I don't see any wall space to paint; are you thinking of painting the tile?

My inclination would be to de-clutter (baskets, rug, etc.), get a tension rod and do a (totally redundant) white fabric shower curtain that would hang outside the tub and glass doors, covering them completely. Then get white towels and a white bath mat. Replace those 2 dark baskets with covered or taller ones and put them on that rack above the towels (getting rid of the one on the floor altogether).

My bathroom is much like yours, and I find the best way to deal with it is to have uniformity and no "stuff".

Oh, that's easy - put a moss green (not mint - mint is cool toned. You need a warm toned, yellow-based green) with it. You can also do a shade of yellow. Just be sure to use the right tone of yellow, too. Try using those little paint color sample cards to match the color up correctly. Then use the little cards to pick out anything else you want to buy or make for the bathroom.

Since the bathroom is small, use yellow for the larger items, and a yellow-based green for the accessories, and trim on any larger yellow items.

Wood texture and color would also be a nice addition. The bathroom will end up having a nice forest/rainforest feel to it.

Add a touch of gold or brass metallic detail, and you're set.

I'd get rid of all the blues and reds and brown baskets in there.

Just paint the walls the same shade of grey that's in the darker floor tile and keep simple white towels, bathmats & accessories.

If you want to put art on the walls, restrict yourself to Black and White imagery in plain black frames

I had a similar issue. I just decided to keep it as simple as possible because trying to do a complementary color just felt like it would be too much.

My bathroom is that same 1940s/1950s tile, but it's a green that is somewhere between avocado and mint. Then there are rectangular tiles on the trim that are white, so white walls didn't look right. I decided to go with the same kind of green, but a very pale version of it. Almost white, but not. I also used a grout whitener on all the grout. It was in good shape, but just dull.

I put white sheers on the window (the window is textured, so you can't see through it) and I have a plush white rug and brushed nickel accessories. I also have a few dark lilac-purple votive candles on the window sill just for a dash of color.

It actually looks pretty good. It's definitely brighter and looks newer and crisp.

I agree with bepsf. Paint the wall the dark grey from the floor tile and have white and dark grey towels and no clutter.
Push it into that uber modern look.

White. White. White. Get rid of the colorful accessories, towels, ties, etc. Get a white towels, bath mat (as large as will fit the bathroom floor) white soap dispenser, cup, etc. Make a white cotton duck skirt for the sink that can be velcroed to the bottom (underneath the sink if possible) to hide the pipes and clutter. Replace the toilet lid cover with one that is the same white as the toilet.

I agree white is the way to go. I have a similar color (only on the floors and in the bath though) and I went with a white shower curtain, white bathmat and white/green and yellow handtowels. The walls are also white. I experimented with a more colorful showercurtain and it made the space feel soooo much smaller.

white or gray

I have that exact tile in my bathroom with the addition of gold "star" accent tiles. It is a very difficult color to work with. I would describe it as the color of puke and any emphasis on green makes it look worse.

I painted my bathroom butter yellow with linen white trim. It looks great now but it is hard to find the right yellow and you need plenty of white.

I hope this helps.

Your tile has a lot of yellow in it, so you have to go toward the yellowy greens, kind of like avocado. You can use any shade from light to dark, but it's got to have a yellow base and not blue. Look at the paint strips (color shades) in the store and at the lightest color on the strips. Grab all of the ones that look yellow, take them home, and then see which of the strips looks best with your tile. You can't use mint green, teal, turquoise, etc because all of these 'greens' have blue in them. Then, use white towels, shower curtain, and add some bamboo, wood, etc wastebasket, and it will look fresh, clean, and modern. Make sense?

It seems more like a beige to me...maybe just go with a deeper taupe color, and white accents?

Third for the dark grey. White porcelain accessories.

I agree w/ a lot of the other commenters--de clutter!
Too bad the floor tile has been changed--it doesn't match the wall tile very well and I think that's part of the problem. But I think it can still be worked with. Use white and warm grey towels, rug, etc. I'd leave the wall white so things aren't busier than it already is.

I agree with others about white. My master bath was almost exactly like yours but bright yellow tile/sink/tub/toilet. I grew to really love it (although I have since renovated). I used white paint and all white accessories (baskets for the open shelving, feminine white shower curtain, bath mat, towels, etc).

I'd keep most everything white (towels, bathroom mat, soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, etc). Add some wood, river rocks or "natural" accents....I would switch out the wicker baskets with bulkier and bigger ones to give it a more bold look. The floral bag at the top ....get rid of it and use that to put a painting and/or nice frame (or even sculpture) instead since you cant really hang any art.
Also one thing to note, too many "little items" can be distracting and takes away from focal points so try to just to limit what you have out.
Even though these ideas are nothing new, unfortunately (or fortunately!) it is probably what works best for your bathroom since your options are very limited. I think your bathroom has a lot of potential despite the size and color.

