Bathroom Art: 4 Tips and My 26 Picks
When I was a kid, I was terrified of the art in my grandparents’ bathroom. It started in the summers, when my sister and I would visit them for two luxurious weeks, spending our time swimming in the pool, watching TV, and eating junk food to our hearts’ content. Those weeks were some of the best times of my childhood. Besides that art.
The particular bathroom in question was a small room with just a toilet. The art was hung on the wall directly across from where you, er, sat and did your business. Because the bathroom was so small, your only choices were to stare back or awkwardly try to avoid its gaze. So what was this art? It was a reproduction of (what I know now is) a very famous painting—American Gothic.
Imagine these two staring you down while you’re trying to have a personal moment.
Looking back on it now, I have to wonder if this wasn’t some sort of comical bit between my grandparents—I can imagine my grandpa Poppy cheekily saying to my Oma, “Hey honey, get a kick out of this!” and hanging the print in their bathroom as a joke. Or maybe they were just big fans of Grant Wood. Either way, 7-year-old me wasn’t buying what American Gothic was selling, and I began taking matters into my own hands. That summer I overheard my grandparents trying to figure out how the print kept falling down. I guess we’ll never know. But no matter how many times Nan and Byron were stashed behind the toilet, they always found their way back up on the wall.
The lesson learned? The art you hang in your bathroom is important. It sets the mood for the space and has the power to create a serene experience, provide entertainment, or scare the sh*t out of your grandkids.
But what kind of art should you hang? While there’s no guarantee you can avoid my grandparent’s mistake, there are some general do’s and don’ts to follow as well as some tips that can help you narrow down your search. Here are 4 tips that I’ve learned along with some of my picks for bathroom art!
4 Tips for Choosing Bathroom Art
1. Consider the Climate
Aside from moderately creepy portraits of strangers, there’s really only one thing you should avoid when it comes to art in your bathroom—any piece that won’t survive in the steamy climate. Moisture and heavy traffic make bathrooms a bit of a danger zone for art, so it’s best to avoid hanging oil or acrylic paintings or anything with a high sentimental or monetary value.
Instead, look for professionally framed prints or photographs with sealed backs. Because they’re quarantined behind protective glass, your pieces will be safe from the elements. Durable materials like ceramics and glass are also great choices for bathrooms. Avoid metals that are prone to rusting as well as woven baskets or tapestries, which could become a breeding ground for mildew.
Note, that if your bathroom doesn’t have a shower/tub situation, you can probably bend these rules a bit!
2. Go Small Scale
Small art is my go-to choice for bathrooms. This is partly because bathrooms (as smaller spaces) don’t often have the wall space to fit larger art. Additionally, and more fun to talk about, the size of a piece of art has a huge effect on how we experience it. And the *experience* of small art is better suited to a bathroom.
Why? Let’s start with the example of large art. Because of its size, large can’t help but make a grand statement and it’s often used to create a focal point in a room. Think of the colorful abstract paintings of Mark Rothko, Chicago’s iconic Cloud Gate sculpture (AKA the “the bean”), or the Statue of Liberty! These large, even colossal, works make you feel small—they overwhelm and humble you by physically forcing you to step back to view them. Said another way, the art is in charge.
The opposite is true of small-scale art. When a piece of art is small, you have to get up close to see it. This proximity between viewer and art creates an intimate experience that feels very personal. Quite fitting for a room where we attend to our personal business!
If you want another reason to go with small art, it’s usually less expensive and is much easier to move around. This is true physically, but also in terms of small art’s versatility. For example, if you get tired of seeing a piece in your powder room, you can lickety-split swap it into a gallery wall or try it above your nightstand. Small art gives you more options.
3. Think About Who Uses This Bathroom
One of the most important questions art historians ask when evaluating art is who would have originally viewed it? Be it royalty, everyday people, or your in-laws, the intended viewer can reveal a lot about a piece of art’s meaning. And while your bathroom isn’t the Louvre, it can help to consider your audience when thinking about how to decorate it.
