Style ideas and tips for your bathroom

Bathrooms and powder rooms are one of the most commonly used spaces in our home. We often choose practicality over style, or white over colour, and while these both work well, it’s important to enjoy the bathroom you have, and use every day. Here’s some inspiration for different designs you can try that won’t cost an arm and a leg – plus our top bathroom tips for the perfect result!


This elegant bathroom brings touches of brass against the warmth of timber accents and walls painted in a calming green of Resene Flax. The doors and frames are painted in Half Wan White for a striking contrast. Design by Davey Construction.


This bathroom is small but mighty. The space is cocooned in red toned tiles which pair beautifully with the bold Resene Red Oxide on the ceiling. The colourful garden wall is also visible through the window painted in Resene Red Oxide and Resene Fugitive. Design by Lymesmith, image by Clinton Weaver.


A dreamy off-white keeps this bathroom soothing rather than too bright. Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom in Quarter Merino is used on the walls and ceiling, with a shelf, planter and towel rail in Merino, vanity in Eighth Stonehenge and Half Stonehenge, vases in Quarter Merino and art and stool in Half Merino. Bath and basin from Athena Bathrooms, tapware from Voda Plumbingware. Project Megan Harrison-Turner. Image Bryce Carleton.


In this tiny home, the bathroom makes a big impact with a fine emerald pop to the vanity using Resene Enamacryl in the colour Watercourse. The panelling is painted in Alabaster sitting below a darker shade of Rhino and trims are in Resene Lustacryl tinted to White. Design and image by Big Life Tiny Home.


In this quaint bathroom, gentle sea and sky blue, Resene Morning Glory, graces the walls and ceiling, pairing well with the accented black fittings and white trims in Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom White. Design by homeowner Ian, image by Veronica Wedlake.


If you’re loving your white bathroom but want something a little different, try one of Resene’s wallpaper murals. Resene Infinity 2 Wallpaper Collection IFSH2-027 adds a burst of real-life nature into this space, giving it depth and a focal point behind the bathtub.

Top bathroom tips:
  • Make sure any surface preparation is completed well, bathrooms are prone to mould and mildew and often have soap residue to contend with.
  • Select the Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint range which combines the durability and easy cleanability of a waterborne enamel with added anti-bacterial silver protection and the mould protection of Resene MoulDefender to minimise bacteria and mould growth.
  • Be sure to use the right finish, for both purpose and the best look. Higher-gloss finishes, like Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel, are ideal for bathroom trims or cabinetry, as they add a polished shine while being easy to clean.

With the right products, bathrooms can have a big design impact. If you need help selecting your colours and products, visit your local Resene ColorShop or Ask a Resene Paint Expert online.

Published: 19 Feb 2026

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

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Resene Quarter Merino

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Resene Eighth Stonehenge

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Resene Half Stonehenge

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Resene Half Merino

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Resene Watercourse

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Resene Morning Glory

the look

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