15 Vintage Bathroom Features That Didn’t Stand The Test Of Time
Remember those bathrooms from your grandparents’ house? The ones with strange colors and weird fixtures that made you wonder what people were thinking back then? Bathroom design has evolved dramatically over the decades, leaving many once-popular features in the dustbin of interior design history.
I’ve compiled a nostalgic tour of 15 bathroom elements that were all the rage in their day but now make modern homeowners cringe.
1. Carpeted Bathroom Floors
Whoever thought putting carpet in a room full of water was a good idea clearly never had to deal with mildew. In the 1970s, plush wall-to-wall carpet in bathrooms was considered the height of luxury and comfort.
The reality? A breeding ground for bacteria, impossible to keep clean, and perpetually damp underfoot. I still remember my aunt’s pink bathroom carpet that always felt slightly wet and smelled faintly of mold no matter how often she cleaned it.
2. Fuzzy Toilet Seat Covers
The fuzzy toilet seat cover might be the most perplexing bathroom accessory ever created. Popular through the 1950s-70s, these cloth coverings were supposed to add comfort and style to your porcelain throne.
Unfortunately, they collected bacteria, were nearly impossible to clean properly, and often slid around when you sat down. My grandmother insisted on matching sets with coordinating tank covers and rugs. Looking back, I can’t believe we thought trapping moisture against a toilet was sanitary!
3. Colorful Porcelain Fixtures
Avocado green, harvest gold, and bubble gum pink – the holy trinity of vintage bathroom colors! During the mid-20th century, colorful toilets, tubs, and sinks were all the rage in American homes.
Fast forward to today, and these vibrant fixtures scream “outdated” to potential homebuyers. The first house I purchased came with a complete set of mint green bathroom fixtures. Replacing them was expensive, but necessary – finding replacement parts for colored porcelain is nearly impossible nowadays.
4. Shell-Shaped Sinks
Nothing says “I decorated my bathroom in the 1980s” quite like a shell-shaped sink. These molded basins, often in pastel colors or faux marble, were considered the epitome of bathroom elegance during the Miami Vice era.
The problems were numerous: water splashed everywhere, they were difficult to clean around the edges, and they aged poorly. My cousin’s beach-themed bathroom featured a massive pink scallop shell sink that constantly leaked around the edges where it met the countertop.
5. Phone Jacks Near Toilets
Before smartphones, some fancy bathrooms included telephone jacks installed right next to the toilet. This bizarre feature reached peak popularity in the 1980s and early 90s, when missing an important call was a genuine concern.
Can you imagine having a business conversation while someone flushes in the background? The concept seems ridiculous now, but I remember my uncle proudly showing off this “luxury” feature during a home renovation. Thankfully, wireless technology made this awkward addition completely obsolete.
6. Medicine Cabinets With Razor Slots
Those mysterious little slots in old medicine cabinets weren’t random design features – they were for disposing of used razor blades! Popular from the 1920s through the 1970s, these slots allowed people to drop their dull blades directly into the wall cavity.
The logic? Out of sight, out of mind. Renovators today often discover hundreds of rusty blades hidden between bathroom walls. My father-in-law opened up his bathroom wall during a remodel and found a literal pile of razor blades from previous homeowners.
7. Bathroom Ashtrays
Smoking while using the facilities was once so common that bathrooms came equipped with built-in ashtrays. These ceramic fixtures were often mounted directly on bathtubs or built into the wall tile near toilets during the 1950s-70s.
Beyond the obvious health concerns we recognize today, these fixtures created permanent smoke damage to bathroom ceilings and walls. The rental house I lived in during college had a pink ceramic ashtray built right into the bathtub rim – we used it to hold soap instead.
8. Sunken Bathtubs
The ultimate luxury statement of the 1970s and 80s was the sunken bathtub – often surrounded by steps and built into a platform. These Roman-inspired tubs were frequently accompanied by mirrored tiles and mood lighting.
While they looked glamorous, they proved dangerous (especially for older adults), prone to leaking, and extremely difficult to clean around the edges. My parents’ first home had a massive sunken tub with three steps leading down to it. Mom constantly complained about cleaning all those corners and edges.
9. Excessive Bathroom Wallpaper
Bathrooms of yesteryear were often plastered floor-to-ceiling with busy wallpaper – floral patterns, seashells, or even scenic landscapes. In the 1960s through 80s, more was definitely more when it came to bathroom wall coverings.
The humid environment caused constant peeling, and those tiny repeating patterns made many people dizzy! My grandmother’s bathroom featured wallpaper with tiny pink roses that seemed to multiply before your eyes. The paper had curled edges everywhere from years of shower steam.
10. Glass Block Shower Walls
Glass block walls were the hallmark of 1980s bathroom renovations, promising privacy while still allowing light to filter through. These chunky translucent bricks created shower enclosures that dominated the bathroom landscape.
The reality? They collected dust in impossible-to-clean crevices and eventually went out of style. When I bought my 1980s condo, the first renovation project was removing the enormous glass block shower wall that made the bathroom feel like a Miami nightclub.
11. Wall-to-Wall Mirrors
The disco era brought us bathrooms with mirrors covering every possible surface – walls, ceilings, and even cabinet fronts. This reflective overkill was meant to make spaces feel larger and more glamorous in the 1970s and early 80s.
Besides being incredibly dated, these mirrors showed every water spot and required constant cleaning. The first apartment I rented had mirrored tiles across an entire bathroom wall. Getting ready in the morning meant seeing myself from absolutely every unflattering angle possible!
12. Plastic Toilet Paper Doll Covers
Remember those crocheted dresses covering spare toilet paper rolls? These decorative dolls with plastic faces and elaborate yarn outfits were bathroom staples in many mid-century homes, particularly from the 1950s-70s.
While grandmothers everywhere loved them, these dust-collecting covers served no practical purpose. My aunt collected these dolls in every color imaginable. As a child, I was simultaneously fascinated and terrified by the blank-faced doll in a purple dress that watched me from the back of her toilet.
13. Shower Doors With Frosted Swans
Nothing screams “outdated bathroom” quite like sliding shower doors etched with frosted swans or seashell designs. These tempered glass doors with gold or chrome frames were bathroom status symbols throughout the 1960s and 70s.
Beyond their questionable aesthetics, the tracks collected mildew and were nearly impossible to clean thoroughly. My childhood home featured sliding doors with etched flying geese that my mother constantly battled with bleach and an old toothbrush, trying to eliminate the black gunk in the tracks.
14. Bathroom Intercoms
In luxury homes of the 1960s and 70s, bathroom intercoms were considered the height of modern convenience. These wall-mounted units allowed you to communicate with people in other rooms without leaving the bathroom.
Besides being completely unnecessary (and a bit weird), these systems eventually broke down and left unsightly holes in the walls. My friend’s childhood home had an elaborate intercom system with a bathroom unit. His dad would regularly announce dinner was ready while people were showering!
15. Ceiling-Mounted Heat Lamps
Those glowing red UFO-like fixtures in vintage bathrooms weren’t alien monitoring devices – they were heat lamps! Popular from the 1950s through the 1970s, these ceiling-mounted lamps were designed to keep you warm after stepping out of the shower.
The reality? They consumed massive amounts of electricity, provided uneven heating, and posed fire hazards when left on too long. My grandparents’ bathroom had a massive heat lamp that made terrifying buzzing sounds and turned everyone an unflattering shade of red while simultaneously failing to actually warm the room.
