Six Reasons to Keep "Dated" Bathroom Tile, According to Designers
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During the 1950s, pastel tile—square tile in particular—dominated the world of bathroom design, with bubblegum pinks, powderpuff blues, and buttery yellows sticking around until the avocado obsession of the 1970s bubbled up. (There’s a scene in Mad Men, set in the 1960s, in which Betty Draper sits pensively—always so pensive, that Betty—in her bathroom against a backdrop of minty green squares.)
During this era, floors and fixtures were often black, white, or some combination of both (see: hex tile), presumably to tone down the amount of color. Design experts chalk up this 1950s aesthetic sweetness to a sense of post-war optimism. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was also a hardcore disciple for pink decor, in particular.
Because trends tend to resurface, it’s likely no surprise that pastel tile is making its way back into the mainstream. But why now? “After spending so much time confined to one environment during the pandemic, I think people began to realize how important color and variety are in their surroundings,” says designer and author Ingrid Fetell Lee. “Whereas before colorful tile might have seemed dated, now people are beginning to appreciate that they have a joyful source of color already built into their space.” And then there’s the homogenization of, well, everything else. “There’s a backlash against the ubiquitous ‘Airbnb’ aesthetic and the Zillow-driven renovations where homeowners strip out all character from their homes, replacing it with white walls and gray laminate floors, in an effort to raise resale value,” says Ingrid, who notes that increasingly these soul-stripping before-and-afters are being met with a flood of comments that the design was ‘better before.’ “As coffee shops, hotels, and rentals become homogenized, people are craving more personality and quirk in interiors, and doing this where they have control: their homes.”
Not yet convinced? Read on for more pastel-positive reinforcement.
A colorful bathroom is good for you.
“There’s a lot of research on how colorful spaces can influence well-being for the better,” says Ingrid, who even wrote a book on how color, among many other things, can lift spirits. Country Living Home & Style Editor Anna Logan agrees: “Pastel tile is the ultimate example of 'Dopamine Decorating,” she says, referencing to the mood-boosting design aesthetic that’s heavily rooted in color.
It’s an eco-conscious approach to design.
Just as sustainability-minded shoppers prioritize buying vintage and antiques over mass-manufactured goods, more home buyers and designers are trying to embrace the pre-existing colorful condition of their older spaces. Deidre Webster of Studio Day Design is one of those designers. “We really like to keep original tile if possible,” she says. “I love how some simple updates to the lighting and decor can give new life to these spaces.” Popular television series such as Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House? are also championing the quirky charms of original details over good-for-resale sameness.
A few cracked tiles are no biggie.
Put down the sledgehammer! Deidre notes that a couple of dinged-up tiles in an old bathroom are no reason to knock everything out, either. “There are companies that will match tiles. This is not cheap, but it is cheaper than replacing all the tile,” she says. A few of her personal favorite sources for this sort of thing include Mission Tile West, Fireclay Tile, and B&W Tile. Deidre also points out that sometimes it’s not actually the tile that’s feeling dated or dingy—it’s the grout that’s bringing it down. “Having your grout cleaned or replaced will make the space feel fresh and give you a fresh start to preventing mildew,” says Deidre.
In a new context, retro tile can feel not-so-retro.
By updating the room’s remaining elements—lighting, wallcovering, flooring—you can easily put a contemporary spin on the space. For example, when Alabama artist and designer McKenzie Dove purchased her apartment in Birmingham’s historic Forest Park neighborhood, she sought to restore the space to reflect the original architecture, which also meant preserving the bathroom’s original blue tile. McKenzie painted a scenic mural to complement the tile, a trick she has done in several of her interior projects. “Choosing a wallpaper or having a custom mural painted in the same tone as the tile can accentuate the original charm embodied in the tile itself,” she says. Similarly, a graphic wallcovering, new lighting, or modern-leaning mirror can also go a long way toward tempering the sometimes overtly retro vibes of pastel tile.
It‘s officially trending!
As noted above, the demand for pastels, and color in general, is so high that modern retailers are also getting into the game. “Drawing inspiration from both Art Deco and mid-century bathroom design, pastels—particularly soft pinks and dusty mauves—have been gaining popularity,” says Kali Gibson of Fireclay Tile. In honor of its 150th anniversary in 2023, Kohler revived heritage colors inspired by its archives, including Peachblow and Spring Green, with more set to come. And the pastel offerings of London’s The Water Monopoly are popping up quite frequently in designer projects. In other words, if you weren’t lucky enough to inherit a top-to-bottom powder pink bathroom, you can loo-it-yourself.
It’s what memories are made of.
“I often encourage people to think about a space in terms of moments, not stuff,” says Ingrid. “So it’s not about the pastel tile, but it’s about the moments of the day that you spend caring for yourself or recharging your batteries. When you look back at this time in your life, how do you want to picture those memories? Think about how much the color might boost your mood or make others smile. Then add that up, moment by moment, over the years you’ll live in that space. If you think about it as just a pretty tile, it might seem frivolous, but if you think about starting your day on a positive note, every day for years, that’s a lot more meaningful.”
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