Make a splash with these 15 colourful bathroom ideas

If you fancy a bathroom refresh or an entirely new scheme, then it’s time to embrace colourful bathroom ideas.

Indeed, whether it’s a turquoise splashback, soft green walls, or rainbow-bright accessories, colourful bathrooms won’t fail to bring you joy. They are also the perfect solution if you’re fed up with an all-white bathroom which can feel cold and clinical.

• Have fun in the bathroom! While we don’t spend masses of time here, like other communal spaces, that doesn’t mean bathrooms should be dull and uninspiring
• Make sure the bathroom reflects your style tempo as much as your lounge or kitchen. So don’t be afraid to get creative with paint charts, tiles, and wallpaper
• Remember, bathrooms are traditionally smaller spaces in the home. If you’ve got your eye on beautiful handmade tiles in just the right shade of buttery yellow, you won’t need loads to make an impact
• Likewise, a fabulous mint green basin or luxe jade wallpaper can add drama without spending a fortune
• Whether you’re planning a new bathroom from scratch or want a mini makeover, colourful bathroom ideas are fast becoming a popular design tool

If you don’t feel confident choosing materials and colours for a bathroom, get in touch with an experienced bathroom designer. They will help you create your very own colour-packed sanctuary.

Pop your postcode in the handy search bar below to find recommended tradespeople in your area.

Colourful bathroom ideas

Time to delve deep into the colour charts and have fun with these colourful bathroom ideas.

1. Create a statement feature wall with bold paint

One of the easiest and most effective ways to introduce colour in the bathroom is to paint the walls. It’s also a cost-effective design trick and can be swapped easily if you get bored.

Go all out on a feature wall with an energetic juicy-fruit hue – perfect if your bathroom is mainly used for a quick morning shower.

Or try a wrap-around dark navy or aubergine for a cocoon-like mood. The perfect colour if you love a relaxed soak in the bath after work.

2. Commit to colourful bathrooms with a pastel suite

If you’ve got the colour bug, then why not swap out a white basin, bath and loo for lemon, baby blue, or blush style?

It’s a bigger commitment than tiles or paint, but colourful bathroom suites are a seriously cool design trend. And we think it’s a look that’s going nowhere fast.

Pick beautiful pastels such as sherbet lemon, powder blue, and peppermint for a fresh, eye-catching space.

Don’t worry if this sounds a lot like the ugly, 1970s avocado or peach bathroom set you’ve just ripped out. It isn’t.

This time around colourful bathrooms are a joyful reboot; a warmer, more retro luxe antidote to dazzling white and cool grey.

3. Awash with colour

Colour drenching is one of our favourite design tips for adding drama – on a shoestring. Colour blocking every wall – plus the ceiling – is smart, sophisticated, and full of impact.

Before deciding on a paint colour, it’s essential to try out swatches and samples in your own bathroom.

Different colours and finishes can look radically different depending on how much natural light your bathroom gets and what walls you’re painting.

Read our blog on how to choose the perfect paint colour for any room in the house.

Painting is a DIY job that most of us can tackle ourselves. But for a top-notch job that will also save you time, we would always hire a professional painter and decorator.

4. Use accessories for colourful bathroom ideas

Not quite ready to relegate your white bathroom to the scrapheap? Then dip your toe in colourful bathroom ideas with a few power-packed accessories.

Play around with bright, patterned towels and a shower curtain for starters. A mix of cobalt blue and emerald green is spirited and bold.

Alternatively, try pretty lilac and lavender soap dispensers and toothbrush holders for a softer tempo. The high street is packed with a brilliant selection.

Of course, the real beauty of colourful bathroom accessories is that they can be swapped and changed whenever you like. This makes them a great idea if you want to add personality to a new-build bathroom.

5. Soften monochrome bathrooms with an accent colour

Interior designers have been fans of the mood-boosting plus points of colour in the bathroom for a while now. And it’s easy to see why.

Introducing an accent colour can soften a stark, monochrome bathroom. Not only that, nature-inspired greens and earthy tones can enhance the spa-like mood of today’s bathroom which is no longer just a functional space.

With careful use of colour, your bathroom can evolve into a restful sanctuary away from the stresses of daily life.

6. Colourful bathrooms don’t need to be bold

Remember, you don’t need to go bold or loud for colourful bathroom ideas. Use the huge spectrum of hues, shades, primaries, and pastels in the colour wheel to suit your design tastebuds.

