Everything old is new again.” I honestly believe that truer words were never spoken, especially when it comes to interior design! Did you know that incorporating vintage elements into your bathroom can not only boost your mood but potentially increase your home’s resale value by creating a unique, memorable aesthetic? It’s true. I remember the first time I swapped out a boring chrome faucet for an antique brass one; the entire room suddenly felt like a cozy retreat in a boutique hotel.
In this article, we are going to dive deep into 7 vintage bathroom decor ideas that are trending in 2026. Whether you are doing a full remodel or just looking for a weekend refresh, these tips will help you blend nostalgia with modern functionality. Let’s create a space that feels lived-in, loved, and undeniably stylish!
1.Anchor the Room with a Classic Clawfoot Tub
I still remember the day I decided to buy a salvage yard cast iron tub. I thought I was being so smart, saving money and getting that authentic vintage bathroom decor look. Then I tried to move it. Let me tell you, me and my husband nearly threw out our backs trying to get that beast up the stairs! It sat in the hallway for three days because we were too tired to figure out the next step. But honestly? Once it was installed, it changed everything.
If you are serious about vintage bathroom decor, you have to think about the tub. It’s the biggest piece in the room. It screams “I have history” like nothing else. But don’t make the same mistakes I did. You need to know what you are getting into before you fall in love with those fancy gold feet.
The Weight is No Joke
Real cast iron tubs are heavy. Like, ridiculously heavy. We are talking 300 pounds empty. Add water and a human, and you are looking at serious weight.
- Check your floors: Before you buy, go into your crawl space or basement. Look at the joists. I had to pay a contractor to “sister” my joists (add extra wood for support) because my 1920s house wasn’t ready for the load.
- Measure the doors: My friend Sarah bought a stunning 6-foot clawfoot tub. Guess what? It didn’t fit through her bathroom door. She had to take the door frame off. Total nightmare.
Acrylic vs. Cast Iron
Okay, I know purists say you have to go cast iron for real vintage bathroom decor. But honestly, acrylic has come a long way. I recently helped my sister redo her guest bath. We went with a high-end acrylic clawfoot. It looks exactly the same, but two people could lift it easily. Plus, the water stays warm longer. Cast iron sucks the heat out of the water if you don’t pre-heat it (which nobody has time for). If you want the look without the back pain, acrylic is a solid choice.
That Plumbing Drama
Here is something nobody tells you at the antique store. Old tubs have weird plumbing spacing. I bought a vintage faucet that I thought would fit my salvaged tub. Nope. The holes were 3/4 of an inch off. I spent hours searching for an adapter kit online. My advice: Buy the faucet and the tub together if you can, or buy a new “vintage-style” faucet that is made to standard measurements. It saves so much frustration.
Styling It Up
Once the drama is over, this is the fun part. A clawfoot tub needs room to breathe. Don’t jam it into a corner if you can help it. I like to put a small wooden stool next to mine with a stack of towels. It makes the space feel lived-in. And if you have ugly plumbing pipes showing? Paint them! I painted my exposed drain pipe a matte black, and now it looks like an intentional industrial design choice rather than an eyesore.
Getting a clawfoot tub is a labor of love. It’s annoying to install and hard to clean under. But when you sink into it after a long week? It is absolutely worth it.
2.Install Antique Brass or Oil-Rubbed Bronze Fixtures
If you want that true vintage bathroom decor feeling, you have to look at your metal. I used to have these standard chrome faucets in my house. You know the ones—shiny, silver, and honestly, a little boring. They felt cold. I decided on a whim to swap out the guest bathroom faucet for an oil-rubbed bronze one. It instantly made the room feel warmer and more expensive, even though I bought the faucet on clearance.
It’s crazy how such a small thing changes the whole vibe. But before you run to the hardware store, here are a few things I learned the hard way.
Match Your Metals (Usually)
I tried to be artsy once. I thought, “Hey, I can mix a brass light fixture with a bronze faucet.” Don’t do it. Unless you are a professional designer, it usually just looks messy. When I finished, it didn’t look eclectic. It looked like I ran out of money and bought whatever was on sale. If you pick antique brass, stick with antique brass for the towel bars, the toilet paper holder, and the shower trim. It pulls the room together.
