Posted on January 8, 2022 by KylieMawdsley
Beautiful Paint Colors to Update an Almond Tub, Toilet or Sink
Partner post: Ideas to Update an Almond Bathroom
Almond bathrooms can be buuuutt-ugly, and I have no problem saying that without worrying about insulting you and your butt-ugly almond bathroom.
Why?
Because I have owned a butt-ugly almond bathroom, I’ve felt your exquisite pain. But, I will also clarify that not ALL of them are that bad, but there are some…whoa.
And because paint is the easiest and most affordable way to transform any space in your home, you’ll want to look at some color options before making any costly changes involving new bathroom fixtures. So, read on my almond-challenged friend!
LET’S CALL IT LIKE IT IS…
Start treating almond as a color, rather than a ‘thing’. In my work as an Online Color Consultant, I often hear ‘…my almond tub, my bone-colored sink,’ but when you think about it, what exactly is almond? Well, almond is a light tan-beige. And that’s why it’s so darned awkward! If it were a normal beige or tan, it would be dark enough to accommodate a wider range of colors (I mean, what doesn’t go with tan, right?)
However, because it’s a light tan it can look dirty and dated when placed with the wrong colors.
But regardless, once you start treating ‘almond’ like a color, you can incorporate it into a color scheme that complements it – rather than fights with it.
THE BEST PAINT COLORS FOR A RANGE OF BONE OR ALMOND FIXTURES
There are many ‘tan’ tubs out there with different undertones. While one person might have a more passive, muted, almost creamy tan, another will have one with a pink, yellow or yellow-green undertone (yellow-green is the most common). This means that these colors aren’t fool-proof with EVERY tan fixture, as there are many manufacturer finishes out there – but they sure are a great place to start!
1. BENJAMIN MOORE KINGSPORT GRAY HC 86
Kingsport Gray is a subtle mix of gray and brown, which means it’s a greige, however, it does FAVOUR brown over gray.
The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock
While the above photo doesn’t have almond fixtures, you can see how nice it would look as the countertop has some of those warm almond-inspired tones in it.
Please remember that I use ONLY my E-Design client’s photos on my blog. Sometimes I won’t have exactly the photo I need, but I’ll do my best to show you what I’m talking about with a photo or ‘paint blob’.
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO KINGSPORT GRAY
These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.
- Benjamin Moore Iron Gate
- Benjamin Moore Equestrian Gray
- Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray
Can you STRETCH your bathtub into the slightly lighter Ashley Gray? It never hurts to try!
The 6 Best Paint Colors for a Bathroom Vanity
2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MEGA GREIGE 7031
Mega Greige is a soft medium-toned greige that sits well in a room with tan fixtures and can look gorgeous on a bathroom vanity.
In this next image, why is Mega Greige a great choice?
The strong color of the tub surround doesn’t agree with the tile floor – they have different needs. HOWEVER, one thing they do agree on is that they both like the color of the GROUT around the tile! That’s right, grout can be a great place to pull a color from!
I’m sure my client was hoping for a lighter, more modern color, but their bathroom just wasn’t ready for it!
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MEGA GREIGE
These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.
- Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray
3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TONY TAUPE 7038
Tony Taupe is a soft, medium-toned beige-brown, but leans nicely into gray, so it doesn’t have a typical golden look to it.
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO TONY TAUPE
These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.
- Sherwin Williams Portico
- Benjamin Moore Indian River
- Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige
The 5 Best Sherwin Williams Beige Paint Colors
The Most MODERN Beige & Tan Paint Colors
4. BENJAMIN MOORE SMOKEY OYSTER 2109-40
Smoked Oyster is a beautiful blend of purple and a warm gray/greige – a fab color for some personality! It would be particularly beautiful with some of the travertines out there. However, if you have the yellow-green version of almond fixtures, stay far away, as the purple and yellow-green won’t love each other at all! This color prefers the more subtle, lighter color tan fixtures.
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SMOKED OYSTER
- Benjamin Moore Stone Harbor
- Benjamin Moore Silver Fox
The 9 Best Purple Paint Colors
The 8 Best Darker Greige & Taupe Paint Colors
5. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOWN OC 131
White Down is definitely one of my fave off-white colors. Please note, your tan fixtures maybe end up being DARKER than your walls; this will happen with any off-white paint color. However, it’s still a pretty and fresh combo, especially if you support it with the right bathroom decor.
PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE DOWN
- Sherwin Williams Creamy
- Sherwin Williams White Duck
The 5 Best Cream Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore
The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colors
5. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC 172
Revere Pewter is another interesting choice for an almond-inspired bathroom. If you’re going for a beachy theme, this soft gray and its subtle green undertone can be enhanced with off-white towels and blue-green accents. However, it’s best in a bathroom with a more MUTED almond finish.
Above, you’ll see a Kingsport Gray vanity with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter walls. Revere can SOMETIMES be a wink muddy/green for some almond fixtures. You can see how they relate here when you look at the shower surround reflected in the mirror.
PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO REVERE PEWTER
These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.
- Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray
- Sherwin Williams Jogging Path
- Benjamin Moore Fieldstone
The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors
A FEW POINTS TO PONDER
- You may have noticed that MOST of the above colors are not in the off-white or light range. It’s not a great idea to partner almond fixtures with a color that’s LIGHTER than them – the balance will be off, and you’ll risk highlighting the fixtures. The exceptions are some creams and tans, as they’re warm colors and can layer better (but still, it’s risky).
-
If you are looking for drama, warmth, interest and personality, then you could paint your walls a darker color. However, if you don’t have a great ventilation system (common in homes with almond fixtures), those dark walls might show drips after a hot shower. Learn more about paint finishes here.
- Cream will give you a lighter and brighter look and allow you the opportunity to accent with browns, blacks and earth tones. However, with varying shades of almond/bone out there, it can be tricky to find the one that works just right (not all bones were created equal…wink wink). See some beautiful cream paint colors here
More Ways to Update an Almond Bathroom
PAINT COLORS THAT DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH ALMOND OR BONE BATHROOM FIXTURES
WHITE
White or off-white walls will only accent the almond-nessity of your tub and white will make the almond look dirty.
PINK, ROSE OR PEACH
Any version, whether it’s light, medium or dark will look terrible with almond.
ALMOST ANY COLOR THAT’S LIGHTER THAN YOUR BATHROOM FIXTURE
Most light colors in will make almond look dirtier than it is.
BLUE & GREEN
These colors can be touch and go in a bathroom. While you can humour some blue/grays or green/grays, be careful that you aren’t contrasting too much with the warm tones of your fixtures.
And remember, there are other things to consider in your bathroom, such as your countertop, flooring, exposure and of course, your PERSONAL taste! Be sure that your chosen color satisfies as many of those as possible.
READ MORE
E-design: An Almond Bathroom Update
Ideas to Update an Almond or Bone Bathroom
The 11 Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE!
How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-PART SERIES
Need help?
Check out my E-Design and Online Color Consulting Packages!
Originally written in 2016, updated in 2022
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Hi Kylie-
Thanks for steering me in the right direction. i have a windowless almond bathroom with almond toilet, faux travertine ceramic floor and polished real travertine wall. Only one wall and the ceiling bulwark need painting as the other wall is a smoky mirror. This house was built in 1987. knew pinks were out but have been going into all kinds of colours and getting nowhere. Friends are advising an off white with only ochre but that is too light I feel, like you do. The exterior of this Ottawa townhouse is Navaho White. So far I like Farrow and Ball Farrow’s Cream with the travertine, but it’s maybe making the bathroom too dark. I can’t change things yet as we just moved in a year ago and money is in short supply. The previous owner got rid of the almond counter and replaced it with a dark brown and glass vessel sink with chrome faucet. The ceiling light is fluorescent inside a bulwark covered by egg crate over the counter area. Should I try a lighter colour like Ringwold Ground? Fallow is too light from what you’re saying. And I so agree it has to be yellow toned and nothing else. Ochre or yellow oxide is my favourite colour
Thanks for your advice here.
Regards-
Joanne
Hmmm, while we don’t have Farrow and Ball here, I did look it up and Cream does look too dark! It seems to me like Ringwold Ground looks a lot like Navajo White from Benjamin Moore??? I’ve also really enjoyed BM’s Maritime lately because it’s cream – without too much yellow. It might not be warm enough for you, but it’s certainly worth looking at! And to confirm you question, you are totally on the right lines going for a light cream (not as light as off-white but not as heavy as a heavy cream) – I think this is where you’ll find a happy place between your almond and travertine!
