My Bathroom Is Not My Sanctuary
Not gonna lie. My bathroom is not my sanctuary. I see it like some people, people who don’t like to cook, see the kitchen — merely functional. Get in and get out.
It’s not my get-away-from-the-world space. Not my wind down space. I don’t luxuriate taking long showers and I have to be really in a bad place to want to soak in the tub. Don’t get me started on wash day for my hair. I’m there for purely perfunctory imperatives. Brush my teeth, wash my face, #1 and you know the rest.
The thing is I’m not even trying to make it my place of rest. I need it to get me up and out of the house. I need it to start my day looking acceptable to the world (even while pushing back on respectability politics). And I need it because people need bathrooms.
Why this heavy handed disclaimer?
Because that’s my spiel whenever I feel the need to justify why I painted my primary bathroom chartreuse.
Chartreuse colored VW Van. Credit: Jakob Owens
If you don’t know what chartreuse is, it's basically a cousin to neon. It’s a yellow-green, sometimes more yellow, sometimes more green, but never muted. It’s psychedelic. It is loud. It is over the top. It’s named after a French liqueur. It is all these things, but it is never calming.
Jump to: my friend — loves baths and candles and teddy-bear soft blankets, and happens to work around a hundred preschoolers each day. She needs a very different bathroom.
Free standing tub is forest green bathroom. Credit: peplowhallestate
She’s looking for a mossy green or an earthy clay color for her bathroom. Something that grounds her. That soothes. Unlike me, she loves nothing more than to fill up the tub, light up some candles and even set up her laptop to watch bad tv. Her bathroom is her haven.
It is really great that she knows that about herself. She can create a space that does what she needs. Total relaxation.
The point is: stop looking at those “Top 25 Best Bathroom Paint Colors for 2023” articles. There is no color best for a bathroom. For any room for that matter. The best color is situational. Not only is it personal, it serves a purpose.
Chartreuse represents enthusiasm, happiness and liveliness. That’s what I need in my bathroom to get me moving.
My primary bedroom, on the other hand, is all about doing absolutely nothing. It’s the most minimalist space in my house, it’s monochromatic and the color was even inspired by desert sands — a place many of us think as a no-mans-land away from it all. I wanted absolute serenity. I don’t come alive there. I mostly just sleep.
Messy bed and vintage lamp giving cozy vibes. Credit: Vibe Is Bright
The chartreuse is possible because I’ve given myself the opportunity for calm elsewhere.
My advice to you as you’re thinking of your home is to think about the purpose of the space and how you want to feel in there. It can be helpful to take a step back and think of the entirety of your space, shared or not, then designate certain spaces for certain actions and feelings. Once you’re grounded in the purpose, then you can think about what colors a room could be.
There are no rules here. If you need a club, not a sanctuary, that’s good to know! Color is so much more than our likes and dislikes. It’s a big part of creating a vibe that aligns with your purpose. It help you be who you are and how you want to be. So lean into color as a way to support your needs and desires. And go bright if bright is you.
FAQs
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Think about the feeling you want in the room, then grab a bunch of paint swatches (or any objects around the house) that match that energy. See them in the room and go from there. If you need assistance with deciding the vibe, selecting the right color or product, or creating an overall color scheme, Vibe Is Bright offers Color Consultations to guide you through this (super fun) process.
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Generally speaking, you want paint that helps resist moisture. Since the bathroom is a humid environment, paint is particularly prone to paint cracking, peeling and mildew. Start with a good primer, then use a water-based latex paint. Paints with more sheen — satin, semi-gloss, and gloss — offer more protection from. For more guidance on paint for your bathroom and the rest of your space, consider a Vibe Is Bright Color Consultation.
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Roommate? Partner? Parent? When you share a space with someone who has a different style, it can be tricky to figure out what to do. It’s important to truly understand what the needs of the space are before deciding how to design or style it. Otherwise, you may hit a block based on trends, quick ideas or long term preferences (PINK! Scandinavian!), which can be super personal. Once you determine the true functions of the space, you two can present ideas that fulfill that for you. Look for the overlap. Decide the must-haves and nice-to-have. Be open to new ideas. Remember if you have private spaces that are not shared where you can get an idea in or need fulfilled. If you’re still struggling, an interior designer can act as a neutral third party and help decipher what each persons needs and wants are, and how to design for the whole.
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If you want to know more about interior design for your space, sign up for a Discovery Call. We’ll get on a call, discuss your needs and wants and I’ll let you know how we can help. Most projects will start with a Design Consultation which will help us come up with a game plan for your design, whether it’s DIY projects or full service interior design.