The Shop

This New Bathroom Color Trend Might Just Be the Easiest Upgrade

Plus, it goes with any style, any home.

January 21, 2020
Photo by Ty Mecham

If there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that even the best-loved home decor trends come and go—the days of open shelving and all-white kitchens may be waning, and even the classic subway tile is growing tired. When it comes to bathroom trends, Pinterest seems to dictate that a wash of neutral tile is the new way to go. However, bathroom renovations aren’t cheap, and we’d rather not rip everything out every time a trend shifts. So what options are we left with, to stock the bathroom with something a bit, well, longer-lasting?

Black accessories! It’s the answer that’s almost too simple. Hardware and accessories are the easiest way to upgrade the bathroom without renovating it—and while brass isn’t for everyone, and chrome quickly skews sterile, black works with pretty much every style. It also doesn’t compete with other colors and has a modern yet timeless quality about it. Bottom line: whether you’ve got a gut-renovated all-white bathroom (aka, a match made in heaven), or a garishly tiled rental, black accessories will last you from trend to ephemeral trend.


Here's How to Get It

Modern Black Toilet Brush & Bathroom Accessories

If you’re a one-and-done kinda shopper, you can swap all your accessories out in one fell swoop with this coordinated set. It’s kind of like an elegant set of fireplace tools, but for scrubbing the toilet and holding toilet paper.

Wood & Steel Slim Storage Cabinet

Cotton balls, half-used bottles of shampoo, and house-guest toothbrushes all need a place to go. Even if you’re tight on space, this super-slim, rolling (!) cabinet tucks it all away or shows it off—you decide.

Modern Black Towel Rack

If drilling into pre-existing tiles gives you the heebie-jeebies, consider a freestanding towel rack like this guy. The back row can hang dry bath towels, while the front keeps hand towels within reach. Plus, showing off your towels is way more fun than hiding them away.

Modern Toilet Paper Stand

If we’re operating under the assumption that everyone brings their phone into the bathroom (and we are), then you’ll need a place to plop it. This toilet paper stand in matte black is the perfect spot for a phone, book, scented candle, and oh…toilet paper.

Modern Black Wall Mirror with Shelf

Wall mirrors are pretty much always better when they come with storage attached. The shelf that runs along the bottom of this mirror is ideal for a bud vase, a jar for cotton swabs, or a tube of toothpaste.

Would you swap out your bathroom accessories for all-black? Let us know in the comments!

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • MarkWatson
    MarkWatson
  • Nan G
    Nan G
  • AuntBsMom
    AuntBsMom
  • Aja Aktay
    Aja Aktay
  • Arati Menon
    Arati Menon
When I'm not writing & editing for Home52, I'm likely to be found DIY-ing a new piece of furniture (or restoring an old one), hanging things on the wall in my apartment, or watching hours of vintage RHONY.

5 Comments

MarkWatson February 15, 2023
This Post is quite good. Such great and insightful ideas are presented in this blog. If you're looking for the best websites for Tall Cabinet, go to
Tallboys Direct.
 
Nan G. January 30, 2020
My bathroom is a mere 5X8 including a tub, sink w/cabinet and toilet/w overhead towel holder. (5X6 excluding tub.)
I painted it Martha Stewart's Paper Bag, a nice warm spicy light brown.
All the rest is white, bright white.
Blinding white.
And silver (chrome).
I'd love ideas for it.
We also have a white wedge bakers rack in there to hold other stuff.
Do I dare dump the closed storage space under the sink to get an airy look?
Where do you then put the cleansers, hair dryers, scrubbing brushes???
 
AuntBsMom January 22, 2020
I just redid my bathroom but used oil rubbed bronze. Not quite black but still striking and so much better than chrome.
 
Aja A. January 21, 2020
Love how black hardware pops against the clean tiles and blonde wood. It has a clean Scandinavian vibe that feels fresh/modern but still homey when paired with the eucalyptus. I'm thinking of doing a black toilet paper roll holder and towel holder in my bathroom to accent the black mirror I just hung.
 
Arati M. January 21, 2020
It's definitely going into the prewar bathroom reno I've been planning (for too long). It's amazing how it can swing both ways—classic *and* contemporary.