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From subtle shades to pops of color, add character with these hues. Light Hotel Led Bathroom Mirror
Alison Gootee;Styling: Matthew Gleason
Bathrooms mean business and functional fixtures dominate them. They tend to be small and are often one of the last places we renovate, leaving them outdated and drab. Since a bathroom transformation can be tedious (who wants to move the plumbing?) and other home improvement projects often take precedent, refreshing your bathroom can be as simple as a new coat of paint. The right paint color can transform a boring primary bath into a spa escape or turn a ho-hum powder room into a jewel box. Who doesn't like the sound of that? Browse our list of designer-approved bathroom paint colors to find the hue that will instantly elevate your space.
Designers Rachel Anderson and Natalie Roe of March + May Design packed a punch in this bitty Fairhope, Alabama, powder room, where they coated the wood-paneled walls in this rich shade.
For a calming, yet colorful backdrop in the downstairs bath of her home, interior designer Catherine Branstetter coated the walls with Farrow & Ball’s Green Blue (No. 84). Playing off the paint color, she added green-hued details throughout the space.
To achieve a cottage-like look designer Whitney McGregor selected a neutral color palette, painting the outdoor siding style walls in Farrow & Ball's White Tie, No. 2002 to balance the darker tile flooring and exposed wood. For a touch of color and texture, she added a skirt to the wooden sink base and used the same fabric on the sconce shades.
Nashville interior designer Stephanie Sabbe opted for extra tall wainscoting to help the tall ceilings from making the room feel too vast. A deep blue lends a youthful yet sophisticated touch to balance the stained vanity and antique mirror while a neutral wallpaper gives a little relief from the darker walls and trim.
Without suitable finishes, white can seem bland. "Pair it with warm tones to avoid a sterile feel," recommends Marco Angelucci, design director at Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design. "Bring in natural woods, deep grays, blues and greens, or even coppery colors to tie the look together."
In the 2020 Idea House, interior designer Lauren Liess wanted to subtly bring the outdoors in. This nature-hued, calming tone is the ideal soft green that functions as a neutral for layering in accent colors while also adding a pop of color itself.
Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene
Apply color in unexpected ways to get the biggest bang for your buck when building a new home. For a memorable first impression, think pink. In this Lake Wylie cottage, a creamy hue (Sherwin-Williams’ Pink Shadow, SW 0070), known as an expert pink, brings a tasteful, inviting tone into the space.
For a cooler take on gray, try Benjamin Moore's Wickham Gray (HC-121), suggests designer Christina Kim. "Pair it with pale elements like concrete, and you get a nice, easy-on-the-eyes chalkiness, or pair it with glossy black subway tile for a chic, high-contrast look." Its blue-green undertones also look stunning with natural stone.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason
In the 2023 Idea House, designer Laura Hodges did not hold back in creating a moody powder room. Painted floor to ceiling in a deep red, she opted to mix in different finishes for a dynamic look with eggshell on the walls and semi-gloss on the trim.
The just-right white is a great way to achieve a fresh looking space and make room for laying in character. Here, interior designer Heather Chadduck painted the entire room in Sherwin-Williams' Pure White (SW 7005), then added in detail with a penny round tile striped pattern and sink skirt.
JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: Veronica Olson
Bring cheer to small spaces with vibrant colors. Here, artist Dorothy Shain Henderson wanted to pack a punch in the home's only bathroom, so she coated the beadboard wainscoting in Farrow & Ball's Stone Blue No. 86. To keep statement-making paint colors from feeling overwhelming, consider balancing them with a simple wall covering like Henderson did her using her own Star Zinnias wallpaper.
This creamy white is as soft as a plush new bath towel. For the 2021 Idea House, designer Sarah Bartholomew painted the guest bathroom in Sherwin-Williams' Cotton (SW 9581). This paint gives the space a subtle warmth that pairs beautifully with the hint of pink in the cabinets. This hue is close to pure white, so the white sconces and white penny tile on the floor don't clash with the wall color.
Add personality to your bathroom with color and pattern. For a subtle, yet colorful option reach for a shade of blue—calming sky blue, energizing powder blue, or soothing deep navy. In this powder room, designer Heather Chadduck went for cerulean (Sherwin-Williams' Refuge, SW 6228) on the wainscot paired with a bold wallpaper above it.
The simplest way to turn your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary is to paint the walls a calming white. "We love choosing white paint in bathrooms because of its freshness," explains Julie Hawkins, principal designer at Hawkins Interiors. "It easily brightens up a space and makes it feel so clean!" If you're looking for a consistent crowd-pleaser, Hawkins points to Farrow & Ball's Wimborne White, which is a dab of yellow pigment away from true white.
