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Contemporary African Design: Colour & Pattern Insights | Eva Sonaike Blog

How to add colour & pattern to your bathroom

How to add colour & pattern to your bathroom

Our motto at Eva Sonaike is ‘Bringing Colour to Life’ which reflects our passion for colourful interiors. Many people apply this motto to their homes, however, when it comes to the bathroom it goes all overboard. Following my recent collaboration with C.P. Hart, I am reminded again that the bathroom holds the most flexibility when it comes to taking a chance with colour, whether you like your hues bold and vibrant or subdued and soft. 

To understand this better, let’s look at the dynamic purpose of bathrooms. From re-energising and ‘making-up’, as we start our day to relaxing and winding down before we go to sleep, the bathroom plays an integral part of our daily cycle; and provides an intimate space where we can give back to ourselves, so its design should be given all your attention. 

Here are my top tips to add colour and personality to your bathroom to take your relaxation to new levels. 

COLOUR & PATTERN

White schemes are often the ‘go-to’ choice when thinking of bathroom design as it is easy to maintain and is associated with cleanliness and calm. However, when translated wrongly, an all-white bathroom can feel clinical and cold; not great for a space that should act as your sanctuary. 

So give your bathroom a striking appearance with your favourite colour scheme with the help of painted walls, colourful tiles or sanitary ware which can transform a neutral space into a personalised oasis. Colours have a major impact on the bathroom, so choose carefully before committing to any hue. 

Warmer colours, such as yellows, pinks and terracotta create a relaxing brightness and therefore have a positive effect on our mind and mood. 

Whereas cooler colours can give a feel of refreshment and rejuvenation to a bathroom and can be enhanced by adding a strong bold additional colour.

Be careful with bold oranges and bright reds in the bathroom as they can be overstimulating as there is no connection to relaxation and calm. 

Olive greens and muddy browns are also to be considered carefully. Dark colours generally make bathrooms feel smaller and can decrease your mood. Olive green and muddy browns are also associated with mould and mildew, so not the best fit for a bathroom setting.

When choosing paint, make sure to get a bathroom finish, such as satin, semi-gloss, or glossy finish with a mildew-resistant additive. And don't forget to clean and prime walls before painting for the best results.

Tiles are a great way to introduce as much or as little colour as you want - you can enhance a whole bathroom or just a border or feature wall to make a statement. 

I am obsessed with coloured tiles, especially green glazed tiles, as you can see in many Moroccan-style bathrooms. If you like budget allows, choose good quality ones, such as the Luminous tiles in Lume green, by Minoli, which I choose due to their tonal variation and oxidised area. 

You can also look for patterned tiles, that are great for creating a story in your bathroom.

Although it may not be an obvious choice, adding wallpaper to your bathroom design can act as a beautiful and distinct feature. There are moisture-resistant bathroom wallpapers available that can complement your taste and personality. We used our purple Odi wallpaper in a vinyl finish, which is great for bathrooms.

When choosing wallpaper, make sure to look at the overall design and proportions of your space before committing to any final designs. We offer samples of all our wallpapers and fabrics so that our clients can see the designs before making their final choices.

When it comes to placement, the key is to pick the right wall, one with a strong focal point; it is usually the one that’s directly across from the bathroom door or the wall with the vanity unit and mirrors unless you want to go for wallpaper across the whole room.

If you prefer to keep the colour scheme simple, but still want a touch of colour, why not opt for a colourful bathtub or sanitary ware, which can have a great impact on the design of your bathroom. 

ACCESSORIES

When it comes to accessorising in the bathroom, we want not only a bold and elegant feel we also want an aura of freshness and nature that gives us that ultimate feeling of relaxation. 

I choose the green and orange pouffe and colourful bathrobes which add a striking yet relaxing feel to the bathroom. The raffia mirrors from Maison du Monde along with the woven laundry baskets from Akojo Market give a laid back, yet luxury African look. 

Accessories like towels and bathmats are often overlooked with people opting for white or beige as a standard. Mistake! Consider these as part of your bathroom design as they can help to add a pop of colour. And don’t forget, the quality and weight of the bathmats and towels are just as important as their design. 

PLANTS

There is nothing more relaxing than being in the surroundings of nature. Plants are a great way to incorporate nature into our bathrooms whilst adding a touch of colour. 

Lucky bamboos bring a sense of freshness to your sanctuary and colourful orchids, which thrive in the humidity, are a great way to add bold colour, texture and life to help create a refreshing environment. Plants also help to purify the air and relieve stress. 

And if you want to go all overboard as I did in my C.P. Hart bathroom set, look into installing a living ceiling for a wow effect! It is such a talking point and takes the design to a new level.

No worries, the plants don’t need to be watered, as they consist of a mixture of artificial plants and preserved plants, which last for ages and are easy to maintain. 

FLOORING

If you want to add a sense of luxury to your bathroom then invest in some great flooring. My personal favourite is marble floors. Marble adds texture and colour and always adds a super elegant touch to any room. Wood style porcelain flooring is also a great way to achieve a sleek Scandinavian look.

It is also important to remember that the flooring should not be overly designed and crate calming ground for the other elements of your bathroom to communicate. In my designer collaboration with C.P. Hart, I choose elegant grey Terrazzo-style tiles for the floor to ground the whole scheme.

LIGHTING

Lighting is crucial when it comes to bathroom design. It is an essential component that enhances the beauty of the space and allows you to look at yourself in different settings. Therefore, it is important to choose a mixture of mood lightings, such as wall lights and overhead lighting.

 

When choosing lights, carefully consider their placement, as it can make the room look more appealing by illuminating certain parts.

We installed dimmable pendants over the bath for the ultimate luxury bathing experience and added diffuses at the base for a nicer view from the bath.

I hope this gives you a better idea of how to introduce colour and pattern to your bathroom, so you can be transported into a world of relaxation and rejuvenation through its natural yet exquisitely modern décor. 

If you need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us here at Eva Sonaike for your personal bathroom design consultation and we'll help you creating your dream bathroom.

 

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