Ugly or Iconic? Dated Bathroom Styles You’ll Love or Hate

Brilliant bathrooms from the past

The bathroom: an essential space in any home and a blank canvas for designers to play around with. Though the three-piece suite remains essentially the same, bathroom design has undergone a transformation like no other. Let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful and striking designs from the past 100 years. Click or scroll for more...

1930s turquoise tiled bathroom

We’re taking it back to the 1930s with this gorgeous turquoise bathroom. Though the Streamline Moderne movement popularized sleek lines and bold color schemes, there was still an appetite for decorative stained or beveled glass. The vibrant tiling softened by the pastel peach alcove is typical of this era.

1930s candy-colored bathroom

From the pink scalloped console sink to the graphic floral tiles, this bathroom is a 1930s dream. Following the Great Depression, the decade saw a shift towards clean lines and bold shapes accented with gold leaf; symbolizing a return to relative prosperity following years of hardship. We love the cream bathroom vanity with its padded stool and beveled glass mirror.

1930s mint green bathroom

This gorgeous mint green bathroom shows a very popular color choice in the 1930s. The Spanish Colonial Revival style was typical of California home design in the early 20th century. The decorative Talavera tiles that featured heavily in many a West Coast villa are increasingly popular today!

Sky blue 1930s bathroom

While it's easy to love a classic white bathroom, something about this makes a swing for color. Clad in baby-blue tiles, this gorgeous 1930s bathroom features fish scale stained glass windows and a period mirrored vanity unit. Would you incorporate any of these elements into your home today? 

1940s geometric teal bathroom

Functionality was paramount in the 1940s, leading to a rise in the number of homes with practical linoleum flooring. Room dividers offering additional storage space were also popular. Though money was tight for many families, it didn’t stop them from jazzing up their homes with decorative textiles and ornaments.

1940s salmon pink bathroom

A gorgeous example of 1940s design, this bathroom has leaded stained glass windows and a striking navy and coral color scheme. The decade coincided with the advent of modernism which promoted function over frivolity and a more technological approach to design. Though it may look a little utilitarian, this is one of the more decorative 40s bathrooms.

1950s pink and silver bathroom

With pink tiles, silver foil wallpaper and faux Carrara marble, this 1950s bathroom exudes a charming old Hollywood vibe. Following years of wartime austerity, people went all out with mid-century décor, combining dusky pastel hues with graphic prints and metallic accents. The iconic designs created in this decade are still going strong today.

1950s orange floral bathroom

Looking for wallpaper ideas? From the jumbo flower design to the tangerine-colored tiles, this bathroom takes a color scheme and runs with it. Though the décor may be a little overwhelming to the 21st-century eye, the design would have been all the rage back in the 1950s. Did your childhood bathroom look anything like this?

1950s pink doodle bathroom

The pastel-pink bathroom was one of the defining trends of the 1950s. Legend has it that President Eisenhower’s wife popularized the color when she decorated her family’s White House quarters entirely in pink. With its candy-colored tiles and pink and white wallpaper, this bathroom is a prime example of the rosy craze.

1960s blue and white tiled bathroom

The 60s were all about expressing your personal style as demonstrated by this eye-catching bathroom! Florid florals were in and many homeowners took the trend to the extreme with garish wallpapers and carpets. Would you opt for an all-over tiled design like this one?

1960s blue floral bathroom

Floral motifs were all the rage in the 1960s and this bathroom has fully embraced the trend! The zany print is complemented by blue gingham curtains, blue lino and an ornate, gilded mirror. Would you consider a scheme like this in your bathroom today?

Lavish hot pink 1960s bathroom

What could be more luxurious than this 1960s bathroom? With its intricate brocade wallpaper, hot pink carpet and shimmering chandelier, the space typifies the decade’s penchant for neo-Edwardian furnishings. A quirky six-sided bath completes the look.

