When the word “vintage” is used to describe bathroom décor, your mind might immediately picture pastel tiles and fixtures often found in older homes. However, vintage-inspired style isn’t necessarily old-fashioned or outdated. Rather, vintage style incorporates classic and timeless elements to create a comfortable, attractive, and functional space.
From choosing the right color schemes to selecting the appropriate fixtures, here are some ways to incorporate vintage or retro bathroom décor into your home.
What Are Some Vintage Bathroom Décor Ideas?
1. Choose Timeless Tile
Vintage bathroom décor almost always includes tile work. Two options that are always in style are white subway tile and black and white penny or hexagon tiles. Inspired by the earliest bathrooms, these tiles offer a classic, nostalgic backdrop to the rest of the bathroom. Plus, since tiles are timeless, you won’t have to worry about redesigning or upgrading them for years to come.
2. Play With Color
One reason vintage bathroom décor is so popular is because it allows you to play with color. While you can always go with a neutral or a classic black-and-white color scheme, you can also play with pastels and brighter shades.
Step back into the 1950s and incorporate a fun pink or mint green color scheme. Brighten things up with a mid-century modern-inspired turquoise and coral bathroom or stick with 1940s-inspired primary shades.
3. Incorporate Old-Fashioned Fixture Styles
Vintage bathrooms tend to feature more design details than their modern counterparts. Footed bathtubs and pedestal sinks are among the most iconic details, and you can extend the vintage-inspired look to other fixtures by installing a faucet and showerhead with curved lines and luxe finishes.
It’s not just the shape of the fixtures that gives them retro flair. The finish can also add a vintage vibe to your space. Warm-toned fixtures, like the Canopy Filtered Showerhead in brass, are the most traditional choice for retro bathroom design, but other colors, like brushed nickel or matte black finishes, are better when you’re going for a softer, more rustic or vintage style. They create a warmer feeling than chrome and other shiny finishes.
While you can usually find vintage fixtures at salvage or antique shops, many modern manufacturers take inspiration from the past to produce modern pieces that look vintage. Investing in a Canopy Filtered Showerhead allows you to create an old-fashioned look with the benefit of clean, filtered water.
4. Use Wallpaper
Wallpaper is making a comeback, and it’s one of the best ways to add some vintage style to a bathroom. Choose a vintage floral pattern to add color and texture to the room. Because the bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house, you can go a bit bolder here than you might otherwise, but keep in mind that the scale of the wallpaper pattern can make the room feel smaller or larger. Generally, use large-scale florals in more expansive spaces and choose a small pattern for smaller bathrooms.
If you’re not sure if you want to commit to wallpaper, hang removable peel-and-stick wall coverings. It’s easy to put up and remove without damaging walls, and it’s also an easy way to give a rental bathroom some flair.
5. Upcycle & Repurpose
Vintage style is about making rooms feel lived-in, with items collected over time. Incorporating repurposed or upcycled elements helps create this feeling, so scour antique shops, thrift stores, and estate sales for pieces that can serve other purposes in your bathroom.
For example, an old ladder makes a great towel rack, while a small table or dresser can be repurposed into a vanity or storage unit. Don’t be afraid to get creative with furniture and accessories to make your space unique and functional.
6. Add Old-Fashioned Details
Incorporating old-fashioned details, like crystal doorknobs, weathered textures, gauzy curtains, and period-appropriate artwork ties your vintage bathroom together. Again, the idea is to make the space feel comfortable and welcoming and full of personal and collected items that have always been there, so add quirky or unique details to make the space your own.
Upgrade Your Bathroom With Canopy
Whether your bathroom is modern or feels like you stepped back in time, you deserve a luxurious, healthy shower. The Canopy Filtered Showerhead looks great in any bathroom and removes contaminants and dissolved minerals from the water to keep your skin and hair healthy with every use. Order yours today and experience the difference for yourself.