Keep Garish Black Bathroom Tiles from Ruining a Room
Not only did the guest bathroom have those gaudy black tiles on most of the floors and walls, but it also boasted a black sink, toilet, counter and wallpaper. Even the door was painted black. Dark and ugly didn’t even come close to describing the horrid tiles or decor in that guest bathroom. No one wanted to go in there and many people even seemed to have trouble finding their way out. Yes, we had good lighting but the walls seemed to absorb all light sources. Although we wanted to start from scratch, only one thing prevented us – our budget.
Tearing out those horrible black tiles would have cost plenty. Luckily, we didn’t have to do that
Dealing with garish black bathroom tiles: a game plan
We had a rock bottom budget. In reality, this meant that our the floor tiles, the black wall tiles and even that black toilet would have to stay. The only major change we could make in that room was to paint over the dark wallpaper. Luckily, the wallpaper took up a good deal of wall space so we hoped – and prayed- that those garish bathroom tiles would look far less formidable with a contrasting color of light wall paint.
Start with paint to minimize ugly, garish or outdated bathroom tiles
Paint is one of the cheapest fixes around. Since that horrid black tile and wallpaper was in a guest bathroom, moisture levels weren’t nearly as high as they would be in a bathroom with a tub or shower. So we made the bold decision, years ago, to paint right over the wallpaper. Yes, this is possible and it can work well. We decided to choose a lovely light shade of green, nearly white, very pale and refreshing. We could have gone with white for a crisper look but reasoned that the green would be more in keeping with the black tiles and give a trendy look without showing off the age of our tiles, toilet and counter. White paint works best with newer fixtures.
We used Sherwin Williams paint and several coats of Bin primer over the wallpaper to make sure the paint would adhere to the wallpaper. We also sanded the wallpaper and used a tack cloth to get rid of dust. The paint alone made our bathroom appear extremely light and airy! We used a pale green paint that was neither muddy or too olive in tone, a pastel shade. I’m not giving a specific color because many shade of green work with black. Find a color that is airy, light and refreshing and you’ll be fine. It should be light enough to brighten the room and offset the dark effect of the black tile.
Clean and renew the grout between those garish bathroom tiles
With a fresh coat of paint , turn your attention to getting rid of any paint dust or dirt. Check the grout and fill in any gaps or spots that need repair.
Garish bathroom tiles look less ugly if accessories are updated as well
We wanted our guest bathroom to be welcoming. We had one thing in that room that wasn’t black and that was a gilt framed mirror. It screamed “Bordello” and not in any good way. Believe it or not, we actually replaced the heavy gilt covered mirror with a contemporary and plain black-trimmed mirror which actually popped against the light green walls. We used a simple rectangle, nothing fancy. The modern mirror design made the tile look trendier as well.
Light paint can make black tiles “pop” as an accent instead of a depressing focal point
We’d been searching for some balance between those outdated bathroom tiles, perhaps the ugliest tiles in America, and light colors to offset them. While the paint color was a step in the right direction, we decided to go with a casual and inviting them.
Accessories help you rediscover that black is not only back – but back in style – when used appropriately
I found an artist’s painting of birds on Ebay and hung that on a wall above the black toilet, distracting from the toilet itself. I scoured the internet and local stores and found a white vase filled with summer flowers at Joann Fabrics. When placed in a formerly dark corner, the whole room looked lighter, brighter and charming. A final touch? A nest filled with egg shaped guest soaps. Finally, deciding to appeal to the senses, I made sure we had golden guest towels, a muted yellow, as well as a matching floor rug. I got those at Steinmart, all on sale. The total cost? Under $500! As I hope the photos show, you’d never know this room was once a potential stand-in for Batman’s bat cave or a dark hole from which guests seldom seemed to emerge without nervous looks backwards.
Some final words of advice about how to handle garish black tiles
In order to keep the room looking fresh, I do change out the guest towels seasonally and also change the accessories. In fall, some mustard yellow candles and darker towels work well as does a picture featuring fall leaves. In fall, the space looks cozy and in summer it appears light and airy. The theme of the room focuses on accents from nature, keeping with the rest of our house. We also have several layers of lighting, from ceiling lights to candles and a small counter lamp. While the lighting is still on the dim side, this tends to be flattering to guests.
In spite of those ugly black bathroom tiles, we’ve actually managed to create a room which is soothing, not stifling, getting admiring comments. It is actually a highlight of our entry hall instead of a candidate for America’s ugliest bathroom. From garish black tiles to gorgeous and chic accents…I call that success!
