101 Ideas: Brighten up your bathroom

White sinks, tubs and toilets are classic bathroom fixtures. Learn how to pair them with colors that make them look fresh.

Although there are some absolutely gorgeous boutique lines producing sinks and toilets in rich, deep colors, white is still by far the most popular choice for toilets, tubs and sinks, says Bob Garder, president of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

For a clean but comfortable look, Los Angeles interior designer Nicole Sassaman loves Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage with white bathroom fixtures. "Or," says Sassaman, "try some of the metallic blue paints in the Ralph Lauren line." Choosing a darker paint color also gives you an artistic backdrop against which you can install colorful hooks or hang vibrant towels.

If you will be putting on makeup in the bathroom, says Marcia Walter, of the International Association of Color Consultants, colors flattering to your skin tone can be important. "Steer clear of gray and deeper yellow-greens," she says.

Other deep colors can work very well in bathrooms, however, even if your bathroom is tiny, says Catherine Stein, president of The Color Council.

"Don't try to hide the fact that it's a small space," says Stein. "Instead, treat the room like a little jewel box, painting the walls and the ceiling the same color, and make it really special."

Courtesy of Susan Kleinman onhgtv.com. For thousands of other ideas, visit www.hgtv.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.