And as long as the colour has that subtle yellow in it, it will look cool with Yellow Oxide as long as you stay away from the ‘fresh, almost pastel based yellow/cream colours)
~Kylie
What trim color would you use with Maritime White walls?
Author
Hi Lilly, I’d keep it pretty clean and simple with Chantilly Lace 🙂
Hi Margie! That’s a great idea! I did focus on Almond but there’s really quite a wide array of fixture colours out there – black, brown, purple, blue – all the colours in the rainbow 😉
(ps, I would lean toward Palladian as Whythe might be a bit heavy looking)
~Kylie
Kylie, thank you SO MUCH for this blog post! When my home was built in 2005, the builders used a bone/bisque off-white 6 inch tile in both the hall and master bathrooms. The tile and grout are still in excellent condition but I wanted to lighten both bathrooms, which were originally painted with Sherwin Williams Moderate White, to achieve that fresh, clean farmhouse white look. I was devastated when the test area of Sherwin Williams Alabaster (my pick) made the shower tiles look peach. I feared I would have to settle for a blah khaki-cream bathroom just to get the walls to coordinate with the shower tile that went all the way to the ceiling.
In desperation, I searched for “white paint for almond tile” hoping against hope that maybe somebody had a suggestion. I found your blog and while I wanted to fully trust your decorating experience, I admit I bought samples of Sherwin Williams Creamy and Panda White. The Panda White was almost an exact match to the tile color. The Creamy was a few shades lighter and much closer to the white I wanted. I decided to trust your advice and painted the walls Creamy. By the time it dried, I was in love! I had the crisp white bathroom I wanted but it blended SO WELL with the bone colored tile that there was no clash! The bathroom looks farmhouse-y and fresh! My master bathroom is next and I’m doing SW Creamy again since I know it is going to look spectacular. Your blog has saved my farmhouse design dreams! Thank you so much and hugs from Houston!
Author
Shanta, this is fabulous news and JUST what I love to hear – I’m so happy for you! It’s great when you can take something challenging and make it work so that it actually is like you ‘planned it all from scratch!’ Ya done good 😉
~Kylie
I have almond sink, toilet and tub/shower. I also have gold faucets. What colors would you suggest because I also have gold faucets?
Author
Hi Ann! I do try to give as much helpful info on my blog, and if that doesn’t work, you might like to check out my E-design it is affordable and fun – this way I can look at photos of your space and spend some time with it! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Hi , how would mindful grey work with bone fixtures and black cabinet and black slate flooring. The vanity top is a yellowish mable
. Thanks Diane
Author
Hi Diane, off the top of my head it strikes me as just a bit too gray and drab looking for the warmth of your products, you may want to lean a bit more into a muted, beige tone of sorts 🙂
Hi, I have almond fixtures in my small bathroom. We currently have an oak vanity. We don’t anticipate staying in this house much longer so we are looking for a more affordable way to update the vanity. I am considering sanding and painting the vanity. I am wondering if you have any color recommendations you think would be suitable with the almond fixtures. I was thinking something along the chocolate browns. A color that would possibly tie in with the almond fixtures and either the SW Creamy paint or the BM Gentle Cream paint. I would love to hear your suggestions. thank you!
HELP! What a great site this is…..I have remodeled my master bath with Chiaro travertine tile in the shower and flooring, with fwhite vanity and cabinets. Skirting (baseboard) is also a beautiful creamy “wheat” color. I only have 2 walls and have spent a fortune on all the different sample colors. I’m beside myself since nothing seems to be a true compliment to the travertine. Can’t be gray, can’t be off white. I just painted Benjamin Moore’s Cabot Trail – too dark and Bone White which comes close but needs something a bit darker to compliment the tile. You suggested accessible beige which I may try next. Color should be warm, Painters come tomorrow and I have to decide today. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!
First, I love your site! I’m on an extremely tight budget and want to update my 1980’s almond bathroom. What are the colors on that chart? The bathroom had a west facing window and all the greige paints look gray and seem to make the almond stand out more, I like Agreeable Grey, but it almost looks white.
Author
Hi Susan! The colours on the chart are more just basic placeholder blobs – not specific references as those are always off from what a colour REALLY looks like!
