Add colour to your bathroom: vibrant taps, tiles and more

Decorating with bright shades can feel tricky – but it’s one of the best tools for injecting personality into your space. Playing with colour has the ability to boost your mood and make your morning routine a fun and enjoyable experience.

If you’ve been looking for clever ways and bold design tricks to add colour to your bathroom, you’re in the right place.

While paint is usually the go-to solution, why not be bold and look at everything else in your space? For something subtle, elevate your basin area with a new tap or spice up your vanity with bright handles. Or opt for a statement light or add contrast to your tiles with colourful grout. But don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of ideas lined up.

Here, we look at 18 ways you can embrace colour, from big to small. Moodboards at the ready…

Add colour to your bathroom: the shower area

The showerhead
Solutions with chromotherapy are a great choice if you love a relaxing wash, but don’t enjoy – or have space for – a bath. Rainfall showers can take your bathroom experience to a luxurious spa-like level and stimulate all your senses. Plus, some of the latest designs come with incorporated customisable colour therapy and numerous jet settings that are set to boost your energy levels and interiors.
Rainfall shower with chromaterapy in open-plan bedroom bathroom
Sogni showerhead, price on application, Gessi.
The shower tray
Elevate your wetroom or shower area with a bold tray. The latest designs come in a range of shades, shapes and sizes, fitted, flush or with upstands. Future proof it with a textured anti-slip finish with slightly raised edges that make it easy to get in and out while also efficiently directing the water to the waste.
Bright blue shower tray
Flow Zero shower tray in Dusky Blue, from ÂŁ780, Acquabella.
The enclosure
Say goodbye to black or metallic shower enclosures and embrace colour. Look out for models that come in a range of styles and hues, from grid-look pivot doors to intricate patterns. Match your enclosure to the wall paint and opt for reeded glass for a modern scheme, or go the maximalist route with a contrasting colour.
Green bathroom with matching green shower enclosure and freestanding bath
Touches door, price on application, Drench.

Sanitaryware

Add colour to your bathroom with help from a statement bath
To make a statement in your room, choose a painted tub – be it fitted or freestanding, compact or grand. Ensure your favourite shade’s finish is resistant to splashes and humidity, and avoid abrasive cleaning solutions so you can enjoy the design for years to come.
Freestanding bath painted in a nature-inspired green shade
Essex bath in Khaki Green, ÂŁ2980, BC Designs.
The basin
Materials such as concrete and plaster are becoming more popular for enhancing your bathroom’s aesthetic. Dare to go bold with a textured basin in an alluring shade, whether it is wall mounted or installed on the countertop, to add a dash of colour. Deep shades of blue, for example, ooze a sense of calm and work well with polished metallic brassware.
Colourful basin made from concrete with polished brassware
Gaia concrete basin in Midnight Blue, from ÂŁ1288.80, Elle & James.
The toilet
It can sometimes feel plain and boring, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If you have always fancied having a colourful WC in your family bathroom or cloakroom, now is the time to tick it o your wishlist. Take your space up a notch with an elegant design. Think vibrant violet, rich green or dark navy – sure ways to take your loo out of the ordinary.
Bold and modern toilet painted in a lavender shade
Broadway wall – mounted WC, ÂŁ545, West One Bathrooms.

The vanity area

The units
You can never have enough storage and if it comes in an eye-catching colourway, it makes for an irresistible update. Pick a fluted finish for an on-trend look or sleek handleless fronts to achieve a clean and uncluttered scheme. Why not match your cabinetry to the tiles for a cocooning feeling?
Add colour to your bathroom through fluted units
Vintage 80cm vanity unit in a bespoke colour, with countertop basin and worktop, plus lighting and mirror, from ÂŁ3711, Dansani.
The tap
Revive your vanity area with a colourful design such as a simple block solution in zesty hues or a tall and curved mixer. However, be sure your chosen model works with your future or existing basin – from water pressure to the number of tap holes that are available. If there’s one hole, you need a monobloc. Two requires a pair of pillar taps, and three means you need two taps and a central mixer. Does your basin have no tap hole at all? In that case, a wall or deck-mounted filler is the best option.
Green, yellow, orange and pink taps for bathrooms
HV1-06 deck-mounted single lever basin mixers designed by Arne Jacobsen in green, yellow, orange or pink, ÂŁ541.20 each, Vola.
The worktop
A colourful bathroom is not complete without a pretty and practical worktop. It is worth investing in a high-quality, durable material for your bathroom surfaces, that is waterproof, and resistant to stains while also boasting style. Use a bright, monochromatic design to dress your vanity and embrace colour.
Modern bathroom with pink work surface, yellow tap and purple mosaic tiles
This project in Tokyo, designed by Adam Nathaniel Furman, features the Himacs Ruby surface part of the Lucent collection, from ÂŁ300 per m. Photography: Jan Vranovsky.
Lighting
Set the right atmosphere and add colour to your bathroom with lighting. Consider placing colourful wall fixtures that have an IP44 rating near your vanity to properly illuminate where you get ready each morning. Or why not go grand with a maximalist, multi- coloured glass chandelier in the centre of the room for a touch of drama?
Add colour to your bathroom through coloured glass lights
Pop Petite wall light in amber steel, ÂŁ600, Rothschild & Bickers.
The mirror
Another easy way to add colour to your bathroom is through smart mirrors. Featuring LED lighting, demisters, or Bluetooth functionality so you can stream you favourite songs at all times, you are bound to find your ideal design to boost your vanity area’s style and practicality factor.
Orange bathroom storage units with orange glass mirror
All Saints mirror in Tangerine Orange, from ÂŁ321.47, Laufen.
Accessories
They are a great way to either pick up and enhance certain colours in tiles or wallpaper, or do the opposite and create a pop of contrast. For a cohesive look, match soap dishes, bins, trays, and other miscellaneous storage solutions. Accessories come in a variety of materials, from resin to glass, so you’re bound to find something that suits your space.
Blue accessories set, from toothbrush holder to soap dispenser
Pigeon and Poodle Abiko bathroom collection in Cobalt, from ÂŁ82 for a toothbrush holder, Amara.

