Bathroom Wall Panels

Decorative wall panels allow you to dress up your bathroom in a beautiful way. Although, ceramic tiles is one of the most popular ways of doing up the bathroom walls, they often render an old, worn out look to your bathroom, within few years of installation. The reason is the grout between the tile begins to discolor and starts looking dirty. On the other hand, bathroom wall panels keep your bathroom gleaming for years. Wall panels for bathrooms come in a myriad styles and materials, so that you can easily match them with the rest of the décor in your house.

Styles of Bathroom Wall Paneling

Full Wall Paneling
Bathroom wall panels come as 4 x 8 ft sheets, which are mostly pre-finished. Full wall paneling includes covering the walls of bathroom with wall panels, from flooring to ceiling. This creates a very uniform and seamless look for the bathroom walls. Wall panels are often glued to the walls with the help of carpenter's glue.

Wainscoting
Wainscoting is a style of bathroom wall paneling in which the panels partially cover the bathroom walls. The bottom half is covered with panels, while the top half is left painted or wall papered. This is a cool way to pep up the appearance of a plain, boring bathroom décor. The decorative panel complements the plain look of the top half.

Library
The library style of bathroom wall paneling includes hanging small squares of wall panels. A frame sits in the gap between the two squares. This creates a checkerboard like pattern on the bathroom walls. This style is named after library as it is most commonly found in libraries and studies.

Materials in Bathroom Wall Paneling

Wood
Wood is the most classic and elegant material available for bathroom wall panels. It is sturdy and provides stability to the bathroom walls. Fine quality wood panels provide good resistance to moisture. Wood panels are available in various grain size and colors, so that you can choose your favorite wood type. Wood panels are a bit expensive than the other wall paneling materials.

UPVC
UPVC provides the most durable option amongst the materials available for bathroom wall paneling. It is waterproof and resistant to most bathroom cleaning chemicals and bleaches used in bathroom. It is available in myriad designs and patterns. UPVS sheets are available in rock pattern, marble pattern, wood with varying grain sizes, mosaic tile pattern, etc. They are also available in simple, plain colors for a sophisticated look.

How to Choose Material for Bathroom Wall Panels

While choosing wall panels for bathroom one must always consider the functionality of the panels. Although, panels are mostly added for the decorative effect, one must not ignore the usability factor. Wall panels must be waterproof at any cost. Waterproof bathroom wall panels can resist the mildew, mold growth in a better way. Also, it is a must that the material successfully withstands the large temperature variations in the bathroom. The steam erupting from the shower often deteriorates the condition of the decorative wall panels. Hence, the material should be capable of sustaining steam as well. Some cleaning agents used in bathroom may bring about premature weathering of the bathroom panels. Hence, while buying bathroom wall panels, make sure the material is resistant to cleaners and bleaches.

Thus, bathroom wall panels can add a lot to the décor of your bathroom. You can install the pre-finished sheets yourself or you may seek professional help. Oftentimes, the suppliers can arrange for labor to install the sheets in your bathroom.