Bold wallpaper in a powder room!

Being daring with interior design decisions doesn’t come easy for many home owners, that is why I always recommend going ‘wild’ in your powder room. It is a small space and perfect to experiment with something you would never try on a larger scale, like bold wallpaper. The other great advantage is that powder rooms are generally small, so great for your budget. Today I am sharing a powder room project I recently completed as part of a new build here in the Kootenays, the house is on the lake here in Nelson, BC and this was just one of the projects which were part of a whole home project I was part of for 2 years from inception to completion.

The end result - the colours and scale of the wallpaper is just perfect for the size of the powder room. Interior Design: Bibby Fine Interiors, Cabinet design: Kitchen Connection, Photography: LIsa Seyfried

What will it look like? 3D rendering is a great tool!

Quite often it is very hard to visualize what wallpaper is going to look like in a room - that is where 3D rendering comes in so handy. I love that I can show my client what the room will look like, before they commit and before they spend money on wallpaper. As you know wallpaper is not cheap - so having a 3D render does help making decisions so much easier

During construction

It is important to plan your wallpaper hanging to coordinate well with the rest of the bathroom installation and especially the painting. Applying a wallpaper primer is always a great idea before doing any wallpaper or alternatively you can wait 30 days for your normal wallpaper to cure before installing your wallpaper.

Some hints when doing a wallpaper in an entire room

Doing wallpaper as an accent wall is really quite easy - as you only have one wall - you don’t have to go around corners and the start and finish don’t have to match up perfectly. On the other hand to hang wallpaper for an entire room comes with its challenges! If you choose a wallpaper with a large pattern, my advice would be to start in the corner behind the door - just in case your walls are not all perfectly straight or plumb, then the final seam will be hidden nicely behind the door.

Protecting your investment

Most wallpapers are suitable to use in bathrooms and kitchens nowadays, but it is still a good idea to check with the manufacturer. In this case our wallpaper was a non-woven, washable wallpaper which is slightly more durable in this regard than a spongeable design. Whilst it is easier to wipe away surface dirt it also requires you to be very delicate and use a sponge with no chemicals. Using a sponge that is too wet or applying too much pressure may cause the paper to rip and tear.

So in order to protect our wallpaper and to keep it looking great for years, we ended up with a stonesplash that was 10” high. And yes the term ‘stonesplash’ is now widely used when your countertop is carried up onto the wall, just like a tile backsplash would do.

A 10” high stonesplash will keep this wallpaper looking great for years to come! Interior Design: Bibby Fine Interiors, Cabinet design: Kitchen Connection, Photography: LIsa Seyfried

Considering wallpaper for your next project?

Wallpaper can truly transform a space, if you are on the fence about using wallpaper in your house, then give us a call. We have a big library of wallpaper samples here in Nelson, BC and have access to many suppliers to help you find the perfect wallpaper which will suite your room, your personality and your style. Also, remember that 3D rendering takes all the stress away from making these decisions. Get in touch today!

All the elements came together perfectly - the sconces are one of my favourites! Interior Design: Bibby Fine Interiors, Cabinet design: Kitchen Connection, Photography: LIsa Seyfried

Local Design Partners:

Interior Design: All interior design finishes and selections were made by Bibby Fine Interiors, these include the wallpaper, countertop, faucet, sink, lighting, cabinet hardware and accessories.

Vanity: The Kitchen Connection, Michelle Nunn - vanity design, manufacture and countertop/stonesplash installation.

Photographer: Lisa Seyfried Photography, Nelson, BC