How to Brighten Up Your Bathroom With Paint

Time to pick up the paint brush and liven up your bathroom for spring? Before opting for the four walls, same color approach, consider these light and airy alternatives that reflect the change of season.

Freshen up cabinetry

Freshen up cabinetry with the hues of spring but dare to go beyond solids. Techniques like splatters and trim painting allow you to use bright, cheery spring colors without the shocking effect concentrated bright color might have.

Designer Michelle Pollack told HDTV she warns her clients not to overdo bright color in their homes. "It is extremely important to balance colors with a lot of energy, because what might seem fun and exciting can become exhausting over time." She recommends a complementary color scheme using colors that are opposites on the color wheel to address this issue.

Create a seasonal color accent wall

Painting one wall a contrasting or complementary color is an established element of room design. One way to keep a room up to date is to paint three walls a neutral color and designate the fourth a seasonal color accent wall. Repainting the seasonal color wall each season will ensure your bathroom looks as new and fresh in the spring as it does cozy and settled in the winter.

Several paint manufacturers provide fun online tools that let you explore palettes and choose seasonal wall colors. Sherwin-Williams' online visualizer tool even lets you upload a photo and apply a selected color to give you a sense of how your own bathroom might look.

Stencil a spring border

Using colors and/or shapes associated with spring, you can enliven your bathroom in an hour or two by painting on some stenciled designs.

For something a little different than a row of flowers or baby birds, consider a single stencil with an inspiring seasonal quotation as well as an image.

Order a customized wall mural or decal to complement fresh paint

If you've always loved the idea of a wall mural but lack sufficient inner artist to create it, there are options beyond hiring a painter. Online services can turn your own photo or photo cut-out into an adhesive wall mural. Think creatively. To reflect the change of season, decorate the kids' bathroom wall with a mural or decal reflecting your children's favorite spring sport, activity, or vacation experience. Some customized murals are even repositionable.

Decals also come in ready-made version if you're merely looking for a quick splash of spring color or theme to update your bathroom's look.

With the mural creating the main visual effect, all you need do with the paint can and brush is provide an appropriate background color.