11 of the Best Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Décor Ideas

There are some design movements that never go out of style, and mid-century modern is certainly one of them. Mid-century modern’s popularity peaked just after World War II through the late 1960s and reflected the international and Bauhaus art movements during that time.

Noted for its clean, simple lines and use of materials reflecting the organic world, this design motif imbues relaxed energy with its open floor plans and essential pieces that add interest while still being subdued.

Because many homeowners are looking for a peaceful environment in a bathroom, a mid-century modern bathroom design is ideal for one of the most used yet overlooked rooms in your home.

What Is Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Design?

Mid-century modern bathroom décor pairs functionality with understated luxury. All rooms need an introduction piece, and mid-century luxury bathroom vanities immediately set the tone without being boastful. A lighted bathroom mirror helps carry on the conversation, while luxury medicine cabinets and luxury linen cabinets add utility and complete the mid-century modern look and feel.

It’s important to remember the adage “less is more” when designing a mid-century bathroom. Here are 11 of the best mid-century modern bathroom ideas and décor selected from Robern that create a calming retreat for your home.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Vanity

The vanity is the focal point of your mid-century modern bathroom and helps establish the look and feel. This important piece should epitomize the mid-century bathroom aesthetic, creating a sense of openness while remaining fully functional. A mid-century modern vanity is typically made from rich hardwood, such as oak and maple, providing a sense of nature while still being fully tamed.

Reeded cabinet doors are complemented by brush-polished, rounded hardware to create a casual yet elegant feel. Vanity tops are typically made from marble or mineral stones and polished to a smooth, non-reflective surface to enhance the serenity of the space.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Lighting

Mid-century modern bathroom lighting should create a relaxed ambiance while providing sufficient illumination for your daily ablutions. This two-light sconce in chrome allows you to address ambient and functional lighting without sacrificing either. The double conical shades are hand-carved from alabaster and cinched at the waist with a polished chrome band, creating cohesion with your mid-century modern bathroom vanity.

These modern bathroom lighting fixtures can be placed on either side of the mirror for better illumination needed for grooming, or they can be installed above to create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Tile

As important as the individual fixtures are in your mid-century modern bathroom, your backsplash is what brings it all together. This mid-century modern bathroom tile features an array of rectangles in soothing shades of alabaster that are juxtaposed by dark grout, adding interest while creating spatial harmony.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Faucet

Mid-century modern bathroom faucets often feature sleek, clean designs constructed from monochromatic brushed metal. Think cool brasses or soothing nickels and chromes. Mid-century modern design faucets typically don’t feature a long gooseneck spout. Instead, they have more refined lines with stately lever handles.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Mirror

Framed in brushed pewter, the Contour Metal Mirror brightens and enhances your mid-century modern bathroom décor by adding visual interest and a sense of drama. The aged brass frame’s rounded corners and subtle dips create a flowing sense of movement without being distracting, and the patina provides a weathered, live-in feel.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Décor

Keeping with the “less is more” attitude, mid-century modern bathroom décor should complement, not distract from, the overall design. For example, broad-leafed house plants, like fiddle-leaf figs and ferns, lean into the mid-century modern design’s use of organic forms. Picture frames should be natural wood with the same stain as the vanity.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Accessories

Colored glass bottles and vases add pops of interest while still being functional for daily use. Framed art or photographs should feature an abundance of white space, with the focal point being either black and white or subdued colors, such as greens, blues, and yellows. A brass clock or soap dish can help bring your mid-century modern bathroom décor together.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Vanity (36-Inches)

Ideal for smaller bathrooms, the Wyndale mid-century modern bathroom vanity features superb craftsmanship and materials to help anchor the room. Tapered, rounded legs command attention, while the reeded vertical lines on the oak paneling draw the eyes upward to the contour metal mirror. The Wyndale mid-century modern bathroom vanity is easily up to the task of being the focal point of your modern bathroom.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Floor

Often the first thing you see, the bathroom floor needs to support the overall mid-century modern design aesthetic. Neutral-toned marble floors with swirls of grays and browns can add a sense of luxury and movement, while the classic black-and-white checkered tile floor is timeless and always makes a dramatic statement.

Mosaic floors, especially featuring subway tiles, should be in soothing shades of green, blue, or gray and set at an angle to create movement and add traction. Simple beauty and functionality are the hallmarks of mid-century modern bathroom floors.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Vanity (72-Inches)

The perfect statement piece for larger bathrooms, the Wyndale Double Vanity, in either dark burnt oak or honey oak, creates a striking first impression. Supported by telltale mid-century modern rounded legs at a slant, the vanity cabinet doors feature reeded, raised vertical lines that draw your gaze upward to the white marbled countertop flecked with grays.

Brushed pewter or aged brass hardware is juxtaposed against the oak finish for an understated, luxurious look and feel. This mid-century modern bathroom vanity easily complements chrome or brass fixtures while producing plenty of counter space for all your bathroom necessities.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom FAQs

What is a mid-century modern bathroom?

A mid-century bathroom adheres to the mid-century modern design motif, which uses clean lines and luxurious elements while providing a laid-back ambiance. Many designers and homeowners consider it a timeless design style.

What does mid-century modern tile look like?

Mid-century modern tile adheres to a minimalist approach and features clean lines with various relaxing color palettes. Most tiles are cut in sharp geometric patterns and angled to provide movement; however, some mid-century modern tiles can have more of an organic shape with pops of color.

Is mid-century modern a good style for a bathroom?

Mid-century modern is ideal for bathrooms because the minimalist design helps avoid clutter and provides a sense of openness. Mid-century design typically uses calming shades of green and blues, which helps create a relaxing atmosphere that is perfect for bathrooms.

What is the difference between mid-century and mid-century modern?

While the terms often are used interchangeably, mid-century modern refers to the design movement popularized from 1945 to the 1960s, while the mid-century design was developed in the 1930s. While the mid-century design elements are similar, mid-century modern embraces decorative elements and maintains form over function. Mid-century typically keeps decorative designs to a minimum.

What colors are used in mid-century modern?

For larger rooms, mid-century modern colors usually include rich browns, ochres, mustards, burnt orange, and terra cotta. These colors imbue the room with an organic quality. However, the mid-century design does use bright colors if they have a purpose. Splashes of blues, greens, and vermilions are not uncommon in mid-century modern, especially on front doors and in bathroom tiles, where they make a dramatic statement and draw the eye to a focal point.

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