There are few pleasures in life greater than a long soak in a tub – and doing so in a joyful, uplifting bathroom makes it all the better. These yellow bathroom ideas from the ELLE Decoration archive show how paint, tiles and even textiles can be used when designing a bathroom that brims with sunny energy, no matter the weather.
A bespoke yellow paint by Rachel Chudley
‘Like being in a butter dish,’ is how designer Rachel Chudley describes this space, which she designed in red but changed to bright yellow at the owner’s suggestion. It’s now washed in a bespoke shade – ‘Glossy Yellow RC38’ – from her workshop, its golden tone amplified by the Dominic Schuster mirror behind the bath. The light is the ‘Anath Schoolhouse’ from Mullan Lighting, the shower, basin and taps are all from Aston Matthews and the marble is Calacatta Viola stone. Neisha Crosland’s ‘Marigold’ floor tiles in ’Bean Green’ introduce a relaxed, handmade note into this glamorous scheme.
An uplifting spectrum of yellows in Milan
Various shades of yellow run throughout this slick Milanese apartment. ‘System’ tiles by Ceramica Vogue set the colour scheme in the ensuite, while the basin is from the ‘App’ collection by Ceramica Flaminia, the tap is the ‘Jo’ by Paffoni and the wall light is the ‘Rise’ by Normann Copenhagen. Two portholes (seen reflected in the mirror from Zara Home) allow glimpses through to the bedroom beyond.
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Zingy neon yellow by design visionaries Masquespacio
The studio and home of design duo Masquespacio in Valencia is a celebration of big bold colour, with rooms washed in minty green, lilac and zingy peach. In the bathroom the studio chose a highlighter yellow from floor to ceiling, which emphasises the crisp geometric shapes of the space. The vanity unit is bespoke and the tiles are from Maora Ceramics.
Butter-toned microcement in a Madrid apartment
Designer Blanca Rosa Gutiérrez used colour to zone this open-plan apartment in Madrid, and made a departure from the cobalt and tangerine scheme in the living areas with a butter-toned microcement on the walls of the bathroom paired with a bespoke yellow-lacquered vanity unit, on top of which sits a deep custom sink, also made from microcement. The curved mirror is a piece created by the architects and the taps are from Ritmonio.
Claude Cartier’s playful yellow stripes in Lyon
‘I wanted to create an alternation between strong and colourful scenes and more sober atmospheres,’ says Cartier who, to mark forty years in design in 2022, created this joyful showroom in Lyon. The unapologetic use of colour and graphic shapes throughout the space is a celebration of her trademark eclectic style; in the bathroom, she used yellow and white mosaic tiles to create a striped wall while a handmade patchwork curtain, which conceals the porthole through to the bedroom, and a bespoke petticoat created using Olivades fabric covers the toilet, are typical of her irreverent approach to interiors.
A playful yellow curtain in a surrealist London home
The home of Philip and Charlotte Colbert in London’s Spitalifields is informed by their take on surrealism. Designed in collaboration with Buchanan Studio, there is a surprise at every turn, with their recognisable motifs scattered throughout the home. In the bathroom, stage-like yellow curtains frame the tongue-in-cheek ‘Boob Bath’ which is adorned with 108 hand-cast silicone breasts – a centrepiece that’s guaranteed to make bath time a little more interesting.
Pale yellow that packs a punch in a Copenhagen apartment
Sure, yellow is the go-to when looking for a sunny, uplifting colour, but it can act as a neutral too. Step into the Copenhagen apartment of designer Bettina Getta and the first things you notice are the delicate, dusty shades on the walls. From the chalky greenish blue in the living area to the creamy butter yellow of her bedroom and open-plan ensuite, these rooms show that less saturated shades can also have a seductive depth; even the light beige ceilings lend the sunlight a warmer quality as it streams in through the large arched windows.
Gorgeous gold drapes in a Lisbon home
This Lisbon apartment owned by a Brazilian art collector is brimming with incredible artwork at every turn. The bathroom is full of theatrical flare, with designer Gracinha Viterbo pairing a rich mustard Pierre Frey fabric with ‘New Terracotta’ handmade tiles, created in collaboration with Elisa Passino. The striking pendant light from Bocci’s ‘44’ series draws the eye upwards, while the mirror is Zieta’s ‘Tafla O’ design.
A pink and yellow bathroom for the kids
This whimsical bathroom by Angus Buchanan, the creative director of Buchanan Studio, was created for his children. Designed to be a social space to gather – ‘On Friday evenings we have a ritual of drinks and snacks whilst the kids are in the bath, we even play music,’ he says – the built-in shelving holds not only soaps and towels but books, too.
