Choosing a paint color for your bathroom can be an exciting yet daunting task. With so many options to pick from, it can be hard to settle on just one shade. The color you choose can dramatically affect the overall look, feel, and functionality of your space.
When selecting a bathroom paint color, there are a few key factors to consider:
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Factors to Consider When Choosing Bathroom Paint Colors
Lighting
The lighting in your bathroom can really impact how colors appear. Harsh, bright lights will emphasize cooler tones, while dim, yellow bulbs bring out warmer undertones. Evaluate what kind of lighting is currently in your bathroom and test out paint samples during the day and at night to make sure the color looks great under both conditions.
If your bathroom lacks natural light, opt for lighter, brighter paint colors to create the illusion of sunlight. Soft white, light gray, and pale blue are great choices for darker bathrooms.
Size
Smaller bathrooms will feel even more cramped when painted a dark color. Stick with light, airy shades like white, light gray, or subtle pastels to open up the space.
Larger bathrooms can handle bolder, richer colors. Deep greens, navy blue, and wine reds look beautiful in spacious bathrooms. Just make sure to anchor bold walls with neutral accents.
Existing Features
Take stock of the existing fixtures, tile, vanity, and decor in your bathroom. Complementary paint colors will help these features shine, while clashing shades can make your bathroom feel busy or outdated.
For example, a bathroom with neutral beige tile could handle a bold navy blue paint color. But terra cotta tile would clash with cool blue tones.
Purpose
How do you want your bathroom paint color to make you feel? Calm and relaxed? Cheerful and inspired? Keep the overall mood you want to create in mind as you shop for colors.
Soft blue-greens and muted grays are wonderfully tranquil. Yellows and light blues feel bright and refreshing. And sultry reds or inky blues create a luxurious, spa-like vibe.
Personal Preference
At the end of the day, choose a color you genuinely love. Trends come and go, but a color you adore will never go out of style. Decide which hues make you happy and design your bathroom around colors you’ll enjoy for years to come.
With these factors in mind, let’s look at 30 stunning bathroom paint colors to inspire your space!
30 Best Bathroom Paint Colors
1. Soft White
A soft white bathroom feels airy and welcoming. The light color reflects natural light and makes any size bathroom feel open and expansive.
White paint is also easy to decorate around, fitting effortlessly with any style of decor. For a minimalist look, pair white walls with sleek chrome fixtures. Or add colorful accents and prints for an eclectic vibe.
Benjamin Moore White Dove or Sherwin-Williams Pure White are perfect soft white hues.
2. Light Blue
Nothing feels more refreshing than a light blue bathroom. The soothing hue conjures images of clear skies and calm oceans. Use light blue paint to create a relaxing oasis in your home.
Stick with lighter shades like powder blue, sky blue, or robin’s egg blue. Avoid darker navy or cobalt tones, as they may make a small bathroom feel closed in.
Benjamin Moore’s Misty Blue is a failsafe light blue for bathrooms.
3. Light Gray
For an understated, elegant look, choose a light gray bathroom paint color. Light gray reads as a neutral but is a bit warmer and more dynamic than white. The soft hue pairs well with any color scheme, from bold jewel tones to pastels.
Keep the look refined by selecting a gray with greige or beige undertones, like Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray. Steer clear of cool grays, which can appear sterile.
4. Sage Green
Earthy sage green makes a soothing, organic choice for a bathroom palette. The natural tone is versatile enough to fit modern, traditional, or eclectic spaces. Plus, it pairs beautifully with most tile, hardware, and decor options.
Stay away from bright kelly greens, which may feel overwhelming. Instead, opt for muted organic greens with gray undertones, like Behr’s Silver Drop.
5. Soft Yellow
Sunny yellow paint brings warmth and energy to any bathroom. But bright, bold shades can feel abrasive. For a cheery yet mellow ambiance, choose a soft muted yellow.
Look for a buttery yellow with beige undertones, like Glidden’s Sunflower or Behr’s Cream Periwinkle. Soft yellow creates a joyful bathroom retreat without going overboard.
6. Light Lavender
Pretty and calming, light lavender paint gives your bathroom a dreamy, romantic vibe. Pale purple soothes and relaxes without feeling too feminine or stuffy.
Select a light lilac or iris shade – nothing too bold or bright. Behr’s lovely Lilac Bouquet is a perfect choice for lavender bathroom walls.
7. Navy Blue
For a bold, dramatic look few colors rival a dark navy blue bathroom. Navy instantly creates an elegant, upscale ambiance with a nautical flair. Use it sparingly in a powder room or combine it with crisp white trim for sophistication.
Sherwin-Williams’ Naval is a classic navy blue that looks upscale without skewing too dark.
8. Light Pink
While hot pink may feel overwhelming, light pink paint brings just a touch of feminine flair. Pastel pink reads as a neutral but with a fun, youthful twist.
Avoid neons and magentas, as they can feel loud. Instead, look for soft blush pinks like Behr’s Ballet Slipper or Valspar’s Pink Swan Feather.
