Guide to 20th-Century Bathroom Tile

When it comes to restoring the tile in a period bathroom, which style is appropriate for your home&#;s style and era? A look at the evolution of styles, colors and uses for home bathroom tile in the 20th Century.

For those curious about Mosaic Bathroom Tile, we welcome your inquiries.

Original bathroom tile should be a treasure for aficionados of historic homes. Nevertheless, many homeowners feel uncertain due to the endless suggestions from real estate agents, renovation contractors, and preservation societies claiming that updating bathrooms is always acceptable, regardless of the house's era.

This thinking is misguided especially for bathrooms from the 20th century, a time when many designs remain both practical and charming. It's well-known among old house enthusiasts that tiles appropriate to the home's period will rarely go out of style, in contrast to modern upgrades that may feel outdated within a decade.

Consider original tiles as integral to the essence of your house, and strive to appreciate what exists. My two bathrooms, best described as 'early gas station' in style, feature plain white 4×4 square ceramic tiles surrounding each tub—extremely ordinary, I know. Yet, I've grown fond of the straightforward elegance of these white tiles, my Art Deco tubs, and the quirky leaky sink. Over the past decade, countless people have urged me to replace the tiles with something stylish, contemporary, and glamorous. Yet, for years I've resisted, focusing instead on understanding and valuing my original bathrooms. Isn't that the true spirit of owning a historical home?

Classic White Tile

The bright side for anyone residing in a home from the early 20th century is that the current trend towards white subway tiles aligns perfectly with your property. The early 1900s saw a penchant for all-white bathrooms, stemming from the Victorian belief that visible dirt could harbor germs. White tiles made it easier to spot dirt, facilitating its removal.

White 3×6 subway tiles paired with a white pedestal or wall-mounted sink fit the period for any home constructed between the 1900s and 1945 (6×6 tiles were also common). Even if your original tiles have long disappeared, opting for a plain white bathroom is a safe choice. The clean lines and high-quality materials characteristic of this early 20th-century era remain classic design elements that resonate even today.

Color and Texture: The 1920s and 1930s

The 1920s and 1930s heralded an exciting shift towards color in bathrooms. The introduction of pastel subway tiles in the late 1920s paved the way for bold, Art Deco-inspired hues in the subsequent decade. Many homeowners will rejoice in having unique vintage elements to preserve, while others may find the past's colorful tendencies challenging—think pink, burgundy, and lavender tiles.

In her book Bungalow Bathrooms, author Jane Powell notes that art tiles were not found during the Arts & Crafts movement (-) but began to appear in the 1920s. These tiles could either be handcrafted or designed to look that way, often taking on a slightly uneven square shape and installed with wider grout lines.

A Tudor home from the 1930s may boast a bathroom decorated with tiles portraying Viking ships or goldfish, or featuring an amazing Spanish-style frieze. If you’re fortunate to have these designs in your home, take the initiative to preserve, restore, and honor them.

The introduction of three-dimensional tiles, featuring various textures like waves or ridges, also characterized this period, adding visual interest to finished walls. Throughout the Great Depression, subway tiling remained popular, often combined with bold Art Deco geometric decorations like pencil borders, hexagonal accent tiles, or contrasting caps.

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The 1940s: Modernism and Practicality

The convergence of new materials and manufacturing techniques during World War II, the expansive postwar building boom, and the rise of Modernism led to the straightforward designs commonly seen in the 1940s bathrooms. Subway tiles faded from popularity as the ubiquitous 4×4 tiles became increasingly fashionable.

While colorful tiles did not vanish entirely, the economic repercussions of the Great Depression and the war resulted in luxury colors being less accessible. The Modernist movement pushed back against prior excesses, leaning towards a return to hygienic white and streamlined efficiency.

In the substantial tome Furniture and Decoration, Period and Modern, a single paragraph on bathrooms starkly proclaims, "The kitchen and the bathroom should really be regarded as factories. They are purely utilitarian. A few years ago, we were all overly enthusiastic about color; bathrooms now are a nice, clear, clean white tile."

Moreover, simpler and quicker methods of constructing bathrooms emerged, leading to the popularity of tile boards for DIY projects. Most of these faux-tile boards, made of Masonite or, later, MDF, unfortunately suffered from moisture damage over time.

Colorful Revival in the 1950s

The 1950s ushered in a fresh sense of playfulness and optimism. Homeowners began abandoning the sterile notion of kitchen and bathroom spaces as merely utilitarian "factories." Iconic colors such as pink, mint, and baby blue emerged, reminiscent of 1950s automobiles. Approximately 5 million pink bathrooms are estimated to still exist in the mid-century American home market. Mosaics featuring smaller rectangular patterns and tile sizes of 1&#; squares gained traction during this time, with tiles becoming more widely used to clad tubs and wrap around walls, as opposed to just serving as wainscot.

Luxury Tile in the 1960s and Beyond

McCall's Decorating Book from 1967 opens the chapter on "Luxurious Bathrooms" with descriptions of expansive bathrooms (one measuring 16&#; x 25&#; with a window wall and crystal chandelier), stating, "These stunning and exquisitely designed bathrooms epitomize the new excitement now surrounding this previously neglected space." While tile mosaics persisted through the 1960s, other materials started to command the spotlight in the era of the decorated bathroom. From the 1960s onwards, tile became merely one element of the overall design, as wallpaper, furniture, sconces, steam showers, carpeting, and mirror walls began to dominate bathroom aesthetics.

We are still immersed in this fanciful phase of bathroom design today, with increasingly luxurious materials like marble and stone emerging. I've come to appreciate my humble 'factory' bathrooms with their standard tile selections, recognizing their significant place in history and enduring beauty. I hope you can also find joy in the distinctive character of your vintage jade-green bathroom.

Bathroom Tile Tips for a 20th-Century Revival

If you’re ready to infuse some roaring 20s charm into your bathroom, keeping these considerations in mind as you choose your tiles will help you achieve the desired effect:

Color: The color palette of the 1920s is vast. Opt for a neutral base with bold accent tiles, or create a striking monochrome black-and-white scheme. Jewel-toned tiles harmonize beautifully with Art Deco wallpapers for a truly exquisite atmosphere.

Shape: This decade was transformative in terms of design. Embrace bold geometric shapes and experimental patterns, inspired by innovative art movements. Combine varying tile shapes to make a strong design statement.

Material: Select smooth, glossy tiles made from porcelain, polished stone, or glass. These materials not only add elegant finishes but also create an illusion of larger spaces.

Explore Atlas Ceramics for an extensive selection of traditional, patterned, and glass tiles. Browse our collection online or speak with one of our experts for personalized advice.

If more information is required, please visit Foshan Factory Glass Mosaic Tile for Pool.