Colorful Bathroom Ideas: Joyful and Fun Bathroom Designs

Decorating a bathroom with color is an exciting way to create a joyful, uplifting space. Vibrant colors and patterns can transform a bathroom into your own personal spa sanctuary. From bright, bold paint colors to colorful tile designs, there are so many options for adding color to bathrooms. Embracing color is a great way to showcase your style and personality. When designed thoughtfully, colorful bathrooms are both stylish and inviting.

Why Choose a Colorful Bathroom?

There are many great reasons to decorate your bathroom with vibrant, energetic colors:

• Sets a positive mood – Color psychologists have found that bright, warm colors like yellow, orange and red can boost energy, happiness and confidence. Tranquil blues and greens can be calming. Choose colors that elicit the emotions you want for your space.
• Makes a statement – Vibrant bathroom colors let you showcase your personal taste and style. It’s a space where you can experiment with colors you may not use elsewhere in your home.
• Feels uplifting – A colorful bathroom starts your day with a dose of energy and cheer. The right color palette can make your mornings brighter.
• Adds warmth – Warm paint and accent colors make the room feel cozy and welcoming, while cool colors create a relaxing spa-like retreat.
• Expands the space – Strategically placed bold colors can make a small bathroom feel larger and more open.
• Provides visual interest – A colorful bathroom is full of eye-catching details that add charm and whimsy. Patterns, textures and art make it more intriguing.

Choosing fun, vibrant colors for your bathroom is an easy way to create a joyful space. The colors should reflect your taste and lifestyle. A family-friendly kids’ bathroom might have bright primaries, while a master bath could feature elegant, subdued hues. The options are endless!

Popular Color Schemes for Fun Bathrooms

Here are some lively, colorful design schemes to spark inspiration for your joyful bathroom:

Vibrant Primary Colors

For high-energy impact, cover the walls in vivid primary hues like red, yellow and blue. Pair bright walls with white tile and accessories to keep it from feeling overwhelming. Primary colors feel youthful, nostalgic and spirited.

A vibrant primary color bathroom with red, yellow and blue accents. Via thespruce.com

Retro Pastels

Soft pastel pinks, mints, lilacs and peaches are the epitome of cheerful, feminine style. Paired with retro tile patterns, pastels create a dreamy, ice cream parlor aesthetic. Use pastels in creative ways like an ombre wall or handpainted sink.

A retro pastel bathroom with mint walls and peach accents. Via apartmenttherapy.com

Vintage Carnival Colors

Canary yellow, turquoise, cherry red and lime green evoke the feeling of an amusement park or carnival midway. These nostalgic shades bring out your playful side. Pair them with vintage tin signs, striped walls or checkerboard floors.

A vibrant carnival or midway inspired bathroom color scheme. Via BHG.com

Electric Neons

For the bold at heart, shocking neon hues like hot pink, acid green and electric orange make a serious color statement. Use neon colors sparingly against a neutral backdrop. Save these brights for accents like towels, shower curtains, accessories and art.

A bathroom decorated with bold neon pink and green accents. Via homedit.com

Ocean Blues

Multiple shades of tranquil blue create a relaxing underwater oasis. Try a dark navy on the lower walls with Robin’s egg blue upper walls and ceiling. Add mosaic tile trim and turquoise accessories for a coastal color palette.

A bathroom with relaxing shades of blue inspired by the ocean. Via apartmenttherapy.com

Paint Color Ideas for Lively Bathrooms

Paint is the easiest DIY way to overhaul a bathroom with vibrant color. Here are some fun paint color suggestions:

• Radiant orchid purple
• Sunny marigold yellow
• Burnt orange
• Regal peacock blue
• Coral pink
• Pistachio green
• Brick or fire engine red
• Turquoise blue
• Fuchsia

Focus bold paint colors on one wall, like behind the tub or vanity. For more vibrancy, paint the ceiling a coordinating color. Opt for semi-gloss or high-gloss sheen for moisture resistance.

