High-quality finishes will ennoble any bathroom, regardless of its size and other parameters. The bathroom should be not only clean but also well repaired. High-quality repairs do not always require large investments. 

When choosing the option for finishing the bathroom, you should focus on other areas of the house or apartment. The bathroom, kitchen, hall and other rooms should be made in the same style. It is better to choose some specific colours (yellow, red, blue, purple) as a base and only change shades when renovating the corresponding room. 

The walls and floor in the bathroom can be dark, but due to the lack of windows in the bathrooms in most apartments, you should take care of additional artificial lighting so that the toilet does not look too gloomy. 

But the most important thing is the materials you use. Let’s talk about them. 

Features of bathroom materials

Bathroom materials require special attention due to constant humidity and frequent temperature changes. Only moisture-resistant and wear-resistant materials are suitable here. Tiles will be the ideal solution for wall decoration, but you will have to forget about wooden panels. As for the colour scheme, it is better to use light shades. 

In typical apartments, bathrooms are usually small, and a dark colour visually reduces any room. If the bathroom has a window, then, for obvious reasons, it must be curtained with blackout curtains or blinds. Plumbing equipment should be of high quality since the functionality of the bathroom is more important than its appearance. If the budget is tight, it is better to save on materials and buy inexpensive tiles or panels. Taps, showers, toilets are regularly used, so they must be reliable and of high quality.

Requirements for finishing materials for the bathroom

It is better for the bathroom and the entire apartment to choose materials that will be easy to install. If the tile or panel in the bathroom is damaged, it will be better if the homeowner can fix them himself without resorting to expensive repairs. The materials used for the bathroom must be moisture resistant and antiseptic. The air in the bathroom is saturated with a huge amount of water vapour, which can gradually destroy the finish. The fungus can easily form in bathrooms due to dampness and poor ventilation. To avoid this, you should buy special antiseptic materials. During a hot shower or bath, the energy of the water is automatically transferred to the air, which causes it to become very hot and destructively affect the lining. Also, the materials should have the following characteristics:

1. ease of care and operation;

2. environmental friendliness;

3. chemical resistance;

4. high strength, etc.

Materials for walls

Professional bathroom wall decoration is a serious undertaking. First, you need to choose high-quality material. Such material should be moisture resistant, environmentally friendly and hygienic. It should be easy to operate and install. Its colour should be in harmony with the general state of the bathroom. In this case, the colours of the walls and floor may differ. This will make the room even more interesting. When decorating a bathroom, tiles are most often used. This material is not afraid of dampness and looks quite stylish. But not all interiors will be suitable for tiles on the walls. That is why all kinds of materials began to be used for the walls of bathrooms: drywall, decorative plaster, self-adhesive film, etc. 

This variety allows you to choose the best products for your bathroom.

1. Mosaic

Mosaic is a type of ceramic tile that is sometimes supplemented with elements from other materials. Moreover, there are many different forms of material. It is customary to divide the mosaic into 2 varieties. The first includes those that are laid out on a special basis with separate pictures and elements. The second includes those elements that are laid out manually. The mosaic looks interesting and unusual. It is difficult to break. No mould or mildew forms on it. This material has a long service life.

2. Natural wood 

Ordinary wood very easily absorbs water (including the one in the heated air), so you need to be very careful when using it to decorate bathrooms. Because of this, wood requires additional moisture-resistant impregnation, due to which it will be able to stay in damp conditions for a long time. You can burn and process wood panels yourself, but it is better to buy finished products and start sheathing the bathroom walls with them.

3. Marble

Marble is a unique material that can be used for any design idea. Today it is used in decorating bathrooms since the porous structure of this rock makes it moisture resistant. Also, thanks to this, marble can be called a breathable material; mould or mildew does not form on the walls under it. The marble finish of the bathroom looks luxurious, sophisticated and stylish.

4. Moisture resistant wallpaper

Wallpapering in the bathroom looks original, but you need to carefully select this material. Ordinary wallpaper is not suitable for the bathroom, because due to constant dampness and high humidity, it will instantly become unusable. In bathrooms, special moisture-resistant wallpapers are usually used.

Floor finishing options

Most often, bathroom flooring is carried out with linoleum, floor tiles, laminate or natural stone. Linoleum is the cheapest material of all. It is also the easiest to lay, i.e. even a layman can handle the installation of linoleum. But under this material, fungus and mould are easily formed. Floor tiles are the most popular way to decorate a bathroom. It is moisture resistant, relatively easy to install and durable. If you lay a laminate, then you need to choose its varieties with high moisture resistance. But it is easy to use, durable, wear-resistant and has good thermal insulation. Natural stone floors are expensive and stylish.

1. Linoleum

There is no special type of linoleum that could only be used for the bathroom floor. Manufacturers do not strive to produce this material with increased moisture resistance and wear resistance. Due to the improvement, linoleum will cost more, and therefore the main advantage of linoleum will disappear - its low cost.

2. A natural stone

Natural stone is not often used for bathroom decoration, because it is quite expensive. Its use is justified only if the rest of the apartment is also decorated pompously and flashy-chic. Many types of natural stones can be used for bathrooms, but unpolished porous marble is most often used.

3. Wooden floor

It is difficult to make a floor from ordinary wood in a bathroom, but with the right approach and careful choice of a certain material, you can try. Teak wood, which was used for building ships, is best suited for bathrooms. Such material is durable and does not deteriorate under the influence of chemicals.

4. Ceramic tile

There are several types of tiles that you can use for the bathroom floor. Good quality ceramic tiles are the most preferred because they are affordable, durable and look good. It is distinguished by many shapes and colours. It is better to focus on the manufacturer and brand when choosing this material.

Tiles can be matte and glossy. It is better to finish the floor with matte products, as they are easy to clean.

Selection of plumbing and furniture

Plumbing equipment must be durable, reliable and versatile. It is better to buy products that have been made from environmentally friendly materials. The colour of the plumbing should be in harmony with the finishing of the room. Usually, a bathtub, sink and toilet are in a classic white colour. You won’t have to change it, even if after a couple of years you decide to change the colour of the walls in the bathroom. All plumbing equipment should be selected at the same time. In this case, it will be possible to choose the most suitable products for each other.

Conclusion

Bathroom materials are an important part of renovation work in any apartment. It is necessary to select high-quality materials and decide on the style of the interior. Before starting the repair, you should draw up a project of the room, in which you should clearly describe the type of plumbing equipment, its location in the room and the colour palette used. With a limited budget, it is better to choose something that can last a long time without losing its original performance, rather than focus only on the appearance of materials.

Written by Ron Wolf

 

About the Author

Ronald Wolf is a freelance writer and hobby designer with a passion for DIY projects.

 

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