Amazing Photos That Showcase Early ’30s Bathroom Designs

In the early 1930s, bathrooms were typically functional and modest, reflecting the Art Deco influence in design. Fixtures were often made of porcelain, and the color schemes leaned towards pastel tones, like pale pink, mint green, and light blue.

Bathtubs were freestanding or built into the walls, often with claw feet. Pedestal sinks and high-tank toilets were common. Plumbing was becoming more standardized, but bathrooms were still relatively small in many homes. Decorative elements, such as patterned tiles or metal accents, added subtle style to the utilitarian space.

These amazing photos are from The Bathroom: A New Interior, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931. The results of the 1930 prize competition sponsored by Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company.

Bathroom designed by Anthony Forgeau Darrin. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Charles R. Greenidge. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Dwight E. Stevens. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by E. Wessel Klausen. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Edgar Thompson. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Ferdinand Eiseman. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Harry I. Johnstone. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Herbert G. Wenzell and A. R. Lindsay. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Jefferson M. Hamilton. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by John M. Kerr. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Lee Burns and Edward James. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by O. Louis Reich. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Percival Goodman. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Ralph W. Williams. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Richard Haviland Smythe. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Salvatore Grillo. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Tracy R. Stephens. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Victor E. Johnson. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931

Bathroom designed by Wm. Lundeberg. From “The Bathroom: A New Interior”, Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1931