10 Ways to Go for Color in the Bath
A shot of strong color or pattern sets these bathrooms apart from the rest of the pack
Laura Gaskill
September 2, 2019
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
With bold hues, attention-grabbing tile and creative details, the bathroom can be the most fun room in the house. Get inspired by these 10 spaces that aren’t afraid of piling on the color and pattern. Which is your favorite?
1. Beach House Blues
A watery-hued wallcovering and black-and-white surf art are go-to beach house touches, but the chic fabric-covered X-bench brings this space by Kate Jackson Design firmly into sophisticated territory. Classic bath fittings, white shutters and fluffy white towels add to the elegant vibe.
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A watery-hued wallcovering and black-and-white surf art are go-to beach house touches, but the chic fabric-covered X-bench brings this space by Kate Jackson Design firmly into sophisticated territory. Classic bath fittings, white shutters and fluffy white towels add to the elegant vibe.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
2. Escher-Inspired
An M.C. Escher-esque 3D tile pattern is the focal point in this bathroom by CG&S Design-Build. And while it’s probably wise to keep the other elements simple (read: white), with a pattern this bold, you can add a bit more fun to your bath by picking up a hue from the tilework and repeating it on the vanity handles or in other bath details. If you don’t want to change anything major, even bringing in a few accessories in a matching shade can help tie the look together.
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An M.C. Escher-esque 3D tile pattern is the focal point in this bathroom by CG&S Design-Build. And while it’s probably wise to keep the other elements simple (read: white), with a pattern this bold, you can add a bit more fun to your bath by picking up a hue from the tilework and repeating it on the vanity handles or in other bath details. If you don’t want to change anything major, even bringing in a few accessories in a matching shade can help tie the look together.
Shop for wall and floor tile
3. Scalloped Tile
By pairing retro powder-blue scalloped tile with brushed gold and brass fittings, this bathroom manages to feel vintage-inspired yet fresh. A curvy wall mirror echoes the shape of the tile, and keeping the upper half of the walls white makes for a crisp, clean look.
By pairing retro powder-blue scalloped tile with brushed gold and brass fittings, this bathroom manages to feel vintage-inspired yet fresh. A curvy wall mirror echoes the shape of the tile, and keeping the upper half of the walls white makes for a crisp, clean look.
4. Floral Floor
Why let the walls have all the fun? Take a cue from this bathroom by Alison Kandler Interior Design and focus on the floor instead with a pretty tile pattern inside the shower stall.
Why let the walls have all the fun? Take a cue from this bathroom by Alison Kandler Interior Design and focus on the floor instead with a pretty tile pattern inside the shower stall.
5. Sunshine Stripes
Bright as the summer sun, this big shower room by Alys Design gets a cheery treatment with thick yellow and white stripes of tile. And because the tile itself is a basic subway shape, this look wouldn’t be too expensive to install.
Bright as the summer sun, this big shower room by Alys Design gets a cheery treatment with thick yellow and white stripes of tile. And because the tile itself is a basic subway shape, this look wouldn’t be too expensive to install.
6. Rainbow Mosaic
A plethora of tiny tiles in a mixed-up rainbow of hues is a fun way to add color to a simple white-and-wood bathroom by built. Finish the look by hanging a cluster of wire cage pendants in aqua blue rather than the typical vanity lights.
A plethora of tiny tiles in a mixed-up rainbow of hues is a fun way to add color to a simple white-and-wood bathroom by built. Finish the look by hanging a cluster of wire cage pendants in aqua blue rather than the typical vanity lights.
7. Dressing Room Details
Bring the rich, elegant vibe of a formal dressing table to the bath with a lacquered vanity and ornate Venetian mirror as in this bathroom by Tobi Fairley Interior Design. All the right details (jewelry-like knobs, Roman shades) bring the look together, while painted-on stripes provide the appearance of wallpaper without the worry.
Wall paint: Watery (blue) and Antiquity (green), both Sherwin-Williams; vanity paint: Lagoon, Sherwin-Williams
Bring the rich, elegant vibe of a formal dressing table to the bath with a lacquered vanity and ornate Venetian mirror as in this bathroom by Tobi Fairley Interior Design. All the right details (jewelry-like knobs, Roman shades) bring the look together, while painted-on stripes provide the appearance of wallpaper without the worry.
Wall paint: Watery (blue) and Antiquity (green), both Sherwin-Williams; vanity paint: Lagoon, Sherwin-Williams
8. Eye-Popping Brights
With glowing colors like this, you won’t need a nightlight! Saturated-yellow tile (which on its own would be bold) gets kicked up a notch when combined with an electric-blue towel warmer and neon-colored stools in this room by Alex Fulton Design.
With glowing colors like this, you won’t need a nightlight! Saturated-yellow tile (which on its own would be bold) gets kicked up a notch when combined with an electric-blue towel warmer and neon-colored stools in this room by Alex Fulton Design.
9. Garden Statuary
Sometimes one stunning piece is enough to inspire an entirely new scheme. Case in point: this stunning custom sink, which was designed after an 18th-century birdbath in this room by Chandler Prewitt Design. The garden mood is further enhanced by tiles handmade by an artist in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which look as if they could grace the floor of a courtyard in the Southwest.
Sometimes one stunning piece is enough to inspire an entirely new scheme. Case in point: this stunning custom sink, which was designed after an 18th-century birdbath in this room by Chandler Prewitt Design. The garden mood is further enhanced by tiles handmade by an artist in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which look as if they could grace the floor of a courtyard in the Southwest.
10. An Unexpected Light
A beaded chandelier like this one would usually be found suspended above a dining table or fabulous marble-topped kitchen island. But why not use it in the bath? A glamorous light fixture in the bath by Alisa Block Architect + Design is unexpected — which makes it all the more appealing.
Show us: We’d like to see your bold bath design. Please share a photo in the Comments!
More on Houzz
Read more about bathroom design
Find a bathroom remodeler
Shop for bathroom products
A beaded chandelier like this one would usually be found suspended above a dining table or fabulous marble-topped kitchen island. But why not use it in the bath? A glamorous light fixture in the bath by Alisa Block Architect + Design is unexpected — which makes it all the more appealing.
Show us: We’d like to see your bold bath design. Please share a photo in the Comments!
More on Houzz
Read more about bathroom design
Find a bathroom remodeler
Shop for bathroom products
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Not mentioned is to use decals, stencils and/or paint. And ceiling can also be a canvas!
Great ideas on how to incorporate colors in the bathroom! I just wanted to add that if you do not feel like making your bathroom colors permanent, colorful wall art is also a good option.
Luckily, art prints can now be printed on metal or acrylic surfaces - both materials can withstand a lot of moisture and are safe to hang in bathrooms. We started offering all our artwork as metal and acrylic prints here on Houzz a while ago, and we have noticed that people like them for bathrooms.
Raisa
Great Ideas! We love seeing personality and color being added to spaces. There is so much being done with overly neutral colors these days. Thanks for writing this.