Transform Your Tiny Bathroom: Small Bathroom Paint Color Ideas from Interior Designers

When it comes to decorating a small bathroom—be it a powder room or a wash closet in a tiny city apartment—most people want to zero in on storage. With square footage at a premium, where should you store the towels? Or your budding cosmetics collection? Or the extra toilet paper rolls you have on hand just in case? While everything should have its place in a small space, you don’t want to overlook the aesthetics. Case in point: A small bathroom’s color scheme.

At first thought, a paint shade or color story might seem like all style and no substance. But, in reality? There are certain huesthat can make your tight quarters appear lighter and airier—creating the illusion of a larger space. Meanwhile, other color ideas can give this often-overlooked space a punch of personality. And, since most of your bathroom is filled with essential appliances like showers, toilets, and sinks, color is one of the very few decorating hacks that can easily be incorporated here.

With so many colors to choose from, finding a small space-approved paint shade can sometimes be easier said than done. To save you some paint swatches or wallpaper samples, we asked a few interior designers about their favorite color ideas for small bathrooms. Their responses run the gamut from airy neutrals, to unexpected moody hues, to the occasional print, but one thing’s for sure: These small space bathroom color ideas are poised to make a big statement.

1. Crisp White

When it comes to finding the right color for your small bathroom, lighter tones are often the oldest trick in the design book—and for good reason. “These shades create an open and airy feeling, making the space appear larger and more serene,” says interior designer Mina Lisanin. In this bathroom refresh, she opted for a “clean white wall” to serve as a timeless background that celebrates the area’s natural sunlight. “The simplicity of the palette allows the design elements, like the vanity and sconces, to stand out while maintaining a cohesive, uncluttered look,” she says.

Bonus points: Lisanin points out that this palette can complement a variety of design styles—from modern to classic—and is easy to update with accessories if you want to switch things up down the line.

2. Off-White

Does a crisp white feel too pristine? Off-white feels snugs with no shrinking side effects. You could opt for a cream paint color, but Stefan Hurray of BarnesVanze Architects likes to achieve this look the old-fashioned way. “The walls are lined with whitewashed beadboard for texture to help make the space feel larger and bright but with the warmth of the wood shining through,” Hurray explains.

3. Earthy Green

Bring a little bit of Mother Nature’s bounty inside with an earthy green hue, as seen in this bathroom from Christopher Riggleman. “The green brings life into the powder room during the winter months when light and color are lacking,” the designer explains. “The glossy finish helps reflect light throughout the space and the darker green gives it a cozy feeling.” To complete the look, Riggleman created contrast with an accent wall covered in a botanical peel-and-stick wallpaper.

4. Light Blue

According to color psychology, blue hues are known to promote relaxing vibes into a space, making it a great option for a small bathroom. Cheryl Clendenon, principal of a Florida-based firm called In Detail Interiors, agrees. “Soft blues bring a serene, airy quality that helps a smaller space feel more expansive,” she says. In this space, she struck a balance between “soothing” and “statement” by pairing a sky blue paint with a bright yellow shade and a patterned tile floor.

5. Greige

Simple, straight-forward, and can go with practically anything, neutral paint colors are the heroes of any small space. However, if white feels overplayed and boring, consider switching things up with greige. Since this color is not quite grey (and not quite beige), it has that versatility of a classic white or tan—but reads warmer and more welcoming. Let this bite-sized bathroom from Cheryl Clendenon, which features luxe brass accents, show you how it’s done.

6. Greige and Emerald

“Greiges also allow other elements of the bathroom to shine, like a fun shower tile,” Cheryl Clendenon adds. In fact, the laidback shade can be best paired with a rich, gem-like tone. Don’t believe us? Just look at this bathroom from Clendenon, which pairs a chill neutral with a vibrant tiled shower niche. The color-blocked room can trick the eye into thinking there’s enough room for minimalism and maximalism.

