The One Color Designers Always Avoid in Guest Bathrooms
Designing a guest bathroom can be surprisingly tricky. These spaces need to feel both welcoming and practical for a variety of visitors, which often leads homeowners to play it safe with ‘timeless’ neutral shades. While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, it’s important to ensure the room doesn’t feel bland or lack personality.
I spoke with leading interior designers to get their tips for creating guest bathrooms that feel stylish, inviting, and full of character. One bathroom color consistently came up as a no-go: pure, cool white.
While white remains a classic and widely popular choice, it can also feel stark and uninspiring – risking a guest bathroom that comes across as cold and flat rather than the warm, inviting sanctuary it should be.
Why Should You Avoid White in a Guest Bathroom?
When I asked interior designers if there was a color they steer clear of when designing guest bathrooms, there was a unanimous answer: white. ‘It feels sterile and, frankly, a little uninspired,’ says Kristina Khersonsky of STUDIO KEETA. ‘It doesn’t bring anything to the space and often ends up feeling more like a hospital room than a considered part of the home.’
Designer Kristina Lawrence also tends to avoid white in bathrooms. ‘Not only can it be too harsh while looking in a mirror, in smaller guest baths, pure, hard white can emphasize shadows, making the room feel tighter and less inviting,’ she says.
White paints can be tricky to get right in small rooms, which often receive less natural light. Instead of creating a light and airy look, they can feel dull and flat. ‘Avoid stark white paint in a guest bathroom when possible,’ agrees designer Hannah Blumenthal of Studio Olivine. ‘It’s never the most flattering shade, especially in rooms with little to no natural light like guest bathrooms and powder rooms.’
‘Guest bathrooms can be a fun place to bring in color, especially since they are not used every day,’ says Hannah. ‘In a recently completed project in Washington, DC, we originally chose a creamy off white for a guest bathroom. Although it looked serene, the bathroom felt lackluster. We changed the paint color to Mizzle from Farrow & Ball, and suddenly the shower tile, wood vanity, and marble countertop took on a new life.’
What Colors Should You Use Instead of White?
Many designers favor colors richer than white in guest bathrooms, but what shades exactly? Below, we’ve rounded up three hues that designers regularly turn to, instead of white, to make this often forgotten-about room feel cozy and inviting.
1. Earthy Neutrals
Instead of bright whites, which can appear stark, go for an earthy neutral that offers more depth and softness.
(Image credit: Emily Followill. Design: R. Higgins Interiors)
‘You don’t have to go super bold if you want to avoid using white in a guest bathroom,’ says Kristina Khersonsky. ‘Instead, I recommend an off-white with an undertone, think warm sand, soft greige, or even a putty tone. These colors are still neutral and calming but offer depth and warmth, which is especially important in a space meant to welcome guests.’
Kristina Lawrence also recommends earthy neutrals instead of white. ‘A guest bath wrapped in a warm oat mineral wall color, paired with honed soapstone counters and a minimalistic sconce, instantly feels elevated yet calming,’ she says. ‘These gentler hues maintain the clean lines of minimalism while introducing enough warmth to help guests feel enveloped, relaxed, and genuinely welcomed.’
If you’re wondering what the best earthy neutral paint colors are for guest bathrooms, there are plenty of options, from light tones to something much richer and cocooning. ‘Consider creating a soothing retreat with deep, indulgent tones such as Little Greene’s Chocolate Colour, or with gentle, natural stone hues or soft, warm grays such as their Rolling Fog Dark, which will wrap the room in comforting warmth,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene.
When decorating with soft neutrals in your guest bathroom, consider channeling the color-drenching trend – where the one shade is used everywhere to include the ceiling and woodwork, which will help the space feel cohesive and cozy.
McGee & Co.
Pennie Shower Curtain
A shower curtain is not only functional, but it also adds a tactile element to bathrooms, and this one with a gingham print feels trend-led and stylish.
McGee & Co.
Stinson Marble Bud Vase
Displaying cut stems is a wonderful way to create a welcoming feel in guest bathrooms, and this marble bud vase is small enough for limited countertop space.