1970s earth-toned bathroom

Earthy hues reigned supreme in the 1970s, compounded by a fascination with all things organic. You’d be hard-pressed to find a chocolate brown bathroom suite like this one in 2020! Check out the equestrian-themed ceramic tiles and the two colored glass terrariums.

1970s biophilia-themed bathroom

The rise of environmental campaign groups in the 1970s sparked an interest in sustainable home furnishings and a ‘back to nature’ approach to design. With its slew of trailing plants, this bathroom wouldn’t look out of place in a modern-day home. Have you jumped on the biophilic design bandwagon yet?

1970s color pop bathroom

The 70s was very much a decade of marmite design – you either love it hate it but there's no denying that its retro trends are making a comeback. Featuring a navy blue roll-top bath, Hollywood-style mirror and outlandish evil eye mural, this bathroom is one of a kind. We love the bold juxtaposition of classic and contemporary elements. What do you think?

1970s blue daisy bathroom

This whimsical bathroom will charm even the most austere minimalist. Note how the daisy-print wallpaper has been cut away to reveal the wall below, creating an original collage effect. A round gold mirror is the perfect accent piece for this exuberant space.

1980s tropical green bathroom

Tropical prints and tiki-style furniture were everywhere in the 1980s and this bathroom is no exception. Foliar designs echo the large potted palm while a platter of pineapples draws parallels with the green crosshatched tiles. The complementary dark green suite adds the perfect finishing touch to the space.

Monochrome 1980s bathroom

The Memphis Milano design movement inspired many a 1980s home with its bold shapes, contrasting colors and open-plan layouts. Featuring a daring black and white palette, this graphic bathroom makes a bold statement. We love the subtle homage to the Michelin Man achieved through the ribbed sink and bidet and the iconic figurine of the mascot itself.

1980s mosaic tile bathroom

First entering common parlance in the 1960s, the postmodernism movement reached its peak several decades later. Characterized by vibrant colors, iconic shapes and experimental design, it ushered in a new era of playful furniture and décor. With its smooth, tiled bath and graphic print, this 1980s bathroom is a more understated take on the trend.

1980s brown marble bathroom

The 1980s was the decade of excess and that extended into home furnishing too so that affordable luxury bathrooms became more widespread. In a backlash against the modernism trend, many 80s designers embraced opulence like never before. With its platform bath and brown marble tiles, this bathroom is an archetypal example of the decade’s theatricality. Did you dream of a space like this when you were younger?

1980s Japanese-style bathroom

1980s décor was heavily influenced by traditional Japanese design, resulting in a slew of soothing, zen-style spaces. The light walls, paper lampshade and collection of plants all lend this bathroom a feeling of calm and serenity. The sunken bath on a raised platform was another key 80s trend.

1980s zigzag mosaic bathroom

From the bean-shaped bathtub to the zigzag mosaic wall, this bathroom is iconic in more ways than one. Forget about boring white subway tiles, the 80s took tiling to new heights with quirky and colorful designs featuring heavily in many homes. Muted color schemes such as this one were also very popular.

1990s elegant bathroom

This bathroom epitomizes the elegant, preppy style that was popular in the early 90s. Forget about inflatable chairs and beaded curtains, this was also the decade of period features, magnolia paint and exposed floorboards. Taken from the Complete Guide to Home Decorating, this sophisticated bathroom ticks all the boxes.

1990s floral bathroom

Dainty and floral style led a bathroom revolution in the 1990s with the rise of shabby chic design. Taken from the Complete Guide to Home Decorating, this image exemplifies the airy, bucolic vibe. Did your bathroom look anything like this 30 years ago?

 

Gray 90s bathroom with glass bricks

From the speckled gray walls to the on-trend glass brickwork, used extensively in homes and architecture during the decade, this bathroom gives you the perfect snapshot of where interior design was at during the 1990s. Recessed spotlights really came into their own and white cabinets were all the rage in bathroom vanities, kitchens and bedroom furniture.

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