone give you several options for redesigning your bathroom.
- Polyurethane: Polyurethane wall panels, like PVC panels, are available in designs that mimic the look of materials such as wood and brick. These panels are lightweight as well as water resistant, mold resistant and impact resistant.
- Composite: Composite panels are available in a range of materials from MDF topped with wood veneer to moisture-resistant textiles and fibers. Different materials have different levels of moisture and mold resistance.
- Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic: Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) bathroom wall panels are rigid, impact resistant and easy to install over many existing surfaces. They resist water, moisture, rot and mold.
Many wall panels are paintable, allowing you to choose a color that fits your style or complements your existing colors and hardware finishes. You can also find wall panels in a variety of colors, including wood tones and the colors of stone and brick.
- White wall panels are a good choice if you want to create a bathroom with a classic appeal.
- Light colors create a bright, open feeling and can be good options for guest bathrooms.
- Dark colors create a look of luxury and drama, but might make a small bathroom feel too confining.
Many types of wall panels require compatible wall panel moulding. Make sure the moulding you choose is suitable for your paneling and for use in a bathroom.
Bathroom Wall Paneling FAQ
Use our bathroom panel ideas and the answers to these questions to help you find the right panels for your space.
What Are the Benefits of Bathroom Wall Paneling?
Wall panels for bathrooms offer several benefits as alternatives to traditional paint, wallpaper and tile.
- Bathroom wall panels are easier to install and maintain than tile walls.
- Bathroom wall panels are easier to clean than most types of paint and wallpaper.
- Bathroom wall panels can cover blemishes and uneven spots completely.
- Bathroom wall panels can mimic tile, wood, brick, stone and more.
What Are the Best Materials for Bathroom Wall Panels?
Materials with high levels of moisture resistance, such as PVC, polyurethane and fiberglass reinforced plastic are good choices for bathroom wall panels. But keep in mind you need to install them properly and seal the joints between pieces to keep moisture from getting behind the paneling.
Can You Use Wood Wall Paneling in Bathrooms?
Some wood paneling works in bathrooms if you paint or seal it to protect it from moisture. Check the product information to confirm it’s right for the high moisture levels of a bathroom. As with other panel types, make sure you install the panels correctly and seal gaps to avoid moisture damage to the wall behind the panels.