Holly Willoughby took a risk with her bathroom wall panelling – experts say it's ‘elegant without being overpowering’

Recently, we’ve been loving the rare glimpses of Holly Willoughby’s home she’s been sharing on her Instagram. One thing that particularly caught our attention is the elegant wall panelling in Holly’s bathroom which she’s debuted as a backdrop in a couple of reels.

The most striking thing about this bathroom wall panelling idea is the height of this shaker or wainscotting panelling style – we’ve never seen it extended that high in a bathroom before. It’s certainly not very traditional to do this and Holly’s taken a risk but we think it really paid off, elevating the space and giving it a sense of grandeur.

But enough about us. What did the experts say?

Holly Willoughby’s bathroom wall panelling

This is not the first time Holly’s charmed us with her home as we’ve already become obsessed with her sellout M&S jug vase earlier this year, while frantically searching for similar-looking alternatives. And Holly’s lunar gardening hack had us intrigued too.

But her bold bathroom wall idea seriously impressed us – and DIY and wall panelling experts as well.

‘Decorative panelling with beading detail is very common for those wanting to create a timeless feel and add character,’ says Olivia Crosher, designer and visual stylist at Naturewall. ‘Usually seen in living rooms and hallways, this panelling is also used in bathrooms where a touch of luxury is wanting to be added.’

‘I’d definitely recommend injecting subtle detail with a feature like this, as it gives an elegant feel by adding depth without being overpowering. One main feature of this panelling is that it’s paintable, meaning it can be tailored to match your interior scheme perfectly,’ she adds.

The unusual height of Holly’s wall panelling

But while this style of wall panelling has become more common in bathrooms in recent years, the height of Holly’s panelling is the opposite of common.

‘The thing that makes Holly's panelling unusual is the height of it,’ says Jimmy Englezos, senior brand manager from Ronseal. ‘I have never seen bathroom panelling this high. Typically, when I see the trend for bathroom panelling, it's on the bottom half of the wall, ending about mid-point up the wall.’

Olivia chimes in, ‘Traditionally, wainscotting panelling stops around one third up the wall. In this example, it can be seen over three quarters of the wall’s height, which works particularly well in homes with high ceilings. If your rooms have lower ceilings, I recommend going no more than halfway up the wall with this panelling.’

But owing to Holly’s fairly high ceilings, it works. As does the chosen paint colour, ‘The chosen colour evokes the feeling of calm, which is perfect for a bathroom. The muted, soft blue compliments the white accents to give an airy look, creating a sanctuary to relax and unwind,’ Olivia concludes.

What you’ll need to recreate the look

Farrow & Ball Modern Skylight No.205 Eggshell Paint, 750ml

Is it blue or is it grey? That's what we were left wondering when looking at Holly's bathroom wall panelling. And it's the same with this Farrow & Ball paint shade.

Shaker Style Wall Panelling Kit with adhesive included, pack of 5

If you dare to install this bathroom feature by yourself, it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg – especially if you get an affordable kit like this one with the adhesive included too.

Siroflex SX Decorators Instantly Paintable Caulk

'You will also need to make sure that there are no gaps in the panelling where water could drip down behind so sealing around the panelling is essential,' Jimmy says. 'You could use a sanitary sealant but these are silicone which cannot be painted over so, to maintain your aesthetic, a paintable filler may be a better option.' And that's exactly what this sealant is.