10 Bathrooms With Big, Bold Color
For a not-so-subtle approach to bath design, try a revved-up red, feisty yellow or leafy green
Jennifer Ott
April 29, 2020
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
Ready to bring some fun and feisty color back into your home? Bathrooms are an easy place to go a little wild with color. Unlike your bedroom or living room, it’s not a place where you sleep or lounge around for hours at a time. So while a vibrant yellow bedroom could keep you up at night, a similarly zesty hue in your bathroom might just put a smile on your face whenever you enter the room.
1. Feisty Yellow and Green
Here’s an unusual yet high-spirited color palette. A vivacious yellow adds warmth and a playful vibe to the room and a Kelly green on the vanity cabinet is a kicked-up take on an organic, natural hue. It might be too intense in large doses, especially in a room with little to no natural sunlight, but here, in a small dose, it’s jolly and fun.
Tip: Take the guesswork out of picking paint colors by pulling them from your flooring, wallcovering or other installed material.
Here’s an unusual yet high-spirited color palette. A vivacious yellow adds warmth and a playful vibe to the room and a Kelly green on the vanity cabinet is a kicked-up take on an organic, natural hue. It might be too intense in large doses, especially in a room with little to no natural sunlight, but here, in a small dose, it’s jolly and fun.
Tip: Take the guesswork out of picking paint colors by pulling them from your flooring, wallcovering or other installed material.
2. Revved-Up Red
I recommend this heart-racing hue for those who struggle to get going in the morning. In large doses like this, it can also make a space feel protective and nurturing. Make sure you have ample lighting (whether natural or artificial) and consider pairing this color with plenty of white to keep the space from feeling too cave-like.
Tip: If your budget allows, consider tiling the full wall or walls to avoid awkward transitions where the tile meets another material.
Shop for bathroom tile
I recommend this heart-racing hue for those who struggle to get going in the morning. In large doses like this, it can also make a space feel protective and nurturing. Make sure you have ample lighting (whether natural or artificial) and consider pairing this color with plenty of white to keep the space from feeling too cave-like.
Tip: If your budget allows, consider tiling the full wall or walls to avoid awkward transitions where the tile meets another material.
Shop for bathroom tile
3. Tropical Turquoise
Whether it’s trending or not, turquoise is a color I continue to love, I think because it calls to mind lounging alongside clear, beautiful water in distant, warm locales. For that reason it’s a great hue to include in your bathroom, where you can take a mental vacation in your bathtub.
Tip: Before you pass on a tile you love because of its price tag, calculate just how much you’ll need for the job. You might be surprised at how affordable it can be if you have large windows, mirrors, a bathtub, etc., taking up square footage that won’t be tiled.
Whether it’s trending or not, turquoise is a color I continue to love, I think because it calls to mind lounging alongside clear, beautiful water in distant, warm locales. For that reason it’s a great hue to include in your bathroom, where you can take a mental vacation in your bathtub.
Tip: Before you pass on a tile you love because of its price tag, calculate just how much you’ll need for the job. You might be surprised at how affordable it can be if you have large windows, mirrors, a bathtub, etc., taking up square footage that won’t be tiled.
4. Sunny Yellow
I predict we’ll see more and more homeowners adding yellow into their homes in an effort to encourage a sense of happiness, hope and optimism. Especially when combined with natural light from a large window or skylight, a healthy dose of this happy hue really hits the spot.
Tip: If you mix different tiles on the same wall, make sure they’re all the same thickness to avoid a trickier (and more expensive) installation job.
I predict we’ll see more and more homeowners adding yellow into their homes in an effort to encourage a sense of happiness, hope and optimism. Especially when combined with natural light from a large window or skylight, a healthy dose of this happy hue really hits the spot.
Tip: If you mix different tiles on the same wall, make sure they’re all the same thickness to avoid a trickier (and more expensive) installation job.
5. Grassy Green
If you prefer a more soothing but still striking color for your bathroom, consider a vivid verdant hue. Most of us have positive associations to these organic grassy greens. Bring that outside vibe indoors and enjoy the connection to Mother Nature.
Tip: Have your carpenter frame an existing frameless mirror and then paint or stain it to your liking to create a custom vanity mirror.
If you prefer a more soothing but still striking color for your bathroom, consider a vivid verdant hue. Most of us have positive associations to these organic grassy greens. Bring that outside vibe indoors and enjoy the connection to Mother Nature.
