10 Reasons to Love a Pink Bathroom
Blush bathrooms first became popular in 1950s America. Now the trend is enjoying a revival
Pink bathrooms are having a bit of a moment: some of the most stylish restaurant powder rooms in the capital are taking to candyfloss-coloured tiles (which look great with a brass tap), but pink bathrooms are also a bit of a throwback, most notably to the midcentury era.
The trend is also popular across the Atlantic and, in the States, rose-tinted washrooms are sometimes dubbed ‘Mamie bathrooms’ after the former First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower, whose love of all things pink – from her housecoats, slippers and outfits, to her daily flower deliveries and the all-over blush bathroom at the Eisenhowers’ Pennsylvania residence – spawned a 1950s fashion for the hue (staff at the White House are said to have dubbed the building ‘The Pink Palace’ during President Eisenhower’s tenure). There’s even a fan website in the US dedicated to the preservation of the pink bathroom. In similar celebration, here are some of the best pink bathrooms on Houzz. Will you be inspired?
The trend is also popular across the Atlantic and, in the States, rose-tinted washrooms are sometimes dubbed ‘Mamie bathrooms’ after the former First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower, whose love of all things pink – from her housecoats, slippers and outfits, to her daily flower deliveries and the all-over blush bathroom at the Eisenhowers’ Pennsylvania residence – spawned a 1950s fashion for the hue (staff at the White House are said to have dubbed the building ‘The Pink Palace’ during President Eisenhower’s tenure). There’s even a fan website in the US dedicated to the preservation of the pink bathroom. In similar celebration, here are some of the best pink bathrooms on Houzz. Will you be inspired?
Update period styling
This elegantly blushing bathroom has a distinctly period aesthetic, from the claw-foot bath and telephone-style mixer tap to the grand marble basins and wash stand, and characterful panelled walls.
The pastel colour scheme (and chrome detailing), however, have a strong contemporary feel. And, rather than tiling, this approach makes things easier to change should you fancy a different look in the future. The exterior of a freestanding bath like this can easily be painted – good prep and prime is key for a pro finish, and there are plenty of guides online to help you get it right.
This elegantly blushing bathroom has a distinctly period aesthetic, from the claw-foot bath and telephone-style mixer tap to the grand marble basins and wash stand, and characterful panelled walls.
The pastel colour scheme (and chrome detailing), however, have a strong contemporary feel. And, rather than tiling, this approach makes things easier to change should you fancy a different look in the future. The exterior of a freestanding bath like this can easily be painted – good prep and prime is key for a pro finish, and there are plenty of guides online to help you get it right.
Embrace Art Deco
Millions of us live in 1920s and 1930s houses, and our homes’ original bathrooms may well have looked something like this.
If you want to make a (bold) nod to authenticity in a house from this era, your bathroom could be the place to start. Very few of these houses still have their original bathrooms, which might have featured rosily-hued sanitary ware too, but the look is easy to recreate. With strong colour a key feature of Art Deco, this kind of hot pink-meets-powder-pink tiling (always with the black trim) works very well.
Art Deco is a style that’s nudging its way into more and more homes (could it, whisper, be the ‘new’ Midcentury Modern?) and the good news is that you don’t need a between-the-wars property to make it feel at home – it works particularly well as a way to add character to architecturally plain or boxy modern homes too.
Got a 1930s semi? Here’s how to fall in love with it
Millions of us live in 1920s and 1930s houses, and our homes’ original bathrooms may well have looked something like this.
If you want to make a (bold) nod to authenticity in a house from this era, your bathroom could be the place to start. Very few of these houses still have their original bathrooms, which might have featured rosily-hued sanitary ware too, but the look is easy to recreate. With strong colour a key feature of Art Deco, this kind of hot pink-meets-powder-pink tiling (always with the black trim) works very well.
Art Deco is a style that’s nudging its way into more and more homes (could it, whisper, be the ‘new’ Midcentury Modern?) and the good news is that you don’t need a between-the-wars property to make it feel at home – it works particularly well as a way to add character to architecturally plain or boxy modern homes too.
Got a 1930s semi? Here’s how to fall in love with it
Limit it to one feature
Tiles or wall colour are a prominent way to showcase a bit of blush in your bathroom. For something more discreet, consider having just one detail in this warm hue. Here, the basin’s exterior does the job in this otherwise clean, white space.
If your bathroom is already in place, try a small basin splashback instead – perhaps two or three patterned encaustic tiles with a hint of pink, or a solid-colour trio.
Choosing a warm neutral as a ‘bridge’ colour will add depth and soften a scheme like this. Note also how beautifully brass or gold works with soft pinks. Expect to see lots of this combination trending.
Tiles or wall colour are a prominent way to showcase a bit of blush in your bathroom. For something more discreet, consider having just one detail in this warm hue. Here, the basin’s exterior does the job in this otherwise clean, white space.
If your bathroom is already in place, try a small basin splashback instead – perhaps two or three patterned encaustic tiles with a hint of pink, or a solid-colour trio.
