Are tiles essential in a downstairs loo?

[Silvercatowner]

I am planning to redecorate our downstairs loo. There are currently tiles round the basin which need to come off and I suspect the area will need a small amount or replastering.
I am reluctant to re-tile. I've always done tiling myself but we inadvertently Freecycled the tile cutter last year - it is such a small area that a new tile cutter may cost more than the tiles. The top of the basin curves so the tiles definitely need cutting.
Can I get away with kitchen/bathroom paint round the basin? Or anything else?
Thanks

Why don't you tile on top of the tiles round the basin? Save you removing/having to replaster?

Personally, I think anywhere near a sink/loo/bath needs tiles; particularly a first floor loo that gets a lot of traffic.

We are in the middle of a huge renovation and I love all the painted panelled bathrooms/cloakrooms but the practical part of me imagines scrubbing wee splashes off them (little boys' playdates) and I just cant. Plus our builder said that although the panelling is waterproof, if.it is repeatedly splashed, it can take on the smell of wee boak

Could you put paneling up, like the mermaid board used for showers?

you could use panels instead of tiles (like in a caravan)

but as pp said you need sometin waterproof and washable.

How about getting a Perspex or acrylic sink splashback? So remove tiles, replaster and then paint/wallpaper - then attach the splashback. I've just Googled and I'm sure there are loads of companies who do this and, as long as you provide them with a template, will cut to size including the curve.

www.google.com/search?client=safari&channel=mac_bm&source=hp&ei=vbF7W6buJcWSsAfegrKgAg&q=perspex+sink+splashback&oq=perspex+sink&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i30k1l3.2019.8112.0.10825.12.12.0.0.0.0.73.746.12.12.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.12.744...0j0i131k1j0i22i10i30k1.0.o-hT9Gq2EMU

Yes a glass splashback would also work. I reckon gloss or eggshell paint or acrylic paint would work too - you could use it on the whole wall or just the splashback area. Not sure emulsion alone would hold up well (even if it's kitchen & bathroom version).

Thanks for all the perspectives. It would be a heck of a lot easier to put a screen or something above the basin if the edge of the basin was straight rather than curved.

How about buying a sheet of small Mosaic tiles. You can cut the mesh that they come on around the curve. Round tiles might be fun. Stick on with tile adhesive. Then buy a small tub of ready mixed grout to grout them.

Lots of videos on YouTube.

We have a wall hung sink and tiled the whole wall behind the sink and loo. Easy to clean and looks great. No tile cutting and no fussy splash backs.

Thanks for all the thoughts. I particularly like the mosaic tiles idea!