The “Living Finish” Surprise
This is a big one. A lot of high-end vintage stuff has what they call a “living finish.” Basically, unlacquered brass doesn’t stay shiny gold. It gets brown spots. It gets fingerprints. It changes color over time.
- The Good: It looks genuinely old and authentic. I love the patina on my kitchen handles.
- The Bad: If you are the type of person who needs everything to look brand new and spotless, you will hate it. If you want the look without the upkeep, buy “PVD” finishes. They look like vintage brass but they have a coating so they don’t change color.
Don’t Forget the Shower Head
I see this mistake all the time. People change the sink faucet but leave the old chrome shower head. It sticks out like a sore thumb. You can get a “telephone style” hand shower that sits on a cradle. It looks super fancy and Victorian. I installed one in my master bath, and it makes rinsing the tub so much easier. Just make sure you check your water pressure. Some of those old-style rain heads need a lot of water to feel good.
Changing your hardware is probably the easiest weekend project you can do. You just need a wrench and some plumber’s tape. Just remember to turn the water off first! I forgot once. Let’s just say I mopped the floor that day whether I wanted to or not.
3.Incorporate Period-Correct Tile Flooring
I love the look of old bathroom floors. You walk into an historic hotel and see those tiny black and white tiles, and it just feels right. That is exactly what I wanted for my powder room remodel last year. I decided to tackle the tiling myself. I watched a few videos online and thought, “How hard can this be?”
Well, let me tell you, laying those little sheets of tile is trickier than it looks.
The Hexagon Struggle
I bought those classic white hexagon tiles that come on a mesh sheet. They look beautiful and are perfect for vintage bathroom decor. But here is the thing: if you aren’t careful, the gaps between the sheets show. My floor looks a little wavy near the door because I rushed it on a Sunday night.
- My tip: Dry lay them first. That means putting the tiles on the floor without glue just to see how they fit. It saves so much panic later.
Grout Color Matters
This is the biggest lesson I learned. Do not use bright white grout on a floor. Just don’t. I did this in my kids’ bathroom. Within a month, the grout around the toilet and the sink was dingy grey. No amount of scrubbing fixes it. For a vintage look, go with a “whisper grey” or even a charcoal color. It makes the white tiles pop, and it hides dirt. It’s a win-win.
Subway Tile is a Lifesaver
If you are running out of money (which always happens during a remodel), look at subway tile. It is those simple white rectangles. They are usually the cheapest tile at the hardware store. I used them for the walls in my shower. To make them look older and not like a public pool, I used a dark grey grout. It gives it that industrial, old-school feel instantly.
Stick to the Classics
I saw a bathroom once with bright pink and green 1950s tile. It was fun, but it is really hard to decorate around. If you want your bathroom to look good for a long time, stick to black and white patterns.
- Basketweave: Looks like a woven basket. Very fancy.
- Checkerboard: Big black and white squares. This actually makes a small room look bigger.
You can always add color with a rug or a shower curtain. But replacing a pink floor? That is a jackhammer job.
4.Repurpose Antique Furniture as a Vanity
This is probably my favorite way to add character to a bathroom, but I have to warn you: it is a bit of a project. I found an old oak dresser at a flea market for fifty bucks. I thought it would make the perfect sink stand. It had those beautiful curved legs and original handles. I dragged it home, so excited to get started.
Then reality hit.
Turning a piece of furniture into a vanity isn’t as simple as just cutting a hole for the sink. Here is what I learned so you don’t have to panic in the middle of your renovation.
Height is Everything
Most old dressers are too short. Standard kitchen counters are about 36 inches high. Bathroom vanities used to be lower, like 30 or 32 inches. My dresser was only 30 inches tall. After I put a vessel sink on top, it was okay, but if I had used a drop-in sink, I would have been hunching over to brush my teeth every morning.
