If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Midcentury modern bathrooms date back to the 20th century, and somehow they’ve never lost their pull. The look is built on clean lines, natural materials like wood and stone, and plenty of light. It stretches to cover the pop art colors of the ’60s and the groovy patterns and earth tones of the ’70s, too.
Here are 39 midcentury modern bathrooms to borrow from.
01 Repurpose a Vintage Vanity
Upcycle a midcentury buffet into a stylish bathroom vanity by adding a sink and a waterproof countertop. A repurposed credenza like this one comes with a bonus: plenty of built-in storage.
02 Choose Midcentury Lighting
Pick vintage or contemporary fixtures that channel midcentury aesthetics. In this minimalist space, modern globe pendants add a sculptural note.
03 Try Terrazzo Tile
Terrazzo is a true midcentury material, and it’s come roaring back in recent years. This vibrant bathroom pairs bold orange tiles and a pale blue sink with terrazzo running across the floors and walls.
04 Use Earth Tone Colors
Earth tones run all through midcentury interiors. This bathroom leans in with burnt orange walls, bold terrazzo floor tiles flecked with orange and green, and brown towels.
05 Use Square Tiles
Square tiles are an easy way to signal midcentury style. Here, orange grout and penny tile flooring sneak in a dose of period-appropriate color.
06 Hang a Brass Mirror
Hang a midcentury mirror over the sink. A brass-framed oval pill mirror delivers a classic look that feels just as fresh today.
07 Hang Palm Print Wallpaper
Nothing says midcentury glamour like the right wallpaper. Vibrant green palm print suits this Palm Springs bathroom twice over, nodding to both the home’s era and its setting.
Renting, or on a budget? Removable peel-and-stick wallpaper adds pattern and color without risking your security deposit.
08 Choose Colorful Floor Tile
Colorful geometric floor tile, a quartz-topped double credenza-style vanity, and brass light fixtures give this modern California bathroom its midcentury notes.
09 Add Rattan Details
Rattan accents like vintage mirrors warm up a modern bathroom instantly. Geometric tile around the shower and tub gives the room its focal point.
10 Lean Into Warm Wood Tones
Rich wood tones are a shortcut to midcentury style. This Palm Springs bathroom mixes warm wood furniture with brass knobs and gray tile, a nice push and pull between warm and cool.
11 Hang Groovy Wallpaper
Lean into the groovier side of the era with patterned wallpaper. A swirly print gives this modern bathroom an unmistakable 1970s feel.
12 Incorporate Wood Slats
Wood slat details are pure midcentury. Here, a slatted sink vanity meets black stone and tile, brass fixtures, and a mix of color and black-and-white art.
13 Hang a Colorful Retro Sconce
This renovated 1956 bathroom keeps faith with the home’s midcentury character. A simple wood vanity meets neutral wall tiles, and a retro pink-and-red wall sconce provides the spark.
14 Hang an Asymmetrical Mirror
Source a vintage or reproduction asymmetrical mirror from a flea market or online and your bathroom gains instant character. Animal print wallpaper and a vintage pendant light finish off this powder room.
15 Mix Wood and Brass
Warm wood tones give an all-white bathroom some personality. Colorful geometric floor tiles and brass fixtures complete the picture.
16 Mix Old and New
Blending old and new keeps a room from dating itself. This modern farmhouse bathroom takes a midcentury turn with a repurposed vintage wood credenza-turned-vanity, topped with a square modern double sink.
17 Favor Geometric Forms
Geometric floor tile is the natural finish for a midcentury bathroom. Bold pattern or quieter forms like these oversized neutral tiles, either way geometry is a hallmark of the style.
18 Blur Indoors and Out
Midcentury design is all about clean lines, honest materials, and blurring the line between inside and out. A mirrored nook above this large double vanity bounces light and outside views back into the room.
19 Add Color and Pattern
Mix neutral geometric tile with wallpaper in classic midcentury shades of orange, blue, and rich earth tones. The retro print here packs this little powder room with personality.
20 Install a Skylight
Midcentury bathrooms put natural light first. This one delivers clean lines, mixed wood finishes, and a skylight positioned right above the shower.
21 Favor Brass Accents
Brass is a midcentury signature. From lighting to plumbing fixtures, mirrors, and hardware, polished brass brings shine and retro warmth to any bathroom.
