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The Bathroom Edit

Journal / Colour

Bathroom colour schemes that work

Words by the Bathroom Edit editor · Updated on 3 October 2026 · 2 min read

Four bathroom palettes that work, each written as a spec board you can take to the tile shop. And what Australians are searching for.

Green is the colour Australians search for most in bathrooms: "green bathroom" draws about 720 Google searches a month, against about 480 for "black bathroom" (our own search data, October 2026).

Sage green

Illustration: a sage green bathroom: green vertical tiles, white basin, brushed brass tap
Illustration · not a real project

Spec board

  • WallsSage vertical tile
  • BasinWhite
  • TapwareBrushed brass
  • JoineryPale oak
  • FloorWarm white

Green with brass and oak reads warm, not clinical, and works in older houses and new ones.

Terracotta and cream

Illustration: a warm terracotta and cream bathroom with clay-coloured floor tiles and plaster walls
Illustration · not a real project

Spec board

  • FloorClay tile
  • WallsCream plaster
  • AccentTerracotta
  • TapwareAged brass
  • TextileOatmeal linen

Earthy and sunny: a natural fit with the warm finishes winning awards this year.

Soft blue

Illustration: a soft blue bathroom with powder blue gloss tiles and a white oak vanity
Illustration · not a real project

Powder blue gloss tiles with white oak: fresh, calm and good in a bathroom with little daylight.

Layered white

Illustration: an all-white bathroom: white freestanding bath, white textured tiles, a white stone vanity with a pale oak shelf, white linen towels, soft layered whites and creams, fully furnished
Illustration · not a real project

An all-white room only works with texture: textured tiles, honed stone and pale timber in several whites.

Choosing yours

Start from what you cannot change (the floor, the light, the rest of the house), pick one colour to lead, and give everything else a supporting role. Write it down as a spec board. More: interior design styles.

Common questions

What is the best colour for a small bathroom?

Light, warm colours with one colour running floor to wall make a small room feel larger. Deep colours work too if you commit to them everywhere.

What are the bathroom colours for 2026?

Warm, natural tones: greens, terracotta and layered whites, with deep Art Deco greens in some of the year's award winners.