1. Consider your lighting.

Think about the lighting in your room and how it will affect your choices and mood. For example, if there is plenty of light coming into the room you may be able to use a bold scheme or if you have less light coming in you could keep the scheme brighter or create a cosy feel with dark colours. For my bathroom, I decided to paint the walls in Farrow & Ball Green Smoke to complement the green in the floor and shower tiles, but kept the other colours light with off-white tiling elsewhere and white sanitaryware.

2. Get inspired.

Once you have an idea of the colours you might like to use, you can start creating a moodboard to inspire your design. I used Pinterest and Instagram for design ideas, saving potential ideas to a board on Pinterest. Once you start to do this you may see a theme emerging, such as particular colours you are drawn to, or pattern combinations you like. I found a green and pink encaustic tile that I wanted to use in my design, and used this as a starting point for my colour scheme, adding different elements in these colours with offwhite to ground the design.

3. Colour scheme ideas.

You can keep your design simple by using one colour throughout your scheme paired with neutrals such as white or wood tones. For a bolder look, consider using a contrasting colour, for example, a deep blue with mustard, or pink with black. Consider adding painted panelling or half tiled walls. You could also add a patterned wallpaper or bright wall colour and use that as a starting point for your colour scheme while keeping your tiles or fixtures more plain.

4. Shop for samples.

When choosing bathroom tiles and fittings, its very important to request samples so you can visualise your final design and ensure all the elements work well together. Several manufacturers may produce a design which looks similar on a computer screen but the colours can be very different in real life! Finishes can also make a huge difference to the overall effect, when selecting our tiles we found flat matt tiles with clean edges had a very different look to the irregular handmade glazes and finishes that are available.

5. Add colour in an unexpected way.

You can now find a wide range of products for bathrooms in custom colours. For example, you can find concrete sinks in pretty pastel shades such as pink, or add a pop of colour by grouting in a contrasting shade. Taps and even shower frames can be produced in unusual colours, or if you want to play it safer you can add colour to your walls or textiles for a look that will be easy to update if you change your mind. . If you’re on a budget or renting, adding soft furnishings such as bath mats, shower curtains or window blinds can make a huge difference to the overall look of the room as well.

6. Brassware.

For brassware, you can create a unified look by matching finishes. I chose brushed brass for our bathroom and had the shower enclosure parts powder coated in gold which also had the benefit of being much quicker and cheaper than buying a custom gold shower enclosure. Mixing two finishes can also give a great effect, such as matt black with gold or silver.

Looking for more bright & colourful inspiration? Why not follow Atia on Instagram @thebrightblooms or tag your colourful Roper Rhodes bathroom via @roperrhodes?