Room Design
Bathroom Design
Small Bathrooms
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Updated on 06/24/24
Elevate your powder room, half bath, guest bathroom, or water closet (WC) with stylish decor to turn this utilitarian space into a destination. Decide whether you want this room housing nothing more than a sink and a toilet to blend in with the rest of your home's decor, or if you want to experiment and take risks that might feel too overwhelming in a larger, high-traffic area.
Set the stage with paint colors, wallpaper, and flooring. Choose a statement sink, mirror, or light fixture that becomes the focal point in the room, and keep the space free of clutter.
Check out these powder room ideas in varied styles and sensibilities to inspire your own renovation or refresh.
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Mix Shades of Pink
Use tonal pinks to create a soft and fresh feel in a modern powder room. Decus Interiors mixed a raspberry-colored sink console with pale pink wall paint and terrazzo finishes in tones of white, gray, beige, and soft pink in this sophisticated bathroom.
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Use Coastal Colors
Decorate a small powder room with a coastal color palette for a bright and breezy feel. Interior designer Mary BethChristopher of MBC Interior Design created a Cape Cod-inspired powder room for an East Coast transplant to Manhattan Beach, CA with cobalt blue wallpaper and brass accents.
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Paint Walls Sunny Yellow
Sunny yellow wall paint will bring instant warmth and cheer to a powder room. Dabito at Old Brand New tempered the bright color with a black-and-white patterned tile floor and a dark stained wood vanity.
Hang Some Art
Elevate your powder room walls with framed art or photography to give it a decorated and finished look that will make guests feel comfortable and at home.
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Contrast Tile Styles
Mix tiles in contrasting colors and patterns to create interest in a powder room. This San Diego space from interior designer Sara Simon of Handsome Salt pairs bright orange vertical stacked tiles with terrazzo that spills onto the flooring.
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Pick a Moody Palette
Embrace a moody color palette to give your powder room a relaxing feel. OreStudios mixed matte black and a deep shade of red in this sophisticated space with a floating sink console, contemporary globe suspension light, and graphic black-and-white floor tile.
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Install Open Shelving
Install floating shelves above the toilet to act as a display for art and objects and create a distracting focal point. Soothing green paint, light-toned wood, and black-and-white accents make this powder room from Cathie Hong Interiors feel polished and modern.
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Include Flattering Lighting
Glamorous and flattering lighting will make your powder room more enjoyable to use. Mel Bean Interiors hung twin sconces opposite one another on the side walls to light up the whole space and add some high-voltage bling.
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Choose a Colorful Sink
A colorful sink will create a memorable focal point in a small powder room. Desiree Burns Interiors chose a round mint green sink in this modern space decorated with white zellige tiles.
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Maximize Light With Mirrors
If you are lucky enough to have a window in your powder room, be sure to find ways to maximize natural light. Cathie Hong Interiors hung a large mirror over the sink that reflects the view from the adjacent window, magnifying natural light and doubling the sense of space.
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Try Vertical Stripes
Bold vertical stripes of any color will give your bathroom a whimsical feel. Blakely Interior Design paired white-and-yellow-striped wallpaper with a curvy sink and mirror in this sunny little powder room designed to put a smile on your face.
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Embellish With Wainscoting
Bathroom wainscoting will add character to a powder room. Emily Henderson Design painted it bright white and paired it with nature-inspired wallpaper and brass accents for a traditional feel.
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Create an Immersive Feel
Create an immersive feel in a tiny powder room with bold illustrated wallpaper. Gray Space Interiors used a dark palette for this powder room design that allows the brightly colored birds and butterflies to come alive in all of their technicolor glory.
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String Up a Garland Light
Little accents can make a big difference in a small space. In this powder room from Emily Henderson Design contributor Emily Bowser, a string of garland lights hanging casually from the ceiling adds ambient light to create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
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Embrace Darker Finishes
Mix darker finishes and wood tones to give your powder room a rich feel. Interior designer Amy Vroom of The Residency Bureau decorated this Pacific Northwest space with rich stained wood, dark stone countertops, brass fixtures, a gilded vintage mirror, and deep green backsplash tiles.
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Hang Groovy Wallpaper
Turn your powder room into a destination with groovy patterned wallpaper. Erin Williamson Design paired the fanciful design with geometric tile for a lesson in playful contrasts.
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Channel Retro Glam
Channel the retro glam of yesteryear with animal print wallpaper and vintage accents. Erin Williamson Design used classic leopard print wallpaper, a black painted ceiling, and an organic vintage mirror and lighting to transform this tiny powder room.
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Stick to Black and White
Create a graphic look with black and white. Interior designer Alvin Wayne hung striking black-and-white wallpaper in a bold abstract pattern to create some drama in this New York City powder room.
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Paint With Earth Tones
Earth tone walls will create a warm and inviting feel. Desiree Burns Interiors painted this powder room in a soothing shade of beige pink and paired it with bright gold accents and a modern mirror for a contemporary feel.
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Decorate With Botanicals
Botanical wallpaper and art will lend timeless elegance to any space. Blogger Ursula Carmona for Home Made by Carmona paired oversized floral wallpaper with framed floral prints mounted on the wainscoting for a decorative feel.
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Mix Old and New
Mix old and new to add texture to a small powder room. Kate Marker Interiors combined a vintage-style wall-mounted sink with a modern mirror and textured wallpaper to add interest to this small space.
