How do you add color to a grey and white bathroom?

Since grey and white are neutral colors, it’s easy to integrate any other color you like. The easiest way is to buy colorful towels and rugs. This also leaves you the option of switching them out for another hue when you tire of the first. For a more permanent splash of color, paint or wallpaper an accent wall.

How do I soften a grey bathroom?

It’s true: an all-grey bathroom can look a little cold and harsh all by itself. A great way to warm up a grey bathroom design is to introduce wood tones. Whether that means replacing a grey vanity with a wooden one, or putting down wood-style flooring, wood makes an ordinary grey bathroom feel more welcoming.

13 Grey Bathroom Design Ideas for a Sophisticated Look

Grey has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. Once considered a boring, drab color for home decor, grey is now seen as a new neutral. It’s on bathroom tile, flooring, the wall—everywhere!

Grey bathroom decor can be elevated into an elegant, sophisticated space, or tweaked into a quirky little hideaway. Whatever your preference, we have 57 amazing grey bathroom ideas to inspire your next bathroom makeover.

1. Explore Concrete Features in Grey Bathroom Design

The natural grey tones in concrete make it an ideal material to incorporate into your bathroom design. Concrete floors are durable and provide the same water impermeability as floor tile. Concrete can be etched or stained for a unique finish and also used for grey walls and vanity countertops.

Modern grey shower with green vines hanging. Candles line the shelf, creating a soothing ambiance — Source: @inspospira via Instagram

Modern bathroom with dark tiles, concrete tiles, white sink, wall-mounted toilet, bathtub, and LED mirror — Source: @seemaandmiasfirsthome via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a large wooden vanity, sleek white basin, glass shower enclosure, and gray tile walls and floor

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, wall-mounted toilet, glass shower, and dual sinks. Open door reveals a bedroom with patterned walls

Modern bathroom with a rectangular bathtub, grey tiles, wall-mounted sink and toilet, large mirror, pendant light, and potted plant

Minimalist bathroom with gray tiles, a sink, and a mirror; open door reveals a room with a wooden floor and gray sofa

Because of its weight, it’s best to save concrete for single-story homes that are built on a concrete slab, or in steel-structured apartments. Standard floor joists aren’t strong enough to support its weight.

2. Upgrade to a Contemporary Grey Bathroom

It would be hard to find a more perfect contemporary bathroom color than grey. Each shade of grey works well in contemporary and transitional decor, enabling the room’s architectural details to stand out.

Modern bathroom with grey tiles, round mirror, wall-mounted sink, toilet, towel warmer, and plants by a window with blinds — Source: @amandaryanhome via Instagram

Modern grey bathroom with a tiled shower-bath, sink, and toilet. A large mirror and window add brightness, with towels and a plant for decor — Source: @bellwaycutler10 via Instagram

Modern grey bathroom with a rectangular tub, hexagonal tile accent wall, and overhead shower featuring a frosted window and green plant visible — Source: @our.1930s.semi via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, a white toilet, a dark wall-mounted towel rail, and a small plant near frosted windows — Source: @til3duk via Instagram

For an elegant updated grey bathroom, replace silver fixtures with black ones. You will enjoy the visual contrast between black fixtures, white tile, and grey walls and paint.

3. Embrace Dark Grey for a Bold Bathroom Look

On the darker end of the grey tones scale, we find graphite, gunmetal, and charcoal grey color options. These almost-black tile and paint color options are ideal if you enjoy the moodiness of black but don’t want a shade quite as dark.

Modern bathroom with freestanding tub,grey painted wall, plants, wall art, and large windows. Light enters through a skylight, with cozy decor — Source: @inspospira via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a white toilet, compact sink, backlit mirror, and potted plant; wooden flooring and dark wall tiles — Source: @ourfirsthome_38 via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a glass shower, gray stone tiles, white sink, and toilet; small window with plants on the sill — Source: @rousebathrooms via Instagram

Modern gray bathroom featuring a stone basin, large mirror, and dark fixtures with a minimalist design and textured wall

Modern bathroom with stone tiles, glass shower, round mirror, and under-counter lighting

Dark grey bathroom ideas are perfect in modern or rustic homes where a masculine vibe is desired. White-veined black or dark grey marble tile is a beautiful way to merge charcoal walls with a white shower, vanity, sink, and toilet. Chrome or brushed nickel fittings are a classic pairing with this bathroom idea.

