If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We’ve toured plenty of homes with sleek, well-planned modern bathrooms. Still, it would be a shame to skip past the ones working a so-called “outdated” retro look. Porcelain pedestal sinks, clawfoot tubs, square subway tile backsplashes these rooms are full of small, charming details that get written off as dated far too often.
Still need convincing? Below, we’ve gathered 8 retro bathrooms that make the case modern isn’t always the better choice. Keep scrolling to see them all.
1 Add a Pedestal Sink and Flat Panel Wainscoting
A navy clawfoot tub and flat-panel wainscoting set the retro tone in Ashley Montgomery’s sunlit bathroom. A silver handheld faucet, wood-panel floors, and a little stool topped with flowers prove that a few well-chosen updates can give a vintage room just enough of a modern edge.
2 Try Hexagon Floor Tiles
Hexagon tile floors? Check. A subway tile wall? Check. A clawfoot tub on chrome feet? Check, check, and check. This retro-inspired bathroom by Anthony Dargenzio of Burchard Design Co. hits every note. And the glass window adds a quiet bit of elegance we can’t get enough of.
3 Add an Enameled Cast Iron Double Sink
The star of this retro bathroom isn’t hard to spot: an enameled cast iron sink fitted with two classic curved faucets. Hexagon tile floors and exposed wood beams round out the look in this charming space from Becca Interiors.
4 Opt for Penny Tile Floors and a Clawfoot Tub
Katherine Carter’s bathroom is full of charming detail. Penny tile floors laid in a striking pattern, a vintage table, a chandelier that’s simple but a touch ornate, and a clawfoot tub all settle in together without trying too hard. Proof that sometimes more really is more.
5 Bring in an Open-Framework Double Sink Console
Almost everything in this Katie Martinez Design bathroom is brand new, yet the whole room still reads vintage. The open-framework double sink console is practical and old-school at once. Penny tile floors and chrome fixtures carry the theme along. And there’s plenty of classic white shiplap for good measure.
LEARN MORE: 30 Beautiful Modern Bathroom Ideas for a Relaxing Retreat
6 Add Ethereal Wallpaper
A gold exposed-framework sink and black-and-white abstract wallpaper bring the retro feel to this Brexton Cole Interiors bathroom. Both classic and current, a solid brass double sconce with glossy white bulbs lights the room. A few small pieces of art add a final bit of charm.
7 Go Bold With a Vintage Vanity
Pedestal sinks always signal a retro bathroom, but it’s the hexagon install that won us over in this room by Caitlin Higgins for Emily Henderson Design. The quirky bust-statue wallpaper sets a vintage mood, and the mirror tucks right into it. The vintage vanity and square tile backsplash pull the whole thing together.
8 Try a Pedestal Sink
Ashley Montgomery Design shows how to get the most out of a dated rental bathroom. Rather than fight the vintage character — note the basketweave tile floors and gray wainscoting — the designer leans into it with a porcelain pedestal sink finished with a gold faucet and cross handles.
LEARN MORE: 12 Stylish Small Primary Bedroom Ideas for Every Budget