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Livingetc’s bathroom design report presents wallpaper as a way to make powder rooms and ensuites more expressive, with examples ranging from leafy prints to stripes and textured finishes. Designers featured in the report use it to add character in small or low-light rooms, though the article does not establish how each paper performs in humid conditions.
Livingetc has published a report on bathroom wallpaper, showing how designers use patterned and textured wall coverings to give powder rooms and ensuites a stronger visual identity. The examples include leafy prints, fine-line illustrations, stripes and crocodile-effect finishes, making the case for wallpaper as a design choice rather than treating the bathroom as purely functional.
The report focuses on bathrooms where wallpaper helps set a mood or bring together existing finishes. In a Philadelphia powder room, designer Brittany Hakimfar used foliage and exotic-tree imagery in a small, dark space within a large, bright home. In an Art Deco apartment, designer Sheena Holton chose fine-line illustrations to add playfulness to a bathroom that received little natural light. Holton said the developer’s bathroom design could not be changed, so she concentrated on making the room feel fun and uplifting.
Other projects show different ways to control the effect. C&M Interiors used a historic-style wallpaper featuring nude figures on one wall, while The 1818 Collective used pale candy-striped paper to bring rhythm to a bathroom with a slanted ceiling. A more maximalist example combines floral wallpaper with patterned floor tiles and a contrasting shower pattern; its pale background and sage-green trim help tie the elements together.
The report also describes wallpaper used alongside distinctive materials and colors. ZARQ paired a green bamboo-patterned paper with a silk-moiré background and a marble sink. Studio Friedman’s small powder room has green crocodile-effect walls with warm brass hardware, while a tiny ensuite combines palm-patterned paper with red zellige tiles. One further project places wallpaper on a wardrobe door that conceals an ensuite entrance, extending the pattern beyond the bathroom itself.
Wallpaper Gives Small Bathrooms Character
These examples matter to homeowners because small bathrooms can support bold design without requiring a full renovation. A powder room or ensuite may offer a contained place to try a color, motif or finish that could feel too dominant in a larger living area. The report’s projects suggest wallpaper can work as a focal point, a link between fixtures and finishes, or a way to make an awkward layout feel more intentional.
The cases also show that there is no single formula: some designers limit paper to one wall, while others combine it with patterned tile or use it on a nearby door. Those are design examples, not evidence that every wallpaper is suitable for every bathroom. The source does not provide product specifications or testing on moisture resistance, so readers should treat the visual ideas separately from practical installation advice.
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From Utility Room to Design Feature
Livingetc frames the bathroom as a space that has moved beyond a strictly functional role in home design. Its report argues that the room’s relative intimacy can make it a natural place for a more decorative statement. The featured projects are presented as examples of that approach, rather than as a survey showing how common wallpapered bathrooms are.
The designs vary in scale and technique, from delicate drawings in a low-light room to dense pattern across walls, floors and shower areas. One example takes a more restrained route, using paper sparingly to connect a client’s taste with the room’s historic character. Together, they illustrate options for balancing pattern with tile, metal finishes, mirrors and existing architectural constraints.
“The wallpaper was used sparingly, but it truly ties everything together with historic-style nude muses with an antiqued backdrop.”
— Maria Hogrefe of C&M Interiors, as quoted by Livingetc
Moisture Performance Is Not Covered
The source is an ideas report, not a product test or installation guide. It does not identify the wallpaper products, their moisture ratings, installation methods, ventilation conditions or long-term performance. It also does not offer cost estimates or compare wallpaper with other wall finishes. Whether a particular paper is appropriate for a specific bathroom will depend on the product and room conditions; the examples alone do not settle that question.
Check Materials Before Choosing
Livingetc’s report presents inspiration rather than a next project milestone, and the source does not announce a follow-up. Readers considering a similar look can use the projects to narrow down pattern, color and placement, then check product guidance and suitability with the manufacturer or a qualified installer. The key practical detail left open by the report is how each finish is specified for the moisture and ventilation conditions where it will be used.
Key Questions
What is the main point of Livingetc’s bathroom wallpaper report?
The report shows how designers use wallpaper to add character and visual interest to bathrooms, including small powder rooms and ensuites.
What styles of wallpaper appear in the examples?
The projects include leafy and palm prints, fine-line illustrations, stripes, floral patterns and textured effects, including a crocodile-style finish.
Can wallpaper work in a small bathroom?
The report features several small bathrooms where wallpaper is used as a focal point. It also shows restrained use on one wall, but does not provide rules that apply to every room.
Does the report say which wallpaper is suitable for humid bathrooms?
No. The source does not give product specifications or moisture-performance details. Readers should check the manufacturer’s guidance and room conditions before choosing a wall covering.
Source: livingetc.com