4. Learn to Differentiate Fixtures and Fittings in Grey Bathrooms

When building or remodeling a home, it can be easy to confuse bathroom terminology. Bathroom fixtures are the permanent bathroom features, including the shower, tub, toilet, and sink. Bathroom fittings can be moved more easily and include mirrors, wall cabinets, toilet seats, and accessories.

Modern bathroom with a white sink on a gray cabinet, striped towel on a ring, and white tiles on the wall, round mirror above the sink — Source: @athomewiththelloyds via Instagram

A cat sits on the floor in a modern bathroom with a clawfoot tub, potted plants, a wicker drawer unit, and gray tiled walls — Source: @bricksandshutters_at_number1 via Instagram

Minimalist bathroom with white and gray tones featuring a vanity, toilet with Chanel towel, tub, orchid plant, and lit candle — Source: @livingmybesthome via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a grey vanity, white sink, silver faucet, potted plant, towel rack, and patterned floor tiles — Source: @myhomeatno9 via Instagram

Fixtures and fittings are available in many color choices, most of which coordinate well with grey bathroom ideas. To save money, apply grey paint to the bathroom vanity, wall cabinet, mirror frames, or any other fittings that can be painted.

5. Discover Luxury Grey Tile Options for Master Baths

Grey is a fantastic foundation color if a luxurious master bathroom renovation is in your near future. Carrara marble, granite, basalt, and slate are excellent natural stone grey tile options when the budget is generous. Look for unique tile shapes and materials, such as light grey fish scale tile, or liquified glass dark grey tile in an arabesque shape.

Luxurious bathroom with a freestanding tub, large mirror, modern sink, and elegant marble accents featuring warm, soft lighting to enhance the space — Source: @zephyr_constructions via Instagram

Luxurious bathroom with grey walls, marble flooring, double sinks, large bathtub, walk-in shower, and a window with garden view

Modern bathroom with dual sinks, large mirror, dark wood cabinets, gray tiles, glass shower door, and a fluffy white rug

Splurge on a mosaic tile border or panel inside the shower—which of course should be fitted with multiple shower heads. Install glass shower walls instead of a shower curtain, so you can fully showcase your high-end grey tile bathroom selections.

See more luxury bathroom ideas here.

6. Streamline Your Bathroom with Pewter and Modern Fixtures

A modern bathroom has streamlined fixtures and fittings, paired with a simple color scheme. For example, a floating vanity and glass bowl basin takes the place of a traditional vanity and sink. Shower stalls are impressive displays of grey bathroom tile, and not hidden behind a shower curtain.

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, a glass shower enclosure, wall-mounted toilet, black fixtures, and recessed shelf with toiletries — Source: @architectormendisabal via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a sleek, white bathtub, black fixtures, large mirror, vessel sink, and hanging glass lights — Source: @egueyseta via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray stone tiles, a black rain shower head, wall-mounted toilet, and a white vase with greenery — Source: @villa.almhult via Instagram

Modern bathroom with concrete walls, glass shower, white floating vanity, backlit mirror, and purple accents in a minimalist design — Source: @wetwallsceilings via Instagram

Modern bathroom with grey hexagonal tile pattern, glass shower, black fixtures, dual white sinks, and a black towel ladder

Modern bathroom with dual square sinks, large mirrors, bathtub, and gray tiled walls and floor in striped and checkered patterns

Pewter is an excellent grey paint color for a modern bathroom wall finish. A beautiful cross between grey and silver, pewter’s neither light nor dark—a perfect middle tone to support grey color ranges at each end of the spectrum.

See more modern bathroom ideas here.

