Can liquid wallpaper be used for bathroom walls

Most people consider tiles, paint, or conventional wallpaper when selecting a wall finish for their bathrooms. Regarding liquid wallpaper, though, what are your thoughts? Although it’s frequently used in bedrooms and living rooms, many people aren’t sure if it’s appropriate for the high moisture content of a bathroom.

Although liquid wallpaper can add a distinctive texture and sheen to any room, it’s vital to take into account how well it will withstand steamy showers and ongoing humidity before using it in a bathroom. Can the demands of a bathroom be met by this decorative material? Should it be saved for drier climates instead?

We’ll examine the benefits and drawbacks of applying liquid wallpaper in bathrooms in this post to help you determine if it’s a good option for your upcoming remodeling project.

Aspect	Explanation
Water Resistance	Liquid wallpaper is not waterproof and can be damaged by moisture.
Bathroom Use	Not recommended for high-humidity areas like bathrooms without additional protection.
Protective Coating	A special water-resistant coating can be applied to make it more suitable for bathrooms.
Alternative Options	Consider tiles or waterproof paint for better durability in wet areas.

Can liquid wallpaper be applied to the bathroom

Different sections of an even tiny bathroom have varying humidity levels. Certain parts of the walls are directly exposed to water, and there are other parts where the surrounding air experiences sporadic increases in humidity. On cold surfaces, such as ceilings, vapors tend to condense.

Temperature and humidity levels are also present. Temperature changes are more frequent in the restroom. They are less frightening than dampness when it comes to liquid wallpaper in bathrooms.

The ability to clean to a high standard is a requirement for finishing materials used in bathrooms. Put more simply, the potential for washing. Silk plaster cannot be cleaned without a varnish layer. The only option is to use a vacuum cleaner with a soft-bristled brush to remove the dust. Warmth and moisture are necessary for the growth of mold, fungus, and other microbes. All of this is not evidence in favor of liquid paint blends.

If you truly want to do both but they are not possible, there are two ways to solve the issue:

• using a protective coating – a varnish film;
• applying liquid wallpaper to places with the least possible moisture.

Only moisture-resistant compositions are used in both situations, none of the currently available ones.

If varnish is applied, silk plaster can be used in the bathroom. The walls will then appear cheerier, but the coating will simultaneously lose a number of benefits:

• repairability;
• vapor permeability;
• velvety softness of the surface;
• ease of removal;
• ability to regulate the microclimate.

Forum posts claim that liquid wallpaper works well in bathrooms provided it is pasted outside of the water’s contact zone. They do not slide or fall off the walls, although they do absorb vapors from the air. They release the accumulated moisture as the room’s humidity decreases.

It turns out that liquid wallpaper works well for finishing bathrooms, as long as safety measures are followed.

Moisture-resistant liquid wallpaper for a bathroom

Let’s take a quick look at the ingredients in silk plaster. The primary ingredients of the dough are synthetic or natural fibers. They are joined to the base and to each other by adhesive materials. Shavings, mother-of-pearl, glitters, and quartz grains are added as decorative inclusions to the coating to give it the desired look and feel. Functional additives, like antifungal agents, are added to give the coating the desired qualities.

There are various kinds of silk plaster made overall, and they can be differentiated based on the type of raw fiber material used:

• cotton (cotton fibers serve as the raw material of the filler);
• silk (mainly viscose fibers and a small proportion of silk threads);
• paper (or sawdust – cellulose fibers);
• combined (cotton-silk or cotton-paper).

Cellulose fibers are the least hygroscopic of all fiber types, while viscose and silk threads are the least. Moisture-resistant compounds are derived from the latter.

Among the less expensive water-soluble bustylate, CMC, PVA, and various other types are adhesives used for silk plasters. They have the ability to absorb water after drying, swell, and melt. This characteristic enables the liquid wallpaper coating to be reused and is readily removable.

It follows that silk mixtures are the most water-resistant, so if liquid wallpaper is your preferred finish for the bathroom, use them. The packaging bears a moisture resistance mark applied by the manufacturer.

