Our guide to injecting your bathroom with unadulterated colour.
Remember, there was a time when people used to fit their bathrooms out in jade green, candy pink, lavender-blue and yes, even black. Companies like Twyfords began manufacturing coloured bathroom suites as early as the 1930s, but this fell out of favour in the 90s as white sanitaryware became the safe standard.
For the truly “audacious”, colour in the bathroom has manifested in paint, wallpaper and tiles. Taps were the first to break this monochromatic mood; black came first and is still trending, then the brighter more playful shades followed suit, or is that suite? Today though, you can install a terracotta basin, a candy floss toilet and a duck egg blue bath.
We’ve scoured the sanware landscape to bring you a feast of colour, and not the avocado greens or almonds of the 70s and 80s mind you, we’re talking as bright as tangerine and cornflower and as demure as butter yellow and blush pink in styles that are sure to have you dreaming up a remodel.
INTO THE BLUE
A total classic in our books, blue has the flexibility to be as familiar as royal, duck egg and indigo and as irreverent as cobalt and cyan. It can be particularly crisp and contemporary teamed with white, or you can warm it up with brass or natural textures like wood and grass weave.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: A nod to the past: the Burlington Collection in Alaska Blue available from Victorian Bathrooms. Pitch Basin in colour Mineral by Kast (check out other colours in this palette including Storm, Steel and Dove). Genesis rimless WC and bidet in matte blue from Lavo.
Heading into the indigo colour spectrum: featured here are Kohler’s ‘Colours’ washbasin and wallhung WC in colour Peacock.
FIELDS OF GREEN
We too have been mentally scarred by the ripe hue of avocado that reigned supreme in the 70s, but the greens of today are a million miles from that. Choose from the freshest Granny smith green, a contemplative shade of moss or even a barely-there whisper of sage.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Sienna washbasin in Forest and Terra washbasin in Mint by Kast.
An arresting yet calming combination of natural materials with pops of green and even pink. Featured here is a Siwa washbasin by Cielo available from Still Bathrooms.
Adopt a sparing approach to green by using it as an accent in washbasins, taps or even architecturally. FROM LEFT: Shui oval washbasin by Cielo in colour Alga, Vola mixer in apple green and a green glass shower panel used in this modern bathroom by Ex.t – all available from Still Bathrooms.
GETTING WARMER
Treasured for its uplifting qualities, this posse of shades includes orange, yellow and earth tones, including the current interior design favourite: terracotta. Think Palm Beach, Florida or Morocco for a little style inspiration.
Kast’s Mara washbasin in Ember and Vos washbasin in Sandcastle are perfectly paired with brass or black taps and accessories.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Minimalism at its best: the Tile washstand and T-Edge Washbasin by Globo from LAVO. Kohler’s handcrafted Derring washbasin adds artisanal flare to this bathroom.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: This Burlington washbasin and stand, in Moon Grey, pairs elegantly with darker and lighter shades of terracotta – available from Victorian Bathrooms. A Shui Comfort round washbasin in Natural (explore other colour options including Arenaria, Avena and Canapa) by Cielo – available from Still Bathrooms.
YOU MAKE ME BLUSH
You can thank millennials for the fact that pink has become as impartial as beige. Somehow this soft and comforting hue feels like the safest option for those dipping a toe into the colour field. Pinks pair particularly well with neutrals, brass or even black as in the gorgeous Victorian Bathrooms Burlington and Ex.t references.
We’ve long been fans of Italian outfit Ex.t so we’re thrilled their products are now available from Still Bathrooms. Pictured here is their Nouveau collection in Light Pink and paired with black accessories. For similar accessories, including mirrors and storage solutions, check out Douglas & Douglas and Iconomy.
A further pink and black combination: the Burlington washbasin and WC in Confetti Pink, create a contemporary classic aesthetic in this bathroom – available from Victorian Bathrooms.
COLOUR PARTY
This look is all about throwing caution to the wind and mixing various colours to cheerful effect. Our only suggestion here would be to think back to your school colour wheel in terms of complementary colours. Bed partners include pink and green; orange and blue; yellow and violet.
Avalana Design provides an en pointe combination of pink and green thanks to their Cantaloupe Jaguar wallpaper. The wallpaper unifies the scheme and creates a striking feature wall. Robin Sprong is a local supplier of their wallpaper designs.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Bursts of added colour to the architecture in this bathroom compliment the Frieze washbasin. Another fresh combination of mint green and light pink. Both by Ex.t and available from Still Bathrooms.
The bathrooms at Poodle Bar & Bistro in Melbourne, Australia, designed by Bergman & Co, feature a glorious combination of red washbasins and dark green marble (photo by Derek Swalwell). For similar marble contact Cannata.
Restrained hues of oatmeal and lilac feature in this bathroom by Ex.t
