There’s something that happens when you step into a bathroom that’s painted entirely white or beige. It doesn’t make you calm or energized. It just makes you…nothing.
Until recently I thought that was what “safe design” was supposed to do. But safe is also boring AF. Once I started playing with blue in bathrooms (starting, of course, in my own teeny tiny ensuite before taking the plunge for clients), I realized there’s a happy medium between “completely neutral” and “want to live in a Santorini paint chip.” The key isn’t steering clear of blue because it might be “too much.” It’s finding the right shade of blue for your space and your lifestyle.
The first bathroom I took a blue risk in was almost entirely by accident. I’d ordered white subway tiles to refresh a rental flat bathroom, but they came in with a barely-there blue-grey undertone that wasn’t anywhere on the order confirmation.
Online returns = shipping fees, so I went with it and hoped for the best.
Clients and visitors started telling me they loved how much bigger and brighter the bathroom looked, even though we hadn’t actually changed any dimensions. It was around that time that I realized painting or tiling with blue isn’t just adding a pop of colour to a room—it actually has a physical impact on how that space feels to be in. DISCLAIMER: before we go any further: not all blues are created equal.
That bright electric royal blue that looks amazing on barely-used Mediterranean vacation homes? Yeah, that stuff will turn your windowless powder room into the inside of a submarine. Soft powder blue?
Sage tinged blue-greens? YES PLEASE. I’ve done the barely-there blue look in three bathrooms now, and love it when you want a touch of colour without feeling committed.
It can be as easy as pale blue-grey paint on one feature wall, or white tiles with blue grout lines. For this powder bathroom I used white penny tiles with dusty blue grout that’s almost grey. Everyone notices something feels fresh and clean about the space, but can’t put their finger on exactly what I did different.
That’s my favourite version of understated blue—minimal enough that you don’t really notice it, but impactful enough that it subtly influences the vibe of the room. Blue is where it all starts to get fun. This middle ground is my soft blue painted vanity, or blue and white patterned floor tiles.
I painted my built-in vanity in my main bathroom this dreamy grey/blue (Benjamin Moore “Cloudy Sky” if you want the details) and love that it gives the room some personality without overwhelming the space. I even kept the white quartz counters and brass hardware the same since the blue wasn’t competing with anything. Bonus?
If I want to switch it up in a few years I can easily repaint one vanity instead of re-tiling my whole shower wall. But what if you wanna go wild? WHAT IF YOU WANT FLOOR-TO-Ceiling CRISTAL BLUE SUBWAY TILE??
I get it. I painted a client’s master bathroom last year completely shower-to-ceiling in THIS deep blue-green and LOVE how it turned out. Sound intimidating?
Well sure, kind of. But that bathroom has super tall windows that face East, so it gets tons of gorgeous morning sunlight. The deep blue tiles made the whole bathroom feel luxe, like an indoor pool.
Yes, please. That bold bathroom would look totally different in a small, windowless bathroom. Dark blue tiles in a dim space are dreary and cave-like.
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I learned that lesson the hard way when I talked a client into painting their basement powder room navy penny tiles. Even with excellent LED lighting installed it just felt depressing and claustrophobic. We ended up changing course and keeping the navy tiles, but only did them on the bottom half of the walls and kept white subway tiles on the top.
MUCH better. Speaking of light, that brings me to my next point: lighting is everything with blue bathrooms. Cool blue+ crappy fluorescent lighting = nightmare showers every morning.
But warm blue+ upgraded LED fixtures with adjustable colour temperature? SIGN ME UP. I dropped an embarrassing amount of cash on smart LED light strips to put behind my bathroom mirror because I can change the lights from cool white (for shaving/foundation applying detail work) to warm white for relaxing evening baths.
Best decision ever. You also have to pay more attention to accessories and decor in blue bathrooms. White towels always look great, but they start to feel very hospital-esque laying against blue walls.
I’ve had luck with cream towels and natural linen tones, or an occasional coral or mustard yellow accent. Throw some unexpected warm colours into the mix and blue feels high-class, not elementary school. Here’s the secret nobody tells you about blue bathrooms: they take AMAZING photos.
But if you’re not careful they can feel colder in real life than they do on Instagram. My solution? Warm wood tones.
A wooden stool or bamboo toothbrush holders or just a wood framed mirror can balance out cool blue paint so well. I always incorporate at least one warm metal finish too. Brass and copper are both stunners against most shades of blue, though be careful not to mix too many finishes in one small space.
Maintenance will vary wildly depending on how blue you go. Pale blue paint will show water spots and soap residue easier than pure white paint, but for the most part it’s low maintenance. Dark blue shower tiles, on the other hand, will show EVERY water droplet and require daily wiping down to prevent water stain buildup.
Fun fact: I love taking wayyy too long in the shower, but I also love waking up to a sparkling clean bathroom. I stumbled upon how easy (and satisfying) it is to simply run a squeegee over the tile walls after showering. Sounds annoying, but trust me it takes less than thirty seconds and completely prevents water spotting.
Cost is all over the place for blue bathrooms too. Keep it subtle with blue paint on the walls, or coloured grout and you’re looking at about the same price as a completely white bathroom. White paint and all white grout are standard and come in every hardware store, which makes them extremely affordable.
Blue tiles or major blue fixtures will always cost more, but keep in mind you’re making a bold statement with that colour choice too.
Sometimes that dramatic blue shower wall is exactly what your boring, builder-basic bathroom needs. Don’t feel like you have to paint your whole bathroom blue to try it out.
Add some blue hand towels, a blue shower curtain, or even blue soap dispensers and see how you feel. Blue looks different in every space depending on the lighting, so test it out! If you love it, you can commit.
If it’s not the vibe you want, you didn’t paint an entire wall. Trust me, the best blue bathroom decisions are the ones you make because they fit your life and routine. Do you want to feel invigorated in the morning, or sleepy at night?
Do you prefer sleek, spa-like bathrooms or cozier spaces? Are you someone who gets bored of trends after a few years, or would you rather stick to tried-and-true choices that you’ll love long-term? Your answers to these questions can help you home in on the perfect shade of blue and application for your own home.