7. Coral

Ready to embrace your bold streak? Cheryl Clendenon says bright hues are fair play—you just need to know where to place ‘em. “Adding a touch of coral in a small bathroom provides an unexpected burst of personality,” she explains. “[It creates] a sense of warmth and vibrancy without overwhelming the room.” For some floor-to-ceiling appeal, Clendenon recommends placing your “wow” shade on the ceiling and covering the walls in repeat where it reappears as an accent color.

8. Ice Blue

Sure, blue might be known for serving up chill vibes only, but what if a sky or robin’s egg shade is still too bright for your minimalist mindset? Rebecca Ward is a fan of an ultra-light, barely-there ice blue. “It provides a light and airy feel without being overpowering, which is ideal for smaller spaces,” the Sacramento designer explains. “It brings a fresh, inviting atmosphere to a bathroom, creating a serene yet stylish look.” While this specific shade works well with a bunch of trims and accent colors, Ward played up its cool factor with silver hardware.

9. Taupe

Looking for another neutral to add to your small bathroom vision board? Annie Sloan is a big fan of a “warm putty taupe.” Unlike a stark white, Sloan argues a nuanced neutral like her brand Chalk Paint’s Canvas shade “provides a perfect backdrop for other colors.” “These neutral earthy tones create a softer, more harmonious look in a bathroom and with a neutral color like this,” she says of this bathroom, which pairs taupe walls with an olive tub. “You can add in colour with towels, bath mats and accessories.

10. Gold

Anyone who is looking for a color idea that’s both strategic and snazzy will find a lot to love about gold. “Gold and other metallic surfaces reflect light allowing light to bounce around a small space,” designer Nadia Watts explains. “Gold also feels regal and sophisticated, taking the focus off of a small space and making it feel elevated.” Concerned a metallic paint shade or wallcovering will appear “extra?” Watts recommends leaning into Midas-minded accessories such as brass sconces or a gold-rimmed mirror.

11. Grey and Gold

Want to create the illusion of a shiny treasure trove? Designer Azali Kassum recommends pairing gold with au naturale grey. (Bonus points if you can employ natural materials like marble or stone.) “We wanted to play off this with a deep grey color palette for the space accented with unlacquered brass,” “Choosing a moody grey limestone for the floor and taking it up the vanity wall allowed us to bring in color and additional texture to compliment the threshold.”

When paired together, the metallic tones help bounce the light around to create the look of a bigger room. Meanwhile, the room’s other three walls are coated in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace to enhance that enlarged look.

12. Pink and Violet

Calling all color-curious homeowners: You don’t have to choose just one shade. “Using playful colors in a small bath creates interest and makes a tiny bathroom feel like a statement,” says Nadia Watts. Admittedly, there are a lot of hues to choose from, but Watts says she’s partial to pink and violet, as evidenced by this sweet space. “[They] always pop and one way to make a small bathroom appear larger and more interesting is with some pop,” she says.

12. Green and Blue

Should pink and purple read too “juvenile” when paired together, Nadia Watts encourages you to couple cooler tones like green and blue. “Using similar colorways in your wallpaper and your vanity brings cohesion to a small space,” she explains. Here, the consistently cool color scheme and large-scale repeat feels both stylish and expansive. 

14. Mauve

View your bathroom through rose-colored glasses with a pinky hue. To keep your powder room from veering into Barbiecore territory, British design firm 2LG Studio recommends looking for a shade with cooler undertones, as seen with the mauve tiles used in this bold nook. “This mauve pink bathroom is a super relaxing guest suite in a family home we designed,” says Jordan Cluroe, the company’s co-principal designer. “The wavy brass mirror stops it from being too serious.”

15. Mint Green

Finding a shade that’s energetic, expansive, and oozes chill vibes might seem like a tall order, but 2LG Studio found the color trifecta in mint green. Pro tip: You can make this color pop even more by pairing it with neutrals. “The contrast of the black and white works super well with this fresh mint green that acts as an invigorating morning wake up in the couple’s ensuite,” notes Russell Whitehead, the firm’s co-principal designer.

