Retro Renovation

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Where to find bathroom replacement tile for a vintage bathroom

pam kueber - Updated: August 17, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.


replacement tile for a 1950s 1960s or 1970s bathroomUpdate: World of Tile has now closed. See our story on the liquidation sale going on through about Nov. 15 here.

One of the biggest “needs” of owners of mid century homes is: Replacement tile for cracked or broken original tiles in otherwise perfectly beautiful and functional mid century bathrooms. Now that we have discovered World of Tile we have probably the single best place in the nation (so far) where we have a chance to find an authentic vintage match for our 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and even 1980s bathrooms. In fact, when I checked in with Chippy on Monday — after my first two stories on World of Tile ran — she said that she had 60 emails from readers. The first three she opened were for replacement tile. She was able to match two immediately — it seems like she has a photographic memory for all her inventory. The third, she had in marble but not in ceramic – but it looked like it would work.

How to do business with World of Tile to find the replacement tile that you need? Watch this video with Chippy:

Bottom line: If you have vintage tile and need some replacement tile — you are going to need to send her a sample. There are just way too many vintage colors to match any other way.

How to reach World of Tile: Click here for their website.

Another interesting story: When I visited World of Tile, Chippy and I got to talking about pink bathrooms, of course. She quickly chimed in that there was no “single pink” in the way back hey day — there were many many pinks. And she said that World of Tile carries as least 20 different colors of pink replacement tiles. Update: On my second visit, I counted 95 vintage pink tile colors! So, yes, if you are going to try to match — get ready to send a sample.

World of Tile has Even More Stuff — See all my stories here! 

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  1. .ivy says

    THANK YOU. We had some painful plumbing repairs in our 1964 bathroom and lost a dozen of the (original) tiles. It’s a speckled robin’s egg blue that we never thought we’d find. After having zero luck online or at local places, I called World of Tile based on this post of yours. They had our tile. 30 of them!!! We wanted them all but ended up buying 20. The tile is vintage 1940s and is not cheap, but our shower has been repaired and it looks amazing! Chippy at WOT was so great. She was just as excited as we were when they found the tile!

  3. kim says

    Yes–I will have to keep looking. I am not a fan of the plastic seats. I really prefer the heavier wood construction with the chrome trims.
    Thank you!

  4. Kim Vawter says

    Hello Pam,
    Vintage Color Toilet Seats? I have only to find a nice yellow one to complete the “look” of my yellow tile bath. I was considering painting a good sturdy white wooden seat in glossy enamel. I would hate to have the paint bubble off–maybe I should op out of the “DIY” and save for a nice one.

    • pam kueber says

      We have several stories about where to find toilet seats in many colors – some spendy, some not. See Bathrooms / Toilets category.

  5. Kim Vawter says

    “Too soon old and too late smart”–Thanks for the tip about Craig’s list and World of Tile. As long as I live here, I will try to maintain this wonderful old tile bathroom and keep it in the character of this old house. BTW I did see another late 40’s yellow toilet the other day on a TV commercial. I enjoyed seeing all the old brightly colored and curiously sculptural porcelain fixtures featured in the commercial. (Never could recall what they were actually selling.)

  6. Kim Vawter says

    Hello-
    I do not visit this site too often and I do not want to compete with commercial tile companies but my local flooring place made me buy a whole box of my yellow tile to replace one or two–( I only needed one!)
    So I have extras. My house was built in 1949 and one bathroom still has original tub, toilet and sink–the one with the built in spout.

  7. Ruben Estremera says

    I need to buy tiles 4″ and a quarter x 4″ and a quarter. The color is pink clear and it is used on the wall of a bathroom. These tiles was used betwee the decades of the 1960s and the 1970s. Please tell me if you have this tile or if there is any way to get it. Thank you.

  8. Kristen N says

    There is an older tile company called Susman Linoleum & Rug Co in Waukegan, IL. They have a website but do not have any of the NOS listed that they have hiding in the back of their warehouse! I discovered a few different shades of pink, blue, green and yellow! They also had what I can best describe as a “popped bubble” tile as well as some speckled. There were several rolls of cool linoleum patterns and I even spotted a giant roll of orange and yellow shag carpeting! Their quantities are limited, but If you are anywhere near the area, it might be worth your while to check it out! We bought an entire box of vintage aqua blue tile for 20 bucks!