Ashley Benson's intentionally outdated bathroom tiles tap into this emerging 'playful nostalgia' trend – it's a striking twist on Old Hollywood glamor
Old school bathroom tiles look retro in the actress's bathroom, but experts explain that their dated-style is part of their charm
The word 'outdated' has traditionally had a negative connotation, but these days, it's the style many interior designers aspire to. As an accelerated trend cycle has caused widespread fatigue with following design fads, interior aficionados increasingly draw inspiration from the past to create designs that feel at once timeless and current. Ashley Benson's green, 70s-style bathroom is the perfect example.
The actress's former Los Angeles home features celadon, black, purple, and gold bathroom tiles, mosaiced into a geometric design. It looks like a design from another era in many ways, but that's what makes it so charming. Benson's eclectic tiles have a subtle Old Hollywood glamor and pull on our heartstrings as Vintage-lovers. Uniquely retro features like the built-in green soap dish and towel rack enhance these effects.
Rather than resisting interior design trends, this 'dated' look is right in line with them. 'Playful nostalgia and retro colors represent an interesting evolution in interior design and consumers are embracing them with a fresh perspective, often combining more classic hues with modern design to allow them to express their personality,' explains Isabel Fernandez, tile expert at Quorn Stone.
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Shop Ashley Benson's Bathroom Accessories
Timeless Luxury
This enchanting candle is from the same brand as the container on Ashley Benson's countertop, Fornsetti which features iconic Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri on all of their designs. Fruto Prohibito has an enchanting tomato leaf fragrance.
Popular Option
The body wash on the side of Ashley Benson's tub has a cult following. It will leave not only you, but your bathroom, smelling amazing long after you've finished washing up.
Metal Detail
This marble tray has a metallic edge for a vintage feel. It looks similar to the one on Benson's countertop, but in a larger, rounder style to hold more items to keep your bathroom neat the practical way.
Benson's colorful bathroom suite captures the cozy vintage energy that consumers are searching for in their homes. Fernandez explains: 'The revival of the 70’s bathroom coincides with a broader trend in interior design, where rich burgundy, warm browns, and earthy tones are making a stylish comeback. These two trends combined, offer an opportunity for creativity and playfulness in bathroom schemes through the color and style, with ‘retro tiles’ at the forefront. Think square terrazzo flooring, decorative mosaics, burgundy chequerboard tiles, and red or orange decorative wall tiling.'
If you want to replicate the vintage bathroom style of Benson's home, you can play with 'outdated' styles by integrating a variety of antiques and vintage pieces. From mid-century trays to an old-fashioned mirror, these accents can help bring a storied feel to your home without the commitment of retiling. The good thing about this style is that it's timeless because it's intentionally against the grain of the fad-oriented trend cycle.
No matter how trends change, quality is always in style, which might be the reason for the enduring popularity of vintage tiling. Whatever the reason, we hope to see more of it.
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Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.
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