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Blue tub bathroom help!

6 years ago

My 70s house has a funky blue tub, my husband wants to get a white one but I'm trying so hard to keep it and make it work. I don't want to do black and white with it. I've picked out some wallpaper I want to put behind the sink (it's in its own cubby). The bathroom is 5x8, it's for the spare bedrooms but it won't be the main guest bathroom. Pretty much my whole house is going to be in Behr Frost because it's a very bright white and my house is dark so any warm whites will look dirty and yellow in here, (I've tested sleek white and crystal cut) however, I don't want to use the same color in that bathroom because I think I'm going to do a white subway tile with light grey grout in it. Any suggestions on paint color? Also open to tile suggestions for the tub.

Btw I know this bathroom is gross, we just moved in and are tackling the popcorn ceiling first.

Comments (30)

  • 6 years ago

    I have the same tub with a matching sink and toilet. I got lucky and found wallpaper that works with the blue. I am trying to convince my husband it is time to redo that bathroom.

  • 6 years ago

    😂 it's reversed! We have the matching sink as well, it's a drop in though and horribly rusted, I want to try to salvage it as well but I won't put up as much of a fight. We have a mint toilet in the master bathroom, along with avocado green tub and a cream colored tiles with specks of a washed out lime green on them. That entire bathroom is getting gutted.

  • 6 years ago

    Would you consider having your bathtub refinished? Hubby could get his white tub, and you'd still have the one you want to keep.

    https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/bathrooms/refinish-a-bathtub/


    A new sink should cost very little to replace the rusted one. I did a search and Home Depot popped up first, but they can be found in many other stores.

    https://www.homedepot.com/b/Bath-Bathroom-Sinks-Drop-in-Bathroom-Sinks/Oval/N-5yc1vZbz9jZ1z0un00

  • 6 years ago

    How about looking into having it glazed white?

  • 6 years ago

    Eld6161 I want to keep the blue. We have glazed other tubs before from another 70s and a 90s house because they were beige.

  • 6 years ago

    If you want to keep the tub but don't want to do black and white tile, how about gray tile? I think gray and blue look lovely together and seems like it would work with the wallpaper you like.


    Out of curiosity, why do you want to keep the blue tub? Do you like the vintage appeal of it? Or is this a cost-saving option? For years I had a master bathroom with a toilet and two sinks in about the same blue. I didn't mind the blue, but once we had to remodel the bathroom (due to shower failure), I was so much happier with white fixtures.

  • 6 years ago

    pricklypearcactus, just something different, the house is basically still in its original form and we're gutting so much of it I wanted to keep the tub and a couple small items. Actually the grey might work, I dont know why I didn't think of it. It solves my white wall dilema too because I didn't want different whites with the wall and tile. Maybe a light grey subway tile, I've been trying to avoid white grout because it never stays clean but honestly no one will ever shower in there except maybe once a year if anyone ever visits so it should stay clean looking for a long time. Thanks!

  • 6 years ago

    Home Depot has this one, it's a light grey with slightly darker grey lines on and it's under $4/sqft

  • 6 years ago




    Lily White is from the Blue Hue Family. Calla Lily & Spring Thaw are from the Blue-green Hue Family.

  • 6 years ago

    Try giving the bath and sink a good clean with product that removes limescale and rust. If they come up well, it might help the 'keep' and work with argument. Good luck!

  • 6 years ago

    Regency Blue! I love it. It adds nice character, and with the tile suggestions and wallpaper above, I think it will work!

  • 6 years ago

    Tubs are not that expensive, so you could replace it, although labor is not cheap.

  • 6 years ago

    Sloyder, has nothing to do with money.

    laurelcollins, who makes the regency blue you're referring to?

    Marylee those colors are beautiful thank you!

  • 6 years ago

    kazzh, the tub is already scrubbed clean, it has like a dusty grey undertone. I think because it's 70s blue, 50s blue would be brighter.

  • 6 years ago

    Ah, was thinking I should be seeing a more a stronger color. But with a grey undertone you might be able to explore warm greys and use the blue as the highlight. The wallpaper you were thinking of above would bring a lightness to the room.

  • 6 years ago

    kazzh yeah if it were a nice powder blue it would be different and easier to work with. I grabbed some paint cards at Lowes and am leaning towards greek villa for the walla, grey backsplash and a white on white vanity with that wallpaper behind it. I also need a new storage thing for next to the toilet so I can paint that any color I want but not sure what yet.

