This Year's Bathroom Paint Color Trends Are Straight From Your Favorite Spa

Decide which end of the spectrum you prefer before you tackle a bathroom paint project.

Green bathroom with orange towels
Photo:

Goodboy Picture Company / Getty Images

Repainting most rooms in your home for the sake of an annual refresh isn't especially practical, especially if a new palette means replacing furniture, choosing new fabrics, and turning those spaces into work sites. But updating the paint in your bathroom—a smaller room—lets you start and end your day on an invigoratingly new note.

Primary and guest bathrooms also offer endless opportunities for personalization as you incorporate riskier colors. (Remember: If you hate it, repainting is low-effort and low-cost.) You can and should think beyond your walls, too—the cabinets, ceiling, or floor are all fair game. "Bath panels and vanity units are great places to incorporate color, as is the floor," Studholme, color curator at Farrow & Ball. "But never underestimate the power of a different color or finish on the ceiling—the bathroom is the one place you may spend a little more time looking at the ceiling!"

Before you get going (or pick your paint), pause and consider the defining shades of the moment, according to color experts.

01 of 08

Soothing Pinks With Blue

Soft pink bathroom

Farrow & Ball

Bring dreamy hues into your bathroom by turning to shades of powder or pale pink, says Studholme. She suggests using silvery Light Blue on the walls and ceiling of a bathroom, opting for a higher gloss on the ceiling to make a subtle impact—and layering in pinks for a sense of serenity. "The fabulous warm blush tones of Setting Plaster on walls with the slightly darker Templeton Pink on woodwork results in an oasis of calm." She also recommends Farrow & Ball's Pink Ground, shown here, which pairs beautifully with an inkier blue for an elegant pop.

02 of 08

Warm Sunset Tones

Yellow bathroom with tile and paint

Crispin la valiente / Getty Images

In contrast to the cool colors that have been popular in recent years, warm pinks, yellows, and oranges are making a comeback. "Bathrooms are often the first room we enter in the morning as we get ready for the day, so selecting an uplifting shade with vibrant warmth helps you start your day with a positive outlook," says Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. "A hue like Subtle Peach, a soft and vibrant neutral with apricot undertones, is a perfect all-over shade that helps brighten the mood in any space. For an extra playful pop of color, sunny yellow hues—like Delightful Moon—bring a dose of joy and fun to one of our most frequented home spaces and can be used to accent key details of the space, such as built-in cabinets, trim, or wainscoting for an eye-catching highlight."

03 of 08

Deep Orange and White

Orange vanity

Sergey Mironov / Getty Images

Aside from vibrant citrus hues, we are seeing deep, earthy oranges with fresh undertones. "Within the bathroom space, earthy and energizing hues like Persimmon inspire an environment that feels uplifting and rejuvenated and create a colorful contour when used throughout prominent fixtures such as cabinets, tiling, or linens," says Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams. "For a soothing feel, pair bolder hues with warm neutrals like Softer Tan or Pearly White to provide a versatile and grounded backdrop."

04 of 08

Complex and Moody Blues

Navy blue bathroom

Caiaimage/Robert Daly / Getty Images

Shades of blue are always popular choices for the primary bathroom, but this year's popular hues are "more complex and moodier" than in the past, says Kim; think rich midnight blue and dusky mid-range tones. "Blue tones encourage us to decompress and renew," says Kim. "We'll continue to see popular shades and color choices used in the bathroom that are more often connected to natural elements, which is attributed to the longevity of the colors in the home. Also, these cool shades highlight the healing power of water that helps alleviate evolving demands of life."

She recommends Everglade Deck and Blue Arrow, two lush Valspar colors. "Everglade Deck is a midnight blue that creates a restorative space and encourages us to restore our mind, body, and home," she says. "Blue Arrow is a cooled-down blue with a yellow undertone that brings balance and charm to any space and gives a strong connection to the sky and water."

05 of 08

Light Blue, Dark Blue, and White

Bathroom in shades of blue

Lisa Romenien

Don't overlook tonal combinations, say our experts—layering two shades of blue with a crisp neutral, like beige or white, offers controlled contrast. "New color Kittiwake [a warm, lake blue] could be used on the bottom of the walls in combination with All White and Wine Dark stripes," says Studholme.

06 of 08

Canary and Brown-Gray

Bright bathroom with yellow and white walls.

irina88w / Getty Images

Canary and brown-gray might be an unconventional choice for a bathroom, but hear us out. "For those with bolder tastes in family bathrooms, the warm but clean tones of yellow Babouche might be used in a diamond pattern with earthy Tanners Brown on the floor or bath panel," says Studholme.

07 of 08

Olive Green and Forest Green

Green bathroom

Solidago / Getty Images

Rich shades work well in powder rooms, too, which can handle more dramatic aesthetics. "In the powder room and the smaller guest bathroom spaces, people are more adventurous and have a little bit more fun with color," says Nicole Gibbon, founder of Clare. "In a powder room, we're seeing colors like [olive-toned] Dirty Martini and Current Mood, which is a rich, moody green."

08 of 08

Tranquil Green-Grays and Neutrals

Bathroom in Green Luxury Home
GETTY IMAGES

Pale neutrals, sea-glass greens, and grayed-out aquas turn your daily shower routine into a spa-inspired soak. "Primary bathroom spaces where people get ready every day tend to be lighter and fresher," says Gibbon, who often recommends Chill, an understated gray-green, for this room.

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