Wood in the bathroom

Natural and durable

Wood adds a lively, natural touch to any room. In the bathroom, too, wood creates a sense of coziness that goes beyond mere functionality. Its warm finishes offer a contrast to the cool aesthetic of tiles—even though they can harmonize perfectly with them. Find out here which types of wood are suitable for the bathroom, which bathroom elements they can be used for, and how they blend harmoniously into the overall design.

Key points at a glance:

Choose the right types of wood: Moisture-resistant woods such as teak, oak, or birch are particularly well-suited for use in the bathroom.
Protecting wood properly: Oiling, varnishing, and proper ventilation and heating ensure that wood in the bathroom remains durable and resilient.
Incorporating wood thoughtfully into your design: Wooden furniture, paneling, or accessories create a warm, natural atmosphere and complement many different design styles.

What kind of wood should I use in the bathroom?

As a living material, wood reacts to environmental factors. In the bathroom, these factors are primarily moisture and heat. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the type of wood is suitable for the environment, while of course also taking design considerations into account. Below is an overview of woods that are particularly well-suited for this purpose.

Dark woods

Dark wood creates an elegant look, especially when using woods like teak and mahogany. These are ideal for damp rooms and can quickly transform a wooden bathroom into a truly luxurious space.

However, woods such as walnut, American hickory, and heat-treated ash can also be used in the bathroom without hesitation. Unlike the woods mentioned earlier, they have a slightly more rustic look, which is why they blend well into a dark, natural-style bathroom.

Bathroom with light-colored L-Cube bathroom furniture

Light-colored woods

Those who prefer a bright bathroom also have plenty of options to choose from. Oak, beech, and maple, as well as many conifers such as spruce and pine, provide suitable wood for the bathroom. Only pine should not be exposed to too much direct splashing water.

Birch is practically a must for a Scandinavian-style bathroom—and, of course, it looks great in other bathrooms as well. If you’re looking for a more tropical feel, you might want to opt for mango wood instead. It adds a particularly striking accent to a bathroom with natural stone.

Care and durability of wood

While untreated wood in the bathroom can cause problems, with the right design and maintenance measures, the material is durable and can withstand humidity without issue. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Round countertop sink from the Duravit Cape Cod series on a wooden pedestal

Oil or varnish

First of all, you should oil or varnish untreated wood in the bathroom. Both options are suitable, but you shouldn't switch between them.

Hard wax oil can be used to seal the wood in the bathroom. This process must be repeated about two to three times a year to maintain the protection. The more oil that is used, the less moisture the wood absorbs and releases.

If, on the other hand, varnish is used, the wood will no longer absorb moisture. It is therefore particularly well-suited for making wood in the bathroom waterproof. However, even small cracks must be repaired immediately, as moisture can otherwise become trapped in the wood.

Wall-mounted bidet and toilet from the Duravit Aurena series in black

Substructure (for walls and floors)

If you’re using not only wooden bathroom furniture but also wood paneling or wood-look tiles in your bathroom, you must ensure that the wood isn’t simply installed directly on the concrete. It’s important to have a suitable subfloor with a vapor barrier. This prevents moisture from accumulating under or behind the wood and helps avoid mold in the bathroom.

Bathroom with a Zencha bathtub and furniture

Proper ventilation and heating

To protect the wood in your bathroom, proper ventilation and heating are especially important. Warm, humid air, in particular, should not be allowed to linger in the room for too long. By the way, this also applies to bathrooms without wood. So be sure to ventilate regularly to give the wood in your bathroom enough air to breathe.