We’re about to board a plane back from Boston—thankfully not canceled despite the snowy weather—so this update is arriving a bit early. We’ve been debating paint colors for the hall bathroom since we moved in. At one point we leaned toward a deep blue, which we ended up using in the adjacent guest bedroom, and since then the options have bounced between dark, light, colorful, and muted.
Everything clicked when we placed that bright fish painting on the whitewashed shelf. Suddenly there was a clear direction: walls that are toned down but not neutral, with vibrant accents—consistent with the rest of the house, only this time with a plum undertone. We chose Elephant Gray by Benjamin Moore and used a satin finish that’s appropriate for bathrooms. A single quart covered the small space. Unlike cooler grays like Moonshine, Elephant Gray brings a warm, plummy hint that reads as sophisticated and slightly moody rather than stark.
For small rooms, we like to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. It removes the jarring contrast of a bright white ceiling and creates a seamless, loftier feel. The result feels more cohesive, and in this hall bath the continuous color helps the limited square footage feel less boxed in.
When we stepped back after finishing, we both remarked that the room reminded us of Granny’s bathroom. That’s not a bad thing—her bathroom makeover turned out beautifully and clearly influenced us in a subtle way. While Granny’s “Hint of Violet” read lighter and more purple in person, our walls are darker and richer with a plummy-gray depth rather than a pastel pinky tone.
Seeing that family resemblance feels kind of great—an updated take on something that already felt familiar. The paint works as a neutral backdrop that allows brighter colors to pop. It plays particularly well with the oranges and blues in the fish painting, and it will pair nicely with the bold fabric Sherry plans to use for a Roman shade.
On the other side of the room, the soft, moody paint complements metal accents—our iron horse-head towel hook and the oil-rubbed bronze light fixture both fit right in. The darker tone helps metallics appear richer and gives the space a collected, layered look. Looking at the photos, it’s also obvious we still need to frame out the builder-grade mirror—another small project on the to-do list.
Next up will be either the mirror frame or the Roman shade. Sherry already has fabric waiting to be turned into a shade, so it’s a friendly competition to see which project happens first. Either way, these finishing touches will amplify the room’s personality and pull all the elements together.
The biggest win from this update is making the existing tile work with a fresh, modern palette. We avoided the mess and expense of ripping out tile by choosing paint that harmonizes with what’s already there. The tile was in decent shape, and pairing it with the new wall color gives the whole bathroom a more polished, welcoming appearance without a major renovation.
All told, a single quart of paint and a confident color choice transformed the room. It feels more intentional and put-together than it did just a few days ago. So, what are you painting right now? Are you into the plummy-gray direction we chose? We’ve said “plum” a lot over the past two years since moving in, and it finally stuck. I’ll admit: I’m a guy and I love this plum bathroom—just don’t call it purple. For some reason, plum sounds a lot more appealing.