It could be so much worse.
I love pale gray and pale yellow together, plus white accessories and towels. Can you remove the shower door?

I agree with the minimalist white or gray approaches mentioned above, but if you're really dying for some color, maybe a warm, poppy orange would complement the odd green. In that case, I'd keep the accessories pretty muted -- don't try to go with matching orange accessories or anything. And I second the black and white art suggestion, as well.

Good luck! Design problem-solving is frustrating, but fun (and ultimately pretty rewarding when you end up with something that really works).

Hm...or a really dark blue. Like navy blue. Could make the green a little less icky, and would still go with the white/gray of the floor...

@malisams was on it before me - going in a completely different direction with an orange! Though I'd go more terra-cotta than poppy to keep with the kind of "earthy" (read: "dirt") tones you already have. Then go with a tan/sandy color for towels and accessories.

I'd also talk to your landlord or DIY the grout - one, uniform color of grout will help unite all the different tile colors. I'd recommend tan/sandy here, too.

I actually like that tile color. The red and blue accessories are what makes it look terrible.

use the grey from the floor and the yellow from the sink and paint wide stripe, vertical or horizontal. Keep all your accessories white.

Grey, definitely.

Oh...sorry. By "poppy" I really meant pop-y, like an orange that pops. :) My bad.

Also thinking the dark grey. IMO, it could take that tile color from "tolerated" to cool.

While you're at it, buy an inexpensive piece of fabric (sheet, curtain panel, what have you), and make a tailored sink skirt. It will be more attractive than any storage piece you put underneath the sink, and these directions are quick/no sew:

http://tiny.cc/lmkjx

I agree with a lot that has been said already:

grey walls to match the floor
matching grout
white shower curtain and towels
the red and blue accents and other "stuff" is the problem here, not the tile.
I also agree that bamboo accents would look great.

I have the same color tile on my wall and an awful wood- toned peel and stick tile on the floor. I am digging your floors. May do something similar with mine.

I'd suggest starting with a shower curtain that uses the colors of the tile hung on a tension rod to hide the tub and go from there with rugs and towels that coordinate. If you can sew, you can probably make a skirt for your sink that can be attached with velcro under the sides of the sink. With the right shower curtain, your problems would disappear.

Maybe something like this?

http://www.target.com/Paradise-Blue-Shower-Curtain-Multi/dp/B002HS303W/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

Try it with unfussy accessories before painting.

This could be 'springtime' with a little ingenuity--pale leaf green (which has both yellow and green tones), white flowers, grey and bamboo for shadow and wood. If you like that. If you don't like florals, you could make it grown-up graphic and minimalist modern in similar colors.

Colour Palette: Dominant: Cool dove grey/white and the palest of leaf green. Subordinate: the palest of butter yellows and/or soft whites. Bamboo-colored accents/baskets OR all-white. Pick it all out with a framed leaf sketch in charcoal or an early 20thC. art print.

I can't see what kind of lighting you have. Maybe you could make it softer and brighter?

Good luck.

i agree with picking up the gray from the floor, but not on the white. i'd go with colored towels, but taking up the declutering with baskets in the shelves. you can use fabric to cover your existing baskets, and placing them in the shelves. also yellowish green accessories/towels, or maybe purple (the right shade of) if you want some humff. clear the sink and the water tank. i like the color of the tile also, you just need less information to go with it since its a small space.

You have my deepest sympathy for those tiles; they are wretched looking. I guess I would go with a pale yellow towels, rug, etc., to match the sink, or a midnight blue.

I agree with some of the posters here: Medium grey paint on the walls to match the tile, and white accessories all around. Get rid of the basket under the sink (and any wicker/brown baskets), but you don't need a skirt for the sink. Replace your toilet seat for a pure white one (you can get a simple, nice one for about $15). Keep artwork black and white, in black frames.

lots of white accessories paired with some sea glass inspired accessories perhaps? natural fibres like grasscloth might pick up on the muted mossy tone in a good way. a color like benjamin moore's "bluegrass" might go well.

My first thought was grey, but as I looked at the tiles more I thought about something else. Behr.com has a nifty colorsmart system so I put together a soothing palette of colors for this project. (I don't know if the link will work or not, but I'll give it a try.)

http://www.behr.com/colorsmart4/colorsmart/main.jsp

If the link didn't work you can use these names to plug them in yourself. The colors I chose were:
Tiles (existing color) - Corn Husk Green (400D-4)
Walls - Chenille (700A-2)
Towels - Chocolate Coco (S-G-760)
Trim - Glow (W-B-310)

Obviously you can play around with the colors yourself, but I thought the green/yellow matched your pic of your tile. You could use the warm lavender on the walls and go with a chocolate brown for towels and accessories. My step-mom and dad have a bedroom done in these colors and it is so relaxing.

