There’s no doubt about it — yellow is just one of those happy, sunny colors that can instantly brighten a space. It is no surprise then, that midcentury bathrooms, which already featured smile-inducing pastels like pink, green and blue, would also be bathed in sunny yellow. In my research, I found that many manufacturers offered a version of Ivory that could be classified as a pale yellow, especially in the early years of colorful fixture production. By the 1950s and early 1960s, brighter yellows — such as American Standard’s ‘Manchu Yellow’ and Briggs’ ‘Autumn Yellow’ were becoming available. Let’s take a look at yellow bathroom fixtures from 1927-1963.
American Standard Yellows — Ivoire De Medici and Manchu Yellow
Ivory may not technically be yellow, but in my research, I found many manufacturers offering different shades of Ivory, such as American-Standard’s ‘Ivorie de Medici’ that look to be pale yellow in their catalogs. Above images: 1930 American-Standard Ivoire De Medici bathroom fixtures from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
When it comes to ‘Manchu Yellow’ there is no question — this 1963 color is a bright, sunny, happy, unmistakable yellow.
Three images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog showing Manchu Yellow fixture/ Building Technology Heritage Library.
Kohler — Old Ivory and Tuscan
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. Old Ivory — which looks like it could have been a very pale yellow — was part of that first color lineup.
Again, Old Ivory looks like a pale yellow, therefore I have classified it as such. Above: Old Ivory fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup 1936 Kohler catalog from Building Technology Heritage Library. While Old Ivory was offered, it was not one of their four most popular colors as indicated by the larger swatch size above.
Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog / Building Technology Heritage Library, we see the whole palette for the year, which includes Ivory — though it seems they dropped the ‘old’ from the name. By 1949, Ivory was dropped from the Kohler color lineup.
Oddly enough, even though Ivory was not in the 1950 Kohler lineup, it is possible that ‘Tuscan’ made a shift from beige to a yellowy beige. You be the judge. Above images from: 1950 Kohler catalog / Building Technology Heritage Library.
Crane — Citrus Yellow and India Ivory
In 1940, Crane offered both a creamy ‘India Ivory,’ which looks like a pale yellow, and a bright ‘Citrus Yellow,’ along with Orchid Pink, Pale Jade, Lavender and Sun Tan. Images above from: 1940 Crane catalog / Building Technology Heritage Library.
Here’s Crane’s Citrus Yellow again in another 1940 Crane catalog / Building Technology Heritage Library.
Eljer — Jonquil Yellow and Colonial Ivory
Pam spotted some Eljer catalogs from 1939 and 1940 in the Building Technology Heritage Library that showed two shades of yellow — including Jonquil Yellow and Colonial Ivory.
Briggs — Autumn Yellow and Ivory
The two images above show Autumn Yellow — a cheery bright hue — from the 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog / Building Technology Heritage Library.
The Briggs catalog shows their Ivory as slightly more beige than pale yellow. Above, two images above of Briggs’ Ivory from: A 1951 Briggs Beautyware catalog / Building Technology Heritage Library.
See our other stories about vintage bathroom colors:
- Decorating a beige bathroom: Color history and ideas from six manufacturers from 1927 to 1962
- The color green in kitchens and bathrooms sinks, tubs and toilets from 1928 to 1962
- The color pink in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets — from 1927 to 1962
- The color blue in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets — from 1927 to 1962
Catalina says
We have an original yellow half bath! White sink and toilet, but the square wall tile is a yellow speckle with brown coved base and bullnose and the floor is a yellow speckle mosaic. It’s kind of falling apart, but when we replace it we’re planning on using yellow tile again!
ineffablespace says
Kohler Sunlight existed until about 2012, along with Skylight, a pale blue. I don’t think they were popular even though they were nice pale tints of each color. I give them credit for trying until so recently — although their current lineup of colors is colorless.
Heidi E. says
Good timing, this may come in handy for inspiration. The home I’m buying is not, as I had hoped, mid-century, but late 70s-early 80s ( still a much better choice than anything else I could find, though), and it his this somewhat strange cultured marble with vivid citrus-yellow streaks for the sink and shower surround. In too good a shape to justify removal when I need my decorating and remodeling budget elsewhere for things that are actually bad, so decorating around it attractively is a must.
pam kueber says
Cool, Heidi! Three things for you to consider:
Our bathroom decorating guide: https://retrorenovation.com/2015/10/05/five-steps-choose-bathroom-colors-infographic-guide/
70s houses — the next big thing! https://retrorenovation.com/2011/10/10/renovating-1970s-houses-the-next-big-thing/
And everything 70s — my favorite decade! — https://retrorenovation.com/search-results/?q=70s
Paul - CT says
I just adore my Yellow Bathroom! And no, I do not look jaundiced when I look in the mirror! My fixture yellow is a light yellow green. They are Eljer fixtures. Two years ago I redid the bathroom by replacing the sinks and counter top and painting the cabinets and trim. An unusual feature and seems endemic to my neighborhood is the use of Belgian glass for tiling. The new sinks and toilet seat were custom painted to match at a local body shop and when you have that much yellow, a neutral color for the counters is the way to go.
Anyway, for those interested here is a link to a photo of the bathroom. Check out the wonderful vintage flooring. It’s just like what is shown above in some of the ads. I had that re-grouted and it looks like new!
https://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/midcentury-yellow-bathroom.jpg
https://retrorenovation.com/2015/06/02/paint-bathroom-sinks-any-color/
Paul – CT
Trudi says
I adore the Manchu Yellow bathrooms! And how easy would it be to keep the floor clean with that wall mounted toilet!
