The Colorful Bathroom Trend That May Just Be Hurting Your Home Value

Bathroom trends come and go, and it's important to only implement trends that you think you're going to love throughout the years to come. Bathroom renovations aren't cheap, and bathrooms are one of the main rooms in the house — along with the kitchen — that potential buyers look at when working out a property's overall value. 

It can sometimes be tricky to tread that fine line between creating a house you love and want to live in, while also considering how it's going to be viewed in the future by others. Right now, patterned bathroom wallpaper is a real trend, and we are seeing it everywhere. However, did you know that if you decide to incorporate this design choice in your own bathroom, it could potentially decrease the overall value of your home? 

There are definitely things to consider before committing to bathroom wallpaper. These include the cost, whether the pattern is going to stand the test of time, whether it's likely to affect your house value, and what actions you're going to take if it goes out of style and you want to sell the home.

Let's look at the positives when installing wallpaper in a bathroom. Firstly, it's a truly unique way of adding color to a plain bathroom, without having to paint. Or, perhaps you're desperate to incorporate some pattern, and patterned towels and accessories aren't quite bold enough for you. Another thing to keep in mind is that peel-and-stick wallpaper is a great option for renters. If you're a renter with an eclectic style, your landlord may not allow you to use bold paint colors. However, peel-and-stick wallpaper comes in lots of different fun and colorful patterns, and it can easily be removed if and when you decide to move house. 

That all sounds well and good, but what are the cons? For one, it's a possibility that a wallpapered bathroom could decrease the overall value of your home. Wallpaper in general is a very personal decision, and while it may be your dream style of decor, for another person, it could be a living nightmare. It can also hinder a potential buyer's visualization process when trying to figure out how they would make the house their own. Beyond this, wallpaper is never going to be entirely waterproof. Therefore, it's not the most durable wall covering and can even mask potential mold issues, especially in rooms prone to dampness like bathrooms. Because of this, you can expect to redecorate every 5-6 years at least — a prospect that could be off-putting to a buyer.