putting in a shower over the bath - what wall covering?

[Unwind]

I know tiles are the obvious solution, but the entire bathroom is already tiled to eye level with tiles which would be impossible to match.

I was imagining that it would be possible to add some kind of clear perspex to protect the walls over the tiles, where the new shower will be, but I can't seem to find this available anywhere.

The remaining options are adding some kind of wetwall product, or aquaboard - which I fear will look naff, or adding white tiling of a matching size, and painting the lot white with tile paint - which would be only a temporary measure.

Alternatively we could retile the whole bathroom, which is a project I don't want to take on at this time.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

I've got exactly the same problem, and no cash to get it done! I've got some (vile) plastic sheeting in mine which I was hoping to paint with bathroom paint temporarily and add the sort of perspex cover that you get for kitchens to protect the area above the oven. Or is this too naff for words? I think wetwall stuff would be a better solution. I would definitely NOT paint tiles, especially where there is water, unless you employ a professional.

Are you sure it is impossible to match or co-ordinate existing tiles. In our previous house we managed to source the tiles that were in our bathroom and we even found a matching pattern tile that allowed us to make it a bit more interesting than plain tiles. No-one could even tell where the join was!

I think painting and covering with perspex could look really good - but I have no idea where you could buy the perspex!

If I put in wetwall stuff, I'll probably have to add some kind of shelf to hide that it juts out more than the tiles

It would be impossible to match or co-ordinate the existing 1960s lemon and green tiles. I really don't want them there at all, but lack the budget and enthusiasm for redoing the bathroom.

Hmmm - I'd be a bit nervous about the clear perspex idea as I'm willing to bet mould would grow behind it.

Are you sure the existing tiles aren't high enough? Tiles don't have to go all the way up to the shower head, they only need to go most of the way - high enough to cover the area where water will splash IYSWIM. If you have kitchen & bathroom paint on the rest, it stands up pretty well to the steam.

If not high enough, I'd suggest adding a border above the bath area, to the height of the shower (or just below - tiles don't need to go as far as the shower head). Could you find some plain lemon or plain green tiles that go?

Another option - mirror tiles? bit out of fashion at the moment but...

I have a simillar problem because the wall by the shower wasn't tiled far enough along. My plan is to get a large sheet of acrylic mirror but I will have to make sure that the edges are very well sealed. It might also make your bathroom look bigger too.

You could try to find some tiles that contrast with the current ones.

Thanks for the replies. I will paint the walls with anti-mould paint before doing anything else, and ensure that the edges are well sealed. The tiles just don't come quite high enough to cover the area where water will splash. The existing tiles already have a green border, but we could try and find the closest match we can and add to it. Adding tiles that contrast with the lemon and green would probably make the bathroom look even more eccentric than it already does.

I am probably prejudiced by the hideous current deep yellow and mint green paint work Every time I step into the bathroom I want to tone it down. A coat or ten of white paint will hopefully improve it.

But I love the acrylic mirror idea It seems you can have them cut to fit, reveller are you going for one that goes all the way to the ceiling or just one that covers the splash area?