Turquoise, cobalt, sky, chartreuse, flamingo, amethyst, coral, terra cotta … These are the colors that refuse to leave my brain after visiting the Caribbean island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, and the inspiration behind the design of a bathroom in my home.

Something about the island just sticks with you: The buildings, the streets, the way color shows up everywhere. I couldn’t stop noticing how alive everything felt. I realized pretty quickly after getting home that things seems more muted and I wasn’t quite ready to let it go.

So I didn’t.

Instead, I brought a little bit of it into one of the smallest spaces in my house in the my main floor half bathroom.

Tiny Space Is Big on Tropical Color

The island experience is what inspired this space, motivating me to bring just a tiny bit of it in my Caribbean-inspired powder room. . See related posts, “7 Reasons Why to Plan a St. Maarten/St. Martin Family Vacay” and “Checking Off My ‘Fun List’ on Family Trip to St. Maarten,” with more information on this Dutch and French island.

When we did our interior paint refresh, I stayed with same color family when updating the half bath. I couldn’t part with pinky-orange shade. I loved it too much! It wasn’t the safest choice, but it was the right one. I bumped up the saturation a bit with pretty and bold Hugs and Kisses by Benjamin Moore.

The peach walls are welcoming and complement the clay tile flooring which I picked to emulate terra cotta that’s widely used on the island, especially on rooftops. Meanwhile, opposite on the color wheel are beachy blues and blue/greens (hence the curtain and rug) while brown is warm accent (cabinet, mirror and bronze fixtures). It’s a little bolder than I’d normally go, but that’s kind of the point.

Beachy-Keen Island Scenes

Here’s a little of the color that inspired it all with images of St. Maarten/St. Martin and how its spectrum of colors motivated my paint and décor choices.

Pictured below are photos from Philipsburg. Top: Old Street; middle: kiosks along the boardwalk; bottom: Front Street shop.

Residences in La Place du Village near Orient Bay are pictured below.

My Caribbean-Inspired Power Room

And here’s where all that inspiration landed. I brought it all together with a mix of natural textures and color, including a rattan cabinet, sand and shells, and teal accents, along with travel photos turned into art and other pieces that keep those island memories close.

Now … check out my bathroom to see how the colors from the island are transformed.

It’s a tiny space, but it makes me smile every time I walk in. Turns out you don’t need a plane ticket to hold onto those island vibes, sometimes you just need a paint color and a little inspiration.

Check Out Other Room Views

• Living Room: See part one of the open-concept area of my home
• Kitchen and Hallway: See part two of the open-concept area of my house.
• Dining Room: Find out why it brings warmth to my home and celebrations.
• Also see slideshow showing our interior color reboot process underway.

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