The Dated Colors Not to Paint Your Bathroom in 2026 – and the More Exciting Shades Designers Want You to Use Instead

Bathroom colors have never been the most exciting. Until recent years, it was a sea of white and gray. But in 2026, it’s these once-popular ‘safe’ shades that designers actually warn against using if you want to create a more interesting, unique bathroom.

Bathroom color trends have shifted toward warm, soft, nature-inspired hues, and cold, neutral shades are no longer the go-to they once were. So which colors are officially on the out? And which shades should you be trying instead? We’ve turned to interior designers to discover the dated bathroom color trends we shouldn’t be bringing into our spaces in 2026 – and the chicer hues to try instead.

1. Black and White Schemes

Bathroom trends are moving away from designs that just look good in a picture and towards spaces that bring comfort and warmth. And bathroom colors are following suit, with stark contrast feeling entirely outdated.

'Bathroom color trends that feel dated in 2026 reflect an earlier emphasis on visual impact over comfort and longevity. High-contrast black-and-white palettes are a good example,' says Mary Gordon, co-founder of InSite Builders & Remodeling.

'Once associated with sleek, minimalist design, these combinations now seem harsh and overly designed in a space that homeowners increasingly want to be calm, restorative, and welcoming. The shift is away from sharp contrast and toward tonal, layered palettes that are softer and more enduring.'

If you like the sense of contrast that a black and white bathroom creates, swap it for warm white and cozy brown hues. It hits the mark without feeling stark. Instead, this combination feels rich, warm, and utterly timeless.

'Warm neutrals are increasingly preferred because they resolve many of these issues while offering greater flexibility. Soft stone tones, muted sand, chalky beige, and clay-adjacent hues create a gentler backdrop,' adds Keeley Sutcliffe, design manager at BC Designs.

2. Deep, Dark Blues

Bathrooms are becoming softer and more serene in 2026, and the colors are the first feature to signal the shift. As such, many of the deeper, less inviting shades of past trends are on their way out, replaced by more earth-inspired palettes.

'Some of the bathroom colors that now feel dated for 2026 are those that arrived quickly and were applied too literally. Overly saturated blues, particularly glossy navy and inky cobalt, have begun to feel heavy and inflexible because they dominate the room rather than working with it,' says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra.

'There is a clear move towards richer, more complex color stories that feel layered and full of depth. Deep umber, tobacco, and clay-based browns are appearing more frequently, bringing a sense of depth that works beautifully with texture and variation in tile glaze. Alongside this, darker greens are evolving away from obvious botanical shades towards moss, lichen, and mineral-led tones.'

3. Cool Gray

This one comes as no surprise. The 2016 trend may be in full swing right now, but cool-toned grays are another palette designers say you should avoid in 2026. It's cold, uninspiring, and brings none of the warmth and character that are dominating the bathroom design world.

'Cool gray bathrooms are also losing relevance. Gray became popular as a safe, resale-friendly neutral, but in bathrooms, it often reads flat and cold. Gray finishes can mute natural light and leave the room feeling stark, which runs counter to today’s growing focus on warmth, wellness, and everyday comfort,' says Mary.

'Cool gray in bathrooms is starting to feel boring and under-stimulating; it lacks the warmth and personality homeowners are craving,' agrees interior designer Amy Courtney. 'Richer tones like warm creams, rust, and dusty teal blues bring depth and character.'

4. Overly Saturated Jewel Tones

Much like certain shades of dark blue, other deep hues are also beginning to feel a bit outdated and unaligned with this year's trends. Decorating with moody colors definitely still has its place, but not when it comes to these colder shades.

'Heavily saturated jewel tones are less current when used as dominant wall or tile colors. Shades like emerald and sapphire can read theatrical, and when color overwhelms a space rather than supporting it, the design becomes dated quickly,' says Mary.

If you love the look and feel of a moody, dark bathroom, consider luxurious burgundy hues or even rich browns that feel earthy and warm. It's about choosing colors that feel timeless and inviting, whether those palettes are light or dark.

5. Cool-Toned Pastel Hues

Those preppy pastel hues that you've seen all over Instagram might look pretty in pictures, but designers say they are the quickest way to design a dated bathroom in 2026. The truth is, their cool undertones and lackluster undertones just don't meet the cozy, warm style everyone is craving right now.

'Soft pastels are also falling out of favor. Colors such as powder pink and mint green now feel more nostalgic than intentional and often lack the grounded, timeless quality homeowners are looking for,' says Mary.

'Cool blush pinks and pastel-led schemes that once felt fresh can now feel overly decorative,' Grazzie agrees. 'Muted reds with earthy undertones, including softened oxides and brick-adjacent shades, are also being used to add warmth without slipping into softness, particularly when applied through handmade or glaze-reactive tiles where colour shifts naturally across the surface.'

There are no rules when it comes to choosing the best color for your bathroom, but this designer's advice helps to ensure your scheme feels timeless for years to come. It's less about colors that are in or out, and more about how you use them.

Mary Gordon summarises it perfectly: 'The shift in 2026 is less about avoiding specific colors and more about moving away from rigid, high-impact schemes. Bathroom color is becoming warmer and softer, supporting the space as a true retreat rather than a design statement.'