When you think of bathrooms, or specifically bathroom colours, the shade that tends to spring to mind is a crisp clean white.
It’s the default colour for bathrooms and kitchens, probably because these rooms are where hygiene matters the most. But just because it started off as white, it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
Adding a splash of colour to your bathroom can bring it to life in a way you might not be brave enough to do in other parts of the house. It’s often the smallest room of the house too, which means taking decor risks feels less dramatic. And, if it all goes wrong it won’t take much to reset the room back to its OG white state again.
With higher, fluctuating temperatures and a high level of humidity, decorating bathrooms isn’t as straightforward as doing up other rooms of the house. Matt finishes, which offer intrigue and depth in the hallway, lounge and bedroom, won’t translate well here.
Instead, B&Q advises “Satin and gloss paints are more durable and have the added advantage of being washable. Some wall paints are specially formulated for use in damp environments, like kitchens and bathrooms. These paints are washable and highly resistant to staining, humidity and mould. There are also special paints for use on bathroom wall coverings.”
If you’re itching to give bathroom wall tiles a makeover, look for specially formulated tile paint as flooring has to deal with high footfall, and so will need a different paint type too. Regular tins of emulsion may not work everywhere.
If you’re hoping to add some character to your bathroom, we’ve rounded up the best formulas and colours that are up to the task.
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Dunelm Black Eggshell Emulsion Paint
There's no doubt that black is a bold choice, but it could pay off big time - even in small settings. The trick is to use something with a satin or sheeny finish that will bounce light around the room, be it natural or artificial.
Buy now £20.00, Dunelm
COAT Paints Baked
This warm terracotta with a hint of grey will transport you to warmer climes; think wild desert-scapes. It's a good choice to use if your bathroom lacks natural light. COAT sells the paint in a range of finishes, but Soft Sheen is the one to choose for bathrooms as it's far easier to keep clean.
Buy now £29.00, COAT
Lick x Soho House Green 05 Rome House Eggshell
Channel the Eternal City with this dusky olive hue, part of Lick's collab with Soho House. The eggshell finish is the one to pick and with its warm golden undertones. This is a colour best paired with gold or brass-coloured fittings and fixtures.
Each tin holds 2.5L.
Buy now £45.00, Lick
Valspar Premium Wood & Metal Interior Gloss Basecoat, Base C, 2.5L Emerald Temple
Itching to try something other than white or magnolia? Valspar has a huge range of water-based interior paint to colour your home happy. If you want to feel like you’re living in a jewellery box (and really, who doesn’t?), this forest green paint should do nicely.
It will cover both wood and metal (which means you can paint your radiators with it too) and once dry, offers remarkable scrubbability, scuff and stain resistance. Make sure you remove all old paint with sandpaper before you start to get a smooth, even finish.
Buy now £42.00, B&Q
Frenchic Tile Paint
The eco-friendly chalk and mineral paint brand has a range specifically dedicated to prettying up ceramic tiles, with shades from a moody Blackjack to a duck-egg blue and an elegant moss green, plus plenty more besides. There’s also the Chalk Wall Paint range, which the brand says will work across a range of surfaces, including ceramic wall tiles, with a similarly impressive colour wheel.
Buy now £10.95, Frenchic
Rust-Oleum Grape Soda Satin Bathroom Tile Paint 750ml
A lighter take on black, this deep aubergine tone is the perfect way to add depth and polish to bathrooms with the swipe of a brush. This is a two-part application which involves an activator and should leave behind nothing but a satin-like finish.
Buy now £25.00, B&Q
Ronseal White - One Coat Anti-Damp Paint - 2.5L
No-nonsense brand Ronseal is famed for coining the phrase ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ and it certainly comes up trumps with its One Coat Damp Seal. Available in white, apply one coat to clean walls and let fully dry before finishing with your desired paint colour or wallpaper.
Buy now £36.00, Homebase
Little Greene Hicks' Blue in Intelligent Eggshell
Independent British paint manufacturer Little Greene puts the environment and social responsibility at its core, something that extends to its range of wallpaper as well. The colour wheel is impressive with plenty of high-quality and richly pigmented neutrals, pastels and bold colours to agonise over.
Intelligent Eggshell is the finish to choose for bathrooms and while blue is an obvious choice, the inkiness of this hue promises to add a touch of elegance to bathroom walls. The highly pigmented colour is available in 1 and 2.5L tins as well as a sample pot if you'd like to try it out for size first.
Buy now, Little Greene Paints