- The fix: If your furniture is too short, you might need to add taller feet or build a small platform for it to sit on. Or, do what I did for my second project and use a kitchen buffet or sideboard. They are usually taller naturally.
The Drawer Situation
This is the part that hurts a little. You have to cut up the insides. The plumbing—the drain pipe and the water lines—has to go somewhere. I had to take a jigsaw and cut a big “U” shape out of the back of the drawers.
- Storage loss: You lose some storage space. The top drawer usually becomes fake (you glue the face on so it doesn’t open).
- Usefulness: The bottom drawers still work fine for towels and toilet paper. Just be prepared to lose that top drawer space.
Water vs. Wood
Bathrooms are wet. Wood hates water. If you splash water on an antique dresser every day, the veneer will peel off, and the top will get water rings. You absolutely have to protect the top. I used a product called “marine varnish” on mine. It is the stuff they use on boats. It makes the wood shiny, but water beads right up. Another option is to replace the wood top with a piece of scrap stone or marble. I did this in my master bath. I went to a stone yard and asked for a “remnant” piece (a leftover scrap). It was way cheaper than buying a whole slab, and it looks very fancy.
If you are handy with a saw, this is a great project. It saves money compared to buying a new cabinet, and it gives you that specific vintage bathroom decor look that you can’t really buy at a big box store.
5.Illuminate with Vintage Sconces and Chandeliers
Lighting is where I see people mess up the most. I used to live in a rental with one of those awful fluorescent tube lights over the mirror. Every morning, I looked like I hadn’t slept in a week. It was harsh and unflattering. When we bought our house, the first thing I ripped out was the “interrogation room” lighting.
If you want a cozy vintage bathroom decor vibe, you have to layer your light. You can’t just have one big bright light in the middle of the ceiling. It feels cold and sterile.
Ditch the “Boob Light”
You know what I’m talking about. Those flush-mount ceiling lights that look like… well, you know. Swap it out for a small chandelier or a semi-flush mount with a schoolhouse glass shade. I found a small crystal chandelier at a restore store for twenty bucks. I spray painted the chain gold, and now it hangs over my tub. It makes a bubble bath feel surprisingly fancy. Just make sure it’s high enough so you don’t hit your head when you stand up!
Flanking the Mirror
This is a trick I learned from a makeup artist friend. Don’t put the light above the mirror. It casts shadows under your eyes. Put sconces on the wall, one on each side of the mirror. It’s called cross-lighting.
- The look: It feels very 1920s hotel.
- The function: It lights up your face evenly. I love milk glass sconces for this. The white glass softens the bulb so you don’t get blinded while brushing your teeth.
The Bulb Color Matters
You can buy the most beautiful vintage lamp, but if you put a “Daylight” blue LED bulb in it, it will look terrible. For a vintage feel, you need warm light. Look at the box when you buy bulbs. You want “Soft White” or “Warm White.”
- The number to look for: 2700K or 3000K.
- Avoid: Anything that says 5000K. That is for hospitals, not your relaxing bathroom.
A Note on Safety
I have to say this because I learned it the hard way. Bathrooms get steamy. Make sure the light fixture you buy is rated for “damp locations” if it’s going to be near the shower. I put a regular living room lamp on a shelf once, and the metal started rusting within six months because of the humidity. Stick to fixtures meant for the bathroom.
6.Decorate Walls with Botanical Wallpaper or Beadboard
I remember spending an entire summer scraping three layers of fuzzy, velvet wallpaper off a wall in my first house. My arms hurt just thinking about it. I swore I would never touch wallpaper again. But here I am, telling you that for vintage bathroom decor, you kind of need it.
Plain painted walls are fine, but they don’t have that moody, old-world feeling. If you look at pictures of old bathrooms, there is almost always a pattern or some texture on the walls.
The Magic of Beadboard
If you are scared of wallpaper, start with beadboard. This is that white, grooved wood paneling you see on the bottom half of walls. Fancy people call it wainscoting.
