Ideas for harsh bathroom with black tiles

[GLORIAGloriarse]

Hi! I'd love some ideas please for a bathroom that we don't love.

It's a new build house (I've always preferred older places, rickety bits and all), no windows in the middle bathroom, simple white sink, loo and bath with shower fitting (shower is upstairs so I'm happy to keep this as just a bath).

What isn't to our tastes is the black, textured tiling around the bath and the splashback. It's just so harsh against the white fixtures.

My usual taste is quite colourful, I like warm colours, pinks, corals, mustard yellow, jewel greens and teal. I love plants, vintage pots and textiles, glass, wood and candles.

I'm just not quite able to visualise this against black tiles and grey lino flooring with silver fittings. It's just so stark, minimal and modern whereas I love colour and warmth.

We are only planning to stay here 3 years and are very busy (I am retraining with placements and exams) so don't really want to get into replacing the tiles or flooring. It's more the general look, paint colours, textiles, accessories and maybe light fittings that I would be grateful for ideas on.

Ideally i would love to fill it with plants but no light (I don't care for artificial personally).

DP is happy for me to have the run of it as he had already decorated downstairs and the bedroom when I moved in.

Thanks in advance to anyone with any thoughts!

Tile paint and stick down tiles! You can change the whole look.

Tile paint is tempting but I've heard mixed things about the results, flaking etc.is it any good?

Yeah. Don't paint the tiles.
Plants. Fake. Lots of. Pale green and grey towels and accessories.
The fake plants is the compromise you will have to take.

I agree not to cover the existing tiles, i also agree with the green, but not the grey, I'd add crisp white with the green.

Can you upload a pic? I agree accessories are the way forwards.

Please share a pic.

I agree fake plants, accessories (toothbrush holder, soap dispensers, basket to store bottles etc) in bamboo,
Pale pink fluffy towels.

Actually if you layer the colours (so a warm pink with mustard or sage green) that will add extra texture.

Big fluffy bath mat

Is there anywhere you can add shelves? I’m thinking something like scaffolding shelves with (fake, unfortunately) plants, and some nice containers for soaps, cotton wool etc.
A big basket for spare loo rolls. Maybe a mirror on the wall with a wooden frame to match the shelves.

Missoni - or equivalent - towels. They have very vibrant colours and the ones intermixed with black are stunning. You can pick out the other colours in the towels to accessorise. Fake plants, plenty of wicker type baskets. I had the dubious honour of a black kitchen and wicker together with warm colours has transformed it.

Thank you all very much! Love these ideas, layering colours, shelves, missoni towels are gorgeous especially the Giacomo range. Think I will stay away from painting the tiles and work with what we have since we intend to move on soon. I'm out hence no pic, sorry, for now, but tbh there's not much to see. It is just a very basic finish and fixtures, no design features as such except the tiles being black

I agree that the aesthetic that @Fabellini has posted is what you need to aim for. Don’t try to minimise the black - lean into it as an accent colour and then pair it with natural materials like wicker and wood and then also pick a couple of warmer colours for accents as pp have suggested. It’s very fashionable and lots of period properties are currently decorated with black accents, tiles, even taps etc. Just pair it with rustic touches rather than hard modern lines.

I think the lighting will make a difference. We have a ceiling light with a remote and you can make it brighter or warmer.

Absolutely this will be a priority, I realised today just how harsh the fluorescent lighting is that was put in from new. Fair sets off a migraine!

The reclaimed wood scaffolding shelves are nice and I like the idea of recycling. I was looking at old Victorian ones but think that might look a bit fussy several together.

I would paint it a really bright pink and add lots of tropical plants although they would have to be fake with no window.

Snake plants and Boston ferns seem ok in low light, maybe I could swap them in and out

Black is a good accent colour. I'd look at a wild colourful wallpaper with plants, towels and a rug.

And maybe swap out the loo roll holder, loo brush etc for black ones to make the black tiles look more considered.

I used to rent a flat in a Victorian house, the bathroom had a big arched stained glass sash window.
I went full Gothic and painted the walls a deep dark blood red. White shower curtain and towels, iron candle holders hung on wall.

My friends and family all thought it was gorgeous - might that work with the black tiles on yours?

I'd repaint the walls and reduce the contrast. Gold accents will warm it up too, with textured bathmats and towels too.

On escape to the chateau they painted the grout gold on black tiles and it was very striking.

I'd look at bringing in a recycled plastic rug in a bright colour. www.greendecore.co.uk/collections/outdoor-rugs-recycled-plastic/products/nirvana-yellow-rug?variant=21364372743

A light up mirror to break up the run of black tiles? I've seen a large long oblong one, but this round one is nice.

You could also look at some "sparkly" warm white led lighting for a softer look.

I was actually looking for a mirror like that, thanks! Love the gold grout idea but may end up just leaving the tiles as they are. Ordered some lovely testers. The tiling has a bloody thick plastic edge around it though which i didn't pay much heed to before.

Wow!! This sounds amazing! Bathroom's too small and dark for that here but the love the idea of a bold style

Could you post a photo of your bathroom OP?

Actually dark colours can really work in a small space........