3 ways to bring colour into a bathroom without painting – easy and quick tricks to zhuzh up a space without faff

Colour is the quickest way to make a space feel brand new

a small white bathroom with green and cream tiled patterned flooring, with a loo, freestanding bath and radiator with towel rail
(Image credit: Future / Caroline Mardon)

Bathrooms often fall to the bottom of the renovation agenda. Whether it's that money has run out or you're lacking inspiration for this very practical space, it often ends up as a bit of a blank canvas. However, bathrooms deserve joy and colour too, so these tricks to add character to your space without needing to open a tin of paint will provide plenty of inspiration.

While paint is a powerful tool, it can be a faff to repaint a bathroom or an expense if you need to call in professionals. Luckily, there are many ways you can incorporate some of the very best bathroom colour schemes and latest bathroom trends without needing to even touch a paintbrush.

Whether you have a weekend to spare or just an evening, these three tips will inspire you to be creative with your bathroom design.

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1. Switch out a shower curtain

White bathroom with terrazzo curtain

(Image credit: Future PLC / Philip Lauterbach)

If you have a shower over a bath then you're in luck, because this is an incredibly easy way to switch up the entire look and feel of a bathroom.

Shower curtain ideas are a handy way to make a practical and essential purchase feel a little bit more exciting. You can choose a fun pattern that has hints of colours you want to incorporate into the design, as seen above, or you could choose a block colour.

The perks of colourful shower curtains are that they don't age as fast as a pure white curtain will, meaning they will last for longer.

2. Trial click-fit tiles

Bathroom with grey wall panelling and patterned floor and bath tiles

(Image credit: Future PLC/Katie Lee)

If you don't want to repaint, then it's unlikely that you want to retile either, but there are some modern adaptations that mean that new tiles or flooring aren't as far away as you might think.

'Colour does not always need to come from a paintbrush or a full re-tile. In a bathroom, the floor can be a wonderfully expressive place to begin, especially if the existing tiles are perfectly serviceable but no longer quite you,' explains Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra.

'Minerale is designed to be laid over suitable existing tiles, with click-no-stick technology that means no adhesive, no grout and no waiting around for everything to dry before the bathroom feels usable again. For a small space, that makes a huge difference,' she adds.

This clever technology means you don't have to rip up floors to get a new look, and there are also peel and stick options via Amazon, like this checkerboard style, for a more affordable alternative.

3. Add plenty of art

budget bathroom ideas, blue and white bathroom, trio of artwork on blue wall, white bath

(Image credit: Beach House Art)

Art is always a focus elsewhere in your home, but bathrooms often don't get treated with the same creative freedom. Experimenting with colour through art allows you to try different colour palettes without overspending, particularly if you choose a print.

'Hanging artwork creates a strong focal point and detracts the eye from areas which you may not be able to change, this will give your bathroom a quick update that won't break the bank. One large print in the middle of a wall will look great, but even better if you have space to hang two or three prints together, in a colour that complements the rest of the room,' explains Sarah Weare, co-founder of Beach House Art.

'Our top art prints for bathroom are watery, fluid shapes of seaweed or coral - for a more nautical feel try beachy shells, knot art prints or beach photography - choose something that makes you smile and feel happy. The bathroom is where we start and end each day,' she adds.


A kitchen can be just as difficult to update without needing to undergo a proper renovation project - these tips for adding colour to a kitchen without painting will provide an inspiring weekend DIY task.

Holly Cockburn
Content Editor

After starting out her journey at Future as a Features Editor on Top Ten Reviews, Holly is now a Content Editor at Ideal Home, writing about the very best kitchen and bathroom designs and buys. At Top Ten Reviews, she focussed on TikTok viral cleaning hacks as well as how to take care of investment purchases such as lawn mowers, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. Prior to this, Holly was apart of the editorial team at Howdens which sparked her interest in interior design, and more specifically, kitchens (Shaker is her favourite!).