Whether you’re renovating or are lucky enough to be choosing the colour scheme for your brand new build, there are a few things to consider when locking in a hue for your bathroom or ensuite. Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey takes us through all the important factors that come into play and how you can work around them to decide which palette will best suit you and your home. 

If your household has a strong difference of opinions, head into your local Resene ColorShop, where the team is always available to provide the very best professional advice and offer a fresh perspective and professional recommendations, as well as point out factors you may not have considered. 

All about the vibe

When choosing colours in your bathroom, you should take into account colour psychology – this is how a colour can make you feel. Warm tones like sunny yellow, honey and beige create a welcoming and cosy atmosphere, and these can be brought onto the floor with laminate, tiles or timber. Think a colour palette featuring Resene Splash or Resene Quarter Sorrell Brown. 

Cooler tones such as light greens and blues create a tranquil, airy oasis. They can be given a modern approach by incorporating natural materials, like sustainable wood finishes or accents for the flooring, cabinetry or as an accent wall. Adding greenery also adds visual interest and helps to purify the air. Try Resene Transcend, Resene Secrets or Resene Relax. 

Earthy combinations like green and brown connect the bathroom to the outdoors and evoke a natural and soothing space, further adding to the current biophilic trend – this scheme works particularly well if you have a lush green outlook. Try Resene Bud and Resene Foundation. 

What is the biophilic trend, you may ask? The design movement began in modern architecture and is about purposefully incorporating nature into our interior spaces, so we can connect to the outdoors. The reported benefits include increased creativity, reduced stress, quicker healing, and improved mood and general wellbeing. 

Ace of space

Considering spatial perception is essential – light colours can make a bathroom appear larger, while dark colours can create a more intimate feel. The layout, natural light and placement of fixtures can also impact colour choices. 

For a new build or a complete reno, consider what impact you want to add and research how these accents will alter the perception of the space, and how well it will benefit from correct placement – consider your features/accent wall in the beginning stages.

Brace for impact

Don’t be afraid to go bold! Adding a burst of colour to your bathroom can instantly uplift its overall aesthetic and create an energising atmosphere. Rich jewel tones are trending and can make a statement wall pop, or you could choose a patterned wallpaper. Colours such as Resene Aquamarine and Resene Maestro create a punchy pop of elegant glamour. Mixing and matching patterns for the floor and walls is also a fun trend – just ensure that the colour is cohesive so that the space doesn’t feel overwhelming, always considering the balance and scale of each pattern.

Picture perfect

A wall mural above the bath can transform your bathroom’s ambience. The size of your bathroom should play a crucial role in selecting your mural – for smaller bathrooms opt for designs with light colours and simple patterns to avoid making the room feel cramped. Landscapes or seascapes can open a space, while vertical patterns draw the eye upwards, creating an illusion of height. There are many Resene wallpaper murals to browse, from very basic to incredibly intricate.

Heavy metal

Incorporating mixed metals into your bathroom design allows you to experiment with different textures and colours and creates instant impact. You can choose fixtures and hardware in various metal finishes, or opt to upgrade the legs of a free-standing bath or decorate elements such as artwork frames, mirrors or bathroom accessories with Resene FX Metallic paint. Try colours like Resene Goldmine, Resene Silver Steel and Resene Spark.

Remember, the key elements such as light, flooring, fixtures and accessories all need to work with the proposed colour scheme to achieve a harmonious space.

Easy to update

Use bolder colours for your paint finishes rather than on areas like tiles or laminates, as they’ll be much harder and more expensive to change if your tastes change. If you are stuck with tiles and laminate that you want to update but don’t want to replace, you can paint over them. For tiles, clean then use Resene Waterborne Sureseal before painting in your chosen Resene colours. For laminate, clean then apply Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer, then your chosen topcoat colour. Add new handles to cabinetry and they’ll look as good as new.

If you need help creating a colour palette for your bathroom, visit your local Resene ColorShop, Ask a Resene Colour Expert free online, or book a colour consultation with a Resene expert, available virtually, in store or at home.

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