  • 6 years ago

    Have you used wallpaper behind a sink before? I had that, and had to remove and tile the immediately behind area because, over the years, the paper got splatter stains in spite of being wiped.

    I love the color of the tub, and would be careful in choosing the paint & tile to be sure that you match its color temperature (my monitor is unreliable but it looks more cool to me). A crisp white vanity, with the proper gray and that paper will be lovely!

    I've seen a silvery gray grout that really looks great too.

  • 6 years ago

    Following. I think this will be lovely when finished and I don’t want to miss your reveal!

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Wow! What is said of the eyes of the beholder is SO true!

    I have the same tub in my apartment in nyc. We’ve been here for 15+ years now. At one point I was thrilled that our toilet needed replacing!! My husband remarks “where are we going to find a blue toilet?” Boy, was I ROFLing!!!

    Please understand I wish I could see the charm in it. I just wish I had a brand new white and light bathroom.

    It’s hard to work with. Blue tile on the wall. Blue sink that replaced the original which looked like yours and horrible floor tile.


  • 6 years ago

    We had a similar tub, toilet and sink too. But ugly tile. When I redid the bathroom I believed the contractor when he said he couldn't guarantee saving the tub when he took the tile down. Replaced the tub, and I was never happy with it. The old shape, it was just more comfortable. And while the new bathroom was pretty, I missed the blue.

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you guys! I've never dealt with wallpaper before, I was going to use tile or sink trim and then wallpaper the rest to the ceiling. I think I'm also going to just slap the wallpaper on a very thin board and nail the board to the wall so it won't be a nightmare if I ever want to remove it, it's the kind that needs to be glued down. I'll probably buy the vanity and cabinet last so I can get a feel for the wall color and wallpaper and tile together and see what color the room needs. I was inquiring at our local habitat for humanity restore about a new front door and the lady mentioned how colored tubs and sinks sell very quickly, I can't imagine anyone wanting the avocado green in my other bathroom but apparently people will take it lol

  • 6 years ago

    bpath yes, my old home had a big garden tub that I love and miss but for how tiny these old tubs are they are designed very ergonomically, It doesn't hurt my neck or back to lay in it like tubs now.

  • 6 years ago

    my previous house had the same funky 70's blue tub (matching sink aslo, the matching toilet met an unfortunate end- another story)


    and my kids adored it. Good thing cause I couldnt afford to replace it. So I painted walls and cabinets white. Hardware bronze/gold and hung a floor length shower curtain . I used mid tone wood accesories and baskets. I liked how it turned out, kinda spa like. Hows bout that original vanity top!!??

  • 6 years ago

    😂 wow they were doing blue marble back then?? Looks like something someone would pay a lot of money for now if it was quartz.

  • 6 years ago

    Blue marble look I mean, I know it's laminate.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    It was formica or laminate. Originally the room had bright, gaudy mermaid print wallpaper! I actually left it in the linen closet for old times sake..... Made me cringe/laugh when I opened the door.

  • 6 years ago

    Oh my goodness! Yeah our house has barely had anything done in the 40 years it's been around. I was horrified it still had the contact paper in the kitchen cabinets! It was a whole lotta orange and mustad yellow flowers.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    We had that too , orange and mustard yellow wallpaper in the kitchen, with half paneled walls, gold shag carpet in the adjourning dining room. AND avocado green appliances!

  • 6 years ago

    We still have half paneled walls in the living room, they were painted gray but kept the decorative brown trim the same color. The top half of the wall is popcorn along with the ceilings. No carpet thank God but we still have the original wall oven not in avocado green but brown. Needless to say we have our work cut out for us so I've been window shopping for furniture and decor so I don't feel overwhelmed. We're getting the popcorn removed professionally at the end of the month so that'll be one thing we can check off the list. This our third house and we tend to buy ugly houses (last one was a 90s HUD home with muave EVERYWHERE) but this is the first one that is damn near a total gut. Knocking down walls, completely reconfiguring the kitchen and master bath. Why couldn't we have bought a victorian with all original things still in place?

  • 6 years ago

    I would install wallpaper properly but make sure you do sizing before installing it. I think it will look much better and not so temporary as using thin wood boards to do it as they will bend/buckle unless you glue them to the wall which will create an even bigger mess.