Exposed pipes can quickly ruin the overall aesthetic of a bathroom you designed with love and care.
However, you can hide those pipes from view and give your bathroom a neater, more attractive look.
Even though hiding exposed pipes and plumbing fixtures is tough, you can use bathroom furniture, build a fake wall, or box the pipes in, among other ways, to hide them.
So, let’s explore how to cover up exposed pipes in a bathroom!
12 Ways to Cover Up Pipes in a Bathroom
If you’re worried that your old and unsightly bathroom plumbing pipes and fixtures will ruin its look, fret not! Use the following tips to cover up the pipes in your bathroom:
Use Bathroom Furniture to Hide Them
Bespoke bathroom furniture, including cistern units or vanity units, provide you with a simple but effective way to hide your bathroom plumbing pipes.
Cistern units are manufactured to be installed with their backs to wall toilets. These units can effectively conceal the pipes in your bathroom and the cistern in the furniture unit.
It allows you to easily clean the space and creates a neater look for the furniture as well. You can also use the top of the unit for some extra storage space or to display cute decorative objects.
A vanity unit essentially combines a sink and storage space into a singular unit. It saves space and offers a great way to conceal plumbing around the basin.
You can replace your old sink with a vanity unit to give your bathroom the facelift it needs without a lot of effort.
Custom Cabinetry
If you do not want to part ways with your existing sink, you can install bespoke cabinetry around the sink pipes to hide the plumbing pipes and valves.
It will enable you to have a space where you can keep your cleaning brushes and sprays or even your toiletries and emergency kit.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to spend a lot, you can pick up some fabric at the fabric store. Choose the material, color, and pattern that go with the bathroom décor.
Use the fabric as a cover for the pipes and make a sink skirt from it. You can install a curtain rod in front of the sink to attach the skirt or use suction cups.
Box in the Plumbing
If you don’t want to spend on replacing your existing fixtures with custom cabinetries and units that can conceal your pipework, consider having the bathroom pipes boxed in.
If you have the knowledge and experience, you can box them in yourself. All you will need are some nails, a measuring tape, a saw, a hammer, and some pieces of wood.
If the pipes run along the bathroom floor at a low level, you can use the box you create to hide them as a shelf as well.
You can also paint the pipes to watch the color of the wall. This works when the pipes are situated in an awkward position and you are having trouble boxing them in.
Hide the Pipes in the Wall
Even though it’s a disruptive and expensive option, hiding the bathroom pipes in the wall or under the floor will create a huge difference in the bathroom’s overall look.
It is how pipework is concealed in newly constructed buildings. But if you want to rip out your old bathroom and start building it from scratch, it’s a great option to consider.
You can also take this route if you plan on building an extension with a new bathroom. It will certainly be worth it in the long term.
If you wish to hide the pipes without replacing the toilet and basin, you will need an experienced plumber to move the pipes around. It will leave you without that bathroom for some days.
You will also need to plaster and decorate the pipes once they have been moved.
Get a Pedestal Basin
Basins that feature a semi or full pedestal are exceptional at hiding unsightly pipework. It’s also not difficult to replace your existing sink with a stylish new one with a pedestal.
These types of basins come in a vast array of sizes to suit all types of bathrooms. You can get them to suit your traditional or modern bathroom. They are also quite easy to install.
Invest in a Wall-Hung Basin
If pedestal basins are not your cup of tea, get your hands on a wall-hung basin to cover the basin pipes. You can use a chrome bottle trap to disguise the pipework.
It features a chrome finish that seamlessly blends with other bathroom fixtures, such as taps and showers.
Fit a Wall-Hung Toilet
Wall-hung toilets have their cistern and pipework hidden in the wall behind them. This way, the only parts visible from the front are the flush plate and the pan.
It offers a minimal, sleek finish and creates a modern and clean look. An appropriately fitted toilet and frame will easily support 200kgs.
The pan that is wall-hung is fitted to a frame, which also carries the cistern. You will need to ensure the cistern is accessible in case you face an issue.
You can access it through the flush plate, which you can lift off for convenient access to the cistern.
Construct a Fake Wall
If you have pipes that run around your bathroom walls, you will face trouble boxing them in. So, you can try concealing them by creating a fake plasterboard wall to hide your existing wall.
It’s a superb, cost-effective method to hide the pipes in a larger bathroom. You will need to hire a contractor to build a fake wall or DIY it.
You will also need a plumber to move the toilet and basin so that you can have them installed neatly against the new wall.
If you want to get any electrical work done, such as installing new lights, you might have to hire a professional electrician.
To be on the safe side, get a quote for all the work to ensure it’s the best option for you before going ahead with the plan.
Make Them Stand Out Attractively
Lastly, who says you have to hide your bathroom pipes. Today, exposed plumbing and pipes are considered chic and fashionable.
You can paint the pipes and other plumbing fixtures in your bathroom in a standout color to keep them from blending in. Make them pop visually with a complementary color that brings the space together.
Incorporate them in the color scheme you want to keep for the bathroom. This way, they will be pleasing to the eye. You can also use intricately decorated pipe covers to beautify them.
It works beautifully for rustic and country-style homes. You can also hang leafy vines or fake foliage from them to add a pop of nature to your design.
You can keep the pipes exposed and paint them in colors that go well with your bathroom fixtures and cabinets for minimally designed bathrooms.
Use Decorative Pipe Covers
If your bathroom has several exposed pipes and you don’t want to hide them through costly means, you can use decorative covers for them.
You can also paint scenery onto them and make it a fun project that your kids can take up. Alternatively, you can cover them with wallpaper borders. Wrap themed borders around these plumbing pipes.
Turn the Pipes into Cat Trees
If you have cats in your home and they like coming into the bathroom to check on you (yes, all felines do that,) you can wrap the exposed pipes with good-quality sisal or rope.
This way, you can create fun cat trees from them that your cat can climb atop and even scratch. Just make sure the layering is tight and plentiful so that your cat does not hurt itself or damage the pipes.
Moreover, you can affix wood pieces across the pipes and atop those attached to the walls to create perching spots for your feline.
Turn Them into Storage Spaces
You can also install pieces of wood in between pipes with sisal or affix them to the pipes attached to the wall. This way, you will have ample storage space for your toiletries or bathroom supplies.
You can also use hooks and other pipe fixtures to use the bathroom pipes to hang your towel, bathroom, and other objects.
Hide the Pipes with Decorations
If you have enough space in your bathroom, you can use fake plants and other decoration pieces to hide your bathroom pipes. Strategically place these decorations so that the pipes are not visible right away.
Use Creative Solutions to Hide Exposed Bathroom Pipes
If you’re worried about how to cover up pipes in the bathroom, use the tips mentioned above. You can get as creative as you want to hide the bathroom pipes.
Depending on how spacious your bathroom is and your preferences, you can use furniture to hide the pipes, decorative covers to make them pretty, plants to beautify them, paint them, and more.
Alternatively, you can leave your pipes exposed for a modern, bold look.
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