Black and white bathroom ideas for your home

In today’s digital age there’s endless inspiration to draw from when it comes to choosing the perfect design for your bathroom. There are clean modern spaces and the luxe glamorous finishes. And there’s the dark and moody rooms and light and airy designs.

There’s also plenty of colour out there – with vibrant teal, copper, magenta and even powder blue taking over the design scene as the popular shades of choice. But while eclectic out-there colours may be a whole heap of fun, there’s one colour scheme you simply can’t go past – the timeless black and white combination. It’s the perfect choice for the person who wants to keep things fairly simple without going over the top.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is boring – with patterns, textures and metals you can create a unique impactful bathroom. So here are my favourite black and white bathroom ideas and designs that you’re going to love.

1. Black and white marble

Marble is such a luxurious choice, and it always looks good – whether it’s used for a kitchen bench, a living room table or a bathroom floor. And this design is no exception. I love how the marble has been used across this entire space – it creates a moody modern finish that’s beautiful to look at!

2. Subway or finger tiles

You can’t go wrong with a classic subway tile or even a finger tile – it will always look great wherever you use it. These have been a very popular choice over the last few years. I like how it’s been used in this simple black and white bathroom to add a hint of detail and interest. When going for a white tile, you can either go with white grout for an all-white look or choose grey grout for tiles that pop.

3. Create more space

If you’re short on bench space or you simply want something to hold your cup of tea while you relax in the bath, then you can’t go past a small timber stool. This not only looks great contrasted against your black and white bathroom flooring and walls, but it also adds warmth a cool bathroom like this needs. When you’re not using it, you can use it to display candles or a dish filled with scrubs and other bathroom items.

4. Period fittings

Transform your bathroom into a Parisian inspired space by installing period fittings. The great thing is that it doesn’t have to be completely old school. In fact, you can combine the old with the new by using modern matte black hardware and fixtures with intriguing ceramic tiles and interesting art prints.

5. Vessel sink

If you want to add some extra detail to your bathroom, then consider a vessel sink! They may have had their heyday a few years ago, but they’re still a popular choice. While they may be more suited to decorative bathrooms, such as powder rooms or guest bathrooms where the sinks aren’t used frequently, they can still work in any bathroom.

And the basin can be made out of any kind of material – from glass to ceramic to stainless steel, copper, brass or marble! The choice is yours.

6. Encaustic floor tiles

Forget normal tiles and choose ceramic tiles instead. The pattern on these encaustic floor tiles is a product of different colours of clay. Generally speaking, encaustic tiles are usually made up of two colours (like these ones) but they can be composed of up to as many as six.

7. Warm timber

Break up the black and white with a sweeping of timber – like in this bathroom. You can strike the right balance between these three tones by using black and white for the tiles on the floor and the wall, black for the tapware and hardware, and timber for feature walls and your vanity.

8. Penny round tiles

Tiny penny round tiles are so cute! And they’re really versatile too. While they may not be the first kind of tile you’d think of when designing your bathroom, they’re easy to style – and you can choose from so many different colours. But to keep things simple, use black penny round tiles all over the floor with white grout to make them stand out.

9. Open shelving

If you like to put your towels on display (or other decor items for that matters) you should consider a simple vanity with open shelving. And a timber vanity is a great choice, adding warmth to any black-and-white bathroom.

10. Make the most of small spaces

Small bathroom owners – don’t despair! You’ll be pleased to know that there’s so much you can do with a tiny space. Just take some inspiration from this black and white bathroom. It combines a shower and a toilet all on one side, separated by a black framed glass divider.

11. Brass fittings

Take your shower design to the next level with fancy fittings. While silver has traditionally been the colour of choice, brass hardware is so in right now. And it looks great against slick black and white tiles.

12. Black mirror frames

Integrate elements of black to give an edge to the otherwise all-white look. I particularly love black mirror frames – they look great in pairs side by side.

13. Modern bathtub

There’s nothing more relaxing than a beautiful big bathtub. And they come in all different styles. There’s the classic claw-foot bathtub which looks great in a traditional period style bathroom. And then there’s the whirlpool and air tubs, like the ones you find in a resort bathroom. There’s the shower/tub combo, which works well when you have a small space. And then there’s the lush, soaking tub like this one. I love the addition of timber that makes this space warm and cosy!

14. Grey, white and a touch of black

For a bathroom that’s clean, tidy and sleek, opt for a monochrome mix of grey, black and white. Sometimes simple is so much better than complicated. Just ensure it isn’t completely void of detail by incorporating plenty of shapes and patterns into the design.

