Shower trays have been given the retro treatment — these paint colour-matched shower trays are changing the game when it comes to 70s style bathroom schemes

Trends always come back around eventually, and in recent years, we've seen the 70s colourful bathroom suites once again grow in popularity.

Colourful baths were the first contemporary foray into this bathroom trend that we saw, with homeowners opting to make their bath a statement feature in their wash space. However, the trend is ramping up a notch with colourful shower trays that can be matched to any colour (yes, any) you desire.

While avocado bathroom suites might still be greeted with a shudder, there are now so many ways to make colourful bathroomware, and showers in particular, look stylish — and these brands are leading the way.

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When you're shopping for the essentials in a bathroom renovation, the basics — shower trays, shower screens, basins — can often feel uninspiring. Colour is in abundance when it comes to tiles and paint, but why isn't it easier to incorporate colour into the core bathroom design elements too?

Well, Matki and Tissino heard our cries, and are now creating custom colourful shower trays using any Pantone shade.

What really caught my eye about these new releases isn't that they're just colourful, but that you can match them to your preferred paint shade, creating a contemporary fully colour-drenched scheme.

'Colour drenching has been one of interiors' most enduring trends, and it was only a matter of time before it reached the shower floor. We're seeing enormous appetite for colours that feel grounded and liveable rather than bold for boldness's sake,' explains Nicholas Cunild, managing director at Matki.

The trend for colour drenching isn't going anywhere. In fact, we're getting bolder with our bathroom choices than ever before. What was once considered as a room for neutral bathroom colour schemes is now becoming a place for experimentation with colour, pattern and texture.

Richard Eaton, design manager at Tissino, adds, 'The shower tray is a good example of how bathroom colour is changing. For years, it was treated as a purely practical surface, often specified in white by default. By opening it up to bespoke colour, it becomes part of the design language of the room. It can recede, it can connect, or it can create a stronger contrast depending on the scheme.'

You can have these shower trays matched to any tile sample, paint colour or Pantone shade that you desire, so the options for an entirely bespoke look are there in abundance. What strikes me is the opportunity to indulge in one of the most 'it' paint shades, such as those from Farrow & Ball, to create a bathroom design that is based off one popular colour.

'Farrow & Ball's Setting Plaster brings a warm, mineral softness that pairs beautifully with brushed brass brassware and natural stone. Whirly Bird — a sage green with real depth — works wonderfully against slate-effect tiles and matte black fittings. Yellow Ground is for the more adventurous: paired with warm timber accents and white metro tiles, it brings genuine joy to the space,' Nicholas recommends.

If you're still feeling a little perturbed by the thought of full 70s coloured suites being back in, there is a trick to styling them for 2026. Drenching the walls to match a shower tray, rather than having only sanitaryware coordinating, will bring a contemporary touch to the look.

Similarly, keeping the rest of the scheme pared-back will subdue the impact of the shower tray.

'The key to styling a coloured tray well is restraint elsewhere. Let the floor lead, keep the surround calm, and the result is a bathroom that feels intentional from every angle — not just the walls up,' says Nicholas.

So which colour should you go for? For a softer look, opt for tonal, neutral shades that offer variation and interest without overwhelming the space. Alternatively, you can really make an impact with deep berry reds and retro-inspired oranges.

'This is where softer forms of colour are particularly valuable. A warm neutral tray can sit beautifully with stone-effect tiles, a deep green vanity can be balanced with brushed brass, while a muted blue, clay or brown-toned surface can give definition to the showering area without making the room feel busy,' Richard adds.

Shop colourful bathroom accessories

Not yet ready to commit to the shower tray trend? No worries — these colourful bathroom accessories will inspire a more joyful scheme with less commitment.

When trends come back around, it's an evolution of the look rather than a direct replica. Don't be put off by reminiscing on those avocado bathroom suites — this new take on the colour trend has so much potential.