Mid-century modern bathrooms remain enduringly popular, celebrated for their clean lines, minimal decor, and use of natural materials like wood and stone.
Emphasizing natural light and indoor-outdoor connections, this style is inherently appealing.
Beyond its classic look, MCM also embraces bolder ’60s pop art colors and ’70s groovy patterns, offering diverse inspiration.
Today’s designs blend these retro influences with modern sensibilities to create light, airy spaces that feel timeless yet fresh.
Explore these mid-century modern bathrooms for ideas.
Use a Wood Vanity
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Update a wood sideboard for a bathroom vanity that suits the era.
The tapered legs, clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and brass fixtures of this piece make it an ideal addition to any midcentury modern bathroom.
The vanity’s rich wood stands out against the white tiles on the floor and walls, making it the focal point of the room.
Above and below, angular shapes are counterbalanced with a round mirror and a soft rug that complements the warm wood tones.
Add a Pretty Pastel
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Experiment with the powdery pastels popular in the ’50s.
Bathroom tiles provide the ideal playground for whimsical colors, like the pale blue scalloped tiles (fish-scale tiles) in this midcentury modern bathroom design.
The vanity and abstract print echo the gentle aqua shade and create a serene look that’s not overpowering.
The scalloped detail is cleverly repeated with the brass vanity pulls, wall sconce, and curved mirror.
Use Bold Patterned Flooring
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You’ve heard of an accent wall, but what about accent flooring? Confident patterns are a midcentury modern must.
But if you think patterned walls will distract from the tranquility of the space, then a vivid floor tile will do the trick.
Here, black-and-white bathroom floor tiles add style points to an otherwise neutral bathroom design without overwhelming it.
If a new floor isn’t within your budget, peel-and-stick tiles are a budget-friendly alternative.
Go Coastal
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This midcentury modern bathroom is the perfect example of seamlessly blended styles.
The wood bathroom vanity and bold geometric floor tiles are midcentury essentials, while the blue and white colors (reminiscent of breaking waves) establish a typical coastal palette.
Get creative with beachy accents, like a wall-mounted surfboard or a round rope mirror, and pair them with clean-lined furnishings and nature-inspired accents.
Opt for a Floating Vanity in a Small Bathroom
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Floating vanities are a stylish yet practical option for small bathrooms.
Lifting a vanity off the floor creates the illusion of more space and makes cleaning easier.
In this bathroom, the vanity, along with geometric floor tiles and a subway tile backsplash, are hallmarks of midcentury modern bathroom design, while matte black accents keep it looking contemporary.
Use Tiles Everywhere
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Modernists weren’t afraid to think beyond classic square or rectangle shapes when it came to tiles.
Midcentury tiles often took the form of triangles, pentagons, or hexagons—and they weren’t limited to the walls or floors.
Every inch of this bathroom is covered in hexagon mosaic tile for a seamless look. The white tiles offer a timeless, clean, classic look that borders on sterile.
So, the neutral color scheme is punctuated with gold hardware to add warmth and prevent it from feeling clinical.
Go for an Understated Midcentury Modern Bathroom
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For many, the bathroom is a sanctuary of calm.
To achieve a flawless, serene midcentury modern bathroom, prioritize clean lines and sparse ornamentation.
The muted, neutral color scheme of this bathroom exudes tranquility.
At the same time, a wood vanity with hairpin legs, gold hardware, mosaic floor tiles, and wall-mounted lights inject a distinct midcentury flair.
Work in Wood Tones
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Wood paneling is a crucial feature of midcentury modern design.
The exposed natural material was considered practical, durable, and relatively low-cost but it was also favored for its cozy, comforting influence.
Here, wood flooring gives a gentle nod to the midcentury era, while the painted wall paneling keeps the bathroom looking fresh and up-to-date.
Both the painted and exposed wood elements add subtle layers of texture and visual interest.
The natural elements of this bathroom design are further enhanced with a rattan basket and ceramic tiles in a warm brown shade.
