Thoughts on tongue & groove panelling in bathroom

[NoveltySlippers]

So far I've sought help on baths, paint and now walls - thank you MN, our bathroom redo would not be the same without you!

Just wondering about tongue and groove panelling for the walls of a bathroom in a Victorian house.

I always wanted this back in the 90s, and I still see it around, so am hoping it's a classic look that's stood the test of time!

I know it can be done well or badly though, so just seeking advice / top tips from those who have it, or even don't have it but have views on it!

I've just got two main questions:

1. What height of panelling do you think looks best? The company I'm looking at offers either 800mm high or 1m high. I'm wondering if it's too tall, does it make the room close in / look smaller? (I was even checking out the T&G on Downton Abbey at the weekend, trying to decide!)

1. Does anyone have any tips for how to achieve a ledge round the top? I think it would be really useful, but the panels I'm looking at only come with a dado which you couldn't put anything on.

Thoughts much appreciated!

Watching with interest as I'd like to do this too.

Hi culture, glad there's two of us!

Here are some examples of taller ones.

...and shorter ones.

Just not sure what would look best!

And if anyone has any ideas of how to create that ledge (without necessarily having to bring the tongue and groove out by putting battens behind the panels, i.e. is there a dado out there with a flat edge that I could buy?) - would love to hear!

Used to have tongue and groove in old bathroom. It does look really lovely but cleaning and dusting it drove me mad!

Hmm...hadn't thought of the cleaning whoosh!

My neighbour has this and it looks lovely. So lovely I intend to have it in our new house, because the bathroom tiles we got when we did this bathroom look a little mid noughties now. Her bathroom was done before ours, and still looks good.

My FIL is a joiner (v handy) and said he would do it with sheets of MDF and route out the grooves. Once painted we won't know the difference, but no idea what he was thinking of for the top. I'd go for the lower height personally. Just think it looks less overwhelming.

I LOVE tongue and grooved bathrooms! Only thing is, you need a separate shower I think, as the shower over the tub with pretty shower curtain just floods the bathroom if you have kids.

Thanks Liz - that's v. helpful, and yes, my worry with taller height is it may feel a bit 'enclosed'.

Spook we've ordered a shower bath with glass screen. Bathroom too small for separate shower, unfortunately!

We have a look similar to the shorter tongue and groove but do not have a ledge. It would collect dust. We have a 3 storey caddy for bath essentials and you could put a glass shelf inside the bath/shower area to hold shower gel, shampoo etc. We found this works well. I have not found cleaning the tongue and groove to be an issue but I do think a long ledge could be a clutter zone!

Those are good ideas Milly - the thing is I really wanted the ledge not for bathroom necessities (we're having a vanity under the sink), but mainly for decorative purposes (pictures, nice bottles etc). Not v practical, I know!

Can I slightly hijack your thread and ask how T&G works around a shower (over a bath) or around a bath in general - won't it get wet and not be waterproof and get ruined really quickly?

Shorter looks nicer IMHO.

Looks lovely but it is a total PITA to keep clean.

I used taller from homebase, got a joiner to put a shelf round, just a narrow one. Painted it with bathroom paint. Was very nice. I don't live there any more but will try to find a picture.

MsFreud no worries, the more discussion there is on this, the more helpful it is for me!

Yes, as far as I'm aware, if there's a shower over the bath you'd need to tile that area, and just have the T&G around the rest of the room (where loo, sink are etc).

T&G around a bath meant for bathing purposes only is okay, I think, or at least it is according to pics on tinterweb! (Lots of things like this pic.) Those with actual experience of this though, please feel free to contradict!

Taller mdf panelling that looked like t&g I mean.

Ooh mad - that would be lovely! Can you remember if the joiner had to bring the T&G away from the wall a bit to create the ledge, or was able to somehow just stick something on top?

Yes, I'm going for moisture resistant MDF panelling too, there are some good quality ones available now to save faff / potential issues with pine T&G.

Re cleaning - I wonder if using an oil based eggshell would help with wipeability etc?

Don't know if the pic will work. We stuck it straight on with no more nails. Joiner made wee brackets to go under the shelf.

The ceiling is higher than it looks. This is what we did in our victorian one. Not panelling tho.

Thanks mad - it worked! V helpful and good to know no more nails plus brackets did the trick.

You don't remember where you got the dado from do you? I've scoured the internet and am struggling to find one with a flat bit on top (yours would be perfect).

Just seen lots of ones with graded moldings which would be no good.

The period one is lovely mad, and I love that mirror - I've been looking for one just like it! Do you remember where you got it from? (sorry for all the Qs!)

And (last Q!) - out of the two heights, which one did you prefer - the taller or shorter one?

The dado is b&q. They have a more serious selection in their trade joinery section. The mirror was TK Maxx. I like both. The taller was in a 70s house so the height was a foot or so so higher than todays modern homes, having the lighter colour on top worked well. The period one has a much higher ceiling so the lower rail works well too. I think using a darker colour on the lower part is what works for me.
I used bathroom paint on both btw. It is easy to wipe too.

Should say 'I like both heights' sorry ??

I've done it, with wooden t and g as I don't trust MDF in bathrooms not to blow. I built out with studwork timber (I was boxing in pipes too), used planed timber to create a shelf at the top and then used moulding beneath the shelf to gussy it up. Took skirting off wall and stuck it on the bottom. Looks lovely.