We've found 19 striking black and white bathroom ideas for a modern, monochrome bathroom scheme.
Black taps and brassware, and black framed shower panels are both a popular choice when paired with white tiles – but there are other, more unusual looks to get inspiration from too.
There's a reason black & white is one of the most popular bathroom colour ideas (opens in new tab).
Black absorbs light and white reflects it – uniting the two is one of the most effective ways to create a bathroom that punches above its weight. In pattern terms, the options are virtually endless and can be as simple as black and white tiles laid in a chequered formation.
Tiles of the same colour stand out when teamed with contrasting grout, such as black tiles with white grout or vice versa.
Laying rectangular tiles in different patterns creates a multitude of looks, from brick or linear layouts to herringbone and basketweave – again this will create far more impact with contrasting grout.
If understated luxe is your thing, beautiful Carrara marble is hard to beat. At the other end of the scale, a fabulous black wallpaper will lend a dash of decadence.
Monochrome needn’t be moody and dark, if that's not the style you're going for. Balancing the black-to-white ratios in favour of the latter will create a far lighter, brighter space.
If you're just updating a plain, white bathroom, rather than renovating the room, the simplest way to monochrome magic is to replace the taps and shower fittings with some smart matt black brassware.
Alternatively, for an instant style upgrade, fit a cool Crittal-style shower screen and your bathroom will be fully on-trend.
If colours could be soul mates, then black and white would make the perfect pair. Team them in a bathroom and they'll create a striking scheme with lasting impact.
1. All-over black tiles
This smart, small bathroom space is covered head to toe in tiny black chevron wall tiles (opens in new tab), giving it a cool hotel bathroom look.
2. White tiles with dark grout
The wall tiles in this shower room (opens in new tab) are actually enamel medallions found in a warehouse in Providence. Dark grout makes the circular patterns stand out.
Get the look Topps Tiles’ Shapes circle matt white mosaic tiles have this look.
3. A black-framed shower panel
Interior designer Amelie von Celsing used marble-effect porcelain as it looks so indulgent, but it’s practical and hard wearing too. The black framed shower panel adds a crisp contrast and accentuates the height of this small bathroom space.
Get the look The marble-effect porcelain is from Mandarin Stone. The showerhead and fittings are by Vola.
4. White scheme, black taps
The Carrara marble mixed with the black taps (opens in new tab) and brassware gives a slice of drama to this classic and beautiful design.
Get the look The matt black brassware fittings are from Dornbracht.
5. Crittall-style bathroom doors
Dramatic, full height Crittall doors (opens in new tab) beautifully frame and complement this white black and white bathroom.
Get the look Porcelanosa sells similar marble tiles. Aston Matthews sells wall-mounted brass towel rails.
6. Black painted alcoves
Black painted alcoves for bathroom storage (opens in new tab) tie in with the large black framed mirror, cutting through this all-white bathroom scheme.
Get the look Find a similar Venice slipper bath is from Savisto Bathrooms. The floor and wall tiles are from Tons of Tiles.
7. White tiles, black bath
A wet room (opens in new tab) finish makes the most of this space. The black freestanding bath (opens in new tab) makes a style statement, and subtly ties in with the dark grouting between the metro tiles (opens in new tab).
Get the look Bath, ebay. Tiles, Walls & Floors.
The same effect was achieved in the family bathroom below, but with white grouting, and a black window frame to tie in with the bathtub.
Get the look The bath is from CP Hart. The wall and floor tiles are from World’s End Tiles.
8. Chequerboard floor
This home was once an Indian restaurant. Once the men’s loo, the basins were the only things that were salvaged. The room was painted in black gloss for a dramatic look, and the chequerboard floor was preserved.
Get the look The metro tiles are from Walls and Floors. The brassware is by B&Q. The Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in 1971 photograph is by Terry O’Neill from The Little Black Gallery
9. Tiled feature wall
Tactile tadelakt and lava stone tiles wrap around this small bathroom (opens in new tab) that’s both efficient and indulgent. The black floor tiles (opens in new tab) continue up the walls as a feature wall. Black radiators complement the colour scheme.
Get the look These are Made a Mano lavastone tiles. The handshower and brassware are Gessi at CP Hart.