Tip: Have your carpenter frame an existing frameless mirror and then paint or stain it to your liking to create a custom vanity mirror.
6. Orange Zest
One cannot do a roundup of bold color without including an outgoing orange option. And this is an example of how a little goes a long way. Because this bathroom has such beautiful fixtures and finishes, it’d be a shame if the use of orange was so over the top that you didn’t notice the elegant elements. To my eye, this small accent is the perfect use of the color.
Tip: Use bold color to help frame and focus on interesting elements or materials in a space.
One cannot do a roundup of bold color without including an outgoing orange option. And this is an example of how a little goes a long way. Because this bathroom has such beautiful fixtures and finishes, it’d be a shame if the use of orange was so over the top that you didn’t notice the elegant elements. To my eye, this small accent is the perfect use of the color.
Tip: Use bold color to help frame and focus on interesting elements or materials in a space.
7. Brightly Blue
I love the mix of materials, pattern and color here. Powder rooms and kids’ bathrooms are the perfect spaces to go for the bold. And this brilliant blue adds the perfect splash of cool color to the party.
Tip: Let your kids help pick the colors and decorative details in their bathroom. It’s a space that doesn’t need to be serious and stuffy. And elements like paint and posters are easy and affordable to swap out as kids grow and their tastes and interests change.
I love the mix of materials, pattern and color here. Powder rooms and kids’ bathrooms are the perfect spaces to go for the bold. And this brilliant blue adds the perfect splash of cool color to the party.
Tip: Let your kids help pick the colors and decorative details in their bathroom. It’s a space that doesn’t need to be serious and stuffy. And elements like paint and posters are easy and affordable to swap out as kids grow and their tastes and interests change.
8. Lemon Yellow and Soft Gray
I know many people who have gray fatigue, but I still like working it in, especially when used as a neutral backdrop to other more assertive colors. This floating vanity in a citrus yellow adds personality and charm to this sophisticated bathroom.
Tip: Use a soft neutral for items that are expensive and difficult to update (like tile) and then go wild with color for the things that are easy and affordable to redo.
I know many people who have gray fatigue, but I still like working it in, especially when used as a neutral backdrop to other more assertive colors. This floating vanity in a citrus yellow adds personality and charm to this sophisticated bathroom.
Tip: Use a soft neutral for items that are expensive and difficult to update (like tile) and then go wild with color for the things that are easy and affordable to redo.
9. Leafy Green
Here’s another nature-inspired green, this one with a bit more yellow in it than the previous example. Between the skylight, window and tropical green wall tile, I imagine showering in here is like showering outside someplace lush and exotic.
Tip: Bring the outside in via natural colors. Green hues along with wood elements are especially great at conveying a natural vibe.
Here’s another nature-inspired green, this one with a bit more yellow in it than the previous example. Between the skylight, window and tropical green wall tile, I imagine showering in here is like showering outside someplace lush and exotic.
Tip: Bring the outside in via natural colors. Green hues along with wood elements are especially great at conveying a natural vibe.
10. Saffron Accent
This is one of my favorite accent wall colors. I find that it works well in any style of home, from traditional to contemporary. It’s a strong color, but here it actually works to soften the contrast between the dark gray and white.
Tip: For those residing in cool climates, spicy hues are the best way to bring a warm and cozy vibe without having to crank up the furnace.
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Bathrooms So Far in 2020
Find home design and remodeling professionals
Shop for bathroom products
This is one of my favorite accent wall colors. I find that it works well in any style of home, from traditional to contemporary. It’s a strong color, but here it actually works to soften the contrast between the dark gray and white.
Tip: For those residing in cool climates, spicy hues are the best way to bring a warm and cozy vibe without having to crank up the furnace.
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Bathrooms So Far in 2020
Find home design and remodeling professionals
Shop for bathroom products
Ferguson showrooms are where your plans of a dream home turn into a reality. Ferguson showrooms are the place to... Read More
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I'm feeling a bit down after being couped up at home for so long, and these photos made me smile. That says something right there. Why are people so afraid of color?
They are surely bathrooms with cooler right in your face...... You could interchange colours from one bath to the other. They all have the same contemporary style. Only difference is the colour.
What is the name and brand of the wall paint in the "saffron" bathroom?