6 Timeless Colour Schemes to Future-proof Your Bathroom
If you’re keen to add some colour to your bathroom, but fear it won’t stand the test of time, choose one of these fail-safe combinations
Bathrooms can be one of the most challenging rooms to overhaul – renovating them can place a strain on your budget and your time, not to mention putting them out of action while the work’s being done. No one wants to renovate their bathroom more often than they need to and many people are nervous of using colour for this reason – what happens if the colours you choose become outmoded and impact on the value of your house? But white isn’t the only way to go if you’re worried about colours dating – here are six enduring combinations that will always be winning choices.
A contemporary bathroom design works just as well with a monochrome colour scheme as one that’s more Art Deco. Charcoal walls add some dramatic flair in this bathroom.
Do Jazz it up with some bold red or yellow towels and accessories.
Don’t Make it too busy or feminine.
Do Jazz it up with some bold red or yellow towels and accessories.
Don’t Make it too busy or feminine.
Aqua, wood and white
This combination provides a perfect balance between traditional and contemporary. Use aqua (blue-green) and white to make the room feel cool and airy, then add a wooden basin unit and beige flooring for warmth. If you’re looking for a spa-like feeling, this combo is a classic. Add aqua and white accessories for extra luxury and you’ll never want to leave.
Do Check the positioning of the lighting to ensure it doesn’t throw an unflattering blue-green glow on your skin.
Don’t Use too much wood. Overindulgence is never a good thing.
Check out 16 ways with wood panelling
This combination provides a perfect balance between traditional and contemporary. Use aqua (blue-green) and white to make the room feel cool and airy, then add a wooden basin unit and beige flooring for warmth. If you’re looking for a spa-like feeling, this combo is a classic. Add aqua and white accessories for extra luxury and you’ll never want to leave.
Do Check the positioning of the lighting to ensure it doesn’t throw an unflattering blue-green glow on your skin.
Don’t Use too much wood. Overindulgence is never a good thing.
Check out 16 ways with wood panelling
Mocha, neutrals and white
Mocha tones make this bathroom warm and inviting. Start your colour palette with one shade of mocha and a creamy white, then layer with various espresso-inspired shades to create some movement and depth. Just remember that darker shades advance and lighter shades recede. Use blocks of colour to highlight areas such as the bathtub to provide interest and direction within the room.
Do Use a standout dark tone, such as the one under this bath, to ground and unite the colour scheme.
Don’t Add any bold or bright colours – they won’t work with this more subdued aesthetic.
Mocha tones make this bathroom warm and inviting. Start your colour palette with one shade of mocha and a creamy white, then layer with various espresso-inspired shades to create some movement and depth. Just remember that darker shades advance and lighter shades recede. Use blocks of colour to highlight areas such as the bathtub to provide interest and direction within the room.
Do Use a standout dark tone, such as the one under this bath, to ground and unite the colour scheme.
Don’t Add any bold or bright colours – they won’t work with this more subdued aesthetic.
If you’re looking to cool the bathroom down a little and creamy white isn’t your thing, use a crisp white instead. Contrast it with a rich, warm mocha on the floor and bring it through to highlight the basin unit and wall.
Monochromatic greys
To create a clean and simple look, add various shades of grey to keep your bathroom flowing and to provide depth and orientation. Add some fresh flowers or a lush and leafy potted plant and you’ll create a beautiful, classical environment, too.
To create a clean and simple look, add various shades of grey to keep your bathroom flowing and to provide depth and orientation. Add some fresh flowers or a lush and leafy potted plant and you’ll create a beautiful, classical environment, too.
Carrara marble was first used in Ancient Rome and has featured on many notable monuments and buildings ever since. The grey and white veining of the marble gives any bathroom a luxe look.
Do Go for a quartz product offering a similar look if Carrara marble is out of your price range.
Don’t Use grey if you find it depressing rather than soothing or uplifting.
Do Go for a quartz product offering a similar look if Carrara marble is out of your price range.
Don’t Use grey if you find it depressing rather than soothing or uplifting.
Blue and yellow
If you doubt which colour combinations will last the distance, look to nature. In this case, blue and yellow is a classic mix, because it reflects the sun rising into a clear blue sky (or over the ocean).
If you doubt which colour combinations will last the distance, look to nature. In this case, blue and yellow is a classic mix, because it reflects the sun rising into a clear blue sky (or over the ocean).
For a cooler feel, use sky or ocean blue as your dominant colour and accent with lemon yellow.
To warm up your bathroom a little, choose yellow as the dominant colour through tiles or paint and accent with blue.
Do Think about using traditional blue mosaic tiles somewhere – perhaps in a niche like the one at the side of this bath – because they never seem to date.
Don’t Overdo it with the yellow, because it can become overbearing, particularly in a small room.
Get ideas for how to make a statement with a small en suite
Do Think about using traditional blue mosaic tiles somewhere – perhaps in a niche like the one at the side of this bath – because they never seem to date.
Don’t Overdo it with the yellow, because it can become overbearing, particularly in a small room.
Get ideas for how to make a statement with a small en suite
Complementary colours
In colour theory, this scheme just works. Complementary colour pairings, where two colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel (blue and orange, for example) work well together. They can also be used alongside another set of complementary colours (such as red and green), which would create what’s called a double complementary colour scheme.
Do Be strategic with the placement of colour to ensure the scheme is cohesive.
Don’t Use this colour combo if you don’t love it wholeheartedly – it won’t date, but you might get sick of it.
TELL US…
What colour scheme have you used in your bathroom? Share your photos and favourite colour combinations in the Comments below.
In colour theory, this scheme just works. Complementary colour pairings, where two colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel (blue and orange, for example) work well together. They can also be used alongside another set of complementary colours (such as red and green), which would create what’s called a double complementary colour scheme.
Do Be strategic with the placement of colour to ensure the scheme is cohesive.
Don’t Use this colour combo if you don’t love it wholeheartedly – it won’t date, but you might get sick of it.
TELL US…
What colour scheme have you used in your bathroom? Share your photos and favourite colour combinations in the Comments below.
This is a classic combination that became ultra-popular during the Art Deco period in the 1920s and 1930s. Along with Chanel’s launch of the little black dress in 1926, black and white became ultra-chic and fashionable in bathroom interiors as well.
Bold black and white geometric shapes used in checkerboard tiles on floors and walls was right on trend and, like the little black dress, has stood the test of time. Use black and white floor tiles, chrome fittings and silver-framed mirrors and you’ll have a colour combo that works just as brilliantly today as it did way back when.