For the love of avocado bathrooms

Avocado bathroom suite

Okay. I have a confession to make. My name is Becky and I actually like avocado bathrooms. So much so, that when we were thinking about how to design the new en-suite bathroom in our loft room, I found myself Googling avocado bathroom suites for sale, and scouring the Ebay listings for them (you’ll be surprised, or maybe, unsurprised, at just how many there are out there). Liking a challenge, and thinking outside the box a bit, I saw no reason why we couldn’t make one work, and not just work, but super-stylish too.

In fact, the only reasons we didn’t go for one in the end, is a combination of time (we had a wedding to plan and no time to go and physically investigate any online finds), and practicality (we had a small, very specific space to play with, and our builders said it would be very complicated). 

Don’t get me wrong, these avocado suites, in a beige tile and carpet floor setting MING (there’s a lot to be said for leaving some elements of the 70s behind), but if you look objectively, why shouldn’t such a suite work with slick subway tiles, carefully chosen accessories, and more modern, neutral flooring? Why should everything be white, white, white?

And it’s not just avocado- there are some great, retro-inspired (and reclaimed) bright bathrooms about. Quite possibly one of my favourite website names ever, Brokenbog.com, stocks a plethora of long-forgotten retro beauties just waiting to be given their chance to shine once more.

Here are some of my favourite retro-bathroom looks- all hail the people brave enough to really ‘go for it’ when it comes to championing the ugly duckling of the bathroom world….

avocado bathroom

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What do you think?

Do you reckon you could ever use a retro avocado bathroom suite in your home?!

 
 
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42 Comments

  1. Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely
    March 21, 2016 / 9:30 pm

    Nooooooooo!!! I love your style but nothing you can say can convince me this is a good idea 😉 Walk away from your laptop, Becky, walk away.

    • Becky
      Author
      March 21, 2016 / 10:43 pm

      No? Can I not convince even you?! I will walk away this house, but I would never say never if we ever moved! 😉

  2. March 21, 2016 / 10:23 pm

    No. Just no. Sorry – but you can keep the avocado suite yourself! hehe x

    • Becky
      Author
      March 21, 2016 / 10:42 pm

      Haha, I thought people might say that! x

    • Becky
      Author
      March 22, 2016 / 11:29 am

      I don’t think many people are sure about the avocado to be honest! I don’t think I’m going to turn people!

      • E
        April 29, 2022 / 11:26 pm

        Becky, I’m with you!

        I just moved into a house with avocado bathroom fixtures( sink, tub, toilet)- the only thing missing is a toilet seat with lid. I KNOW there is a way to remodel it and celebrate those old fixtures in a style-y way!

  3. Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons
    March 23, 2016 / 11:37 am

    Not sure you’ve sold me on the avocado, but I can definitely get on board with that sea green number with the lovely taps! And I’m sure I’ve seen some retro pink baths that I’ve thought were actually pretty lovely too. I could be convinced I reckon! #HomeEtc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:08 pm

      The sea green suite is lovely!

  4. March 23, 2016 / 12:22 pm

    mmmmmm, not really my cup of tea but the green/gold tap combo is nice!

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:09 pm

      Haha, I don’t think many people feel the same way I do!

  5. March 23, 2016 / 1:53 pm

    I personally don’t like the avocado as I am not a green person, but I can see how it would work, but all hail the pale blue and the deco style, if I ever did a bathroom that is how I would do it – LOVE

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:10 pm

      The pale blue is absolutely gorgeous, I could so work with this too! x

  6. Molly
    March 23, 2016 / 2:23 pm

    Haha, Love Rachel’s comment – and I’m with her on that! In all the photos they’ve done a grand job of making the coloured suites work – ish, but you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear now can you? (I was going to say you can’t polish a turd, but as it’s about bathrooms, thought that might be taking the metaphor in the wrong direction!) #HomeEtc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:11 pm

      Haha, that is brilliant Molly! And maybe you’re right, although I THINK I could maybe make it work!

  7. Michelle
    March 23, 2016 / 8:51 pm

    My parents still have an avocado suite. ???? It is hideously retro! But knowing your good styling I reckon you could really pull it off!

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:19 pm

      Haha, thanks Michelle- I would give it a bloody good go!

  8. Nige
    March 23, 2016 / 9:36 pm

    Love what you are doing really avocado lol #homeetc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:11 pm

      Hurrah, someone who does!

