Emily Henderson's vintage farmhouse guest bathroom channels an unexpected wallpaper choice – here's why it works

It's usually not the bathroom we associate with decorating with wallpaper. While this traditional wall decor has firmly secured its place in rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms, it's somewhat of an unexpected choice in a bathroom.

But in the case of interior design maestro Emily Henderson, her recently renovated guest bathroom ignores the rulebook, and its wallpaper-adorned result is dreamy and intriguing in equal measure.

Designed in collaboration with ARCIFORM, Emily describes the room on her blog as a 'jewel box', and we couldn't have put it better ourselves.

Standout design features are Pratt + Larson tiles in a deep shade of rose, a whole host of antique-inspired fixtures, and of course, the dark green wallpaper that has truly won us over. 

A Kelly Ventura design, the floral wallpaper has an old-world look and certainly doesn't shy away from making a statement. 

Having originally started the guest bathroom renovation with white walls, Emily shares that it didn't feel finished, before turning to wallpaper ideas to complete the space. 'The room just felt unfinished with the walls only painted,' the designer tells H&G.

She adds that the choice of patterned wallpaper nods to vintage farmhouse decor, an interior design style that she wanted to capture in the room: 'I also wanted to lean into the sweetness of a vintage farmhouse style.'

'Since this is a guest bathroom and not the primary bathroom that we use daily, I felt confident in taking more of a risk with some pattern,' continues Emily.

While it's true that guest rooms generally allow for a more playful approach to decor, the color of this wallpaper still makes it slightly surprising. In small rooms, light colors are often used in an attempt to make the space appear larger. However, the designer tells us that the opposite is true. 

'It’s actually a fun fact that smaller spaces decorated in darker colors will make a space feel bigger and cozier at the same time,' says Emily. 'You would think light colors would do that but it’s almost always the opposite.'

Emily Henderson

Emily Henderson is Emily Henderson is a stylist, interior designer, HGTV host, and founder of Emily Henderson Design which she's been running for over a decade. Emily provides us with style inspiration every day over on her Instagram, and her blog is a great source of ideas for DIYs and making the most of your space. 

As tempting as it may be to upgrade your bathroom with wallpaper instantly, it's important to consider the practicality, too. Bathrooms are humid spaces so if you don't have enough air flow, wallpaper may not be the best choice. 

'Make sure you have good ventilation and that it’s properly installed,' advises Emily. 'For a room like a bathroom that gets a ton of moisture, I’d recommend hiring someone with experience to ease any nerves and avoid any issues.'

If you're feeling as inspired as we are by Emily's vintage-inspired wallpaper, shop some of our favorite similar designs below to recreate the look.