Revitalizing your home bathroom goes beyond mere trends and stylish accents—consider a complete transformation with a bold and vibrant paint shade. Explore the spectrum of possibilities, from a moody space set in heavy-toned teal, as exemplified by designer Pierre Gonalons in an eclectic Paris apartment, to ELLE DECOR A-List designer Katie Ridder’s use of a preppy high-gloss aubergine as a backdrop for black-and-white photography in a Manhattan remodel.
Even neutrals, when chosen wisely, can redefine bathroom aesthetics, such as Marc Valeanu’s use of Farrow & Ball’s Dove Tale, which features lilac undertones. According to designer Sara Bengur, the objective of a bathroom is to evoke feelings of nurture and pampering, and this can manifest differently for each individual. Some clients may opt for a room-like atmosphere with rugs, ottomans, decorative cabinets, and antique lighting, while others prefer a spa-like ambiance with neutral tones.
Considerations for bathroom paint selection include the direction of natural light, with northern light producing softer and warmer effects, and the choice of paint finish affecting how the color appears in a room. Glossy paint tends to darken the color, while eggshell or matte paint stays closer to the swatch color. Bengur advises caution with colors like yellow and greens with a lot of yellow, as they may not be ideal for flattering reflections in mirrors.
For inspiration, explore a curated selection of color-drenched bathrooms from the ELLE DECOR archives, showcasing a variety of paint ideas to ignite creativity for your next bathroom renovation, promising a transformation dripping with style.
- CALAMINE BY FARROW & BALL
Need a daily dose of pink? Calamine by Farrow & Ball is the perfect choice, adding whimsy and softness to Michael C. Hall’s New York City apartment. This pale pink hue transcends the bold bubblegum pinks, pairing seamlessly with dark-toned accessories like John Derian decoupage plates and trays. - HAGUE BLUE BY FARROW & BALL
For a subtle twist on a classic color, Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue is featured in the powder room of a Lake Tahoe Retreat. Palmer Weiss, the designer, unleashed creativity by pairing trimmed walls with a contrasting poppy wallcovering, a reproduction of a 19th-century C.F.A. Voysey Arts and Crafts design by Trustworth Studios. - CHANTILLY LACE BY BENJAMIN MOORE
Described as a classic go-to white that evokes images of fresh cotton and pure silk, Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore elegantly complements a white-on-white scheme or adds a sophisticated contrast to Moroccan tiles in a rustic bathroom. - PELT BY FARROW & BALL
Experimenting with bold color is perfect for a diminutive powder room. Katie Ridder chose Pelt by Farrow & Ball in a high-gloss finish for a luxe retreat, creating a deep aubergine backdrop for a collection of black-and-white photography. - CHAPPELL GREEN BY FARROW & BALL
Green takes center stage in this bathroom by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ken Fulk. Farrow & Ball’s Chappell Green, a versatile sage tint, graces the walls of his Cape Cod cottage, appearing blue when contrasted with warmer tones and green when paired with cooler shades. - SKYLIGHT BY FARROW & BALL
Blue is a natural choice for bathrooms, and Skylight by Farrow & Ball brings a touch of gray. In Elad Yifrach’s home in Portugal, this shade creates an airy and cool atmosphere, reading as pale blue in smaller spaces and revealing cooler undertones in larger rooms. - ORANGE COLOURED WHITE BY FARROW & BALL
Farrow & Ball’s Orange Coloured White is a creamy neutral with a hint of orange, offering a flattering cast in various lighting. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Michelle R. Smith showcases its elegance in her New Orleans bathroom. - BLUE GRAY BY FARROW & BALL
For a bathroom that exudes serenity, try Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray. Composed of black, blue, and green, this versatile hue can read as a soft sage or duck egg depending on the light. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Frances Merrill of Reath Design brings a natural touch to a soothing primary bathroom with this shade. - NEWBURG GREEN BY BENJAMIN MOORE
In small spaces like powder rooms, bold design choices shine. Designer Anne McDonald, in a charming Minnesota lake house, opts for Benjamin Moore’s Newburg Green, a smoky teal shade that can shift between deep blue and dusty green depending on light and time of day. - NAVAL BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
Named Sherwin-Williams’s 2020 Color of the Year, Naval remains a sophisticated choice. In a stylish New York apartment, design firm Le Whit uses this deep blue to create an enveloping, sophisticated atmosphere in the primary bathroom, enhanced by painterly wallcovering and burgundy-colored marble. - LULWORTH BLUE BY FARROW & BALL
Inspired by a cove along the Jurassic Coast, Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue is described as a “formal Regency hue.” Antiques dealer Jean-Philippe Demeyer embraces maximalism, coating the primary bathroom of his medieval manor with this oceanic blue, paired with a matching custom tub and floaty shower curtains. - DIMPSE BY FARROW & BALL
Dimpse by Farrow & Ball, a cool gray, sets a tranquil atmosphere in the bathroom. Amanda Seyfried chooses this hue for the walls in her own primary bathroom, showcasing its versatility for creating a peaceful ambiance. - SETTING PLASTER BY FARROW & BALL
Pink becomes the chicest neutral when used right. Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster, a blushing hue, is a designer favorite, creating an ultra-flattering backdrop in bedrooms, dressing rooms, and bathrooms. In the Manhattan apartment designed by Le Whit, this color graces the walls of a half bath, complemented by brass fixtures, a sparkling chandelier, and a bold tiled floor. - MONROE BISQUE BY BENJAMIN MOORE
Luxury and serenity fill even the smallest spaces with the right neutral. In the classical bathroom of a Federal-style farmhouse in upstate New York, Benjamin Moore’s Monroe Bisque, a rich creamy neutral with a touch of honey, provides a museum-worthy backdrop to historic treasures. - DOVE TALE BY FARROW & BALL
Make the loo your favorite room with Farrow & Ball’s Dove Tale. In the bathroom of a Parisian apartment, Marc Valeanu creates a bath-lover’s nirvana by drowning out street noise with this calming tone, paired with bespoke Maurizio Scianna bathroom tiles and Charvet and Prada bathrobes. - MID AZURE GREEN BY LITTLE GREENE
Rich, saturated jewel tones infuse ambience into small spaces. In an eclectic Parisian apartment bathroom, Pierre Gonalons uses Little Greene’s Mid Azure Green, complemented by tiled wall mirrors, for a dramatic color scheme with a touch of fantasy. - BLUE BOTTLE BY SYDNEY HARBOUR PAINT CO.
Nuance takes a backseat in this vibrant California house. The inky-blue powder room, painted with Sydney Harbour Paint Co.’s Blue Bottle, adds a jolt of drama to the space, making a splash in the home of Montecito art collectors. - STIFFKEY BLUE BY FARROW & BALL
ELLE DECOR A-List designer Lorenzo Castillo transforms an 18th-century seaside villa on the Spanish island of Menorca with Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue. The bathroom’s blue accents, paired with the island view beyond, enchant and invite in equal measure.
