Do you have a budget range in mind already?

Keep the tub if you want to resell it to a young family some day, unless there is a tub for a family already besides this one. We removed ours, and the tile and down to the studs, is what you are facing. Basically building a new bathroom. You can have a custome walk in shower made, from Faux marble, on all 4 surfaces, but may have to move the drain to the center of the tub area that is there now. And use a shower curtain rod....most cost effective solution we found. Than you need a new vanity, sink, toilet and floor, and behind all that probably going to have to install mildew resistant board, sheetrock, look at bed and taping expense, repainting. Yes, the budget is very important.

Some people can re-glaze the tub. Search in your area.

And you can just change the tile surround without having to change the tub.

This is a very poorly designed bathroom. Below is a pretty standard, minimal 5x7' bathroom. If the pinch point between the vanity and the wall between the shower and the toilet is less than 30", I'd live with it as-is and plan for a total reno in the future.

I would start fresh. It's 50 years old. It's done its duty.

The layout doesn't bother me. It keeps the window out of the shower. The sink is convenient to the toilet. The mirror is convenient to natural light. The toilet is hidden behind the shower wall.

Counting tiles leads me to believe that the tub width is 32", and you can get shower pans in that width. What is the length?

If that is the only bathtub in the house, I would replace the tub with a new one. If it is possible to change the water supply and the drain to the other end of the tub, then maybe a half or three quarter tiled wall with a glass upper could go between the tub and the toilet to open things up visually and even allow some light from the window to travel that far into the room. If you already have a bathtub in the other bathroom, I would do a walk in shower.

Thank you. Many of the photos I’ve seen have the tub set across the far wall, but that would be challenging for several reasons: lots of replumbing as well as dealing with the window.

Since this is the only tub in the house, I think we are stuck with keeping a tub. Looking at Lowe’s today, it seemed like you could get a pedestal sink for under $250 and a toilet for the same. Didn’t see any tubs today. Since my brother is a skilled handyman, he can help me replace things and keep the cost down. I don’t especially like pedestal sinks because you lose all the cabinet space, but maybe in this case, it would provide a smidgeon more space to cross between sink and wall beside tub. maybe There are cabinets that’s could go over the toilet?

thank you all for taking the time to respond. I also enjoyed looking at all the design ideas in the Houzz web site.

Many people here will advise you to gut it, move it around and have everything new. That's fine if that's what you want to do. I'm going to make suggestions for dealing with what you have.

We had our 1965 era tub reglazed. Only takes 1 day and looks like new. Much easier than tearing it out. As a guest bath I think the finish would last a very long time.

I like your simple tiles, especially the floor. If it's all polished up, grout cleaned and recaulked how would it look?

Replacing the entire vanity would probably be good.

New paint and update all your light fixtures.

Good luck!

Why not a wall mounted sink? Easier to clean around than a pedestal.

It sounds like you’re on a tight budget from your additional remarks.

If you need to make a few improvements, changing the toilet is about $100 (get a good one) and you can get a small vanity for well under $500 that still has simple storage.

Keep the flooring & tub. Give it all a great scrubbing then when you can, refinish the tub. Paint the walls a nice color, change out the curtains. Put in a couple nice towel bars & fluffy towels.

The floors look in good shape as do much of the wall tiles. You can regrout those as a refresher.

After a few years you’ll know if the bathroom needs a gut job.

I have a bathroom that’s 5’x6’8” and has the only tub in the house. We reglazed the tub 3 years ago, and it still looks fabulous. We swapped out a pitiful sink cabinet for a nice pedestal sink and installed the largest mirrored medicine cabinet that would fit. It adds light and storage. I don’t know if that will be the solution for you, but it really got it done for me. Good luck!

if this is a guest tub, it won't likely get heavy duty use. that's a good case for refinishing, at least for now.
nothing wrong with the layout for a tiny bath, you don't look at the toilet from the hall.... and the floor is beautiful. and very cool retro...
embrace it, and enjoy it, and spend your hard earned money elsewhere. Nothing that fresh linens and a cute shower curtain can't solve, that I can see

Think twice about reglazing your tub. We had ours done 3 Times and it peeled every time.

