15 Bathroom Floor Tiles That Immediately Scream Vintage Style

Vintage seems to always be in style, whether we're talking about clothing, cars, or decor. However, where that decor can come into play in the home can be divisive: all-vintage everything might make a home look a bit too rusty. But the general consensus seems to be that bathrooms are a great place to lean into the past. Many people are bringing vintage-inspired finds into modern homes that incorporate nostalgic colors and familiar features, and tiles are a great way to evoke a vintage feel. Here, we've found 15 examples of bathroom tiles — including black and white options, hexagons, penny tiles, and subway styles — that will give your water closet a vintage look while staying on-trend.

Two of the most popular vintage eras making a comeback are the 20th-century Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles. Both of these eras bring a European look and are unique enough that they're easy to replicate. Art Deco features things like geometric, symmetrical shapes, bold colors, and ornamental patterns (think of the top of the Chrysler Building as a key example). On the other hand, Art Nouveau is much more floral and has a flow to it, with asymmetrical designs and nature-inspired shapes. So, in order to incorporate Art Nouveau decor into your home, you should lean on features like arches and mosaics; whereas, if your goal is an Art Deco vibe, you can opt for stricter patterns and simpler color palettes. Read on for examples of each style — plus more nostalgic trends — that you can apply to your bathroom's tiling. 

Black and white geometric tiles are an Art Deco selection that will look familiar to most people because of their popularity in the 20th century. The pattern pictured above, with black square tiles placed at a 45 degree angle between larger white tiles, is a common choice that will evoke nostalgia all while keeping things simple. The Merola Tile Chelsea black floor tiles from Home Depot achieve this look without requiring installers to handle each tile separately: the black tiles are built into the design, making installation far simpler. 

Zellige tiles are handcrafted pieces from Morocco using a style of ceramic that dates back to as early as the 10th century. In typical tile stores, zellige tiles are sold as unique square pieces, where no two tiles look exactly the same even when their measurements are uniform. You can opt for colorful zellige tiles — bright greens and blues are more in line with their history in Morocco and go with Art Nouveau palettes — or get neutral pieces; either way, the ancient style is sure to last long in your vintage bathroom. 

As we mentioned, a cornerstone of the ever-popular Art Deco era is refined geometric patterns. Opting for a hexagonal tile will give your bathroom a vintage feel and provide you with plenty of say over the other colors and patterns. The complex black and white hexagons pictured above help double up on the vintage trends, but you can choose hexagons of any size or color and still achieve the unique, vintage feel. 

When it comes to tile that helps you maximize style even in tiny spaces, subway tiling is a total no-brainer. The rectangular tiles, usually placed in an offset way to create a more interesting and hardwood-esque look, are a chic option that have been on trend for decades. Subway tiles are reminiscent of early 1900s New York, when the tiles were first installed in subway stations throughout the city. The best part of going this route is that there are plenty of colors and patterns that you can choose, allowing for more creativity and uniqueness. 

Chic floral tiles are a classic Art Nouveau option, as it goes with the sense of flow and ease that was popular in that time period. These designed floor tiles often come as peel-and-stick options, so you can get a taste for the look before renovating. The ACHIM retro vinyl floor tiles from Home Depot have all the benefits of floral tiling paired with a classic 1970s color palette, allowing you to showcase two key vintage eras in one fell swoop. The FloorPops Pink and Green Floral Floor Tiles are another option with brighter colors.

Checkered floor tiles are more ancient than "vintage": Egyptians from centuries ago would create checkered flooring with black and white tiles in their architecture. Since then, it seems like this style has never really dropped from the zeitgeist. Checkered bathroom floors are a great investment for a timeless (yet vintage) look, and options like a simple black and white checkerboard will help bring the look to life. You can also infuse color by opting for something with blue or pink that could easily complement other vintage color palettes. 

Emerald green is a classic vintage color: it rose to decor fame in the Victorian era when used as a sign of wealth and luxury. Since then, it seems to have continued to grow in popularity, as this hue can be both regal and earthy when paired with the right space. If you want to lean into this color, some glossy, deep tiles in a simple pattern will do the trick. This color is very Art Nouveau, and you can easily keep the rest of your bathroom white and simple to let the floor shine on its own. 

Penny tiling is a classic vintage technique that dates back to the early 20th century. As time went on, the small, round tiles became ubiquitous in bathrooms and were tied to Art Deco in the 1920s. Because this vintage trend is about shape and size and not color, you can opt for simple penny tiles like chic, matte white or black penny tiles or go bolder by adding some fun color like blues and yellows. Bold colors are more in line with how these tiles appeared in Art Deco design.

Green is so intrinsically tied to vintage color palettes that we needed to include two different shades. If emerald isn't your thing, light avocado green is another great option for bathroom floors. Avocado green tiling became a staple for bathroom floors and walls in the 1970s as part of the rise in popularity of decor that emulated nature. Though this hue fell from its pedestal and newer trends lean toward sage and olive greens, you can still use it to jump on this vintage look.   

The reddish brown brick color has been a part of design for longer than design history can detail because clay has long been a staple in architecture. Fortunately, you can bring the brick aesthetic into your own water closet without needing to opt for the uneven and uncomfortable surface of brick. Instead, light brown tiles like the Merola Tile Americana Boston North porcelain squares from Home Depot (pictured above) offer smooth, even surfaces with the same familiar color. 

Many Art Deco designs feature an eight point star, which conforms perfectly with the era's love of symmetry and unique, pointed patterns. You can easily find these stars in just about any search for vintage tiles. To stay true to the Art Deco era, get the look with a simple black and white version like the INNO STICKERS Peel and Stick Black and White Star Contact Paper. Since the design's first introduction to decor, though, it's also been used in colorful patterns that go beyond the two neutral colors. 

Bold yellows are reminiscent of the 1950s through 1970s color palettes, especially when paired with greens and oranges. Searching your tile retailer with terms like "sunflower yellow" or "mustard yellow" will land you with plenty of options that can add a bright, vintage flare to your bathroom — and the tile color pairs especially well with white features, greenery, and light wood. Combine this with hexagon or subway tile shapes to knock out two vintage trends in one. These can go on your floors and backsplash for a sunny and fresh bathroom feel. 

The fish scale shape is another timeless tile option that can pair with just about any color. This cut has been around for centuries and is popular in the Mediterranean. The best part is that you can install them facing in any direction: faced sideways, the tiles give a true swimming fish effect, but in other directions they can look like fans or waves. The Porcetile Porcelain Fish Scale Tiles from Home Depot (pictured on the floor above) are a great way to adopt this vintage look with a modern trend thanks to the White Carrara materials. 

There are a few certain hues of pink that are directly tied to vintage color palettes — paint companies like BEHR and Valspar even label such colors using descriptors like "Retro Pink" and "Vintage Pink." These are usually subdued, light Art Nouveau era pinks with a slight reddish undertone. You can use this color to introduce a bit of nostalgia and pair it with vintage greens and yellows for a more retro look, or combine it with neutrals to give a more modern twist.

Dark blue tiles are another centuries-old tradition hailing from Mediterranean locations like Morocco. Zellige tiles, mentioned earlier, often come in dark blue hues that represent the element of water and give a bathroom a rich, beautiful aesthetic. The Merola Hudson Tangier Sapphire blue tiles from Home Depot can help you achieve this timeless look. You can pair the deep blue tones with greens, yellows, and whites to have a fresh look and feel that makes your water closet feel truly watery.