Choosing a warm neutral as a ‘bridge’ colour will add depth and soften a scheme like this. Note also how beautifully brass or gold works with soft pinks. Expect to see lots of this combination trending.
Go for graduation
The earthy, almost terracotta hue of these tiles means they look really good in a matt finish with a cement-coloured grout, while the gentle graduation of colour adds an extra level of interest.
The strong contrasting marble and gleamingly gold brassware are not obvious companions and, on paper, they shouldn’t go at all. But confident styling – and a commitment to pushing design boundaries – go a long way, and the result is rather enviable.
If you’re nervous of being as bold, it’s a look you could emulate in the smaller space safety of a cloakroom or an en suite, rather than your family bathroom.
The earthy, almost terracotta hue of these tiles means they look really good in a matt finish with a cement-coloured grout, while the gentle graduation of colour adds an extra level of interest.
The strong contrasting marble and gleamingly gold brassware are not obvious companions and, on paper, they shouldn’t go at all. But confident styling – and a commitment to pushing design boundaries – go a long way, and the result is rather enviable.
If you’re nervous of being as bold, it’s a look you could emulate in the smaller space safety of a cloakroom or an en suite, rather than your family bathroom.
Tear a strip
A slither of rose can be all you need to channel this trend. In this edgy bathroom of contrasting geometrics, the effect is a little bit 1980s – in a good way.
This is also a commitment-free way to dabble with pink. It could equally be a feature wall or simply a collection of coordinated accessories, such as a towel, bathmat, soap dispenser or flowerpot, for even less commitment.
A slither of rose can be all you need to channel this trend. In this edgy bathroom of contrasting geometrics, the effect is a little bit 1980s – in a good way.
This is also a commitment-free way to dabble with pink. It could equally be a feature wall or simply a collection of coordinated accessories, such as a towel, bathmat, soap dispenser or flowerpot, for even less commitment.
Don’t hold back
Like pale pink? Why apologise. Cover every surface in your bathroom with a salmon-y skin.
To create visual interest in a one-colour scheme, vary your patterns and textures. Here, a grid of pink pearlescent tiles forms a faint pattern of squares on the walls, while the floor is subtly different again.
Like pale pink? Why apologise. Cover every surface in your bathroom with a salmon-y skin.
To create visual interest in a one-colour scheme, vary your patterns and textures. Here, a grid of pink pearlescent tiles forms a faint pattern of squares on the walls, while the floor is subtly different again.
Up your accessories
Here’s a perfect example of accessories leading the way. The warm, marble-effect tiled walls are not quite pink, but teamed with pale blush flowers, towels, boxes and other small details, this is the undertone that stands out. Swap these accessories with another colour – brown or lavender, perhaps – and it’ll be this element picked out from the walls that becomes the dominant shade.
Here’s a perfect example of accessories leading the way. The warm, marble-effect tiled walls are not quite pink, but teamed with pale blush flowers, towels, boxes and other small details, this is the undertone that stands out. Swap these accessories with another colour – brown or lavender, perhaps – and it’ll be this element picked out from the walls that becomes the dominant shade.
Look down
It’s perhaps the least obvious place to bring a soft putty shade into your bathroom, but doesn’t this pink vinyl floor look luscious? The gleaming mirrored and white backdrop conjures up a little bit of 1950s glamour, which you could easily ramp up further with a couple of vintage accessories, a flouncy perfume puffer or some gold cupboard door knobs.
It’s perhaps the least obvious place to bring a soft putty shade into your bathroom, but doesn’t this pink vinyl floor look luscious? The gleaming mirrored and white backdrop conjures up a little bit of 1950s glamour, which you could easily ramp up further with a couple of vintage accessories, a flouncy perfume puffer or some gold cupboard door knobs.
Pick it out with pattern
Solid colour is perhaps the more obvious way to introduce this on-trend shade, but making pink the feature colour in patterned tiles, whether on the floor or walls, is another nice way to go, and creates a very different feel.
There’s not a trace of the slightly vintage vibe that powder pink can add to a wash space here – so consider this look if your style leans to a more contemporary feel.
Which bathroom here is your favourite and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Solid colour is perhaps the more obvious way to introduce this on-trend shade, but making pink the feature colour in patterned tiles, whether on the floor or walls, is another nice way to go, and creates a very different feel.
There’s not a trace of the slightly vintage vibe that powder pink can add to a wash space here – so consider this look if your style leans to a more contemporary feel.
Which bathroom here is your favourite and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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This softer-than-soft take on the pink bathroom trend is easy to love, especially if you prefer a grown-up, neutral backdrop.
Grey veined marble and blush are natural bedfellows, as illustrated beautifully in this metro tile meets vanity combination. If a stone-topped basin unit isn’t on your wish list, consider tiling an adjoining wall or shower cubicle with large marble-effect porcelain tiles for similar compatibility.
Wary of pink? Check out these non-scary ways to use it in your home