Meg Ryan champions a Parisian-style bathroom color combination that will always be on-trend

Meg Ryan has graced our TV screens for many years as everyone's crush, from When Harry Met Sally to Prelude to a Kiss, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, the actress knows a thing or two about world-class style, especially when it comes to her home.

Actress Meg Ryan enlisted the expertise of designer Monique Gibson and architect Joel Barkley to help her reimagine a New York City home using a tried-and-tested color combination for rooms.

Decorating with black and white is a brave choice, as it requires careful editing and a strong design eye. This type of interior can also appear ‘flat’ if you don’t introduce texture and subtle tonal variety. But put together carefully, it’s a great way to add drama and style, as Meg's bathroom beautifully demonstrates.

While monochrome decorating can be tricky to get right, a considered approach will be rewarded by a simple but impactful scheme. This bathroom color scheme can work especially well in older homes, where a one-tone canvas serves to highlight and complement original features, or when you want statement bathroom tile ideas and fittings should stand to attention.

Depending on whether you choose equal measures of black and white, or more black, the combination can evoke different moods, lending itself to schemes that feel glamorous, moody, or bright and cheerful. 

Choose furniture and fittings with strong shapes and clean lines that will stand out against a bold black-and-white scheme, and keep accessories simple for a modern look. 

Contrasting black with white is the most effective way to create impact in a predominantly white bathroom, but the key is to vary proportions. A 50/50 split could feel too dramatic; instead pair black accessories and fixtures with white bathroom tiles and another vital ingredient: texture.

Shop the black-and-white bathroom edit

Black and white, the color combination so beloved by Meg Ryan, offers the perfect way to create a stylish bathroom. Shop our edit of the best monochrome accessories for bathrooms.