downstairs loo - tile/half tile/paint?

[Justcannotbearsed]

getting a downstairs loo put in. It's got quite a large window and is a decent size. Old house 1900s.

Will just painted look a bit weird? Would tiling it be better? I'm not keen on fully tiled rooms....but a half tile would be OK. Wallpaper??

We're just having one put in for occasional/guest use. We are going for tile round the sink and wallpaper.

I like full tiling in a bathroom / shower room however in a downstairs loo (sorry - cloakroom!) I prefer no more than half height tiling.
Splashback around the sink as a minimum.

We have a fully tiled bathroom, words cannot express enough how much I hate it, it's cold, unwelcoming, feels like an abattoir and having a bath is more clinical than comforting.

@AutumnAnn that sums up perfectly my feelings about our upstairs bathroom - except it's more like an Eastern European police cell. And that's only half tiled. I'm planning on painting the walls that are currently just plaster - something non police cell. And lots of plants.

I think you can go a bit dramatic in a downstairs loo. Go for a great wallpaper and contrasting paint. Tiles just above the sink. There are some great examples online!

As an alternative to tiling we have painted panelling made from some kind of water resistant mdf and then wallpapered above. There is very little splashing as it's just people washing their hands so it's fine.

It's not as vibrant as this in real life!

Ooh @SollaSollew that's a lovely colour for a down stairs loo I love it

Thanks @ponkydonkey, it's selva from Fired Earth, I wanted to use it somewhere in my house but was only brave enough to use it in the downstairs loo.

@SollaSollew I love your wallpaper! Can I ask where it’s from please? Thanks!

Either gloss-painted wood-panelling to half height like @SollaSollew or look into waterproof cladding panels - there's loads of patterns available from natural marble or stone effects or funky modern colours. The huge advantage to panels is that there's no grout to go moldy. Tiles only look good when new and get tired very quickly.

@SollaSollew that's gorgeous. I've been wanting to use that wallpaper for a while and if we ever move to our new house, I will be taking inspiration!

Hi @Knittingbaker thank you, it’s this one from borastapeter. They make the most amazing wallpapers, I could browse their website for hours.

And I had exactly the same situation as you @sleepyhoglet. I had liked it for ages without being able to use it as neither of my daughters wanted flowery bedrooms, so when we moved my downstairs loo got the full treatment!

I got mine fully tiled in a rough stone effect tile. The downstairs loo looks fantastic like it’s been carved into stone.

@SollaSollew Thanks so much for the info, I now want half their range, lovely papers!

I wallpaper in something quite bold and then put a clear plexiglass panel behind the sink so you can see the wallpaper through it but it's protected.

I tiled upstairs bathrooms but painted downstairs loo

We’re doing same , think I’m going to half tile as easier to clean any splashback by teenage boys ….