Bathroom next steps -- which wainscoting look?

May 17, 2017

Hey all! First of all, thank you so very much for your kind words on my Design Dash reveal earlier this week! I'm so happy with it and thrilled you like it too. If you missed it, go to that link and if you vote you will be entered for $15,000 in free furniture!

Sooo I'm finally back at it with the bathroom makeover and I'm getting excited -- there should be some MAJOR progress to share next week. I'm giddy. Stay tuned. Now I'm working on the trim next. You guys were so helpful on the tile sealer last week (I'll share that soon) so I'm sharing my latest conundrum. 

I'm stuck on this one and it's had me at a standstill for the past few days! Ten+ years ago I added some basic beadboard to the old "front" part of the room: 
Beadboard walls in bathroom

I didn't keep it going to the back room because you really couldn't see it anyway. Now I'm trying to decide if I want continue the beadboard or do something different. 

I definitely want to do something on the wall -- because, hello, I'm the trim queen. I want lots white next to the dark floors anyway, and bright white wall moldings just make a room feel so crisp to me. I LOVE them. 

So now I just can't decide what I want the wall treatment to look like. I'm rarely stuck on a room renovation (because I figure out most of it beforehand) but this one has me going back and forth. Originally I was going to just extend the beadboard because that's easiest. But now I'm considering the board and batten look too:
Classic board and batten look bathroom

It's so fresh. So good. I wouldn't go that high with it, like I did in our family room, but it would still look amazing against the wall color.

I think it looks especially great in bathrooms:
Tall, easy board and batten bathroom

Tall simple board and batten look

Ours would be lower, but it would still look awesome. 

I've also been wanting to add trim like this to our home for years -- I just adore it: 
Square trim design on walls

But I feel like it could go a little modern for this space. Decisions, decisions! That one wall will make a big impact in here so I want to get it right!

But beadboard is always a classic as well. It just has a slightly more cottagey feel and I'm not sure I want that in this room:
Classic beadboard bathroom

Dark gray beadboard bathroom

And of course you can't go wrong with a paneled or shiplap look: 
Planked wood walls in bathroom

But because I have this look right outside that room I don't think I want to go that route:
How to add shiplap walls for cheap

(See more of how to do shiplap for cheap and the farmhouse style door trim here!)

Of course I've considered combining two looks like I did in the powder room:
Shiplap walls in bathroom

Maybe continuing the beadboard and then adding a board and batten look over it? I am leaning in that direction. 

You can't go wrong with any of them really! They add all that pop of crisp white that I want for this space -- it will look fantastic against the new dark tile. 

I only really have the one long wall to address so it won't be a huge project. I'll also add it behind the toilet but the pony wall will be plain. I need to make a decision because I'm starting on the door trim today. :) 

What is your favorite wall treatment in a bathroom?

P.S. Wood trim is fine in a bathroom as long as it's caulked and painted well. And I recommend using real wood, not MDF, in a bathroom. MDF usually does fine if painted well (it held up beautifully for years in our kitchen!) -- but the area near the shower will get more water. 

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Comments

  1. I vote for the board and batten! I think it would look super clean and crisp and would pair perfectly with the tile :)

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  2. I never knew about the different types of wall treatments. The white panels look great imo.

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

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  3. Ooh i love that last modern one. So fun and interesting! Tough choices for sure.

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  4. Board and batten for sure. The bead board is too country/cottage and the other moulding is really busy and modern. I don't think you would ever get tired of the board and batten, it is a very classic look.

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  5. I love board and batten in larger rooms...I just think the dramatic effect of it is better in larger spaces. I love bead board in smaller rooms as I feel the continuous design enlarges rooms. Either will look beautiful in your bath, it's all personal preference really...

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  6. I would go for continuing the beadboard. I agree with Sandy that the board and batten looks better in a larger area. But all of them are great, and whatever you choose, I know you'll make it work! :)

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  7. Since you already have B&B throughout your house, perhaps change it up with the beadboard. Would the battens fit behind your toilet in the first place? And what does Bub say? He's the one that will be primarily using it for the next 8-10 years, right?

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  8. I love your powder room board and batten! I would do that instead of the beadboard.

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  9. I'm a sucker for board and batten myself...even in small spaces. Less spaces between to clean. It's a good balance between modern and traditional! I'm just dying to add it to this house we just bought! (Well, two years ago....my list is long!)

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  10. I vote for continuing the beadboard AND adding board and batten to the look. The trim idea with the square in the middle is too formal and detailed for a small space, IMO.

