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.
Grey metro tiles are massively on-trend at the moment. The gloss finish will help to enhance the feeling of light and space in your bathroom
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.
Grey can help to bring a more natural, organic feel to a modern bathroom
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.
Would this be classified as a “cat-ertop basin”? The marble effect grey walls and worktop are just “purr-fect”. By Victoria Plum customer @lvhome_ on Instagram
Grey furniture
Grey is the new white as people are seeking a contrast from the white of their ceramic furniture by introducing grey furniture into their bathroom. Our Dulwich grey bathroom furniture range offers attractive traditional furniture in a contemporary grey colour, which will really help to set the scene in your bathroom.
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.
1 bathroom. 2 great grey bathroom ideas. Why not add wall panels and paint them grey, or switch around? It works brilliantly well in traditional style bathrooms
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.
Even a downstairs cloakroom can look great in grey
Walls and floors? Get them covered…
Grey tiles are a great way to add colour to your decor, without having to replace or redesign the whole bathroom. These can either be for the walls or the floor or maybe even both (depending on your budget). And the great thing is, you’ll find a wide variety of designs, patterns, textures and materials to complement the overall look and feel of your bathroom.
If you’re going for a premium, designer bathroom, with the very latest in contemporary features, why not opt for large format stone effect grey tiles? Producing a high quality, hotel-style appearance, add in some on-trend black accents for a subtle industrial vibe.
The industrial theme works really well with stone-effect grey tiles
If you’re seeking slightly bolder grey bathroom ideas, why not take your monochrome to the max with hexagonal tiles? Using contrasting greys and whites, you can create truly vibrant interiors that are just as unique as you are.
Be bold with your bathroom and turn up the monochrome to maximum
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.
Wall panels will help bring a splash of grey to your bathroom
Shady work
Using a range of different shades of grey adds a real touch of style and luxury. Why not try combining grey and white walls with feature flooring and black elements, like the countertop, mirror frame, radiator and toilet seat in this gorgeous bathroom below?
Think about your walls, door and floor when choosing different shades of grey
You can easily pick out different shades using patchwork wall tiles and contrasting floor tiles, whilst painting the rest of your walls in another tone entirely.
Add some wood effect trim and accessories for a warm and welcoming element
Add those 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.
Get those finer details just right with a coordinated bathroom accessory set
And, if you were wondering what colour towels go with a grey bathroom, the answer is almost any…that’s why grey is so versatile! Aside from the obvious neutrals and grey itself, why not consider some lighter pastel colours like pink, spearmint green or cobalt blue (pictured below)?
Add accent colour with your choice of towels
Your grey bathroom ideas
Of course, the best grey bathroom ideas come from you, our creative customers! We’ve picked out just a handful of inspirational images you’ve shared with us on Instagram. We hope you’ll be inspired too.
@renovating_cartrefle
Because grey doesn’t overpower, it allows for more complicated patterns and textures. These tiles, by Victoria Plum customer @renovating_cartrefle sit in a simplified, somewhat stripped-back setting, making for a bathroom that feels well-curated and designed with careful consideration.
@laffsgaff
Green and grey is a combination that is very visually soothing, with plants helping to uplift the grey background. By using multiple shades of grey, Victoria Plum customer @laffsgaff has added real depth to the bathroom.
@ourfirsthomec.b
Be bold with charcoal greys, just like Victoria Plum customer @ourfirsthomec.b. This creates a superb luxury look, especially with light grout. By mixing light and dark shades, you can help elements stand out, like a dark wall behind a bright white bath.
@lowen_134
Grey is a tone taken straight out of nature. If you like natural, rustic, textured materials, grey is the perfect choice. We love how Victoria Plum customer @lowen_134 has achieved this look using stone-effect tiles.
What colours go with grey in a bathroom?
As previously mentioned, 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.
Pink and grey can work wonderfully well for bathrooms when used in combination
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.
Share your grey bathroom ideas
Most of the grey bathroom ideas we've showcased come from individual styles, so we'd love to hear how you would incorporate grey into your bathroom. Tag us on Instagram or X (our handle is @VictoriaPlumUK) using the hashtag #GreyBathroomIdeas
