Colour and Design In The Bathroom

An all-white or neutral bathroom definitely has its advantages – it’s a classic that will most likely never go out of style, and will appeal to a broad range of homeowners. However, an injection of colour is a must for those who are looking to stamp their personality and individuality on their bathroom. Doing this goes far beyond choosing paint colours, so here, we explore the various ways to add colour to enhance your bathroom design, and make your bathroom an absolute standout.

Bathtubs

A colourful bathtub is one way to liven up your bathroom and ensure a focal point in the space. Although a vivid pink bathtub might sound like a step back in time, bright or even subtle pastel-coloured baths are definitely back in fashion.

There are literally dozens of colours to choose from when it comes to bathtubs – so pick your favourite colour of the rainbow and go wild! We love the soothing appeal of calming blues or greens in a white bathroom. A black bath makes a strong statement while being timeless, and works well with monochrome tiles to complete the look.

Your bathroom designer can suggest companies that offer coloured bathtubs. Some companies, such as Victoria + Albert, will even personalise the exterior of your bath and basin to coordinate with the rest of your bathroom design – it offers an amazing spectrum of 199 colours to choose from!

Vanities and basins

Have you considered venturing away from your standard and completely safe white vanity and basin? Your bathroom designer will be able to suggest stockists that will customise your vanity and basin to your colour preference. Perhaps a duck egg satin blue vanity is the look you’re after, for a coastal-inspired bathroom? Or an emerald green satin vanity for a standout nature-inspired statement in a white bathroom?

As bathrooms evolve to include more colour, another alternative is to opt for a bright basin against a white vanity – some of our favourite hues include pinks, blues, greens, yellows and greys.

Tapware

Coloured tapware, once a staple of the 1970s bathroom, is back in style – and there’s an amazingly diverse array of colours to choose from. It’s a great way to add a hint of colour to a bathroom, without making a dramatic change or doing a costly renovation. The good news is, if you don’t like the tapware colour that you have chosen, it’s relatively inexpensive to change.

Popular options available include matte black, rose gold, brushed nickel and gun metal. For those who are especially keen to make a statement, what about dynamic red, citrus shades or cobalt blue?

One important aspect to keep in mind when choosing coloured tapware is to ensure that it matches with other accessories and fittings. You may need to tie a few elements together and make other minor changes to your accessories so that your coloured tapware works in unison with other items.

There are many variations of the one colour, so once you’ve decided on a colour, it’s important to see the tapware in person in a showroom to ensure that you really like it.

Wall and floor tiles

Embrace colour and push the boundaries in the bathroom with your choice of wall and floor tiles. Opt for a single colour, or even a colour combination, or make a pattern with mosaic tiles against solid colour. Or go for a solid colour on the floor against all white for the rest of the room. A coloured tiled shower niche is another way to infuse a hint of colour without going all the way.

Toilet suites

An intense orange toilet suite might not be for everyone, but it’s certainly one way to brighten an all-white bathroom. Other homeowners may opt for a more discreet option – a black toilet suite. To complement a white toilet suite, coloured flush panels add a subtle hint of colour.

Towels

If you’re keen to experiment with colour, but not sure about making a permanent change, how about adding bright-coloured hand towels, bath sheets and bath mats against an all-white bathroom? It’s one way to experiment with colour, and various colour combinations, without permanently committing to a colour scheme.

Wallpaper

We’re not talking about dated floral wallpaper designs that you would find in your nanna’s house. Wallpaper is definitely not what it used to be, so we suggest selecting a statement-making modern beautiful print for one wall and giving your bathroom a luxurious update.

Vinyl wallpaper is the ideal choice for wet areas, and protective varnishes can also be applied to a paper or fabric wallpaper.

A couple of tips: good ventilation in the bathroom is crucial, and wallpaper can’t be used inside direct splash zones such as a shower or bath.

Wall art

Another way to experiment with colour without a long-term commitment is with wall art, such as a tryptich (a series of three) of prints with a common theme or colour scheme on a bathroom wall.

There is an abundance of online wall art companies such as The Print Emporium, New Age Walls, Fy, Optimalprint, or even Etsy – you can browse for hours, then have your prints delivered without even leaving home.

The 2021 colour trends

In 2021, the Pantone Colour Institute announced the combination of two colours as the Pantone Colour of the Year – neutral Ultimate Grey and bright yellow Illuminating. Ultimate Grey reflects on 2020 as a year, while Illuminating brings a sense of comfort and positivity for 2021. So how can we use these colours in the bathroom?

Although yellow can be overwhelming in large doses and we’re certainly not suggesting an all-yellow bathroom, a yellow bathroom vanity or cabinetry may be just the thing to wake you up in the morning. Add this to a grey wall or floor tiles to ground the boldness of the yellow. A grey freestanding clawfoot bath is a statement piece that won’t date, as is a grey vanity – clean and classic.

Small pops of yellow can work too – we’re thinking yellow tapware, a strip of yellow mosaic tiles or a sunny yellow feature wall to add visual punch.

Trust those in the know

When considering colour, turn to a professional bathroom designer to help achieve the look you’re after, and incorporate colour in the best way. Your designer will provide expert guidance, and suggest colour schemes and combinations that you may not have considered. They also have the know-how to offer valuable advice to ensure that the various elements of your bathroom, such as cabinetry, bathtubs, paint colours, tiles, basins and accessories all work in harmony.

Speak to the bathroom designers at Mint Kitchen Group about how to best incorporate colour, and various colour combinations, into your bathroom.