You might think that your bathroom can’t be both vintage and modern, but with some easy DIY moves, you can accomplish just that. Give your bathroom a charming vintage feel with some modern touches by using this guide as inspiration to freshen up your bathroom with a new look.
Timeless Bathroom Appeal
Cast-iron claw-foot tubs, hexagonal floor tiles, and chrome cross-handle faucets are important elements for creating a modern bathroom with vintage details. These fixtures and finishes were first introduced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and their popularity to this day makes them a great choice for homeowners wanting to blend vintage and modern designs.
Victorian Style Bathroom
The Victorian era, spanning from the 1860s to 1900, focused on bathroom designs that prioritized sanitation and ease of cleaning. Victorian bathrooms often had an all-white color scheme with touches of marble and freestanding fixtures.
Scrubbable Surfaces
Bathrooms of the Victorian era typically incorporated smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces. Marble or tile floors were common choices, with porcelain-coated tubs and sinks. These materials made cleaning easier and added a touch of luxury to the space. Scrubbable surfaces are an important consideration for your bathroom, whether you’re going Victorian or otherwise.
One of the most distinct features of Victorian bathrooms was exposed plumbing. Fillers, risers, and valves were often left visible. This can be incorporated into modern bathrooms for homeowners wanting a more industrial look. Today, they can be finished in various metals to complement your bathroom’s design space. Brass or copper brings warmth, while polished chrome is more contemporary.
Furniture-Look Fixtures
Tubs perched on claw feet and sinks with spindly legs were common features. These furniture-like fixtures added sophistication and elegance to the bathroom. Modern interpretations of these classic designs can bring some vintage details to contemporary spaces while still being functional.
Wainscot Walls
Wainscoting was a popular wall treatment in Victorian bathrooms. Wainscoting protected walls from water splashes, making bathrooms easy to clean. They were often designed from either white-painted beadboard, raised wood paneling, or glazed subway tile.
This element continues to be a favorite in modern vintage-inspired bathrooms, adding texture to the space. For an authentic look, choose a height for the wainscoting that complements your room’s proportions.
Craftsman Style Bath
The Crafstman bathroom style, popular from 1905 to 1930, featured clean-lined fixtures and boxy built-ins with block-printed wallpapers and molded tiles. This style emphasized handcrafted elements and a connection to nature, creating a warm bathroom space.
Hand-Hewn Hardware
Craftsman bathrooms included hardware that showed off craftsmanship and natural materials. Light fixtures and cabinet knobs were usually made of oiled bronze, hammered copper, or wrought iron. Faucets and tub fillers were often constructed from nickel-plated brass.
Warm Wood Accents
Wood played a big role in Craftsman bathroom designs, including vanities, medicine cabinets, moldings, and window and door casings. These were often varnished or stained to highlight the natural wood grain.
Using warm wood tones created a cozier space that contrasted the whiteness of Victorian bathrooms. To incorporate Craftsman styles into your bathroom, install wooden shelving or a wood-framed mirror.
Earth-Toned Color Palette
Craftsman bathrooms often had a color palette inspired by nature. Paint, wallpaper, and textiles in greens, yellows, reds, and browns created a grounding atmosphere for a relaxing bathroom space. Adding botanical-themed wallpaper or artwork is another great way for your bathroom to have a more natural theme that aligns with Craftsman designs.
Geometric Motifs
Geometric patterns were frequently used in Craftsman design. Windows had square or diamond-shaped muntins, and cabinetry or interior doors had rectangular recessed panels. These simple, clean lines moved away from the more ornate curves and twists seen in Victorian-era designs.
Art Deco Bathroom
The Art Deco style, popular from 1920 to 1940, brought glamour and sophistication to bathrooms. Art Deco bathrooms often had colorful wall and floor tiles with chevron patterns and Moorish arches. This style used bold geometric designs with luxurious materials, blending fashion and functionality.
Built-In Baths
Art Deco introduced the concept of built-in bathing areas. Recessed into the wall, often with an arched opening, stand-up shower stalls and semi-enclosed tubs had a more modern look. This approach concealed plumbing behind the wall and kept bathrooms uncluttered.
Bold Tile
In Art Deco bathroom designs, walls and floors were often covered with ceramic squares and octagons in vibrant shades of yellow, green, blue, and pink. Black or patterned border tiles were also used to stand in for baseboards and wainscoting.
Streamlined Fixtures
Art Deco fixtures included pedestal sinks with a rippling, stepped design. These combined form and function, creating a bathroom that was sleek and modern. Pairing these fixtures with period-specific lighting elevated the design.
Reflective Finishes
Art Deco was designed for luxury with reflective surfaces like polished chrome faucets and frameless glass medicine cabinets. These shiny, reflective elements are still appearing today in modern vintage-inspired bathrooms. Additional details, such as mirrored cabinets or reflective tiles, were also seen across Art Deco-inspired bathrooms.
