I’ll admit it: I have a little fascination with the restroom. My childhood house in Franklin, Michigan, is a traditional split-level ranch constructed in 1960, and the en-suite bathroom in my bedroom is a jade-colored refuge of tranquility. My mother never fails to remind me that the “green bathroom,” as we affectionately refer to it, will almost certainly be “gutted” when they ultimately sell the property. And with that, I’ll be joining them. The mere thought of a blunt item destroying the intricate bathroom tiles work causes my pulse rate to race. I could even follow in the footsteps of environmental warriors and attach myself to the hardware from the endangered American Standard company.
While my pessimistic mother decries the green bathroom as “dated,” my concern of it being unnoticed has gradually subsided as time has passed. Magnificent flashes of color have started to appear among the “Hinched” expanse of gray-on-gray and white-on-white contemporary bathroom tiles décor that have begun to overwhelm my Instagram feed. Is it possible that this is true? Is it possible that the “green bathroom” will become fashionable again? Or, maybe, it was so timeless that it never completely went out of style?
Several Instagram accounts, such as @vintagebathroomlove, have been instrumental in launching the retro-revival bathroom trend. By emphasizing a respect for the historic and the contemporary, they encourage their thousands of followers to pay attention to one of the most important aspects of interior design: individuality. As a result of this revival, we decided to take a look back at some of the most popular bathroom tiles styles from the past to get a better feel of where we could be headed in the future. check out some of the best tools for installing tiels at http://gravenatile.com/10-essential-tools-to-lay-terrazzo-floor-tiles-in-your-bathroom/
During the first decades of the twentieth century: Restriction has been transformed into Deco.
Despite the fact that bathroom tiles have been a part of the domestic vernacular for a long time, they have gone through various versions during the twentieth century and beyond. As a result of this utilitarian aesthetic in the early 1900s, bathrooms were devoid of color and instead opted for a clean, monochrome look—think subway bathroom tiles and iconic black-and-white hexagonal floral bathroom tiles flooring. In any case, the older kinds of tiled bathrooms seem to be more in keeping with today’s “contemporary” tendencies than the latter.
When it came to powder rooms in the 1920s and 1930s, designers realized that a splash of flamboyance may enhance the experience. Deep shades of purple, yellow, and green grew increasingly popular as people moved away from the starkness of flat subway bathroom tiles and toward pictorial textures such as ocean waves, Art Deco patterns, flowers, and fruit, among other things. Homes in the Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor styles were particularly popular. The bathrooms of the Art Deco period were lavish, a kaleidoscope of texture and color. In the midst of the varied greenery of ceramic, baths and showers were often tucked away beneath their own tiled arches, providing little havens of relaxation.
Color coordination in the 1950s and 1960s was a little cheesy.
Color and brightness of years past were recreated in midcentury bathrooms with a post-war austerity that came into effect after World War II. The opulent jewel tones of the past were no longer in fashion. Pepto pink, baby blue, and, of course, jade green were the go-to bathroom hues in the 1950s and 1960s, and they’re still popular now. On the walls, there were square bathroom tiles measuring four by four inches, while the flooring were covered with the famous Versailles mosaic bathroom tiles. Fixtures by American Standard and Signature were hung above color-coordinated tubs and sinks, and they were invariably finished in elegant chrome. Despite being more basic than its predecessor, the midcentury bathroom did not sacrifice attention to detail for the sake of simplicity.
More is more in the 1970s.
The 1970s saw a resurgence of maximalism, as mustards, avocados, and burnt siennas coexisted with foiled wallpaper and metallic accents. Baths, deep and luxurious, were constructed in the shape of discussion pits, most likely because they were intended to accommodate more than one person. In the bathroom, warm hues and arabesque geometry transformed the space from charming and controlled to full-on obnoxious (in the nicest possible manner).
The 1980s were a decade of extravagant living.
During the 1980s, high-end bathroom tiles were large, ornamented with ferns and ivies, and often painted white with splashes of mauve or teal color. Some designers were even bold enough to use carpet to cover the flooring in their designs. There was a strong focus on the rejuvenation of the bathroom experience, with features such as jacuzzi pools, wet saunas, and soft vanity lighting. The overall motif was “spa-inspired.” Visual noise was reduced to a minimum by using limited color palettes. The shower’s remaining steam was illuminated by diffused light coming in through the large windows. While many of the wood-paneled interiors had a spa-like feel to them, it was mosaic patterns that added a touch of glitz to the look in the majority of cases.
Beige was the color of choice throughout the 1990s.
The most popular hue of the 1990s was, for some reason, beige, and bathrooms were no exception to this trend. They were often decorated with border wallpaper or hand-stamped designs such as foliage or flowers. Window glass blocks and glass blocks utilized as a part of the furniture were also important features in the room. Granite was the epitome of luxury, and it could be seen on counters of various kinds throughout the home. Beige tiled floors, occasionally with imitation of actual marble, could be seen in almost every bathroom from the 1990s. It was a beautiful contrast to the medium coloured wood cabinetry in the room. Consider this palette to be more natural than it is artificial.
The present: It’s like going back in time.
With the return of old bathroom tiles, the monotony of contemporary bathrooms is being gently but steadily dismantled. In fact, when it comes to bathroom interior design, the past may be a good predictor of the future. This is according to the unknown individual behind the Instagram account @vintagebathroomlove: “The growth of popular trends and home remodeling shows appears to have merely burnt people out.” “There was amazing originality in house design even up to the 1970s, after which it seemed that everyone basically began following specific patterns… “I get the impression that individuals want to be a bit more daring with color and really let their personalities show, which I wholeheartedly endorse.”
We have you covered if you’re looking for some beautiful vintage bathroom tiles inspiration, or even if you’re looking for your next house. In addition, if you don’t happen to be one of the fortunate few who has a bathroom with original bathroom tiles, there are plenty of retro-inspired DIY hacks available for even the tiniest of rooms. Maybe one day we’ll live in a world where I won’t have to worry about the safety of my beautiful green bathroom, which is now in danger.