7. Create a Unique Monochrome Grey Bathroom

A monochrome photo is one that’s printed in black and white or varying shades of a single color. Monochromatic room ideas are the same, with one color appearing in different shade options. Speaking of photos, framed black and white photographs make excellent grey bathroom wall decor.

Modern bathroom with a bathtub, wall-mounted toilet, sink, large mirror, gray tiles, black and green decor, and folded towels — Source: @a_tattooist_home via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a glass shower, rainfall showerhead, round mirror, rectangular sink, and grey tiled walls and floor — Source: @brand_new_home_ via Instagram

Because grey is on such a spectrum, from pale grey to nearly black, a grey monochrome bathroom doesn’t have to be boring. Look for grey bathroom tile that includes multiple hues of grey, then select those individual shades when choosing your grey paint color palette.

8. Maximizing Style in Small Powder Rooms with Light Grey Tones

A powder room is a small bathroom, minus a shower or tub. Vanity space and even wall space may be limited, but you can still create a beautiful small bathroom within its confines. Look for a narrow profile vanity and toilet to free up as much floor space as possible.

Bathroom with patterned tiles, white vanity with mirror, sink with soap, toilet, window with plant, and basket on the floor — Source: @appleyardselfbuild via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a white toilet, small sink, mirror, towel rack, and reed diffuser on the toilet tank, accented with grayscale tiles — Source: @home_edition.atno1 via Instagram

Minimalist bathroom with a white toilet, small sink, round mirror, and gray walls; window with a star decoration and framed art — Source: @homeoncherrytree via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, white fixtures, a large mirror, small window, and a potted plant; wall decor adds elegance — Source: @queen_of_the_clean via Instagram

Since a white bathroom tends to look bigger than one with a darker color scheme, try to keep your greys on the lighter end of the grey spectrum. A light grey bathroom can feel just as spacious as a white bathroom, but it won’t seem as sterile. If you prefer darker grey colors, choose one for an accent wall, or install dark grey floor tile.

9. Rustic Bathroom Ideas with Grey Wood Accents

Wood tends to turn grey as it weathers, and a weathered grey wood vanity is an excellent addition to a rustic themed bathroom. Install a faux brick wall for an accent feature, and replace ordinary tile with floor tile planks that resemble grey driftwood.

Cozy bathroom with a white tub, white tiles, grey painted wall, plants, a hanging wooden door, and a shelf with candles and bottles, offering a warm and rustic ambiance — Source: @abackens_lantliv via Instagram

Bathroom with double sinks, large mirrors, pendant lights, and wooden vanity. White and wood-textured wall tiles create a rustic look — Source: @loveyourroom via Instagram

Modern bathroom with freestanding bathtub, grey walls, round mirror, wooden shelves, and slate tiles; soft lighting and plants add warmth — Source: @our_journey_at_81 via Instagram

Be sure to add other unrefined textures to your grey rustic bath, such as a hammered metal sink basin and rough-cut floating shelves. Black is always a great addition to rustic spaces, so shop for black iron towel racks for the wall, and iron drawer pulls for the vanity and wall cabinet.

See more rustic bathroom ideas here.

10. Design a Scandinavian Bathroom with Grey Tones

A grey Scandinavian bathroom needs touches of real wood to make it true Scandinavian-inspired design. It’s good that grey looks great next to any type of wood stain, so feel free to use your grey colors beside the pale wood finishes that are popular in Nordic homes.

Modern bathroom with a wall-mounted toilet, black accents, a wire basket with reading material, and decorative vases on a gray tiled wall — Source: @bijamberthuis via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray subway tile, patterned floor, a candle, a framed quote, and a potted plant near the bathtub — Source: @did_it_ourselves via Instagram

Modern bathroom with a freestanding tub, glass shower, patterned floor tiles, and plants in a gray and white color scheme — Source: @home_at_rivermead.x via Instagram

Stylish bathroom with grey subway tiles, a round mirror, pedestal sink, patterned floor, and woven baskets for storage — Source: @ourpadonthemews via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray wood paneling, round mirror, white vessel sink, and dark fixtures. Large window with dark curtains

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, a large mirror, a vessel sink on a white vanity, a toilet, and a glass-enclosed shower

White is also a common bathroom color in Scandinavia, so either add touches of white or choose a very pale dove grey for your walls. Be sure to keep the space uncluttered and choose furniture and fittings that reflect this design style’s simplicity.

