Bathroom finishes come in all different styles, but a vintage look is always something that will produce high-quality results again and again. From luxurious furnishings to grand claw-foot, bygone bathroom facilities are becoming a favorite with modern-day homeowners and making a return to residential bathrooms around the country.
There are a few considerations you need to make to give your bathroom that vintage look, and here are a few to think about.
Considerations When Choosing A Vintage Styled Bathroom
Color – Choosing a color can be one of the most important features of a vintage style bathroom. Dark-colored floors and walls provide the perfect place in bathroom design. When it comes to traditional bathrooms, monochrome is a popular choice, with choices such as deep purples, dark blues, and rich burgundies that can all play a huge role in which you could base your entire bathroom on. Adding some light to the dark colors including sage, cream, bone, ivory, and teal can be a great look. The use of a black and white checkerboard floor can add a dramatic atmosphere into the room, a bold feature to have.
Textures – Textures play an important role as a key feature of interior design. While modern aesthetic focuses on sleek, reflective, and smooth surfaces, the opposite is said for retro bathroom designs. There are many ways to bring about a worn look to antique looking bathrooms via the textures you choose. From old wood to rough textiles, and distressed looking wallpaper. By shopping around wisely (especially at thrift stores), you’ll be sure to find appropriate decor for your bathroom to add depth and interest to the eye. While many types of colors and patterns can be used, we recommend mixing things up to create a mismatched yet authentic style.
Separate Faucets – Having two separate taps are a staple in a lot of British bathrooms, unlike the single tap design that is used in a lot of modern ones, and more common in the United States. The use of the more traditional two tap design is something that can bring that vintage feel to any bathroom, so if you’re looking for a traditional aesthetic then using the more typically British design could be the answer. Fitting smaller faucets will be more practical to not take up utility space in the sink area. Brass is a good material to use in these faucets too for great vintage bathroom decor ideas.
30 Best Vintage Bathroom Ideas
1. Victorian Themed Bathroom
If you are looking for completely vintage bathroom decorating ideas then a victorian theme could be the style and finish you are looking for. This bathroom has been completely transformed to create this style from the clawfoot tub that has been used, made from cast iron. A more traditional material which would look great in this bathroom is tin, something that is very typical of victorian designs. The flooring is exposed brick that looks beautiful. It adds a rustic homely touch but could be cold, so in a modern home, underfloor heating could be a good option for this kind of look.
2. Rustic Cabin Feel
Everything in this rustic bathroom gives a vintage, log cabin feeling to it, especially the wooden walls that create a stacked log effect. The whole space matches together with the style and shade of wood that is being used, you can find it on the storage space under the sink, in the unit around the bathtub and a darker shade is around the mirror that has been fitted on the wall. Exposed wooden beams along the ceiling area provide loads of character to this already completely unique space.
3. Clawfoot Tub
The clawfoot bathtub is a very typical design when it comes to having a vintage look to your space. They provide lots of character, with the amazing intricate detailing on each leg paired with external faucets which is something more typical of a traditional bathroom. With not much storage space in a small bathroom like this, the use of a hanging rack for any cleaning essentials is a unique touch added to the bath area, providing practical and stylish results.
4. Classic Vintage Bathroom
Nearly every feature that is in this room, boasts a vintage look. From the clawfoot bathtub which sits on golden-colored feet to the separate hot and cold taps that have been placed in the sink area, which match the faucets that have been used in other areas of the room. Rustic bathroom ideas like this room also normally have a block color on the walls, like the olive green used in this bathroom. The storage is completely made from wood, bringing a natural look into the space. The fact that this room has a slanted ceiling adds to the character even more, but this is only achievable with the kind of building you have.
5. Small Bathroom
his kind of bathroom is something that you would find in most homes. It provides everything that you need in a simple way. Vintage shower enclosures are hard to find in the traditionally styled bathrooms so having a bath/shower space is a great idea providing both the luxury of having a chilled relaxing soak in the tub, along with the ability to have a quick shower when you are getting ready in the morning. having more options available to you is always going to be beneficial, especially in smaller spaces so this could be something you are looking for in your home.
6. Free Standing Bathtub
This is another example of a clawfoot bathtub, not as typical as the usual design as it doesn’t have legs, but the cast iron material used and the studded features provide an amazing vintage feel. Black and white are the main color tones used which are bold and contrast from each other wonderfully. The exposed brick wall adds to the old fashioned design, these exposed walls always provide stunning results no matter what style of bathroom you are trying to accomplish.