If you don't like these colors you can always just pick the color that best matches your tile and have behr.com coordinate the colors for you.

Hope this helps!

It appears that you're going to be painting the tile, right? If so, you can't just slap a couple of coats of semi-gloss up there and be done with it. You're going to have to use paint that's specifically for tile. Be prepared for the cost.

If it were me I wouldn't attempt to paint the tile and go exclusively with white for any fabric (towels, etc.) and bamboo accessories.

I agree with lots of folks here. Get a shower curtain and rod with a nice pattern that you like and has the color of your tile plus complementary colors. Use one of those as a wall color. Accent with other colors for bath mat & accessories. White always works. No need to suffer with unsightly shower doors when you can hide them behind a curtain. If you need hidden storage, buy another shower matching curtain and made a skirt for the sink. You can 'pleat' the curtain with a stapler if you don't sew and use self-adhesive velcro under the sink. Cheap and cheerful.. Check out Cheri54 post/link to Target.

WOW thank you so much for your input everyone!! The tiles actually have a dreary gray undertone, which you cannot see in the picture. The flash of my camera actually made the tile look better than it is. When I moved in, I tried all white accessories, but the white rug etc just became grey looking against that tile. I ended up throwing out the white rug because the bathroom almost looked neon/radioactive and gray. Since it IS so gray, it is a great idea to try and embrace it by possibly painting to match the gray in the floor. I was always trying to hide it instead of possibly just going with it. I love all of your suggestions! And thank you MeganMarguerite for doing all of that! I was actually thinking about lavender for the walls (but nothing too "blue") I'm going to look at the palate you put together as soon as I get home from work! I can't wait! Thanks everyone! :) :)

hi- i have the same aztec gold bathroom tile with brass accents. (I didn't do it- the previous owners did)
It drove me crazy. Painted bathroom white. Painted the vanity and mirror light blue and changed the brass to silver and white faucet, etc. So much better
the behr color that was similar was California dreaming (ha!) 380D-5. Behr has an option to match up your colors- that was pretty neat.

gray! here are some pics to show how good those 2 colors look together.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q0Nu2ScjJsg/SGnhbyHeeyI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/T60ch9Ie51k/s400/gray wall.jpg

http://www.decorpad.com/photos/2009/06/28/5fdabfe1ed8c.jpg

http://www.aboutbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/interior-design-with-a-green-clock-Gray-wall.jpg

I would also suggest white or a grey possibly.

Not that more needs to be said.....but, I say white, white, white....plus warm deep grey and a very few poppy colored accessories....but not too many.

Too bad about the floor though, it doesn't go with the bath....cover it with as large a rug as possible!

I think it'll all end up quite pretty.

I think there would be a grey that can marry the tan, yellow, and greyish floors together and make it look quite sleek. I actually don't think it looks bad as is with white. The main thing jumping out to me is the toilet seat - I'd get a new white. (And the red and blues are not working - serving like a palette of primary colors instead. Think neutrals...)

Even though you have shower doors, a nice curtain might help too. One of these might work:
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=476&f=5775
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1627&f=36113

If the bathroom is feeling dingy/dirty (hard to tell in photos), you might also consider some regrouting with a fresh white grout. It's amazing what new grout does for old tiles. For areas that don't get wet and wouldn't have any underlying mold/mildew, you can lightly scrape down the grout with a grout knife or even utility knife and give a new thin layer of pre-mixed grout - just read the directions for timing and sponging.

A very subdued gold and get rid of all strong colors....

Oh, and by the way.... where is it you're going to paint? All i see is tile.

And as "bepsf" white stuff all around.

Also try to fix that toothbrush holder on the wall... Hey better yet!! break the other and you can get rid of both unsightly items....

I'm trying to figure out if you have the same tile I do--it looks similar in pictures but I wouldn't describe mine as green at all. It's sort of a gray/beige--I've got white fixtures, and so far I've minimized the damage by using white/mother-of-pearl and misty gray. It's not too bad.

Cheri54 Target link! That is the perfect shower curtain! Add more tones of blue with towels & mats- and art. Keep accessories to white white white. If it doesnt match remove from the room- like the black bag.

Paint the tiles.

I say white walls, white accessories, and a grey floor mat.

Or if you have a few dollars to spend, I'd get this floor mat:

http://images.anthropologie.com/is/image/Anthropologie/083013_095_f?$redesign-product-zoom$

My initial thought was to pair it with black and white. Maybe the black could help with the contract of the gray undertones.

http://www.amazon.com/Geo-Black-Shower-Curtain/dp/B003LZQKUU/ref=sr_1_73?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1276052690&sr=1-73

I majorly disagree with all the white suggestions.

That is a beautiful color. It's warm and natural, yet subtly masculine.