11. Enhance Small Bathrooms with Colors and Lines

A small bathroom is a great space to add creative decorating ideas to a basic grey bathroom. Splashes of color keep the room cheerful and interesting, but try not to overdo it. Green plants will add life to the room as well as a welcome dash of color.

Modern bathroom with glass shower, white toilet, and sink, large mirror, potted plants, and toiletries on counter, gray tiles throughout — Source: @bellwaypinehurst via Instagram

Modern bathroom with glass shower, white sink, toilet, and green plants; gray tiled walls and floor, chrome towel rack — Source: @holly.lily.archie_x via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray marble tiles, a bathtub, shower, white vanity, and a window with toiletries on the sill, geometric rug on floor — Source: @homewiththehiltons via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, glass shower, white sink, toilet, and green plants near window; chrome towel rack on wall — Source: @housetohomebeverley via Instagram

Modern bathroom with white sink, toilet, and bathtub, towel radiator on right, frosted window above, and gray tiled walls and floor — Source: @newhometogether via Instagram

Modern bathroom with grey tiles, a toilet, sink, round shower, window, striped rug, and pink trash bin — Source: @ourlittlebeigepad via Instagram

Modern bathroom with gray tiles, bathtub, overhead shower, round white sink on wooden counter, large mirror, and towel rack — Source: @prof.reno via Instagram

Keep in mind that any kind of horizontal lines will make the room feel wider. Arrange subway tile in a horizontal pattern, or buy textured shower tile that has horizontal lines. Cover a feature wall in shiplap and paint it dove grey, or hang a large-scale wallpaper pattern that includes wide lines.

12. Find the Perfect Grey Tile for Any Budget

Virtually any type of bathroom tile you can imagine comes in several shades of grey. From natural marble to recycled glass tile, there’s a grey tile option for every budget and design preference.

Modern bathroom with a white bathtub, gray tiled walls, orchids, candles, and toiletries on a rack, and a gray rug on the floor — Source: @our_first_home_at_number1 via Instagram

A small bathroom with a bathtub, toilet, grey wall tiles, and sink features decor that includes plants, a round mirror, and a window with frosted glass — Source: @ourclermont via Instagram

Look for ways to add expensive tile accents that add richness to a bargain-tiled bathroom. A marble tile inset is a good way to incorporate this elegant material into your grey bathroom without breaking the bank.

13. Choose the Right Paint or Wallpaper for Grey Bathrooms

While some bathrooms are covered in tile from floor to ceiling, most have half-tiled walls. Others only have tile on the floor and leave the walls bare. Whichever type of bathroom wall you have, choosing the right paint or wallpaper is a foundational part of the room’s design.

Modern bathroom with a white freestanding tub, grey painted wall, wooden bath tray, large windows, plant, towel, and wall art under pendant lights — Source: @inspospira via Instagram

Modern bathroom with dual sinks, wooden vanity, black fixtures, large mirrors, gray walls, plant decor, and herringbone tile floor — Source: @loveyourroom via Instagram

A bathroom with a white clawfoot tub, wooden tray, and gray wainscoting, featuring a shelf with plants and toiletries and a ladder with towels — Source: @mycosyvictorianhome via Instagram

Vintage-style bathroom with patterned tiles, a freestanding tub, sewing machine sink stand, and ornate window screen — Source: @nomadic_home via Instagram

Cozy bathroom with a white tub, gray tiled wall, and window with blinds; shelves hold decor and plants; a gray towel is draped over the tub — Source: @scottoncottage via Instagram

Consider painting each wall a slightly different shade of grey, or choose a light and dark grey to paint on opposite walls. Tape off stripes or another pattern for an inexpensive wallpaper substitute. Or search online for various painting techniques that are easy to DIY, such as the modern bathroom wall ideas in this video:

13 Grey Bathroom Design Ideas