White subway tile and white floor hexes are the way to go. They are timeless, classic, but can easily transition to bold, bright, or funky if matched with great paint and accessories. I would do a simple, non-patterned floor.

You don't have to do rectangular subway tiles (although I love them.) You could always do square tiles instead.

Yes, smaller tiles look better in a smaller bathroom.

Also, you don't need to tile the shower walls all the way up to the ceiling. Older homes often tile them just above shower curtain rod height. That gives you a bit more wall space to paint whatever color you want and have it peek out of the shower.

As you likely know, there is no way to change bathroom wall and shower tile without gutting so playing it smart is the way to go.

So many fun wallpapers these days. Keep the tiles classic and go for a fabulous print for the walls. Much easier to change.

How 1950s was the original bathroom? I am not saying you have to stay true to that but the 1950s -1970s in particular were a period where 3x6 rectangular tile was extremely uncommon. More classic for your house would be square in 4.25" in semigloss or matte. That's a size they never stopped making so it's really more classic even than rectangular subway tile. For one relatively long period of time the rectangular tile was not available unless you went with an expensive restoration tile.

Personally I think the beveled subway and the floor pattern are both a bit much for the narrow bathroom they are shown in above. It would be better with the regular subway and a smaller pattern for the floor.

Black and white is classic and you can accessorize with colors--towels, shower curtains, window treatments, wallpaper, vanity items. Square offset tiles would look great in a 1950s home. But if you are adventurous, colored tile and fixtures would be awesome.

I'm not loving any of the patterned floor tiles you showed--they are not period appropriate for the 1950s, or for the 1900-1950 period either. Pinwheel, hexagons, basketweave were all used on bathroom floors during the first half of the 20th century.

Here are some examples of really great bathrooms you might consider:

Craftsman Reimagined · More Info

Helena 1 · More Info

Bathroom · More Info

Pasadena Green guest bathroom · More Info

Enchanted Storybook · More Info

And here are classic floors--basketweave

12"x12" Retro White Basketweave With Matte Black Dots Porcelain Mosaic · More Info

Pinwheel:

Spiral Black and White Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile · More Info

White hexagons:

Metro Hex Matte 2" Porcelain Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile, Matte Grey, Glossy White · More Info

White and black hexagons:

10.25"x11.75" Victorian Hex Flower Mosaic Tiles, Set of 10, White and Black, Dot · More Info

Wait, What?!? you gutted the only bathroom in your house and have not decided on choices let alone ordered them?

Just another vote for super simple tile (since it is $$$ to change) then have fun with fabulous wallpaper or paint and art, easy to switch up when you want

Are you still wanting MCM ir a more modern look? I like 12 x24 porcelian plain tile for bathroom floors and shower walls just smaller same tile for shower floor . That keeps the major parts simple then you can have fun with wallpepr , backsplash wall color all things easily changed down the road . There are some awesome MCM wallpapers to give you all the color you need.

Thanks all for the responses! It sounds like the general consensus is to keep the tiles simple. I’m not looking to go too modern - just aiming to freshen things up while keeping some character.

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC

Thanks so much for the examples, I love some of those!

@Rho Dodendron

Fair question! The bathroom was gutted due to storm damage, so this is an unexpected project. I’m not currently living in the home.