How high do I go with bead board in small bathroom?

Painting lower vanity gray and upper mirrored cabinet white, while changing counter top to laminate (design in picture). Replacing the tile looked wall board with bead board. How high would you go with bead board- to bottom of window or a third of the way up from bottom of window? I also have a white crackled subway tile- would you use it just above vanity or continue the row around window wall, (which ends at tub unit). Thank you!
  6 answers
  • Faye Hankins Faye Hankins on Mar 07, 2017

    You have a good start on your remodel with your color choices and style decisions. I feel it is more current to bring the bead board up under the window and if you have enough subway tile I would use it under the mirror and fill that area of the back splash with it. If you paint all the molding in the bathroom white I feel it would really lighten the room.

  • William William on Mar 07, 2017

    Beadboard has a few "rules" 30" to 54" is the guide line. 1/3 of the wall is another guideline. Yet another is 2/3rds of the wall.


    However,


    In a bathroom you have to toss the rules out a bit. You don't want a bunch of lines. You have your shower/tub line and the mirror line and the top of the vanity line and the window trim line. Choose one of those or things will look very chopped up. You also need to think about fixtures and outlets so you don't end the beadboard in the center of a light switch or light fixture. It is also doable to vary the height in areas to address say.. a built-in


    http://homeguides.sfgate.com/traditional-height-beadboard-90056.html

    • Chrystine Dimitry Chrystine Dimitry on Mar 08, 2017

      With beadboard, higher is generally better than lower. In your bathroom, however, I would take the beadboard to at least half-way up your window. Keeping it at the vanity height would make it look "squat", in my opinion, just like the look you are trying to replace.

      Here is what we've done in our 1920's bathroom, trying to stay true to the period. Not your style or colours, I know, but it gives you an idea of how it might look, if you imagine it b&w

      :

  • BabyBoomerSC BabyBoomerSC on Mar 07, 2017

    I'd make the beadboard even with your vanity; otherwise the other poster (William) is correct - you'll have a bunch of lines and your bathroom will look chopped up. To eliminate too many textures and patterns, I would paint above the beadboard versus subway tile or anything else.

  • Kathy Lovenburg Kathy Lovenburg on Mar 10, 2017

    Here is my thoughts.....I would take the bead board up to the window. Take it around to the vanity. Use your subway tile in the vanity area....use it like jewelry--as an accent. If you want to introduce a touch of color, home centers and various online retailers sell 12"x12" mosaic glass tile. Use one or two rows of mosaic tile in the middle or on the edges of your backsplash. Or use your color in your towels, window treatment, etc.


    Have fun with your project. I am starting a project with beadboard this weekend, painting and staining for the back of my new kitchen island!! Have dreamed about this idea for a couple of years now. So exciting!!

  • I would take it up to at least halfway up the window, if not more. Of course it is a personal choice.

  • Mogie Mogie on May 01, 2023

    It depends. I had a limited budget when redoing my dining area and choose to go with 2 1/2 feet that was based on the price ($50 a sheet). Just balanced that out with a large (3x4 ft) picture above the bead board. So go with height works for you and your situtation.