You have to admit, there’s a particular feeling when you walk into someone else’s bathroom that it just seems… dull. As if they picked the least adventurous beige they could find, and then called it a day. To be honest, I used to be that person. My first rental was painted in a color I would describe as ‘milk tea gone cold’, and I rationally believed it was ‘timeless’ when really it was just boring.
However, as regards bathroom colors, you see them at the beginning of your day when you’re still trying to wake up and at the end of your day when you’re winding down. Essentially, they dictate how you begin and finish each day. Therefore, why do we accept something that elicits absolutely no emotion?
I began testing bathroom colors roughly three years ago when I moved into a flat with an extremely small en-suite. We’re talking barely enough room to turn around; one tiny window looking onto a brick wall; and those hideous contractor-grade white tiles that seemed gray regardless of the time of day. Initially, I wanted to paint everything white to give the illusion of being larger, but after living in it for two months I felt as though I was brushing my teeth in a hospital corridor.
That’s when I chose to test my first bold option a deep navy blue on the one wall behind the mirror. I recall standing in the paint section at B&Q for twenty minutes, clutching this little sample card, thinking “this is either going to look fantastic or like I have painted my bathroom with a Sharpie.” However, you know what? This changed the space entirely. Rather than feeling cramped, the small area now felt cozy and the white fixtures stood out against the dark wall rather than blending into boring similarity.
The key to using bold colors in bathrooms is selecting the correct wall. I’ve learned this the hard way through painting an entire guest toilet in what I believed to be a stunning emerald green, however it ultimately resembled “a seasick passenger on a ferry” when the humidity affected the color. Now I use accent walls typically the wall behind the sink or across from the entrance so it will be the first wall you view upon entering.
My current bathroom is painted in this soft, dusty rose color that everybody assumed was some form of trend-millennial nonsense until they spent some time in it. It is referred to as “Setting Plaster” by Farrow & Ball (yes, I splurged — at times the pricey paint is worth the investment), and it has a tendency to change depending on the time of day. Light from the morning makes it appear nearly neutral, while light from the evening gives it a warmer, more rosey hue. The secret is that it blends well with both brass and chrome fixtures, which was essential since I didn’t plan to replace all my hardware simply to repaint the walls.
However, what I wish someone had informed me earlier regarding bathroom colors is that the colors in your bathroom aren’t solely determined by the walls. What made the greatest difference was when I began to consider the total palette towels, bath mat, shower curtain, and even the color of your toiletries. I previously had this random assortment of white towels, a blue bath mat that someone provided me with, and whatever cheap shower curtain I could locate. Little surprise, therefore, that I never felt that anything was in sync.
Currently, I design the entire color scheme based on the primary color of the bathroom. In my current layout, the entire ensemble centers on that dusty rose-colored wall I have cream-colored towels (warmer than stark white), a jute bath mat that adds natural texture, and I even placed my shampoo into amber glass containers since those orangey prescription bottles were completely ruining the ambiance. Sounds a tad extreme perhaps, but the visual tranquility it generates is definitely worth the added effort.
Most individuals may wish to begin with softer neutral colors. I’m referring to colors that are neither truly beige nor bold such as warmer grays, softer sage green hues, or that perfect, creamy white hue that isn’t stark. These work particularly well for renters who are concerned about resale value or for individuals who rent and cannot make long-lasting modifications. I assisted my sister in painting her rental bathroom in this lovely warm gray color referred to as “Elephant’s Breath” (horrendous name, wonderful color); and when she vacated, her landlord actually complimented it.
As for neutrals, the trick is to incorporate multiple tones and textures. All-beige everything contributes to making bathrooms feel dull; but beige walls with charcoal tiles and brass fixtures? That’s upscale. I have observed many people transform builder-grade bathrooms merely by replacing their standard chrome towel holders with black ones and installing a textured shower curtain in a matching neutral color.
Lighting also greatly impacts colors. I installed dimmer switches in both of my bathrooms, as excessive overhead lighting distorts virtually all colors. LED bulbs with a warm color temperature (approximately 2700K if you’d like to become technical) enhance most colors and render them more inviting. Cool daylight bulbs, on the other hand, can create warm colors that seem muddled and cool colors that appear harsh.
A color combination that I continually return to is navy blue and white with natural wood accents. It’s not innovative, but it works. I utilized this palette in a guest bathroom renovation last year navy blue wainscoting on the lower portion of the walls, crisp white on the upper portion, white subway tiles, and a natural wood floating vanity. The final product appeared both classic and modern, similar to something you would encounter in a boutique hotel but actually liveable.
If you’re contemplating changing the color of your bathroom, I recommend the following: start slowly. Paint one wall and allow yourself to adjust to it for one week prior to deciding on a color for the remainder of the room. Photograph the bathroom at various times of the day due to the unusual lighting conditions of a bathroom; what appears spectacular at noon may look terrible at 7am. Honestly? I wouldn’t worry too much concerning resale. If a prospective buyer is deterred by a soft sage green colored bathroom wall, he or she likely wasn’t your buyer anyway.
The single most significant element in determining your bathroom color is the colors that produce an emotional response within you. Whether you desire a dramatic charcoal gray that produces a spa-like atmosphere, or a cheerful yellow that brightens your daily routine, or even that ideal shade of beige that provides you with a sense of satisfaction your bathroom color scheme should represent what is optimal for your lifestyle, not what you believe others anticipate seeing.
