Skip Neutrals: The Vintage-Inspired Pattern That Brings Life To Small Bathrooms

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If you're looking to introduce a bit of retro flair to your home, but aren't willing to commit to a full-on vintage throwback living room or kitchen, the bathroom is an ideal place to experiment. It's a comparatively small space, and not a major entertaining area, giving you a bit of freedom to play around with patterns that are so much more vivid than run-of-the-mill neutrals. After all, just because you're using a retro-inspired wallpaper doesn't mean your whole bathroom should become a time warp. Keep those modern fixtures and fittings in place, and just offset them with an element of visual interest with a bold paper.

In an Instagram post, wallpaper company Jade Walls showcased how a bold geometric wallpaper livened up a beige bathroom. "It added warmth, movement and personality to an otherwise minimalist space. Proving that wallpaper can have a dramatic impact without overwhelming a room," the designers said. Havier Burkle of Burkle Creative in Houston, Texas, told Southern Living that "smaller bathrooms are the perfect place to take that risk and introduce vintage-inspired colors and patterns," and that "bold, distinctly retro patterns are making a comeback." So, not only could embracing a retro wallpaper help spruce up your powder room, but it might also make you decidedly trendy!

Anyone who lived through the '50s and '60s will likely recognize the bold, geometric patterns that characterized many walls during those decades. But for younger generations, you may be wondering what exactly defines these vintage-inspired prints. The height of midcentury modern design coincided with what we today refer to as the "Space Age," a period defined by America's fascination with all things futuristic and otherworldly. This enthusiasm also influenced the design world, giving rise to motifs such as concentric circles and geometric patterns in colors like mustard yellow, pink, and teal. These iconic colors and distinctive patterns still influence design today, making for a fun way to add personality to a smaller bathroom.

If you're ready to try retro wallpaper in your own bathroom, you might be wondering where you can buy it. The company HappyWall is a great place to start. They offer a wide variety of vibrant geometric patterns that perfectly fit the vintage vibe, in color palettes that will be immediately recognizable as midcentury modern. If you're a renter or not willing to fully commit to a long-term paper, there are also peel-and-stick options available, like this Geometric Peel and Stick Wallpaper from CRE8TIVE on Amazon. It's important to remember that bathrooms are high-humidity spaces, and to plan your paper accordingly — for a more traditional paper, some experts recommend applying a varnish or sealer to the paper once it's installed to protect it from inevitable moisture.