Ever step into a bathroom and feel instantly cozy? I mean warm and comforting like your grandma’s kitchen always seemed to you growing up? I accidentally stumbled upon the coziness-factor of brown bathrooms this past Spring when working with my neighbour Sarah on her downstairs half bathroom remodel… She’d been struggling with what she referred to as her “beige problem.” You know the colour…builder beige.
The generic stuff that makes your house look like a rental property even if you pay the mortgage every month. We were standing in her half bath analysing paint chips (Where do you even put paint chips? Anyone??
Help?! It was the half bath, so mini chips on top of the toilet!) when she handed me this deep chocolate brown paint sample and said, “Yeah, this is nice.
But isn’t brown kinda…heavy for a bathroom?” I agree.
Brown feels serious. Masculine. Heavy.
It’s definitely not fresh and bright like most people want their bathrooms to feel. Something about that paint colour though – Benjamin Moore’s Chocolate Mousse – took me back to yummy dark coffee and those leather boots that cost more than your fancy coffee. Warm things.
Fast forward three weeks and Sarah’s little half bathroom is receiving more compliments than any other room in her house. Folks are patting her on the back and giving her thumbs up as they leave. Literally spending more time in there than they need to.
Even Sarah’s eight-year-old daughter is now brushing her teeth downstairs in that bathroom “instead of upstairs because it feels like a cozy cave, but also pretty.” I realised then that brown doesn’t have to be boring or old-ladyish. Brown can be the ultimate bathroom splurge item. Like a cashmere jumper.
Luxurious. Timeless. Makes everything look (and feel) more expensive than it actually was.
There’s just a trick to knowing what shades of brown will work where…and why. Take tile, for example. I’ve learned in my own bathroom remodels that chocolate tile can be tricky.
During my guest bathroom remodel last year (tutorial forthcoming, featuring Heath Ceramics’ insanely gorgeous dark brown subway tiles), I used those dark tiles with white grout and warm toned brass hardware and although they look very sophisticated – they do not read cave-like. The tiles aren’t overwhelming the room because I only did them on the entire wall behind the vanity, rather than every wall in the room. What I didn’t realise at the time was that brown ceramic tile highlights water spots like you would not believe.
Every single drop of water. It drives. Me.
Crazy. And it’s even more aggravating when you’re not expecting it! Hence why I hang a small squeegee from a hidden hook next to the sink, and USE IT.
Thirty seconds after anyone showers, I run the squeegee over the tiles and they look good as new. When painting, I’ve had much better luck with lighter, warmer brown tones. Remember those tan/beige/mushroom colours I mentioned earlier?
Those types of neutral-but-not-neutral colours work really well for painting too. I painted my main bathroom two years ago with SW’s Accessible Beige and LOVE it. It actually changes throughout the day.
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During morning time it looks cool and collected because of the natural sunlight. Then around lunch time when the sun hits the frosted glass window in the bathroom, it warms up and becomes rich and gold. This is where I think people mess up with brown.
They pair brown with the stark white everything else thinking it’ll balance out. It doesn’t. All you end up with is blah brown and chilly white.
Try putting more emphasis on warming up your brown bathroom (cream towels, antique brass fixtures) and you’ve got yourself a winning combo. Natural materials also play a big role in creating cozy brown bathrooms. Wood vanities in walnut finishes (or even painted woods with brown undertones) create this flow throughout the space that feels intentional, not accidental.
I found this vintage teak bathroom vanity at a salvage yard outside of town ($200 + refinish supplies versus $800 + for new!) and paired it with an ironstone ceramic vessel sink that was warm and earth-toned. The texture of the sink against the wood grain really pops without clashing or making the room feel busy. Keep in mind that even though wood is stunning in bathrooms, make sure you’re practical about using it as well.
I learned quickly to use the correct sealant of marine-grade polyurethane on my vanity, and would recommend the same to anyone trying wood tones in high-moisture spaces. Another trick I love to use when designing brown bathrooms is to use layers of brown. Instead of just one dominating hue.
Having tan walls, dark brown tile accents, and medium brown wood pieces creates this curated feeling as if you haven’t bought everything at the same store to match. It’s really the bathroom equivalent to having a well put together closet – yes everything works together because you stuck to a colour scheme (neutral, earthy tones, warm materials) but nothing matches exactly. Lighting is key, too.
You don’t want your brown bathroom to feel drab or depressed, so make sure you’re lighting it with warm lights. I replaced my basic cool-white LED bulbs with warm-white LED bulbs (2700K for those who are wondering) and added a small table lamp with a linen shade on top of my bathroom vanity. Sounds weird, I know.
But that extra soft glow from the indirect lighting made all the difference. The bathroom went from functional to relaxing overnight. Keep accessories simplistic and durable in a brown bathroom.
Delicate or overly vintage accessory pieces will get lost in a sea of brown. Instead opt for plush white or cream towels, a wooden stool for extra seating, maybe one larger plant (BATHROOMS! I have found poop!
Um, yes….pothos thrives in the humidity of bathrooms). My point is this – you want to create calm, not clutter. Classy, not cheesy.
Look, brown bathrooms aren’t everyone’s style.
If you like fun, energizing bathrooms that wake you up with splashes of bright colours and optimism, this post isn’t for you. However.
If you want a bathroom that feels like a retreat when you walk inside and actually enjoy spending time in there soaking in the tub or tackling your beauty routine, you can achieve a calming, comfortable and utterly sophisticated look with brown. Here’s the best part about brown bathrooms? They actually age really well.
Neutral brown colours are so forgiving because unlike trendy shades that can start to look worn down after just a couple of years, browns can easily be updated with new accent colours, towels, or art. The foundation of your bathroom decor grows with you and doesn’t limit your choices. Sarah texts me every once in a while to send me an update on her bathroom.
Usually when someone stops in and makes a compliment! I’m not even mad. Last week she text “Dinner guest wanted to know where I got the paint colour!” No shock there.
Once you see how brown can take an ordinary bathroom to “wowzer” you never look back at….well, boring beige bathrooms again.
