I know it’s not going to be many people’s favourite thing, but I love a cool Mid Century bathroom / washroom. Pink, blue, green sinks / tubs whatever colour there is I love it. I also think 1920’s & 1930’s bathrooms with their cool Art deco style are just the best. So fancy!

For today’s post we are going to look back on vintage ads from the 1920’s – 1950’s as a source of inspiration for maybe a bathroom reno or just enjoyment.

Let’s begin!

1920s vintage ad: Vintage 1920's Art Deco "Standard Plumbing Fixtures" Advertisement

Vintage 1920’s Art Deco “Standard Plumbing Fixtures” Advertisement – Source

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Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy and eBay daily!

Vintage Bathroom’s 1920’s – 1950’s

The Vintage Advertising:

Start with a colour in the fixtures” 1928 ad for Kohler.

1927 – Capitalizing on a technological breakthrough, Kohler Co. offers cast-iron and vitreous china plumbing products in matching pastel colors (Source).

1920s Vintage Ad for Kohler featuring a Coloured tub, sink and toilet. Ad is from 1928. - Vintage Bathroom.

Source: Kohler

1954 American-Standard fixtures advertisement featuring a Pink, Blue or Yellow bathroom with Grey bathroom fixtures (coloured sink, tub & toilet).

“American-Standard bathrooms in color make it easy to change your color scheme as often as you like!” “All you have to do is change your bath accessories to match the grey fixtures”

1950s vintage bathroom advertisement featuring a pink blue and yellow bathrooms from American Standard. 1950s bathroom inspiration. ==> Vintage 1954 American-Standard Plumbing Fixures Print Ad

Source: Etsy – AmericanCenturyShop

1924 ad for ‘Fairfacts Fixtures’. “Complete Satisfaction in bathroom luxury”. I’m a big fan of that black & white checkered flooring.

1920s Vintage Advertisement: 1924 ad for 'Fairfacts Fixtures'. "Complete Satisfaction in bathroom luxury". Vintage ad features a black & white checkered bathroom floor

Source: Pinterest

1930’s Crane Bathroom Fixtures original vintage advertisement. Fitted for today’s needs, are Crane valves, spouts, handles, and wastes that answer every modern tenet, charm and convenience.

Look at the floor! Fantastic!

1930 vintage ad: 1930 Crane Bathroom Fixtures Classic Vintage Print Ad. Fitted for today's needs, are Crane valves, spouts, handles, and wastes that answer every modern tenet, charm and convenience.

Source: Pinterest

1945 Sears Wish Book Catalog page featuring a 1940’s bathroom and the different Shower Curtain Sets you could purchase to tie your look all together.

I think I would go green or maybe the yellow? What would you chose?

1940s vintage catalog page from a 1945 Sears Wishbook featuring Shower Curtain Sets

Source: Wishbookweb.com

Not enough colour in your bathroom? Don’t worry! FACTO-TILE has you covered! 1955 Ad.

1950s vintage ad featuring a coloured 1950s bathroom using facto-tiles. 1955 Ad.

Source: Pinterest

“The background of your day..Your Bathroom”. 1929 ad for Wolff Plumbing.

I’m a big fan of the green tub in the middle of the room. Nice touch!

1920s vintage ad from 1929 for Wolff Plumbing fixtures featuring a 1920's bathroom / Art Decor bathroom in greens and reds.

Source: Pinterest

1931 Crane Bathroom Fixures ad. “How to plan a charming bathroom”. Charming indeed! And look at that Linoleum flooring? DROOL!

Further Reading: The Beautiful World of 1940s Linoleum Flooring

1930s Vintage Ad: 1931 Crane Bathroom Fixures Print Ad featuring green bathroom fixtures, linoleum flooring and plaid seating.

Source: Etsy – AmericanCenturyShop

Eljer Plumbing Fixtures, 1948 ad featuring a yellow and green bathroom. It seems to work!

1940s Vintage Ad for Eljer Plumbing Fixtures, 1948 featuring a yellow and green bathroo.

Source: Pinterest

“The World’s finest Bathroom Fixtures-Universal Rundle!” – 1951 ad.

1950s Vintage Advertisement for"The World's finest Bathroom Fixtures" from Universal Rundle in 1951. Featuring a blue & yellow bathroom. Super vintage 1950s bathroom inspiration.

Source: Etsy- KristensVintagePaper

Beautiful 1930’s Art Deco Bathroom. WOW! That Floor! 1937 Johns Manville building materials ad.

1930s Vintage Ad: Vintage Bathroom Advertising. Beautiful 1930's Art Deco Bathroom. WOW! 1937 Johns Manville building materials ad

Source: Etsy – RetroReveries

When I first saw this 1950’s ad for Armstrong flooring I thought it was a kitchen, but NOPE! It’s a huge 1950’s bathroom. Huge! I kind of oddly like it. How about you?

1950s Vintage Ad featuring a 1950s Bathroom and 1950s flooring from Armstrong Floors.

Source: Pinterest

That was a fun post to put together (I loved all the flooring to be honest)! There is so much content out there that I might have to do a part two at some point (so stay tuned!).

Question Time: What are your thoughts on coloured bathrooms, like the ones above? What was your favourite time period for bathrooms? Share in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

3 Comments on Vintage Bathroom Advertising – Be Inspired!

  1. I love colored bathrooms! It comes from having spent the majority of my childhood at my grandparents’ late 1920s house in Pittsburgh PA. Their bathroom had burgundy tile walls with light blue trim as well as pale blue fixtures. The other upstairs bathroom had Nile green tiles with pale pink trim and pale pink fixtures. To complete the look, my grandmother had matching pastel kleenex, toilet paper, soap, and towels. The downstairs powder room had pink tile and burgundy fixtures. The coolest thing is that I looked up the house on Zillow, and the bathrooms are exactly the same as I remember them!!!

    • OMG WOW!!! That sounds incredible! And I’m so happy that the bathrooms have remained the same! That hardly happens these days.

      Thank you so much for sharing that.

      Liz

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