A small bathroom with no windows has two good options: a light color that bounces what light there is, or a deep color that makes the room feel chosen. This page offers three of each, measured from paintings.
Quick answer
For a bright room use #EFE3C9 or #E2E0D3. For a cozy room paint everything in #31434D or #403C2F.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Wall colors
#EFE3C9LRV 78
Raffia Cream
A very light warm cream with an LRV of 78, the lightest here and best for a windowless bathroom. It comes from the School of William Matthew Prior's Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood, 1848.
A very dark warm color with an LRV of 1, for a bold powder room with matching trim and ceiling. It comes from a German Portrait of a Man in a Red Cap, c. 1480.
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
Color
Neutral daylight
North light
South light
Evening lamps
Raffia Cream
Nonchalant Cream White
Almond Latte
Try these colors in a room
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood.
Which bathroom paint color works best with no window?
There are two approaches, and both work. The first is to go light. The three wall colors here have LRVs of 78, 74 and 61. A color above about 60 reflects most of the light it receives, so in a room lit only by bulbs it makes the space brighter.
The raffia cream #EFE3C9 is the lightest and the best choice if you want the room to feel as open as possible. The cream white #E2E0D3 is slightly cooler and looks cleaner beside white tile. The almond latte #E0CAB1 is warmer and suits a powder room.
The second approach is to go deep. The navy #31434D, the olive brown #403C2F and the espresso #291A12 have LRVs of 5, 5 and 1. They will not brighten the room, but they hide its lack of windows by making the walls disappear. For a small room, this can feel intentional and cozy.
What goes with these colors: trim, ceiling and floors?
In a light bathroom, keep the ceiling and trim the same as the wall or one step lighter. The raffia cream on all surfaces gives a soft, glowing box. A stark white ceiling can make cream walls look yellow.
In a deep bathroom, paint the ceiling, walls and trim all the same dark color. A change of color at the ceiling line shows how small the room is, and a single color hides it. Use a matte or eggshell finish so the surface does not reflect hot spots.
For flooring, the suggested wood tone is #8B6B4A, a mid-brown. Warm tile, wood-look tile or a brown bath mat suits both approaches. White fixtures look crisp against the navy and the olive brown. Brass or bronze hardware suits the espresso and olive brown, and chrome suits the navy.
How do these colors behave with only artificial light?
Without a window, your bulbs decide the color. Warm white bulbs make the cream colors golden and the dark colors richer. Cool white bulbs make the cream look flatter and the navy look bluer. Choose one temperature and use it throughout the room.
The raffia cream #EFE3C9 has a warm yellow undertone, and under warm bulbs it can look slightly yellow. If you want it to look neutral, choose the cream white #E2E0D3 instead.
For the dark colors, put lights on both sides of the mirror. A single ceiling light casts shadows on the face in a deep room. Wall sconces at eye level give an even, flattering glow, and they pick up the warm undertone in the olive brown and the espresso.
How do you test paint colors in a windowless bathroom?
Test in the room itself, with the lights you plan to use. A sample that looks right in your living room will look different here.
Paint a board at least two feet square and tape it on the wall opposite the mirror. Turn on the lights and look at it with the door closed. Then look at it again with the door open, since light from the hallway will change it.
The paints listed with each color are the closest measured matches, and the espresso lists none, so you may need to ask a store to mix it from the hex. Use a bathroom paint with mildew resistance, and choose an eggshell or satin finish so the walls can be wiped. Let two coats dry fully before you judge the color.
FAQ
What is the best paint color for a small powder room with no windows?
A light warm cream such as #EFE3C9, with an LRV of 78, reflects the most light. A deep color such as #31434D is a good choice if you want a cozy look.
Should I paint a windowless bathroom white?
A warm white or cream such as #E2E0D3 usually looks better than a stark white, which can look cold under bulbs.
Can I use a dark color in a small bathroom with no windows?
Yes. Painting the walls, ceiling and trim the same deep color, such as #403C2F, can make the room feel intentional instead of cramped.
Which finish is best for a bathroom without windows?
Eggshell or satin, in a mildew-resistant paint. These can be wiped, and they resist the humidity that builds up without a window.
What light bulbs should I use with these colors?
Choose warm white bulbs and keep the temperature the same throughout the room. Sconces on both sides of the mirror give the most even light.
Save these colors
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain (CC0).
Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
From Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood, School of William Matthew Prior
