Say Goodbye To Painting Behind The Toilet With A Sleek DIY Design Alternative

Painting the bathroom is an easy, inexpensive way to bring a little personality into your space, at least until it's time to reach behind the toilet. Most toilets sit close to the wall, making it tricky to figure out how to paint the space without splattering color on the fixture. There are some great hacks to successfully paint behind the toilet without making a mess, but if you want to try an easier alternative, consider a wood panel accent wall made with wood laminate flooring. It looks cute, is easy to clean, and is water-resistant — a must, thanks to the high humidity and moisture levels bathrooms are known for.

The best part? This project is budget-friendly. You can pick up the flooring, such as TrafficMaster laminate wood flooring at Home Depot, for less than $1 per square foot or use up any leftover floor scraps after a renovation. Make sure to also grab a ladder, stud finder, nail gun, and finishing nails before you get started. Unless you get lucky with a wall that has dimensions to perfectly fit the boards, you'll also need either a jigsaw or to check with your local hardware store to see if they will cut the flooring for you.

First, determine the measurement for your accent wall. If the toilet sits in a nook, that will be your accent wall. But if you have a small bathroom or the toilet sits along the wall, consider if you'll section out only the area behind your toilet or if you want to make the entire wall your accent wall. This will likely bump your costs up since you'll need more laminate flooring, but it'll create a unified look. Then, measure the space and cut the laminate boards to size with the jigsaw. Find the wall studs with your stud finder, and, starting from the top down, attach the boards to the wall with the nail gun and finishing nails.

If you can't find a laminate wood flooring that fits your home decor style, there's a few other options that can work just as well. Waterproof hardwood will have a similar feel and comes in an array of shades, though it can be pricey. For example, Bruce Hydropel waterproof flooring at Home Depot is almost $5 per square foot. Luxury vinyl plank is another option but also is on the more expensive side; Lifeproof LVP at Home Depot is just over $3 per square foot. For an inexpensive and renter-friendly variation that still creates the wood accent wall look, try a peel-and-stick wallpaper. Look for one made from waterproof PVC to help it withstand the bathroom's humidity, like COSNIGHT Wood Grain Contact Paper. The best part about peel-and-stick wallpaper is it's typically easy to remove and won't damage the walls.