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 Still, it would be a shame to skip past the ones working a so-called “outdated” retro look.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.
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.
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