How To Save A Pepto-Bismol Pink Bathroom, According to an Interior Designer

What do you do with a pink bathroom?! In theory, it sounds fun, potentially chic. But, the longer I stared at my downstairs bathroom, the more the walls started closing in on me. They weren’t ballet slipper or blush; not the trendy, questionable-marketing-ploy known as “millennial pink.” They’re a little closer to Pepto-Bismol, with the color covering the floor and walls, all trimmed in black. Take a look:

This was a huge trend in the ’50s—one we saw in many of the homes in our price range. There’s a certain charm to it, but  the challenge, though, is making it work. I’m not crazy about the pink-and-black Parisian poodle look, which I’ve seen in some redesigns. I’m not afraid of kitsch, either—the first thing we bought for the house was a flamingo shower curtain—but I also don’t want to turn the room into Margaritaville. 

How to Update a Pink Bathroom So It’s Fresh for 2024 (and Beyond)

Back in early 2018, I mocked up several ideas for the space (which I’ll share below), but it’s been six years! A lot has changed since then, so I turned to a pro to get an interior designer’s take on working with what you’ve got. Brittney Quinn Morgan is the founder of Brittney Quinn Interiors, a design studio based in Nashville, TN, that specializes in playful-yet-cozy spaces you’ll want to spend every minute in. Who better to weigh in?! Here’s what she had to say.

What color combinations would you recommend for a pink bathroom? 

“In this bathroom, I’d stick with the pink and black and white color scheme that’s already going on, but I’d really lean into the pink, introduce some gold tones via the fixtures, and add in some pops of natural green with plants.”

Here’s what that would look like:

Sources: Tempaper Family of Cranes peel-and-stick wallpaper; West Elm Ellington bathroom vanity; CB2 Monaco black round wall mirror; CB2 Falazo abstract shower curtain; Globe Electric Celestia light; Allen + Roth Harlow brushed gold faucet; The Sill large Majesty palm; Anthropologie pothos plant; Flamingo soap dispenser, Amazon; Ink + Ivy Arbor striped tassel bath rug, Target

What’s important to keep in mind to make the room feel fresh for today while preserving its character?

“I think the biggest thing is to think about the era in which the space was originally designed, and bring in new pieces that feel cohesive with that same style and vibe — you want pieces that feel timeless, like they could be vintage and modern at the same time. Also identify the things in the space that give it that character, like colorful tile or crown molding, and find ways to highlight them,” Morgan says. That could be leaning into the pink with a coordinating wallpaper or painting the molding a bold color, for example. 

What would you suggest for people who want a full on Palm Springs banana leaf vibe? 

“Go for it! A retro pink bathroom is basically screaming ‘Palm Springs!’ already, so you may as well go all out if that’s your style. I think the moodboard I put together has that Palm Springs vibe without going the traditional banana leaf route, but it’d be pretty easy to turn it into the bathroom of Blanche Deveraux’s dreams with just a few changes,” she says. “Green and pink look amazing together, so swap the crane wallpaper for a banana leaf motif (if you want to splurge, Martinique is the blueprint!) — and if you really want to go the extra mile, hang a shower curtain in a fabric that matches the wallpaper.”

She also had an ingenious tip to make the space look high-end without killing your budget:

“For an extra luxe look, hang two shower curtains to frame the sides of the shower like you would a window.”

I love this moodboard and Morgan’s ideas so much that it saddens me to report my pink bathroom is now pale green. (In late 2020, the tiles started bulging and popping off, and I learned the space needed to be stripped to the studs due to damage over the years—and to bring it up to code. So we wound up totally renovating the space.)

Love Morgan’s ideas too? If you’d like to book a consultation—or see more of her work—check out her website or follow her on Instagram, @brittneyquinninteriors.

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In Case You’re Curious: Here’s How I Originally Updated the Pink Bathroom

For a while, I kept things simple with a (faux) fiddle leaf fig tree, some framed beach and flamingo art and a creme-and-pink fringed shower curtain. 

I seriously considered changing out the vanity and adding wallpaper, and back in 2018, I mocked up a few ideas. As you can see, there are mixed results.

Here are my original ideas, courtesy of some really amateur Photoshopping. 

1. Blush and White from Walls Need Love:

Ah, chevron. You were everywhere in the mid-2010s, to the point that we all needed a breather from the style. Still, I like the idea of pulling in some of these colors.

Picture:

• Coppery finishes
• Blush and cream tones for warmth while maintaining airiness
• Natural wood accents

2. A mellow take on the Hollywood Hotel banana leaf motif from Chasing Paper:

Sadly, this style has been discontinued, but you can find some similar styles online. These feel a bit more current anyway:

• Boho Palms wallpaper, Spoonflower
• Paradise Palms Blush wallpaper, Spoonflower
• Tropical Pink Exotic Wall Mural, Wallmur

3. Leaning into a gray-and-pink scheme, with this design from Rocky Mountain Decals:

This style has been discontinued as well (here’s a similar style from Amazon!), but I like the idea of using an oversize pattern to offset the small, 4″x4″ tiles, and bringing in grays to bridge the sharp contrast of the black trim and floor tile.

4. Bringing in Strong Metallics with Peonies by Chasing Paper:

The gold lines almost demand a gold (or matte black) faucet though, right?

5. A Brazen King Flamingo Print from Walls Need Love:

I love how the dark background ties in with the black tile accents, making the room feel a bit moodier—and more deliberately designed. Years later, I’m still into it. But I’d need to swap the vanity for sure (and hide that plunger).

6. Bringing the Outdoors (Sorta) in with Chasing Paper’s Green Leaf print:

More classic and straightforward, bringing in strong green tones. These days, I think I’d go with something a bit more muted, like this.

7. Going Less Busy (But Still Colorful) with Watercolor Wallpaper from Target:

With such small tile everywhere, I worry that wallpaper that’s too detailed might be a bit aggressive for this space. This still feels livelier—and draws the eye upward—than a solid color on the upper walls, and it could be fun for a kid’s bathroom.

What would you do with this space? DM me your ideas; I’d love to hear them.