7. Large Bathroom
If space is something you have then you can really play around with the features that are included in the room. This bathroom has both a toilet and a bidet which is a luxury to a lot of people. The walls and coloring are both tiled but in different directions adding a unique feel to the room. The self-standing tub is a great way to soak and relax at the end of a busy day, and definitely a must-have feature if you can accommodate the space for one.
8. Retro Bathroom Interior
This bathroom has a completely retro style to it, which is especially boasted with the patterns that are on the flooring. There is a black and white theme throughout the entire room which is typical of a retro theme. A really stylish touch is the sink unit. Made from cast iron the table used to have a different functionality as it has a foot pedal close to the floor. A sink has been fitted onto a fresh piece of wooden, giving this vintage furnishing a modern twist. The main feature wall adds to this style, it is completely covered in white tile’s which reflects the light beautifully.
9. Small Traditional Bathroom
This bathroom is more of a downstairs bathroom or second bathroom to the master suite. There isn’t a shower or bath unit, simply just a toilet and a sink basin. The storage under the sink has a typical vintage bathroom style, with vertical wooden pieces, with large stables like hinges and cool round wooden handles. The brass faucets follow the traditional design of two separate taps, they are a convenient size not taking up loads of unit space, for any soap or hand wash bottles.
10. Cozy White Bathroom
White bathrooms can be both cozy and clear, they are a calm setting to be in making them the perfect place to relax and soak in the tub. Extra added character is given to this room with the slanted roof. It contains horizontal wooden pieces and also a beautiful skylight window.
11. Luxury Tub
When it comes to bathrooms, especially vintage style ones the bathtub can be the most impressive feature in the whole room. Clawfoot tubs are really popular, first produced in the victorian era these tubs are still a firm favorite by many homeowners. Adding gold to the faucets and legs the tub sits on will add that little extra luxury you may desire while taking that relaxing soak.
12. Black And White Bathroom
This bathroom is absolutely stunning, they have used the black and white coloring theme throughout the entire room to perfection. The flooring has been tiled with marble which creates a black border around the edge of the room. A really nice touch is the opposite color legs that have been purposely chosen. The clawfoot tub sits high off of the ground on 4 white legs, while the sink unit sits on long black ones. It provides just something a little different to the eye giving an interesting design. Hanging lamps are used which promote this vintage styling, something that isn’t typically seen in bathroom areas. The sink unit is has a stylish design, kind of looking like a vanity area you would find in the bedroom, completely black and white following the theme of the room, and fitted with golden faucets adding that bit of luxury.
13. Old Style Bathroom
In this old fashioned bathroom, there are a lot of different traditional features. The pink freestanding enamel bath sits in the corner of the room next to a towel stand, with the toilet and an added extra of a bidet placed opposite. Shells have been used to furnish the room which gives that retro charm. The sink area has a typical vintage feeling to it, being big and bold. If you are looking to achieve design similar to this one, a key feature is the verticle striped wallpaper, it adds a hint of color and brings a little extra interest to the walls.
14. Stunning Rustic Bathroom
The bathtub in this bathroom is the main feature that your eyes are drawn too. Vintage bath ideas like this are great if you have the room for them. The actual tub is enclosed by a unit surrounding it, providing a platform and step up to get into the tub itself. A jack and jill sink area is included showing this is probably his and her bathroom, perfect for busy couples that are needing to get ready at the same time before going to work.
15. Tiny Retro Bathroom
This bathroom is an odd shape that doesn’t bode well for space so every unit needs to be particularly placed. The flooring is very similar to the wall design. They both have tiled squares of different shapes, just the flooring follows the same design in just a much smaller pattern. The wooden walls bring that retro look to the room, and also offer cute little storage spaces for toilet roll and even the sink area.
16. Simple Bathroom Design
Simplicity in the design is found in this bathroom. There is a clawfoot tub centrally positioned which is a classic design in vintage styled bathrooms. The flooring has been tiled with hexagonal tiles mainly white, but sometimes black adding a change of interest to the floor. There are white tiled walls around most of the bathroom, which gives a great look, something more of a wetroom finish. There are no fitted storage cabinets placed in the room so a wooden cupboard has been used for storing towels and other bathroom accessories, this is a great idea for rooms with no fitted units as it provides something a little different to the room and also for the practical side of things. A wooden chair that matches the cabinet has been placed in the room as well, it has a red velvet cushion upholstered on for a real vintage look.
17. Clean White Bathroom
This vintage-looking bathroom comes from the red-tiled flooring that has been used, and also the wooden features that have been placed in the room. The space is predominantly white but these little splashes of color make for an interesting bathroom.
