Retro Bathroom Ideas: 18 Vintage Looks People Are Saving Like Crazy Right Now
Retro bathroom ideas are suddenly everywhere, and the old pink tile you were planning to rip out might be your best feature. Pinterest Trends lists retro bathroom styles as its number one spotlight trend in home decor this month, up 1,000 percent. Home creator Lone Fox has been celebrating a 1920s pink tile bathroom, and his reels about it, posted on October 15 and October 25, have reached about 12.5 million and 4.5 million views. People are falling in love again with mint green tile, butter yellow vanities and cheerful checker floors. The best part is that most of these looks come from paint, hardware and small swaps, not a full remodel. Here are 18 vintage looks you can borrow this weekend..
Why Retro Bathroom Ideas Are Winning Right Now
For years, colorful vintage tile was the first thing to go in a remodel. Now people are keeping it and styling around it. On Pinterest Trends, retro bathroom styles sit at the top of the spotlight list, up 1,000 percent in a month. The look feels happy, a little nostalgic and full of personality, the opposite of the plain gray bathrooms of the last decade. A round gold mirror, fluffy white towels and a checker floor can make old tile look intentional. Do you have a vintage bathroom waiting for some love..
You will need: A round mirror with a gold frame, crisp white towels, a brass towel bar and a washable checker rug.
How to make it: 1. Deep clean the tile and grout with a gentle bathroom cleaner. 2. Swap in one gold or brass accent, like a mirror or towel bar. 3. Add white towels so the tile color becomes the star.
Retro Bathroom Ideas Start With Keeping the Pink Tile
The 1920s pink tile bathroom in Lone Fox’s reels is the reason so many people are looking at their own pink tile with fresh eyes. The secret is to stop fighting the pink. Pair it with crisp white towels, a gold towel ring and a small vase of white flowers, and suddenly it looks charming instead of dated. Keep the rest of the room simple so the tile can shine. This is one of the cheapest retro bathroom ideas on the list. Would you keep yours?
You will need: White towels, a gold or brass towel ring, a small vase, white flowers and a soft white bath mat.
How to make it: 1. Clear the counters so the tile is the focus. 2. Change towels and the mat to bright white. 3. Add one gold accent and fresh flowers.
Mint Green Tile With a Checker Floor
Mint green was everywhere in the 1950s, and it is back among the favorite retro bathroom ideas today. Paired with a black and white checkerboard floor, it feels like a little diner in your house. If your tile is white, you can get the look with peel and stick mint tile on the walls and a checker floor in vinyl. A chrome faucet keeps it bright and crisp. It is cheerful, easy to clean and full of vintage charm. Could you live with mint every morning?
You will need: Mint green tile or peel and stick tile, black and white checker vinyl flooring, a chrome faucet and white towels.
How to make it: 1. Clean and dry the wall before applying peel and stick tile. 2. Lay the checker vinyl from the center of the room outward. 3. Finish with chrome fixtures and white towels.
Retro Bathroom Ideas in Butter Yellow
Butter yellow is one of the sweetest colors of the year, and a bathroom vanity is the perfect place to try it. Sand the old finish lightly, prime it and paint it soft yellow. Round brass knobs finish the vintage look. It is a weekend project that makes the whole room feel sunny, even on gray winter mornings. A little color on cabinets is one of those retro bathroom ideas that changes everything for the price of a quart of paint. Would you try yellow?
You will need: Fine sandpaper, a bonding primer, cabinet paint in butter yellow, a small roller, a brush and round brass knobs.
How to make it: 1. Remove doors and hardware, then clean and lightly sand. 2. Prime and paint two thin coats. 3. Add brass knobs once fully dry.
A 1950s Penny Tile Floor
Little round penny tiles were a classic in old bathrooms, often in white with a simple flower pattern of blue. Today you can get the same look with peel and stick penny tile sheets laid over a clean, flat floor. They are renter friendly in many homes and very forgiving to install. The tiny circles add texture and a happy old fashioned feel. Pair them with a white tub and you have instant vintage. Which color would you choose for your pattern?
You will need: Peel and stick penny tile sheets, a utility knife for an adult, a straight edge, a floor roller and clear sealant if suggested.
How to make it: 1. Clean and level the floor so it is dry and smooth. 2. Start in the middle and press sheets down firmly. 3. Have an adult trim edges and roll the floor flat.