22 Hang an Octagonal Mirror
An octagonal mirror is an easy way to introduce geometric form. Leafy wallpaper and rich wood accents round out this powder room.
23 Energize With Pop Art Colors
Midcentury isn’t all neutrals. An accent wall in a yellow brighter than the sun, backed by warm orange and red accents, celebrates the lighthearted side of the style.
24 Decorate With Wood Grain
Choose wood with visible grain and you get texture for free. Dark stained wood against simple wall tiles keeps this space minimalist but never flat.
25 Include Bold Color Accents
Bold color accents are a midcentury staple. Retro stripes, geometric floor tiles, and orange-red cabinet pulls wake up this otherwise neutral space.
26 Lay Hardwood Flooring
Celebrate the era’s love of rich wood. Hardwood floors, a wood-brass-and-marble sink vanity, and polished brass details give this bathroom its midcentury feel.
27 Incorporate Scandi Style
Scandinavian and midcentury influences are natural partners. This minimalist bathroom blends pale tones, silver accents, and light woods for a look that feels fresh and current.
28 Add Retro Wall Tile
Give a contemporary bathroom a sense of history with a retro tile pattern. A dark wood vanity, brass hardware, vintage-style lighting, and a star-patterned backsplash fill this room with midcentury charm.
29 Try Statement Floor Tile
Energize a neutral room from the ground up. Geometric tile in shades of blue plays off a dark stained wood double vanity and staggered square wall tile in this midcentury-inspired bathroom.
30 Focus on Clean Lines
Clean lines and a considered mix of materials give a midcentury bathroom real elegance. This holiday-house bathroom pairs a deep rectangular wood soaking tub with minimalist rammed concrete and stone for a zen feel.
31 Mix Patterns
Mix patterns with bright midcentury yellows and oranges for a room that just feels good. This Palm Springs bathroom finishes the thought with retro lighting, poppy wall art, and a cactus.
32 Let the Outdoors In
If your bathroom faces a private outdoor space, skip the window treatments entirely. The indoor-outdoor feel here is exactly what midcentury designers were chasing.
33 Hang Midcentury Sconces
Geometric brass and globe sconces add retro charm on sight. Line a wall with them and you get balanced, flattering light that doubles as decor.
34 Accent with Green
Earth-toned tile makes a beautiful accent wall. Green shower tiles against a honey-toned wood vanity and brass accents keep this primary bathroom streamlined and warm.
35 Hang Vintage-Inspired Wallpaper
Midcentury wallpaper does a lot of work in a small space. This woods-print paper, based on a 1959 screen print, adds a calm, forested note to a compact cool-toned bathroom.
36 Use Muted Tones
Paint the bathroom a muted earth tone and the whole room relaxes. Warm lighting, fish scale tile flooring, and a midcentury wood double vanity make this one timeless.
37 Use Chocolate Hues
This updated Parisian bathroom has a contemporary suspended toilet and square sink, but the warm chocolate brown walls recall one of the ’70s most beloved colors, now firmly back in fashion.
38 Accent With Wood
Don’t stop the wood at the vanity. In this primary en suite, a wood-framed mirror and matching door casing echo the sink vanity and spread the warmth around the room.
39 Add a Contemporary Spin
Midcentury influences in a black and white palette read surprisingly contemporary. A midcentury-inspired mirror, vanity, and lighting meet hardwood floors and textural wall hangings here.
How do you style a midcentury modern bathroom?
Don’t overdo it. Complement wood tones with brass fixtures, sculptural lighting, and natural elements like green plants that reinforce the open, airy feel of authentic midcentury spaces. Streamlined storage hides the clutter and keeps things minimal.
What is a midcentury style bathroom?
A midcentury modern bathroom features clean lines, an emphasis on natural light and a connection to the outdoors, and materials like wood, glass, and stone. Today’s versions often blend midcentury style with contemporary elements or other styles like industrial or bohemian for a current take on the classic look.
What colors go with midcentury modern style?
The original midcentury palettes favored muted, nature-inspired greens, blues, browns, and oranges that pair well with natural wood and brass. Brighter pop art shades like yellow and orange, along with bold geometric patterns, arrived with the 1960s and ’70s.
RELATED: 8 Retro Bathrooms That Prove Modern Isn’t Always Best