Pro Decorating Tip: For a striking colorblocked wall, use painter’s tape to divide the wall into sections and paint each block a different bold shade. Remove the tape for clean color separations.

A colorblock bathroom wall with vibrant painted blocks in different colors. Via BHG.com

Fun Tile Designs for Colorful Bathrooms

From mosaics to 3D tiles, bathroom tile comes in so many colors, shapes, patterns and textures. Here are some creative ways to use tile for a playful pop of color:

Bold & Bright Solid Tile

For instant color impact, install solid-colored tile on your walls or floor. Opt for glossy tile in citrus orange, lime green or cobalt blue. Add white grout lines for definition.

Vibrant blue bathroom tile adds cheerful color. Via BHG.com

Vintage Penny Tiles

Classic white penny rounds dotted with brilliant color creates retro appeal. Use real vintage tiles, or new reproductions in vibrant hues like cherry red, sunshine yellow or robin’s egg blue.

Blue vintage penny tile adds retro color to a bathroom floor. Via apartmenttherapy.com

Bold Geometric Mosaic Tiles

Small mosaic tiles in colorful geometric shapes create visual interest on walls, floors and backsplashes. Opt for zig-zags, chevrons, arrows or other dynamic shapes.

A mosaic tile bathroom with colorful geometric shapes. Via thespruce.com

Ombre Glass Tiles

Fading ombre glass tile creates a striking accent wall. Choose tiles that gradually blend between two vivid colors like orange and yellow or purple and blue.

Ombre glass tiles in fading bright pink and green. Via homedit.com

Bold Wallpaper Accents

Use rolls of colorful or patterned wallpaper as insets framed by neutral tile. Abstract designs, floral prints and geometric patterns make a dramatic accent.

A striped wallpaper inset adds color behind this bathroom sink. Via BHG.com

Creative Color Touches for Bathrooms

A few pops of vibrant color here and there can make a big impact. Here are ideas for adding spurts of color throughout your bathroom:

• Paint or decoupage the vanity in a bright, glossy color to contrast neutral walls. Use paint pens to add freestyle designs.
• Stencil patterns like chevrons, botanical motifs or spirals onto walls in contrasting colors.
• Choose colorful fixtures like a cerulean blue toilet, flamingo pink sinks or chartreuse faucets. Metallics like gold, rose gold and copper also add warmth.
• Display vibrant artwork or photography featuring bold colors. Frame with brightly colored mats and frames.
• Add a prismatic window film or use colored glass for bathroom windows. This casts rainbow reflections around the room.
• Install pendant lighting in fun shapes like hot air balloons, birds or flowers in bright colors.
• Choose plush bath mats and towels in saturated colors like ruby red, lemon yellow or violet to tie the space together.

Have fun peppering in colorful details for a playful, eclectic look. Mix patterns and textures for lots of visual interest.

Using Color to Visually Enlarge Small Bathrooms

Vibrant color palettes don’t have to be reserved only for large bathrooms. In fact, strategic use of color in a small bathroom can make the space appear more expansive. Here are top tips:

• Paint walls in lighter, brighter colors to reflect light and create an airy feel. Soft blues, greens and violets open up the space.
• Use cool-toned colors on walls and warm accents for balance. If walls are warm, choose cool hued textiles.
• Add tile or wallpaper accents at eye level to draw the gaze up, making the ceiling feel higher.
• Use a contrasting color on the ceiling to create height. A blue ceiling with yellow walls visually pushes boundaries.
• Paint built-in cabinets, window trims and radiators the same color as walls for a streamlined, simple look.
• Limit patterns to small doses – like patterned floor tile or shower curtain. Keep other surfaces solid.

Stay strategic with bold colors in small bathrooms. Focus on lighter wall colors and small energetic splashes of saturated accents.

