Bathroom art

[Pilsy]

We redid our upstairs bathrooms 8+ years ago, and I've never hung anything on the walls, save for towel hooks. 

Is it weird to hang a photo in a bathroom? I know I can do what I want, but I wonder if there's conventional wisdom about this kind of thing. I tend to have analysis paralysis when it comes to art, but I'm thinking a photo of my children would be easy enough to swap out if I grow tired of it, and it's short money if I end up not like it at all and take the frame down entirely. My parents have a boat, and I've taken some beautiful photos of the girls on the water, which I think would look nice in the room.

The shower curtain is a plain white waffle fabric, and the only things we keep on the vanity are two soap dispensers (one mermaid for the girls, one ball jar with a plain white lid for me). At night, I do have a lighthouse nightlight in there, so maybe there is an ocean theme after all.  


Anyway, what do you have on your bathroom walls? And what do you think of my idea? Thanks! 

[Susie]

I don't tend to hang much in full baths, because the moisture tends to damage a lot of things over time.  

In our old house, at one point we had a sea glass wreath, but after we renovated the bathroom we didn't have anything on the walls.  

In our current house, we have copper turtles on the wall in the kids' bath.  They were actually hanging on the outdoor shower when we bought the house so I figured they were pretty hardy to the elements, ha.  We don't have anything on the walls in our primary bath.

Eventually I'm planning to put up shelves to accommodate orchids and other humidity-loving plants, to use the humidity to advantage.  That obviously only works well in bathrooms with windows.

[Pilsy]

Good point about the humidity, Susie.


When I began to post, it's because Mpix is having a wrapped canvas sale, and I found myself wondering if a wrapped canvas could survive a bathroom's humidity. But I decided I wouldn't like that look in there anyway, so it's a moot point. I do have an 11" x 14" wooden frame I'd like to use, as it has sort of a white-washed finish and would look good. It was pretty inexpensive, so I guess it's no big deal if the humidity shortens its life.

I can't see myself hanging one, but I bet the sea glass wreath was beautiful, and I love the idea of your turtles in the kids' bath. I should have mentioned, the bathroom I'm talking about is Hollywood-style, with entrances from our primary bedroom and the hallway. We were limited in our bathroom options, so even though this one is connected to my room, it's where the bathtub is and the girls get ready. The more "mature" bathroom isn't connected to any bedrooms and has a large shower, no tub. There are also surprisingly little wall space for hanging anything, unless it goes right above the toilet, so that one will probably remain bare!

[darby]

I think the boat pic with kids could look nice. However, maybe I’m just weird, but I don’t like pictures of people staring at me while I’m doing my business in there, so if the kids are in the picture but not posed looking at the camera then I think it could look really pretty. Otherwise I prefer abstract or something soothing (think foggy morning or prairie view). I actually have a mcm ball clock & some small & colorful prints in a row.

[Pilsy]

Aug 5, 2022 17:40:10 GMT -5 darby said:

I think the boat pic with kids could look nice. However, maybe I’m just weird, but I don’t like pictures of people staring at me while I’m doing my business in there, so if the kids are in the picture but not posed looking at the camera then I think it could look really pretty. Otherwise I prefer abstract or something soothing (think foggy morning or prairie view). I actually have a mcm ball clock & some small & colorful prints in a row.

Valid point! 🤣

[bhnumbers]

Aug 5, 2022 17:40:10 GMT -5 darby said:

I think the boat pic with kids could look nice. However, maybe I’m just weird, but I don’t like pictures of people staring at me while I’m doing my business in there, so if the kids are in the picture but not posed looking at the camera then I think it could look really pretty. Otherwise I prefer abstract or something soothing (think foggy morning or prairie view). I actually have a mcm ball clock & some small & colorful prints in a row.

this reminds me that DH and I were looking for an airbnb in NYC years ago and we came across a super cool loft. it was waaaay out of our price range, but it was a such a neat space and decorated really beautifully so we looked at all the photos. One really funny thing was that in one of the bathrooms, over the toilet was a large black and white photo of a little old lady look down slightly (as if looking at the person standing at the toilet) with an "OH MY!" expression on her face. it was such a funny, quirky thing, we loved it!

[darby]

Aug 6, 2022 14:09:13 GMT -5 bhnumbers said:

Aug 5, 2022 17:40:10 GMT -5 darby said:

I think the boat pic with kids could look nice. However, maybe I’m just weird, but I don’t like pictures of people staring at me while I’m doing my business in there, so if the kids are in the picture but not posed looking at the camera then I think it could look really pretty. Otherwise I prefer abstract or something soothing (think foggy morning or prairie view). I actually have a mcm ball clock & some small & colorful prints in a row.

this reminds me that DH and I were looking for an airbnb in NYC years ago and we came across a super cool loft. it was waaaay out of our price range, but it was a such a neat space and decorated really beautifully so we looked at all the photos. One really funny thing was that in one of the bathrooms, over the toilet was a large black and white photo of a little old lady look down slightly (as if looking at the person standing at the toilet) with an "OH MY!" expression on her face. it was such a funny, quirky thing, we loved it!

This is hilarious!!

[dr.girlfriend]

The photos printed on metal look nice and I expect they might hold up? Unless they rust? Otherwise I would say do what you like. :-)

[deadwing]

I second the comment about not liking art of people in the bathroom "watching". That said, if the photos aren't directly in front of or behind the toilet, it wouldn't bother me. Back when I worked in an office, one bathroom had a poster of James Dean over the toilet and Marilyn Monroe directly across. Only used that bathroom once and never again... too awkward!

[sassystace]

We have art in all our bathrooms so I say it is not weird. Although none are of people. One is a lighthouse, one a sketch of tree branch or plant and one an abstract, textured canvas painting. There were empty walls that needed something.

[redheadbaker]

I have a painted canvas of a beach scene hanging in our bathroom because the colors match the paint and shower curtain.

[stemmie]

A photograph of people in a bath feels weird to me. Perhaps less so if they were not looking at the camera. Maybe I'm weird. A landscape or still life photograph wouldn't.

I have a vintage travel poster in my powder room, some twee little needlepoints of Bermuda in my hall bath (not much wall space) and a Petre Devos poster (it's the one in the kitchen of the set of Big Bang Theory) in the en suite DH uses.

[Pilsy]

Aug 13, 2022 9:22:34 GMT -5 stemmie said:

A photograph of people in a bath feels weird to me. Perhaps less so if they were not looking at the camera. Maybe I'm weird. A landscape or still life photograph wouldn't.

I don't think you're weird  but if it helps, the photos I have in mind aren't even of the kids' faces. They are either in profile or with their backs to the camera. 

I have a couple landscapes i could use, I just like the pops of color in the others I had in mind. I have the frame I want to use, so I'll probably just print several photos to try (some with the girls, some simply scenic) since it's such a small investment to do so.

Thanks for all the feedback!

[lolalolalola]

In my master bath I have a beach /lighthouse print that was a gift but I don’t love so I put it where no one else sees it.



In the main bathroom I have 2 framed watercolor prints from Hawaii that we love.

[definitelyO]

master I have white painted metal art on the wall

hall bath there is one framed art print on the wall - kind of flowy floral

basement guest bath - 2 framed photographs of super close up flowers a friend took

all the framed images have been fine w/o water damage.