Grey Bathrooms: The Ultimate Guide

Grey... it’s the on-trend colour of the moment, especially when it comes to bathrooms. In this inspirational article, you’ll find plenty of great grey bathroom ideas, from the tiniest of cloakrooms to the grandest of spa-inspired spaces.

For a colour that is often associated with negative things (think rain clouds, bad moods and unappealing food for starters), grey is an incredibly popular choice for home interiors. While it may seem an uninspired selection, grey (when done well) can add a real uplift to your bathroom décor, bringing a bright yet modern feel to contemporary spaces and a classic look and feel to traditional settings. Before we bring you the first of our grey bathroom ideas for 2024 and beyond, it is worth considering what makes this colour so beloved in the first place.

Why are grey bathrooms so popular?

In fashion, grey is solid, dependable and ever present…indeed, Christian Dior believed it to be a fundamental colour which came above all other neutral shades. And, if recent trends are anything to go by, Pantone (the global experts in colour) named “Ultimate Grey” as one of their recent colours of the year.

As a neutral shade, grey is incredibly versatile, spanning the gap between light and dark perfectly. Neutrals, by their very nature, are a safe option when it comes to decorating your bathroom and grey complements a whole range of them, from beige to ivory.

However, it’s not just alongside neutrals where grey can play a big part. Pastels and blush colours are incredibly popular contemporary choices, and these can really pop with a grey background. Take pink and grey for example, as an on-trend bathroom colour combination that works exceptionally well.

For those who like the more organic look and feel, grey is the colour for you. If you think about the natural world around you, it’s a tone taken straight from Mother Nature’s own colour palette.

How do you style a grey bathroom?

There are many different tones of grey to use, all of which coordinate brilliantly with other brighter-coloured accessories, like a lime green towel or even a baby pink bath mat! Grey also adds a calming feel to any space, which, if you think about it, is exactly what you need in what should be the most relaxing room in your home.

Thankfully the days of avocado bathroom suites are behind us, meaning it's highly likely your bathroom will feature white ceramics. This makes it ideally suited for the addition of a few grey elements, without overpowering the room. So here are a few grey bathroom ideas for you to try.

Grey tiles

Grey metro tiles are one of the most stylish options as they really bring a touch of character to a room. The advantage with these is that you can cover an entire wall; cover just half a wall and paint the other half, or maybe even just use them to highlight a specific section of the room such as an alcoves or shower enclosures. They always look fantastic regardless of how you arrange them so definitely keep these in mind.

Whilst wall tiles offer that classic bathroom look, shower wall panels are a great alternative, especially in contemporary bathrooms and ensuites. When fitting, wall panels are quicker and more cost-effective, plus, with no grout lines, cleaning and maintaining your walls is easy. What’s more, you’ll find a huge variety of grey shades and patterns to choose from, providing the perfect backdrop to any beautiful grey bathroom.

Grey furniture and fittings

With the walls covered (no pun intended!) your attention should then be focused on what fixtures and furniture you want to go for. Your choice of suite depends on whether you want an ultra-modern look or a slightly more traditional approach. If you do decide to go traditional, why not go for a classic claw foot bath as you can always paint the body of it to match the rest of the room!

To keep things coordinated, there’s plenty of grey bathroom furniture out there, from storage cupboards to wall hung vanity units so you’re well catered for in this area. Pay attention to the rest of the room here, as a sleek, modern vanity won’t look right with a traditional suite, and a unit with raised panel detailing won’t really suit a minimalist setting. You want each aspect of the room to flow together naturally and create a harmonised overall effect.

Painted walls

Painting the walls a dark slate grey will help to make any other colours really stand out, creating a luxurious feel to the room. Matching dark walls with white furniture and a pop of colour through towels and other grey bathroom accessories works really well.

When it comes to sprucing up a small bathroom, ensuite or cloakroom, grey may seem like a slightly counter-intuitive choice, especially when you’re looking to accentuate the feeling of light and space. However, as the beautiful modern cloakroom pictured below will testify, grey will help keep things, clean, simple and fresh.

Finishing touches

Whether you’re simply sprucing up a cloakroom or adding the finishing touches to a spanking new space, accessories are key to creating a coordinated and cohesive bathroom. And, when it comes to grey bathroom accessories, there are plenty to choose from.

From lighter shades to darker hues, you’ll find plenty of inspiration when it comes to adding those all-important toothbrush holders and soap dispensers.

You can get anthracite coloured designer radiators in both modern and traditional designs which will add some more eye candy to the room and keep things warm during the winter, while the placement of tasteful accessories will also bring things to life. Bathroom sets, bathroom towels and laundry baskets are all available in grey and are simple grey bathroom ideas that will help to complete the look, while a selection of matching canvases or framed paintings will also work wonders.

What colours go with grey in a bathroom?

Grey goes well with a whole variety of different colours. Starting with neutrals like beige, taupe, cream, ivory, sand or bone, grey can also be used to great effect in monochrome bathrooms, alongside black and white.

Green is a bathroom colour which has seen a resurgence in recent times, not least due to the trend for houseplants and organic interiors. Green and grey is a combination that is visually soothing—ideal for bathrooms!

Pastels, like baby blues and blush pinks, also work really well with grey, lifting these on-trend shades and making different elements pop.

Finally, when it comes to inspiring grey bathroom ideas, why not pair grey with…well…grey? By combining multiple shades of grey (think deep, inky hues and crisp, lighter tones), you can add depth to your bathroom, creating different visual points of interest.

Are grey bathrooms out of style?

This is a question we often hear asked. The answer is “far from it!”. Grey bathrooms are highly contemporary in style and, when used in a traditional setting, offer a timeless, vintage appeal. So, for the foreseeable future, grey bathrooms really are here to stay.