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Hang Stormcloud Wallpaper
Bring the stormy weather inside to create a moody feel in a small powder room with classic Fornasetti cloud wallpaper. Ashley Montgomery Design paired the dreamy wrap-around wallpaper with modern tile and gold-toned finishes for a balanced feel.
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Incorporate Vintage Touches
Add charm to your powder room with vintage accessories. This powder room at the Hotel Henriette in Paris is decorated with a round vintage beveled mirror and a retro bronze flower sconce.
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Choose Rustic Wood Tones
Interior designer Rhianna Jones of Tidal Interiors paired leafy wallpaper and modern black fixtures with darker wood accents to add a rustic note to this half bath.
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Play With Patterns
In a black-and-white space, mix patterns and shapes to create a dynamic look. Mel Bean Interiors juxtaposed shiny black square tiles with white grout and white wallpaper printed with black splotches to create a fun play on pattern in this powder room design. Transparent legs on the freestanding sink add a cheeky touch.
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Choose a Statement Sink
Make your water closet more memorable with a statement sink. Kate Marker Interiors paired a scene-stealing stone sink with textured walls, brass accents, and modern matte black wall-mounted plumbing fixtures in this modern half bath.
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Create a Garden Effect
Hang large-scale floral wallpaper to turn your half bath into an enchanted garden. Lisa Gilmore Design paired dramatic Ellie Cash wallpaper with simple black and white finishes for a timeless feel.
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Paint Your Vanity
Give your powder room a mini makeover by painting your bathroom vanity in a soothing shade like this light blue painted chest of drawers. A beveled mirror and a pair of sconces with lampshades to filter the light completes the cool-toned look.
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Elevate Nautical Design
For a sophisticated take on nautical design that doesn't resort to cliches, interior designer Mary BethChristopher of MBC Interior Design chose navy leather and brass sconces and textured wallpaper to turn an unused powder room into an inviting space.
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Choose Soothing Tones
Give your powder room a restful feel with soothing wall paint colors. Kate Marker Interiors chose a dark blue shade for a calming feel.
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Corner the Sink
Try placing your sink in the corner to accommodate a small space. Erin Williamson Design added a custom slab of wood with a vessel sink and copper plumbing in this tiny space for a modern feel.
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Paint the Ceiling
Paint the ceiling of a small powder room to give the space a cozy feel. Desiree Burns Interiors chose a dark gray to match the background of the wallpaper for a cohesive feel.
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Mix Green, Gray, and Gold
Mix cool shades of green and gray with bright gold-toned hardware, like this powder room Whittney Parkinson Design. Beadboard wainscoting, a retro-style sink, and a vintage rug complement the traditional space.
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Choose Bold Tile Flooring
A powder room is a small space that lends itself to making bold moves and experimenting in ways that might feel intimidating in larger rooms. Erin Williamson Design chose black-and-white patterned floor tiles to give this powder room a focal point.
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Try Vertical Shiplap
Line the walls of your half bath with vertical shiplap for a modern farmhouse feel. Kate Marker Interiors painted the walls in a soothing shade of green and paired it with natural wood and marble.
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Hang a Chandelier
Upgrade your half bath with a chandelier. Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions paired a modern lighting fixture with a wall of bold blue-and-white patterned wallpaper in this slightly formal space.
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Save Space With a Sconce
Hang a double sconce over the mirror in a small powder room to add space-saving lighting that doubles as decor. Cathie Hong Interiors paired a retro-style sconce with subtle patterned wallpaper and rose gold plumbing fixtures in this compact space.
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Dynamize the Walls
Use bold graphic wallpaper or tile to create movement in a smaller space. Black-and-white wallpaper, brass accents, a modern sink, and a light wood vanity with plenty of storage turns this powder room from Mel Bean Interiors into something dynamic.
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Choose Cool Tones
Create a crisp feel with cool-toned accents. Interior designer Mary BethChristopher of MBC Interior Design created a bright coastal powder room with light blue and white patterned wallpaper, a large mirror, and silver accents.
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Source a Tiny Sink
Choose a tiny sink that won't overwhelm a small powder room. Hang a vintage mirror on the wall above to add some charm, like this space at the Hotel Henriette in Paris.
Tip
Though counterintuitive, larger format tiles for walls and floors work well in powder rooms. Fewer grout lines can help to make a space feel more expansive.
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Try Metallic Wallpaper
Bring additional shine to a stylish powder room with metallic wallpaper. Erin Williamson Design hung dramatic Christian Lacroix for Designer's Guild wallpaper to give this eye-catching little powder room a knock-out punch of style.
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Paint Wainscoting Blue
Paint your bathroom wainscoting blue to complement a coastal space like this half bath from Emily Henderson Design.
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Decorate With Antiques
Layer in antique decor to create a timeless feel, like this space decorated with a marble-topped antique wooden hutch vanity, an an antique gilded frame mirror with built-in gold-toned candlesticks, and an antique hairbrush and porcelain soap dish.
What should you keep in a powder room?
Stock your powder room with essentials like hand towels, soap, and extra rolls of toilet paper. Add extras like scented candles, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, tissues, and a vase of flowers to make guests feel pampered.
How can you make a powder room luxurious?
Make a powder room feel luxurious by hanging wallpaper, sconces, or wall art. Use high-end finishes like marble or wood paneling for a luxe feel. Add extras like a vintage rug or a decorative mirror.
42 Pretty Powder Room Ideas for Your Half Bath