1970s bathroom decor: Funky, functional & full of personality
In the early part of the decade, colors like avocado green, harvest gold and burnt orange were already showing up in kitchens — and soon after, they moved right into the bathroom. Matching fixtures were common, and that meant sinks, tubs and toilets often came in the same bold shade. It was a time when home design didn’t shy away from making a statement, and bathrooms were proof of that.
Textured materials and visual layers were also central to 1970s bathroom decor. You’d often see carpet on the floor and maybe even on the walls or toilet lid. Wallpaper got dramatic, with overscale florals, geometric patterns and faux textures like marble or woodgrain. Wood paneling and laminate countertops were popular, and many bathrooms mixed in plants, decorative lighting or clever built-ins to make even a small space feel personalized.
One trend that kept showing up in these vintage bathrooms was the sunken tub or whirlpool-style bath — often surrounded by tile, wood or even carpeted platforms. These features, while luxurious, were also very much about the experience of relaxation — bathrooms were meant to feel like an extension of the living space.
Below, we’ve gathered up dozens of real examples of 1970s bathroom decor, pulled from vintage magazines and home catalogs of the era. You’ll find an amazing mix of colors, materials and layout ideas — some practical, some totally over the top. Scroll through our collection of photos and articles to see how American bathrooms got their groove on in the ‘70s.
Raised bath platform with a deep round tub in red-orange
Old-fashioned rustic French style bathroom with dark brown fixtures from 1974
Retro lime green bathroom suite with groovy wallpaper (1970s)
Wood-paneled bathroom with blue laminate accents from 1970s
Attic bathroom style from 1974
Basic gold and yellow carpeted bathroom with wooden accents from 1978
Vintage 1974 large mirrored retro bathroom with blue tub sink and toilet
70’s brown Kohler sunken spa bathtub
Retro bath with a marbled paint wallpaper design with powder-blue cabinetry
Mustard yellow bathroom fixtures in bathroom with skylights (1978)
70’s rustic bathroom suite with quilted style tile
Dramatic blue and white 70’s bathroom, with extensive tilework
Fully tiled bathroom in earth tones with curved retro edges in 1970s decor style
Vintage pale yellow and beige vintage tub and sink from 1976
Retro bathroom from 1970s with blue and white patterned tile enclosure
70s-style yellow bathroom suite with sunken tub
Redwood whirlpool bathtub from the 70s
Curved bathroom decor in retro-modern 70s style
Retro 1970s bathroom with black and white stripes patterned walls
Banner retro bathroom decor (1971)
The compact size of the average bathroom needn’t suppress your imagination or limit your decorative efforts. You can easily achieve a great many handsome effects.
Experiment with a wide variety of tools: mirrors, decorative tile, a distinctive wallpaper or fabric pattern, unusual lighting fixtures and accessories and, perhaps, a touch of greenery.
Even your choice of towels can make a decorative point. This good-looking trio of baths is convincing evidence of how much personality you can pack into one small room.
Country charm: Don’t be fooled by the country charm of this his ‘n her bath. It’s filled with 20th century efficiency. Overscaled wallpaper pattern in turquoise and brown sets the color scheme which is echoed in shag carpet and wooden cabinets.
Placed at right angles, the double vanity accommodates two people within a small area, minus customary confusion. Funnel-shaped copper light fixtures support the rustic look as does the copper container with its dried arrangement.
Fooling the eye: A countertop and backsplash of mosaic tile inspired this unusual bath. The homeowner/artist put her talented brush to work and created a series of trompe l’oeil panels for cabinet door fronts. (To get a similar effect, use a trompe l’oeil wallpaper design.)
Tasseled valance was hand-painted at ceiling level for another dimensional effect. The lighting is artful too: a matching pair of china-based lamps placed on matching wall-hung wooden shelves.
Lattice loo: Latticework panels over mirrored walls and ceiling give this tiny bath the quaint look of an old-fashioned garden. Panels were constructed of lattice molding and attached with magnetic catches.
To clean the mirrors, simply lift out the individual panels, then snap back into place. Cabinet base was faced with 1×2 strips and painted a soft green. Two picture frame lights installed below lavatory counter, illuminate green onyx top for a translucent glow.
Frilled country style decor in vintage 70s bathroom
Retro floral purple bathroom with decorated tiles
Tiled bathroom decor in dark blue and beige from 1978
Vintage green carpeted bathroom decor
70’s inspired green bathroom with paisley wallpaper
Blue and white carpeted bathroom from 1970s
Pastel green and dark wood bathroom suite from 1979
Vintage tiled bathroom with blue fixtures from the 1970s
1970s bathroom suite with blue carpeted floor and toilet
Brown vintage bathroom decoration from 1975
Retro yellow bathroom decor with patterned tile and sink
Cute blue and white retro bathroom decor from 1978
