14 Incredible Bathrooms That Play With Colour + Texture

Gloss House by Studio Doherty. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Home of photographer Eve Wilson, designed by Studio Bright. The built-in tiled bath sits beneath a skylight. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Home of photographer Eve Wilson, designed by Studio Bright. The bathroom tiles reflect paint colours throughout the home. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Home of Bonnie Ashley and Neil Downie. Vanity designed and made by Neil Downie. Marble from Peraway Marble. Vintage wall sconces and mirror. Photo – Martina Gemmola. Editorial styling – Bea Lambos.

Home of Pip Brett, designed by Studio Esteta. Travertine floor tiles in Tuscany French Pattern from Amber Tiles. Cabinetry and mirror from Zylem. Marble bench top by Euro Marble. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. Artwork by Studio Of The Sun via Jumbled. Glo-Ball wall lights from Euroluce. Plain 50 Tile in J13 from Artedomous. Flute Wall Light by Anchor. Marble bench top by Euro Marble. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. Doors from Designer Doorware. Photo – Louise Wellington. Editorial styling – Jono Fleming

Tonal

Tonal interiors feature a hero colour or group that is repeated throughout the space, sometimes in graduating shades to create a balanced and calming design — making it the perfect trend to use in a bathroom.

One of our favourite bathrooms (possibly of all time) that does this well is located in photographer Eve Wilson’s palette-perfect family home by Studio Bright. Floor-to-ceiling tiles drench the space in a luxurious deep green hue, reflecting the same tones used elsewhere in the interiors.

This pretty pink-themed bathroom in Bonnie Ashley and Neil Downie’s Melbourne house uses textured tiles to create a cohesive backdrop, layered with lighter, pastel pink joinery, and a multi-coloured mosaic floor. It feels immersed in colour, but the subtle variation makes it feel less overwhelming.

The home of Natasia Ting, designed by Tecture architects. Treviso-1083 Terrazzo from Signorino. Vanity drawers in Laminex Green Slate. Brushed gold handles from ABI Interiors. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

The home of Natasia Ting, designed by Tecture architects. EM8021 Terrazzo from Signorino. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

The home of architect Emily Sandstrom. Hanging Linen Robe in Sand and in Blush by Carlotta + Gee. Photo – Rohan Venn

The home of architect Emily Sandstrom. The relaxing bathroom was inspired by Japanese design. Photo – Rohan Venn

Il Duomo by Wowowa. Photo – Martina Gemmola. Styling – Ruth Welsby.

Il Duomo by Wowowa. The mint green bathroom is paired with playful terrazzo floors. Photo – Martina Gemmola. Styling – Ruth Welsby.

Texture

A big part of the way a bathroom feels is down to picking the right materials and textures. The shape and finish of your tiles plays a role too, for example, the bathroom in this renovated mid-century Beaumaris home combines smooth, large grey square tiles with rows of smaller red kit-kat tiles in the shower to create an eye-catching rippling effect.

Taking inspiration from Japanese bath houses, architect Emily Sandstrom mixed and matched timber with tiny blue and grey tiles in her South Marrickville home. The simple bathroom has a very ceremonious feel, and the timber decking seamlessly conceals the drainage points for a spa-like aesthetic!

Or with just one slab of terrazzo, you can introduce a mix of texture and colour into your space — see the ‘punchy’ terrazzo floor in Il Duomo by Wowowa for inspiration.

City Beach Residence by Design Theory. Bisazza glass mosaic 20 x 20 tiles. Photo – Jack Lovel. Styling – Gabrielle Scott

Monmar Beach House by Edwina Glen. Ottoline Double-Check Yellow Wallpaper from Elliot Clarke. Natural Rattan Wall Light by Lighting Collective. Honed Cararra marble stone from Fumi. Astra Walker Icon Basin Mixer in aged brass from Mary Noall. Catalano Zero undercounter basin 60 from Rogerseller.

The former home of Chloe Brookman, designed by architect Sofia Husni. The kid’s bathroom is covered in checkerboard tiles. Vintage milking stool. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files. Styling – Tess Thyregod

The former home of Chloe Brookman, designed by architect Sofia Husni. Basin by The Water Monopoly. Vintage brass Italian wall lights. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files. Styling – Tess Thyregod

Pattern

Checkerboard floors or tiles have been a classic bathroom feature for decades, and we love how the grand (former) Sydney home of Olli Ella founder Chloe Brookman puts a contemporary spin on the trend, using pink and white tiles in a children’s bathroom.

The bathtub of this Perth mid-century house by Design Theory features a mosaic of tiny glass tiles, with random placements of red, grey, navy and salmon pink — against a soothing backdrop of lime green — for a more authentic retro look.

Instead of tiles, you can also use wallpaper to make a big splash, like this sunny yellow bathroom inside a Portsea holiday house redesigned by Edwina Glenn. And the elegance of the Carrara marble vanity is the perfect addition to help balance the bold design of the walls.

Home of Bonnie Ashley and Neil Downie. Vanity designed and made by Neil Downie. Marble from Peraway Marble. Vintage wall sconces and mirror. Photo – Martina Gemmola. Editorial styling – Bea Lambos

The home of interior designer Alison Lewis. Artedomus Tiberio stone. Cabinetry painted Dulux Paperbark. Omvivo Latis Rectangular Basin. Artedomus Rosaio terrazzo tiles. Kyoto wall tiles from Academy Tiles. RBW Crisp Sconce. Tekla towels. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli + Sarah Hendriks

The home of Liana Shaw, designed by Tom Mark Henry. Photo – Damian Bennett

Tamarama by Flack Studio. Kazuhide Takama vintage wall sconce from Pamono. Brown terracotta tiles and Opus Rosso stone by Artedomus. Wall tiles by Viúva Lamego. Custom Flack Studio cupboard. Photo — Anson Smart. Editorial styling – Joseph Gardner

Contrast

If you’re looking to turn your bathroom into a showstopper, contrasting colours always make a big splash. Flack Studio show how it’s done in the bathroom of this spectacular Tamarama project, where glossy orange coral tiles provide a dominant backdrop, paired with terracotta brown colour blocking on the floors and joinery.

It works especially well when the rest of the rooms are more muted. In designer Alison Lewis’ own family home, the bathroom features green-tiled walls alongside a beautiful Tiberio marble splashback with rich burgundy veins and blush tones — cleverly playing with tones from opposite ends of the colour wheel.