9. Deep Green
Deep green is an ideal bathroom color for those wanting a dramatic, moody vibe. The rich shade feels lush and sophisticated, reminiscent of a tropical jungle.
Keep the look refined by steering clear of bright kelly greens. Opt for hunter greens with gray undertones like Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal.
10. Pale Yellow
For a bright yet mellow bathroom, go for pale yellow paint. Light shades like lemon chiffon and cream create a cheerful yet soothing ambiance.
Pale yellow works well in both traditional and contemporary bathrooms. Pair with white trim for crisp contrast.
11. Medium Gray
Medium gray strikes the perfect balance between light and dark, making it a universally flattering bathroom paint color. Richer than light gray but cooler than greige, it’s endlessly versatile.
Look for gray shades with a subtle taupe or brown undertone, like Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. The beige influence warms up the gray.
12. Powder Blue
Powder blue is a softer, more muted version of sky blue. The hazy shade creates instant tranquility, like a peaceful daydream. Use powder blue paint to craft a relaxing bathroom sanctuary.
Opt for a blue with slight gray undertones to avoid neon brights. Benjamin Moore’s Moonlight shows off powder blue’s dreamy side.
13. Medium Green
For an earthy, organic look, go for a medium green bathroom color. Avoid bright greens, which can feel harsh. Instead, choose deeper forest and sage greens for a subtle yet striking color palette.
Sherwin-Williams’ Accessible Beige is a versatile medium green that pairs well with wood finishes and terra cotta tile.
14. Lavender Gray
A fresh take on basic gray, lavender gray paint brings in just a hint of color. The soft hue reads as a neutral while still providing a playful pop of purple.
Look for a gray with purple or lilac undertones to nail the lavender gray look. Behr’s Mystic Orchid is a perfect pick.
15. Light Peach
Peach may seem like an unconventional bathroom color, but light shades work beautifully. Soft peach minimizes the saccharine factor, leaving you with a cheerful yet soothing hue.
Avoid orangey peach tones, which can feel dated. Instead, look for peaches with pink undertones like Glidden’s Pink Bliss.
16. Medium Blue
For a moody but livable blue bathroom, go for a medium blue shade. Not too light, not too dark, it’s the Goldilocks of blues. The versatile hue pairs well with neutral, monochromatic, or colorful decor.
Benjamin Moore’s Stormy Sky is a failsafe medium blue for bathrooms. The gray influence prevents it from reading too bright.
17. Beige
Warm and welcoming, beige paint gives a bathroom an earthy yet refined look. The mellow tone provides a clean, bright backdrop without feeling sterile like stark white.
Stick with beige shades that skew brown instead of pink or orange. Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige is a pleasantly neutral beige.
18. Light Sage
If you like the idea of green but find deeper shades too dark, go for light sage. The pale hue feels cheerful and uplifting while still reading as a neutral.
Look for a sage green with strong yellow undertones, like Behr’s Golden Fleece. The yellow influence keeps it fresh instead of drab.
19. Pale Blue
Pale blue is the lightest shade of blue you can use without veering into gray territory. The crisp, clean hue makes small bathrooms appear larger and brighter.
Steer clear of pale blues with purple undertones, as they can read dingy. Instead, opt for a blue with green notes like Valspar’s Blue Horizon.
20. Gray-Beige
If you like the look of gray and beige but can’t choose between them, compromise with gray-beige. The blend of the two neutral shades creates a sophisticated look perfect for bathrooms.
Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray includes warm beige-brown undertones that keep this shade feeling livable instead of industrial.
21. Light Green
For a pop of color that isn’t overpowering, light green is the perfect bathroom hue. It instantly infuses spaces with a sense of renewal and refreshment.
Avoid mossy or olive greens, which can read drab in a bathroom. Instead, opt for a brighter mint green like Behr’s Pistachio Cream.
22. Medium Gray-Brown
Charcoal, taupe, and gray bathroom paints are popular for a reason – they’re versatile and chic. For the best of both cool and warm neutrals, try a medium gray-brown.
Sherwin-Williams’ Repose Gray includes subtle brown undertones that give dimension to the gray without skewing too warm.
23. Vivid Violet
Make a bold statement with vivid violet bathroom walls. Richer than a pale pastel, vivid violet has just enough gray influence to prevent over-saturation.
Behr’s exquisite African Violet is a spot-on mix of gray and purple, ideal for contemporary bathrooms wanting to make a colorful splash.
24. Robin’s Egg Blue
For a bathroom as cheery as your morning routine, embrace robin’s egg blue paint. The light retro shade energizes without feeling abrasive or neon bright.
Robin’s egg blue reads as a neutral, pairing easily with warm wood tones and crisp white molding. Behr’s Windmill Wings perfectly captures this ’50s-inspired hue.
25. Terracotta
Terracotta is an unexpected yet stylish bathroom paint color choice. The rich orangey-brown hue bring warmth to a utilitarian space without skewing too feminine or dramatic.
For best results, opt for a deep terracotta with brown undertones like Glidden’s Riverstone. Lighter shades can read drab or dated.
