1970s Bathroom Remodel: How to Update Your Vintage Bath

A 1970s bathroom remodel is one of the most common bathroom remodels homeowners tackle. These disco era bathrooms are famous for their bold color vibe, such as avocado green, harvest gold, and brown, and unique materials like shag carpet and one-piece fiberglass tubs.

While the 1970s vintage look can be charming, it often comes with dated plumbing fittings and poor layouts. A modern bathroom makeover can fix these issues, transforming your master bath from a time capsule into a functional, beautiful space. This guide covers the costs, trends, and challenges of updating a 70s bath.

1970s Bathroom Features: What to Ditch vs. What to Keep

The first step in your remodel is an audit. You need to decide what to keep for its retro charm and what to replace for function and hygiene.

What to Ditch (The Non-Negotiables)

Shag Carpet

This is the number one item to remove, no questions asked. It's a major hygiene issue in a wet environment like a bathroom and should be replaced with a modern, easy-to-clean tile floor.

Faux-Wood Paneling

Dark, fake wood paneling sucks all the light out of a room and makes it feel small. Remove it, repair the drywall underneath, and use a fresh coat of paint to instantly brighten the space.

Busy Wallpaper

While bold patterns are back, original 1970s wallpaper is often overwhelming and makes the room feel dated and small. A fresh paint color is the easiest, most impactful change you can make.

What to Update or Replace (Your Call)

Colorful Tubs and Pink Toilets

This is a bold design choice. If you're adventurous, you can design around a colorful tub. If not, a professional can reglaze an old tub with a new, durable white finish. Old toilets, however, should be replaced with new, efficient models.

Fiberglass Tubs/Showers

These one-piece fiberglass units were common, but they are prone to cracks and stains over time. If it's heavily damaged, it's best to ditch it.

Corian Sinks and Laminate Vanities

These can often be salvaged. A solid Corian sink can be professionally refinished to remove scratches. If a laminate vanity's "box" is still solid, you can save money by painting it and simply adding new bathroom hardware.

Modern Design Ideas for a 1970s Home

You don't have to make it sterile. You can nod to the 1970's vintage style in a modern way.

Paint Color

The easiest way to fight a colorful tub is with crisp white paint on the walls. This neutralizes the old color and makes the room feel clean and bright.

Tile

Replace old linoleum with a tile floor. Classic penny tile or hexagon tile is period-appropriate but feels timeless. For shower tile, you can't go wrong with simple white subway tile, perhaps with a shower niche for storage.

Fixtures

Replace old faucets with modern, simple plumbing fittings like the Delta Trinsic line. An oversized round bathroom mirror and floating wood shelves can add a warm, organic touch that feels both 70s and modern.

Shower

Ditch the clingy shower curtains and curved shower rods. A new glass shower door will instantly make the room feel larger and more open.

The 70s Fiberglass Problem: Tubs, Showers, and Sinks

The 1970s was the era of plastics. This led to the rise of one-piece fiberglass unit tubs, ABS plastic units, and molded sinks. While new at the time, these materials haven't aged well.

The industry standards that govern their performance have been continuously updated over the decades. Today's standards include much tougher tests for strength, impact resistance, and long-term durability, far exceeding the requirements that 1970s-era units were built to meet.

For this issue, a full tear-out is not your only option. Many bath remodeling companies specialize in solving this exact problem. They offer durable shower liners, wall surrounds, and replacement bathtubs that are custom-molded to fit directly over your existing fiberglass unit. This process gives you a brand-new, easy-to-clean surface in as little as one day.

FAQs About Your 1970s Bathroom Remodel

Can I just paint my 1970s fiberglass tub?

This is called "reglazing." It is not a DIY-friendly paint job. You must hire a professional who will chemically clean, sand, and spray the tub with a special epoxy. A DIY-painted tub will almost certainly peel and chip within months.

What paint color goes with an avocado green or harvest gold tub?

Don't try to find a color that "matches." The best bathroom color is one that neutralizes. A bright, clean white paint (or a very light, warm gray) will make the tub a single pop of color, making it look intentional instead of dated.

Is it hard to remove a one-piece fiberglass unit?

Yes. These units were often installed during the home's construction, before the door-frame wall was finished. In many cases, a contractor will have to cut the fiberglass unit into several pieces with a saw to get it out of the bathroom.

Ready to Start Your Bathroom Makeover?

A 1970s bathroom remodel can be a fun project, but it often involves more than just a new paint color. Whether you need bathroom designers to help you with a new layout or a specialist to install replacement bathtubs over your old fiberglass, the right pro is key.

Mr. Remodel connects you to a vast network of trusted professionals who are licensed, reviewed, and reliable. Our service is quick and easy and provides no-obligation quotes, so you can compare your options with no pressure.

Get your free, no-obligation bathroom quote today.