If you’re looking to breathe a little life back into your bathroom but feel overwhelmed with where to start, look no further. Updating your bathroom doesn’t have to mean a complete renovation. Instead, opting to refresh your space with a lick of paint is often all that’s needed to maximise your bathroom’s potential. All you need is some bathroom colour ideas to get you started.
Whether you want to create an oasis of calm to retreat to after a long day or the perfect room to get ready in before a nice dinner, we’re sharing some of our favourite colour ideas to help you design your own slice of paradise.
1. Sky blue
Sky blue has long been a popular bathroom paint colour thanks to its calming qualities, creating a tranquil space to unwind. If you’re refreshing a modern or traditional-style bathroom, sky blue is one surefire way to rejuvenate your space.
For larger rooms, consider an accent wall or colour combinations to prevent the blue from overwhelming your bathroom.
2. Embrace earthy tones with sage green paint
Sage green walls are the epitome of elegance and are a great option for those looking for modern bathroom colours. Suitable for all bathroom types, from contemporary to minimalist, sage green creates a relaxing atmosphere for you to soak away the day in.
Use finishing touches such as copper taps or wooden shelving to prevent the room from feeling flat.
3. Brighten up your space with yellow paint
For a more uplifting environment, use yellow paint to add a dash of sunshine to your bathroom. Suited best to contemporary-style bathrooms, match your vibrant walls with luscious indoor plants to make the space pop. Yellows can add some fun to your bathroom but the wrong shade has the potential to make your room look juvenile. Use stylish accessories to balance whimsy with grown-up sophistication.
4. Opt for sleek minimalism with white
Offering a blank canvas, whether you opt for a subtle off-white or something a little brighter, white walls allow your accessories to shine and work well in minimalist-style bathrooms. This paint colour scheme is a great choice for smaller bathrooms that need to feel airy and less cramped. However, some whites can look quite stark under artificial lighting, so make sure you pick out the right shade and go for softer lighting where possible.
5. Spice things up with orange
From husky hues to neons, orange walls are one surefire way to add some vibrancy to your bathroom. Suitable for contemporary or rustic styles, the orange colour palette has endless options to help you elevate your space. Pair a burnt orange with exposed brick or push the boat out with a more vivid shade and complete the look with contrasting accessories.
Be aware that some oranges require a lot of coats, so patience might be needed when applying.
6. Grey never goes out of style
Grey is an exceedingly popular choice for people looking at bathroom wall colour ideas. Working well in almost every bathroom but particularly suited to minimalist styles, this paint colour is an easy way to ensure your bathroom looks timeless. Prevent your room from feeling dreary or unwelcoming to visitors by balancing greys with fresh white features or using mirrors to open up the space.
7. Forest green
Uncover a luxurious feel in your bathroom with rich green walls and embrace the calming properties of nature’s own colour palette. Complementing traditional-style bathrooms, forest green beautifully contrasts ornate features and adds another element to an already elegant room.
It’s sometimes argued that darker paints make small spaces feel cramped, but clever use of lighting, cabinet colours and bright accessories can help to negate this.
9. Get creative and mix colours
If you’re hunting for new bathroom paint colour ideas and fancy trying something new, why not consider a few different colours? Unleash your creative side with white and blue stripes or bold geometric patterns. Best suited to contemporary styles, adding patterns or multiple colours can help transform your bathroom into an unrecognisable space, but be careful not to overdo it, taking your bathroom from fun to headache-inducing.
10. Get playful with pinks
To add a little flair to your bathroom, a pink paint colour might just be the right choice for you. From vibrant shades to pastel hues, there’s no shortage of options to really accentuate the features of your contemporary bathroom.
Pinks are suited to bright bathrooms with great natural light but might not be the number one choice for homes with four-legged friends who tend to leave muddy marks on walls.
11. Use cream or brown paints for country vibes
Creams or gentle browns offer a stunning colour palette perfect for a country-style bathroom. There’s nothing quite like a neutral tone to calm the senses, turning your bathroom into a sanctuary of peace. Pair with beautiful wooden framed mirrors and rustic metal taps to tie the look together.
Although this is undoubtedly a beautiful finish, neutral paints can be prone to showing up scuffs and day-to-day marks, meaning they might not be the most family-friendly option.
12. Make a statement with black
Black walls add some drama to any environment and work well in minimalist-style bathrooms. Pairing with illuminated mirrors and white marble tiles will add some brightness and deliver an unforgettable look.
Consider using black paint as a feature wall to prevent your room from feeling dim and unwelcoming. The addition of warm lighting can also help you find the ideal blend of darkness and light.
13. Paint your ceiling a contrasting colour
An often overlooked part of redecorating any room, painting your bathroom ceiling is guaranteed to add a little something extra to your makeover. In some circumstances, opting to paint your walls and ceiling the same colour could make your room feel small and dark so, instead, consider picking a complementary colour to break up the space.
13. Think outside of the box with red
Whether you want to make a statement in a small space or just add a unique feature wall, red paint helps to create a distinctive bathroom. Rooms without a lot of light could end up feeling dingy, so play around with different lighting options to offset this.
How to choose bathroom colour
When it comes to picking the right bathroom paint colour for your home, there are a few key things to consider before you get out the masking tape and get stuck in:
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Size:
No space is the same and varying sized rooms will suit different shades of paint. If your room is on the smaller side, consider opting for lighter paints such as pastels, which can make your bathroom feel more spacious. If you have more room to work with, you might want to go for more bold or daring colours, to make a statement with your space.
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Light:
What natural light does your bathroom get and how does the artificial light impact how the paint looks? If you aren’t blessed with a bathroom window, cooler paint colours can be a great choice to help keep your room feeling light and airy. If you’re lucky enough to have lots of natural light, consider how your room might look different throughout the day and check out how paint shades vary from day to night before committing.
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Usage:
A private haven for one versus a family-friendly space both lend themselves to different bathroom wall paint ideas. If you’re creating a spa-like environment to unwind in, warm beige or creams are just the ticket. For kid-friendly bathrooms, why not try a more playful approach such as blues that play into a nautical theme?
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Upkeep:
Bathrooms get a lot of traffic in every house, so walls will likely get scuffed. Lighter colours might need more frequent top-ups compared to more forgiving darker shades. Remember that many brands also offer specific paints for bathrooms and kitchens, designed to withstand more and to be easier to clean.
With our 13 bathroom colour ideas, you’ve got everything you need to get to work transforming your space into a room you can be proud of.