26. Light Taupe
Light taupe straddles the line between cool gray and warm beige, making it a universally flattering bathroom paint color. The mellow hue serves as a soothing backdrop for any style of decor.
Opt for a taupe with subtle pink undertones like Behr’s Stucco. This prevents the shade from reading too muddy.
27. Periwinkle Blue
Pretty and playful, periwinkle blue livens up a neutral bathroom with a punch of pastel color. Hints of purple and gray soften bright sky blue into a soothing, elegant shade.
Glidden’s Fresh Lavender is a spot-on periwinkle for bathrooms seeking a subtle pop of color. Avoid shades that skew too purple or blue.
28. Olive Green
Olive green bathroom paint adds earthy allure. The natural tone provides an organic, grounded contrast to the sterile whites and grays of tile and porcelain.
The green reads as a neutral, blending seamlessly with various wood tones and metals. Behr’s fortune Green is a pleasantly muted olive.
29. Medium Brown
For a cozy, welcoming bathroom, embrace medium brown paint. The toasty shade brings warmth to an often cold, clinical space without skewing too dark or dramatic.
Look for brown shades with subtle orange undertones like Benjamin Moore’s Hazelnut Cream. This livens up the brown and prevents a flat, muddy look.
30. Bold Black
If you’re not afraid of drama, consider a bold black bathroom. High-gloss black paint adds instant luxury, reminiscent of exotic black stones and marbles.
Use black as a colorblocking accent wall or on cabinets for pops of contrast. Behr’s Caviar black hue has a subtle warmth that prevents it from reading too gothic.
Factors to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Bathroom Paint Color
Now that we’ve looked at 30 stellar bathroom color options, let’s discuss some key factors to keep in mind as you choose your perfect shade:
Coordinating With Existing Elements
Take stock of your existing bathroom features and choose a color that complements them.
- Neutral tile or beige porcelain? Opt for crisp, contrasting colors.
- Chic black and white mosaic tile? Embrace bold, lively hues.
- Cherry wood vanity? Stick with warm earth tones and woodsy colors.
Lighting Conditions
Test paint samples at different times of day to make sure your color choice looks great in your specific lighting.
- North-facing or dim bathroom? Embrace light, bright colors.
- Lots of natural light? You can make vivid or dark hues work.
- Harsh fluorescent bulbs? Cool tones will complement, while warm shades may look dingy.
Personal Style
Decide the overall look you want your bathroom to have and choose a paint color to match.
- For a spa sanctuary, blend soothing blues, greens or grays.
- Seeking a cheerful wake-up call? Use sunny yellow or sky blue.
- Prefer an elegant, luxurious feel? Sophisticated navy or deep purple may work beautifully.
Bathroom Paint Finish Options
Once you settle on a perfect paint color, it’s time to choose a finish. Paint finish impacts the sheen, durability, and washability of your bathroom walls. Consider these common finish options:
Matte
A matte finish has no shine and reflects very little light. It hides imperfections well but is difficult to clean and can scuff easily. Use matte paint with caution in humid bathrooms.
Eggshell
Slightly more lustrous than matte, eggshell has a soft, velvety appearance. It’s easy to clean and stands up to moisture better than flat finishes. Eggshell is ideal for bathrooms wanting some subtle sheen.
Sati
With a smooth, pearl-like glow, satin finishes nicely resist mildew and stains. The popular finish reflects just enough light to showcase your color. Satin works well in formal and casual bathrooms alike.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss has a bright, shiny appearance that highlights imperfections. The ultra-durable finish resists moisture, stains, and scrubbing. Use it on trim, cabinets, and high-traffic bathroom walls.
High-Gloss
The most light-reflective, high-gloss finish resembles a smooth, glassy lacquer. It’s the most durable and scrubbable option but can feel too bold and slick on large swaths of walls. Save high-gloss for bathrooms wanting an ultra-modern look.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bathroom Paint Colors
Here are answers to some common questions about choosing paint for a bathroom:
What are the best bathroom paint colors?
The best paint colors for a bathroom are light, airy tones like soft white, light gray, pale blue and mint green. These shades give the illusion of space and reflect light well in windowless bathrooms.
What bathroom paint colors are in style?
On-trend bathroom paint colors include light earth tones like beige, taupe, and sage green. Vivid blues and greens are also popular for those wanting bold bathroom walls.
What bathroom paint finish is most recommended?
Satin and eggshell paint finishes are best for bathrooms. They resist moisture well and provide a subtle sheen that’s easy to clean. Avoid flat/matte due to humidity concerns.
Should you use semi-gloss paint in a bathroom?
Semi-gloss can work well for high-moisture spots like behind a tub or shower. Use it selectively; covering all walls in semi-gloss may feel too bold.
What sheen is best for bathroom walls?
Eggshell and satin finishes are ideal for most bathroom walls. They provide enough durability and moisture resistance while still providing a subtle, elegant sheen. Matte finishes are not recommended due to humidity concerns.
So there you have it – everything you need to know to choose the perfect paint color and finish for your bathroom walls. With this comprehensive guide, you can confidently infuse your space with style, relaxation, and your unique personality.
