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Design Dilemma Bathrooms Paint

Is navy blue vanity too dark

last year

last modified: last year

looking for opinions. Im doing a quick paint refresh to a 25 year old 9x5 north facing bathroom. the 12” tile floor is a light blue w white and the counter top is a very pale blue formica. all fixtures are white, metal color is brass, and wood trim is a warm honey. id love to paint the oak vanity BM symphony blue or SW dress blues and keep the brass knobs. for the walls im thinking either BM Super White or ATrium white or SW extra white or highly reflective white.

ive considered a white for the vanity but im afraid itll be too much white not enough contrast.

Ive attached a current photo, walls now are BM linen white and behind the door is a Palladian blue accent wall. the rug on the floor is a deep navy blue

TIA for your help!

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Comments (5)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
First get some proper lighting in there evne a track light LED 4000K then decide what you want for the vanity I think all the wood is all the contrast you need . Is this a master bath or just ahallway bath? I hate rugs in bathrooms the only one you need is the one you step on when you get out of the tub or shower and then get it off the floor. A tile floor needs no prtection and IMO easier to quickly was the floor than wash the rugs . IMO the blue formica counter will alswys be a dated look so maybe change that to an all white one and then paint the cabinet a dark blue .
Robin thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
ci_lantro
last year
You will likely need some additional lighting with a dark vanity. Downside is that navy/ dark colors will show lint & dust so more frequent cleaning. With a navy vanity, you will probably want to change the rug but that is small potatoes. A white & navy trellis design rug would look nice.
Robin thanked ci_lantro
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If you’re keeping that rug, I don’t love navy for the walls. I don’t like it with the sage/orange colors. Also don’t like the black chairs against the navy wall. I do love your windows, however, so pretty! I would add add some additional lighting if possible. If you can’t get some hardwired sconces, then plug-in sconces with a clean covered cord still look fine. Or lamps on a sideboard or small table. The room is going to look very dark if you paint the walls dark and only have 4 bulbs overhead in a single chandelier. Even if you don’t paint the room dark, having some more levels of lighting will be nice and make the room feel cozier. I don’t know what the other walls in the room look like in terms of where to place a fixture, but your photos look like they could use more lighting to me.
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kandrewspa
last year
For me the cool floor color is already fighting with the warm trim color. Some wood trim is tacky builder-grade mid-century, but yours looks high quality. The door is very nice. So I don't think I would double down with the cool color and install a navy vanity. How does the Palladian Blue look with the floors and trim? If that works for you then go in that direction with the vanity color. Unless the one you have is damaged you could just paint it if you do so in the manner recommended for painting cabinets (not as simple as painting it with wall paint). I don't think you should paint your woodwork, but as long as it is the way it is you are fighting it trying to use cool colors.
Robin thanked kandrewspa
Robin
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
This is the master bath and is eventually destined for a full redo. For now, it is just a quick paint refresh of the walls and vanity. no new pieces. 😊 Palladian looks too green w the floor and fine w the wood.

I pointed out the navy rug just a color reference in the light. definitely need brighter lighting. thanks for the suggestion to get it in now! and yes, the wood work is well done and has patinaed to beautiful warm glow. i would never paint it.
mbfisher3
last year
I agree with the commenters above - the cool floor is already fighting against the warm trim and vanity. I would consider painting the trim a cool white. You mention the bathroom is north facing. Definitely needs more and better light. I love navy blue. I have a large, solid navy blue rug. Unfortunately it's like black - it shows every single bit of dust and lint and fiber imaginable. That might not be a big deal as a paint color on a vanity. I would paint a large piece of wood the color you're thinking about then leave it in your bathroom for a couple of weeks. I think painting the vanity white would be lovely, and then you can add contrast, pattern and color with towels, rugs and the shower curtain. But I'm boring like that! It's a nice sized bathroom and it looks like everything is in good condition. Great starting place.

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