15. Black timber

While timber vanities are a popular choice these days, it’s rare to see them in black. But I like this style – it’s very country meets contemporary. And the luxe lighting gives a beautiful finish.

16.  Herringbone-patterned style

Make a bold statement with monochrome herringbone-patterned tiles.  If you choose to have busy patterned flooring though, then keep the rest of the room simple white to bring balance to the space.

17. Shower niche

If you include any decorative and practical detail in your new bathroom design, then it needs to be a shower niche. It allows you to store all of your essential shower items, including shampoo and conditioner, body wash and scrubs. And the best thing about it is that it looks great!

18. Timber touches

Adding timber elements to a black and white bathroom ensures there is lots of warmth in the space. Whether it’s gorgeous timber flooring or a simple wooden bath tray, it will amp up the cosiness of your bathroom.

Find more bathroom ideas that will work in your home.

19. Gold touches

Gold hardware never goes out of fashion. If you want something that makes a statement, then gold fittings are it! Gold looks good with any colour, but it really stands out against graphic black and white tiles.

20. Repurposed timber vanity

Do you want a bathroom that’s truly unique? One that no-one else has seen before? Go shopping for a vanity at your local thrift store! Search for an old small timber desk, or a rustic weathered table like this one, and upcycle it into a gorgeous farmhouse vanity. And I love how the twin black sinks and all the black accents in the space make it just a tad modern, while keeping it fairly classic.

21. A mix of shapes

A simple black and white bathroom is the perfect foundation for showcasing your creativity. You can do this by choosing different shaped tiles, patterns and textures. For tiles, just draw up a pattern of how you would like your tiles to be placed and then give it to your tiler to implement. Voila – you’ve got yourself a unique design!

22. Dramatic black bath

Embrace your dark side by installing a luxe black bathtub. It’s true that white baths are usually the installation of choice, but black looks fantastic in this space, creating a moody, cool look. Contrast the black with crisp white curtains, and add timber wall panelling to warm it all up.

23. Mix dark and light

The key to creating any successful design space is to make sure there are plenty of light and dark features. For example, your walls might be black while you have a beautiful large white vanity with a grey-veined marble countertop.

24. Glowing light

It’s amazing how a little bit of light can make a huge difference to your bathroom, especially if it’s black. If you don’t have many windows then it’s absolutely essential to install smart lighting. You can do this around your mirror, underneath your vanity and, of course, in the ceiling.

And after all one of the most important elements is the right bathroom lighting for your space.

25. Tiled feature wall

Black and white bathrooms are a great choice for the minimalist home. But they can be a little bit on the plain side. To avoid the oversimplification that this style can bring, add a textured feature wall by using scalloped or 3D tiles.

26. Black sink hardware

While gold and brass have been very popular in bathrooms around the world – from small home bathrooms to large restaurant bathrooms – black hardware is taking over as the colour of choice. Think a white sink topped with a black tap, round black mirror, and black framed shower screen.

27. Double vanity

The double vanity is a smart solution that keeps on giving. First of all, it provides more storage space. You can hide a ton of stuff behind the doors and drawers, from bottles to towels to toiletries and decor. Secondly, the double sink situation allows two people to get ready at once, saving plenty of time! This black and white bathroom features a great use of space, fitting this double vanity into a fairly small space.

If you’re interested in other vanity options for your bathroom, take a look at these bathroom vanity ideas.

28. Black and white wallpaper

Spice up your bathroom with some black and white print wallpaper. Go for a monochrome floral print like this, or something more geometric and graphic. It’s an easy (and if necessary, temporary) way to bring in black and white tones into a plain space.

29. Modern wall sconces

Lighting is everything in a space – whether it’s a kitchen, living room, bedroom, office or bathroom. It makes all the difference because it sets the mood and atmosphere of a room. And in a bathroom, you want to create a calm, relaxing feel. This can be achieved by using simplistic wall sconces, such as cylindrical matte black lights positioned on either side of your mirror.

30. Mosaic floor tiles

Bring a touch of the Mediterranean to your black and white bathroom by using fancy mosaic floor tiles. When people think of mosaic tiles, the first thought is often bright, bold colours. This can be a scary thought for someone who likes to keep things plain and simple. But the good news is that mosaic tiles can be black and white! Take these gorgeous tiles, for example. They add detail, interest and fun to this beautiful space without being too overpowering – perfect!

There you have it – 30+ black and white bathroom ideas and designs. There are so many options to suit any type of home, whether your house is Hamptons style, minimalist, retro, Art Deco, French, colonial, or anything else!

I’d love to hear which black and white bathroom style you liked the most. Comment and tell me. And if you have any other ideas, share them too.