What are the best Sherwin-Williams colors for bathrooms? According to interior designers, these are the 5 shades to try

Color is one of the most important elements in a bathroom, setting the tone and atmosphere for the entire space. The right shade can transform walls, vanities, and even ceilings, taking the room from bland to beautiful.

When it comes to choosing the perfect color, many of us – including professional designers – rely on trusted brands like Sherwin-Williams. Their high-quality paints and carefully curated edits make it easier to find the perfect bathroom color ideas to suit your desired look.

But which Sherwin-Williams paint colors are best for bathrooms? Here, we ask interior designers for the shades they return to time and time again – and their suggestions embody timeless elegance in abundance.

5 Sherwin-Williams bathroom colors designers always recommend

Choosing the right color for your bathroom is tricky, especially when you're faced with a bunch of swatches with no real reference for what they look like in situ.

Seeing Sherwin-Williams paint colors in real homes is always useful to get a feel for how they pair with other colors and materials. And when it comes to your bathroom ideas, designer recommendations are always a great place to start.

1. Natural Linen

As we're starting to near the end of the year and look to the next, bathroom trends are returning to that sense of tranquility and retreat, and soft, warm neutrals are at the top of most people's design wish lists, with designers also gravitating towards Sherwin-Williams shades that create this more relaxing atmosphere.

'A favorite Sherwin-Williams color for bathrooms is Natural Linen. It introduces warmth and richness, creating a calming and serene spa-like retreat,' says Lisa Shaffer, CEO and creative director of Lisa & Leroy.

In this bathroom, Lisa paired Natural Linen on the walls with deep green bathroom tiles and dark wood furniture. The effect is a space that feels relaxing and characterful yet still bright and inviting. The warm neutral brings in contrast without feeling stark.

2. Snowbound

When it comes to the best neutral paints, Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams always deserves a mention. But it's particularly beautiful in a bathroom, offering a warm white hue that creates an elegant yet totally inviting scheme.

It's a white paint color with a subtle gray undertone to it, which instantly feels much softer and more versatile than blue-toned shades. And this bathroom by Marie Flanigan Interiors is a chic example.

'The name Snowbound is perfect for this stunning, cooler white,' explains Marie. 'Snowbound is a pure palette cleanser, offering a fresh canvas with slightly grey undertones. The undertones give this color lots of versatility as it can be warmed up easily with additional finishes.'

Snowbound brings a sense of warmth to the room that creates a more soothing yet elevated finish. It's a timeless way to embrace a neutral bathroom, and the contrast with the wood tones is subtle yet much-needed in the space.

3. Greek Villa

Certain Sherwin-Williams shades really come to life when illuminated by natural light, creating a sun-soaked neutral bathroom that brightens even the smallest of spaces. In this design, Greek Villa has been paired with blue wall tiles and a wooden vanity for an earthy-inspired scheme.

'My favorite Sherwin-Williams color is Greek Villa. I like this color because it’s a versatile neutral that pairs beautifully with supporting finishes such as countertops, flooring, tile, and wallpaper, allowing them to shine, while also standing gracefully on its own,' says interior designer Jessica Dorling.

But it's not just the way it looks as part of a design that she loves, but the impact it has on the way you use your bathroom. 'Greek Villa is especially ideal when at the bathroom mirror getting ready, as its undertones are soft and soothing, without casting any unwanted color distortions,' she notes.

4. Pure White

Sherwin-Williams' neutrals really get the designer seal of approval when it comes to bathroom colors, and for good reason. Many of them offer a warmer undertone that instantly lifts a bathroom, and Pure White is one of them.

'I love Sherwin-Williams' Pure White in a bathroom. It has enough warmth to complement warm wood tones, but also balances cooler grey-toned tile. This is our go-to white for a clean, but not stark look,' says Julia Lauve, of Workshop Studio.

In this design, Pure White on the walls adds a striking contrast next to the walnut bathroom vanity and wall cabinet. It's the perfect paint choice to balance out the light and dark. It's a simple approach that feels utterly timeless.

The bathroom walls are not the only place this classic white shade works well. Interior designer Laura Jenkins is also a fan of Pure White, but in this design, she used it for the woodwork and the ceiling to emphasise the beautiful wallpaper.

'This bathroom, which is part of a Victorian Bungalow built in 1905, was a complete gut renovation. For this bathroom redesign, we wanted the finishes to feel like they could have been of the time but also of today,' explains Laura.

'In the original room, we found some beadboard which we replicated in the new bathroom and painted Pure White along with all of the trim and ceiling. It becomes the perfect backdrop, letting the marble wallpaper be the focal point.'

5. Decorator's White

Bathroom tiles play a big role in any design, so it's not uncommon for paint colors to be chosen to match or complement them. In this kid's bathroom, a busy tile design necessitated a calmer color palette for a more balanced scheme.

'In this bathroom designed for twin girls, we wanted to create a room that feels ageless but also playful. We had fun with a neutral checkerboard tile for the bathroom, a lively solid surface along with whimsical brass accents,' says Laura.

The right paint color was required to complement yet not detract from the patterned tile moment. 'Sherwin-Williams Decorator's White was the perfect color to provide a cloud-like backdrop that is both colorless and warm. It is a favorite color to use in all kinds of spaces!'

There might be a few bathroom colors going out of style, but these classic Sherwin-Williams shades certainly aren't. Each of these hues is ideal for creating a timeless color scheme, whether you embrace neutral shades or a more saturated palette.