White out: 7 ways to introduce colour to your bathroom

Colour in bathrooms can be a contentious issue. Show a buyer an avocado suite or a pink carpet, and they may start adding up the cost to rip out and replace.

Colour can, however, be a useful tool in bathrooms when the majority are a respectable but safe white. Something eye-catching can help a bathroom stand out when people are scrolling through homes for sale.

The good news is a white suite and white tiles are a great blank canvas that can be customised. There’s no need to spend hundreds of pounds either, as a creative approach to décor is all you need for a colour upgrade.

Here are 7 ways to introduce colour to your bathroom.

1. Paint

If, like many UK households, you have half-tiled bathroom walls, you can use the untiled portion as a base for colour. Bathroom-specific paint that’s designed to resist moisture and repel mould is freely available in DIY stores.

Classic neutral colours and pastel shades are innocuous enough to be liberally applied and can help make smaller bathrooms appear bigger than they are. If you’re thinking of something bold and dramatic, consider confining this to one wall or to a small recess. 

You could also repaint a vanity unit, storage shelves or even the exterior of a freestanding bath. Colours of the moment include dusky pink, sage green and muted yellow – all of which would look great in small doses. 

2. Wallpaper

While the default is to add a coat of paint for colour, you can also buy water-resistant wallpaper and murals. There are some amazing botanical-print designs that look amazing when paired with white sanitaryware. Some of the most stunning bathrooms have bold, tropical wallpaper just behind the bath.

3. Acrylic panels

A step up from water resistant wallpaper are waterproof acrylic panels. These can have a colour or design applied to the back and as they’re one sold piece of acrylic, they can be used in shower cubicles. You can also install them over existing tiles for a quick make-over.

4. Towels

The classic way to add colour to a bathroom never dates. Stained, faded or fraying towels are not a good look when selling your home anyway, so replacing them has twice the benefit. Just to be sure to display new towels neatly, checking they've not formed a soggy heap on the floor before photography and viewings.

5. Accessories

Bathroom accessory sets are probably the quickest way to give your bathroom a boutique hotel look. Sets usually include a soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, tumbler, soap dish and toilet brush. Choose from glass, natural stone, ceramic or plastic, in a myriad of colours and patterns.

6. Shower curtain

A mouldy, stained shower curtain can really let a bathroom down, so it should be on your list to change ahead of a sale. Why not use the swap to inject some colour into your bathroom? If you opt for a bold shower curtain, it may be the only accessory your bathroom needs!

7. Plants

Trust nature to come up with the cleanest, freshest looks. Lush green plants will lift any white bathroom. Pop one on the side of the bath, on a window sill or on a plant stand. You can add extra zing by choosing a coloured plant pot but a gold or black container is a classic for good reason. Plants also pair well with natural materials in bathrooms, including wicker, bamboo and woven water hyacinth. 

Now is a great time to get your bathroom in good shape ahead of a sale. If you would like ideas on what you should – and shouldn’t - include in your bathroom, as well as localised sales advice, get in touch.