10 Colorful Bathroom Ideas That Will Make You Wonder Why You Would Ever Consider White Tiles

It's where you go to wake yourself up, to energize, to get ready for the day, so honestly, colorful bathroom ideas just make sense. And we're not talking about choosing one bright, bold color. No, we're talking about the sort of spaces that are filled with a myriad of colors.

Your vanity, your tiles, your ceiling, your trims, your plumbing, your decor, and even your grout — these are all possibilities to introduce color into even the most modern bathroom ideas.

Below, we've deep-dived through designer's profiles to find some of the best and brightest colorful bathroom ideas to help you curate a space that feels happy, not haphazard.

1. Inject Color Through Your Tile Choice

One of the first colorful bathroom ideas most people think of is using tiles. Whether it's the ones you put on your floor, walls, basin, or small features, your bathroom tile ideas are the easiest way to inject the space with plenty of color.

And it doesn't have to be expensive. The recent plaid and gingham bathroom tile trend, like seen in this space above by Buchanan Studio's shows that you can easily create an expensive-looking aesthetic using not-that expensive tiles — it's just about getting creative with the patterns you lay them in, and the range of colors your choose to pair together.

2. Wrap the Space in a Colorful Wallpaper

For a more cost-effective alternative to tiles, wallpaper ideas provide the perfect opportunity (and a less permanent one at that) to introduce color and pattern into your bathroom color ideas.

This approach works particularly well in smaller spaces, and especially as a powder room idea, where you can create a truly unexpected wow-moment as soon as someone opens the door. They say the biggest impact can come from the smallest spaces, and this is proof of that.

3. Look for Colorful Textures in Nature

And remember, colorful schemes aren't restricted to maximalist interiors. You can find plenty of colors in natural textures, just like the marble vanity in this colorful bathroom by Hilary Matt Interiors. As a powder room, Hilary says the client wanted to create a 'wow' moment, and was very open to incorporating a bit of "funk" into the design.

"For the wallpaper, we selected a de Gournay design featuring a delicate Plum Blossom on Sky Blue dyed silk, drawing inspiration from the Edo period," she explains. "The floors are custom tiles from Studium in NYC, and we chose a Viola Marble from for the countertop, which has beautiful deep violet and purple tones, adding fantastic depth and movement to the bathroom."

4. Go for a Tonal Colorful Scheme

When designing colorful bathroom ideas, it can ne nerve-wracking to ensure you don't pick colors that don't go together. But remember, colorful schemes don't necessarily have to include contrasting colors — you can still achieve the look by using varying shades of the same color, like this green on green bathroom.

"The elongated checkerboard pattern added just enough visual interest to keep it from feeling basic or expected," explains interior designer Sarah Stacey, of Sarah Stacey Interior Design, of the colorful bathroom above. "The green ties into the rug and palette of the adjoining rooms, helping the bathroom feel cohesive with the rest of the home, while the terracotta sink adds warmth, and the purple-painted steel on the shower glass was a playful, unexpected detail that brought the whole space to life."

5. Use Color to Lift a Grounded Space

Colorful bathroom ideas don't need to be chaotic or overwhelming. This space, designed by Electric Bowery, uses a mix of natural materials, which layered together, still feel colorful, but grounded.

"We chose the Mahogany paneling as it brings the outside in, while the colorful stone counter introduces a weight and texture that contrasts but still feels elemental," the studio shares.

6. Play With Color and Pattern

Patterns can really help make a colorful bathroom scheme feel punchy. Designer Nicole Dohmen, principal of Atelier ND Interior, first saw these wavy tiles in an image she found from 1960, and then conveniently at Mandarin Stone.

"The owner loved them immediately and we liked the effect of a swimming pool," she says. They complemented it with pops of red to give the space some contrast. "It is a children's bathroom and it gives this small room some character," Nicole says. "And some fun!"

7. Use Different Colors to Zone the Space

Color can be a powerful way to divide up a space, making it feel bigger or cozier. In this colorful bathroom idea, London-based interior designer Pandora Taylor, used blocks of color to separate the shower area from the rest of the space.

"Using contrast color blocking with paint and tiles can make your bathroom feel bigger," she shares. "Here, statement tiles in the shower enclosure create an inviting, surprising enclave."

8. Go for a Colored Grout

Grout is such an overlooked detail when it comes to colorful bathroom ideas. While we often default to neutral tones, your tile and grout color combinations are the perfect place to play.

"Grout is a necessity in a bathroom when using tiles, so why not consider it as another layer in bathroom design," says Susan Roach, designer at West One Bathrooms. "If the shape of the tile is particularly interesting, like a scallop or hexagon, we want this to stand out rather than blend in. In a bright and colorful bathroom such as this one, we used yellow as a strong contrast to the turquoise tiles, which also highlighted the square-shaped tiles giving a retro vibe to the room."

9. Opt for a Bright Vanity

With so much going on in colorful bathroom ideas, these spaces often need something to anchor them, and provide a moment of rest for your eyes. In this space, a bold red bathroom vanity provides exactly that sense of reprieve against the colorful wallpaper, marble countertop, and brass hardware.

By pulling a single color out from the wallpaper print, and cleverly matching complementary florals, the space feels bright and playful, yet still cohesive, rather than cluttered and chaotic.

10. Don't Forget the Ceiling

We've already established that wallpaper can be a wonderful way to curate a colorful bathroom scheme. But while it works for the walls, don't forget your ceiling and trims, too.

"The Mille Feuilles wallpaper in blue and red features little red dots which are perfect for picking out as a highlight color on skirting or flooring," says Kate French, creative director at Dado Atelier, of this colorful wallpaper that climbs up the wall and onto the ceiling.

Alternatively, you can go all out with a ceiling wallpaper idea, or finish it in a contrasting paint color. The sky is the limit when it comes to color... or, at least the ceiling.

FAQs

How Can I Make My Bathroom More colorful?

Apart from the colorful bathroom ideas we've shared about, there are plenty of ways to make your bathroom more colorful. It could be as simple as adding a plant, buying new bath towels, or painting a wall.

Even decorating with flowers in bright and bold shades can be an easy way to experiment bringing new colors into your bathroom. Below, we've shared a few easy buys that will help bring your colorful bathroom ideas to life.

"The transient nature of a bathroom means it's an excellent room to have fun and bring in a sense of personality," says Kate French.

But it's not the only one. Feeling color confident, now? Why not try out one of these colorful bedroom ideas next?