15 Timeless Black and White Bathrooms That Prove the Combo is Kismet

They say opposites attract, but the jury’s still out on whether those who reside on polar ends of the spectrum actually reside together for long. One exception? Black and white. A designer favorite that dates all the way back to America’s first "official" interior decorator, Dorothy Draper, black and white is both classic and avant-garde. Designers adore using the combo anywhere, but especially the bathroom, where hard surfaces reign supreme and opportunities for textiles are limited. Whether used in exclusivity or as a statement color sidekick, a black and white palette makes a dramatic impact in the bathroom.

From classic black and white penny tile to all-over black and white Arabescato marble, black and white can skew pragmatic or hyper-luxe. Part of the appeal of a black and white bath, of course, is that the majority of residential bathrooms come equipped with white porcelain fixtures, making any palette that incorporates the shade a natural shoo-in. In a construction-grade bath, even a move as seemingly simple as painting your walls black can have a stunning effect. For the less reserved among us, a black and white theme delivers as well. Going-for-broke design moves (i.e. all-over wallpaper, all-over marble, or striped tile shower walls) have their risk factor significantly downgraded when rendered in classic black and white.

Mulling over the merits of a black and white bath, but need a little more inspiration before you give it the green light? Ahead, we’ve collected timeless black and white bathroom ideas from top interior designers that make a compelling case for putting this power palette into play.

1.Emerald Pretty
Black and white surrounds are enhanced by a jewel-tone green vanity.



2.Black Magic
All-black bath underscored with just a hint.



3.Cabana Chic
Nothing is as classic as a black and white cabana stripe.



4.Set in Stone
White-veined black marble and a high-grain wood vanity strike up a stunning contrast.



5.Chalk it Up
To lend a main-floor powder room a bit of irreverence, fixtures with black chalkboard walls.



6.Hush Hour
Black and white has a reputation for skewing formal, in this zen-as-can-be bath, opting for rustic finishes can make the combo feel casually chic.



7.Mad About Plaid
Spring for a black and white tile in a classic pattern like plaid to add verve to a powder room.



8.Fronds with Benefits
Wallpaper never fails in a powder room, so why not make it black and white wallpaper in a mesmerizing pattern? For this stately bathused a captivating frond-flocked paper.



9.The Luxe Stuff
Black and white is the zenith of sophistication, so why not opt for an abundance of show-stopping elements in black and white.



10.Bottle Service
White fixtures stand in dramatic contrast to custom, black-framed bottle glass windows in this show-piece bath designed.



11.Marble Moment
A hyper-luxe tub crafted of black and white marble makes this bath designed.



12.Strike-Through
A black and white Kelly Wearstler wallpaper wakes up this elegant bath designed.



13.Butterfly Effect
Playful white trompe l'oeil pieces backed by an exuberant black-and-white butterfly-flocked wallpaper make this powder room designed.



14.Celestial Mood
To make white orb pendants appear like glowing planets, back them with a gridded black backdrop.



15.New Romantics
A romantic French armoire feels like perfection when contrasted with classic black and white elements in this beautiful bath designed.