20 Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom Walls, From Vintage Art to Statement Mirrors

Bring this space to life with these easy ideas.

While you've likely spent time sourcing vintage artwork for your living room or finding the perfect wallpaper for your bedroom, less consideration is often put into curating a beautiful bathroom. But this space is so much more than just utilitarian—when thoughtfully decorated, your bathroom can feel like an extension of the rest of your home. And a great place to start is with your bathroom walls, which are brimming with design potential. From antique prints and statement mirrors to eye-catching light fixtures, we're sharing a few beautiful ways to decorate your bathroom walls.

Related: 50 Small Bathroom Ideas That Make a Huge Impact

Use Mirrors That Double as Décor

Wall space can sometimes be limited in the bathroom, so utilizing mirrors that are both functional and attractive is a smart way to introduce wall décor. "Placing a large mirror above the vanity not only adds visual spaciousness and enhances natural light but also serves as a stylish focal point," says Kerrie Kelly, CEO and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Studio. "Additionally, incorporating smaller decorative mirrors on other walls can further enhance the aesthetic appeal."

Add Decorative Details to Your Shelving

Installing shelves on bathroom walls provides additional storage space and opportunities for decorative displays. "I often incorporate open shelving to showcase stylish baskets, decorative jars, or potted plants," says Kelly. "This not only adds visual interest but also allows for practical organization of essentials."

Create Layers

Treat the bathroom as you would any other room in your home and incorporate layers with lighting and décor. "For this powder bath specifically, I implemented contemporary artwork by Cate West Zahl, which adds an unexpected twist to this bathroom's otherwise traditional palette," says Lindley Arthur of Lindley Arthur Interiors. "To add a mix of old and new, an array of storied pieces, including the console table, vintage garden stools, and accessories, adds a unique charm to complete the room.”

Hang a Vintage Mirror

Give your bathroom a moody vibe by leaning into vintage décor. In this bathroom, which is painted head-to-toe in a rich shade of black—interior designer Mary Patton of Mary Patton Design adorned the walls with a vintage Venetian mirror and a vintage French print.

Add a Pop of Color

This bathroom is all about pops of color. From the Schumacher Queen of Spain wallpaper (which Patton says is the star of the room) to the small oil painting done by the client's father, the vibrant shades come together to create a bright, welcoming space.

Incorporate Personal Touches

Personal details are found in other areas of your home, so why not in the bathroom, too? "I like styling art and accessories in collections—these are all portraits of the client’s dogs as well as some other clever dog themed art the client owned," says Patton. "The mirror was also his own—we repurposed it from another area in the house."

Draw the Eyes Up

A collection of framed illustrations line the walls of this elegant bathroom, which features various green accents. Hanging the frames high on the walls draws your eyes up, giving the illusion of taller ceilings.

Add Pretty Sconces

Bathroom décor should be functional and beautiful and choosing elegant light fixtures is one way to accomplish this. "They not only add light but look pretty, too," says interior designer Andi Morse of Morse Design. The more layers you add, the more beautiful the bathroom gets, she says.

Create Contrast

Create contrast in your bathroom by offsetting dark walls with brightly colored art. In this space, Patton combined Farrow and Ball Studio Green, a dark forest-like shade, with vibrant pieces of art she sourced from a print shop in Santa Fe.

Use Wallpaper as Art

The wallpaper in this bathroom from Nina Campbell's Sylvana Collection is the wall art. "We paired it with an intentionally petite chandelier from Visual Comfort and a white Roman shade to draw your eye to the swans in the wallpaper," says Patton.

Related: The Best Places to Shop for Wallpaper, According to Interior Designers

Play Into Your Bathroom's Location

This specific powder room is located off the kitchen, which inspired some of its décor. "Considering location and the overall theme of the space, we decided it would be fun to hang splatterware (seen in the reflection of the mirror) on the wall," says interior designer James Farmer. "I love to hang plates on a wall, something often seen in a kitchen, so it was fun to extended that into the powder room for this project."

Incorporate Bohemian Details

Create a bohemian vibe in your bathroom by leaning into natural accents. In this bathroom, a macrame tapestry, rattan basket, and a geometric wooden shelf give the space a relaxed feel.

Related: Biophilic Design Is About Connecting With Nature—Here's How to Utilize the Décor Trend In Your Home

Decorate a Hook Rack

When thoughtfully curated, a hook rack can serve as bathroom wall décor. Beyond bath towels, use the hooks to hang a potted plant, a mirror, baskets, and more details that add to your space.

Hang Wood Floating Shelves

Don't underestimate how impactful floating shelves can be as a decorative element. The wood shelves in this bathroom bring a sense of warmth to the space, especially when decorated with a candle, plant, and bath essentials.

Install a Niche Shelf

A recessed arch-shaped shelf anchors this bathroom with its statement-making presence. Candles, framed prints, and a potted plant fill out the silhouette beautifully.

Hang Abstract Art

Take a maximalist approach to your small powder room by filling your walls with color. In this space, salmon-hued wallpaper in a funky pattern perfectly complements a framed abstract print. To tie the space together, the sink and floor tile match the painting's black blobs.

Have a Focal Color

Choosing one color that is used consistently throughout your space gives it a grounding feeling, no matter what design style you prefer. In this space, the pink from the bathtub is perfectly in place alongside the wallpaper and artwork, which both feature pink accents.

Consider Water-Resistant Art

If you're placing artwork near your bathtub or shower, choose pieces that are water-resistant. "We choose artwork specifically designed to withstand the humid environment of a bathroom," says Scott Dresner of Dresner Design. "Typically, we consider materials such as acrylic, metal, or glass, which are less prone to water damage."

Stack Your Artwork

Stacking two or three pieces of artwork, with the smaller pieces above the larger pieces, is a great way to decorate bathroom walls. "This approach and use of artwork shouldn’t be reserved just for entires, halls, or bedrooms," says Farmer. "Hang your beautiful artwork in the bathroom. After all, it is a place we spend a lot of time."

Related: How to Hang and Arrange Pictures—From a Single Frame to a Gallery Wall

Hang Fish Plates on a Tile Backdrop

Schools of plates, platters, and other wares bring the tranquil feel of the sea to your bathroom. Seek out streamlined shapes, and group them by color. Then consider mounting the collection against a marine-inspired backdrop, such as blue-green wallpaper or cool-colored tiles. An ornamental collection can glide along a wall or above a shelf.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.