A fresh coat of paint can transform a cramped bathroom into a spacious retreat. Designers reveal the nine best colors to make your bathroom feel larger, from airy blues to bold reds.
We all dream of a luxurious bathroom with a walk-in shower, soaking tub, and ample space. But adding square footage isn’t always feasible. Fortunately, a simple coat of paint can work wonders to make a bathroom feel bigger. Here are nine designer-approved paint colors that will make your bathroom feel more spacious.
Light Blue
“In small bathrooms, I lean into brighter, lighter paint colors to help the space feel more open and airy,” says Mary Clair Cumbaa, owner and designer at Cumbaa Design Co. in Indianola, Mississippi. A cheerful blue adds a playful look without overwhelming a smaller space. “Look for something fresh to add personality and interest without weighing the room down,” says Cumbaa.
Charcoal Gray
Rather than reaching immediately for the light paint in a small bathroom, particularly one with little to no natural light, consider going dark. Charcoal gray, or even black, gives a small space a black box look, where there’s no end in sight. It’s hard for a space to feel small when you can’t tell where the room ends or begins. “A dark color, like Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore, can create an infinity effect. The corners disappear, creating a sense of space instead of confinement,” says Jennifer Homeyer, CEO and Owner at The Design House in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.
Light Sage Green
“Ethereal colors can create the illusion of space in tight areas,” explains Leigh Falkner, founder of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Leigh Falkner Interiors. She specifically likes Farrow and Ball Cromarty #285 to add just a hint of light color to a petite bathroom. “It not only offers a light green touch allowing the space to breathe but also possesses subtle grey undertones suitable for pairing with hard surfaces such as tile and marble.”
Soft Pink
“I love a splash of color in small bathrooms!,” says Jessica Bandstra, owner and head of design at Dogwood Proper, based in Nashville, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas. But that splash of color doesn’t have to be bright, and, in this bathroom, a soft pink makes the space sing. “By painting the trim, walls, and cabinetry the same soft, feminine pink, it makes the space feel larger, brighter, and more open,” explains Bandstra.
Ivory White
It might not feel groundbreaking, but there’s a reason a perfectly selected ivory white is always a go-to for making a bathroom feel bigger. Jennie Rebecca Springer, founder of Nashville, Tennessee-based Jennie Rebecca Design, uses a warm white—often Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa—to make small bathrooms look more spacious. She suggests leveraging the finish of the paint to make an even bigger (literally!) impact. “If the goal is to make your bathroom feel larger, you want to paint the ceiling, the trim, and the walls all the same color—just focus on different scenes: flat for the ceiling, satin for your trim and eggshell for your walls,” says Springer.
Warm Blush
Wrapping a space in a light but cozy hue can make a bathroom feel more spacious and inviting. Add in a warm tone, and it feels like somewhere you’d want to stay a while rather than a room where you’re simply wishing for a few more feet. “Soft, layered hues like warm blush allow the eye to move effortlessly through the room, reducing visual boundaries and helping the space feel more open and grounded,” says Susan Semmelmann, founder of Semmelmann Interiors in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.
Red
Going bold in a small bathroom can give it more intention and presence, and that translates into a room that feels bigger despite its diminutive size. It’s like giving a room an instant shot of confidence, especially when the color drenches the entire space. Add in a gloss for even more expansive style. “Even deeper shades, including muted reds, can feel expansive when balanced with reflective surfaces and purposeful lighting,” explains Semmelmann.
Warm Gray
Closely coordinating tile with paint is an easy visual trick to make a bathroom feel larger. And, if your bathroom has Carrara marble tile, then warm gray will create the loveliest monochromatic look that seems to expand the walls outward. Lori Evans, interior designer at Evans Construction and Design in Gainesville, Florida, reaches for Benjamin Moore Classic Gray in these instances. “It’s a light neutral. Paired with a marble floor, it looks light, bright, and inviting!”
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