From tranquil to sophisticated, the latest color trends from top brands like Behr and Benjamin Moore speak to our renewed desire for comfort and connection. They are also reminiscent of Romanticism, an early 19th century art movement that primarily used earth tones to explore emotion. If you’re looking for some inspiration, dive into next season’s gorgeous shades, and discover the moods they convey and how best to incorporate them into your bathroom remodel.

Bathroom Remodel Mood #1:Sophisticated Sanctuary

This season, grey gets a sophisticated upgrade in saturation, maturity, and depth with Sherwin Williams’ color of the year, Urbane Bronze. This shade is complex and earthy: Imagine a favorite leather chair, soft and worn from years of use. Its deep tone is a study in contrasts, at the same time dark and soft, that has the potential to elevate your space.

Creating a bathroom that conveys both an air of elegance and a sense of security is no small feat, but this shade from Sherwin Williams does just that. Use it as a backdrop on the walls, as an accent color on molding, or in the subtle veining of shower tiles or a marble vanity.

Love the color but don’t want to go all-out with it on the walls? Use Urbane Bronze on the ceiling or ‘fifth wall,’ as it’s known among interior designers. You can also incorporate this color with oil rubbed bronze fixtures. Go sophisticated with a Sofitel Gold Natural Stone wall surround. On a budget? Choose Venetian Stone Acrylic or Trivoli Travertine Acrylic for your shower surround.

A few more elements to consider that can elevate your sophisticated sanctuary:

  • Smart technology
  • A gilded chandelier
  • A free-standing tub
  • Heated floors
  • Gold Subway Series 3×6 tile inlay

Regardless of whether you lean toward a Traditional, Rustic, Contemporary, or Transitional style, this shade can elevate the look and feel of your bathroom.  In small spaces, more expensive materials become affordable – so go for the upgrade with an accent wall, tile inlay, or unique sink design.

 

Bathroom Remodel Mood #2:Elevated Comfort

Not content to choose just one shade, the team at Behr has named an entire color palette of the year for 2021, with a focus on elevated comfort. According to their website, this modern palette includes “light, warm neutrals, restorative blues and greens, soft gentle hues, and rich evocative colors.”

 Start with Behr’s latest color palette and elevate your bathroom to a space that offers a calm comfort. A Walnut Vein Cut Natural Stone or Desert Stone acrylic shower surround pairs beautifully with this palette and adds the benefit of being mold and mildew resistant and is grout-free for easy maintenance. Elevate your bathroom with design elements that are as safe as they are stunning—grab bars that double as gorgeous towel bars, a built-in shower seat that’s seamless and unobtrusive, even a walk-in tub can be artfully incorporated to add optimum comfort for those with limited mobility. Here are a few more elements to consider if you want to design a bathroom with elevated comfort in mind:

  • Horizontal shower with additional jets for added comfort
  • Height considerations – be thoughtful about where light switches, grab bars, and hooks are placed so that everyone can comfortably reach them
  • Ergonomic bathtub

Thoughtfully chosen fixtures and added safety products help to create a space that elevates both the form and function of your bathroom.

 

Bathroom Remodel Mood #3:Natural Harmony

Benjamin Moore’s color of the year, Aegean Teal, is a beautiful balance of blue-green and gray that calls to mind a tranquil sea. The result is a space that conveys calm and purpose and complements any aesthetic, from beachy rustic to vintage traditional. Aegean Teal has the versatility to stand out or blend in neutrally when paired with other colors. Used as the backdrop on bathroom walls, this color radiates both natural harmony and purposeful energy. Pair with Oyster Gray Avaire floors for a beautifully balanced space. A Crema Marfil or Teakwood White Natural Stone shower surround effortlessly pulls the look together for a space that begs you to soak just a bit longer.

Here are a few other elements that can help you convey natural harmony in your bathroom remodel:

  • A deep, soaking tub
  • Large, walk-in shower
  • Waterfall faucet
  • Plenty of natural light
  • Wood-look luxury vinyl planks on the floor (or ceiling!)

 

Bathroom Remodel Mood #4:Mindful Wellness

After a year of assaults on our collective physical and mental health, we’re all due for a respite. PPG’s palette of the year, aptly named ‘Be Well,’ is inspired by the desire to embrace calm and focus on health. It’s comprised of three colors: Transcend, a grounded oatmeal, Big Cypress, a muted brick-red brown, and Misty Aqua, a cool blue.

This trio was chosen to convey the simple comforts we’re craving after a trying year. They’re also inspired by simple pleasures—gardening, long walks, baking—that have gotten us through. These shades are an ideal backdrop for creating a retreat from the world. Choose design elements that complement these shades while keeping wellness in mind, such as a natural stone wall surround in White Carrara or French Mocha or a mold and mildew-resistant, acrylic wall surround in Brushed Linen. If you’re considering a bathroom remodel and have set intentions for wellness in the new year, here are a few more design elements to consider:

  • Low-threshold shower entries
  • Lever-style doorknobs
  • Slip resistant flooring
  • Clear glass and mirrors to make the most of natural light
  • Chrome fixtures
  • Live plants

This year, we’ve spent more time in our homes than we ever imagined. Creating a space that brings both joy and comfort is well worth the expense. If you’re considering a bathroom remodel, go beyond simply selecting colors and materials—create a space that conveys the perfect mood.

Need some professional design-savvy? Schedule your free in-home design consultation, and start planning your new bathroom!