Best Paint Colors for a Small Bathroom Makeover

Selecting the perfect paint colors for a small bathroom makeover requires careful consideration. The goal is to make the compact space appear larger, brighter, and more inviting while adding personality and style. With some color psychology know-how and clever tricks, even the tiniest bathroom can be utterly transformed with a fresh coat of paint.

When planning a small bathroom makeover, begin by taking stock of the current design elements. Note the color scheme and style of existing fixtures, tile, accessories, and lighting. This provides the foundation for choosing complementary hues that enhance rather than compete with these permanent details.

Use Color Psychology When Selecting Paint Colors

Color psychology plays a key role when picking paint colors for a small bathroom. Certain shades and tones elicit specific emotional responses and optical illusions that can expand or shrink the perceived dimensions of the space.

Warm vs. Cool Paint Colors

Warm paint colors like soft yellows, peaches, terra cottas, and mossy greens make small rooms feel welcoming and cozy. However, cool colors like tranquil blues, airy grays, and subtle lavenders can make compact rooms appear larger.

Dark vs. Light Paint Colors

Dark, intense paint colors tend to make small bathrooms feel even more cramped. Instead, soft off-whites, very light grays, and barely-there pastels open up and expand the space visually. Pale cool blue-grays work especially well.

Color Contrast and Harmony

Selecting two to three complementary colors in varying shades and intensities prevents visual competition in a small bathroom. Contrasting very light and very dark colors in the same compact room overwhelms the senses. But soft tonal harmonies feel soothing. For example, pair a pastel peach with deeper coral and palest pink accents.

Consider the Design and Layout of Your Small Bathroom

The color palette you select for your compact bath depends largely on what's already there. Work with your existing tile, fixtures, lighting, and permanent elements by choosing paint colors that complement them.

Current Fixtures, Tiles, and Decor

If your bathroom features blue and white tile or navy fixtures, build upon that color story with coordinating soft blue-grays or nautical accent colors. Let bold patterns and textures stand out against neutral walls.

Natural vs. Artificial Lighting

The direction and intensity of lighting affects how paint colors appear. North-facing rooms may require lighter shades while south-facing ones can handle deeper hues. Supplement windows with LED bulbs to balance color accuracy.

Monochromatic vs. Contrasting Color Schemes

With careful tonal gradation, an all-neutral scheme lends harmony and expands space visually. Or inject interest with contrasting accent walls or edgier color combinations while maintaining balance.

Paint Color Ideas to Visually Enlarge a Small Space

Certain shades of paint inherently reflect more light, adding to the illusion of extra space. Here are smart color choices for opening up tiny bathrooms visually.

Whites and Off-Whites

Crisp bright white reads as the lightest possible value, bouncing the most light. But soft off-whites like Alabaster and Cream Puff keep things subtle. Pair with pale blue-grays for further spatial expansion.

Light and Soft Colors

Any very pale, low-intensity pastel shade makes small spaces recede gently. Lavender gray, frost green, or hazy peach offer brightness without overwhelming.

Avoid Dark or Intense Colors

Deep, dramatic paint colors may suit larger baths but overwhelm compact rooms. Instead, use them sparingly on accent walls or to paint wainscoting panels a slightly darker shade.

Use Paint to Add Style and Personality

Carefully chosen paint colors serve to reflect and amplify your personal style. Embrace a favorite color or evoke a specific mood while expanding the room visually.

Tie in Your Favorite Hues

Work a touch of your signature color into an otherwise neutral scheme. Sage green details pop against cream walls. Blush pink reads romantic against icy blue-grays.

Create a Spa-Like Retreat

Conjure the essence of a soothing sanctuary with soft aquatic hues, peaceful pastels, or the warmth of natural stone and wood. Paint choices establish the overall vibe.

Incorporate Texture with Specialty Paints

Enhance visual interest and dimension on at least one wall with subtle metallic sheen, velvety matte, or even faux stone, concrete, or woodgrain finishes.

Use Tricks Like Wainscoting and Two-Tone Walls

Clever two-tone techniques lend the illusion of added height in cramped bathrooms. Contrasting colors, creative separators, and secondary focal walls prevent a closed-in feeling.

Paint Bottom Half of Walls Darker

A darker wainscoting effect grounds the lighter upper walls, drawing the eye upwards. Navy or charcoal gray botoms allow soft teal, sky blue, and pale gray uppers to float.

Add Chair Rail Molding or Beadboard

Crisp white beadboard or chair rail trim tops darker lower walls, creating separation. Grays, deeper blues, or minky charcoal bases anchor paler hues above.

Best Practices for Painting a Small Bathroom

Meticulous prep and primer plus high-quality paint ensures your new color scheme looks its best while holding up in steamy conditions.

Prep the Walls Properly

Fill cracks, sand glossy areas, remove outlet covers, clean thoroughly, and tape trim for crisp edges. Tack cloth removes final dust and debris.

Use Quality Primer and Paint

Stains bleed through cheap paints. High-hide primers block them so colors stay true. 100% acrylic latex bathroom paint resists moisture and mildew.

Never skimp on coverage. Thin, uneven paint looks blotchy. Patiently apply two smooth, even coats allowing proper dry time between them for a polished look.