The tile is classic, don't put anything over it. Just change out the paint color (and get rid of the chair rail).

I would avoid a glue install, there are lots of interlocking luxury vinyl at all price points. If I lived in the USA, I'd look at Flooret, they have some on sale for $2.99 sq ft. The wear layer is 40 mil, that's the important part I'd compare with other brands.

https://www.flooret.com/noret/#

Ditto. Who subtract value from your home by covering a quality material with a cheap one? I agree on painting the walls. If the grout really makes you crazy, regroup and seal the new grout.

Agree with the others. What you have is way better than what you propose. Have the grout professionally cleaned and choose a different wall color. It's not so much that it's gray, but it's a warm gray. If you must do gray, at least choose a cooler one to go with the tile, but I'd go for blue in that room, especially if you want to downplay the floor. A neutral wall just makes it the feature of the room. I'd be cool with that, but you clearly aren't.

I like the tile, its your wall color that doesn't help. If you went to a dark blue or light yellow the tile would have more pop.

I don't really like the blue tile-the grout I think is suppose to be white but it no longer is-especially in some parts. I am not opposed to repainting-the original color was a turquoise which was awful. I agree on the colors -wasn't exactly what I wanted once it was done but was better than what was there for sure. I guess I just want something more fresh looking in there. thanks for the ideas

designer drains-can you give me an idea of what kind of blue ie color name?

I don't care for the blue tile either. Tiling a room that size yourself is NOT hard, nor is ripping up the existing tile. Pick a neutral colored tile--you might even find some amazing tile at your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, since it's probably 40sf MAX.

The existing flooring is so much more attractive than your proposed fix. If you cover it up, someone at some point is going to post at how this fabulous floor was covered by cheap vinyl and can it be restored. I can't imagine anyone is actually going to like faux wood after the current trend is a decent memory except for those homeowners who want to get rid or it and restore the older nicer stuff.

Work with it instead of fighting it. The wall color is doing it no favors and the chair rail looks a bit sad.

As others have posted, get the grout professionally cleaned.

Have you tried soft scrub with bleach and a good old toothbrush? I’d work a little section each day. The right paint will do great things for this little room, as will a beautiful colorful art print. Good luck!

I have scrubbed the grout with a tootbrush and bleach. Tile is original to the house which is early 60's. the previous owners lived here for 30 plus years and smoked and at the end-didn't appear to clean or have house cleaned much. most surfaces in house are covered with nicotine which is difficult to remove. Any specific color ideas are welcome -I have a very hard time picking out colors

Professional grout 'cleaning' isn't really cleaning, you know. They actually replace the grout most of the time.

Take a few pics of the tile in better lighting. Go to SW and have them help you pic out swatches. Bring them home and lay them on the tile...the right one will pop out at you. paint the vent as well so it blends in with the wall. Remove or paint the rail strip. If your still not happy then you can always cover up that beautiful floor with something not as beautiful. ;)

anyone here ever regrout themselves? Meaning take out old grout and put in new? The videos I watched make it look pretty easy-just a little time consuming eso. since tile is small.

That tile is beautiful! I was just looking on Retro Renovation and everybody is restoring these old tiles. But, as you don't like them, paint the wall a lighter, clearer blue, then put down a rug that covers up most of the floor.

I would actually go darker with the wall color. Do you have anywhere inconspicuous (under the trim maybe?) where you can see how easily the old grout will come out? It's not an awful job with the right tools. But it ain't exactly fun...

"anyone here ever regrout themselves?"

Yes, and it is NOT fun and NOT easy. And I had large tiles, too. I would never attempt to remove the grout from in between all of those little tiny tiles. You will be there forever, hating your life.

Keep the tile - change wall colors

if you must than demo the floor and re install new Vinyl flooring, don't go over please... it will look and feel so cheap

If we rip out tile-we would just put new tile in. I guess I was looking for a quick fix to have a cleaner looking floor-it just grosses me out with someone elses dirt-maybe regrouting won't cost too much to have someone do and I have paint that can be colored-so that would be free. Lots to think about.

I do agree with jellytoast, I think regrouting would be a tremendous PITA - but it can be done.

That said, have you tried a steam cleaner?

