How to Create a Retro Style Bathroom

I'd like to welcome Alice Flynn who has written a post especially for DIYbyDesign.

Nowadays, nearly everyone seems to want a modern, stylish, minimalistic bathroom that is usually sleek and shiny and only has the necessary fittings such as a shower, sink and toilet. But this isn’t to everyone’s taste. Many people want their bathroom to suit their personality and not just jump on the bandwagon. And for a good deal of people this means creating their own unique retro style bathroom. If you’re new to it though, here are some tips on creating your own retro bathroom.

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Don’t be afraid of colour. Remember those peach and avocado coloured bathroom suites your grandparents had? That’s what you want to be looking for. If this seems a little bit too tacky for you, perhaps just use the colour on the walls. Find a 60s style wallpaper in bright colours and make a feature wall. Try tiling the floor in a checkerboard pattern with a brightly coloured tile alternating with a white one.

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Just because your bathroom might look vintage, it doesn’t mean it actually has to be so. Make sure that you buy a bathroom suite that has all the modern features that you need but has suggestions of the style you’re looking for. By doing this, you won’t end up paying loads for repairs, but you’ll still have the look you need. You can add accessories with a vintage feel such as Dornbracht taps or dainty soap dishes to the rest of the bathroom.

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It might sound strange, but adding wooden elements to your bathroom can give that retro look without being dated. Perhaps add a dark wooden panel around the outside of the bath for a 1970s vibe.

‘Shabby chic’ is a style that’s very fashionable at the moment in bathrooms. Pastel colours are perfect for this, along with ornaments, pictures and signs that have that definitive shabby look. Try painting a bathroom cabinet in a pale cream colour, then sanding away the paint on the edges to make it look a little worn. Make sure you don’t overdo though, because this will just look messy! To keep it under control, match the colours together, such as having towels in different shades of blue.

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Thank you Alice for your wonderful article.  

-Judy