If you have a home that was built over seventy years ago, you may prefer to keep things traditional when updating your bathroom. Although a Victorian style bathroom doesn’t suit every home, using classic bathroom designs such as panelled walls, large chrome fittings and a period-style bathroom suite can transform the space into something more in-keeping.

Whereas modern bathrooms are likely to date within the next ten years, traditional bathrooms have already proven that they can stay in style for decades. If you make use of half height wall panels, it’s also easy to redecorate your bathroom over dado height. It’ll keep costs down to a minimum and allow you to personalise your space with ease.
Learn how you can use wall panels to fit in with the style of your classic bathroom by reading on.

Use wooden-style panels to dado height

There are many different styles of wall panels, but wood-effect bathroom wall panels could be particularly suitable for your period-style bathroom. These white wood effect wall panels look especially effective when installed to half-height across the whole bathroom.
Consider building the wall panels out from the wall in order to conceal plumbing and create a handy small shelf around the perimeter of the room. Choose from taller panels or dado-height panels depending on the size of your bathroom and the height of your ceiling.

Choose the right bathroom suite

Victorian style bathrooms commonly have white bathroom suites with chrome fittings. Roll top baths create an element of grandeur, but if they fall outside of your budget, choose a bath with wooden side panels. Accessories such as taps and shower heads should be more traditional in style – have two separate taps instead of a mixer, and if you have a shower over the bath, choose a shower head that can rest on top of the taps and hook to the wall when in use.

Mix and match your wall covering

Create a modern traditional bathroom by mixing up your wall coverings. Tile effect wall panelling looks great as a splashback and, as it’s completely waterproof, is ideal for creating a wet room or walk in shower. In the rest of the space, use wooden wall cladding to protect the walls and evoke a country-style home. When it comes to choosing accessories, pick complementary colours and designs that will stand the test of time. Neutrals like grey, white or cream are an excellent choice.

Add patterned wallpaper

Add patterned wallpaper or a traditional block colour above the wall panelling to further enhance the space. Wall panelling is timeless and will look up to date in your bathroom for years to come, but if you’re ever feeling like a refresh, you can simply re-wallpaper the room or choose a new block colour to paint onto the walls. This is a low effort method of getting a bathroom that feels completely different.