9 Practical Tips to Help You Choose the Best Bathroom Colors

With just a gallon or two of paint and a few hours, you can easily give your bathroom a new look. In fact, the hardest part of the process is deciding on the color scheme. There is no precise scientific basis for choosing the best bathroom color, and with countless possible combinations, making a decision can feel overwhelming. To help, we’ve gathered the best advice, including how to choose shades for your ceiling or tiles and where to use them. Whether you’re looking to create a spa-like master bathroom or a personalized powder room, these tips will help you choose the best bathroom color for your preferred space.

Use the Color Wheel

If you’re having trouble deciding which color combinations to match, look to the color wheel for inspiration. The concept of color theory can help you find shades that complement each other. For example, purple and yellow will be together because they are opposite each other on the color wheel, making them complementary. Green and blue mix well because they are next to each other, making them similar. When in doubt, turn to the steering wheel and solve your problem quickly and easily.

Choose Three Colors

Use the rule of three as a guiding principle for creating a bathroom color scheme: choose a neutral color, a rich color, and an accent color. To do this successfully, consider the scale and rely on the 70/20/10 distribution. About 70% of the room decoration uses the lightest colors, 20% the lightest colors, and 10% the boldest colors.

Keep in mind that neutral colors can be combined in different ways. For example, a palette of white, cocoa brown, and aqua creates a clean, classic look. But pair the same neutral with Kelly Green for an energizing and uplifting effect. With this ingenious rule, your bathroom paint color will look like it was chosen by an expert.

Mix Two Neutral Colors

Most neutral bathroom color schemes help to create an atmosphere of tranquility and relaxation. Again, the scale rule applies: when using two colors, focus on a 70/30 distribution. Two neutral colors such as gray and white create a calming color scheme that is understated without being boring. To add visual interest, you can add patterned elements, such as herringbone tiles on the floor or textured marble on countertops or wainscoting.

Follow the Second of the Three Rules

Another rule of three can help you execute your bathroom color scheme effectively. When you choose a color, use it at least three times in a room. This could be a towel, a dresser décor, or a piece of furniture. In this bathroom, for example, red is repeated on dressers, sconces and wallpaper. The even distribution of colors in the bathroom makes each shade look intentional rather than inappropriate.

Don’t Be Afraid of Dark Colors

Many people shy away from rich, deep tones and prefer to use lighter, brighter colors in small rooms. However, dark colors, such as charcoal or cocoa, can create a striking contrast in a powder room, especially when balanced with white décor and white bathroom fixtures. And, with the addition of another shade, such as bright green, the overall effect is both vivid and modern. “People are nervous about using dark colors in small rooms. But they don’t make the room look smaller, they just make it darker,” says Los Angeles-based designer Kishani Perera. “The use of mercury glass and mirrored lamps makes the room no longer look like a cave. ”

Compare Two Brightnesses

If you want a vibrant rather than serene bathroom color scheme, consider a range of bright, bold shades. For example, orange and blue form a complementary and vibrant color combination. To inject a bit of calm into this lively color scheme, use plenty of white in the décor, sink, bathtub, or any other centerpiece of the room. Pair it with fun colors and low-cost, easy-to-replace extras like linen. “It’s good to have a little bit of healthy tension. I like to inject a little surprise into my color scheme,” says designer Liz Levin. “If you don’t have an eye, find a fabric or artwork with an interesting color combination and use it as your guide. ”

Go Organic

Nature-inspired colors, such as soaker green and robin egg blue, often form great combinations that help enhance the organic feel. These types of shades also help to soften the hard edges and geometric shapes that are common in bathrooms. Incorporate natural tones into bathroom wall colors or vanity surfaces for a fresh, clean look.

Balance Fun Options with Neutral Options

If your palette contains richer shades, such as apple green or bright pink, embrace bold colors but choose a neutral color for balance and base. “Think of paint as a supplemental background, not something that frustrates you when you enter a room,” Levine says. For example, a creamy light brown or crisp white can provide a neutral contrast on the wall or as a bathroom tile color. The black accents provided by dresser hardware or patterned wallpaper provide punctuation that breaks up bold colors.

Look Elsewhere in Your Home

To guide your bathroom color palette, take color inspiration from elsewhere in your home. For example, choose an accent color in your living space and use it as the main color in your bathroom. Although the room will maintain its own character, a coherent flow of colors will enhance the overall aesthetic of your home. Here, the same golden bathroom accent color is found in other rooms throughout the house.