For a budget update, re-glaze the tub and update the tub fixtures if needed, it will make a huge difference. Then replace sink and toilet and I’d paint the walls and find a curtain and shower curtain and fluffy towels and rug to tie together colors of walls and existing floor tiles.

Had good luck with Koehler memoirs pedestal sink, the larger size provides enough space for soap & towel, small vase, etc on sides and as someone else suggested, we added large medicine cabinet above and wall cabinet above toilet.

Happy decorating!

Gella81: I really like the fresh clean look of that wall-mounted sink! Do you remember the supplier?

Mayflowers: the cabinet in your picture loooks just right,

Suzy, that was a random picture search just to give you an idea. You'll have enough options to choose from in any price range. I think this shape would be a good fit for your space https://www.homedepot.com/p/Nameeks-Nil-Wall-Mounted-Bathroom-Sink-in-White-CeraStyle-066100-U-One-Hole/304877386

I'd rip out the vanity and then if the tile and wall base below it is in good shape then definitely look into refinishing all your tile and your tub. What you have is charming and in good shape (no cracking or missing pieces). Definitely look into a pedestal if you replace storage with something like this Houzz Poster did in a small bath w Robern cabinets
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/nyc-small-bathroom-renovation-completed-dsvw-vd~5504170
New roman shade and paint and bath fixtures and lighting - done and it would look great. One thing to consider is how a glass shower door would actually impede upon your space. In your layout I do like a shower curtain which can be drawn back so it feels more open most of the time...glass even though clear is still a wall and will make a claustrophobic feel to your space.

One last thought - add a wet rated recessed light above the tub (if one doesn't exist)

I know someone who owned a bath fitting company. He sold it, because of all the service callbacks. They can crack, leak, & harvest mold under. I would not do bath fit.

I also had a client who got someone to spray , resurface their tub. Unfortunately, he was not a Pro & ruined the tile & bathtub. The sprayer sprayed wrong & drips were everywhere when she returned. She ripped it all out & ended up with a beautiful bathroom. So, if you do resurface, make sure it's a Pro with guarantee & be there. If you see drips immediately fix, because once they dry that's it.

I agree the layout is ok as is.

Being that it is 50 years old, means the toilet & cast iron tubs are made to last compared to what is on the market these days.

A simpler update would be new floor new vanity & sink.

new tub faucets

above lighting for entrance & brighten up tub.

could also do some recess storage if there's nothing in wall

I have a 1925 home with a tiny bathroom too. I remodeled it almost 20 years ago, but we just did an update recently. I think the biggest change that gave us the most room was putting a barn door on it. Two of us brushing our teeth would have to move around the door, but now it's wide open! Also, we put in a floating double vanity, but even a small floating vanity would provide storage and still have an open look.

Apparently I have no idea how to properly upload a photo here...

For inexpensive:

1) Reglaze the tub a nice, plain white. (1A New fixtures don't have to cost too much)

2) Have the grout fixed and then epoxy colored to a pleasing hue, tub and floor.

3) A nice royal blue shower curtain.

4) Paint the vanity body royal blue, replacing the top if needed (saves the hearttache of finding tiles missing or messed up under the vanity) with a white or cool grey, and update the hardware and fixtures

5) Replace the flowery window treatment with something in a yellow akin to the tiles.

6) Paint the walls in a light grey with a hint of blue undertones.

7) Replace the blind with a plastic film frosting.

8) New accessories.

You guys have all been great! So many good ideas to choose from! We will definitely incorporate as many as possible into this inexpensive update.

North Texan: I don’t understand what you mean by item number 2. I understand repairing old grout, but I have never heard of any of the last part. I really want to know, so pleare hang in there with me.

Thinkdesignlive: I don’t know what you mean by “refinishing tile.” Help!

I used a shallow vanity similar to this Home Depot one, when I renovated my hall bath. It gives you some storage underneath. We also put a mirrored medicine cabinet over the sink. It's not expensive but has lasted us 15 years so far.

Suzy, when we moved in, the grout was a bit uneven in coloration. We had a local grout repair company come in and paint the grout with a specially designed material that comes in varios colors and seals the grout as well. The person applying crawls over the floor painting the grount lines, and it held up well in the bath for over 5 years and is close to 6 in the kitchen and looks like new. I think it's expoy based.

we have had a tub in a rental regulated, by a vetted company. with daily use by two people, it lasted seven or eight years. had the same people do it again a few years ago. it does require extra care and limits certain cleaning products.
similar situation, early 50s cast iron tub that was tired....
surely, in a guest bath, a properly done coating would last a decade.

Olivia’s: That’s pretty much what we’ve decided. We don’t want the tub to look hideous to anyone who just popped in to wash their hands. But there are so many other places in this sweet house that need a little love, we’re gonna spend the big bucks in the places that are more visible, and will make day-to day life nicer... like the eat-in kitchen.

Partim: We’re staying at an Airbnb this week. Look what’s in the bathroo!

We had our tube reglazed about 3 years ago . It still looks brand new .It wasn’t real expensive at all

I was in Lowe's today and the gal in front of me in line had a vanity just like this marked down to $97.

for about $6 or $7 , you can spray that window with a frosted finish for privacy. I've done that, too. but not in a shower.
you can also buy film for privacy. all the big box stores. and Amazon, have them. snd its cheap.1
I hate shower windows.

have you tried cleaning the old tub with barkeepers friend? I'd never use it on a new tub, but it's not as abrasive as comet.
if you are going to refinish anyway, you have nothing to lose...

With some organizing baskets, it's surprising how much you can get in those shallow cabinets. It really does make a big difference when the cabinet is shallow. And the curved sink also make is seem larger, because you don't bump into the corners. One of my neighbors swears my bath is larger than hers - LOL it's the same model house.

Here's a picture of our finished bath. Some might call it Cheapchinesecrapola, but the price was right and t's lasted us 15 years so far. The only problem we ever had was that the latch on the medicine cabinet broke. The distributor sent us a free replacement.

End of thread...

I have the information I need now, so I want to free up this space for someone else. Please do not respond to this particular question.

Thank you all so much!

When you're done, it would be great to have a picture to see how you solved your dilemma.

I always find it more useful to keep a tub for little kids. your kids, grandkids, even family friends visiting. just keeps everything more convenient

For now I would hide the tub with a pretty shower curtain, remove the vanity and put a smaller one under the window, remove all the window coverings and put wide slat blinds in a light wood look honey color to tie in the floor. Maybe a runner on the floor and some artwork. Find a nice decorative linen or storage cabinet and place where the old vanity was.

the OP's bath is perfectly functional with a full depth vanity, if the photo is true.
scale is fine, floor tile is pretty.

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/Bathrooms You need help. Maybe this will set you in the direction to hep you.

If the size works we Love Our ikea hemnes vanity and medicine cabinet. That and a deglazed tub (if it needs it) would do wonders

A vanity against the wall suggest a filler then vanity cabinet. To avoid a gap.

Example of gap against wall

Example of vanity built in no gap.

I took a closer look at dimensions and toilet/ vanity area. if the tile extends all the way to the wall under the vanity, a wall mount or pedestal sink, or a shallow depth vanity, would give you better space in the toilet area, without breaking the bank.
it is a lightly used guest bath. not necessary to have a lot of storage in a guest bath.

Hi, this is a question we get quite often. We have recently uploaded a blog post on small bathroom ideas. Have a read!