6 Outdated Bathroom Paint Colors That Interior Designers Are Tired of Seeing

Like fashion, paint color trends move in cycles. Nowhere does this feel more apparent than in the bathroom—a space we use every day. From all-gray schemes to millennial pink overload, it’s easy to spot a shade that’s out of style.

The good news? A fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to update a bathroom. To help you avoid dated choices, we asked interior designers which colors they think are past their prime.

Bubblegum Pink

Bubblegum pink once had a playful, retro charm. It popped up here and there in midcentury bathrooms, and it later rode the millennial pink wave in the 2010s. However, what once felt cheeky and fun now risks looking overly saccharine, or like a themed space designed solely for children.

Hormuz Batliboi, principal architect at Batliboi Studio, says the color no longer resonates with the way families want to live. Instead of locking a space into a stereotypical palette, he encourages clients to choose shades with more depth and longevity.

“Mustards, ochres, and yellows bring warmth without feeling juvenile, while also aging gracefully as children grow up and the home evolves,” he says.

Seafoam Green

This color once promised a spa-like serenity, and was often chosen to bring a sense of calm and freshness. However, it can feel a little flat.

Laura Marion, principal architect at Flight Architecture, says her last "hint of green" project was meant to feel light and breezy, but instead cast a "sickly haze" on the space.

For those who still love greens and blues, she suggests leaning into richer, more saturated shades, like emerald. “It feels both timeless and dramatic, especially when paired with white-and-grey stone or classic porcelain fixtures," she says.

All White

Once upon a time, nothing said luxury like an all-white bathroom. Fast-forward a decade, and the shine has worn off.

“Those spaces can feel cold and one-note now,” says Marion. "What we crave today is grounding, warmth.” Her go-to solution is incorporating matte black as a counterpoint. Whether it’s a stone tub, floor tile, or plumbing trim, black becomes the anchor, especially when paired with creamy neutrals, camel tones, and wood accents.

Navy Blue

“Navy had its moment, but it doesn’t excite anymore,” says Daniel Joseph Chenin, an architect, interior designer, and founder of his namesake studio.

Long considered a safe way to add contrast, the color has become so common that it risks looking flat and expected. Chenin finds it especially heavy when painted on walls or vanities.

His alternative: midnight teal. “It gives you the same depth as navy, but with a freshness and richness that’s missing in darker blues,” he says. The shade feels bold yet adaptable, providing a modern twist that works across classic and contemporary spaces.

Burgundy

After moving away from the predictable calm of greens, designers are also rethinking deep reds.

“Burgundy has a lot of warmth, but it can overwhelm a room, and it doesn’t play well with the lighter, airier palettes people are loving today,” says Chenin.

He recommends swapping it for deep terracotta, a hue that carries the same warmth, but feels grounded and modern—especially when paired with natural materials.

Olive Green

Olive green’s popularity came from its subtle warmth and earthy appeal; designers now find it can flatten a room. “It can make spaces feel closed in, rather than inviting,” says Chenin.

For a fresher, more versatile alternative, he recommends sage green. It's lighter and softer, and retains an organic feel, while also pairing beautifully with modern neutrals and natural textures.