Mix Tiles for a Midcentury Feel
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Playful patterns are a trademark of midcentury decor, and bathrooms provide the perfect canvas to experiment with daring designs.
Incorporate bold geometric shapes into the bathroom with tiles—either the real thing or stick-on varieties.
And why limit yourself to one shape?
Combine mosaic, subway, or bold geometric tiles for an unmissable homage to midcentury modern style.
Use Midcentury Lighting
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If you’re not ready for a complete midcentury modern bathroom overhaul, turn to lighting for a nod to the retro look.
Here, the brass and milk-glass globe wall sconces echo the shape of the vessel sinks and the mirror and coordinate with the faucets and hardware.
If globe lights don’t suit your style, try another iconic midcentury modern lighting design, such as a Sputnik chandelier, saucer pendant, or flowerpot light.
Opt for Subway Tiles
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Stylish, functional, and affordable, subway tiles fit the bill for midcentury decor.
What’s more, their simplicity gives them a timeless quality that easily adapts to various styles (which means they are easy to restyle if your tastes change).
Here, glossy white subway tiles reflect light around the room, creating a crisp, airy look.
Pair them with black bathroom fittings and warm brass accents for a sleek look.
Use Gold Finishes
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You might have spotted a recurring theme of gold and brass finishes throughout these midcentury modern bathroom decor ideas.
That’s because warm metallic finishes are ubiquitous in midcentury style for hardware, lighting, furniture, and accessories.
Stay true to this design principle by seeking the true colors of the material, such as brass, bronze, copper, and gold.
Polished brass bathroom fittings provide a warm, striking accent against the black subway tiles in this bathroom.
Create a Vintage Vanity
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Consider upcycling a vintage or antique wood piece of furniture into a stylish vanity by adding a sink and waterproof countertop.
A. Naber Design turned a large midcentury modern credenza into a handsome bathroom vanity with character and plenty of storage.
The rich wood stain adds contrast to the otherwise black-and-white palette and a round mirror breaks up all the clean straight lines.
Add a Skylight
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This midcentury modern inspired bathroom from Leanne Ford Interiors has a dark wood vintage console turned sink vanity and a mix of wood finishes on the ceiling and shower floor that is combined with textured white walls, slate blue-gray tiles, and modern matte black plumbing hardware for a winning combination that has a sense of history but works for today.
The spacious doorless shower is lit by the natural light from a large skylight.
Break Up the Tile
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Cathie Hong Interiors added a white quartz countertop to a midcentury credenza turned sink vanity with shiny brass knobs, then added a brass-framed oval pill mirror and squares of mustard gold tile sprinkled throughout the otherwise white-tiled shower that adds a quirky detail.
Mix Old and New
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This modern farmhouse bathroom from Jersey Ice Cream Co. has a midcentury modern twist with a repurposed vintage wood credenza turned sink vanity that is topped with a square modern double sink.
Hang Groovy Wallpaper
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Brexton Cole Interiors added swirly patterned midcentury wallpaper to this modern Washington D.C. bathroom that reflects the spirit of the 1970s while blending in with the black-and-white palette and modern fixtures of the updated space.
A color nude photograph above the toilet has throwback vibes.
Square It Off
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Michelle Boudreau Design used square tiles on the walls finished with cheerful orange grout that echoes the orange penny tile flooring and shower niche in this peppy midcentury modern-inspired bathroom.
Add Midcentury-Inspired Lighting
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This California bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors mixes understated pale-toned terrazzo flooring and backsplash tile with a wood-clad vanity and retro modern pendant lighting to create a fresh and textured neutral look.
Create a Spa-Like Feel
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A mix of muted blue and green tile, wood and leather accents, and an uncluttered feel give this spacious bathroom designed by Max Humphrey and Beebe Skidmore for Emily Henderson Design a midcentury modern feel.
Add Retro-Style Lighting
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This 1956 John Calder Mackay home bathroom in Mountain View, CA was modernized by Cathie Hong Interiors with floor-to-ceiling vertical wall tiles that add soft color and texture.
