Blue and gray bathroom ideas – 11 cool and calming schemes
It’s not hard to see why blue and gray bathroom decor is so common. The combination of blue and gray is ideal for a bathroom since it is relaxed, peaceful, and reminiscent of watery landscapes.
Both blue and gray offer a wide range of tones, from pale pastels to rich indigos, so there’s a lot of room to experiment with different color ideas and design aesthetics when decorating a bathroom.
Whatever your preference—a gray bathroom with blue accents, a blue bathroom with gray hints, or a perfectly balanced scheme—we have compiled a wide variety of blue and gray bathroom ideas and professional advice to help you create your ideal space.
BLUE AND GRAY BATHROOM IDEAS
Like blue and white bathroom ideas, blue and gray bathrooms are classics for producing calming environments. Although gray bathrooms and white bathroom ideas can appear chic with the right finishing touches, a splash of blue is a great way to give these otherwise monochromatic designs a little more.
Since bathrooms may be costly to remodel once they have been first designed and built, it seems to sense that homeowners would prefer to decorate them in timeless neutrals like gray and white. The risk of monotony in these minimal color schemes can be mitigated by adding cool watery blues, giving the room a sense of identity without sacrificing its calming effect.
Selecting tones of blue and gray that complement the mood you want to create is the key to using these colors successfully in a bathroom. There is much room for experimentation because paint, tiles, and furniture come in shades of blue and gray, from very light to quite dark.
Small and beach-themed bathrooms benefit greatly from using light blues and grays in combination with white. On the other hand, if you’re looking to make a statement in your bathroom, consider using deeper shades of gray or deeper blues and greens, such as turquoise, teal, indigo, navy, or even deep steel gray.
1. PAIR BLUE AND GRAY WITH METALLICS FOR A LUXURY LOOK
Gray-blue De Nimes from Farrow & Ball and deep bluey charcoal made for the ideal sophisticated color scheme for this luxury bathroom by Finkernagel Ross, which also featured a Bute bath and furnishings by Drummonds.
“We wanted to create a peaceful, spa-like setting,” explains Catherine Finkernagel, director and architect at Finkernagel Ross. “This color particularly resonated with our clients and worked nicely with the rest of the palette we were putting together for the room.”
The designers installed custom cabinets with brass and reeded details to warm up the space and add glitz. The materials and finishes in this project are very harmonious. Creative director of Drummonds James Lentaigne explains that the room’s gray-blue color palette is warmed up by the juxtaposition of a wealthy timber floor and shiny brass fittings. “Our Bute bath in a painted finish is the focal point of the room, and the custom vanities on either side create a balanced appearance.”
2. CREATE A QUIRKY LOOK WITH GRAY WALLPAPER AND BLUE PANELING
Even though this color scheme by K&H Design features blue and gray, the colors typically inspire images of contemporary bathrooms.
The assignment was for an old-fashioned bathroom for visitors. Katie Glaister, an owner of K&H Design, says, “We adored the Marthe Armitage Windmill wallpaper, so we color matched the blue in the wallpaper for the tongue-and-groove paneling and fireplace mantel in Farrow & Ball’s De Nimes.”
Use caution while decorating your bathroom with wallpaper since the constant moisture might damage the vivid patterns. Here, the ornamental design is tempered by painted bathroom paneling that serves as both a functional and easily cleaned surface and an aesthetic anchor.
3. CREATE A FOCAL POINT WITH A NAVY VANITY UNIT
While a white and gray bathroom is a classic option, and the combination never fails to make a small bathroom seem larger, it cannot be easy to find the right balance between the two colors. Try painting a vanity in a striking color like deep navy to add depth and personality to these rooms.
Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene, advises, “When choosing a color for your bathroom vanity unit, consider the atmosphere you want to create. A smart gray like “Urbane Gray” will deliver an elegant finish against white ceramics and chrome taps, while the inky blue, Basalt pairs beautifully with “Gauze” and “Gauze Dark” for a contrasting scheme.”
To complement pure color, “fresh golden yellow” like “Giallo” or “Canton,” a deep teal blue tone, are two excellent options.
4. BRING PATTERN AND TEXTURE WITH WALL TILES
Tiles on the walls of a bathroom are a great way to add personality to the wall. The terrazzo tiles in this space get a pop of color from the accent wall done in herringbone navy tiles, adding the pattern to the otherwise monochromatic blue and gray concept.
Although some associate blue with coldness, this color may also be soothing, mysterious, and even luxurious. According to Barrie Cutchie, BC Designs’ head of design, blue is a particularly interesting color because its hue shifts based on the time of day and the lighting conditions.
Brushed metallics in copper, which is rich and works so well against the gray and blue color scheme, add a further warming touch.
5. TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE SEA
Gray areas are blue, blues, and grays that can be used as a starting point for a bathroom’s design. Field tiles in Blue Galena and New Lagoon from Ann Sacks’ MADE line at West One Bathrooms are coupled with hexagonal gray bathroom floor tiles in this scheme developed by Max Humphrey to put a contemporary spin on coastal decor.
According to interior designer Max Humphrey, “because this property is right on the beach, the idea for rotating the wall tiles in color and from horizontal to vertical was inspired by the concept of shallow end/deep end or low tide/high tide,” where the vivid hues depict the sea. “The idea of a swimming pool changing room inspired us to tile the entire area, floor to ceiling.”
6. ADD AN UNEXPECTED POP OF BLUE
While neutral bathroom ideas are practical and timeless, it’s essential to consider the details during the planning phase to ensure that the space has depth and intrigue. Here, K&H Design opted for splotchy marble tiles as a textural accent and a door painted a deep blue as a witty pop of color.
“We repainted all the doors, which were dark brown, with Juniper Ash by Little Greene to provide warmth to this modern apartment,” explains Amelia Brooks, marketing and design, K&H Design.
7. CREATE A FEATURE OF A SHOWER WITH BLUE TILES
If you want to add some color to your bathroom but are nervous about doing so, perhaps the shower is the best place to start. This monochromatic bathroom exudes refined simplicity because of its all-white bathroom, marble vanity top, and sleek gray vanity idea; the blue shower tiles add a cheery pop of color.
8. PLAY WITH LIGHT AND SHADE
Bathrooms, being temporary and little areas, might be ideal for experimenting with deep hues and contrasting tones. An elegant and sophisticated atmosphere can be achieved by painting the walls a deep gray, providing a neutral backdrop against which to experiment with various accent colors. A pastel pink tub might also work well in this space, but I think the pastel blue is more visually appealing.
9. HANG A STATEMENT WALLPAPER
You can’t go wrong with extravagant, colorful wallpaper in a bathroom if you want to make a statement. Beautiful bathroom wallpapers are an excellent way to bring color and design to the room, and they shine in spacious bathrooms where they don’t have to compete with other fixtures for attention.
The Wilhelmina wallpaper by Morris & Co. infuses the home with a classic design thanks to its varying shades of soft blue, and the bathroom’s neutral gray hue provides a lovely counterpoint.
10. PAIR GRAY MARBLE WITH BLUE JOINERY
Often, bathrooms become cold, boring boxes, but Otta’s designers have employed color, shape, texture, and pattern to create a one-of-a-kind, visually engaging place.
The curving bespoke joinery stands out against the gray veined marble surfaces painted a muted blue.
11. ADD A STATEMENT ROLL TOP
A roll top is a need for people seeking a spa-like atmosphere in the bathroom, and since many manufacturers let you paint the exterior to match your decor, it may also serve as a striking focal point. The contrast between the greenish gray of the walls and the dark gray of the floor tiles in the bathroom makes the turquoise pattern pop.
DO BLUE AND GRAY GO TOGETHER IN A BATHROOM?
The coolness and serenity of blue and gray make it a common choice for bathrooms. To bring the soothing and restorative effects of nature within, a bathroom painted in shades of blue and gray is a great choice.
As a neutral color that won’t go out of style anytime soon, gray is a smart choice for permanent bathrooms in a bathroom, such as a tile and fixtures. While it’s true that bathrooms decorated in shades of gray and white can often come off as boring, the addition of blue, another cold color, can liven up the area while still keeping it soothing.
The color blue is timeless and adaptable. Dominic Myland, director of Mylands Paints, says that blues work well on their own or can come to life when combined with other shades within the palette for a harmonious interior; off-white, greens, and grays are classic combinations, but contrasting pinks and reds are increasing in popularity for a layered look.
Varied hues of blue and gray will have different temperatures and moods, so it’s crucial to think about each tone carefully to make sure they complement each other when designing.
“Light blue may be quite peaceful, while more saturated blues can be energizing,” says Dominic Myland. “Desaturated blues are a terrific choice for a quieter backdrop for other colors within a space,” he continues.
However, according to Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown, “powerful tones like teal, gray, and mustard are dynamic and energetic and bring vitality to a room, to make it pop.”
ARE GRAY BATHROOMS OUT OF STYLE?
To create a bathroom that can stand the test of time, it’s a good idea to use a neutral color like gray. Gray is a neutral, cold color that can evoke a wide range of emotions, from calm and stylish to sultry and dramatic, depending on how it is shaded.
Though it is common to see a bathroom decorated in all-white or all-black, gray may be used well with virtually any color. Because of this, gray is an excellent choice as a neutral bathroom foundation color to overlay more vibrant hues like teal and turquoise.
