I love original artwork but refuse to put any in the bathroom. So in a throwback to my teenage years, I have a band poster in there.

I don't have anything against artwork in the bathroom.. but reading materials on the other hand.. Does anyone else agree that this is kind of disgusting? I would never want to touch a magazine that someone else has used while "taking care of business".

There's more artwork in my bathroom than in any other room of the house. It started with one print, which turned into a theme. Colorful vintage postcards and ads can be inexpensively framed to add a spark of whimsy and color. All prints are under glass to protect them from steam and to make them easy to clean.

I put art everywhere. In the bathroom it signals that this not purely a utilitarian room and prevents the room from becoming a giant medicine cabinet. Put all that stuff away so that we can see the pretty room! Just use art that can't be damaged by moisture.

A really steamy bathroom can be hard on framed art. I like to hang ceramic plates or oils that wont be affected by the moisture.

I've had framed art in the bathroom for years, and it's been fine.

We don't have any artwork in the bathrooms at the moment, but in college I had some sketches from a life drawing class tacked up near the sink. We'll probably add some art when we figure out what we want in there.

I rather do some sculptures or something easily cleaned than art that as soon as steam and moisture gets into it, it's ruined forever.

Does anyone have a good waterproof solution for framing paper art (like a print)??? I've been trying to find a solution for two years and I still haven't had the nerve to put my favorite print up in my ultra steamy bathroom with no ventilation!!!

I hate to jump in the reading material debate because we've had it soooo many times... but if you don't want to touch it, you don't have to touch it.

It's kind of like people who are grossed out by plungers or brushes being in the bathroom. Sure, it's dirty... but you don't have to touch it, so why worry? That toilet you're sitting on has just as many germs touching your bum, but few people freak out about that in private home bathrooms.

Besides, you should be washing your hands anyway, so it doesn't really matter if you read a magazine your husband read. (and let's be honest, in families there's a ton of ways germs are being shared anyway.)

As for artwork in the bathroom, I am a fan! The setup of my current bathroom made it difficult to put in any interesting artwork, so I settled for a pretty shower curtain and some vases on the windowsill.

I'm with some of the above commenters - surely the moisture in a bathroom can ruin things? Paper and canvas could both get mildewy, and wetness and photos don't mix... I hoped this post would have some practical advice, because I'd love to put pictures on the bathroom wall but have always hesitated for fear of ruining things.

I love artwork in the bathroom! At the moment, I have a "gallery" of abstract canvases painted by my little children. On a neutral background, just swapping out the collections for the season makes it fun, and allows for a quick change. My daughter is so proud of her "Cat-Centepede" painting. She tells me every day when she brushes her teeth.

I've just started collecting some inspirational prints and funny quotes for our next exhibit. I think bathrooms are often overlooked as a place to have fun with your artwork.

I have a long blank wall in my bathroom (opposite the bathtub, with some room to spare) that is begging for a gallery wall. Half of the wall is a surprisingly nice sage green tile, and the other half is just blank space. Bubble baths are my favorite thing, and one of my first thoughts on moving in in December was, "I need some pictures!" Now I'm just in the process of finding enough things to put into the frames I collected.

My dad did something with a print he liked: he had it scanned and then printed out on one of those surfaces that looks like (or is, for all I know) canvas, then sprayed the back with clear acrylic. That went into the bathroom, along with a ceramic tile on the wall, a stained glass picture in the window, etc. Really you shouldn't put good paper where it gets steamy: that can go for the kitchen too, all though usually less of a concern.

Nope. No artwork or reading material in my bathrooms. I don't want to encourage any lollygagging in there. Just do your biz and get out.

Cluttered bathrooms just don't look clean to me.

I actually found some vintage flashcards that happened to be laminated up in my bathroom. Besides the fact that they're bathroom related if you have a strange sense of humor (I have cards for "Manhole," "Litter Can," and "Stool"), they're kind of fun and not affected by steam.

one word. Condensation. Ruins artwork.

To counter the condensation worries, I decided to use my bathroom as the repository for all the cute, but inexpensive, block prints I manage to acquire throughout the year, & I stuck them in cheap little IKEA poster frames. I figured I could rotate them out when they started to look the worse for wear (and the frames could easily be cleaned)--but somehow everything still looks fine, more than a year later.

When our bathroom was builder-grade pale blue when we moved in, we hung 6 small silver frames with comics in them (as my husband had 3 years of daily Far Side calendars collecting dust). We'd rotate them out every few months or so.

When the bathroom got an upgrade to a bright purple, we replaced the comics with some custom flowers - that were designed by me as part of our wedding invitations. Just recently we added a print from The Small Stakes from a Death Cab for Cutie Hurricane Katrina benefit concert in the bathroom as well (as we re-did the living room and it no longer had a home there). I love bathroom art -- now if only I could get my mom to replace those neon fish hanging in hers ;)

These are very poor examples of artwork in the bathroom. There's been some amazing house tours with photos and art in people's bathrooms, but this post doesn't highlight any of those.
And, to Matthew K. and other non believers---not all artwork will get ruined in the bathroom. I wouldn't put my original Picasso or Renoir in the loo, bit just about everything else is fair game.

