Tips for Coordinating Your Bathroom Linens

Explore our bath linens color guide to give your main or guest bath a refresh with coordinating pieces, including towels, washcloths, bath mats, and shower curtains. These items offer ample opportunity to infuse your space with bright colors, neutral shades, or playful to classic patterns. Discover tips and inspiration in our guide to coordinating your bathroom linens—then, explore our bath collection to find options to suit your tastes.

Do Bath Linens Need to Match?

Bathroom linens don’t have to match, they simply need to pair well. To accomplish this, choose linens that offer color similarities between pieces, while also considering the colors of your decor, walls, countertop and sink, shower or bathtub, and floor. When coordinating your bathroom linen colors, work to create harmony between your bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, bath mats or bath rugs, and shower curtain

Bathroom linens don’t have to match, they simply need to pair well. To accomplish this, choose linens that offer color similarities between pieces, while also considering the colors of your decor, walls, countertop and sink, shower or bathtub, and floor.

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How to Coordinate Bath Linens

In decorating, designers often follow the 60-30-10 rule: Use the primary color 60 percent of the time, a secondary color 30 percent of the time, and pull in an accent color for the remaining 10 percent. You can use this rule while selecting bath linens. The shower curtain and towels are the most visible bath linens, so this is a good place to incorporate your primary or secondary color, while washcloths, a bath mat, and bath accessories make fantastic accent color candidates. 

Set a Bath Linen Color Palette

Examine the prominent colors already featured in your space, set a palette of two or three main colors, and carry those hues through the space for a cohesive look. Your inspiration may come from the wall color, the hue featured in the trim or cabinets, or it could be a shade pulled from a shower curtain you love. Then, select your bath linens color scheme using one of the following combinations: 

  • Analogous colors, or similar shades that appear near each other on the color wheel.
  • Contrasting colors, or complementary colors that appear across from each other on the color wheel. 
  • Monochromatic colors, or different hues of the same color. 

Options like white, cream, or beige go with everything, and neutral hues pair easily with most colors and patterns. If you want to make a bold statement, consider deep jewel tones or vibrant yellows and oranges. 

Image of a bathroom with a bright orange bath mat and floral shower curtain

Pair With Patterns

You don’t have to stick with solids; prints and patterns can dress up your space. Try a solid shower curtain and patterned bath mat, or use a prominent color from your printed shower curtain to match your towels and bath mat. You may prefer pairing solid-colored towels with patterned hand towels featuring similar colors, rather than stocking your closet with towels that match exactly. For a little extra brightness, choose one accent color from the hand towel print for your washcloths, and another for your bath towels. 

Work in Textures

While color and print might be the eye-catcher, texture is a subtle way to amp up your decor. It’s a great way to layer in visual interest without going overboard. Consider these options for adding dimension with a touch of texture: 

  • Select a linen shower curtain in a solid color or subtle print.
  • Infuse even more texture with a waffle weave, matelassé, or jacquard woven shower curtain.
  • Opt for bath or hand towels featuring jacquard woven or dimensional pebbled texture.
  • Choose a bath mat in a tufted loop weave for a fun, chunky texture.
  • Pull in plushness with a cushy, ribbed bath rug in a coordinating hue.

Color Palette Inspiration for Bathroom Linens

Looking for some design inspiration? Try these ideas for bathroom linen color schemes to find the best towel, bath mat, and shower curtain colors for you. 

  • All white: Many prefer the simplicity of all-white bath linens, which give your space a hotel-like feel—and, white bath linens are surprisingly easy to clean. 
  • Calming colors: Blues, greens, and teals offer a relaxing feel, perfect for creating an at-home spa vibe—and these hues coordinate beautifully. 
  • Energizing options: Welcome each morning shower with a burst of stimulating shades when you choose invigorating colors like reds, yellows, and oranges. 
  • Rich colors: Deep hues like amethyst purple, sapphire blue, and emerald green, paired with creamy white, dark brown, or charcoal gray, create a regal color palette that makes a striking impact—but use these opulent hues sparingly for the most impact. 
  • Neutral hues: For goes-with-everything options, choose neutral hues—tans, beiges, grays, or browns—for a low-maintenance color scheme that offers a put-together feel. 
  • Primary colors: Fun for children’s bathrooms, primary colors create a playful atmosphere, especially when you combine them with shower curtains featuring kid-friendly prints. 
  • Nautical vibes: Red, white, and blue bath linens—especially with stripes or other maritime motifs—are popular options for bathrooms. 


Add pops of personalization with embroidered monograms or names on your towels—and choose matching bath robes or wraps to complete the collection. When you’ve filled your space with colors and patterns that suit your design preferences, explore our other Guides for more home decor tips and advice.