I have stood in my friend Sarah’s bathroom last year admiring her beautiful Herringbone tile floor and she let out a heavy sigh and said “already tired of it”. Do you think it’ll look old-fashioned in five years?” That made me realize – she was sitting there in her incredibly attractive design, possibly costing her a pretty penny, and she was already afraid it’d become dated. You know who doesn’t ever worry about anything like that?
People with Black & White bathrooms. They’re like the little black dress of interior decorating – always stylish, always sophisticated, never pretentious. I figured that out the hard way in my very first rental flat.
The bathroom had this awful peachy-pink tile with mint green accents (yes, really). I spent way too many dollars on the attempt to incorporate those colors. In my current home, I immediately opted for black & white subway tiles with black grout.
Almost three years later, I still get a thrill every time I enter that bathroom. Black & White is not boring, it’s a basis. It’s similar to having a perfectly good white t-shirt in your closet – you can put a top with it or a sweater, maybe even throw in a splash of color with jewelry or add a pop of color with a scarf.
I’ve seen Black & White bathrooms that look cutting-edge with high-end fixtures and geometric patterns and others that look quaintly old-fashioned with claw-foot tubs and antique-style fixtures. Emma, my neighbor, recently completed a bathroom renovation of her Victorian-era house and she was freaking out about what to choose for her tile. She kept showing me Pinterest boards full of crazy designs and bold colors.
“What if I’m fed up with it in six months?” she kept saying. I suggested to her that she begin with a classic Black & White base and then add personality to the rest of the space. Ultimately, she did white subway tiles with black grout (which hides soap scum like magic), and a black vanity.
Then she added warmth with brass fixtures, a vintage mirror, and hanging plants. Result? Timeless but not bland. 
On the subject of grout… Let me save you from a few sleepless nights.
White grout looks wonderful for approximately three weeks and then it becomes dingy-looking regardless of how often you wash it. I’ve tried every cleaner under the sun. Black or Dark Grey Grout, on the other hand, stay fresh with virtually no maintenance.
Yes, it may be a bit pricier at the beginning, but trust me on this. Where things get super-interesting is with Pattern Mixing in Black & White Bathrooms. However, you need to have a level head.
I once totally went crazy in a guest bathroom renovation – Hexagon Floor Tiles, Subway Wall Tiles, Geometric Shower Curtain. It was like a riot of patterns. The secret I have discovered is to vary the Scale rather than the Complexity.
For example, you could pair Large Format Black Tiles with Small White Ones or combine a Subtle Stripe with Classic Penny Tile. In my sister’s New Build Bathroom, she thought she had to replace all of the basic White Tiles throughout the bathroom. Instead, we created a Black Accent Wall Behind the Vanity using the same White Tiles as the walls but with Black Grout.
Cost us around £80 and Two Weekends to complete and it changed the whole space. Sometimes the smallest changes can be the most impactful. Fixtures make or Break a Black & White Bathroom.
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I’ve seen Great Tile Work completely ruined by Builder-Grade Chrome Faucets that appear to be from a Gas Station Restroom. Conversely, I’ve seen Basic Setups Elevated by Thoughtful Fixture Choices. Matte Black Fixtures are currently Trendy and while I am generally skeptical of Trends, This One Works Because Black Is Already Part Of Your Color Palette.
My Friend James Chose Brass Fixtures for his Black & White Bathroom and Initially I Was Skeptical – Seemed Like Adding Unnecessary Complication. Nevertheless, the Warmth of the Brass Prevents the Space From Feeling Cold/Clinical. Been Two Years Now and I Still Love Walking Into That Room.
Storage is essential in any Bathroom, particularly in Black & White ones since everything is on Display. You Can’t Hide Clutter Behind Color. I Installed Floating Shelves in Black Metal Brackets – they match the Black Elements and Provide Functional Storage for Towels & Toiletries.
The Key Is Making Storage Feel Intentional Rather Than An Afterthought. Lighting Deserves Its Own Paragraph Since It Makes Or Breaks the Mood. I Initially Installed Bright White LED Bulbs Thinking They Would Make The Space Feel Clean & Modern.
Wrong. Felt Like A Medical Facility. Warmer Bulbs (approx.
3000k) Make Black & White Spaces Feel Welcoming Rather Than Harsh. I Also Added a Small Table Lamp on the Counter of My Vanity – Sounds Weird, But Creates Lovely Ambient Lighting For Evening Routines. 
Something I Wish I Had Considered Earlier Was Texture. If Everything Has The Same Finish in a Black and White Bathroom, it can look Flat.
Combine Matte & Glossy Surfaces, Smooth & Textured Materials. The Glossy Subway Tiles in my Shower Are Nice, But I Painted the Vanity in a Matte Black Paint. The Contrast Adds Visual Interest Without Disrupting The Color Story.
Maintaining a Black & White Bathroom is Actually Pretty Straightforward. Water Spots Show Up On Black Surfaces, Yeah, But They’re Easy To Wipe Off. White Surfaces Will Hide Water Spots But Show Everything Else – Soap Residue, Toothpaste Splatters, Dust.
Really. I Keep a Squeegee in the Shower And Take Thirty Seconds to Quickly Wipe Down Every Use. Keeps Everything Looking Sparkling.
The Most Common Mistake People Make is Over-Thinking. They Get Paralyzed With Options – Which White, Which Black, Matte or Glossy, Large Tiles or Small. Begin with What Appeals to You, Not What You Think Others Will Find Impressive.
I Picked My Subway Tiles Because I Loved Running My Hand Along the Beveled Edges, Not Because They Were Trendy. Almost Three Years Later I’m Still Happy With My Choices. When Trends Come & Go (and trust me, they will), Black & White Remains Constant.
It’s Not That It Never Goes Out Of Style; It’s Just That It Never Really Was “In Style” In The Trend Sense. It Just Works
