Choosing the right color for your bathroom cabinets can be a difficult decision. The color you choose will set the tone for your whole bathroom design and can dramatically impact the overall look and feel of the space. When selecting a bathroom cabinet color, there are several factors to consider including the size of your bathroom, the style you want to achieve, what colors are currently in the space, and what type of look you want the cabinets to provide. Taking the time to think through these elements will help you land on a shade that complements your bathroom beautifully.
Consider the Size of Your Bathroom
One of the first things to think about is the physical size of your bathroom. Is it small and compact or spacious and airy? The dimensions of the room should guide your cabinet color selection. Darker colors like black, charcoal, or deep brown have a tendency to make spaces feel smaller and more closed in. If you have a tiny bathroom, sticking with lighter colors like white, light grey, cream, or pale blue will help create the illusion of a larger space.
For medium sized bathrooms or those with good natural light, mid-tone wood stains, green hues, or neutral shades can work well to add color without overwhelming a smaller footprint. If blessed with a large, airy bathroom you can likely pull off deeper more saturated colors without making the room feel too constrained. Just keep in mind, darker colors draw in space while lighter ones expand it. Pick a shade that enhances rather than fights against the existing size of your bathroom.
Consider the Style You Want to Achieve
Another key consideration is identifying the overall style or aesthetic you want for your bathroom. Is your preference leaning modern and sleek or traditional and ornate? Do you envision a bright, airy spa-like retreat or a cozy cottage-style space? Defining a style will make your color selection process more focused.
For a modern polished look, colors like bright white, gray, or black pair well with contemporary hardware and fixtures. To create a vintage or traditional feel, classic paint colors like sage green, navy, or cherry wood stain complement design elements like beadboard paneling and ornamental molding.
You’ll also want to think about the mood you hope to create in your bathroom. Cool tones like blue-grays cultivate a relaxing tranquil vibe, while warmer shades of tan, red, or yellow provide an uplifting, energizing mood. Once you land on an ideal style, you can narrow down your cabinet color options accordingly.
Consider the Existing Colors in Your Bathroom
When deciding on a cabinet color, it’s important to take into account the colors that are already present in your bathroom. Look at the wall color, flooring, countertops, and hardware fixtures. You’ll want to choose a cabinet color that complements the existing palette rather than clashing with it.
Try holding up paint swatches to the wall to see what works together. Tones in the same color family or analogous colors on the color wheel are generally pleasing combinations (for example, blue walls with green cabinets). Monochromatic looks where the cabinetry matches the wall color are also safe yet stylish options.
Remember that natural light can alter how colors look in a space. Be sure to test your colors at different times of day. The safest route is to pick a shade that coordinates with your existing bathroom colors under all lighting conditions.
Consider Whether You Want Cabinets to Blend In or Stand Out
The level of contrast you want your cabinets to have against other elements in the bathroom is another important consideration. Do you hope for your cabinetry to seamlessly blend into the backdrop of the space or to make a bold decorative statement and stand out?
For a cohesive blended look, match cabinet colors to the wall, flooring, or countertops. Off-whites, beiges, and soft greys are hues that subtly coordinate with most color palettes. However, if you want your cabinets to pop, go for a striking dark color like navy or charcoal to contrast light walls and floors.
Vibrant paint colors like emerald green, brick red, or cobalt blue also make cabinets a focal point when paired with neutral backdrops. Think about your goals for the space before deciding how seamlessly or boldly you want the cabinets to fit into the existing bathroom palette.
Consider Lighting
Don’t forget about lighting when making your cabinet color selection. The type and amount of lighting in your bathroom impacts how colors are perceived. Bold ceiling fixtures, pendant lights, or wall sconces cast different color temperatures that can warm up or cool down shades.
Natural daylight through windows also interacting differently with paint colors than warm incandescent bulbs at night. Look at your cabinet paint cards under all lighting scenarios to avoid choosing a color that skews too yellow, blue or bright. Soft neutral or earth-toned shades hold up best under various light sources.
Popular Bathroom Cabinet Color Options
Not sure where to begin in your color selection process? Here is an overview of some of the most popular and timeless bathroom cabinet color options:
White
A white bathroom cabinet provides a clean, bright, and classic look. White paint has a light reflective quality that can help open up darker spaces. To prevent white cabinets from feeling sterile, inject warmth with wood accents and black metal hardware. Crisp white provides a great backdrop to layer in pops of color with towels, decor, and accessories.
Gray
For a sophisticated neutral palette, you can’t go wrong with gray cabinets. Shades of gray add stylish dimension but still feel soothing and subtle. Charcoal gray makes a dramatic statement. Softer heathered grays work with any style from modern to traditional. Pair grey cabinets with textures like marble countertops and woven baskets.
Navy
From powder rooms to full master suites, navy is a go-to color for classic bathrooms. Navy has a grounding, anchoring effect that contrasts beautifully against white marble, quartz, or porcelain surfaces. The soft glow from brass hardware and lighting keep navy cabinets from feeling too dark and cavelike.
Green
Green cabinetry brings the fresh feel of nature indoors. Sage, mint, and forest green shades complement vintage and cottage bathroom styles. Deeper emerald colors add drama for a bold spa aesthetic. Green provides a lively accent against tile floors and tan countertops.
Black
For contemporary edge, black bathroom cabinets make a sleek style statement. Matte black painted cabinets look sharp paired with wood or concrete countertops. Glossy black lacquered cabinets add serious drama and reflect other metallic finishes like nickel or chrome.
Wood Stain
Warm wooden cabinets infuse a bathroom with texture and earthy elegance. Rich walnut and mahogany stains feel inviting and timeless. Lighter natural, pecan, and birch stains keep the look airy but casual. Distressed paint techniques that reveal wood grain patterns through paint are also on trend.
Use Symmetry for a Unified Look
Once you settle on a paint color, consider how symmetry and uniformity can produce a clean, refined look. Stick to the same color and finish across upper and lower cabinets. Matching your vanity color to medicine cabinets and shelving maintains consistency. Repeating color, hardware, and texture builds cohesion so the design reads as polished and purposeful.
Add Contrast with Island Cabinets
While keeping cabinetry uniform has merit, don’t be afraid to add a splash of contrast. Floating island vanities are a great place to inject an unexpected color that pops against surrounding cabinetry. For example, a navy blue island base provides bold contrast against light grey perimeter cabinets. Just keep the finishes cohesive by using the same hardware and style of doors/drawers.
Conclusion
Selecting a color for your bathroom cabinets requires careful thought but is worth the time and consideration. Keep in mind the size and layout of your space, the overall style you want to achieve, how the color fits in with existing elements, the type of lighting, and whether you want the cabinets to blend in or stand out. Looking at the big picture will help you find the right shade to give your bathroom a beautiful polished look you’ll enjoy for years to come. Don’t be afraid to experiment with paint swatches and follow your instincts to pick a color that brings you joy!