Madeline says
Crazy thought… I wonder if enough people showed interest if any manufacturer would reissue any authentic vintage styled bathroom suites? Obviously the toilets would need to be modern low flush versions. I say this because we’ve pretty much given up on finding an intact 1970’s time warp house within budget. We’re going to have to build something ourselves to get what we want, but I doubt fitting salvaged old toilets would pass a building inspection in a newly constructed house. I can’t find any modern toilets with the right shape. The old ones were so much cooler!
Rebecca L says
How serendipitous! I was just asking about yellow bathroom decor on FB.
I’m wondering if the fixtures are marked with the manufacturer and, if so, where usually? We’re buying a house that was built in 1960 and has most of 4(!) bathroom suites intact. They have toilets with the recess for the lid in the tank but have counter built-in apron style sinks. The bathroom fixtures are: a medium blue, a warm orangey brown, light yellow, and pink!
pam kueber says
I am not sure but I tend to think the best place to look is on the underside of the sink.
Elizabeth says
heh. We have always had white – white appliances, white bathroom fixtures. My parents said that colors go in and out of style but white never does (take that stainless steel!) so I’ve always gone with white too. But now I am wishing we had a yellow bathtub and sink and toilet!
Carol says
My parents said the same thing, so I’ve always had white also. The most beautiful bathroom I’ve ever seen was in a 1937 tudor, and it was pale yellow and lavender. It was positively dreamy. As a side note, the worst bathroom I’ve ever seen was also in a 30’s tudor and it was mint green tile with MAUVE fixtures including towel bars toothbrush holder etc. It was a h***** [edited]. The worst part: there were 2 of them in the house. Both of them were in excellent condition and the shower was stunning, but that dark deco mauve did not work with the mint green. The only colored bathrooms I’ve EVER seen that I didn’t like and they were in the first house I wanted to buy. 25 years later I still wish I had bought that house and then I think of those bathrooms.
Carol says
(My apologies Pam, I committed the biggest no-no in real estate. I became emotionally attached even though I never submitted an offer. I still go out of my way to occasionally look at the house and the charming neighborhood it’s in.)
Robbie Kendall says
Thank you for mentioning the 1937 Tudor house, Carol. We live in a 1939-built home that was originally designed by the architect Benjamin Franklin Olsen in 1932 that is Tudor-esque. It also has one half bath that retains its original floor and half-height wall tiles. The latter are a pale, cool, yellow with black accent with two-tone lilac tiles on the floor with a small black and yellow/beige center accents. The odd thing for me is that whatever they looked like originally, the two yellows don’t match at all now, which would make using yellow fixtures impossible. Right now there is a non-original black toilet (from the early 90’s) and a square lilac sink on what looks to be a cheap Home Depot-like vanity. Ughh! My hope is to at least find a black pedestal sink and then figure out what to do with the walls and the mirror.
Carol says
Robbie, that floor sounds really pretty.
Carolyn says
HAHAHAHAHA! the toilet in the picture with the blue “U”-shaped vanity chair – truly looks like a throne! But seriously – why do we have a love-hate relationship with yellow and orange? They are cheery colors and look perfect when done “right”. But, oh my, when done wrong – ew.
I am not a fan of “Harvest Gold” – maybe it wasn’t properly presented or surrounded to show it off but it’s always been…not right.
Our 1974 House of Harmony mobile home came with Kohler lowboy toilets and sinks and CorlGlas fiberglass all-in-one tub and surround, and shower in a gold/yellow shade with (what used to be) light ivory accordion doors. What we thought were green pinstripes on the paneling turned out to be verde gris from the copper oxidizing (oh, that must have been gorgeous!)
I’ve tried to appreciate it but mostly ignore it. Because, hey! it isn’t white!
Madeline says
Carolyn, assuming you still have them, if you ever want rid of those 70’s Kohler lowboy toilets…! Do you know what model they are?
Carolyn says
Aw, Madeline, our house is 14′ x 70′ making my bathroom only 5′ x 6′ between the tub and vanity wall. There’s about 2″ clearance to close the door without hitting the front of the toilet. Hence the lowboy. (His toilet had been changed before we moved in.)
You might try a manufactured home community (PC for trailer park) to see if they’re junking out any older homes or remodeling. House of Harmony was considered the Cadillac of mobile homes for vacation/retirement with higher-end this n’ that but the company priced themselves out of business.
Lynne says
I like the idea of a sunny yellow bathroom. However, I was told you don’t ever want a yellow bathroom because its so unflattering to your skin tone. If you want a yellow room make it your kitchen. I would like to know what others think about this philosophy.
Robin, NV says
I think if yellow fixtures are paired with warm colors like pink or peach, the sallowing effect could be negated. Yellow is a nice neutral color that could be paired with lots of other colors too. I personally love how cheery yellow is. Sadly, you don’t see it in bathrooms very often.
Laura says
I think it depends on the shade of yellow. Some of the deeper or more intense shades (like harvest gold) might be an issue, but I have a bathroom done entirely in American Olean Marshmallow (a light yellow) and I love it!
Lynne says
Laura, that is one of the tile colors I was considering. Can you tell me what other colors you have used with it on the walls and floor?
Laura says
I have a medium/dark brown porcelain tile that looks like hardwood on the floor. On the walls, I matched the yellow tiles. In retrospect, I would have gone a shade or two lighter on the walls. I may repaint it at some point.
Laura says
I also included a narrow row of white tile, one row from the top all around. It really accents it nicely!
Debbie in Portland says
My mother’s favorite colors were green and yellow, and my dad built the house I grew up in in 1954. Ming green bathroom, sunny yellow kitchen. Come to think of it, she wore a lot of green and brown, but never wore yellow. I’m wondering if she may have read that same advice somewhere?