10 Toilet Room Wall Ideas That Make A Tiny Space Look Polished
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This post shows you 10 toilet room wall ideas, from a single dark paint wall to wood slats and limewash.
Toilet room wall ideas are easy to put off, because nobody spends more than a few minutes in there. So the wall behind the toilet stays blank, or it gets a towel bar and a plastic sign.
I moved more than twenty times growing up, and I’ve looked at a lot of plain white walls like that. It’s also the smallest wall in the house, which makes it the cheapest one to try something on.
One quart of paint covers it. One roll of wallpaper covers it. If you hate the result, you repaint a wall about the size of a door.
The ideas below run from five-minute fixes like a pair of framed prints to weekend projects like tile. All ten work in a toilet room barely bigger than a closet, and none of them need a contractor.
Paint It a Dark Color
Paint only the wall behind the toilet and leave the other three walls white.
Deep green, navy and charcoal are the three I’d pick from.
Use satin or semi-gloss, since toilet rooms get splashed. Tape off the baseboard and ceiling line, cut the edges in with a small brush, then roll the middle.
Two coats. One quart is usually enough for a single back wall.
Shop: satin wall paint in deep green
Hang Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
The wall behind a toilet is small, so one or two rolls usually cover it.
Go with a big pattern, like wide leaves or bold shapes. Small prints get busy fast in a narrow room.
Order a sample first. Paper looks different on a screen than it does on your wall.
Wipe the wall down and let it dry before you stick anything up. Start at the top, smooth the paper down with a plastic card, and cut around the pipe last.
If you hate it in a month, it peels off.
Shop: large leaf peel and stick wallpaper
Add Beadboard
Run beadboard about halfway up the wall behind the toilet and cap it with a strip of trim.
A full panel is 4 by 8 feet, and Home Depot and Lowe’s will cut it down in the store.
Pick vinyl tongue-and-groove over wood. It wipes clean and doesn’t mind steam.
Most toilets leave a small gap against the wall, enough for a thin panel. Glue it on with construction adhesive, then add brad nails.
Paint or wallpaper the wall above it.
Shop: vinyl beadboard wall panels
Frame It With Picture Molding
This one’s a favorite.
Picture-frame molding is thin trim glued to the wall in a rectangle and painted the same color as the wall.
Make one tall rectangle behind the toilet and hang a print inside it.
Most hardware stores sell the trim in 8-foot lengths. Fill the seams with caulk before you paint.
Shop: picture frame molding trim
Hang a Pair of Framed Prints
Two prints, same size, stacked.
Hang the lower one about eight inches above the tank and leave two or three inches between the frames.
Matching frames let you pair two completely different pieces. Landscapes, sketches and black-and-white photos all work.
A 12 by 16 inch frame fits a narrow wall well. Lay both on the floor first and mark the center of the wall.
A drugstore photo counter will print them cheap.
Build a Small Gallery Wall
I also like a gallery wall in a toilet room.
It’s small enough that five or six frames fill the whole wall. Mix frame finishes like wood, black and gold, and put the biggest frame off to one side. Thrift store frames work fine, and they don’t need to match.
Cut paper to the size of each frame, tape it to the wall and move it around until the layout works. Center the group at about 57 inches from the floor.
Then swap in the real frames, starting from the middle and working out. Leave about two inches between them.
Shop: mixed gallery wall frame set
Float One Shelf for Decor
Use one shelf above the tank and keep it for decor only.
A small trailing pothos, a framed print and a candle is plenty. Towels and spare rolls can live somewhere else.
Pick a shelf about six inches deep so it doesn’t hang far over the tank. Lean the frame against the wall instead of hanging it.
Mount it high enough that you won’t bump your head, and screw it into a stud or use heavy-duty anchors.
Shop: small wood floating shelf
Need a spot for spare rolls? These above toilet storage ideas cover it.
Stick Up a Tile Wall
Tile only the wall behind the toilet. It’s small enough that real tile stays affordable.
Subway, herringbone and small mosaics are the usual picks. A plain white subway tile is usually 3 by 6 inches. Herringbone means a lot of cutting, so it takes longer.
If grout sounds like too much, peel-and-stick subway panels go right on the wall.
Run the tile to the ceiling, or stop around the height of the tank and paint the rest. Finish the top edge with a thin line of caulk.
Shop: peel and stick subway tile
More looks like this are in these small apartment bathroom ideas.
Add Wood Slats
Vertical wood slats add depth to a plain wall without adding any color.
The panels usually come on a felt backing, and you glue them on with construction adhesive.
Mark a level line with a pencil before the first slat goes up, because a slightly crooked one shows right away. A regular saw cuts them to fit around the pipe.
Natural oak and walnut tones are the ones you’ll see most.
Try Limewash
I like this one.
Limewash is a mineral paint made from limestone, and you brush it on in loose crisscross strokes with a wide brush. A roller leaves it flat, so skip it.
It dries cloudy and matte, with brush marks you can see. Sage, beige and terracotta are the colors you’ll see most.
Do two coats and test a patch first, because limewash dries lighter than it looks wet.
FAQ
What color should I paint a small toilet room?
Deep green, navy and charcoal all work, and a small room can handle them. Paint only the back wall and leave the other walls white. If you’d rather stay light, sage and warm beige are safe.
Can you put wallpaper in a toilet room?
Yes, and it’s the easiest bathroom space for it, since there’s no shower steam. Peel-and-stick is the simplest to put up. Pick a wipeable vinyl one.
What is the most durable wall finish for a toilet room?
Tile is the toughest, and vinyl beadboard comes close because it wipes clean and ignores moisture. For paint, use satin or semi-gloss. Plain wallpaper wears fastest near the toilet.
How do I decorate the wall behind a toilet?
Start with one thing: paint, wallpaper or trim. Then add a pair of framed prints or a single shelf. Stop there, since the wall is small.
Where can I buy waterproof wall panels for a toilet room?
Home Depot and Lowe’s both sell vinyl beadboard and tongue-and-groove panels, and they’ll cut them down in the store. Amazon carries peel-and-stick subway tile.
If you only do one thing this weekend, paint the wall behind the toilet. It’s one quart and an afternoon, and you’ll know by dinner whether you like it.
I’ve walked into a lot of new places over the years, and the small rooms are easy to skip. Pick the plainest wall in your home and start there.
Save this post to Pinterest so the ideas are with you when you’re standing in the paint aisle.