EVA SONAIKE Exciting ways to use colour and pattern in your bathroom
THE INTERIOR AND TEXTILES DESIGNER ON USING COLOUR WITH CONFIDENCE
WHEN I was growing up in the 1970s, bathrooms were filled with colour and pattern, before times moved on in favour of plain white sanctuaries. But I want us to look at colour and pattern again. They are essential ingredients in bathroom design: they can lift our mood and enhance the experience of downtime.
This is something I believe strongly; I have a Nigerian heritage and colourful expression is part of Yoruba culture. I grew up in Germany, then moved to London, where I studied fashion before setting up my company specialising in African-inspired textiles and wallpaper. We can all benefit from colour, not just for aesthetic reasons, but also for emotional ones: soft blues can make us feel calmer, greens can be fresh and restorative, and pinks and reds can be invigorating.
I recommend starting your bathroom scheme by simply choosing your favourite colour, preferably one that reflects the way you want to feel. Use it as your base and build from it, combining different shades and bringing in other colours and textures. Create a mood board of swatches and images. Be as experimental as you like and trust your instincts: you will quickly be able to see the combinations that speak to you.
The easiest way to introduce splashes of colour and texture is to accessorise with towels, bath mats, baskets and plants that thrive in a humid environment, but I would go further – tiles, walls in bathroom-specific paint, a blind and pouffe in outdoor (water-resistant) fabric. I also love some of the coloured sanitaryware available, such as a pink basin in a dressing area or a colourful bath as a focal point. Together they will help a bathroom feel less clinical and more like a living space.
When it comes to pattern, I like to keep things simple but bold, as this creates a more contemporary look than a busy mix. Pick a genre of pattern and stick to it, combining perhaps two graphic patterns, for example, rather than mixing in a floral as well.
Finally, ensure the bathroom is well lit, making the most of natural light during the day and installing good-quality fixtures for evening. Lights need warmcoloured bulbs that enhance the colours and patterns in the room. Make sure they are dimmable or installed on a choice of circuits so you can adjust the mood.
QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR BATHROOM DESIGNS? I often think of Morocco for its uplifting colours, patterned tiles and sense of opulence.
GO-TO BATHROOM COLOURS?
The rejuvenating combination of purple and green. A PRODUCT YOU LOVE? The Cielo Delfo vanity unit, for its ribbed texture, green oval countertop and round basin. It is more interesting than something with a strictly linear shape.