Bathrooms are usually the smallest rooms in the house. But even if it occupies a small portion of your total square footage, you still need to take some thought in choosing the colors your bathroom, considering the style, the limited space, and its functions.
In choosing what color scheme to choose, here are some factors you may need to consider:
1. Mood
First off, you must decide what mood you want to create. Do you want a laidback, and chill atmosphere where you would want to relax at the end of the day? Do you want an alarming and awakening effect that can stimulate your senses during the morning? Do you want a soothing, romantic vibe that will make you want to pamper yourself? It all boils down to your choice of color scheme. Make your bathroom appear cozier, brighter, warmer, larger or more welcoming depending on your color choices.
2. Colors of adjacent rooms
In remodeling the bathroom, take into consideration the color schemes throughout your home. The most adjacent room – it can be the bedroom, the living room or kitchen – can be your point of reference. You may choose a palette that is lighter or darker than the adjacent room to make it flow with your overall interior design. Or perhaps you can pick a brand new color scheme inspired by the views in your exterior, or the oversized artwork or geometric wall hanging you have from the adjacent area.
3. Light sources
Choosing the right bathroom paint colors can be tricky, especially because of the lack of natural light inside. A lot of bathrooms don’t have big windows for light to enter in because of privacy reasons, so these rooms rely solely or mainly on artificial lights. When choosing a suitable bathroom paint color, it is recommended that you test it first with paint samples, and see how it looks with your lighting source. Your overhead lighting has a big effect on indoor paint color. Sometimes, a neutral, warm gray can look mauve or peach under different artificial bathroom lighting.
4. Popular bathroom color schemes
To make sure that you would pick the colors that will look fine under artificial light, try to adopt one of the popular bathroom color schemes. If the colors are popular with designers, architects, and builders, then it is tried and tested to work. Once you have settled on the mood you want to create and have considered the colors of your adjacent rooms, check out these recommended bathroom color schemes and you might probably find one that can fit your own bathroom:
- Black + white
What is more classic than black and white? This ultimate light and dark combination was very popular during the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s and continues to be so until today. Relying on these two neutrals won’t make your bathroom dull – it could be very striking and dramatic once you incorporate geometric shapes, like checkerboard tiles or striped walls. But remember to don’t overdo it, decide what surface gets a pattern: the walls or the floor. Pair them with chrome fixtures, gray details on the marble countertop, silver hardware and silver-framed mirrors to spruce up the black and white combo. Use bold yellow or red towels and accessories like toiletry holders to jazz it up.
- Cream white + sandy brown + citrus green
The light, earthy combination of sand brown and citrus green is just the right amount of calm. Let sand brown tiles dominate the floor and walls, then create an accent wall (preferably the wall with the mirrors and vanity) and paint it with muted citrus green. Pick a creamy white vanity to suit the interior décor, and add lime green accessories. This color scheme can surely give you a soothing bath.
- Mocha brown + creamy white
Warm tones like mocha make a room warm and more inviting. A soft shade of mocha on the wall – paired with creamy white vanity, sink, and tub – then accented with darker espresso shades on the floor make a comfortable bathroom. Let a dark mocha tone underline the bathtub to strengthen the color scheme. However, don’t use any bold or bright colors to accessorize this motif, since it just won’t blend well.
- Blue + yellow + light browns
The classic blue mosaic tiles don’t fail in making a bathroom look fresh and invigorating. Yellow is a classic partner to blue, like the sun rising in a clear blue sky. Keep the main walls white, and pick a light brown vanity with a marble countertop. Use the blue mosaic tiles on the shower area or in an accent wall, then hang a round mirror with a yellow frame to accessorize. Add yellows in small quantities, for instance, in the form of flowers and towels, but don’t overuse it because it can be overpowering.
- Tan + mahogany + black
Light tan wood or wood-like panels on the walls make any space look homey. Tan, in general, is a hue that makes a home feel like home; it’s safe but never boring. Pair it with a solid mahogany vanity with a marble tabletop to ground the room. Then, use vintage black for your accents. Add a black trim on the ceiling and rectangular mirrors with a black frame to complete the look.
- Bright red + crisp white
Add a bright red vanity and cabinet to your white-walled bathroom to create a bold but sophisticated bathroom. Bright red, like fire-engine red, awakens the senses and keeps you alert. Pair it with traditional accents like a chrome faucet, sparkling white wall sconces, and a white ornate mirror to make a stunning contrast with the modern shade of red. However, avoid making the space too busy by putting a lot of accessories, or by just placing all the red elements in one place.
- Gray + white
This classic neutral color scheme always works in a bathroom because of the cool and clean atmosphere it evokes. However, this combination needs a lot of texture (and different shades of gray) to create the perfect ambiance. Install marble tile wainscoting on the walls and herringbone patterned gray tiles on the floor. Pair it with crisp white pedestal sinks and bathtub. On top of the wainscoting, keep the wall matte gray, and place a couple of white medicine cabinets with mirrors to decorate. If it seems too depressing, place some flowers on the countertop to brighten up the space.
- Sky blue + chocolate + white
The combination of blue, brown and white creates a balance between traditional and contemporary. Use sky blue and white for a modern, cool and airy look. Incorporate them using white marble for the floor and countertops, and sky blue tiles for the wall. Then, place a huge chocolate vanity and light brown flooring to create a warm vibe. The vanity would serve as an accent to the bathroom.
- Yellow + gray + white
For a refreshing, contemporary take on your bathroom, choose to decorate with yellow and gray on an all-white bathroom. Keep all the bathroom elements like the tub, toilet, sink and walls white, then anchor the scheme with gray flooring and gray tiling around the tub. Choose a yellow vanity table and a matching yellow chair. Add a gray patterned shower curtain, then add some yellow accessories.
- Pink + black + white
For the girly girl at heart, there’s no reason not to include pink in the interior decoration of any rooms, even bathrooms. A pink vanity can serve as a centerpiece of a bathroom, and can truly catch attention against black and white patterned wallpaper. Keep the countertops and the wall white to even out the scheme.
- Purple + brown + white
Rich, dark and bold purple shades effortlessly evoke elegance. Pair it with white to keep the bathroom light – use white ceiling and wall trim, white vanity, and white flooring. Then add on some pops of brown through baskets, organizers and a footstool for additional warmth.