Two engraved ceramic tiles from Japan have hung on our bathroom wall for 5 years across 3 apartments. My mom in law hangs a tiny planter with some dried flowers in it - not sure if it counts as art, but it is just adorable! Just gotta pick the right materials for the bathroom!

I'm all for artwork in the bathroom. It gives you something to look at when sitting there. And it gives personality without having to paint. As a renter, it's something I like (for any rooms).

No it's not dirty, I've had a poster framed in the bathroom for a year, even though it does get steamy in there, it shows no signs of it.

And yes, I also have reading material. A dictionary. People ask, but I've been improving my vocabulary and learning new words/sayings on the loo since I was 5. I'm 23 and still haven't got sick because of it, just more intelligent :P

I'd really like to post something in the bathroom. It always looks empty.

But if I like it enough to hang it, I worry too much about what happens to it. Eventually I'll get something inexpensive up in there.

i'm with burnttoast. i've seen much better examples of bathroom art on this site. what gives?

I've wanted to hang original artwork in the bathroom for a long while now. While the bathrooms are ventilated, I still worry about moisture damaging the paper and defraying the value of the work. Has anyone had any experience with putting art in clear plexiglass frames that are sealed?

@ stepanka - lol, me too! I hope you update it every couple of years though. ;) Another favorite of mine is foreign language guides.

As for art, I actually don't have any art in either of my bathrooms. They are both so small that honestly there is no room. However, if I did have the room, I think I would lean towards art that is ceramic or cheap prints behind glass. Def. no original paintings or anything irreplaceable just due to moisture issues.

Icarus: You mean degrading the value?

As an artist, any properly framed piece is fine, and oil and acrylics are also not a problem in a bathroom environment.

I have art in clear plexiglass frames that are sealed. Again, if done properly by a professional, they're bulletproof.

The frames in my bathroom are metal, wood, and plastic. Most are fronted with glass, but one large frame has plexiglass. The backs are heavy cardboard. Two are signed and numbered prints, one is a vintage placard for a B&B, one is an original pastel (chalk) drawing, and one is an original pen and ink sketch.

I've had the current arrangement up for 8 years in a tiny bathroom that doesn't have the best ventilation. (Eight years and the arrangement still makes me happy!) Our pressed tin ceiling shows sign of damage from condensation over the last 8 years, but none of the frames or the items in them shows any water damage at all. I just took the oldest piece off the wall to examine the back of it, and it was perfectly fine.

Of course this is just my experience; your mileage may vary.

I agree with minimalist1, properly framed in sealed plexi, just about anything is safe in a bathroom environment. I've not put my 'best' stuff in my bath but the stuff that is there seems to be surviving just fine. I used a 'sandwich of plexi and I sealed the edges with silicone caulk no issues after 10+ years. And a little art to clam and comfort is rather nice when one is reposing in the tub!

To those asking about whether certain pieces will survive moisture, if you are going to frame something, even if you plan to do it yourself, go to a reliable, trustworthy, professional framer and ask their advice. It usually depends as much on materials of the art as the framing.

I have found that unframed pieces work better - one of the pieces in my bathroom I knew I was going to put there in advance, and asked the artist if it was OK. So, when acquiring anything new, ask if even you don't think you will put it there - you never know when you'll change decorating schemes!

And...use the fan in the ceiling all the time, if you have one - that seems to clear moisture quite well.

I have framed postcards in the bathroom, and I made a few color copies of my favorite prints that I didn't want to risk.. haven't had a problem yet.

oh, and Cheers Stepanka! I couldn't agree more!

I have a little framed painting that I picked up in a thrift store sitting on my bathroom counter. I don't find that mildew, humidity or steam are an issue because a) I have an exhaust fan and b) it's low enough to avoid the rising steam - thank goodness hot air rises.

It's quite an intricate little Indian painting, and it creates a nice focal point. Without it the room would be too bland.

If you're worried about steam etc, just use a thrift store picture, photograph or framed print and simply replace it if it gets damaged.

I have a 3D papercut chest w/a heart stored in a vintage mason jar in our bathroom
http://papercuthearts.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/3d-paper-cut-art/

The jar protects it from moisture & makes it look even cooler!

I have prints and postcards that I had laminated. They've lasted years.

I've always had artwork in my bathroom - from originals to sculpture to prints - even in my bathtub and shower! For waterproof art for the bathtub or shower, you should check out the original "Shower Art" on www.uglybaby.etsy.com It'll make you smile :)

I was just about to mention Shower Art, also. I mean, "shower" + "art" = of course! That's like a PB + J = no-brainer. Not to mention, some of them are little nuggets of motivation to boot. Double-win.
http://uglybaby.etsy.com

Seriously folks. How did this article miss the *obvious* choice: Shower Art!?! I mean...it's ART *made for* your Shower!! I think an artist profile is in order...the creators are just awesome! http://uglybaby.etsy.com