Black and white bathrooms exude sophistication and class. They can be either sleek and modern or elegant and romantic, depending on the selection of materials used. You would think using a simple palette would be limiting…but this is not so! There are so many styles and moods that can be created with a black and white color palette in a bathroom that you can rest assured, you will still will be able to be as creative as you want….this is really test your design flair!

Check out the 2 images below. Same colour palette yet two totally different looks and moods. Can you feel the beauty of both these spaces below? What makes them so dreamy? Well, as a designer myself – I know it is the successful conglomeration of strong design intent (vision), detailed planning, and a edited selection of quality fixtures, fittings and finishes. Lets not forget to mention the design principles that have been put into play in such a beautiful, simplistic way…and yes of course…it most definitely helps when there is a beautiful framework to work within -the architecture of the space.

Why Choose a Black and White Bathroom?

This colour palette is a timeless one – and timeless usually means a good investment choice. Just like the famous ‘little black dress’ you may have in your wardrobe….or the ‘black suit’! You can create a beautiful look with almost any budget. However, if you really want to pull this look off and knock everyone’s socks off with a big bang of beauty. You will need to make sure your material/fixtures/fittings selection and the overall schematics of your design is on point!

So to get a higher end look, you may need to invest in higher end finishes. Sometimes you just can not fake it!

Styles that you can create with a black and white color palette

• Chick
• Modern
• Contemporary
• Traditional
• Transitional
• Vintage Glamour
• Minimalistic
• Scandinavian
• Contemporary

Moods you can create with a black and white colour palette

• Romantic
• Elegant
• Sophisticated
• Glamorous
• Moody
• Artsy
• Dramatic
• Bold

How to Create a Black and White Bathroom?

Designing a black-and-white bathroom can seem simple enough, however it may be more challenging to execute than you realise. How much black or white should you use? What’s the ideal ratio between white and black? Do you want a predominantly white bathroom with minor accents of black, or vice versa; perhaps you’d prefer an even distribution of both colors. No matter what style attracts your eye, viewing multiple sources for inspiration first, can ensure success in designing a beautiful balance between these two classic hues!

Step 1. Design Intent: Decide on your ideal style and direction for your black and white bathroom.

Start by doing some research online. Type in ‘black and white bathrooms’ or ‘black’ and ‘white’ tiles into the Pinterest or Houzz search engine. Take your time and start collecting as many images you love. Print them out and begin to analyze each image. What resonates with you about each image? Why? Is it the mood? It is the tile selection? Is is the décor? The lighting? The accessories? The simplicity? What image (space) would naturally suit your existing house or the house you are building. You don’t want to fit a square peg into a round hole – so we have to be somewhat realistic unfortunately! Be sure to write down your thoughts about each image on the image 🙂

Step 2. Decide on the mood for your black and white bathroom.

Designing an environment that evokes emotion is the ultimate aim of most designers. Designers want people to feel something in the spaces they create. Humans are emotional beings and so we connect with each other through our emotions, interact with our emotions, deeply engage with our environment through our emotions and make decisions with our emotions. Articulating what mood you want to execute first, will dictate the direction of color balance, material/fixtures/finishes selections and lighting. Super, super important. In fact, the images you have already chosen were more than likely chosen because you were drawn to the feeling of the space rather than the look of it. They can and often do work interchangeably with each other.

Here are some inspo photos below to get your creativity moving in the right direction.

Adding a hint of colour to your black and white bathroom may be a smart design choice!

For a more dynamic black and white bathroom look. Why not think about bringing in a some additional colour through the use of artwork, general bathroom fixtures/fittings or décor. Artwork will beautifully personalise your space, metal bathroom fixtures (shower/basin mixer) such as gold, copper, accents like silver or gold to add a sparkle to the room or touches of warm or dark wood tones. Taking careful consideration for every selection you make for your bathroom, will ensure you can create a black and white bathroom that is both stylish and timeless.

No matter what your personal preferences are, there’s something special about black and white bathrooms, whether it’s sleek modernity, romantic elegance, or a touch of extra glamour, this color combination can help you create an atmosphere that works for any space. With the right pieces, your black and white bathroom will be the envy of all who see it.

The perfect black and white bathroom starts with you. Take your time to consider the different materials, colors, and accents that will make your bathroom look timelessly chic. With a little bit of effort, you can have a beautiful black and white bathroom that is not only sure to impress but sure to stand the test of time.

Step 3. Select your black/white tiles first.

A big tip, is to always select the elements that take up the largest surface area within your room. These will clearly be your floor and wall finishes. Aka- your tile selection. For a simple, contemporary look – try keeping your tile selection to a maximum of 2, making sure you are choosing tiles with the same tonal value. For a more dynamic look, use up to 4 different tiles…the key to using more tiles successfully within a space would be to play around with scale, pattern and shape and ensuring their is the right balance and proportion or each.

Step 4. Select your vanity colour/material finish.

Your vanity is the largest fixture in your bathroom, so it should be the next layer of material to think about. Do you want the vanity to be a feature in your bathroom space i.e. the main focal point? If so, choose a contrasting material or colour from your tiles. Or do you want your vanity to blend in because you want your expensive tap fixtures to hold the limelight in this space. These decisions will of course be based around your initial vision. Bear in mind, your vision for your bathroom may evolve during the process as you start to source your tiles, tapware etc and that is totally fine!

Step 5. Select your bathroom fixtures and fittings.

Bathroom fixtures and fittings include your shower mixer, basin mixers, toilet, toilet roll holder, towel rails, drawer hardware and lighting. These finishes will be predominately metal (of course drawer hardware/lighting can include timber, leather, glass, resin too etc. ) When selecting metal finishes to add to your black and white bathroom colour palette, it is important to consider the style of the bathroom first. For example, if the space has a modern or contemporary feel, using sleek minimalistic pieces with a matte/brushed metal finish will help choreograph this look. Metals such as gold, brass, copper or bronze will instantly add touches of contrasting warmth and beauty to your bathroom and using metals such as nickel or chrome will subtly fall nicely into place too. Consider your tapware/hardware/lighting fixtures has your jewelry in your bathroom space. Do you want to make it pop?

It is important to note, when pairing metals together be mindful not to overwhelm the room by having too much going on at once especially if you have selected more than 2 tile choices. The more different materials you choose to add into your bathroom, the more dynamic the space will feel. However, there is a very fine line of creating a space that is intentionally dynamic to unplanned visual chaos.

Step 6. Select your bathroom décor.

Whatever design direction you choose for your bathroom space, there will be an array of bathroom décor that will fit perfectly within your space. What do we mean bathroom décor? Is there really such a thing? Of course!

Consider the following bathroom accessories/necessities not only as a means of functionality but décor opportunities for you too 🙂

• Shampoo and conditioner bottle
• Hand Soap Dispensers
• Towel
• Stools
• Plants
• Candles
• Wall art
• water proof rugs
• Open shelving
• Mirrors

Conclusion

Overall, a black and white bathroom is a great choice for anyone looking to add an atmosphere of sophistication & luxury, or a modern edge to their home. The key for a successful black and white bathroom aesthetic is having a strong vision from the get go and making sure each element has been intentionally chosen and thoughtfully considered.

Good luck!