Bathed in Color: Favorite Yellows and Golds for the Bath
Get a golden glow for your bathroom with these expert paint picks and ideas for yellow walls
From pale, soft buttery yellows to bold, zingy citrus hues, yellow is a happy color that can bring energy and warmth into a space. It’s an especially smart color choice for those who live in cold climates or where sunshine is in short supply — you can fake it with a hot, sunny hue on the wall. But be aware that greenish yellows are not the most flattering color for most skin tones, so consider surrounding yourself in a warmer shade that veers more toward orange. Paler yellows work well as neutrals, so they can be paired with a variety of other hues. Bolder yellows look fantastic with contrasting cooler neutrals, such as grays and slate blues. Golden yellows used with warm neutrals, such as beige and tan, can create a relaxed, beachy vibe.
Below are a handful of my yellow paint color picks for bathrooms, along with nine knockout bathrooms that use yellow.
Below are a handful of my yellow paint color picks for bathrooms, along with nine knockout bathrooms that use yellow.
This is a pleasing shade of yellow — gentle enough to allow the exquisite pendant light fixture and honey-colored onyx countertop to take center stage while still adding a bit of color to the room. For those who like light-colored interiors but don't necessarily want to go all white or would like an alternative to beige, a soft yellow such as this is your color.
I find bright yellow hues the toughest to get right — it's all too easy to end up with a headache-inducing neon. So I tend to opt for more of an orange-yellow when going bold. This wall color is a good example of such a color. And I like how the wall-washing light makes it glow.
I am a huge fan of penny tiles, and these in a rich golden hue are fantastic. They are a charming alternative to the more utilitarian subway tile.
Here's an even bolder and brighter yellow. My advice when working with such a hue is to treat it like artwork — a little goes a long way, and too much can be overwhelming and hard to view and appreciate. This particular highlighter yellow tile would be too much, for me anyway, if it was used on all four walls. In smaller sections, however, it's fantastic.
I also encourage homeowners to have fun with color in rooms that aren't used often or for long periods of time. So while this room would not be particularly relaxing to take a long tub soak in, it's a great color palette for a kids' bathroom, guest bathroom or powder room.
I also encourage homeowners to have fun with color in rooms that aren't used often or for long periods of time. So while this room would not be particularly relaxing to take a long tub soak in, it's a great color palette for a kids' bathroom, guest bathroom or powder room.
I've been using lots of yellow and bluish gray in projects recently because I like how they contrast each other without appearing too busy or overdone. There's a nice crispness to the combination, especially when a little white is added to the mix.
Now this is a bathroom made for taking a long soak in. The soft butter yellow walls mixed with white and the touch of light gray in the Carrara marble flooring form a very soothing and mellow palette.
Another example of how bold colors on the wall can serve double duty as artwork. And the nice thing about painting such a vibrant color field on the walls or ceiling is how economical it is to do, and you can either change out or cover it easily in the future. Those pendants also add a fantastic burst of happy color.
Here's how to get a pleasing beach vibe in the bathroom. Muted yellows and light sandy browns make it a relaxed, easy-to-be-in space. It's a nice timeless look that would appeal to many — perfect for a guest bathroom.
Tell us: Bold or mellow — how do you like your yellow?
More:
When to Use Blue in the Bath
When to Use Green in the Bath
Tell us: Bold or mellow — how do you like your yellow?
More:
When to Use Blue in the Bath
When to Use Green in the Bath
Yellow paint picks for bathrooms (clockwise from top left):
1. Italian Straw 11-3, Pratt & Lambert Paints
2. Pineapple Delight 211-3, Pittsburgh Paints
3. Chiffon KM3498-1, Kelly-Moore Paints
4. Touch of Sunshine 082-2, Mythic Paint
5. Lively Yellow SW6702, Sherwin-Williams
6. Lemon Curd 3007-2A, Valspar
7. Lightning Bug 340, Benjamin Moore
8. Bicycle Yellow 370A-3, Behr