Last Updated on May 1, 2025 by lindseymahoney
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a dated 1950s blue tile bathroom wondering how to make it work without a full gut renovation, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place. Today I’m sharing how we transformed a vintage blue tile bathroom into a stylish, refreshed space on a budget.
Instead of ripping out the charming original tile, we embraced it and found simple, affordable ways to modernize the room while honoring its mid-century character. Whether you’re working with a similar retro color scheme or just looking for ideas to update an old bathroom, this before-and-after makeover will inspire you to love the space you already have.
Table of Contents
- Retro Blue Tile Bathroom Before
- Brief History of Colorful Bathrooms from the Mid-Century
- Budget-Friendly Blue Tile Bathroom Makeover
- Paint the Bathroom Walls
- Clean the Tiles and Grout
- Replace the Bathroom Vanity (if needed)
- Replace Shower Fixtures
- Electrical Bathroom Upgrades
- How to Decorate Around Retro Blue Tile
- Blue Tile Bathroom Before & After
- FAQs
- How do you update a vintage blue tile bathroom without remodeling?
- What colors go best with blue bathroom tile?
- What type of bathroom tile was used in the 1950s?
- How do I find old bathroom tiles?
- Is blue tile still in style for bathrooms?
- More Content You Will Love
Retro Blue Tile Bathroom Before
This bathroom was in a home that we flipped back in 2018 in Toledo, Ohio. While this image of the bathroom looks pretty good, in reality, this bathroom was filthy and falling apart.
This cute mid-century home needed a major overhaul and the bathroom was one of the only original features remaining in the interior of the home.
If there is an opportunity to preserve the original character of a home, I always take it! It paid off because all of the buyers who walked through the property loved the original blue tile bathroom.
Brief History of Colorful Bathrooms from the Mid-Century
Colorful bathroom fixtures became popular in the late 1920s when homeowners grew bored of the white porcelain fixtures.
Blue tile bathrooms were all the rage in the 1940s, which makes sense for our flip house that was built in the early 1950s.
*Check out how I saved the retro blue bathtub in my kids’ bathroom and gave it a modern update with new shower tile!
Coincidentally, colorful bathroom fixtures are increasing in popularity again in 2023! This year, Kohler released its Heritage Collection in honor of its 150th anniversary.
I personally love the colorful bathroom fixtures trend.
Bathrooms are a great place to experiment and add a fun element of surprise for visitors. As long as the bathroom includes modern upgrades like exhaust fans and functions properly, I say go for it!
Budget-Friendly Blue Tile Bathroom Makeover
Here is what the bathroom looked like the day we got the keys to the house (taken on my phone).
This bathroom was dingy and dirty, but I knew a few key improvements would really make this space shine.
Paint the Bathroom Walls
The quickest way to modernize retro bathroom tiles is to paint the walls with a complimentary color that make the tile pop!
For our blue tile bathroom, I decided to paint the walls a clean, crisp white. I love the look of a fun wallpaper paired with colorful bathroom tiles, but I wanted to appeal to the masses and opted for a neutral wall color.
Paint is generally more affordable than wallpaper and therefore the best option for an investment property.
Clean the Tiles and Grout
Bathroom tiles that are 60-70 years old will probably have a good amount of dirt and grime stuck to them. Deep cleaning each tile and the grout lines immediately brightens the space and makes them look like new!
In our blue tile bathroom, the tiles were in pretty good shape, but they were covered in tar and smoke from the previous owner smoking indoors for years.
Using a DIY grout and tile cleaner solution, I hand scrubbed every inch of tile in this bathroom.
It was so satisfying to clean away the yellow tar and dirt to reveal clean, white grout and sparkling blue tiles.
Replace the Bathroom Vanity (if needed)
While I liked the original vanity in the blue tile bathroom, the rusted knobs could not be repaired.
We replaced the old sink with an era-appropriate pedestal sink that functions properly and does not take away from the original features of the retro bathroom.
Replace Shower Fixtures
It is not uncommon for shower fixtures to need replacing in mid-century bathrooms. I hired a plumber to replace the rusted and leaking shower knobs. He also replaced the old showerhead with a newer, energy-efficient showerhead.
Finally, I had the plumber snake the drain so that the tub/shower was in perfect working order.
The caulk around the tub was old and mildewed, so I scraped it out and replaced it with a new bead of white caulk.
Electrical Bathroom Upgrades
Bring your mid-century bathroom into the modern world with updated electrical outlets and features. The pastel blue bathroom got a new light switch and GFCI outlet.
I also hired an electrician to install an exhaust fan to keep out moisture in the bathroom.
The medicine cabinet/light fixture in this bathroom was one of my favorite features and one that I definitely kept.
How to Decorate Around Retro Blue Tile
The classic blue tile in the bathroom gave a clean, spa-like feel and I decorated to keep the relaxing vibe going. Here are a few accessories to create a serene bathroom:
- Fluffy white tiles
- White shower curtain
- Display a cute plant
- Fancy soap for the sink
- Small tray to hold trinkets
- Candle on the back of the toilet
- Hang artwork
Blue Tile Bathroom Before & After
So much better!
We updated this blue tile bathroom for less than $600. A full gut and renovation would have cost us at least $5,000. The second-floor bathroom was about $6,000 when it was all said and done.
Budgets are always tight when flipping a house and we put the $4,000+ we saved to good use throughout the rest of the home.
This 50-year-old bathroom looks brand new! The history of a home is what makes it unique and I am so happy I was able to preserve this beautiful blue mid-century bathroom.
FAQs
How do you update a vintage blue tile bathroom without remodeling?
There are lots of ways to modernize your retro blue bathrooms including wallpaper, paint or even swapping out light fixtures. Check out more ways to update your retro tile bathroom with these easy ideas.
Unique artwork is another easy way to modernize your retro, blue bathroom.
What colors go best with blue bathroom tile?
This is really a personal preference of the homeowner. A neutral, white wall color instantly creates a calming and spa-like retreat when paired with blue tile walls.
Using complementary colors on the walls is a great way to pull retro tiles into a more modern design.
What type of bathroom tile was used in the 1950s?
The colorful tiles in a mid-century bathroom are almost always made of porcelain.
How do I find old bathroom tiles?
Oftentimes colorful bathrooms will need a tile or two replaced and there are various places to find a match. My current home has two mid-century bathrooms with colorful tile and we found leftover tile under the sink.
Check out places online like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay which often sell remnant vintage tiles.
You can find vintage bathroom tiles at your local ReStore and architectural home stores as well.
Is blue tile still in style for bathrooms?
Trends tend to be cyclical, whether we like it or not!
Colorful bathrooms are definitely having a resurgence and Kohler’s Heritage Collection is the perfect example.
People are tired of the perfect, all-white interiors trend that has been so popular in the last 10 years. Interior designers seem to be embracing colorful bathrooms this year and I hope this trend is here to stay.
Color can be scary but it is so much more fun when it’s used in your home!
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