- It hides damage: My bathroom drywall was a mess. Instead of paying someone to skim coat it smooth, I just glued beadboard sheets right over it. It covers everything.
- It protects the wall: If you have kids who splash in the tub, painted drywall gets mushy. Wood painted with semi-gloss paint handles water way better. You can buy big 4×8 sheets of it at the hardware store for pretty cheap. Just make sure you level it, or your room will look tilted.
Be Brave with Wallpaper
Okay, let’s talk about the top half of the wall. Since the bathroom is a small room, you can get away with a crazy pattern that would give you a headache in a living room. For a vintage look, I love dark floral prints. Think William Morris style—lots of vines, flowers, and birds.
- Peel and Stick: Technology has changed, guys. You don’t always need the messy paste anymore. I used a high-quality peel-and-stick wallpaper in my powder room. If I get sick of it in five years, I can just pull it off without ruining the wall.
The Humidity Problem
This is the one thing you have to watch out for. Bathrooms get hot and steamy. Steam makes glue melt. If you use wallpaper in a room with a shower, make sure you have a good exhaust fan. If your fan is weak, the corners of the paper might start to peel up after a year. I usually put a tiny bit of extra super glue on the corners just to be safe.
Combining the two is the best look. I did white beadboard on the bottom 4 feet of the wall and a dark green floral paper on the top. It balances out perfectly—the white keeps it bright, and the pattern makes it cozy.
7.Accessorize with Apothecary Jars and Old-World Linens
This is the fun part where you can put down the hammer and stop stressing about plumbing leaks. The finishing touches are what really make a vintage bathroom decor theme come alive. I honestly think you can take a boring, standard bathroom and make it look vintage just by changing the stuff on the counter.
I used to have all my uglies—toothpaste, colorful face wash bottles, plastic combs—sitting right out on the sink. It ruined the mood. Then I discovered the power of “decanting.” That is just a fancy word for putting cheap stuff into pretty containers.
The Apothecary Look
Go to a thrift store or even a craft store and look for glass jars.
- Clear Glass: Good for cotton balls and Q-tips.
- Amber Glass: This is the brown glass. It looks very medicinal and old-school. I put my bath salts in a big amber jar.
- The Labels: You don’t need a label maker. I just bought a pack of brown kraft paper stickers and wrote “Soap” and “Salts” with a black pen. It looks handwritten and authentic.
Linens That Feel Special
Please, I am begging you, throw away the neon orange towels you have had since college. Vintage bathrooms need texture. I love towels that have a little bit of crochet lace on the edge. You don’t have to use them for drying off if you don’t want to; just hanging one over the towel bar makes the room look softer. For the shower curtain, I swapped my plastic liner for a white fabric ruffle curtain. It feels like a petticoat. Just make sure you get a heavy one so it doesn’t blow in on you while you shower!
Thrifted Art is Key
Don’t buy that generic “Relax” art from the big box store. Go to a garage sale and look for small wooden frames. It doesn’t even matter what is in them because you can change it. I found a tiny oil painting of a flower for three dollars. It had a chipped gold frame. I hung it right next to my mirror. It adds so much personality.
- Tip: If you are hanging art in a bathroom, tape the back of the frame shut so steam doesn’t get behind the glass and ruin the picture.
It really is the little things. A bar of fancy soap on a ceramic dish looks way better than a pump bottle from the grocery store.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. That is my guide to bringing some history back into your home. We talked about everything from the heavy lifting of a clawfoot tub to the tiny details of glass jars.
Renovating or decorating isn’t always easy. I definitely cried over spilled paint and broken tiles more than once. But when I walk into my bathroom now, it doesn’t feel like a sterile showroom. It feels like a home. It has warmth.
If you are just starting, don’t feel like you have to do all 7 things at once. Start with the hardware. Or maybe just paint the walls and add some beadboard. This stuff takes time. The best vintage rooms look like they were collected over years, not bought in a single day.
I hope this helps you get started on your own project!
If you found these ideas helpful, please pin this article to your “Dream Bathroom” or “Home Renovation” board on Pinterest so you can find it later!
