Bathrooms
July 28, 2020
35 Quick & Clever Powder Room Makeover Tips
Powder rooms may be notoriously small, but they’re the perfect place to make your design fantasies a reality, like graphic tile, fabulous fixtures or wallpaper with serious wow-factor. There are practical things to consider before you get to the fun part, though. Wondering how much space is needed between the toilet and sink? At least 18″ to 21″ from the front of the sink or vanity to the toilet. Debating whether it’s okay to hang wallpaper in a bathroom? Yes! Look for vinyl papers or ones that are water-resistant (and when in doubt always consult the professionals). Read on for more smart tricks to help you design your dream powder room.
Opt for floor-to-ceiling mirrors. They’re an easy way to make a small space seem bigger! Also, mounting a narrow vanity off the floor gives the illusion of more space.
Put wallpaper halfway up the wall. Not only is it a more budget-friendly option, it also helps protects the beautiful print from water damage from little hands splashing around in the sink. Genius!
Go green. For a dose of heritage charm, a deep shade of moss (which is a hot hue for 2020) complements the storied elements in this powder room, like a glass-front cabinet with knick knacks and bathroom essentials on display.
Make storage a priority. A wall-hung basin frees up floor space for a rattan storage basket — a stylish solution for keeping everything from extra toilet paper to towels handy but hidden.
Add a touch of bronze. Dynamic fan-effect wallpaper is offset with a mod black and white palette. The bronze faucet and vanity pulls add a subtle hit of glamour.
Play with polka dots. To keep the youthful wallpaper from feeling too naïve in this principal bathroom, Leclair Decor paired it with traditional wainscotting and brass accents.
Turn a wall into a piece of art. Lush green tones swim in artist Alex Turco’s resin-coated wall painting. A sunburst mirror and crystal-legged washstand play on the eclectic feel.
Give artifacts the attention they deserve. A bold collection of African ceremonial masks adds graphic interest to this all-white powder room. Your guests will feel as though they’ve gone to the museum!
Make it monochromatic. Dress the space in a single print that delivers a dose of personality. Tying in a mirror with a curved silhouette will draw the eye upward and expand the room, so the pattern won’t overwhelm.
Don’t be afraid to play with patterns. Powder rooms are perfect for experimenting with pattern, so try layering in a handful. From the zig-zag tile to the watery blue wallpaper, this serene space is a lesson in pattern mixing.
Set the mood with lighting. Down-lit sconces emit a warm, romantic ambience while a tubular storage unit is ready to corral necessities. The soft blue forest wallpaper transports guests beyond its four walls.
Think outside of the box. Mixing materials (stone and metal finishes) and using a cylindrical washstand add unexpected style and functionality to this petite powder room.
Try a classic color palette. Rendered in the same majestic blue as the botanical treatment on the walls, this streamlined vanity brings charm to a small space. Plus, crisp white marble on top juxtaposes beautifully.
Add drama with a statement light fixture. Luxurious touches, like a starburst brass pendant, a custom vanity with glass legs and walls of mirrors feel elegant and oh-so-glam.
Get groovy with tie-dye. Spanning the width of the room, a custom wall-hung vanity gives this tie-dye-wrapped retreat the ultimate luxe appeal, and there’s plenty of room for storage below.
Turn a simple vanity into a one-of-a-kind piece with paint. By painting the two drawers of this vanity in a barely-there blue, this basic vanity was transformed into a real focal point.
Balance a busy pattern with a large mirror. A big mirror like this one provides relief from a busy brushstroked wallpaper.
Offset sparse walls with black accents. If your budget is tight, rather than wallpapering or tiling your powder room walls, keep them white and add a black-framed mirror and matte black sconces.
Use patinated fixtures to create a historic feel. To give your new powder room soul, mix in a few metals and a mirror with vintage charm.
Try picture lights as sconces. Good for illuminating more than just paintings, this metal fixture makes an artful statement over bathroom mirrors.
Create coziness by painting walls, trim and ceilings in the same color. Deep gray paint gives this powder room an unexpected cocooning effect, balanced by a bright white sink and toilet.
Remember, mirrors don’t need to be mounted on the wall. Instead of mounting an oversized mirror on your petite powder room wall, consider resting a smaller mirror on your sink.
Try a floating vanity. To create an airy look in your powder room (and to save floor space) consider using a floating vanity.
Choose a frameless mirror to make your space feel larger. In this small powder room, a frameless mirror makes the patterned-packed space feel even larger.
Dare to go dark. A rich color on the trim and door stands up to the vibrant splatter-print wallpaper in this powder room. To balance the youthful energy of the wallpaper, try bringing in a few trad accents.
Bring the fun factor to a kids’ powder room. Black chalkboard paint encourages kids to indulge their inner graffiti artist.
Opt for a wall-mounted faucet to save counter space. Swapping an existing faucet for a wall-mounted version may cost you a bit in plumbing labor, but the space savings on your counter will make it well worth it.
Consider a pocket door. When space is at a premium, a pocket door makes a lot of sense. Simply paint it in a different color to turn it into a design feature.
Conceal unsightly plumping with a pretty fabric skirt. Thanks to an elegant fabric skirt, this powder room got a dose of visual interest and the plumbing was easily concealed.
Create a small gallery wall. Even in a pint-sized powder room, a gallery wall is totally doable. Just stick to a simple palette — like black and white — and use all the same frames for consistency.
Balance expensive marble with inexpensive subway tile. To offset the cost of a pricey marble vanity, consider tiling walls in simple subway tile.
Work from the ground up. If you have your heart set on pretty patterned tiles, consider using them on the floor, then carrying a coordinating color up the wall using a simpler tile.
Let it be known that open shelving can be extremely useful. Make the most of unusable nooks in your powder room with open shelving — an affordable DIY you can add yourself.
Add a simple painted rail to create a spot for display. Even in small powder rooms there is room for pretty decorating moments, like a 1 3/4″ deep rail that holds perfume bottles and artwork.
Try a narrow farmhouse-style sink to save space. The stone sink in this bathroom feels appropriate to the farmhouse-style clapboard walls and saves space with its narrow design.