Hanging art in your bathroom, what you really need to know:

Every room in your home deserves a touch of art. Yes, even your bathroom! When it comes to hanging art in your bathroom some questions may arise. Is it safe? Will a steamy shower be the demise of your favorite heirloom? There’s a lot of mixed information out there so we thought we’d make it easy for you. At Apex Art Lab we provide high quality custom framing and installation services. As professionals it’s our opinion that when hanging art in a particularly humid space it comes back to these principles: the right piece, the right materials, ventilation and placement!

Materials

Choosing the right piece of art: 

Don’t go for original artworks or sentimental pieces. Instead, think about materials. Oftentimes it is most advised to hang reproductions or other low stakes artworks; but what kind of artwork? In a humid environment the substrate is just as important as the content of the artwork.

Best Material Choice

The most hydrophilic materials, those that will reject water, are printed metal, plaster, acrylic or canvas. If prints on paper are a must do for your space consider acid-free reproductions. The archival quality of these prints can better hold up against years of humidity. Metal and plastic are, however, 100% waterproof. Similarly, most printed canvases have a coating which protects from moisture in the air making them the best material for humid spaces like a bathroom.

More on Canvas

This isn’t to say that all canvases can survive this environment, you would still never want to hang an original artwork in a space exposed to so much humidity. For example, hanging an oil painting is not advised. Oil paintings and other works of art with delicate or textural elements would become damaged very quickly by the humidity levels even in a well-ventilated bathroom. Noted that while canvas can generally uphold against humidity  in extreme cases it is possible for warping of the stretcher bar to occur, leaving the artwork warped and unsightly. 

Choosing the right framing materials:

As we’ve mentioned, when hanging artwork in your bathroom, refrain from hanging anything priceless and most importantly, do not to hang works on paper. These rules apply to wood-frames as well. 

Frame Make Up

Although wood frames are appealing and might feel like the key to a traditional presentation we encourage you to explore other materials. Often times framers will have acrylic or composite frames which have a similar look to traditional wood frames but will last much longer in a steamy environment. If you hang a wood frame in your bathroom, the frame will expand and contract due to the constant temperature changes which can cause warping. If an acrylic coated frame doesn’t seem like the fix for you consider a metal frame with aluminum instead. Metal frames can easily endure constant temperature changes and aluminum won’t rust.

Glazing

Additionally, you can avoid pesky droplets from trapping themselves under glass by skipping glazing where you can. When moisture gets trapped behind the glass it can cause mold or staining on your artwork and mat. This is what makes canvases such a good fit for your bathroom. However, if glazing is absolutely necessary, we suggest acrylic over glass as acrylic allows the artwork to breathe and in the case of an accident will not shatter.

Framing

What do we do as framers to protect against humidity?

This may seem like a lot to consider. If so, there’s no shame in leaving it to the professionals! Go see your local framer, at Apex Art Lab we always ensure quality fitting and materials for all of our orders.

Fitting

In the instance of works in a bathroom your largest defense against steam is proper fitting. Fitting is the process of  putting a frame and all of its components together. Proper fitting ensures that everything is tight and that the artwork isn’t touching the glazing. We do this by using a mat or on occasion frame spacers. Matting and spacers add to the look of your piece while protecting your artwork from being pressed against the front glass or acrylic glazing where droplets would pool.

Backing

At Apex Art Lab we finish all of our pieces with foam board backing. Often framers will use a fiberboard backing. This is safe for frames hung in most rooms but it’s not up to standard for high-humidity rooms. Foam board, however, is less penetrable and will help prevent moisture from getting into your art. For extreme precaution you can also ask your framer to apply framer’s tape to the back of the artwork. Making a seal against the mat and backing foam will create a barrier between your artwork and potential moisture. In addition to this we also include bumper pads. On the back of the picture frame,  bumper pads are placed at each corner before hanging on the wall. The bumper pads create a space between the picture frame and the wall allowing that ever so important circulation.

Proper backing is a strong defense against pesky droplets and intense humidity.

Ventilation

What can I do in the fight against humidity?

VENTILATION! 100x over ventilation. The longevity of your artwork is linked directly to the level of humidity in your bathroom. Good circulation is key to the longevity of your selected artwork. If you have a bathroom exhaust fan, take advantage, turn it on before showering, keep it on while you shower and run it for up to an hour after you finish showering. If you don’t have an exhaust fan, consider using a dehumidifier instead. A cracked door or window can also help ensure good circulation in your bathroom. 

Conveniently, good ventilation is also your best line of defense against mold. However, if you’d like to take additional measures you can buy mold traps that absorb some of the moisture out of the air and prevent the growth or build up of mold on prints and other bathroom surfaces.

Why so much worry over a little water?

Well I’ll be honest, we’ve been installing artwork for years and never received a complaint about a bathroom piece getting damaged or even slightly funky. We do however, hold ourselves to the highest standard of framing. If moisture does get in the frame package, then mold can form and unfortunately warp or even worse stain whatever you have framed. 

You’ve got the perfect piece….where should you hang it?

Placement

Placement is the final step but it can make or break the impact and longevity of your artwork. When hanging your art consider splashback. For example, when hanging near a sink or over a tub ensure you hang the piece high enough that droplets will not splash the artwork. Similarly, when hanging artwork behind your mirror or where you get ready be mindful of product overspray. Over time hairsprays and other products leave an undesirable coating on your artwork which can be avoided by hanging the artwork out of range or being conscious of your movements when giving yourself final touches.

Height

When hanging over high traffic areas such as the toilet or rails, prevent damage by  hanging the artwork high enough that there is room to remove or place towels without bumping the artwork. We recommend at least 8 inches.  

Need help in the Seattle area? Reach out! We’ve done loads of projects at various scales.   Give us a call at 206-913-2694 or reach us through our site.