16. Seafoam Green

Mint might be a little too intense for some design lovers, so you have our full permission to select seafoam instead. This alternative, which is more muted than the aforementioned mint, is exciting while remaining easy on the eyes. In this traditional bathroom, Sarah Snouffer of Third Street Architecture paired the seafoam millwork with a wallcovering filled with whites, greens, and blues. “This combination brings a playful, energetic vibe to the space, while still maintaining a sense of style and charm,” she says.

17. Light Grey

Fun fact: You don’t have to reinvent the (color) wheel to create the illusion of a larger bathroom. For a spacious shade that will never go out of style, you simply can’t go wrong with grey. According to Sarah Snouffer of Third Street Architecture, the shade can “strike the perfect balance between calm and contrast.” “The paint color adds just the right amount of depth to energize the space while maintaining an elegant, enduring feel,” she says of the neutral paint here, which has subtle blue undertones.

18. Chocolate Brown

Consider this your sign to venture to the dark side. “Dark hues are often thought to shrink a space,” says Sarah Snouffer of Third Street Architecture. “But, when paired with the right finishes, they actually enhance the room’s sense of depth and elegance.” Snouffer added some lightness to the moody shade with brass accents and a high-contrast marble vanity.

19. Yellow and Red

Cool tones might be known for their relaxing powers, but a mix of sunset shade shades can have a warm, cheery effect on your small space. “This deep yellow paint color was introduced to add warmth to this previously clinical and cold feeling bathroom,” designer Laura Stephens says. The red window shade gives this sun-drenched space a luxe edge.

20. Red

For a small bathroom that commands attention, why not go big with a deep red? “The rich hue creates a cocooning and cohesive feel and gives this little bathroom character and its own distinct identity,” Laura Stephens explains. The British designer gave this fiery bathroom some old-school charm with a striped shower curtain and marble sink.

21. Red and Blush

If an all-red bathroom is too commanding, take a cue from Colour Interiors. The British design firm shook things up by reimaging red and a lighter blush into a leopard print repeat. The result: A small bathroom color idea that’s fierce, not in-your-face.

22. Yellow and White

Think of a bright yellow and white palette, seen in this bathroom from Colour Interiors, as the design-equivalent to sunshine. The sunflower shade is undeniably bright; however, the strips of white tile bring a sense of ease to this bold moment.

23. Navy

When asked about her favorite color idea to bring to a small bathroom, Victoria Armour of Stil James in Nova Scotia had three words: Dark and moody. “Using dark colors can create a sense of depth, making the space feel intimate and purposeful, as though the small size is by design rather than a limitation,” she says. “Dark colors also make your plumbing fixtures pop, drawing attention to their unique details.” In this small bathroom, Armour captured the look with a half wall of moody navy tiles.

24. Lavender

Pretty and peaceful come together in perfect harmony in this lavender-tinged bathroom from Shavonda Gardner. The home and lifestyle content creator used this purple paint to bring “feel good vibes” to a bathroom in her sister’s house, but you have to admit it also makes the space appear light and airy.

25. Green and Pink

As this bathroom from Sean Symington proves, opposites attract. Pink and green might fall on the opposite ends of the color wheel, but when paired together with a crisp white? The unlikely duo will reimagine the most crammed nooks into a gorgeous, generous space.

26. Black and White

What’s black, white, and chic all over? A small bathroom in a high-contrast palette. Not only is this a timeless way to dial up the drama, but having the same color on the lower half of your room can also work wonders. Since the line where the floor ends and the wall begins is blurred, you’ll create the illusion of a larger footprint.

Up Next:

These 50 Bathroom Storage Ideas Will Help You Clear Clutter—No Matter How Little Storage Space You Have!

Read More

These 50 Bathroom Storage Ideas Will Help You Clear Clutter—No Matter How Little Storage Space You Have!

Read More