A touch of color is a simple and inexpensive way to brighten up your home’s décor. Starting with smaller spaces such as your bathroom is a great place to experiment with color arrangements. But with all the palette of colors available to homeowners today, selecting colors for the bath in your home plan can often be overwhelming. Taking a look at the basics of the color wheel will give you a better idea on what options are perfect for your style.

To avoid becoming overwhelmed by all the options, the best place to start is with the color basics. “Bold” colors are those that are contrasts (opposites) on the color wheel, for example, purple and orange. “Soothing” colors are monochromatic (single color, multiple intensities). A good example of monochromatic would be removing the orange and replacing it with a shade of lavender. For other suggestions/information on understanding color, see Choosing Color and The Basics on Paints. (link to)

Now that you have a better grasp on the color wheel, it’s time to determine where and how you will place those colors. Once upon a time, accessories (rugs, towels, and curtains) were the only splashes of color found in the bathroom. Today’s fixtures are now available in colors ranging from serene pastels to energizing bolds. Elaborate faucets are available in copper and brass, moving away from the traditional polished chrome and offering a new twist to color schematics. Additionally, popular bathroom themes are “global,” infusing warm, rich hues of Indian and Mexican influences. The rubber ducky no longer rules the room! In the end, remember that the colors chosen should be based on personal preference. No matter how often a salesperson pushes Mint Green as a “relaxing hue,” if you hate it, do not invest! There are no rules, merely suggestions, when it comes to color.

Now that you have a better understanding of your color options, you can decorate your dream bath to fit your personal style. Incorporating these “bold” or “soothing” colors will drastically transform your bath into a dream spa perfect for relaxation. Many homeowners that start decorating the bathrooms in their home plans move away from these smaller spaces to larger spaces like the bedroom and living room – simply by playing with a little color. Soon you too will have the confidence and creativity to add color to other areas in your home plan!