I used to have a floor steamer-didn't do much. I could try another one that might be higher quality. I may look around for the cost of someone else to regrout but my guess is that the labor will be high-who knows

Not a floor steamer. Those aren't as powerful. I'm talking like the industrial-type units you would use for wallpaper removal, only with a pointed nozzle attachment. They are quite effective and probably able to be rented from your local hardware store.

I may look around for the cost of someone else to regrout but my guess is that the labor will be high-who knows

Get estimates. In my area, which is admittedly moderately low for service costs, it's about $300 to do the whole downstairs of a townhouse like mine, which is several times the likely size of your bathroom. So more tiles, more grout, but much less area--I think it would be roughly the same at most.

It certainly can't hurt to find out and believe me, I used to do my own grout maintenance and it's worth paying the money. Don't forget you'll need to seal as well if you DIY. I have a powerful hand steamer with a hard brush attachment for grout and it's still darned labor-intensive.

Luxury vinyl is great! I don’t get it when people say “it’s a classic, don’t change it” it’s outdated and to me- an eye sore. Do what you want it’s your home! I vote for vinyl.

I've also read about people painting and then stenciling their tile floors-I thought about it for a bit but then it didn't seem as though it would actually hold up well. Anyone have experience doing that?

Hi, I agree the vinyl over the tile will look very cheap. The design of the tile is not bad, as a matter of fact I saw current new tiles in that type of design, while looking recently for a client. I would get a professional tile installer to clean the tiles and re grout them. Not in white, but in a color that is in the tiles. I would not emphasize each tile but something that would make them blend together.

The walls need to be repainted. Is the molding by the floor wood or vinyl? If vinyl get rid of it and replace with a nice wood molding. I would paint the floor molding a darker color, closer to the floor color and the walls a lighter shade that blends. If you go into a local Benjamin Moore Paint/Decorator Center they usually have someone who is good with the different paint colors and if you show them the picture of the floor, they will give you samples to take home to check against the floor.

You might also take off that higher piece of molding and replace with a decorative molding, at chair rail height and paint bottom and perhaps wallpaper top. Also, as best as I can see the room looks dark and probably needs more light. Perhaps a couple of recessed LED lights on dimmer and a decorative light over mirror or sconces on the side if you have room.

Maybe it's because I was a kid when that tile was "in"; I wouldn't hesitate to get rid of it.

Keep the tile and paint the walls BM Hale Navy.

I like your blue tile. We have Mamie Eisenhower pink in one of our bathrooms (also previously owned by a smoker) and I too, thought it was beyond help. I scrubbed with everything known to man. Finally figured out it was clean, just gray grout. Some day, when the plumbing starts to fail, we will gut the bath and probably re-tile with something folks years from now will ask - were they crazy?! If you hate it, re-tile.

OP hates the tile and has lived there long enough to be sure she hates it.

IMO, that tile was ugly in 1960 and it's still ugly. I don't like the color or the pattern. 50 plus years is a long run. Rip it out of there and replace with what you want. It's your house.

LVT is a good option because it's inexpensive, easy to DIY and, when you get tired of it, easy to replace. If you go with a wood look tile and white walls, you can change up the powder room by simply changing the towel color and accessories.

FWIW, I'm looking at replacing tile that I installed something like 20 years ago. It looked fine then but I've gotten tired of it and it's looking dated. Haven't decided for sure what to replace it with (winter project) but LVT is a strong contender.

I personally would not hesitate to paint this tile, I have personally painted a bathroom tile floor that was '90's ugly brown and also over '70's vinyl, and they both have held up very well. Your tile seems somewhat textured, it will hold paint well. I would use Benjamin Moore Advance Primer and Advance paint in Satin or Semi Gloss.

Click together LVP would look fine in there. It's such a small space and you will probably have a rug over most of it. Don't use a glue down. Pop off the quarter round, lay your vinyl planks and put the quarter round back on. One day project and probably $250. Easy to change your mind in a year if you want to back to the tile.

the tile is cool looking. Have you tried Grout Renew in a bright white? paint the baseboard in a bright white to match.

then I'd get rid of the chair rail. (why on earth is a chair rail in the bathroom? ) Paint the walls a new color. can we see the rest of the bathroom for some suggestions?

and if you really hate the tile that much, then demo it and redo it with something else. do cover it with some vinyl snap and lock plank tile. that never looks good. Plus, putting something like that over this tile will eventually allow the indentations/imprint of the underlying tile to show through.

some of my current favorites