Thanks! My oppinininafed family decided on Balenced Beige wall color. It’s better than the current lime green. My vanity is currently painted bright white. Any recommendations on a new paint color for that. I think I may try doing the countertop in a spray stone effect , maybe the light brown Rust-Oleum. I’m also going to frame the big mirror and paint the god-awful silver Hollywood lights rubbed bronze.
Hi! This is just what Im looking for! Im buying a condo in Florida circa 2004 and everything (floor tiles, bathroom tiles, sinks and vanity) is beige and unfortunately its in excellent condition so it seems wasteful getting rid of it all… but I’m grossed out because I am loving gray and white neutrals in NYC where I live. I loved your suggestion for smoked oyster color and really wanted to see what it would look like with and beige based bathroom and tiles but the link isn’t working. Can you please fix it?
Author
Oh man, I’m SCANNING my files, trying to figure out what the heck I was linking to and I can’t figure it out! I’ll keep looking, but in the meantime, I took that link out. It IS super gorgeous though and worth grabbing a sample of!
What do you think of a clay/rust color, such as SW Spiced Cider perhaps, for a small windowless bathroom with a tan shower? This is for a teenage boy that wants BOLD and COLOR. Thank you!
Author
I think that sounds VERY COOL! Just keep in mind that colours in this depth can show more moisture on the walls and I do know how teen boys love their hot drippy showers!
I made the mistake of painting the bedroom Eider White ( it looks great with my gray furn with hint of blue) and now I have to find a paint color to blend in the adjacent bathroom with almond tile!! oops! Any tips on coordinating a grey tint bedroom with an adjacent bath with almond tile?
Asking for a friend because I would never had made that rookie mistake :0).
Author
Ermmmm…sooooo…the problem is that warm colours don’t love to be partnered with colours that are lighter and cooler than them, so ANYTHING you’d consider for the bathroom…short of white, won’t really look great with Eider White. Your best bet would be to find a light-medium warm gray-greige with a green undertone as the green would ‘complement’ the purple of Eider White will hopefully humouring the almond tile too!
Tell your friend it happens ALL the time and Eider White is a sneaky bugger ;).
Thanks for responding! I was really stumped. I am now looking at magnetic gray and worldly gray. I think one of these will work.; both colors I pulled off of other posts on your site. You are the oracle of almond tile.
–Stacy
I am renovating to sell my townhome (stripped bathrooms and all flooring to renovate and then met hubs) and am not pulling out the tub/shower combo in my master and spare baths. Spare bath has SW Natural Choice and looks fantastic because of great lighting. Small master looks awful no matter what color is on walls. So far painted SW creamy and Nat Choice and no go. Now opting for SW Softer Tan, a near match for the shower tub. Your article articulates why that should work. I am trying to NOT accentuate that awful 1988 color Choice.
Kylie,
If you can please disregard my post asking the question of the paint color in the picture with the brown mirror on this blog. I see that the color was listed below the picture. I thought I had looked for that, but I guess I did not. Thank you, love your website and advice.
Your tips were, as always, so helpful. I did laugh reading the list of colours that don’t go with almond fixtures. I think my bathroom manages to contradict every single piece of advice you give.
I currently have very pale pink walls which make the “linen” fixtures look slightly nauseous. I suspect the wall color was supposed to go with the pink of the sunset in the tiled nautical scene that makes up part of the bath surround (I only wish I was kidding). All this is nicely finished with a pure white vanity top, and orangey woodwork.
Somehow I hope to make all of this live together, and look like it belongs in this decade – though I may have to settle for this century.
Many thanks, again, for your thoughtful articles.
This article saved me so much aggravation and money. My daughter purchased a home that was built in 1975 and renovated a lot of it, but the bathroom was ugly as could be and there was only so much she could spend. We actually chose a color in the same family as one of the recommended ones called “A Dash of Pepper” by Sherwin Williams and the transformation was amazing. Thank you so much!
Author
Victoria, it’s comments like this that make my day – THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Hi Kylie! Thank you for your inspirational and informative site! I may have missed it, so my apologies for asking – what is the vanity base cabinet color that is paired with the Tony Taupe walls? Thanks so much!
Author
Thanks for asking, Michele! That’s SW Dovetail 🙂