Advantages and disadvantages

When used as a bathroom finishing material, silk plaster draws in the following qualities:

• hygroscopicity of the coating, allowing the walls to “breathe”, as a result of which wall materials are less destroyed over time (the advantage is lost when varnishing);
• the coating reacts little by expansion to temperature fluctuations and can withstand heating above +60 o C;
• the ability to hide small relief flaws in walls;
• the ability to create a seamless finish;
• antistatic (static charges do not accumulate on the surface and do not attract dust);
• low attractiveness to mold, microorganisms, fungus;
• environmental friendliness, the ability to regulate the microclimate;
• maintainability, ease of restoration;
• scanty absorption of odors;
• universal decorative qualities (the ability to create an interior of any style, use different techniques);
• good compatibility with other finishing materials;
• visual comfort (the finish is pleasing to the eye);
• fast completion of finishing work, feasible for non-professionals.

The cost is the first drawback. A package of the mixture costs about the same as pricey decorative plaster. Masses of liquid wallpaper are not as water-resistant as tiles or plaster. Trying to apply the dough to wood or brick walls is challenging.

Another issue is that when tinting the base dough, it is impossible to repeat the color exactly and the dry materials have slightly different color shades. As a result, the masses of the two batches’ joints become visible. The solution to the problem is to mix two or three packages of dry mixture at the same time, resulting in the preparation of a mass of one color (with a reserve). It’s good that the material holds up well in a dried (in reserve) state for a long time, and in a mixed form for five days. The mass is applied continuously until the entire wall is filled in order to avoid the appearance of visible joints.

The dough remnants are dried, spread out thinly on a film, and then sealed and kept in a hermetically sealed container. These remnants can be used for small-scale repairs. They are utilized for "patches," soaked, and manually combined.

Place silk plaster in the bathroom away from the sink, bathtub, or outside the shower stall to prevent it from getting wet. Use ceramic tiles or other waterproof finishing materials where water seeps onto the wall.

Selection rules

When deciding which liquid wallpaper to purchase for your bathroom, take the advice of professionals.

1. Check the packaging for the presence of markings indicating the increased moisture resistance of the mixture. All branded products have guaranteed quality, therefore moisture-resistant mixtures are supplied not only with information about the composition, but also with additional information about their features. If the seller assures qualities that are not indicated by the manufacturer, the product may be counterfeit.
2. Select the most suitable type of mixture base. Intensively swelling cellulose masses are not suitable for rooms with high humidity in the air. Cotton mixtures occupy an intermediate position. Silk compositions are the most water-resistant. It is more rational to use the latter for finishing. If the budget does not allow you to buy such mixtures, you can use combined compositions (cotton-silk).
3. The decorative properties of liquid wallpaper are most evident when looking at them from a distance. They are lost up close, and the viewer sees only a mixture resembling porridge. Therefore, they are not very suitable for decorating small rooms. In order for silk plaster to fully perform its decorative function in such a room, the size of the finishing area should be small, and the area itself should be the farthest from the bathroom. Therefore, it is rational to decorate only one wall with liquid wallpaper.
4. It is better to think over the color and texture of the silk finish in advance, taking into account its compatibility with other finishing materials. We also take into account that after the mass dries, the color will be more muted.
5. If we do not save money by making the dough ourselves, then we buy a product from trusted companies. Thus, we avoid unpleasant surprises.

Applying liquid wallpaper in areas where water may seep onto the walls is not advised. There won’t be complete protection from getting wet even if the surface is varnished.

Photo of liquid wallpaper in the bathroom

Bathroom walls can benefit from the application of liquid wallpaper, but it’s important to be aware of its limitations. Although liquid wallpaper has a distinctive texture and aesthetic appeal, it is not naturally waterproof, so shower zones and other areas with constant moisture exposure are not the best places for it. It can, however, be utilized in other bathroom areas where there is little to no direct water contact by properly applying a protective sealant, which will result in a stylish and useful wall finish.

Requirements for the room

Silk plaster is not suitable for decorating every bathroom. As was previously mentioned, a tiny bathroom can only "accept" silk finishing in a limited space. It is therefore better to use it in spacious rooms. Compared to a small room, a fairly large room has less abrasive effect on the walls, meaning the wallpaper will remain more intact.

Normal ventilation in the bathroom is necessary to create "comfortable" conditions, even for moisture-resistant liquid wallpaper. Water vapor won’t then stand still in the space. Additionally, the coating will last longer because it can readily release the moisture that it has absorbed.

It must not enter the walls from above or below in order for the coating to become saturated with moisture originating from the walls themselves. For this reason, trustworthy waterproofing of the walls is supplied from the floor above and the side of the foundation during construction.