A Scalloped Mirror in a Bold Color
A scalloped mirror is one of the quickest retro bathroom ideas for a plain wall. Paint the frame in a bold retro color like cherry red, mustard or teal, and it becomes art. You can find wavy mirrors at thrift stores or make one by gluing a wavy wooden frame around a round mirror. Against white tile, the color really pops. It is a small change with big personality. Which color would make you smile every morning?
You will need: A scalloped or wavy mirror, sandpaper, primer, glossy paint in a bold color and painter tape.
How to make it: 1. Tape off the glass carefully. 2. Sand lightly, prime and paint the frame two coats. 3. Peel the tape while the last coat is slightly wet.
Retro Bathroom Ideas With Bold 70s Wallpaper
If your bathroom has tile halfway up the wall, the space above is begging for bold wallpaper. Big 1970s style florals in orange and mustard bring warmth and fun. Peel and stick wallpaper makes it renter friendly and easy to change later. Keep the tile white or cream so the pattern shines. If you love this era, our retro 70s decor story has many more ideas from that groovy decade. Would you dare to go bold in a small room?
You will need: Peel and stick wallpaper in a 70s floral, a smoothing tool, a level, a sharp blade for an adult and a damp cloth.
How to make it: 1. Draw a level line just above the tile. 2. Hang the first panel straight and smooth out bubbles. 3. Have an adult trim the edges neatly.
A Ruffled Cafe Curtain
A short ruffled cafe curtain is one of the easiest vintage touches you can add. It covers the bottom half of the window for privacy and lets light pour in above. Hang it on a thin brass rod for an old fashioned look. You can sew one from a simple cotton panel or buy a plain one and add a ruffle with fabric glue. A small plant on the sill finishes it. Would your bathroom window look sweeter with ruffles?
You will need: A white cotton cafe curtain or fabric, a thin brass tension rod and an extra fabric strip for the ruffle.
How to make it: 1. Measure half the window height. 2. Hem the fabric and gather a ruffle along the bottom. 3. Slide it onto a tension rod placed at the middle of the window.
A Medicine Cabinet Makeover
Old wall cabinets often have great shapes but tired finishes. A coat of soft sage green or powder blue and a round brass knob turn them into a vintage centerpiece. Remove the door, clean it well, sand lightly and paint in thin coats. If the inside is a mess, line the shelves with pretty contact paper. Retro bathroom ideas like this cost very little and make the whole wall look new. Which color would you choose?
You will need: Fine sandpaper, a bonding primer, cabinet paint, a small brush, a brass knob and contact paper for shelves.
How to make it: 1. Take off the door and remove the old knob. 2. Clean, sand, prime and paint two thin coats. 3. Add the new knob and line the shelves.
A Retro Print Shower Curtain
Of all the retro bathroom ideas, the fastest is a bold shower curtain. Look for big geometric circles, waves or florals in orange, brown and cream, colors that scream 1970s in the best way. It is cheap, it changes the whole mood and you can swap it back anytime. Pull one color from the curtain for towels or a bath mat to tie the room together. Would you go for circles or flowers?
You will need: A shower curtain in a bold retro print, a liner, matching hooks and one or two towels in a coordinating color.
How to make it: 1. Hang the liner first, then the curtain on the outside. 2. Pick one color from the print for towels. 3. Keep other decor simple so the curtain stands out.
Colored Grout to Make Old Tile Pop
Tired white grout can make good tile look dull. A grout pen or grout colorant lets you refresh the lines without regrouting. Choose soft pink, mint or even black for a bold graphic look. Work slowly, wipe mistakes right away and keep the room aired out. It is a satisfying weekend job that makes vintage tile look crisp and new. Never mix cleaners while you prep, just use one gentle cleaner and water. Which color would you try on your grout?
You will need: A gentle tile cleaner, a stiff brush, a grout pen or colorant in your chosen color and a damp cloth.
How to make it: 1. Scrub the grout with one cleaner and rinse well, then let it dry. 2. Run the grout pen along each line. 3. Wipe any color off the tile right away with a damp cloth.