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  11. I think the beadboard is too cottage looking for that new, cool tile you did. I agree board and batten will be the best look in here!! We did it at my moms on a small bath wall and it makes the room feel bigger. And it was a perfect way to put some towel hooks up and make it look like decor.

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  12. Can not wait to see what you decide. Going thru the same dilemma with our dining room right now.

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  13. I vote board and batten over the beadboard. See remodelaholic's island remodel. http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/black-board-and-batten-kitchen-island-makeover-feature-image1.jpg

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  14. OH OH! I have important info! I will never do beadboard in a bathroom again because all the dust and yuck gets caked in the crevices at the bottom near the floor molding/baseboards. Oh, it looks great but unless I get out the toothbrush annnnnd repaint (like we did before we sold our house) it is still not the best. I do the baseboards and try to get the grooves real quick but really it's a whole separate job! As for the shiplap look--yes and board and batten--yes. I was for sure I would do shiplap and a checked wallpaper combo in our next house in the half bath but I have been thinking maaaybe board and batten too!

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  15. BOARD AND BATTEN. Beadboard will be too busy. Stand there with the door open and look in. B&B is going to be a much better visual transition. Going from planked halls to a vertical bead is going to feel very busy in the long run. And whimpy with yur beautiful big tiles.

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  16. Definitely board and batten!

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  17. I don't think the beadboard goes with the flooring. Like you said, it kind of has a cottage feel. Whatever you pick will look awesome, I'm sure!

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  18. I vote for the beadboard and squares on top of that. It would take a lot of the modern out of it. Love it!

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  19. LOTS of choices, huh? I love beadboard in a bathroom, and I especially think it complements a smaller bathroom. The other two choices are lovely, as well. (I'm probably not much help!) ;-)

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  20. I like a wainscoting of some sort as well, I feel the modern one (the one shown with the brown wall) while pretty, would be a magnet for dust. The more board edge showing, the more you're going to have to clean it. I know from experience this is true. Especially in the bathroom where toilet paper fuzz gets everywhere fast! I do like the taller choices. Whatever you choose will be beautiful I'm sure. Good luck!

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  21. I love board and batten and have it on a small scale in our large master bathroom. I don't think it is too bad as a dust catcher....no more so than baseboards which I have to clean every single time I clean the bathroom. I would think the beadboard would get a lot dirtier in the long run. (As you can tell, I often make decisions based on cleaning ability!) Whatever you choose, you will do a wonderful job and it will be beautiful!

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  22. I agree that the bead board doesn't go with the tile. I am reading that you are drawn to board and batten and it's more classic and sophisticated. I would not do ship lap either...too country the diamond squares to me do not belong in a bathroom.

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  23. I like the board and batten but the tall ceilings are great to accent it in the example shown. Love those mirrors also in that picture. Thanks for sharing these ideas. We are working on the first steps of remodeling our bathroom (removing the tub and stool). Your ideas are so helpful.

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  24. Either the shiplap or board & batten for sure... I'm thinking shiplap for this bathroom, since it's primarily your sons bathroom...

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  25. I have beadboard in my bathroom on the walls.... and ceiling. :)

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  26. I think since you have that shiplap treatment right outside the room and the bathroom door will be open (I'm assuming) a lot of the time, I would switch it up and do something completely different. Wallpaper. Fun paint color + art. Stencil. Lots of possibilities besides adding another kind of moulding!

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  27. I say board and batton to go with the rest of your home. I agree that the bead board doesn't go with the floor, which I love by the Way! ��

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  28. I love how all of them look honestly but my suggestion would be to keep in mind what's easiest to clean. If you live with someone who scatters baby powder around like he's warding off the devil then anything with too much detail will look grungy after a while unless you're also the queen of dusting and vacuuming.

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  29. My vote is for board and batten. I'm really not a fan of wainscoting.

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  30. I vote for BnB. Love both but I do feel the bead board is more cottage-y and more feminine some how. So since this will be your son's primary bath I say go BnB. And I love seeing it slightly higher than usual!

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  31. Board and Batten! but I hope your son is a good aim if it goes around the toilet. I raised 3 sons....

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  32. Board and batten all the way!!! Really takes the bathroom up several notches!!!!

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  33. Didn't you have B&B plus beadboard on your kitchen island at one time? I think the combo is so nice plus it's extra chunky!

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  34. When you do your wall treatments, specifically board and batten, do you worry about the wall texture and somehow cover it? I love all the trim work in your home.

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  35. Thank you so much for sharing this post about bedroom design. I am thinking to decorate my home by Home Furniture

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  36. I want to do this in our powder room! I love this. Great inspo! Thanks for sharing.
    -Madison yourdwellingplaces.com

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