Application technology

One of three methods is used to apply the wallpaper mass:

• with a texture gun (if the surface is intended to be uneven);
• with a spatula, trowel or float;
• rolled, in order to obtain a textured surface, with a roller (the dough is made less viscous).

A brief list of the works in order:

1. The dry mixture is pre-prepared by soaking it in water and standing until the glue is completely dissolved.
2. The surface of the base is prepared.
3. Only after this is performed, the mass is glued, withstanding the thickness of the layer no more than 0.5-0.7 cm. For a sanitary room, the minimum is 3 mm (it is not advisable to take a smaller thickness). A thicker layer falls off more easily.

Our article provides a detailed description of the application process.

The room’s air temperature ought to be higher than +10 o C. During the application and drying of the dough, ventilation is permitted. Before beginning any work, the electrical wiring is de-energized, the sockets are taken out, and the wire ends are covered with insulation.

Preparation

What kind of wall preparation is appropriate for the bathroom? The material’s characteristics enable adhesion to surfaces with imperfections up to 2 mm and even minor fissures. Putty is used to seal larger flaws, clearing the air of dust.

Not every wall can be covered with silk wallpaper if there is an old coating on it. For instance, peeling paint, peeling plaster, and whitewash are eliminated. The walls have been cleared of moldy, greasy, and salt stains. Extra caution is used to avoid leaving any rust sources. Take out any extra hardware and isolate the ones that are left.

Dry walls receive two or three primings. After priming each time, let dry. Paint the base the same tone as the wallpaper’s primary color to keep it from showing through the thinning dough.

Preparing liquid wallpaper

It is recommended that the mixture be prepared following the manufacturer’s instructions as stated on the packaging.

The typical order of events is as follows:

1. Prepare slightly warm water.
2. Pour glitter into it.
3. Pour out the contents of the bag with dry wallpaper.
4. Mix the wallpaper mass thoroughly with your hands.
5. Put the mixed mass in a thick plastic bag and let it sit for 12 hours.

Application

Using glue, join the corners of the silk dough together. Using a spatula, apply the composition in small portions onto a plastic float or trowel. Move the material to the base while maintaining a 15-degree angle between the tool’s working platform and the wall. To facilitate "attaching" the subsequent stroke, attempt to leave the stroke’s edges uneven.

Regularly moisten the float with water. This will facilitate laying. Use a float to smooth the surface 1.5–2 hours after the application is complete.

A small amount of room heating is permitted while the coating dries. Waiting for the full thickness to dry completely does not shorten the drying process.

Application of varnish

The bathroom (as well as the kitchen) are protected against getting wet with water-diluted acrylic varnish. In corners and other difficult-to-reach areas, the varnish is applied using a brush and a roller. Additionally, thoroughly dry each layer.

Is it possible to make liquid wallpaper for the bathroom yourself

Make your own compositions for the bathroom walls, and you can drastically cut the cost of silk wallpaper. It is preferable to fill the space with viscose fibers if at all possible. You can buy glitter and other decorative pieces separately. Remember to include antibiotics in the mixture.

Essentially, using pre-purchased compositions is less work. Given that not all paper can be used to make dough.

Decorating a toilet with liquid wallpaper

Using liquid wallpaper in the toilet is even more desirable because bathrooms have much lower humidity than other areas of the house. Tiles finish the portion of the wall next to the cistern. Moisture condensation does not happen if a partition covers the riser. Similar to the bathroom, a combined finish (wallpaper and tiles) will make sense.

Combination of liquid wallpaper with other types of wall decoration

Liquid wallpaper in the bathroom works well with a range of finishing materials:

• tiles;
• wood; laminate;
• PVC;
• stone;
• glass;
• metal.

This makes it easier to create unique interiors that complement the owner’s chosen style.

For bathroom walls, liquid wallpaper can be a fun option because it has a distinct texture and many design options. It’s crucial to realize that this material is not inherently waterproof, so it is not as appropriate for high-moisture areas like the bathtub or shower.

In order to use liquid wallpaper in a bathroom, you must first coat the surface with a waterproof protective layer. This can prolong the wallpaper’s life by preventing damage from splashes and humidity. It is still advisable to avoid using liquid wallpaper in areas that are directly exposed to water, even with this additional layer.

All things considered, liquid wallpaper can give your bathroom a decorative touch, but to make sure it lasts, careful planning and the right protection are necessary. To make the most of this distinctive wall covering in your bathroom, think about where you’ll apply it and how you’ll keep it safe.

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