Is there anything as relaxing as the sight of the sea? Turn your bathroom into a sanctuary by applying the color of Greek waters to your walls. Designer Breegan Jane likes to surprise with a splash of teal. "It has a light, milky, aquatic tonality and can be as bold, fierce, and as rich in tone to a bold navy, yet adds extra vibrancy with yellow-green undertones," she says.
Looking for an eye-catching hue that doesn't feel out of place for a bathroom? A lively green is the answer. Designer Meg Kelly packs a punch in the bathroom of her Nashville home, swathing the room floor-to-ceiling in an energizing green and painting the cabinetry in Farrow & Ball's Blazer (No. 212).
Move over taupe, chocolate brown is the new warm neutral. Its softness adds a luxurious feel to even the smallest of spaces. In this spacious primary bathroom, interior designer Fran Keenan coated the walls in Farrow & Ball's Salon Drab, No. 290.
"Gray is the ultimate neutral that can range in color and warmth," Stephanie Sarkies, design director at Pembrooke & Ives. "Benjamin Moore Collingwood is my preferred color for a bathroom. It is a neutral that displays both warm and cool undertones." For a cozier shade, try Benjamin Moore Ashley Gray. "It's a warmer tone than straight gray that works great for people that don't want a too contemporary of a look," says designer Claudia Afshar. "It brings lots of warmth and depth to the space."
Cheerful yellows are sure to brighten up any room, but if you aren't quite ready to cover your walls, consider painting the vanity and trim. In this bathroom, designer Fran Keenan paired the vibrant vanity (painted Benjamin Moore's Savannah Green, 2150-30) with a more neutral gray and white wallpaper.
Go bold with blue. "Why should a powder room be boring? “I tend to go with anything but white,” says Heather Disabella of Heather Disabella Interior Design in Washington, D.C. “I like bold tones,” she explains, citing this saturated blue as an example. “After all, powder rooms should be treated like the jewel box of your home!”
"Light, watery blue tones help you relax and recharge after getting rid of all your anxiety and stress—as if you are floating in the water," explains Mia Jung, interiors director at Ike Kligerman Barkley. Soft pastels are a consistent crowd-pleaser and will instantly turn a bathroom into a serene space. Here, designer Tori Alexander used Sherwin-Williams Little Boy Blu (SW-9054) on the wainscoting and trim to balance the watercolor wallpaper for a calming, spa-like feel.
A few years ago, dusty pinks began cropping up everywhere, and it's safe to say these rose hues are here to stay. "Soft colors such as blush represent the dawn of a new day and a new era," says Kate Raizenberg, Curative Studio's creative director. Although pink has a reputation for being unapologetically feminine, it has more to offer than a pretty facade. "Not only is it a calming color, but the additional soft pink glow is flattering," explains Chasing Paper's founder Elizabeth Rees. "With a wide range of hues, you can achieve a range of styles and moods from playfully modern to more traditional."
Bathrooms can be soothing and make a statement. For an unexpected pop of color and vibrant hue that will energize, add a coat of red to your cabinetry. One of our favorite classic reds is Benjamin Moore's Heritage Red (HC-181). "I wanted to keep most of the primary bathroom clean, but I couldn't resist a bold choice for the vanity," explains Lori Paranjape, principal designer at Mrs. Paranjape Design + Interiors. She went all-in on the cherry red lacquer, pairing it with a graphic wallpaper.
Choosing the right paint color and materials can help make a large-scale bathroom feel inviting and soothing. To balance the warm-toned walls, Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design opted to splash the cabinets with Benjamin Moore’s Boothbay Gray, HC-165 for a pop of color.
While the turquoise vanity probably catches your attention first, your eye will inevitably drift to the dark door. "Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore is my favorite black," says Amber Marie of Amber Marie Interiors. "It's soft, makes the room feel larger, and creates a great backdrop for everything. Make sure you have ample lighting, especially at the vanity, and use a good quality paint for coverage and clean-ability."
Small bathrooms look and feel larger when painted in lighter colors, such as white, creme, grey, yellow, or a pastel shade. The lighter paint colors reflect the natural light in a room, creating the illusion of space. Enhance the bathroom's function by incorporating natural elements and minimizing dark areas.
Make Up Mirror With Led Light Bathroom fixtures, connected by plumbing or electricity, are considered more permanent in bathroom designs. Fixtures in a neutral color, such as chrome, nickel, or stainless steel, allow you to customize other elements of your bathroom space with color and decor. Matte black bathroom fixtures also provide an opportunity to infuse a bold color in a bathroom design.