If You Love Character Homes, You’ll Love These 19 Vintage Bathrooms

Today we’re taking a little tour through some very charming, very real-life vintage bathrooms and talking about why they work so well. Consider this your friendly guide to borrowing the best ideas—from tile to tubs—to make your own bathroom feel like it’s always been this good.

Bathrooms might technically be “utility spaces,” but tell that to anyone who’s fallen in love with a clawfoot tub, a wobbly old vanity, or a wildly patterned floor tile (instant heart-eyes, right?).

Lately I keep seeing homes where the loo feels more like a tiny storybook set than a purely functional room, and it’s made me rethink what’s possible in just a few square feet. Do you lean toward grand hotel glam, or are you more into quirky cottage charm with slightly crooked artwork and a plant that may or may not survive the steam?!

Either way, the right mix of patina, pretty fixtures, and a bit of “found this at a flea market at 9 p.m.” energy can turn even the most basic space into something memorable. The fun part is how personal it all is / no two rooms tell the same story.

So in this roundup, we’re wandering through all kinds of vintage bathroom ideas, from moody jewel boxes to sugar-sweet floral escapes. Grab your towel, maybe a cup of tea, and let’s peek into every one of these character-packed little sanctuaries.

Sunlit Farmhouse Soak

This bathroom feels like it has been here for 80 years (in the best way), with its clawfoot tub, beadboard walls, and those unapologetically chunky wood chests flanking the double sink. The black and white hex floor shows how classic vintage bathroom tile can still look surprisingly crisp when everything else is airy and white.

Related: Guest Bathroom Essentials: The Ultimate Checklist

Seaside Checkered Retreat

Pull back and suddenly you realise this whole room is about the view and that playful green and cream checkerboard floor working together like, hey, look at us. The high back tub, old world cabinet, and curtain pooled casually in the corner are basically a Pinterest board of vintage bathroom ideas come to life.

Rosy Hotel At Home

This scene feels like checking into a romantic European hotel that somehow landed in a regular family house, with soft blush paneling, caramel and cream diamonds underfoot, and that curvy sink console setting the tone. The scalloped mirror, brass fittings, and woven baskets are the sort of details House Beautiful loves to zoom in on, because they prove that a little glam can still feel welcoming instead of stiff.

Graphic Teal And Midcentury Lines

If you have ever wondered what a vintage green tile bathroom would look like reimagined for right now, this is probably it. The narrow teal tiles wrapped around the room, plus that bold black and white floor, make everything feel graphic and a bit midcentury, while the warm wood vanity keeps it from going full retro science lab.

Cane Console And Golden Shower

Here the star is clearly the cane front console, drafted into service as a vintage bathroom vanity with a simple bowl sink perched on top, playing so nicely with the marble slab, oversized mirror, and slim column sconces. What I personally love is how the shower hardware repeats the warm metal tones so the whole corner reads as one calm moment, even though a lot is technically happening.

Floral Wallpaper And Heirloom Shine

Florals on florals on florals… and then that slightly foxed vintage bathroom mirror cutting through the sweetness just enough. Between the marble console sink, the little gilt frames, and the bouquet spilling across the counter, the whole setup feels like the sort of powder room you see in a lot of home tours. It is unabashedly pretty, but the patina on the metals keeps it from tipping into full on dollhouse mode, which is the trick, right?!

Powder Room With Gentle Drama

This compact room is basically a masterclass in small vintage bathroom ideas that do not feel cramped, with skinny brick tiles, reeded cabinet doors, and a round brass edged mirror stacking layer after layer of texture while still leaving enough visual breathing room above. Add a tiny rug, art, and a candle on the tank and suddenly the obligatory little bathroom becomes a place you would happily linger with your phone for ten extra minutes.

Related: 24 Above Toilet Decor Ideas: Elevate Your Bathroom Game

Arched Niche And Storybook Greens

Last up, we get a tiny arched alcove that somehow feels like a whole cottage on its own, thanks to the sage paneling, botanical wallpaper, and that chunky chest turned sink stand. The brass faucet, simple round mirror, and curtain around the tub all whisper vintage bathroom without copying any one era too literally.

Moody Morris Soak

Olive beadboard, claw feet, and that frosted window create a little cocoon of calm that feels one part Victorian, one part spa day. The William Morris print above the toilet subtly ties everything together, like a quiet shout of “YES, pattern can live in bathrooms too?!” and I really love how the plants soften all the dark paneling.

Grand Old-World Bath Hall

This room looks like it was lifted from a crumbling Italian palazzo, with high ceilings, wallpaper that feels about 120% dramatic, and tiled walls that wrap around like a jewel box. The long pedestal sinks, cluttered counter, and window altar of curios make it feel deliciously lived in rather than museum-grade perfect, which is exactly why it works.

Gilded Pedestal Corner

A tall pedestal sink, beadboard in an earthy green, and that arched gold mirror team up to prove you don’t need a huge space for big personality. The little gallery of paintings layered above the molding gives this corner a collected-over-decades vibe that feels very “eccentric writer’s cottage” to me, and what I like most is how the warm metals stop the green from feeling too serious.

Cherry Red Sink Moment

If you ever doubted that one strong piece could carry a whole room, this glossy cherry vintage bathroom sink is here to say otherwise. Surrounded by soft blue tile, ditsy floral wallpaper, and a tiny oval mirror, it turns the whole space into a playful study in contrast (old Hollywood powder room meets grandma’s guest bath).

Maximalist Aqua Jewel Box

Turquoise ceiling, lace curtains, crochet rugs, floral shower curtain, hanging plant, ornate vanity… it’s like someone took every grandma-chic detail from their memory bank and just decided, why not layer it all in one vintage bathroom. This is where retro vintage bathroom ideas start to feel almost theatrical, and strangely, that’s exactly what makes the whole thing so charming.

Related: 20 Small Bathroom Ideas That Make a Big Impact

Chocolate Walls And Carved Wood

Deep brown walls wrap around an antique dresser-turned-vanity with marble top, brass hardware, and a gently aged mirror, creating this moody little pocket that feels perfect for candlelit face masks. The patterned tile floor adds just enough energy so it doesn’t tip into cave territory.

Emerald Subway Archway

Here is proof that green tile can feel both classic and fresh: glossy bricks climbing up and over the tub alcove, meeting at that shallow arch like a little indoor grotto. Paired with the walnut cabinetry, checkered floor, and crisp sconces, it becomes a textbook example of how vintage bathroom light fixtures can bridge old-world charm with right-now style.

Light-Filled Double Sink Studio

This one feels almost like a creative studio disguised as a bath, with its long marble counter on slim legs, exposed plumbing, and a simple wood stool parked at the center. The woven mirror, soft curtains, and patterned rug warm everything up just enough so it doesn’t read too utilitarian, and what I love is that the whole space feels ready for both quick weekday showers and slow Sunday skincare rituals.

Cottage Green Buffet Vanity

An old buffet painted deep green becomes the star here, drafted into service under a modern vessel basin and arched mirror in a way that Joanna Gaines fans would probably 100% screenshot. The layered art, warm flooring, and triple-globe sconce keep things from feeling theme-y, instead landing on that sweet spot where holiday-ready meets everyday practical.