Is this your personal bathroom? Great, decorate it however you want! Will guests be using it? Consider art that will make them laugh or show them that you have great taste. Maybe it’s the kids’ bathroom, so art that’s playful and fun is the way to go.
At the end of the day, your art is completely your choice, but considering who will see it and the reaction you’d like to incite can help guide your choices.
4. Don’t Feel Wedded to a Theme
Just because it’s hanging in your bathroom doesn’t mean your art has to stick to any bathroom-related theme.
If you like a theme, then great—you do you! But if you’re on the fence about that “Brush, Floss, Flush”sign, consider this permission to skip it.
My Picks: 26 Ideas for Bathroom Art
Without further adieu, here are my picks for bathroom art broken out under a few different categories, depending on the vibe you’re going for.
If You Like Bathroom Art That’s About Bathrooms
Ok, I know I just said you don’t have to stick to a theme, but if you can’t help yourself (I’m a sucker for a theme, too!) opt for pieces that are a twist on classic bathroom motifs. Here are a few picks that are on-theme but not on the nose.
Caribbean Flamingos from Miami’s Metrozoo Crowd into the Men’s Bathroom – Available at Art.com
Otters Playing in Bathroom – My boyfriend has this hanging in his bathroom and gets lots of comments! Also available at Art.com
Please Wash Hands Sign – Available at Schoolhouse.com
Men’s Room by Scott Listfield – Available at Pixels.com
Bathroom of Room 237 at the Overlook – Who doesn’t love a famous bathroom scene? Available at TheArtofKevynSchmidt’s shop on Etsy.com
If You’re Not Afraid of Something Cheeky
Take advantage of your captive audience and make a humorous statement with your bathroom art. Expect your guests to emerge with follow-up questions!
Stop Talking by Martha Rich – Available at 20x200.com
Knuba, 2010 by Alex Kotinskyi – This is one of my favorite prints and is currently hanging in my bedroom, but it would also be funny in a bathroom. Available at ArtfullyWalls.com
Lily Pond Lane by Beth Hoeckel – Available at Society6.com
Thank You by Trey Speegle – Available at 20x200.com
Puchitos by Magnetismo – Available at InPrint.com
I Don’t Like My Picture Taken by Maja Cunning – Your guests will appreciate the privacy. Available at Minted.com
If You Want Something to Contemplate
These are pieces with a lot of detail—you can look at them for a while and still find something new! Which is great for when you want to take your time, if you know what I mean.
Seeing Double by Sadye Sagov – For fans of The Grand Budapest Hotel! Available at Minted.com
Squaw Valley Snow by Slim Aarons – Available at Pixels.com
First Fight Red by Dadu Shin – Available at InPrint.com
Eight Shadow Figures by Utagawa Hiroshige – Available at PSTRStudio.com
Make A Wish by Tyler Varsell – Add some trippy flair to your baño. Available at ArtfullyWalls.com
Seek by Lene Bladbjerg – Art meets entertainment with this word search-esque print. Also available at ArtfullyWalls.com
If You Prefer Something Fresh and Clean
Like air freshener for your walls! These pieces are simple, stylish, and have crowd appeal without being boring (no hotel art here).
Sunbeam by Kit Agar – It doesn’t get cuter than this. Available at ArtfullyWalls.com
Wild Oak – Available at JuniperPrintShop.com (note these prints, while lovely, don’t come with frames, so you’ll need to purchase one elsewhere)
Puffy Clouds by Marleen Kleiberg – I love the idea of framing this little print sans matting to give it an unexpected look. Available at ArtfullyWalls.com
Franz + Ferdinand by Amy Carroll – The name alone makes this one a winner. Available at Minted.com
Lazy Cloud by Yomagick – Available at SpaceyStudios.com
Woodcut Floral by Emily Isabella – I like the long and narrow shape of this charming print. Available at ArtfullyWalls.com
Fly Away by Tyler Varsell – I couldn’t write a bathroom art post and not include at least one print featuring vintage swimwear. Also available at ArtfullyWalls.com
Buntings by Karene-Isabelle – Available at Minted.com
California, Big Sur, View of Pacific Ocean Coastline with Cow Parsley by Alison Jones – Available at Art.com