For instance, we love the plaster pink, peachy hue of this painted bathroom wall. It’s an elevated, warmer switch from grey or taupe and pairs so well if you want to channel a Scandinavian design style.

Finish off with masses of indoor greenery – and bask in the rosy glow!

7. Explore wallpaper in colourful bathroom ideas

Don’t overlook bathroom wallpaper. It’s often a missed decorating opportunity, especially if you want to add colour to your bathing space.

We might dismiss wallpaper as unsuitable for the damp, humid conditions of a bathroom. But it’s about using wallpaper in the right way and in the right zone of the bathroom. Check out our bathroom wallpaper blog for more ideas and inspiration.

Remember, colourful bathroom ideas with wallpaper are perfect for pepping up a cloakroom too. With less splashes and steam, these smaller rooms can be overhauled with colourful wallpaper.

So whether it’s a bold, botanical print or classic stripe, consider wallpaper as a dramatic, colour-packed alternative to tiles and paint.

8. Embrace colourful bathroom storage

If you’re happy to stick with a white backdrop, consider colourful bathroom storage.

Brightly coloured vanity units, cupboards, and even shelving will punctuate an all-white decor and create a statement focal point.

Seek out hardwearing lacquered furniture that’s waterproof too. Otherwise, if you’re painting cupboard doors and frames, you’ll need washable and mildew-resistant paint formulations such as gloss, satin, or eggshell.

Combine with the correct primer and apply a few coats for extra durability. For plenty more advice, head to our blog which looks at the best paint for wood in the bathroom.

9. Elevate architectural details with colourful bathroom ideas

Use colour to highlight architectural features such as wall panelling, window frames, and skirting boards. It’s a fun way to give a classic bathroom a modern, quirky twist.

In this Victorian-style bathroom, the half-height wall panels have been painted in a smart blue colour to match the roll-top bath. At the same time, the room remains light, bright and airy.

Other colourful bathroom ideas include painting skirting boards in a contrasting hue. Or how about decorating the ceiling with wallpaper or a colourful tint? It’s a great way to visually heighten the space and offer real impact.

10. Pick hardware to enhance your chosen colour

Of course, you want colourful bathrooms to be as chic and sophisticated as an all-white scheme.

So that means choosing the colour and finish for taps and shower fittings wisely. The gold and brushed nickel hardware in this bathroom are the perfect warmer metals to pair with the leaf-green walls.

But if cooler, silvery metallics are more your thing, pick out shiny chrome or brushed stainless steel for a clean-lined look.

And for modern colourful bathrooms, you won’t go wrong with black taps and shower controls for a crisp contrast.

Colourful tiles for a bathroom

11. Opt for a statement tiled wall

Create a striking focal point with this blue tiled feature wall. Oversized Metro tiles are laid in an eye-catching herringbone pattern for extra design points.

12. Look at colourful bathroom flooring

Consider colourful bathroom floor tiles if you’re happy with the wall colour. Get in touch with a recommended tiler who can carry out a super-professional job.

13. Use colour to zone a walk-in shower

Zone a walk-in shower or wet room with a panel of gorgeous, colourful wall tiles. Enhance the look with coloured grout (a brilliant design hack to elevate budget tiles).

14. Give tiles a new look with colourful paint

If bathroom tiles are looking a little shabby or you fancy a refresh, why not paint them? We’ve got an entire blog full of advice on how to paint tiles with great success.

15. Focus colourful bathroom ideas on the splashback

Make sure bathroom splashbacks are practical and stylish with bold, colourful tiles. Sometimes, a small splash of colour is all you’ll need.

Read Jamie’s bathroom transformation story, and get inspired for yours

FAQs

How can I make my bathroom more colourful?

There are so many great ways to create colourful bathrooms. It might be a DIY paint job you can do yourself or a trickier tiling renovation which calls for the expertise of a professional tiler. From colour drenching to bright accessories, one thing’s for sure, colourful bathroom ideas will make your home a happy space. Our best piece of advice: pick a colour you love and don’t be swayed too much by passing trends and fads. After all, this is your bathroom and your home to enjoy every single day.

Ready to turn your colourful bathroom ideas into a reality? Find a quality bathroom designer near you to kick off your project today.