“Going Green” is one of the most prominent and important trends in bathroom design, in some cases more literally than others. Low flow toilets and water saving shower heads are great, but the actual color green is starting to creep into a wide variety of bathroom styles, too. From soft sages and pale mint greens to vibrant emeralds, olives, and even chartreuse or lime green, all shades of green are gaining popularity in bathroom design, and make a great way to add a soft natural touch to your space – especially an eco-friendly one.
The most popular place to add green to a bathroom is, of course, on the walls. Not only does changing the walls make the most dramatic difference in your bathroom decor, but often it’s also one of the least complicated projects, especially if you’re installing a backsplash or simply adding a coat of paint. That said, many homeowners are going all out with green tile, creating entire green shower enclosures, or simply dressing up their bathrooms from head to toe in elegant green ceramic or glass tiles.
Dramatic as all that tile can be, though, even a simple green paint job can totally alter the look and feel of your space. A bright lime green paint creates a wild modern vibe, while a more neutral sage or olive creates a muted natural backdrop. Maybe my favorite thing about green paint in the bathroom is that it blends equally well with bright, light neutral tones and darker colors. For example, these sage green walls soften the formal black bathroom vanities, giving just that hint of nature to what would otherwise be a rather modern setup.
Shop Bathroom Vanities:
Similarly, green mosaic tile backsplashes or accent walls are the perfect way to offset a dark wood bathroom vanity. I particularly love the way this setup evokes the trunk and leaves of a tree, while a white or off white stone counter top and larger format wall tile give the space an overall light, bright, neutral appearance. Together, this creates a very natural, laid back spa vibe that’s fresh and springy for the tile, but still has a slightly sophisticated, formal appearance from the dark wood.
In fact, just about any green – whether it’s paint, tile, or an accent big or small – looks excellent paired with wood: wood bathroom vanities, wood shelves, or, yes, wood floors. Another hot trend in bathroom design, wood floors also help enhance that natural, earthy feel, especially combined with green features or accents. If you’re hesitant to put real wood flooring in a bathroom, wood tile flooring is an excellent alternative, as it can give you the appearance of real, weathered wood with the durability and water resistance of ceramic.
Shop Mosaic Tile:
Of course, the walls aren’t the only place you can add green to your bathroom. In fact, one fun feature that homeowners seem to be playing with a lot lately is painting the outside of a cast iron clawfoot tub. This is a relatively simple DIY project that adds a vibrant, unexpected pop of color to your bathroom. Even if you don’t add any other green features or fixtures, a tub finished in green makes a bold statement and can add some great vivacity to your bathroom all by itself. Plus, if the color goes out of vogue, clawfoot tubs can be resurfaced and re-painted, unlike the colored enameled tubs of the 60s and 70s.
If you aren’t 100% confident that you’re going to like the look of a green bathroom, or if you aren’t quite sure about the tone or shade, consider starting off small. Bright green accessories like a shower curtain, towels, bath mats, accent furniture, or even fresh greenery can add that vivacious pop of color, but can be changed out a whole lot more easily if you decide you’d rather opt for an olive than an emerald or a sage instead of a mint. This is also a great way to make a relatively neutral bathroom look more on trend and up to date without a major remodel.
Shop Ceramic and Porcelain Tile:
More than maybe any other single color, green is available in a huge variety of shades, each of which look good and have their own individual flair. Whether you want something stunningly vibrant, soft and muted, rich and dark, or paler than pastel – a look that’s retro, modern, or traditional, there’s a green out there that will create the feel you like, adding color without branching too far outside a traditionally neutral decor. But what do you think of green bathrooms? Do you like the more literal side of the trend toward “green” bathroom design?