Choosing Color Combinations

Matching colors in pleasing, harmonious ways transforms a chaotic rainbow bathroom into a designer space. Some helpful guidelines for choosing color combos:

• Complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) provide high contrast. Red and green or blue and orange automatically feel bold and fun.
• Analogous colors (next to each other on the wheel) are easy to match. Blue, blue-violet and violet create a soothing monochromatic look.
• Triadic colors (equally spaced triangle on the wheel) offer vibrant variety. Red, yellow and blue are classics.
• Neutral basics like white, gray and black balance more exuberant shades. White tile, counters, cabinets and trim prevent sensory overload.
• Metallics add shiny warmth and contrast to any color scheme.
• Odd numbers work best – three colors feels more natural than two or four.

Trust your instincts and have fun mixing and matching captivating color combinations!

Incorporating Colorful Artwork & Accessories

Art, accessories and accents are like the jewelry of a bathroom – they add personality and visual appeal. Here are ideas for accessorizing with color:

Framed or Canvas Wall Art

Make blank walls pop by hanging vibrant artwork. Opt for uplifting images featuring bright colors like flowers, abstract shapes or colorful landscapes. Black and white graphic prints also contrast nicely with a colorful wall.

Colorful floral canvas wall art adds a joyful accent. Via ProjectNursery.com

Painted Ceramic Accessories

Handpainted ceramic pieces like trays, tumblers, soap dispensers and toothbrush holders showcase color and artistry. Display them proudly or tuck into shelves and cabinets.

Vibrant handpainted ceramic bathroom accessories. Via ProjectNursery.com

Patterned Shower Curtains

Inject color and whimsy by hanging a brightly patterned fabric shower curtain. Florals, geometrics, plaids, and abstract designs create visual energy. Use big bold prints to enhance the color theme.

A lively red and white floral shower curtain. Via BHG.com

coordinator. Vibrant bath towels, rugs, soap dispensers, tumblers and artificial flowers or greenery energize the space.

Pops of vibrant reds, blues and yellows in accessories create a colorful bathroom vignette. Via apartmenttherapy.com

Inspiring Colorful Bathrooms

Here are some stunning examples of playful, colorful bathroom designs bursting with ideas you can borrow:

Vintage Carnival Bathroom

This bathroom channels the feeling of an amusement park with a black and white harlequin floor, candy striped walls, classic pedestal sink and pops of circus red. Whimsical touches like the ticket booth wallpaper, Victoria the elephant print and roller coaster sign create nostalgia and fun.

A vintage carnival inspired colorful and playful bathroom. Via BHG.com

Bohemian Beach Bathroom

This breezy bathroom exudes coastal charm with weathered blue shiplap walls, white beadboard wainscoting, an antique clawfoot tub and distresses turquoise vanity. Pops of coral, yellow and teal show up in the mosaic floor tile, window treatments and accessories. White linens and driftwood add to the beachy vibe.

A bohemian bathroom with a blue and white color scheme and colorful accents. Via BHG.com

Modern Tropical Bathroom

Lush green jungle wallpaper, rattan shelves, a palm print shower curtain and fiddle leaf fig tree convey tropical style. The pink tile floor, gold mirror and accessories provide feminine contrast. Vintage green glass bottles add uncommon character.

A modern tropical bathroom with vibrant pink, green and gold accents. Via apartmenttherapy.com

Primary Color Kid’s Bathroom

This kids’ bathroom is designed to delight with bright primary colors. The blue clawfoot tub pops against cherry red wainscoting. Yellow and white tile floors and mosaics keep it light and cheerful. Striped shower curtains and nautical prints enhance the color scheme.

A kids’ bathroom decorated in primary colors. Via BHG.com

Bohemian Boutique Bathroom

This eclectic bathroom encompasses bohemian style with Moroccan tiles, a carved teak sink console and Persian rug. The cool gray, blue and lavender palette stays relaxed. Pops of yellow, red and green show up in accessories. Displayed objects like the parasol, hat boxes and lanterns add colorful whimsy.

A bohemian-style bathroom with muted gray-blue colors and vibrant accessory pops. Via BHG.com