The 6 Best Colors For a Small Bathroom

Small bathroom with freestanding tub and wall panelling

Jump to category:

1. Yellow
2. Inky blues
3. Off-whites
4. Terracotta
5. Aubergine
6. Pale Pink

There's an outdated 'rule' that seems ingrained when it comes to choosing colors for small bathrooms. Beige, white, even a pale gray, all 'safe' choices. The aim is always lighter, brighter, bigger. But as small bathroom decor becomes less purely practical and more playful, the color options are becoming bolder too.

Whether it's a downstairs powder room or a small main bathroom, these bijoux spaces are perfect for experimenting with colors, and actually choosing something other than a neutral can make the space feel bigger. As interior designer Millie Turner says, 'I’m a big believer that small bathrooms can handle more, not less, when it comes to color. They are the perfect place to be braver and more expressive than you might be in a large living area or bedroom.'

1. Yellow

Bathroom with mosaic floor, yellow walls, sloped ceiling, open shelves, and green sink with gold faucet — Covered in a cheery yellow hue, this Nina Litchfield-designed bathroom comes to life through vibrant, saturated paint.

Yellow is undeniably a bold choice. Cheery and always inspiring, it's no wonder its more understated counterpart, 'butter' made an impactful debut last year. Whether you're going down the safe (but trendy) route of butter or lemon or embracing sunnier shades like ochre or mustard, yellow bathrooms have a unique charm that's guaranteed to uplift your small bathroom.

Typically, using yellow without overwhelming a home can be hard, but it couldn't be easier in a small space like a bathroom. Take the space (pictured above) designed by interior designer Nina Litchfield as proof. 'I’ve always felt that small bathrooms shouldn’t be treated with caution, she explains, 'they are actually the perfect place to get a bit playful. Because the footprint is limited, you can create a really immersive, "jewel box" experience.'

Nina adds, 'Especially here in London, where the sky can stay quite grey, stepping into a bathroom with warm, vibrant tones is such a mood booster. I love a monochromatic approach that uses different textures.'

2. Inky blues

Bathroom with red painted vanity unit, blue painted panelling, tiled floor and striped wallpaper — Featuring wood panelling covered in an inky blue paint (much like Lick's Blue 07 Matt), this small bathroom couldn't be more characterful.

Long-loved for a reason, a traditional-leaning inky blue is a clever choice for a small bathroom color. Rich enough to add depth yet mid-toned enough not to overwhelm, it's a fail-safe choice for a powder room or narrow shower room. Millie says, 'I’m particularly drawn to deeper mid-tones in compact bathrooms, colors like inky blues, olive greens, earthy reds. In a small bathroom, these tones do not make the space feel smaller in a negative way, instead they make it feel intentional, enveloping and properly designed rather than purely practical.'

Keeley Sutcliffe, Design Manager at BC Designs, agrees. 'A deep, inky blue works particularly well in a small bathroom because it softens the edges of the room rather than trying to push them outward, which can often feel forced in compact spaces.'

She adds, 'When blue has depth and warmth to it, it absorbs light gently and creates a more immersive atmosphere, allowing the eye to settle instead of constantly registering boundaries and corners. This can make a smaller bathroom feel calmer and more composed, especially when the colour is used across walls and joinery rather than as an isolated feature.'

3. Off-whites

Bathroom with wood panelling, cream walls, wooden floor, mr and mrs sink, gold sconces flanking curved mirrors, and a red vintage chair — Cream paint colors like Farrow's Cream will enrich a small bathroom with the right amount of depth and warmth.

Warm enough to make a bathroom feel less sterile yet still enduringly timeless and neutral in nature, off-whites will always be a wise choice for small spaces.

The beauty of working with neutrals is their reliability; using the best off-white paints will ensure your small bathroom remains not only stylish, but stands through the coming and going of trends. Helen Shaw, Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore, explains, 'Creamy whites and soft greys are safe choices if you are looking for a more neutral look in a small bathroom; however, this does not mean you have to eliminate bright colors altogether. Opt for a pop of color on bathroom cabinets or accessories to lift the space.'

Despite stereotypes, neutral bathrooms are far from boring, they're classic. Adam Wollerton, Design Manager at BK Eleven, explains, 'When working with a compact bathroom, color needs to work harder than it does in a larger space, not by disappearing, but by shaping how the room feels to be in over time. Soft, nuanced tones tend to perform best, particularly those with warmth or complexity, because they stop the space feeling stark while still allowing light to move around the room.'

