If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the midcentury modern bathroom didn’t take itself too seriously. The era embraced brightly colored tile, sunken bathtubs, carpeted floors, and other accoutrements that were then the cutting edge of bathroom decorating. Still, the style’s more grounded hallmarks, like wood millwork and other organic design details—especially in some of the more minimal or high-design spaces—still look plenty classy today.
While some features of the original midcentury modern aesthetic may have fallen out of fashion entirely, you don’t have to go whole-hog with these more out-there elements to embrace the spirit of the midcentury modern bathroom in your own home’s bathroom design. Whether you’re aiming to inject a contemporary bathroom with a retro feel or simply to elevate your ’50s home’s bathroom, considering the colors, materials, and accent pieces that were beloved throughout that era can give your space some direction. The below projects showcase different decorating ideas to help you channel the essence of midcentury modern bathrooms in your own abode, regardless of when your home was built.
What did 1960s bathrooms look like?
As with any design period, there’s a massive range in how bathrooms looked in the 1960s. One of the big differences between bathrooms then and now is color. In the newly built American bathrooms of the time, it was popular for shower tile, bathroom fixtures, and flooring to all be designed in bright hues. Patterned wallpaper, tiles, and curtains—which added even more texture to the spaces—were not uncommon either. Bathrooms in the 1960s were generally smaller, though, leaving little space for a standalone bathtub or the additional modern amenities that some contemporary homeowners have come to expect.
How can I create a midcentury modern bathroom?
There are numerous ways to create a midcentury modern style bathroom, depending on what in particular you’re drawn to from the era—and how intensive of a remodel you plan on undertaking. Simpler details include adding more color to your space or adding period appropriate decor and tchotchkes. More complex ideas include adding a sunken bathtub, installing a terrazzo backsplash, or picking out midcentury modern style faucets.
“The proportions of a midcentury bathroom are usually too small for today’s standards, but the design spirit is always something exciting to draw from: a sunken bathtub, integrated technology in panelling, industrial and often sustainable materials,” Daniel Rabin and Annie Ritz of the AD PRO Directory firm And And And Studio tell AD. “The midcentury spirit was about modesty in materials [and] integrating technology and simplicity. That very much has a place in contemporary design.”
To refashion your bathroom with an eye toward the classic style, read on for 17 timeless midcentury modern bathroom ideas.