CULTIVER
Pure Linen Bath Towel – Natural
Natural materials like linen can help elevate your guests’ stay, and this natural colorway feels timeless.
2. Soft Pinks
If you want to add a bit more color to your guest bathroom, turn to soft plaster pinks, which are known to be flattering, even under artificial light.
(Image credit: STUDIO KEETA, photography Austin Leis)
Similar to earthy tones, a soft pink is another designer favorite for guest bathrooms, adding a bit more interest than neutrals while maintaining that same calming feel.
Another reason they make a good choice for bathrooms is that warm tones are more flattering on the skin than cool tones, such as green. ‘Avoid using hues with green undertones in bathrooms – they can cast an unflattering tone and make your reflection appear dull or even sickly,’ says Brynn Olson. ‘Instead, choose warmer shades with subtle pink, red, or orange undertones. These colors enhance natural pigments, creating a flattering, healthy glow every time you look in the mirror.’
The interior color consultant Charlotte Cropper also recommends decorating with pink in guest bathrooms. ‘Pinks are brilliant in guest bathrooms because they’re flattering on the skin and incredibly versatile: pink-based neutrals, earthy rose and plaster tones, or red-based taupes like Lick’s Taupe 03 or Weekender by COAT Paints,’ she suggests
This diffuser will not only keep your guest bathroom smelling fresh, but it is made from ceramic, which adds an earthy feel and a hint of that soft pink hue designers recommend.
Anthropologie
Misona Stonewashed Cotton Bath Mat
The easiest way to bring a dose of color into a guest bathroom in a second is with a new, fresh bathmat. This one comes in plenty of colorways, but the pink tone is perfect for adding warmth.
Pottery Barn
Roya Resin Bathroom Accessories
Adding a tray to your guest bathroom creates the perfect spot to display some guest bathroom essentials, like some nice skincare, perfumes and cotton pads.
3. Soothing Pastels
A soft buttery shade of yellow is an effective choice for guest bathrooms, adding subtle color and coziness.
(Image credit: Jeffrey Johnson. Design: Abrams Valenti and En Masse Architecture and Design)
Another way to add more color to your guest bathroom is to embrace pastel room ideas – from soothing blues to butter yellows. ‘I lean toward colors with broad appeal, like pale yellow or sage over white,’ says interior designer Rona Edelman. ‘Both hues evoke warmth, calm, and light without overwhelming the eye. They create a gentle, inviting backdrop that helps guests feel comfortable and relaxed, and they also pair beautifully with most tiles, finishes, and bathroom fixtures.’
Helen Shaw, color expert at Benjamin Moore, also points toward soothing pastels for guest bathrooms, adding that they are an effective counter to all of the harsh lines and hard surfaces.
‘Bathrooms are full of hard surfaces, from tiles and mirrors to fixtures,’ she says. ‘Offset this by picking a hue that allows the walls to bring a sense of softness to the space rather than opting for a strong shade with cold undertones. Soft pastels such as pale blues, greens, and lavenders will create a sanctuary-like feel, perfect for guests to feel relaxed at the end of the day.’
House No. 23
Harper Organic Cotton Hand Towel
Add a touch of soft blue to your guest bathroom with these organic cotton patterned hand towels.
Anthropologie
Striped Ceramic Soap Dispenser
A stylish soap dispenser is a finishing touch that can help take your guest bathroom from purely functional to design-led.
Addison Ross
Sage Lacquer Rechargeable Bobbin Led Lamp
Adding a cordless lamp to your guest bathroom is a must. It creates the ambient lighting that bathrooms so often lack and in this soft sage colorway it will add a dose of pastel too.
As with any design rule, not using white in a guest bathroom comes with a caveat: if it works in your space with your style, then great. However, much like powder rooms, guest bathrooms can be the ideal space to be more experimental with color since they aren’t used full-time, so why play it safe with white? You want these spaces to feel soft and warm and inviting, and often white can do the opposite.
Whether it’s a plaster pink or a sandy beige, each of these colors adds softness and stops the space from feeling sterile. Don’t forget to layer decor too – textiles and contrasting materials are key to adding flair to these functional rooms.
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