  9. March 23, 2016 / 10:11 pm

    Oh Becky this has me giggling out loud!! I’m totally with Rachel – those bathrooms you’ve found our great and quirky perhaps in a kind of retro hotel but no-one could convince me they belong in someone’s home 🙂 I DO agree with you about white. What is this weird obsession with covering everything with Tip-Ex?!?! Xx #HomeEtc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:12 pm

      No, you’re not feeling it either?! No one is, haha! x

  10. March 23, 2016 / 10:26 pm

    Nooooooooo, I am not a fan of the avocado but mainly because it reminds me of my Granny and Grandad’s bathroom from when I was a kid. They had one of those toilet roll dolls too? Do you know the one I mean, with the big dress that hid the toilet roll. I am sure that you could make an avocado bathroom work though! I will be interested to see what you decide on 🙂 #HomeEtc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:18 pm

      Nooooo- I draw the line at those loo roll holders! x

  11. Nancy Straughan
    March 24, 2016 / 2:32 pm

    Am I the only one that LOVES coloured bathroom suites? Everyone has white fittings which is pretty dull if you ask me! Green is one of my favourite colours so I am digging the avocado and teal options. Imagine an avocado suite with gold taps in a luxe mid-century style room. Yum!

    #HomeEtc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:13 pm

      Hurrah, Nancy, someone else who likes them! *high fives*

  12. Carie @ Space for the Butterflies
    March 26, 2016 / 5:42 pm

    I’m not sure about avocado, I grew up with one so a few too many memories, but I loved my grandmother’s house for its colour, she had a pale blue cloakroom a pink bathroom and a turquoise one and they were gorgeous!!

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:14 pm

      Ooh the old houses are the best! My Nan had a pale pink suite too, which I thought was grim at the time, but now I think I could work with it!

  13. March 27, 2016 / 4:34 pm

    Hmmmm not to my taste 😀 But it could be worse! I quite like the duck blue and the green, but personally I prefer a much more modern style for bathrooms. I think you can make it work, if you go for something a bit more bright than the traditional avocado and pair it with neutral, maybe white, or a light bright colour as a background. I still wouldnt have it in my home 😀 #homeetc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 27, 2016 / 10:15 pm

      I think I have to face facts that I’m very much alone in my love for this look! 🙂

  14. March 28, 2016 / 12:05 pm

    I love the sea green one with deco taps but apart from that — no. We had a sugar pink bathroom set at home until about 10 years ago. I couldn’t understand why my mum and dad were happy to keep it for so long — it definitely outstayed it’s welcome!! But not as long as the ‘pampas grass’ coloured loo and sink they STILL have in their downstairs loo!!!!! Aaargh, That’s just NEVER going to be replaced!!! Thanks so much for linking up with us chick 🙂 #HomeEtc

  15. mummyofboygirltwins
    March 28, 2016 / 2:05 pm

    I lived with my parents avocado one for most of my childhood life and so I have a real hatred for them…! White all the way for me! Plus it looks so much cleaner and newer!!!!!! 😉 Thanks for sharing & linking up again lovely, good to have you! #HomeEtc

    Jess xx

  16. Gaby {lifeineight.com}
    March 29, 2016 / 2:48 pm

    I like the avocado/ orange combo in one of the photos but I don’t think I could convinced hubby to have them in our house lol #HomeEtc

    • Becky
      Author
      March 29, 2016 / 8:04 pm

      I don’t think I could convince many people, haha!

  17. Sammy
    March 29, 2016 / 4:14 pm

    I’m not sure have converted me but I actually love the picture of the twin avocado sinks with the orange taps, looks really cool and quirky! xx

  18. April 1, 2016 / 11:39 pm

    I think it was Hey Natalie Jean who had a lovely pink bathroom suite in her last apartment? Or maybe it was avocado? Whichever, I really liked it!!

  19. September 14, 2016 / 4:29 pm

    Whenever I mention I’d like a coloured bathroom suite, people seem to gasp, it’s never a positive reaction. I think you can definitely have coloured porcelain and still have your bathroom look more modern and trendy than ever! Love this post!

    • Becky
      Author
      September 14, 2016 / 7:10 pm

      Thank you Jade, glad to find somebody else on my wavelength bathroom-wise!

  20. Shelly Wiseman
    November 19, 2016 / 3:50 pm

    Reckon that 1st pic is PAMPAS not Avocado? – Got the exact same in my rented house, it’s a Khaki colour much less green than Avocado, I wondered what it’s official colour was & found it on an old advertising colour swatch.
    I always thought bath suites should be white but after looking at pics, I’m really warming to turquoise! – I realise they still made these colours, must be a demand!
    Why not; have whatever makes you happiest Becky! People can be so boring, frightened, with their homes, terrified it’s not trendy or exactly the same as someone else’s! – life’s just too short.

    • Shelly Wiseman
      November 19, 2016 / 4:00 pm

      Actually, I’m beginning to like the idea of a coloured bathroom just to be off-beat, they seem to really stir people! – Not dark or dismal colours tho’ colour, it’d have to pink or warm blue. We had 1 of the kid’s 4yr old friend’s burst into tears at the sight of a the khaki coloured Pampas toilet, that’s really not the type of reaction I’m after 🙁

  21. Mica
    September 17, 2021 / 11:10 am

    I looove the bathroom with the green sinks and orange taps!

  22. May 3, 2022 / 11:16 am

    OMG! I definitely love the green sink!

  23. Shaun D
    June 5, 2022 / 9:51 am

    Cut to 2022: EVERYONE wants an avacado bathroom suite…

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