There are a lot of beautiful colors that cross the line somewhere between brown, green and gray. In fact, there are many many you could chose from and they often change a lot depending on lighting and time of day since you need basically every color of the rainbow to make brown. I think it would be so spa like and inviting.

Personally, I'd go in a darker direction. I think it would be sexy.

A PALE version of the toilet/tub.

It looks like you are trying to overpower the pale colors with brighter colors, and it's safe to say that's not working.

Don't fight what's in there already even if you HATE the colors. And whatever colors you pick, make sure they too have a gray undertone.

EGGPLANT would look outstanding with that tile color.

And/or brown, terracotta, lavender.

Don't fight that tile color, embrace it and make the bathroom look like you picked that tile color for yourself.

I just found the most incredible shower curtain for this room - it would bring together the black/white/gray aspects with the yellow-toned sink and tiles. It also brings in the square shapes to match the wall and floor tiles:

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=476&f=5444

It may be too graphic or busy for you, but I think it would look great with some dark gray towels.

From your picture, your colors look much like my colors and your bathroom familar, I wish I had a bathroom like yours.

When I look at your picture, I remember thinking, if I could get my sink to be white, it would be much better, because I think your sink would look better white, yet you live in an apartment. You can only change what your allowed because you do not own the place.

I have been working on my bathroom its seems like 2 years. I have found because I am new at this, I found things happen as the result of my expeirment, I am much pleased with the result.

Many people can offer a good idea, yet you must be careful about what you do. I have discovered things happen when doing things, it can become permanent, if we make the wrong choice:

Its most important - I have found that I live in a house, not an apartment, with a landlord, therefore, it can be a problem if you change things, if it goes wrong, some one pays for the repairs, it can be expensive. It would be better to velcro somthing in the shower from the celling to the floor or walls, the pattern or colors you like, that can be washed, or water proof, and be mold and mildew proof, (stops mold or mildew for your protection).

Because I live in a house, I can:
1. If you use the wrong paint, you could have a mold and mildew problem and white will turn yellow or turn dark from the chemicals used in the bathroom, because ammonia is found in the bathoom from some where, or just found in the air. Someone wrote, latex paint release ammonia in small amounts, affects paint, yet not as bad as some other latex paints. Some paint turns dark or yellow in the presence of ammonia.

2. What I started with was non-gloss or satin paint, a white stain blocker and a white mold and mildow proof paint, stops it, not just resists it, therefore the lack of gloss will hide imperfections. Home Depot paint with my limited knowledge of paint, is good paint, its smell is hard to notice, yet I found Home Depot later, and stayed with what I had, therefore some others have a strong smell, or some are better smelling, there was a difference. I found there is good or bad paint, its for different uses, I think I was fortunate doing some research on the internet, I have limited knowledge of using a few different paints and methods. Its looking good.

3. I have found that they have epoxy paint for tile and bathtubs and sinks and countertops, spray is the worst, its only good, if you can spray paint good with gloss paint, every thing most be covered to prevent over spray from golng other places, makes everything stinky, it smells bad and bad to breathe, therefore the best is brush, its better, yet do not brush on unless your good at it, I found that using the right roller makes it work right, you roll it on, therefore no drips and slags, it can be dissappointing work painting things, epoxy paint is not sratch resistant paint, it can sratch easy, and creates a gloss, that must be perfectly done to not show any defects, therefore I used the right roller and final coats where a latex-acrylic paint, while the expoxy paint was almost dry, was slightly sticky for good bond, because latex-acrylic has much better scratch resistance, its hard to abuse, its like trying to sand rubber, therefore hard to abuse. I used, a some what, hard foam roller, a small roller for curves, roller spins well or you drag the paint, the type of foam roller, that has very little pores, hard to see the pores, to prevent a problem from large air bubbles, prevents showing them after it dries. I found you can sand it a little (400 grit or perhaps 200, because too small a grit and it shows) if you do not like the way it feels, and it still look good, because it has no gloss, it does not show, if you use the right latex-acrylic paint it will clean well, just do not use nail polish remover or other solvents near the paint.

3. If you paint, tile, bathtubs, sinks, and counter tops like I did, its working good for the moment, how long it last I do not know, maybe forever, it does not work well for some people, because the paint chips off for some people, that is why the epoxy works better on a very clean well prepared surface, therefore if it happens, some people fix the problem by patch and sand and repaint, or replace the object because some people find the paint to hard to fix or too hard to remove the paint.

4. Most important - I live in a house, not an apartment, with a landlord, therefore it can be a problem if you change things, if it goes wrong some one pays for the repairs, it can be expensive. For example I painted the inside of the sink, it could last forever, I should of replaced it with a white sink, it still a greenish yellow in the sink, yet its white everywhere else, a new sink would not do that.

5. How do I get the tint from showing, its totally white paint every where except on the inside of the sink, its greenish-yellow?