10 Bathrooms That Use Black to Great Effect
Crisp and white is often the starting point for a bathroom refurb, but going to the dark side can reap stylish rewards
Black painted kitchen walls or inky cabinets are ever more popular, but how about the other watery room in your home – could you give your bathroom a black revamp? Let these dark and lovely schemes inspire you.
Mix materials
There’s a number of different black finishes going on here, which collide to prevent this space from feeling flat. Again, white adds a crisp edge, but, with the exposed beams and bricks, the vintage vibe is altogether different.
If you’re tiling your bath surround (which looks rather gorgeous here), do remember to incorporate an access panel. You don’t want to have to smash up your handiwork down the line if there’s a leak below.
There’s a number of different black finishes going on here, which collide to prevent this space from feeling flat. Again, white adds a crisp edge, but, with the exposed beams and bricks, the vintage vibe is altogether different.
If you’re tiling your bath surround (which looks rather gorgeous here), do remember to incorporate an access panel. You don’t want to have to smash up your handiwork down the line if there’s a leak below.
Bridge two patterns
A solid band of colour can be an effective way to help two clashing patterns work together. Here, the chequerboard floor and figurative wallpaper are both monochrome, but could lose impact if placed directly next to one another. A black-painted skirting board could do the same job, but wallpaper to the floor in a bathroom may come back to haunt you in the practicality stakes.
This half-height, tongue-and-groove panelling cuts a striking strip around the bathroom. Be sure not to dilute the effect with a white radiator halfway through. Ideally, buy yours in black, as painting – though many of us merrily do it to no ill effect – isn’t recommended for radiators.
A solid band of colour can be an effective way to help two clashing patterns work together. Here, the chequerboard floor and figurative wallpaper are both monochrome, but could lose impact if placed directly next to one another. A black-painted skirting board could do the same job, but wallpaper to the floor in a bathroom may come back to haunt you in the practicality stakes.
This half-height, tongue-and-groove panelling cuts a striking strip around the bathroom. Be sure not to dilute the effect with a white radiator halfway through. Ideally, buy yours in black, as painting – though many of us merrily do it to no ill effect – isn’t recommended for radiators.
Paint a panel
If a half-height panel simply isn’t enough, take yours up to the ceiling. You may not be blessed with original woodwork on your walls, but fitting wood panelling is fairly straightforward.
It also works well painted with a soft-sheen finish, as here, which looks especially elegant when gently lit.
A beginner’s guide to wood panelling
If a half-height panel simply isn’t enough, take yours up to the ceiling. You may not be blessed with original woodwork on your walls, but fitting wood panelling is fairly straightforward.
It also works well painted with a soft-sheen finish, as here, which looks especially elegant when gently lit.
A beginner’s guide to wood panelling
Embrace au naturel
Stained black wood gives an entirely different effect to black-painted walls or panelling. In this coastal bathroom, a blackened wall ramps up the back-to-nature feel of this space, which is boosted by a sandstone bath, travertine-style tiles and beachy accessories.
Stained black wood gives an entirely different effect to black-painted walls or panelling. In this coastal bathroom, a blackened wall ramps up the back-to-nature feel of this space, which is boosted by a sandstone bath, travertine-style tiles and beachy accessories.
Use it to let a feature shine
Black is a great foil for a vibrant colour or pattern or – in this case – both. If you have a feature wall, feature splashback, colourful bath or even a striking shower curtain, black works as well as white does for letting it shine.
This exotically tiled walk-in shower certainly deserves the attention – and if you can get some down- or uplighting on your chosen feature, as here, all the better.
Note how different a grand period room looks when the window frames and ceiling are also painted dark instead of white (as in photo number one). Less the evocation of crisp linen, more historical cocoon.
Black is a great foil for a vibrant colour or pattern or – in this case – both. If you have a feature wall, feature splashback, colourful bath or even a striking shower curtain, black works as well as white does for letting it shine.
This exotically tiled walk-in shower certainly deserves the attention – and if you can get some down- or uplighting on your chosen feature, as here, all the better.
Note how different a grand period room looks when the window frames and ceiling are also painted dark instead of white (as in photo number one). Less the evocation of crisp linen, more historical cocoon.
