Utility Rooms
Wallpaper for a Utility Room: Moisture-Resistant Options and Roll Count
A utility room is a working space — washing machines, tumble dryers, pipework, and often a sink — and that makes it one of the most demanding rooms to wallpaper correctly. The humidity from laundry alone rules out most standard wallpapers, and the appliances, boxing, and pipework mean you're never measuring a clean rectangular room. Here's how to choose wallpaper that lasts and how to measure the actual paperable wall area accurately.
Open the Wallpaper PlannerMoisture resistance is not optional in a utility room
A standard paper-backed wallpaper in a utility room will fail at the seams within months — the steam and humidity from washing machines and tumble dryers are not as extreme as a bathroom, but they're far above a normal room. Vinyl-coated or non-woven wallpapers are the minimum; fully washable or moisture-rated papers are better. A fungicidal paste (rather than standard paste) also helps prevent mould behind the paper if the room has poor ventilation.
Appliances and boxing reduce the paperable area — measure around them
Most utility rooms have a washing machine and tumble dryer taking up a run of wall, plus boxing around pipework or a boiler. These are real reductions to the paperable wall area. Measure the wall width and subtract any section where a fixed appliance or boxing runs floor to ceiling — or measure each open section individually and add them up. Don't paper over a built-in appliance space you're planning to keep.
A small room means fewer rolls but pattern repeats still bite
Utility rooms are typically 2–3 m wide and 2–3 m long — a genuinely small space. A plain paper or small-repeat pattern might need only 4–6 rolls, but a large repeat pattern forces you to cut from the same repeat point on every strip, wasting 30–50 cm per strip. In a small room that waste can cost you an extra roll or two. A plain or textured paper avoids this entirely.
Sealed surfaces and primer are especially important here
Utility room walls are often painted gloss or semi-gloss (easy to wipe down), which wallpaper paste doesn't grip well on a smooth surface. Lightly sand the painted surface or use a cross-lining approach before papering — a lining paper beneath the decorative paper gives the paste a better mechanical bond on a glossy wall. Also seal any new plasterboard or bare plaster with a diluted PVA coat before pasting.
Boxing and reveals around pipework need their own measurement
Any boxing around pipes or a boiler has its own visible faces — the front panel, the side returns, and often a short top surface — each of which needs its own strip. These small sections are easy to underestimate and are exactly the kind of detail that leaves you one roll short. Measure each face of any boxing before you start and include the strip count in your total.
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See plans & pricingCommon questions
Can you put wallpaper in a utility room?
Yes — but you need a moisture-resistant or vinyl-coated paper rather than a standard paper-backed one. The humidity from laundry appliances will cause standard wallpaper to peel at the seams over time. Non-woven or washable wallpapers cope well; use a fungicidal paste as an added precaution.
How many rolls do I need for a utility room?
A small utility room — around 2.5 m × 2.5 m — typically needs 4–6 rolls for a full room, depending on ceiling height and how much wall area is taken up by appliances, boxing, or a door. Measure only the paperable sections rather than the full perimeter, since a washing machine or boiler boxing can remove a significant strip count from the total.
What is the best wallpaper for a utility room?
Vinyl-coated or non-woven wallpapers with a washable rating are the best choice. Avoid delicate textured papers (linen, grasscloth) which absorb moisture and can't be wiped down. A simple geometric or tile-effect pattern works well practically — it's easy to align, hides minor imperfections on a busy wall, and suits the functional aesthetic of the room.
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Also tackling an adjacent kitchen? Kitchen wallpaper calculator →
Choosing moisture-resistant paper for adjacent rooms too? Bathroom wallpaper calculator →