Retro Bathroom Makeover with Functional and Beautiful Updates on a Budget

Last Updated on April 12, 2023 by lindseymahoney

Our master bathroom was tired, outdated, lacking function, and ready for a makeover. I embraced the retro style of the 70s and our master bathroom is now a showstopper after a few budget-friendly improvements!

Retro Bathroom Before

Here is our retro master bathroom before the makeover when we first moved into our home:

Affordable Bathroom Makeover Projects:

Remove wallpaper and paint
Add organization features to improve the function of the bathroom
Update lighting and electrical outlets
Clean the tile grout
Remove the glass shower door (already complete)
Cosmetic improvements for an updated retro style
Hang Artwork

Budget-Friendly Retro Bathroom Makeover

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1 | Remove Wallpaper

How to update a tired, retro bathroom for more style and function | Building Bluebird
#retro #masterbathroom #vintage

The first DIY project in our master bathroom was to remove the peeling wallpaper. With the right tools and a wallpaper steamer, this DIY project is super easy to tackle on your own.

Once the wallpaper was removed, I painted a fresh coat of white paint on the walls using the color Snowbound by Sherwin Williams. The neutral white wall color allows the blues to really pop!

Designing a master bathroom makeover around the original blue sinks and shower tiles | Building Bluebird
#vintage #bathroom makeover #retro

2 | Update Bathroom Lights and Outlets/Switches

Vanity Light

A big function issue in this bathroom was the spacing between the vanity light and the medicine cabinet.

The glass domes on the light hung in a way that prevented the medicine cabinet (on the wall to the right) from fully opening. It was only a matter of time before I opened the cabinet and shattered the glass light fixture.

Master bathroom makeover on a budget | Building Bluebird
#retrobathroom #bathroomakeover

Because I was not moving the placement of the vanity light, I chose a light fixture that no long got in the way of the medicine cabinet. I love how it gives the retro bathroom an art deco vibe!

Old Electrical Outlets

When we moved into our home, we realized that every electrical outlet is installed upside down, including in the bathroom.

After years of use, outlets become loose and no longer hold plugs tightly. In our bathroom, items would constantly become unplugged because of the loose outlets.

Modern master bathroom makeover | Building Bluebird — Hand Towel Hook

I replaced all of the light switches and outlets with new, white outlets and flipped the socket right-side up.

3 | Clean the Retro Blue Bathroom Tiles

Cleaning the original bathroom tiles and grout makes a HUGE difference!

The entire design of the bathroom makeover is centered around the retro blue tiles and they needed to really shine.

I whipped up a homemade cleaning recipe and scrubbed the tiles until they sparkled!

Using a toothbrush and the DIY grout cleaner, I tackled the original bathroom floor tiles as well. Watching the grout go from brown to white is so satisfying!

4 | Cosmetic Updates in the Retro Bathroom

Because we were not tearing out anything in this bathroom, the original vanity was getting a fresh coat of paint, and replacing the knobs.

Retro master bathroom makeover reveal | Building Bluebird
#bluetile #vintage

The vanity got painted a crisp white color in a satin sheen. The flower knobs were swapped out with a simple round knob with a satin nickel finish.

Retro master bathroom makeover to add function and a modern touch | Building Bluebird

I replaced the curtain rod along with the shower curtain. I really struggle with tension rods and decided to swap out the old brown one with a brushed nickel rod that connects to the wall.

5 | Retro Bathroom Organization

With the medicine cabinet now fully accessible and the vanity cabinets organized, I was able to finally clear off the counter!

Vintage Tray

To keep with the retro vibe of the bathroom, I added a vintage try found at an estate sale to collect odds and ends. The tray holds a small bowl that is the perfect spot for my jewelry that I take off at night.

Refillable Soap Dispenser

Around the sink, I added a re-fillable, glass soap dispenser that is functional and super cute!

Towel Hooks

Our bathroom desperately needed more places to hang towels. First, I hung a double hook next to the shower for easy access.

Budget-friendly master bathroom makeover | Building Bluebird
#retro #bathroommakeover — Turkish Towel

Over the toilet, I reused the towel rack that originally hung in the vanity room. The new location allows for easy access outside of the shower.

Master bathroom makeover to add style and function | Building Bluebird #vintage #retro

I installed double hooks on the back of each door as well. My goal is to avoid towels hanging on every doorknob in our bedroom and bathroom.

Shower Organization

Before the bathroom makeover, our shower tub was filled with bottles that lined the edges of the tub. Every time we used the shower we would kick a bottle into the tub.

Retro bathroom makeover with design tips and organization tips | Building Bluebird

To eliminate many of the soap bottles in our shower, I installed this stainless steel shower caddy to hold three refillable soap dispensers. It is SO nice to have soap bottles off of the ledge of the tub!

Chris and I decided to cut down on the number of shower products we used. Instead of having body wash that is made for “him” and “her”, we use the same one. The same goes for our shampoo and conditioner.

Decreasing the variety of products allows us to buy in bulk which creates less plastic by purchasing fewer bottles. This is just one sustainable change we made in our bathroom to make it more eco-friendly.

6 | Hang Modern Artwork

Original artwork in this master bathroom makeover | Building Bluebird — Caroline Morgan Art

When I began planning this bathroom makeover, I knew I wanted to incorporate this custom art I had made for Chris’ birthday last year.

The abstract paintings show two of my family’s favorite places, the mountains, and Cape Cod. The blues worked perfectly with the vintage blue tile and we went from there!

With a little creativity and sweat equity, our retro bathroom looks beautiful and functions for the modern family today. Simple, affordable updates can make your vintage, original bathroom look like new!