Let’s talk walls and floors

Add colour to your bathroom through wallpaper
Take your bathroom design one step further with patterned, waterproof wallpaper. Coverings like this are an easy decorating technique for a bold all-over look or a feature wall. The options are numerous, so you can truly personalise your space. Nature-inspired motifs in soft shades are set to bring a sense of tranquillity in your bathroom, for instance, while geometric patterns add a layer of interest.
Colourful bathroom with bold wallpaper featuring sea motifs, blue cabinetry, slim mirror and brass tap
Carpe Diem wallpaper in pink, red and ivory, ÂŁ43 per roll, Lust Home.
Paint
How could we not mention paint? Just make sure your chosen shade is suitable. Due to high humidity levels and water exposure, it has to be mould and mildew resistant and withstand splashes. A good primer with mildewcide additives will also help. As for the tone, blues and greens provide a sense of serenity, while rich shades of red and orange are more stimulating. Do you want to set a calming and nurturing mood? Then pink is ideal to wrap yourself in a tranquil feeling.
Pastel bathroom design with pale pink paint, matching pink radiator, blue basin and brass tap
Powdered Clay walls and ceilings matt emulsion, from ÂŁ18 for 2.5 litres, Crown.
Tiles
One of the key features in a bathroom – tiles protect your walls and floors from splashes and moisture while also adding style. The best bit is that you are not restricted to one shape or a single tone. You could lay colourful metro tiles on half the walls, hexagonal shapes on the floor, and add a dash of luxury with marble-inspired large-format designs in the shower area. The key is to have fun and be daring when designing your bathroom to create a truly unique and multi-coloured scheme. If you’re choosing tiles for the floor, remember to look at their slip rating. Also keep in mind that larger-format tiles mean less grout, which equals less maintenance.
Colourful bathroom idea with slim metro tiles, hexagonal pink and green floor tiles and marble tiles in the shower area
Patisserie Porcelain Rose Mint tiles, from £78.54 per sq m, Ca’ Pietra.
The flooring
Tired of your flooring? Instead of tiles, why not install an alternative such as vinyl or laminate, which are cost-effective, moisture resistant, durable, and easy to clean. These materials come in an extensive palette of vibrant colours, patterns, and finishes, too. So you’re bound to find something for your dream design.
Modern ensuite design with mint green units, pink tap radiator and flooring plus black and white tiles
Gloria vinyl flooring, ÂŁ32 per sq m, Colour Flooring. Image: Emma Merry.

Add colour to your bathroom through small details

Handles
For a pared-back scheme, a subtle way to embrace colour is through hardware. From calming greens to striking pinks, swap your old handles for a bolder option. There is plenty to choose from – think pull and twist designs, bars, and knobs, which all make for an easy upgrade for your furniture and to personalise your space.
Pink and green handles
Mezzaluna metal pull handles in Neo Mint and Miami Pink, ÂŁ13.99 each, Dowsing & Reynolds.
Grout
Often overlooked when designing a bathroom, but it’s the one small but key details that can really add interest to your space. Test different colours until you discover the hue that complements your tile choice and take your walls and floors to the next level.
Orange tiles featuring contrasting blue grout above a basin with brass mixer
Norse Flamingo gloss ceramic tiles, from ÂŁ54.93 per sq m, Mandarin Stone.

In conclusion, whether you just want to add a subtle pop of colour to your bathroom through small features or completely drench your space in vibrant hues, remember to have fun and dare to go bold.

Enjoyed this post? Check out these ideas for paint, tiles and wallpaper for the bathroom

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