When revamping a bathroom, it’s always a good idea to keep the colours neutral. Not only do neutral colours withstand trends, they’re pleasing to the eye and can make a room look and feel bigger in size and help brighten up the space. This is important in rooms that are typically smaller and have less natural light.

The easiest way to transform a space is to invest in a new coat of paint. Not only is it a quick refresh (painting your bathroom can be done over a weekend), it’s rather inexpensive. If you’re looking for a way to use your bathroom paint project to follow the latest trends, here are some of the latest colour palettes that are having a moment.

Neutral bathroom colours continue to be a favourite

It’s no surprise that a neutral palette is still a popular choice when choosing a bathroom paint colour. We look at some of the most popular options and the latest trends in bathroom paint colours.

Some weeks ago marketers in paint colours and design from around the world sat down in Bilbao, Spain, to workshop what colours would be in demand for design over the next 12 months. The bathroom colour winners by many brushstrokes are the neutrals – off-white, beige, stone and mid browns.

“The trend in bathrooms now is for simplicity, and Dulux colours within the neutral range sit very nicely with that,” explains paint manufacturer Andrea Lucena-Orr. “Given the surge in popularity of using timber in bathrooms, neutral paint tones work beautifully.”

Timber is very important going forward, reveals Andrea. “The neutrals that work very well with timber are colours like Antique White USA, Vivid White and Hog Bristle,” she says. “This last colour is really lovely and it has a brown undertone which is a very popular bathroom colour at the moment. Ecru is also a fantastic colour.”

She reveals that one of the more popular Dulux colour tones is a brown tone called Self-Destruct. “It has a slight hint of brown in it but it’s a very stony brown,” Andrea says. “It sits with the mid tones.”

Want to find a painter in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?

Bathroom colour choices follow women’s fashion choices

“Interestingly, the trends in bathroom paint colours and design follow the lead of women’s fashions, and what happens in Europe has a huge impact on what occurs here. “Many of the top fashion houses are now into homewares, so that has a big influence on paint colour trends,” says Andrea.

Although paint colours often take their lead from Europe, Andrea says the

Australian light has an overwhelming influence on whether a colour is popular here. “Yellow, for example, which works very well in Europe, seems to fade to nothing here,” she says. “Lemons are also very difficult to use in our very bright light.”

Colour forecasts for the forthcoming year pay close attention to trends in architecture, fabrics, carpets and tiles. And while neutrals remain popular paint colours this season, this doesn’t necessarily translate to all areas of the bathroom. “What we are finding is that with timber being so popular, customers are prepared to do some funky things with bathroom colour, like using red or rusty orange tiles,” says Andrea.

Top bathroom colours in Australia

The most popular bathroom interiors continue to have a minimal aesthetic with bathroom paint colours and accents taking on natural or neutral tones. While white has been a longstanding choice, the latest trends are leaning towards trying out more exciting colour palettes that still feel natural and calming, while not being as predictable as white-on-white.

Emerging trends are leaning towards a more elegant and romantic look and feel, with stark white walls being supplanted by muted, chalky or earthier tones by painters and designers across Australia. Greens and pinks are becoming the “new neutral” while bringing a sense of lushness to the space. Fixtures are also moving away from hard lines with more tactile finishes, like brushed bronze, growing in popularity.

There’s greater experimentation with mixed mediums, such as wood, cement, stone and metal, as well, with more colourful stones seeing a resurgence in bathroom designs.

Beyond blush pinks and soft greens, emerging colour palettes for the season include sage, anthracite, charcoal, taupe, grey and black. While still largely neutral in appeal, a more modern choice of a matte finish in the final paint application will elevate any stylish bathroom update.