13 dark bathroom ideas
Dark bathrooms can conjure up many thoughts – admittedly, mainly black, but there are actually plenty of moody shades for your perusal: charcoal, plum, brown and dark green are a few that work really well. The key to making it work is balance. Dark saturated colours are a strong statement so you can soften it with metallics, accent colours and good old white.
'Using rich, deep, dark shades in your bathroom helps create a dramatic space, conjuring a sense of elegance and sophistication that you might find in a boutique hotel bathroom,' says Sam Way, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright.
Here are 13 stylish dark bathroom ideas below to inspire your makeover.
Contrast with coloured tiles
Contemporary tiles really lift this dark bathroom scheme. The inky dark blue wall paint is dramatic, but it's accentuated by the tile colours in blush pink, pale blue and navy. It ensures the overall look isn't too overpowering and adds a touch of fabulous pattern, too.
Pictured: Weatherproof ship’s well glass light, Original BTC
Soften black with pale wood
If an all black scheme is too daring for you, simply pair with light wood and white furnishings to make it much softer on the eye, without losing its moody and dramatic appeal. Team it with contemporary wall lights, brass accents and gold framed artwork.
Pictured: Noveau Bath, Britton Bathrooms
Colour drench
You may have seen the colour drenching trend that’s appeared during the last couple of years. It’s an all-encompassing paint effect that looks great in rooms with high ceilings as it creates a cosier feel. Everything gets painted in the same colour – walls, woodwork and the ceiling. Keep the floor light and textured for contrast and pop in an accent of orange, like this fabulous roll top bath, for an extra zing.
Pictured: Burlington Arcade matt emulsion, Mylands
Pick a plum
This rich plum tone is inspired by the shiny skin of an aubergine. It's a sophisticated colour that creates a cosy and cocooning feel, making it ideal for a larger bathroom that needs a little warmth. It works well with white, or cream, but if you want to add another colour, consider a pale pink or sage green.
Pictured: Brinjal by Farrow & Ball
Paint it dark
There's no need to overhaul your entire scheme – just paint your bath. You can do it yourself with specialist paint, or buy one painted in a colour of your choice – there's a plethora of shades on the market for a customised look. And, if you're choosing a patterned wallpaper (yes, you can wallpaper your bathroom) then match it to the bath colour for cohesion.
'Coloured sanitaryware has made a firm comeback and is great for injecting personality into what can often be a clinical space,' says Phil Etherden, managing director at The Albion Bath Co. 'We are definitely seeing an increase in interest for coloured baths and bathroom furniture from our customers, and often in luxuriously bold shades such as navy, emerald green and deep crimson,'.
Pictured: Imperium Bateau plinth bath, The Albion Bath Co. Bath painted in Hick’s Blue, Stag Toile wallpaper in Juniper, both Little Greene
Choose indulgent chocolate brown shades
This year, brown has been appearing more and more in our homes, from cosy living room spaces to creating a relaxing bathroom. It’s perhaps not a colour we immediately think of but you can see here how enveloping and calming it appears. Use it with white for balance and team with earthy natural-coloured bathroom accessories.
Pictured: Krokfjorden basket with suction cup, Ikea
Go 50:50
This is a great option if you want to embrace the dark bathroom look, but feel it might be a bit too much for your space. This clever design highlights the shower area, adding a decorative touch with the hexagonal wall tiles. The worktop on the basin and the floor links the two areas perfectly. Instead of picking white for the walls, opt for a gentle cream instead as it will be easier on the eye.
Pictured: Lundhs Blue tiles, Lundhs Real Stone
Pair dark grey with black
Experimenting with darker tones has become a popular design choice in bathrooms, particularly when paired with contrasting materials like metallics and marble. To create that minimaluxe, almost industrial chic look, keep it simple with dark grey walls and black or metallic accessories for a designer feel in even the smallest of spaces.
Pictured: Vågsjön bath towel in dark grey, Ikea
Choose a striking combination
It's not always about paint – you can add colour and pattern with wall and floor tiles. We love this bold yet dreamy dark bathroom that features blue and green tiles in a fabulous pattern. For a little balance and visual lift, paint your bath in a paler shade.
Pictured: Navy and Forest porcelain tiles, Bert & May
Jazz it up with dramatic wallpaper
'Go bold with gold and introduce a vibrant metallic into your dark bathroom scheme. Metallic wallpaper brings walls to life and is a great choice for rooms with low lighting,' say Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy, founders of Divine Savages.
'Beautiful combinations of texture and brave pattern, paired with a more simple but dark colour palette for the paintwork and tiles, turn the smallest of spaces into a modern, contemporary interior with a dramatic and flamboyant vibe.'
Pictured: Zsa Zsa wallpaper in gold leaf, Divine Savages
Go bright on top
There’s nothing to stop you going bright on the upper half of your bathroom walls, in fact, from a visual point of view, a dark colour below grounds a space, so it works well. We love how the blue-painted tongue and groove wall panelling matches the vanity unit, creating cohesion. The bright green walls above add a vibrant feel and will lift a small bathroom perfectly.
Pictured: Danish Lawn on walls, paneling in Inchyra Blue, both Farrow & Ball
Create depth with grey undertones
'The contrast darker colours have with a white bathtub and bathroom accessories creates a clean and eye-catching look, adding some real personality to the space,' says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown.
A nearly black or off-black with grey undertones will always create depth but it doesn't have to be the star of the show – team it with pale blue patterned tiles to highlight the floor space.
Pictured: Easyclean Rebel emulsion, Crown
Opt for forest green
Deep shades of green add a luxurious feel especially when teamed with marble. Instead of real marble (it's costly), choose tiles that have a marble effect (like ceramic or porcelain) instead. Complete the look with brass taps and a matching towel rail for a truly decadent look.
Pictured: Malachite eggshell and Seaspray marble tiles, both Fired Earth
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