Adam suggests, 'Off-whites with a gentle undertone, such as chalky creams, stone or putty shades, create a sense of openness without the coldness that pure white can bring.'

4. Terracotta

An orange bathroom with a washstand sink and a floral shower curtain — Warm yet not overly striking, a terracotta paint strikes a balance between neutral and noticeable. Try Farrow & Ball's Etruscan Red or Sherwin-Williams' Rookwood Terracotta for a similarly rich feel.

Terracotta paint might sound bold, but with irresistible warm and cocooning qualities, it's an appealing color choice for a small bathroom.

Whether it's pink-toned Persimmon by Benjamin Moore or the warmer, red Kalahari Sunset by Behr, terracotta is surprisingly versatile. Grazzie Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca’ Pietra, says, 'A warm terracotta tone can be surprisingly effective in a small bathroom because it brings depth and character without overwhelming the space, particularly when the color carries a softened, earthy quality rather than reading as bold or rustic.'

She adds, 'In smaller rooms, this kind of warmth helps counteract cooler light conditions and creates a sense of enclosure that feels welcoming rather than closed in. When used through tiles with subtle variation, the color gains richness without becoming dominant, allowing the room to feel layered and considered.'

5. Aubergine

Small bathroom with marble sink, aubergine painted walls, gold faucet and towel ring and a framed picture on right side of wall — Farrow & Ball's Brinjal adorns the wall of this small bathroom, enriching it with warmth and that highly coveted luxurious feel.

'The best colors for a small bathroom are often saturated hues,' says Lauren Rasken, founder of Lauren A Balkan Designs. 'Whether dark or light, such as Farrow & Ball’s aubergine-toned Brinjal (pictured in the powder room above) or Benjamin Moore’s mauve-toned Amethyst Sky. Painting both the walls and ceiling in a soft satin finish creates a cohesive, enveloping effect that transforms the space into something chic and intimate.'

The perfect place to be brave with jewel tones, you can transform a small bathroom into a pocket of unexpectedness by opting for a vivid, deeply saturated paint like aubergine. Interior designer Anna Haines advises, 'Very dark colors can work beautifully in a small bathroom, but often need reflective surfaces like using a gloss finish, mirrors, or considered lighting to help bounce light around the room and prevent it from feeling too enclosed.'

Helen agrees. 'In smaller bathrooms that don’t benefit from much natural light, dark colors can be a particularly impactful choice, creating an immersive cocooning feeling. For the ultimate design statement, combine with a lustrous, high gloss finish to create a look that oozes opulence. Painting bathroom furniture and cabinetry in the same dark tone as the walls will also add to the dramatic effect. Layer this glossy finish with metallic accents such as gold, brass or copper to add depth and a touch of luxury.'

6. Pale Pink

Pale pink bathroom with brass sink, rattan mirror, sconces, vintage paintings and a wood panelled tub — Pale pink brings enduring elegance and character to a small bathroom, proven by Leonora Birts' charming design. Try Benjamin Moore's Pale Pink Satin for an equally whimsical look.

A few years ago, committing to a pink paint would've sounded daunting, but with shades like Setting Plaster and Dead Salmon to choose from, adding subtle color to a small bathroom has never been more inspiring.

Interior designer Leonora Birts says, 'With this bathroom (pictured above), I wanted to create a calm but warm and inviting space. I think the combination of pink and brass works so well together, so here we chose Farrow and Ball Pink Ground on the walls and the taps and shower in a polished brass finish.'

Whether it's Farrow & Ball's pastel paints or Benjamin Moore's French Lilac, other muted tones can invite character into a small bathroom, too. Helen says, 'Offset hard surfaces often found in bathrooms like tiles, mirrors and fixtures by picking a hue that allows the walls to bring a sense of softness to the space. Soft pastels such as pale blues, greens and lavenders will create a sanctuary-like feel, perfect for relaxation at the end of the day.'

A place where you have more free rein than you might think, small bathrooms aren't all bad; in fact, they're the perfect place to live out your colorful fantasy and decorate with a shade you wouldn't normally. By considering bathroom color combinations, you'll have a space that not only uplifts but feels accomplished and considered, destined to look good for years.