Historic charm on a budget: i transformed my bathroom with wallpaper!

A dated bathroom's hidden potential

I've always been captivated by the stories held within older homes. When I first toured my house, built in 1917, I was immediately charmed. The bathroom, however, presented a challenge. While boasting original 1917 tile and a beautiful cast iron tub – genuine treasures! – the rest was a rather unfortunate example of a 'landlord special' with distinctly uninspired, modern touches. But I saw past the cheap hardware; I envisioned a space brimming with historic character, a blank canvas ripe for transformation.

Researching the past: the allure of beadboard

Any successful renovation, particularly one aiming for historical accuracy, begins with diligent research. I immersed myself in images of bathrooms from the early 1900s, studying the authentic materials, colors, and finishes of the era. One element consistently caught my eye: beadboard. The vertical, ridged wood panels, common in kitchens and bathrooms from the 1800s to the 1920s, served both a practical purpose – protecting plaster and reducing moisture – and a distinctly charming aesthetic.

The dilemma: cost vs. construction skills

Initially, I considered installing traditional prefab beadboard panels. However, a quick assessment of my limited construction skills and the hefty price tag quickly dashed that hope. I needed a solution that offered the look of beadboard without the associated expense and complexity. The quest was on for something that would capture the essence of beadboard while remaining manageable for a DIY enthusiast like myself.

The game-changer: paintable beadboard wallpaper

Then, I stumbled upon a revelation: paintable beadboard wallpaper from the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart. It was a stroke of genius! This ingenious product mimics the texture and appearance of real beadboard, but installs just like regular wallpaper. For under $50 a roll – and two rolls were more than enough for my bathroom – I had a remarkably affordable and surprisingly easy solution to my design dilemma. A true bargain, I must say!

Installation secrets: a surprisingly simple process

The wallpaper is pre-pasted, simplifying the installation significantly. All you need is water! A quick spritz with a spray bottle activates the adhesive, allowing you to apply the panels to the wall as you would any wallpaper. Smoothing out any air bubbles and trimming carefully around fixtures like outlet covers was straightforward. The vertical lines on the wallpaper made matching panels and maintaining alignment a breeze. I opted to cover two-thirds of the walls with the patterned wallpaper and used leftover pieces to finish the top section.

The finishing touch: savannah shade transformation

Once the wallpaper was dry overnight, I applied a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Savannah Shade paint. The paint adhered beautifully to the textured surface, and a standard roller brush worked perfectly for most of the area. A paintbrush was used to fill in any gaps the roller couldn’t reach. The result? An earthy green wallpaper that perfectly captures the look and feel of genuine beadboard. It’s a transformation I couldn’t be more thrilled with – proving that historical charm doesn't have to break the bank!