Colorful Toilets Are Everywhere Again—Would You Commit?
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While almost everyone who appreciates good design is open to trends, certain elements seem to remain constant because they’re so classic. For some, that’s a Chesterfield sofa, which is almost always upholstered in rich cognac leather; for others, it’s Chinese pottery that’s been produced more or less the same way for the past 20,000 years. For us, it’s a white toilet. Yes, we said it. The toilet is definitely one of those fixtures in the home that we tend to forget about when decorating because, well, it’s more functional than decorative—until now. More and more, we’re seeing colorful toilets in some really beautiful homes.
To confirm that the colorful toilet trend is, indeed, real, we asked several interior designers for their thoughts on the matter. Should we do away with white toilets and replace them with colors that complement the rest of the space? While some, like Betty Ann Gilrain and Robin Henry, think the idea of drawing more attention to the commode is unnecessary and distracting, others, including Jonathan Adler, Sasha Bikoff, and Isabel Ladd, are all for it. Ahead, you’ll find quite compelling cases both for and against toilets in funky shades that are anything but vanilla—or should we say ”white”?
A Case for Colorful Commodes
There’s really no functional reason why a toilet needs to be white: It doesn’t make it less noticeable, easier to find in the dark, or simpler to clean. So, why not have a little fun and swap your traditional toilet out for a funkier one? “It’s become a beige, beige, beige world, and the bathroom hasn’t escaped this blanding down of design,” says Adler. “Personally, I think life’s short, and when you’re about to kick the bucket the last thing you want to do is look back and see an endless haze of beige. A colorful bathroom says you’re a colorful person.” He points to this Kohler toilet in Spring Green, a color the company first introduced in 1927. “It’s magic,” he says. “It evokes nostalgia yet feels fresh, relevant, and modern.”
Of course, Adler, famous for his bold use of pattern, texture, and color, would be Team Colorful Toilets. After all, his spaces evoke his signature fresh approach to design: it’s fun, unique, and never dull, so it should come as no surprise that the native New Yorker is ready to ditch the white toilets of the world.
Bikoff, another designer who has rarely if ever decorated the projects in her enormous portfolio with an abundance of white, agrees. “I believe that toilets should complement a bathroom and enhance the design. Opting for a neutral toilet doesn’t necessarily make it disappear,” she says. “Plus, most of the time, a bright white toilet—especially in a colorful bathroom—actually stands out.”
Ladd, a proponent of fluid design in which all of the elements work together to create a cohesive space, is all for making the toilet part of the bathroom’s design scheme. In fact, she used the same Kohler toilet Adler praised but in a peach color in House Beautiful’s 2023 Whole Home in Chicago.
The designers’ consensus thus far: Colorful toilets are fun and worth trying.
An Argument Against Colorful Toilets
Anyone who’s either decorated or renovated a powder room can attest to both the spatial and financial cost of a toilet, so if you’re not entirely sure if you’re on board with such a bold choice in such a small space, sticking to tradition when it comes to your toilet is hardly a bad idea. In other words, buying a classic white one is playing it safe without sacrificing style. Gilrain says, “While I am all for having some fun in one of the home’s smallest spaces, I’d rather experiment with a bold wallpaper or unique wall mirror than with the color of a toilet, which, in my opinion, doesn’t need any added attention.” She has a point: Toilets do serve only one non-glamorous function, so making them the most eye-catching fixture in the space might be a little risky.
Gilrain isn’t alone in her preference for traditional bathroom fixtures. Robin Henry, a member of the 2015 House Beautiful Next Wave class of designers, agrees. She says, “I think the main reason white toilets are so popular is psychological: The color white is associated with cleanliness, purity, and safety, all of which are appealing attributes for a bathroom!” She’s not wrong. “For me, darker toilet colors bring a bit of an ick factor, and some of the lighter toilet shades can give off a nostalgic vibe or feel more suited to kids’ bathrooms.”
Colorful Toilets: Yay or Nay?
As with most design dilemmas, there’s no one right answer to the question of whether or not a colorful toilet is a good idea. If you’re someone who likes to take aesthetic risks and have a bit of fun, pull the trigger and go with a colorful toilet. “Colorful toilets bring unexpected character and personality to a space that’s often overlooked. While a standard white toilet blends into the background as a purely functional piece, a colorful toilet feels more thoughtful, adding a whimsical and nostalgic touch. It’s a simple yet impactful way to infuse personality and charm into a modern bathroom,” says Alex Yacavone, design studio manager of trend and color, material and finish at Kohler.
If you’re wondering what color to get, look to the most prominent ones in the wallpaper or floor tiles. Bringing that hue off the walls and floors and onto a three-dimensional fixture can make your bathroom more visually enticing. Otherwise, stick with classic white. No one will ever accuse you of being boring for that.
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