Powder Room Makeover: How to Design a Small Powder Room
Make your dreams come through with these designs
A powder room is often a great opportunity to wow your guests and showcase your personality through design and decor. It may be the smallest room in your home, but it delivers big impact. Unlike a full bathroom, a powder room (or half bath) does not suffer from steam or humidity, and it is an easy small space to fill with fun decor ideas. One added benefit of the size is that it can be remodeled easily and quickly.
Look at this as your chance to go for a bold tile, an eye-catching floor-to-ceiling color scheme, a two-toned wallpaper, or even a shiplap wall. This is the opportunity to really go for it and try out new powder room ideas. If you’re up for a challenge, you can go bigger and replace the toilet or vanity or add new countertops for a fresh look. Either way, this is a great moment to take on a small DIY home interior project and bring a little whimsy to your home interior.
Things to Consider
Style
The first step to establishing your design direction for your powder room is defining your style. Understanding your style and what you’d like to accomplish will give you a foundation for pulling your powder room design together. Gather some powder room ideas, and remember that this is a moment to amaze your guests with something unexpected. Going for a transitional style will allow your powder room to feel timeless and make it easier to mix different design and decor styles.
Layout & Design
Once you’ve gathered inspiration for your powder room decor, the next step is deciding on a layout (if applicable) and design for your powder room. If you’re doing a facelift, you can skip right to choosing your material and finishes. The great thing about a powder room is that you can splurge a little, as this room requires less material and less traffic than any other bathroom. Go for something is not your average material – something a bit unique to bring your powder room decor ideas to life.
Tile Selection
When sourcing tile, keep in mind the type of material you’d like to install – ceramic, porcelain, or marble. What’s currently trending in the interior design world is the use of porcelain tile that looks like marble. It’s cost-effective compared to marble, and most people are unable to tell the difference upon first glance. When choosing tile, keep the size of your powder room as well as the tile pattern and scale in mind. You don’t want to select a tile that is too busy for a small space. If you don't want to do an entire retile, consider simply adding a backsplash or creating an accent wall behind the vanity. Alternatively, use wallpaper to add some drama to your powder room decor.
Tile selection tip: For smaller bathrooms, it's best to go for a larger tile format. This creates the illusion of a larger space.
Decide on the type of finish you’d like to incorporate into your powder room and stick to it. If you are typically drawn to the warmer scale of the spectrum, it’s best to go with brass tones or oil-rubbed bronze. However, if you’re drawn to the cooler side and looking for that modern, sleek look, polished chrome should be your go-to. For a neutral finish that looks great in any space, go with matte black. Whatever finish you select, keep it consistent throughout the powder room.
Once you have selected and implemented your powder room design ideas, the last step is all about layering in the details. Finish off your powder room beautifully with an ornate vanity mirror along with light fixtures and wall art for a focal point. It is important to have fun in this final step – this is where your personality shines the most.
Pro Tip: Keep scale and proportion in mind when selecting your vanity mirror. Going round or oval tends to work best in powder rooms, as these shapes create a cohesive, organic feel in the space.
However you choose to update your powder room, we've got you covered.
Ashley Danielle is an interior designer who embraces the understanding of form and beauty. She believes in personal and purposeful design. A well-curated home brings order, organization, and happiness. You can find her on instagram @stylemeetsstrategy and also on her website Style Meets Strategy.
