Bathroom Design Ideas; Adding Color in Unique Ways

The bathroom is a heavily used space within the home, but it’s often the room we think we must do a total overhaul to improve the look. Hold on; there are ways to address the bathroom’s look without a complete rebuild! Let’s think for a moment about the bathroom being a space that is open to small changes to make a big difference! 

I wholeheartedly feel that this space is equally as important as any other space in the house. Why have a dull, uninspired bathroom? Let’s talk about improving a bathroom a little bit at a time!

Well-designed bathrooms are some of the most relaxing, peaceful, and harmonious spaces I’ve seen in homes. In this article, I will share some bathroom design ideas you can incorporate into your home. Some of these suggestions are easily accomplished, and others will be more involved and require more work, but all will help make your bathroom a more peaceful, inspired, and zen place to enjoy! 

Bathrooms Often Start Without Color

“Why do they start without color?” You ask. They start without color because many of us love bathrooms that are brighter whites, or at least lighter, brighter colors. The color palette for a bathroom absolutely has to feel clean to succeed, and the brighter colors fit the bill; that leaves us with a dilemma. Where to add color to the bathroom to give it that personal touch? The most common way of adding color is in the soft furnishings in the room, towels, rugs, etc. You can always add accessories too. What is fun is that you can change them anytime you want for a new look for the season; this works for adding color, but let’s consider taking a different approach. 

Adding Warmth with Accents

An entire room can be light and bright, but adding an accent wall is a way to add visual interest to your room. By adding a charcoal wall or darker tile against the white fixtures in your bathroom, contrast is increased, and what is white appears lighter, which is what we want it to do. The contrast works in your favor accentuating the shiny white fixtures in the space. To play it safe, you can add a neutral color like grays or taupes that add warmth to the room but don’t be afraid to add a contrasting navy blue or hunter green!

Another approach would be to add wood to warm up the bathroom. Wood can be cabinetry, an accent piece, shelving, or even a small table. I’ll get into this more in a moment; read on. 

Adding Greenery to Your Clean Bathroom

Accents I especially enjoy adding are plants that thrive in moisture-rich environments. What a great way to incorporate some biophilic design into your home! Picture aloe veras, ivy, or snake plants sitting atop some beautiful exposed wood shelves above your toilet or sink; it brings just enough outdoor energy into the space, instinctually creating a relaxing environment. 

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Learn How Exterior Paint Colors Can Make or Break a First Impression!

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Bathroom Design Ideas – Rustic Warmth 

Continuing with the concept of adding natural beauty into your room, I think this is the most comfortable way of adding color by adding warmth. Sometimes, I see bathrooms that are too sterile and minimalistic. While elegant and clean, they lack heart and feel a little clinical to me, feeling very hospital-like. To me, a bathroom’s emotional intention is to create a safe place that helps us wind down, refresh our minds, and center our energy. If a bathroom is designed to look too sterile and industrial, it can have the opposite effect. 

A wonderful way to create warmth in a bathroom is to add some rustic/farmhouse design elements. Now, I’m not saying you need to replace your bathroom sink with a hollowed-out pine log. Still, there are wonderfully rustic and farmhouse accessories and even functional appliances you can add to your bathroom to give it character and an inviting aura. 

Picture this; in your master bathroom, there is a double sink vanity made from a light maple with only a clear or natural stain to keep the lighter contemporary feel of the wood. The mirror above the vanity is also framed with the same light wood. The countertop is contrasting in a dark natural stone, like marble or granite, and Edison bulbs illuminate the space. Black hardware is the perfect accent to add a contemporary vibe to this understated bathroom. Without sacrificing practicality, the bathroom is now much more than a functional space. 

Bathroom Design Ideas – A Bath Tub as the Centerpiece 

If you have the space and ability to stray away from the plug-and-play bathtub shower combo, I highly suggest you do. While I understand this is the standard that many homeowners are used to, and most homes have wet wall constraints, I cannot overstate how transformative a standalone, freestanding bathtub can be. 

By separating the shower and the tub, you create two unique areas of the bathroom, which makes it feel more like a dedicated spa than a residential bathroom. A freestanding bathtub can serve as the space’s focal point, a functional piece of art. There are gorgeous stone, copper, acrylic, and even stainless steel tubs that set the tone for the entire bathroom design aesthetic. You can create a color scheme that supports and plays off the freestanding tub. For instance, a freestanding copper tub works wonderfully with earthier colors like rust or dark royal blue. Just thinking of those combinations is exciting to me!

Bathroom Design Ideas – Don’t Waste the Space

The bathroom should not be disregarded when it comes to design and color. There’s so much that homeowners can do with or without remodeling. Why go white-on-white with your bathroom color scheme when you can create an entire emotional experience? Why settle for a run-of-the-mill vanity or stock overhead lighting when there are many more inspired options? 

Don’t think of the bathroom as just a functional space; think of it as a retreat you and your guests can enjoy. 

If you enjoyed this piece, please see my accompanying article, “5 Remarkably Fresh Bathroom Color Ideas,” for more bathroom ideas and inspiration! 

Also, check out the Color911 app for a wide variety of curated premade color themes. Each theme is created by myself, your favorite color expert. Select what is right for you to give your bathroom that personal touch. Download the app today!