18. Unusual Shape
Sometimes a room is an unusual shape which can be both a blessing and a curse. In this bathroom the ceiling is slanted and comes down pretty low, so wouldn’t be the most comfortable room for anyone who is a little tall. This being said rooms that have a different shape to the usual box style do bring a lot more character which s always something that is trying to be achieved in any room of the house.
19. Luxury Vintage Design
A touch of luxury has been added to this room with gold all around. Faucets and the clawfoot tub feet have all been covered in this luxurious color. The tub sits underneath a large window area which has silk looking curtains draped over adding to this design perfectly. An unusual touch but gives lots of vintage charm is the studded textured walls that have been used. This looks like they could be on chairs or cushions but add something a little different to the walls breaking up the continuous color used. Having external faucets from the tub is a classic design when it comes to the clawfoot tub, especially when paired with the moveable shower head that has been fitted.
20. Vintage Pink Bathroom
This completely pink bathroom is a statement maker, everything that is in this room has a shade of pink, which works great for this vintage-styled bathroom as bold colors are something that is promoted in these kinds of styles. The countertop area at the sink and the alls both use the same pink tiling. Typical of these traditional styles the wall tiling only goes halfway up the wall, and the rest is covered with wallpaper, breaking it up keeping design interest. Something that is unusual is the fur-covered toilet seat, not something particularly vintage but has a retro feel to it. A lino flooring has been used, which is an alternative to tiled floors. Something that can achieve similar results but at a fraction of the price and time spent fitting it.
21. Modern Wood Design
Small vintage bathroom ideas can come in lots of different ways. The wooden floor and walls provide that retro geometric design giving a quintessential vintage feeling to the room. There are a few modern features in this bathroom as well, showing that you can provide a mixture f different settings bringing something new to your home.
22. Luxury En-Suite Bathroom
The vintage decor in this bathroom makes fr a really stylish place to be in. The tiled flooring is black and the rest of the features are white, matching perfectly apart from the bathtub. The bathtub is the classic clawfoot but made from the more modern stainless steel. This steel is shiny and easy to clean, it reflects the flooring beautifully adding a shine to the room.
23. Antique Furnishings
In a lot of bathrooms, the furniture that is placed inside can depict them of the room. In this specific bathroom, there is a mix of both modern and traditional features, like the faucet sink tap and frameless mirror which give a more modern approach to the room. The bathtub s a clawfoot tub with a shower unit fixed to the wall. This design is a great way to provide different options, from whether you want a relaxing soak taking your time, or a quick shower is needed when you have somewhere to be. The most striking feature in this bathroom is the whiskey stained cabinet that sits against the wall, a beautiful piece that sets the vintage tone to the room taking it away from the modern features that are in this room as well.
24. Bold Colors
This bathroom is simple in design, it has exposed bricks which straight away provide a rustic feel and loads of character to any room. The bricks have been painted white which corresponds with the color theme used. This clawfoot tub is completely black on the outside and white on the inner side of the tub. The whole bathroom is black and white, even the cow print rug follows this trend. Bold colors in vintage bathrooms work perfectly together and give a striking look to the room, which is something that is wanted from this design.
25. Beautiful Rustic bathroom
This bathroom is simple in its design but gives off lots of vintage appeals to it. Clawfoot bathtubs are a classic feature if you want your space to have a traditional style, this one has been painted with a pink finish which isn’t a traditional color but keeps with the vintage theme of boldness. The dresser is very worn but really draws attention towards it, the wood has been painted white but still exposes the original stain underneath. Reclaimed pieces like this or purposefully worn styles are becoming more popular with furnishings all over homes, as they are stylish but also bring lots of character and charm with them.
26. Green Bathroom
Vintage bath ideas can also include a more geometric shape, just like the rectangular exterior shown in this bathroom. It sits seamlessly against the wall it is positioned. The walls have been painted in a bold green color, this kind of finish creates a strong statement. The faucets on the porcelain sink are separate hot and cold taps, something usual of traditional bathrooms.
27. 70s Style Bathroom
A seventies style screams from this bathroom. green is the main theme of the room, with the shower and sink basins painted the color. Sinks being painted a block color different to white has been seen on older bathrooms, so if this is the kind of style you are looking for then this could be a great idea for your home.
28. Traditional Tiled Bathroom
The shape of this room is stunning, so it already stands you at a great place to begin things with your bathroom. The roof is arched over adding loads of character to the space, something that just isn’t achievable from a box-shaped room. The flooring and walls have different tiles that have the same colored marbling effect on them which look stunning. They provide a vintage look to this bathroom, and also do great in giving space to the room, brightening up the area with light shining off the reflective surface. The clawfoot bathtub is placed on a platform, something that is usual with traditional bathrooms such as this one, giving a little extra detail to the aesthetic desired.
