At what height is the bathroom tiled?

1970

In the 1970s, bathroom wall coverings typically reached up to about 30 centimeters from the ceiling. They were made with small tiles, often enriched with borders, strips, and geometric or floral decorations.

2000

Around the turn of the century, both manufacturer catalogs and magazines featured wall coverings as the "trend of the moment" that reached about 110 to 120 centimeters in height. Some called these "boiseries" precisely because of their reduced height. They used "rustic" small-sized tiles that imitated stone or marble, finished with moldings, rounded edges, and other decorative elements.

2020

With the rise of large ceramic slabs, wall coverings now often extend all the way to the ceiling. Both industry magazines and catalogs present modern bathrooms fully covered with tiles up to ceiling height, thanks also to slabs that measure vertically 270 or 280 centimeters.
However, some clients ask us to cover the bathroom walls "up to one meter high" or to "leave some walls partially bare." Others, instead, request full-height wall coverings, up to the ceiling. Who is right? At what height should bathroom wall coverings be planned? What are the advantages and disadvantages of low versus high coverings?

What Does "Boiserie" Wall Covering Mean?

A French name for an English style

The name comes from the English boiseries, which were usually made of wood and extended just above the sink, with wallpaper applied on the upper part of the wall.
This type of covering later used both marble and ceramic, maintaining, as in the wooden equivalent, a baseboard at the bottom, vertical panels, and finally crown moldings at the top for finishing and completion.

Standard Height of Boiserie

The correct height for a boiserie is about 110 centimeters to allow the mirror to rest fully on the wall without overlapping the finishing molding.

On the Upper Part: Wallpaper...

Above the boiserie, a surface that is easy to clean and characterful should be planned. As mentioned, the traditional English style called for wallpaper or fabric, usually richly decorated wallpapers.

...or a Painted Wall, But with Personality!

Alternatively, the upper part can be painted with colors matching the boiserie. It is important to avoid a "plain" white paint that would diminish the overall design. Remember that the upper part of the wall is at eye level, therefore having the greatest visual impact. For example, you might consider Graesan paints.

Low Tile Wall Coverings: When to Choose Them and When Not

Material considerations

A tiled wall covering stopping at a lower height can look refined and elegant if it meets certain characteristics but appears "wrong" if improvised or if a material designed for full-height use is "forced" into a smaller space.

When It Works Well

The factors that make a low covering pleasant are:

• Respecting the English style in proportion, colors, decorations, and tile formats chosen

• Presence of a finishing element placed at 110 cm to complete the covering

• Use of a coordinated finish on the upper part of the bathroom

When It Does Not Work Well

The factors that make a low covering unappealing are:

• Lack of a finishing element on top (exposing tile edges and color smudges)

• Using a metal profile as a finishing element without a real design reason (it is a forced addition, a different material added to tiles and grout)

• Painting walls with ordinary white emulsion paint

• Using large slabs designed for full height but "cut" at 110 cm or laid horizontally; veins, shading, and patterns are interrupted and lose beauty and meaning

• Presence of elements that would be "cut off" by a partial covering

In summary, the previous points can be condensed to say that tiles designed specifically for low coverings should be used, without forcing products that are unsuitable just to reduce costs. The risk is ending up with a bathroom that looks unfinished.

Is Low Wall Covering "the Trend of the Moment"?

Avoid trends

First of all: when designing a bathroom today, the goal is to think of a bathroom for 2040. The bathroom should last and remain current even in 30 years. So don’t focus too much on current trends, but rather choose the style that best represents you.

Bathrooms in Magazines

And in any case: no, it is not the trend of the moment.
As mentioned, it may have been a trend a few years ago, but try flipping through a home decor magazine or a tile or bathroom furnishing catalog: will you find photos of bathrooms with low wall coverings? You won’t find a single one. Instead, you’ll see many photos of large ceramic slabs installed vertically, full height, emphasizing the dimensions of the bathrooms.

Does a Low Wall Covering Save You Money?

Paint needs to be renewed

When purchasing materials for your home, you should consider both short-term savings and the durability of the material. If the bathroom is tiled only up to sink height, you must factor in the cost of periodically repainting the upper painted area, whereas tiles do not require renewal.

In short, if you compare "ceramic only on the lower part" versus "ceramic on the entire wall," consider that a fully tiled wall will not need maintenance. So yes, you will spend more, but only once.
Paint, instead, needs to be refreshed periodically, especially in bathrooms where it wears out faster than in other rooms.

It Depends on the Cost of the Paint

Another factor to consider regarding costs is the type of finish chosen for the untiled walls. If the paint on the untiled portions is a simple white emulsion, you will definitely save money in the short term.
If, instead, you choose to enhance the walls with decorative finishes (such as spatula plaster, marmorino, or other decorative paints), you might end up spending as much as or more than for ceramic tiling.

Installation Costs for a Boiserie

Keep in mind that the most complex parts for the installer to tile are behind the sanitary fixtures, inside the shower, and behind the vanity unit due to holes for water supply and drainage pipes.
The upper part of the bathroom is the easiest. So the installer will spend much more time on the lower part than the upper, and will certainly consider this when calculating installation costs.

Low Wall Coverings and Hygiene

Better Cleanability

For optimal bathroom hygiene, walls need to be easy to clean. If you plan to tile up to 110 centimeters, you have probably already planned to use washable paint on the upper part of the walls.
However, it must be said that these washable paints are rarely "washed." Very few clients actually clean and disinfect the painted parts of the bathroom with sponges and detergents.
But this is not good.

Presence of Bacteria in the Bathroom

Bathroom walls can harbor bacteria up to 150 centimeters above the toilet. If not cleaned and disinfected, bacteria multiply, making the environment unhealthy.
This is explained by Focus magazine in their February 2023 issue in an article titled "Watch out for that cloud."

What Do the Regulations Say?

Building regulations also require surfaces to be washable up to 180 centimeters in bathrooms in public places to allow easy and continuous cleaning. The best way to have washable walls is to cover them with ceramic tiles.