Mid-century modern is a popular style of interior design that embraces simplicity, practicality, and sleek, clean lines. It’s a harmonic mix of the modern and traditional, seamlessly combining natural and new materials with organic and manmade designs. If your bathroom is due for a remodel and you’re a fan of retro designs, a mid-century modern upgrade could be the perfect fit.
Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Ideas
1. Go Wild With Tiles
While most people think of furniture when picturing mid-century modern interiors, the flooring and walls also play a major role in the aesthetics. Tiles give bathrooms a relaxed, spa-like atmosphere that feels luxurious while sticking to the simple and clean mid-century modern theme. And they’re not just for floors and shower stalls—matching floor and wall tiles give you plenty of space to show off trendy geometric, subway, or terrazzo tiles. White, gray, and blue are popular colors for mid-century modern bathroom tiles.
2. Add a Pop of Color
While minimalism is a key element of the mid-century style, this era never shied away from color. A burnt orange, mustard yellow, teal, or olive green accent can make a bold statement. Choose colorful tiles, paint an accent wall, or add a unique mid-century modern bathroom decor piece, such as artwork.
3. Bring Warmth With a Wood Vanity
Wood furniture pieces are a hallmark of every mid-century home. Stay true to the era with a wooden vanity. A warm, inviting wood vanity provides an excellent focal point. For a classic mid-century modern bathroom vanity, stick with clean lines and angles, minimal ornamentation, and hairpin legs.
4. Choose Sleek & Stylish Plumbing Fixtures
Fixtures are where you can really elevate your mid-century modern bathroom. This era of interior design was all about contrasting natural, earthy wood with cool, modern metals. Try juxtaposing your wood vanity with mid-century-style plumbing fixtures.
The right showerhead can truly pull the look together. A matte black shower head provides a clean, elegant look and a sleek silhouette, while industrial brass is a staple of mid-century modern design. Stainless steel was another common metal used at the time, admired for its shine, so consider a brushed nickel shower head that closely mimics the look.
5. Embrace Minimalism
If you prefer to fully lean into the minimalism of mid-century modern design, you can steer clear of colorful accents and instead decorate your bathroom with neutral hues. Black, white, beige, and gray can give your bathroom a simple aesthetic that’s quiet and cohesive. The clean, ultra-minimalist look emulates tranquility and relaxation.
6. Open the Space with Glass Shower Enclosures
Shower curtains aren’t particularly well suited to the sleek simplicity of a mid-century modern home design. Glass, on the other hand, is a trademark material of the movement. With clean, crisp angles and more opportunities for metal fixtures, glass shower doors would make the perfect addition to your redesign. They show off your tiles and hardware while making the bathroom appear larger and more open, which is particularly useful in smaller rooms.
7. Install a Vessel Sink
Vessel sinks have made a big comeback in recent years, and for good reason. They add a touch of spa-like elegance and style to your bathroom without eating too much into your remodeling budget. Since they’re situated on top, these sinks help free up storage space inside your vanity.
Plus, they’re ideal for a mid-century modern bathroom. Remember that this era was big on big furniture, and vessel sinks stand out in more ways than one. Whether you choose a smooth bowl sink or a dramatic rectangular sink, they’re highly versatile. Just make sure your faucets match your showerhead.
If you’re in the market for a mid-century modern bathroom remodel, complete the look with a Canopy Filtered Showerhead. Available in matte black, brushed nickel, brass, and polished chrome, this stylish showerhead is so simple to install that no tools are necessary. The built-in filter removes contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals, resulting in cleaner water that leaves your skin and hair hydrated and silky smooth.