Chrome and Glass for a Diner Feel
Shiny chrome towel bars and a simple glass shelf give a bathroom that clean, cheerful diner look from the 1950s. Pair them with checker tile and white towels for a fresh, bright space. Chrome is easy to find secondhand, and a little polish brings it back to life. A few vintage glass bottles on the shelf add color and sparkle. It is classic, practical and very pretty. Would this look suit your home?
You will need: A chrome towel bar, a small glass shelf with chrome brackets, a drill for an adult, wall anchors and a soft polishing cloth.
How to make it: 1. Mark level positions for the bar and shelf. 2. Have an adult drill and fit anchors. 3. Mount the pieces and polish them to a shine.
A Painted Tub Exterior
If you have a freestanding tub, painting the outside is one of the boldest retro bathroom ideas you can try. Deep forest green, navy or even pink makes it look like a piece of furniture. Only paint the outside, never the inside, and use a paint made for metal or cast iron. Tape off the feet and the rim carefully. Set it against a black and white floor for a stunning vintage room. What color would your tub be?
You will need: Fine sandpaper, a metal primer, paint made for metal in your chosen color, painter tape and a smooth roller.
How to make it: 1. Clean and lightly sand the outside of the tub only. 2. Tape off the rim and feet, then prime. 3. Paint two thin coats and let it cure fully.
A Shelf of Vintage Glass Bottles
Colored glass bottles catch the morning light and throw little glows of aqua, amber and pink across the room. A simple wooden shelf filled with them feels like a little museum of old treasures. Look for them at flea markets and thrift stores, and wash them well with warm soapy water. Keep the shelf high if you have small children. It is a lovely, low cost way to add vintage color. Do you collect anything old?
You will need: A small wooden wall shelf, wall anchors, vintage glass bottles and jars and warm soapy water.
How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the bottles inside and out. 2. Mount the shelf near a window where light can hit it. 3. Group bottles by color or height.
A Retro Bath Mat and Towel Set
Soft textiles are an easy and cheap way to add retro color. A round tufted bath mat in mustard yellow with matching striped towels instantly warms a white bathroom. Stick to one bold color and one neutral for a pulled together look. When the season changes, simply swap the colors. Of all the retro bathroom ideas here, this one takes about five minutes. Which color would you choose for your set?
You will need: A round tufted bath mat, two or three striped towels and a chrome or brass towel bar.
How to make it: 1. Choose one bold color and one neutral. 2. Fold towels in thirds and hang them neatly. 3. Center the round mat in front of the tub.
Budget Retro Bathroom Ideas: A 1970s Refresh
A 1970s bathroom makeover for only a few hundred dollars has been getting big reactions online, and the method is simple: paint, hardware and lighting only. Paint the vanity an earthy olive, swap in a brass faucet and handles and add a globe glass light. Leave the tile and tub as they are. These small changes make the room feel planned and stylish instead of tired. Which of these three swaps would you start with?
You will need: Cabinet paint in olive, a brass faucet and handles, a globe glass wall light and a licensed electrician for any wiring.
How to make it: 1. Paint the vanity two thin coats. 2. Swap the faucet and handles, or ask a plumber. 3. Have an electrician install the new light.
Thrifted Ceramic Cups as Holders
Vintage ceramic cups and little dishes from the thrift store make the cutest bathroom holders. A floral teacup holds toothbrushes, a small pottery cup holds cotton swabs and a saucer becomes a soap dish. They are cheap, colorful and full of old charm. Mix patterns or keep them all in one color family. Wash them often and they will last for years. What is hiding at your local thrift shop?
You will need: Vintage ceramic cups, a small saucer or dish and a soft cloth.
How to make it: 1. Wash the cups and dish in hot soapy water. 2. Pick one for toothbrushes, one for swabs and the dish for soap. 3. Group them on a shelf or by the sink.
Retro Bathroom Ideas for a Tiny Powder Room
Color drenching means painting walls, trim, door and even the ceiling in one deep color. In a tiny powder room, it feels cozy and dramatic instead of small. Deep teal, plum or forest green all work with brass and white. It is one of the boldest retro bathroom ideas, and it costs only a gallon or two of paint. Add a brass mirror and a small framed print for the finishing touch. Would you be brave enough to drench your powder room?
You will need: One or two gallons of paint in a deep color with a bathroom safe finish, a roller, an angled brush and painter tape.
How to make it: 1. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls. 2. Paint trim and the door in the same color. 3. Add brass accents once dry.
