Do you have a bathroom that is stuck in the 80s? How about the 70s or the 60s? If you live in an older home that hasn’t been renovated within the last 50 years, chances are you have a green, brown, yellow or black toilet and tub. And of course, you will have First Lady pink, avocado green or sunny yellow tiles covering most of the walls and tiny hexagon or penny tile on the floor.

You’re ready to revamp the space and you want a more classic look. You also want to do this on a budget. But what exactly is “classic”? And how can you incorporate a classic, expensive look into your bathroom redo on a beer budget? The good news is that current trends in bathroom designs are using some old flashbacks in new ways. Let’s look at some of the old classic styles and elements that have been revamped or reimagined for today’s aesthetics.

The in-your-face opulence of the art deco period has re-entered the interior décor market with a softer palette. The bold geometric shapes are now punctuated using 3-dimensional tiles. The flair and flavor are still there, but with a modern twist.

The Asian influence never really left the building, but rather reinvented itself into what has come to be known as the “spa” or “Zen” style. The bold and literal red and gold accents of old Asian décor has been replaced with calm, cool colors. But the organic element of wood and the minimalistic approach are still intact.

The shabby chic look has evolved into a blend of rustic meets industrial. This is very apparent in the bathroom vanity, with its mix of old reclaimed wood and metal accents. And the Victorian style has been deconstructed into a more contemporary feel. Also, many designers mix elements of several different styles to create a more textured and eclectic look.

Subway tile was and still is considered the most timeless for most bathroom designs. But if you can't stand the pink, green, brown or other color tiles that "date" your bathroom, there are many economical ways to change it. You can have the old tiles professionally refinished to white. This will give the space a crisp, clean and fresh look. You can also re-grout to rejuvenate those old tiles.

As for the floors, retro floor tiles are back in style with a vengeance but updated with a hip, sleek, and fresh look. They are also larger than old retro floor tiles. You can splurge a little on floor tile since the bathroom is usually a smaller space.

Beige/white and blue/white palettes are classic colors that never go out of style in bathrooms. Wallpaper is also making a comeback, although on a far less scale. It’s now acceptable to cover one wall with a more contemporary looking style of wallpaper.

The classic look for bathroom vanities continues to be either pedestal sinks or cabinet style. Antique dressers, sideboards, and buffets are being turned into bathroom vanities, similar to what was used in the 1800s. Even pedestal sinks have been modernized to include open storage.

Built-in medicine cabinets are making their way back into bathroom designs. Their original purpose as storage was forgotten for a while. This welcomed classic element is still built into a wall but is now equipped with a mirrored door. These storage spaces are now deeper, with or without doors and can be positioned in various places in the bathroom.

Despite much resistance, brass is coming back in style kicking and screaming. But give credit to modern technology for making the new brass look appear less shiny and more contemporary. Also, less is now more when installing modern brass fixtures in a bathroom.

This is an area where it's best to stick with the all-time classic white for sinks, toilets, and tubs. You will more than likely replace the sink and toilet, but that green or yellow tub can be reglazed white to give it new life.

Remember, if you try to work with what you already have, then your bathroom remodel doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Reglazing the wall tiles and the tub are relatively inexpensive. You can get budget-friendly priced toilets and sinks from any big box store. Lighting can be updated on the cheap and paint produces the biggest impact on a remodeled space. Vanity and floor tile costs can be reduced by either keeping what is already there or choosing ceramic tile, regular under-mount sinks, and stock cabinets for vanities.