DIY budget method to cover tiles behind toilet

cybertortoise

Good morning all,

I'm looking for advice for what to do to cover the tiles behind the toilet in my downstairs WC. The room has been redecorated (blue on top and grey painted wood panelling on the bottom) and the cream coloured tiles (shown below) really stand out and look dirty. I have white tiles elsewhere in the bathroom as well so that makes the cream ones stick out more IYSWIM.

I'm on a very tight budget and wondered what I could do that would cover/hide them, while costing little and being easy enough to do myself. But also must be washable due to the splashback from the poor aim of my sons   

Ideas so far:

Paint the tiles - would this be washable though?

Attach foam board to the tiles - washable? how to stick it on?

Add wood cladding same as already on the bottom of the bathroom walls - no idea on cost or method

Stick on vinyl flooring planks or tiles - would these even stick?

Many thanks for any advice or suggestions. The room has a shower in but it's not used. I am hoping to have it removed and converted to an area for my tumble dryer and washing machine.

Ebe_Scrooge

In my experience, painting tiles never really works, it soon starts to flake off no matter how thoroughly you prep the tiles.  Wood panelling to match the rest would probably look best, but might be a faff to keep clean.  To my mind the simplest solution might be a plain white (or whatever colour you choose) wet-wall panel.  Removing the cistern should be easy enough.  You'd need to fiddle a bit around the pipes, but if you take your time you should be able to make a pretty neat job without too much hassle.  A plain panel is not expensive, they come in a million different colours and patterns there days and are available anywhere.  The big plus is that it would be really easy to wipe clean.

No doubt others will come up more/better ideas, but it might be an option.

Bendy_House

So you didn't fit the timber cladding yourself? I was going to suggest to just continue that along if you had, and making sure it's finished with a durable wipe-down paint - such as an exterior satin. Even if you had DIYed that yourself, to fit it behind the cistern would be awkward as it would move everything out at least the timber thickness.

So, another solution you arrived at yourself - glue on vinyl floor tiles.

These will stick, are waterproof, and come it some superb finishes to really make a statement. Take the opportunity to transform the bathroom, and you can paint the cladding in a colour to compliment the 'statement' wall!

The cistern will ideally need removing, tho' it is possible to work around it enough simply by slackening it from the wall, and then cutting the tiles to slip behind by a half-inch. The tiles will need scrubbing clean, and a strong contact adhesive used - probably the stuff actually supplied for floors, as long as you can get a small quantity.

Then it's 'just' accurate measuring, getting the horizontal level spot-on, cutting tiles with a craft knife, dry-checking the fit of each one, and then gluing it in place.

Choose a colour/finish that makes the white ceramic stand out.

knightstyle

Try asking local bathroom fitters if they have an offcut of waterproof wall board that will be big enough and just stick it on.

cybertortoise

Thanks for the suggestion @Ebe_Scrooge its much easier to search online for things when you know the name of them

Thanks for the ideas @Bendy_House the cladding was there when we moved in, I need to replace the flooring so may well try the tiles. At least they're relatively cheap and cheerful, and thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the idea @knightstyle I'll definitely try this first

twopenny

How about a photo of the paneling?
It might be easy to do in that apace.
Also, cream tiles like that go back a long way when using 5 spots or plaster adhesive was used. This meant if you wanted to remove them you hit the tile and break it and it's easier to remove. That would give you a better finish.
But first the panelling?

Doozergirl

I think they're alright.   Maybe paint the panelling in the same colour and embrace it! 

The cream goes well with the tiny bit of blue I can see. 

I wouldn't be putting plastic sheeting on it, that really doesn't compliment panelling.  There's nothing wrong with having different textures in a room.   If anything, the wood panelling should continue over it, but it really isn't offensive. 

It sounds like the problem is that it wasn't embraced in the plan for new colours in the room, otherwise it would probably
work.    

The painting looks a bit rough.  Needs more  prep!

GDB2222

There are things called peel and stick adhesive wall tiles. A bit like sticky backed plastic, if anyone remembers Blue Peter, but thicker.

 I  thought they would be really naff, but someone I know put them up and they looked great. That was when new, and they may not have worn well.

cybertortoise

@twopenny I'll get a photo after it's painted, it's taking ages to get it done in between work and uni stuff!

@Doozergirl when I moved in the top was dark purple and the panelling was white. I just want it looking a bit better than it was for now. It's more an aesthetic thing with the co,our, they're clean and unbroken at least and thankfully washable! Also the top of the walls had like a crackle effect in the paint, I'm not sure if it was deliberate or not. It looks much better in the new colour but the walls here are all in need of some work. There's textured wallpaper everywhere to hide the rough walls.

@g@GDB2222 thanks for the idea. I had those before in my kitchen and they looked fab. But i had only put them every now and then on the existing tiles if that makes sense

GDB2222

https://www.dunelm.com/product/inhome-smoked-glass-self-adhesive-backsplash-tiles-1000136077

This sort of thing. Comes in a sheet that covers the wall, rather than individual tiles. Easy to cut round the cistern.

Norman_Castle

GDB2222 said:

https://www.dunelm.com/product/inhome-smoked-glass-self-adhesive-backsplash-tiles-1000136077

This sort of thing. Comes in a sheet that covers the wall, rather than individual tiles. Easy to cut round the cistern.

"Supplied in a pack of 4. Each panel measures 10" x 10" ". £18 per pack could be expensive.

OP, if you're willing to remove the cistern tiling over the tiles shouldn't be difficult and with simple white tiles could be cheap.