10. Black taps and shower screen to break up a white scheme
Two Crittal-style shower screens (opens in new tab) create a smart walk-in shower enclosure. Black taps (opens in new tab) and fittings complete the look.
Get the look Find anodised aluminium framed shower walls at Merlyn.
Trends in shower screens (opens in new tab) have moved on from the pared-back, can-barely-see-it’s-there look. Outlining is one way to breathe new life into bathroom minimalism and with their elegant clean profiles, Alternative Bathrooms’ Metal Craft screens feel both modern and timeless.
Get the look The Metal Craft Screen is by Alternative Bathrooms.
Beautiful bathroom tiles (opens in new tab) and vanity units tend to turn our heads, but it’s not often a shower door (opens in new tab) has the same effect.
Get the look: New to West One Bathrooms, the Gridscape enclosure series (from £865) allows you to mix ’n’ match clear and coloured glass panels to your heart’s content, opening up new realms of bathroom-style possibility. Team with white tiles for that crisp NY loft feel.
11. Add further black details through bathroom lighting
The black and white bathroom scheme below is finished off with some black bathroom lighting (opens in new tab), black brassware and black and white bathroom floor tiles (opens in new tab).
Get the look This is the Metal Craft Frame shower screen in Matte Black, from £2,000, at Majestic Showers. Pembroke marble floor tiles from the Silk Road Collection by Sara Baldwin for New Ravenna Mosaics start at £1,096 per sq m, at Paris Ceramics.
12. Break up a white scheme with black taps and wall lights
Sleek, smooth tiling and curved modern basins combined with the simplified, minimal lines of the matte black bathroom wall lights (opens in new tab), bathroom mirror (opens in new tab) and black taps (opens in new tab) creates a simple and textural space.
Get the look The Milan basin mixers are by Tre Mercati at QS Supplies. The basins are from Lusso Stone. The mirror is from Next Home. The wall lights are from Holly’s House. The Italgraniti wall tiles are from Tower Ceramics.
13. Break up white metro tiles with a strip of black
Floor-to-ceiling metro tiles (opens in new tab) and a Victorian-style floor put a period spin on this modern wet room (opens in new tab).
Get the look The metro tiles are by Walls and Floors. The floor tiles were bought from Tons of Tiles. This is a Burlington pedestal basin.
14. Brave a more industrial look
The concrete wall and floor panels are bespoke and designed to create a gritty backdrop to the sculpturally shaped white basins.
Get the look The Il Bagno Alessi One basins by Stefano Giovannoni for Laufen and the Dornbracht MEM wall-mounted mixers are from Ripples. The Hector Mini Globe pendants are from Hector Finch. The bespoke concrete wall and floor panels are from Ivanka.
15. Use dark grouting to make a tile pattern pop
The white metro tiles (opens in new tab) together with the dark grouting and black taps (opens in new tab) give this bathroom an industrial edge. To smarten it up a bit, extra-large tiles have been used in a herringbone pattern.
Get the look The tiles are from Tons of Tiles. The taps are from homary.com. The bath mat is from Urban Outfitters.
16. Experiment with panelling and wallpaper
Taking a more traditional approach, this monochrome bathroom features bathroom wallpaper (opens in new tab) and painted black panelling.
Get the look This is Lotus wallpaper by Farrow & Ball. Try Farrow & Ball’s Pitch Black estate eggshell for a matching paint shade. For modern versions of these antique tiles, visit TST Mosaic Tiles.
17. Contrast a white scheme with a black floor
Plain white walls and a black floor keeps this bathroom fresh and simple.
Get the look The bath and shower are by Sbordoni. For a similar floor paint try Pitch Black modern eggshell by Farrow & Ball.
18. Choose unexpected tile pattern
Monochrome tile risers draw the eye into this small, pure white bathroom, adding a sense of space.
Get the look The floor tiles are Kerion’s Décor Branche Mer from its Neocim Collection. In the UK, try Abbey Decor porcelain tiles, £32.64 per sq m, at Porcelain Superstore.
19. Go bold with an all-black scheme
Dive into the deep end with a bold dark shade. Here, black gloss tiles and black painted walls are set against verdigris brassware.
Get the look The brassware was from Lassco. The bath is Waterworks. The paint is Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball.