I hate to say it but it's the paneling that darkens the space (since you say it feels dark.) You can start by changing the light fixture which will brighten up the room. You might consider painting just the mirror side paneling to see if that will be enough to brighten it. I actually like leaving some wood tone (including the ceiling-if it's holding up to the moisture). Would also update the toilet.

You can also update things like the hardware and curtain rod. And you might consider adding a frame around the mirror.

I'll add that I think your kitchen granite would darken your bathroom space even more. Do you possibly have an outside use for it if you are looking to reuse.

I wouldn't change the counters to a darker one. What I would do is get a large portrait format piece of art over the toilet and a bigger trio of pics across from the mirror. Then I would change the light to something brighter & more substantial and also the knobs, keeping with the MCM vibe.

Is this a main bath? Kids?

I asked because this might not work with whomever uses the bathroom. Just an idea to show a larger light colored art piece to brighten the room up a bit more.

You might also want to paint your cabinet white or a lighter color.

Describe "update" please. Is this a primary bath? Do you soak in the tub? It's used by everyone?

You would change vanity, tile....add lighting, get new flooring ? Change the tub to white? Have more storage?

I see nothing to cling to here, including the room darkening walls. If you want a modern, brighter bathroom : ) ?

Post some inspo pics of a bath you might love to have.

Since this is not an ordinary 1970s tract house with the typical small bath, drywall walls and nothing really specific to the 1970s except colored tile or fixtures, I would encourage you to just embrace it. I don't really like the word "dated" at all. That's like getting on a hamster wheel of trying to keep up with something. This bathroom is dark because it has one small window. The paneling does make it a darker environment as well, but you could paint the entire thing white and it still would not be a "bright" bathroom. A clear glass shower door or screen would be better than a shower curtain in that regard.

The pale blue is a decent shade of blue, it's not avocado or bubblegum pink or one of the yellows that would not look good with this wood.

The blue fixtures are are all intact as a set, and they appear to be in good condition as well as the tile. You could probably find a decent color match for a new toilet seat here:

https://www.toiletseats.com/p/bemis-color_matched-blue-toilet-seats/

If the vanity doors are water damaged, you could refinish them or paint the vanity white or a version of the light blue.

This is not a bathroom that somebody would typically design today, that's understood. But the house appears to probably have a wood beamed ceiling with exposed sheathing and wood paneling throughout, since it is included in the bathroom. In my opinion nothing could look worse than trying to update this bathroom to typical 2020s fashion because it won't fit well in the context of the house. If this were a typical 1970s drywall box it would be a different story, but you've got a lot of character/architecture going on in there.

Frank Lloyd Wright often had wood in his bathroom. Yes I know your house does not have a FLW pedigree, it's not a museum, but he inspired later architects to use more natural materials inside the house. Yes, most of his bathrooms are also dark.

I love this bathroom. The wood looks solid and the gorgeous tile and grout and fixtures, everthing else is pristine.

Paint the wood walls white. Prep them well. Painted panelling is charming.

Leave the beautiul tile and everything else.

Don't paint the ceiling. The vanity is nice in wood to ground the high ceiling...just polish it.

I love the Blue Nude suggested by Kelly.

I have no advice because i would not touch anything . I love your bathroom!

I love your bathroom, but I can definitely see some potential for improvements to make it feel a little updated, without having to even rip anything out. If you were to try and remove any of the tile or paneling, you would likely damage other parts that aren't supposed to be touched. The things that I can see that could clearly use a 1-for-1 replacement are the medicine cabinet/mirror, the vanity knobs, the faucet, the vanity light, the wall art, the hardware (towel rod, etc.), and the shower curtain. I think mixing in more metals like brass, nickel, or chrome would draw the eye to the more sparkly elements in the space, and it would make the room feel brighter. Theres an incredible vintage charm about this bathroom that I think is beautiful and shouldn't be sacrificed, it just needs more metallic elements.

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- Max Hamilton, Designer

I'm going to assume the paneling is also throughout the rest of the house. If that's the case, then I don't see why you couldn't gut the bathroom and start over. I'd look for inspiration in country home settings:

Stowe, Vermont Traditional Country Home · More Info

Finely plastered walls in a Hill Country home · More Info

New York Renovation · More Info

" I don't see why you couldn't gut the bathroom and start over. "

The homeowner could. But ideally the bathroom still needs to look like it belongs in the the homeowner's house. Not like you are walking into someone else's house when you open the bathroom door.

I love your bathroom! Embrace the wonderful existing style here that is cohesive with the style of your home. I’d replace the shower curtain with a glass panel to let in more light, replace the faucet, vanity pulls, light fixture and mirror, and find a matching blue toilet seat. The blue fixtures are fantastic! I’m not a pro I think a complete remodel, or even painting the wood paneling would equal a remuddle.

What is your budget? Does everything in the room work, and is it all in good condition? It looks like you have a mirrored medicine cabinet alongside the mirror? Do you have plenty of storage? If it’s not very functional for you, then you may want to put in all new fixtures and address any needs you have. I don’t like your kitchen granite with the wood unless you want to paint the wood.