What color should I use as accents?

I just papered and painted my rental bathroom since I cant do anything else to it like fixtures and such. I went with these tans but not sure what color to add for things like the shower curtain, window treatments and such. I am just not good at that. Any suggestions? The walls were not in good shape, so I papered with paintable textured wall paper and then painted tan. On the smaller wall and around the top of the shower I used contact paper. Please with how it looks just not sure what to add to this tiny bathroom.

  17 answers
  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Feb 22, 2019

    Robin, I think any shade of blue would be a good accent. Either light blue, turquoise or navy

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Feb 22, 2019

    Give yourself a pat on the back for getting this far - in a rental! Now, comes the fun. What colors make you smile? Since you can take these items with you, purchase something in a color or theme that makes you feel at home. You live here, you should enjoy that space. If it's hard to imagine, then think of things that already give you a lift. What color are they? That should start you in the right direction.

  • Joyce Dobeck Joyce Dobeck on Feb 23, 2019

    Select some items like towels and shower curtain that look good to you. Bring them home and try them. Those you don’t like and haven’t used you can return with no problem; especially from Walmart or Kolh’s.

  • Loriann Loriann on Feb 23, 2019

    You have a great neutral pallet so pretty much anything goes. Think about the type of atmosphere you want to express and choose your accessories accordingly. Greens and yellows can evoke a tropical feeling, orange, russet, and gold a south western vibe, florals a quaint country look, and white, black, or gray will give a modern air (although gray and beige can be a tough match to pull off properly). Colors can also affect your mood. Blues are often calming, reds can energize, purple inspires creativity, yellow can lift your spirits, green can bring a peaceful quality. Adding white with any of these colors will increase interest. If you choose a pattern, keep it within your pallet and remember, if it is too busy, limit its use as it can make a small room feel smaller. Try to avoid too many dark colors as they also make a small room feel smaller. Keep in mind you will be going into and using this room ever day. You do not want to create a look that you will tire of easily.

  • I think either a teal or a deep red would brighten up the room. Sometimes, I have seen shower curtains with both of those colors in them. I would suggest painting a small board with your paint and then taking that sample and a sample of your wallpaper with you when you buy your accessories. There are a lot of different shades that will accent your colors-but there are a lot that will make your room look drab too. When you see the right color scheme, it will seem to pop-you will know it is right. Good luck and have fun with this adventure!

  • Mellykay Mellykay on Feb 23, 2019

    Deep brown, coral, or red might be nice

  • Flowers Flowers on Feb 23, 2019

    NAVY !!!

  • Elaine Elaine on Feb 23, 2019

    I would go with deep shades of Lilac & Purple....really adds a punch of colour...then pick up a few towels in the same hues

  • Janice Janice on Feb 23, 2019

    I'd add a clear coral and aqua/turquoise, but then I love those colors together. Choose something that just makes you feel good when you look at it. If you go to a large store with a good selection, you'll be attracted to a couple of items right away. Go with that! Since you've chosen the tans, it will work with nearly any other color with perhaps the exception of grey.

  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Feb 23, 2019

    What colors are in the other rooms? What are your personal favorites? You have a great backdrop for anything!

  • Alice Alice on Feb 23, 2019

    I did those colors in my living room and went with orange for pillows and the back of the bookcase. Really cheery!


  • Gina Hanson Gina Hanson on Feb 23, 2019

    I have that color tan in a bathroom and have chocolate brown and red accents with it. I also have that color in another room with purples. I think teal blue or a lighter blue would look great as well. I think it is a good idea to find a shower curtain that you like and go from there!

  • Kim Kim on Feb 24, 2019

    A faded pink would be lovely.

  • Ellis Ellis on Feb 24, 2019

    Your favorite shade of blue, or any of turquoise, teal, the soft-toned pale jade that is popular right now, coral, or pinks.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Mar 12, 2019

    Everyone has given you great advice. My comment is for future reference since you say that you are not good at choosing colors. In the future, choose your print first and then paint. For example, find a shower curtain you love and build your color scheme around that. For a bedroom, choose your comforter, for the living room, choose a decorative pillow or painting. You can have paint tinted to any color. It is much easier to choose a paint to go with your fabric than it is to find a fabric to match your paint.

  • Marie Marie on Jan 21, 2020

    With that natural color I like a metallic look .... think opposite like leather and lace .... I've found I like that to add intrest for the eyes to travel around the room disguising any area you don't like

  • Deb K Deb K on Nov 03, 2021

    Hi Robin, I am always partial to blues, hope this pallet helps you out,

    https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/40884309089739078/