Home
Bathroom Paint Colours: Insights & Advice | Little Greene

Bathroom Paint Colours

While your bathroom might be a functional space, this room deserves just as much design consideration as any other part of the home.

You might be looking to add beauty to a spacious family bathroom, or even just a small downstairs lavatory. Find out how your choice of bathroom paint colour can transform the atmosphere of your bathroom. Whether you want a calming sanctuary or a room filled with personality and joy, the right colour can change the space.

Find bathroom paint colour inspiration alongside expert answers to frequently asked questions. Discover the best paint finish for bathrooms, as well as our inspiring small bathroom paint ideas…

Neutral bathroom paint

Neutrals are some of the most-loved bathroom paint colours. These comforting shades provide a soft and understated backdrop for your bathroom.

Neutral paint helps transform the space into an oasis of calm. Consider off white bathroom paint shades such as Silent White, Joanna or Hollyhock. These colours bring gentle warmth to your walls and create a relaxed setting where you can unwind.

Green bathroom paint

Consider greens for your bathroom to reflect nature inside the space. Green bathroom paint creates an atmosphere of tranquillity, positivity and calm. With their muted natural hues, sage green bathroom paint colours will soothe your senses and help you feel relaxed. For a dark and moody space, try using a deep green all over to create a cosy, cocooning effect.

Grey bathroom paint

Grey is a popular paint colour for bathrooms. It works well in period homes as well as in more contemporary bathroom designs. Soft and elegant greys combine harmoniously with marble tiles to achieve an encompassing feel and deliver a peaceful ambience. French Grey is a very versatile grey bathroom paint shade that will complement almost any interior.

Blue bathroom paint

Similarly to green, blue is a colour associated with nature and its soothing abilities. Use light and muted bathroom paint shades on all four walls of your space to instil instant calm. Inspired by the sea and sky, these colours reflect a sense of tranquillity and openness. Alternatively, dark blue bathroom paint colours like Hicks’ Blue or Royal Navy are an excellent choice for a bold and impactful scheme.

Bathroom paint finishes

Bathrooms are a high-traffic part of the home that need to be cleaned regularly. It’s important to use a durable, washable paint finish that will withstand everyday wear and tear. Maintain a beautiful appearance with a high quality finish that lasts over time.

We recommend using Intelligent Eggshell for bathroom walls.

Formulated to resist moisture and stains, Intelligent Eggshell is an easy-to-clean paint finish. This formula is perfect for bathrooms with poor ventilation, or for walls in the splash zone. With a water-based, low VOC, child-safe formulation, this low-sheen finish is completely safe to use around little ones and pets.

Learn more about Intelligent Eggshell for bathroom walls.

We recommend using Intelligent Eggshell, Intelligent Satin or Intelligent Gloss for bathroom woodwork

For woodwork, use Intelligent Eggshell for low-sheen eggshell finish. Or choose Intelligent Satin or Intelligent Gloss for a higher sheen.

These quick-drying paints are water-based and low-odour. Designed for convenience, they are highly durable, scrubbable and available in all Little Greene paint colours.

Choosing a finish with a slightly higher sheen will bring added durability to your woodwork. Not only does it improve longevity, but it also adds a touch of textural contrast to your bathroom.

With our multi-surface Intelligent Paints, you can now paint a whole variety of bathroom surfaces. Our upgraded Intelligent Paints now use Intelligent Grip™ technology. This means you can now paint bathroom walls and woodwork with no separate primer required. Use these paints on tiles, metal radiators, uPVC windows, baths and more.

Using these groundbreaking finishes, you can create fully coordinated bathroom schemes that incorporate all elements of your space.

Discover the benefits of Intelligent Satin paint for bathroom woodwork.

Small bathroom paint ideas

Whether it’s a downstairs washroom or a compact main bathroom, small bathrooms can often be tricky spaces to decorate. People often neglect small bathrooms but they are a great place to create unexpected design impact. A well chosen bathroom paint colour can completely transform the space.

In small bathrooms with little natural light, harness the character of the space with a dark bathroom paint colour. Choose a bold, deep shade for your bathroom, and incorporate your walls, ceiling and woodwork into the scheme.

Pair your chosen shade with coordinating tiles for a colour-drenched look. This approach creates an immersive space that really draws you inside. A moody green like Livid or a rich chocolate brown like Chocolate Colour will transform a small bathroom into a luxurious, cocooning sanctuary.

Alternatively, if you have a small bathroom that does experience lots of natural sunlight, you might prefer a light-reflecting shade.

Brighter tones will really maximise the space. A brighter colour palette of pale blues, light neutrals or sunny yellows will fill your small bathroom with personality and warmth. Consider painting the upper half of the walls, and pair with a shiny, reflective tile on the lower walls to bounce the light around the space.

Bathroom paint – FAQs

What are popular bathroom paint colours?

Bathrooms are often painted in white or neutral shades out of habit. These are useful paint colours to make your bathroom feel relaxed, restful and understated. However, as a room that you don’t spend much time in, your bathroom is also a great place to make an impact with more daring colour choices.

Consider embracing a dark shade on your bathroom walls to bring a real sense of character to your bathroom scheme. Pairing with a coordinating colour on your woodwork, floors and bath will make the whole space feel beautifully considered. Some popular bathroom paint colours for a bolder, statement feel include Vulcan, Livid, Chocolate Colour and Mid Azure Green.

What paint finish is best for bathroom walls and ceilings?

We recommend using Intelligent Eggshell to paint your bathroom ceiling and walls. This versatile paint finish combines beauty with practicality. It has a low sheen of just 10-15%, giving your bathroom walls an almost matt finish. Intelligent Eggshell is also fully washable, perfect for bathroom surfaces that are cleaned on a regular basis.

Intelligent Eggshell is designed with the busy family home in mind, ideal for a high-traffic bathroom environment. It has a water-based formulation that is low VOC and quick-drying with almost no odour. This gentle formula is certified child safe, so you can use it around little ones and pets.

Formulated to resist moisture, staining and general wear and tear, Intelligent Eggshell is ideally suited as both a washable wall finish and a paint for ceilings in the bathroom.

What colour should I paint my bathroom to make it feel more calming?

One of the best ways to make a bathroom feel more calming is by creating connection with the outdoors. As the true colour of nature, green shades are wonderful bathroom paint colours, infusing an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Restful green shades like Aquamarine and Three Farm Green will create the perfect environment for you to relax and unwind.

Dark, earthy hues can also feel very soothing. Embrace colours like Elysian Ground, Attic II or Chocolate Colour all over to create a haven of calm. Introduce botanical elements and trailing foliage to evoke a tranquil forest atmosphere in your bathroom.

Bathroom Inspiration

Inspire Me

Painting a Bathroom

Read our Guide