A simple wood vanity adds warmth, and a retro-style pink-and-red wall sconce nods to the midcentury modern character of the home.
Hang Palm Print Wallpaper
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Michelle Boudreau Design added vibrant green palm print wallpaper to this Palm Springs bathroom that reflects the midcentury style of the home as well as its setting.
Try Peel-and-Stick WallpaperInfuse some midcentury modern style to your bathroom by hanging some removable peel-and-stick wallpaper.
It’s an easy budget- and renter-friendly way to add geometric pattern and color to personalize your space without losing your security deposit.
Try Terrazzo
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Interior designer Sara Simon of Handsome Salt paired vibrant orange tiles, a pale blue sink, and terrazzo floors and walls that recall the material’s 20th-century heyday, and celebrate the vibrant and colorful side of the midcentury modern era that feels fresh and new today as terrazzo has made a 21st-century comeback that is still going strong.
Hang an Asymmetrical Mirror
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A midcentury modern asymmetrical mirror, a vintage pendant light, and all-over cheetah wallpaper gives this powder room from Erin Williamson Design retro glam appeal.
Both vintage and reproduction asymmetrical mirrors can be sourced at flea markets or online.
Add Geometric Floor Tile
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Colorful geometric floor tile, a quartz-topped double midcentury modern-style credenza, and brass light fixtures add midcentury notes to this modern California bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors.
Mix Warm and Cool Tones
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Michelle Boudreau Design mixed rich wood midcentury-style furniture with brass knobs and gray tile to create a play of warm and cool tones in this midcentury modern Palm Springs bathroom that has a retro-modern feel.
Add Warmth to an All-White Room
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Emily Henderson Design added warmth to a bright all-white bathroom with a warm wood sink vanity and geometric blue-and-white floor tile that is influenced by midcentury modern style.
Add Color and Pattern
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Erin Williamson Design chose patterned wallpaper with a retro pattern with coral accents and a frameless oval pill-shaped mirror that add midcentury vibes to this personality-packed powder room.
Mix Wood, Brass, and Marble
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Michelle Boudreau Design outfitted this updated Palm Springs midcentury modern bathroom with a small wood sink vanity that is contrasted with gray marble wall tiles and shiny gold-toned brass lighting and hardware.
Accent With Black
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Folding Chair Design Co. mixed a wood slat sink vanity with black stone and tile, brass fixtures, and a mix of color and black-and-white art in this midcentury modern-inspired bathroom that is designed for contemporary times.
Add Bold Hues
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Dazey Den paired an accent wall painted in a yellow brighter than the sun with warm orange and red accents in this poppy homage to midcentury modern style.
Take It Contemporary
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Midcentury modern design favors clean lines, a focus on materials, and promoting the link between interior and outdoor spaces that felt radical in the 20th century but feels contemporary and current today.
Interior designer Rhianna Jones of Tidal Interiors added a wood-clad, inset nook over the large double vanity in this spacious California bathroom that has soft backlighting and is outfitted with a wide mirror that reflects the view and natural light from the sliding glass doors opposite.
Hang an Octagonal Mirror
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Interior designer Rhianna Jones of Tidal Interiors used leafy wallpaper in shades of gray, an octagonal mirror, and rich wood accents and flooring for this powder room that has a midcentury modern sensibility while feeling fresh and updated.
Keep It Simple
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The rich wood sink vanity adds warmth to this minimalist bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors that has clean lines and a functional aesthetic that recalls the midcentury modern era.
Lighten It Up
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This minimalist bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors has a palette of pale tones, silver accents, and light wood that has Scandinavian and midcentury modern influences that feel fresh and current.
Add Retro Style Tile
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Michelle Boudreau Design added a rich wood vanity, brass hardware, vintage-style lighting, and a retro style star-patterned backsplash that infuses this bathroom with midcentury modern inspired charm.