Choose matt…
Notice that little line of sparkle at the top of the half-wall on the right-hand side of the room? It really stands out against the super-matt tiles and wall paint. Black, as already seen, is a strong backdrop for statement brights – and also for a bit of bling. On a gloss backdrop, the effect would be quite different – full bling rather than a hint of it.
Elegant lighting either side of the mirror – just in shot (but also reflected in the shower screen) – adds to the quiet glamour of this space. A nice touch is to have separate controls for wall lights and ceiling spots, as well as a dimmer, so you can choose atmospheric over functional when it suits.
Notice that little line of sparkle at the top of the half-wall on the right-hand side of the room? It really stands out against the super-matt tiles and wall paint. Black, as already seen, is a strong backdrop for statement brights – and also for a bit of bling. On a gloss backdrop, the effect would be quite different – full bling rather than a hint of it.
Elegant lighting either side of the mirror – just in shot (but also reflected in the shower screen) – adds to the quiet glamour of this space. A nice touch is to have separate controls for wall lights and ceiling spots, as well as a dimmer, so you can choose atmospheric over functional when it suits.
…or gloss
And here’s exactly how you can achieve a bolder impact, by using gloss finishes – here, not only those reflective jet wall tiles, but also the expanse of fitted mirror.
Another way to give a space that’s largely one colour some depth and texture is to use a variety of different tiles. Herringbone and small square mosaics rub along nicely together in this scheme. Gloss tiles can help to boost light in a dimly lit room by bouncing what there is around the space.
And here’s exactly how you can achieve a bolder impact, by using gloss finishes – here, not only those reflective jet wall tiles, but also the expanse of fitted mirror.
Another way to give a space that’s largely one colour some depth and texture is to use a variety of different tiles. Herringbone and small square mosaics rub along nicely together in this scheme. Gloss tiles can help to boost light in a dimly lit room by bouncing what there is around the space.
Get horizontal
The effect is subtle, but the horizontal lines of this wall covering – though dark – really work to stretch the boundaries of this compact shower room.
This is an especially nice touch considering the shower screen cuts the narrow back wall in two. Thanks to the strong, horizontal lines, you’d hardly notice, and the back and right wall flow into one larger-seeming expanse.
Consider the direction of your tiles or wall panels carefully, according to the spatial effect you’re after – vertical tiles, for example, have the potential to stretch your space upwards.
The effect is subtle, but the horizontal lines of this wall covering – though dark – really work to stretch the boundaries of this compact shower room.
This is an especially nice touch considering the shower screen cuts the narrow back wall in two. Thanks to the strong, horizontal lines, you’d hardly notice, and the back and right wall flow into one larger-seeming expanse.
Consider the direction of your tiles or wall panels carefully, according to the spatial effect you’re after – vertical tiles, for example, have the potential to stretch your space upwards.
Keep it simple
There’s nothing overly directional about this nevertheless stylish bathroom. The black gives it a bit of an edge, but nothing too strong for family life.
If you’re painting a wall black and need to install an extractor, you can either incorporate it into the monochrome scheme, as here, or opt for a black cover (few and far between, but available), so that it melts into the wall.
How much black would you add to your bathroom? Let us know which look you prefer in the Comments below.
There’s nothing overly directional about this nevertheless stylish bathroom. The black gives it a bit of an edge, but nothing too strong for family life.
If you’re painting a wall black and need to install an extractor, you can either incorporate it into the monochrome scheme, as here, or opt for a black cover (few and far between, but available), so that it melts into the wall.
How much black would you add to your bathroom? Let us know which look you prefer in the Comments below.
Dark colours can work so well in period properties. On the one hand, a small and dark Victorian living room could be given a cosy boost with a moody paint job, while on the other, a room as airy and tall as this loses no light at all. The trick to keeping a space as crisp as this is to contrast your inky areas with swathes of brilliant white.
Cast-iron clawfoot baths are fairly easy to paint. You’ll need to sand it to get a smooth surface, but use a fine paper – too much abrasion could leave you at risk of rust. To guard against that, though, you should choose a primer designed to tackle the orange enemy. The top coat is down to your own taste – eggshell or a soft sheen finish will be more hard-wearing than emulsion, and more forgiving of a bumpy surface than gloss. Be sure to use a (small) roller to swerve brushmarks!
See 10 beautiful black kitchens