A bold colour move for Louise’s bathroom

22 Jan 2026

Bathrooms are usually the most overlooked room in the house. Safe, white and practical are just some of the words to describe them. And while there is nothing wrong with a crisp white bathroom, you can also make it one of the most colourful rooms in your home. One that reflects your personality and becomes an enjoyable space.

Louise Hilsz bathroom started as a clean but characterless space and has now been completely transformed into a colour-drenched, joy-filled room that proves small rooms are the perfect place to take big design risks. This makeover is all about confidence, creativity, and embracing a “more is more” mindset.

This before and after shows the transformation of Louise’s bathroom using shades like Resene Riptide as a minty base, Southern Cross for a burst of yellow and Ballerina for some pink warmth.

Louise’s original bathroom did its job, but it didn’t spark anything. Neutral cabinetry, white walls, minimal contrast. It was fine, but easily forgettable. The kind of room you walk in and out of without really noticing.

The goal was to change that completely, using Resene colour as the main character. Bold walls, colourful surfaces and trims that pop. Every corner was treated as an opportunity to add energy, personality and a little surprise.

The palette is playful and punchy, with the minty green Resene Riptide, candy pink Ballerina and sunny yellow Southern Cross coming together in a way that feels fresh, fearless and fun.

Resene Riptide is the perfect fresh tone for the laundry space, complemented by yellow trims in Southern Cross.

This isn’t a subtle bathroom. It’s a statement. Graphic shapes and unexpected pairings give it that layered, curated feel, where every detail adds to the overall story. The vanity becomes a focal point instead of background furniture, and the room feels more like an experience than just a functional space.

Even the smaller touches matter here. Painted trims, contrasting accents and bright styling choices build depth and visual interest, making the space feel intentional rather than chaotic. The key to making colour still feel cohesive, is to choose your colours and stick to that palette throughout your design, and that’s exactly what Louise did.

Make a functional space joyful with your favourite Resene paint colours. The toilet is painted in Resene Ballerina, with bathroom walls in Riptide and trims in Southern Cross.

The adjoining toilet follows the same thread, turning what’s usually an afterthought into its own design moment. Strong contrast and bold pattern keep the energy going, so the whole space feels connected and considered from start to finish.

This bathroom makeover is a reminder that your home doesn’t need to follow rules or play it safe. It just needs to make you feel something. In this case, that feeling is pure joy!

So, if you’ve been staring at an all-white bathroom wondering if colour might be ‘too much’… take this as your sign. Paint the trim. Go bold. Add the fun accessories. Let the space have a personality. Let it reflect you.

design Louise Hilsz, style director at BeautyEQ

Top tip: For bathrooms, use Resene's specialised Kitchen & Bathroom range, like Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom for durable, moisture-resistant walls and Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom semi-gloss for trims, offering high cleanability and a polished look with added anti-mould and anti-bacterial protection. Remember to treat any existing mould first with Resene Moss & Mould Killer.

Published: 22 Jan 2026