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Design by Wendy Tarr, image by Dmitri Kotelevski.
Design by Bibby + Brady, image by Florence Charvin.
Design and image by homeowner Michelle.
Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, mural by Hannah Tapner, image by Bryce Carleton.
Bathroom makeover plans? Here’s how to do it right!
Bathrooms and powder rooms are some of the hardest working spaces in our homes. In fact, not a day goes by that they don’t get used. Creating a space you want to be in comes down to choosing a design and colour you love as well as selecting the right products and accessories. When done right, the results can be beautiful, as these bathrooms show.
Design by Wendy Tarr, image by Dmitri Kotelevski.
White will always be a popular colour choice for bathrooms, and this one offers a warm, gentle escape painted in Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown. It pairs beautifully with the timber vanity and warm tiles. For other warmer whites, try Rice Cake and Eighth Spanish White. If it’s a cooler white you’re after, try Quarter Black White or Half Sea Fog.
Resene Pro Tip: If white is the shade of choice for your bathroom, be sure to pick up some testpots before you start painting. Whites vary wildly due to hidden undertones (yellow, green, or grey) and react dramatically to changing natural light, shadows and surrounding room features. Paint the testpot onto a large A2 piece of card so you can move the sample around different walls to reveal how the light hits it at different times of the day.
Design by Bibby + Brady, image by Florence Charvin.
If it’s a more vivid statement you want to make, consider colour drenching. This bathroom is painted head-to-toe in Resene Double Duck Egg Blue. Known for imparting a calm and serene mood, shades from across the blue spectrum are a great choice for bathrooms, especially if it’s a relaxing atmosphere you’re looking to create. If you’re going for one solid colour, then wall panelling can be a great way to add a bit of texture and dimension into the room.
Design and image by homeowner Michelle.
Bring the tranquil and healing touch of nature into your bathroom by choosing a green hue. Green sits at the centre of the colour spectrum, making it the easiest colour for our brains to process, therefore we find it very calming. For something a little moodier, try Resene Bitter. In this space it pairs well with the other earthy tones.
Resene Pro Tip: Opt for Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom for bathroom walls. The low sheen finish will hide imperfections better than higher gloss finishes, especially on brighter colours, and will give you a smooth, velvety finish.
Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, mural by Hannah Tapner, image by Bryce Carleton.
If you’re wanting to create something bespoke, bathrooms and powder rooms are a great place to start, usually for their privacy and because they are smaller than other rooms. Test out that bold pink or yellow you’ve been wanting to try, or you could even design a hand-painted mural like this one, which features Resene Element, Atmosphere and Moonbeam. The surrounding walls are painted in crisp Black White.
Resene Pro Tip: If you’re considering painting your bathroom vanity, like this one in Resene Element, use Resene Lustacryl. Its durable waterborne semi gloss enamel finish stands up to frequent wiping, moisture, and high-humidity areas.
If you still can’t decide on colour, check out Resene’s Bathroom decorating inspiration gallery for more designs.
Now is also the perfect time to update your bathroom. Until 24 June 2026 you can get 20% off Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paints. This range is ideal for wet areas like kitchens as it combines the benefits of a waterborne enamel with added anti-bacterial silver protection and MouldDefender.
Published: 10 Jun 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Double Duck Egg Blue
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Double Duck Egg Blue
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
