38 Powder Room Ideas for a Stylish and Functional Space

As someone who loves interior design, I know that the powder room is often overlooked in terms of style and decor.

However, this small space can make a big impact on guests and should not be neglected.

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of 38 powder room ideas to help inspire your next renovation or redesign.

Pin

From bold wallpaper to unique lighting fixtures, there are endless possibilities when it comes to powder room design.

Whether you prefer a modern and minimalist aesthetic or a more traditional and ornate look, there’s something for everyone on this list.

I’ve also included ideas for maximizing storage in a small space and incorporating natural elements for a calming and spa-like atmosphere.

So, if you’re ready to take your powder room to the next level, look no further than these 38 ideas for inspiration and guidance.

With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can transform this often overlooked space into a stylish and functional addition to your home.

01 of 38

Know Where To Spend

Pin

Christopher shares that because powder baths are such small rooms, updating them can often be done on a fairly tight budget.

There are however, a few elements where investment pieces will be worth it to make a big impression.

“It’s just one little space an it’s not going to break the bank.

They’re typically three feet by six feet,” says Christopher. “Spend a little bit more money on the mirror and the faucet.”

02 of 38

Go For Gold

Pin

Choose a stand-out metal to make a statement.

Shiny gold is pretty as can be, and for hardware, designers are partial to unlacquered brass and polished nickel.

03 of 38

Promote Flow

Pin

“If the powder room is close to or off of a formal living room, I will typically have some flow or or similar feel,” says Christopher. “

I will switch up the powder room by going darker to change the feeling of the other room.”

04 of 38

Try Blue And White

Pin

If blue and white graces the rest of your home in more subtle ways, decorate and wonderland in the same color scheme in the powder room.

For this space, opt for bolder and busier patterns in the same color palette.

05 of 38

Incorporate Scalloping

Pin

Southerners love scalloping in interior design.

Incorporate a traditional scallop or a less symmetrical take on the same silhouette to make simple elements really stand out in the powder room.

06 of 38

Design Something Soft and Masculine

Pin

For many, playful patterns and bold design can often translate to feminine frills.

Take a sharp turn by designing a more masculine powder room any Southern gentleman can get behind.

07 of 38

Pay Tribute To History

Pin

This powder room was designed to complement a historic house.

Old-school elements and patterns with modern twists make this space feel right at home.

08 of 38

Get Fancy On The Floor

Pin

While jazzing up the walls, don’t forget to show the floor some love, too.

Colorful tiles or an interesting rug can be just the grounding interest the room needs.

09 of 38

Make Windowless Feel Bright

Pin

Many powder rooms don’t have access to natural light so designers will need to make a decision: embrace the moody or bring in new light.

For the latter, bright wallpaper, lightweight textures, and lots of ambient lighting can manufacture a light and airy powder room.

10 of 38

Create a Night Garden

Pin

Floral wallpapers are a go-to.

Go for this favorite motif with a striking twist by opting for a dark, floral pattern as opposed to a bright or pastel one.

11 of 38

Add Some Whimsy

Pin

Of any room in the house, this is the one to let your wildest design dreams run free.

Play with colors, patters, and unexpected motifs care-free.

12 of 38

Load Up On Texture

Pin

The combination of different textures and materials will bring interest into even more simple spaces, especially when incorporated together in small spaces.

Here, grasscloth wallpaper contrasts pleasantly with matte hardware, glossy wood, and fluffy florals.

13 of 38

Don’t Shy Away From Unusual Wallpaper

Pin

Florals, grasscloths, and geometric patterns are hardly the only options for pleasing wallpaper.

Try something different to adorn the limited walls of the powder bath.

14 of 38

Try Colorful Trim

Pin

“Paint your trim,” Christopher recommends. “Try a high-gloss paint, or go dark.

Do something completely different than your usual.”

15 of 38

Create Coastal Charm

Pin

Pay homage to your home’s coastal locale with a high theme in the powder bath.

If your house isn’t seaside, a coastal bath can be equally delightful as a beach fantasy.

16 of 38

Hang A Gallery

Pin

Layer even more interest on top of busy wallpaper.

Framed art and mirrors make for a fantastic mini gallery wall.

17 of 38

Bring In Antiques

Pin

The powder bath probably isn’t where you’ll be doing makeup in the morning.

That’s the primary bathroom’s job.

This means that a gorgeously speckled antique mirror can stun in the powder bath without detracting any purpose from the space.

18 of 38

Make The Most Of Monograms

Pin

The powder bath is likely the one that party and dinner guests will frequent during their short-term stays.

Welcome them to your home with custom, signature towels that show off their host’s monogram.

19 of 38

Turn Up The Volume

Pin

Take cues from your favorite style, of design, but dial it up a notch or two—or three.

“I love to go really bold and romantic or, you know, really traditional… whatever the client’s inclination is,” says Christopher. “I love to just dial up the volume and in a powder bath.”

20 of 38

Do It In One Go

Pin

“I have clients who feel daunted by the idea of finishing an entire living room because it’s expensive,” says Christopher. “

A powder room, though, is one room that you can finish and feel accomplished. And it’s not going to break the bank.”

21 of 38

Incorporate Unexpected Color Combinations

Pin

If there’s any place to take a chance, the powder room is it.

Experiment with interesting palettes and patterns within the safety of the powder bath.

22 of 38

Let The Wallpaper Do The Talking

Pin

As Christopher said: ““Wallpaper and wallpaper and wallpaper.” We couldn’t agree more.

Choose an intriguing wallpaper as the focal point then keep the rest of the room simple.

23 of 38

Get Inspired By Nature

Pin

The burgundy paint in this Tennessee powder room was inspired by the changing autumn leaves just outside.

Incorporate nature in the colors of your powder room, or by bringing in life like flowers and eucalyptus.

24 of 38

Match Metals

Pin

For a cohesive look, match the hardware in the bathroom to other metallic additions.

Here, the faucet blends seamlessly with the mirror frame, sconces, and even the soap dispenser.

25 of 38

Think Chic

Pin

Powder rooms can be anything you want them to be. They can be wacky, whimsical, and everything in between.

Another route, is to think chic.

Here, deep colors, natural stone, and sophisticated wallpaper add up to an elegant retreat.

26 of 38

Go For More Decor

Pin

Sometimes, more is more.

Layer in patterns, nicknacks, and anything else you can fit within the small parameters of your powder room.

At the end of the day, it’s much easier to remove odd bits of decor than to add them after the fact.

27 of 38

Make A Statement With Art

Pin

In a small powder room, you’ll only have a few shots for wall art.

Squeeze sufficient interest into just a few pieces by being bold when shopping for art and choosing statement-makers.

28 of 38

Make It Personal

Pin

The powder room is the perfect place to decorate from the heart.

Throw in hints to things you love like color, pattern, or even your favorite sea creature, like in this powder room.

29 of 38

Go Sky High

Pin

Walls aren’t the limit when it comes to wallpaper or paint in the powder room.

Christopher recommends continuing the decorating all the way up onto the ceilings.

30 of 38

Mix Patterns

Pin

In her own home, Christopher expertly plays with multiple patterns.

Primarily sticking to a gray scale, she decorated her powder room with scaly wallpaper, a vibrant rug, and dotted tile floors.

31 of 38

Embrace Femininity

Pin

This farm cottage powder room is a woman’s wonderland.

Embrace popping florals and lots of pink in the powder room to recreate the look.

32 of 38

Get Inspired By The Garden

Pin

Just as Southerners love hydrangeas in our gardens, we also love hydrangea wallpaper in our powder rooms.

Bring in the real thing, too, in a vase.

33 of 38

Bring In The Tropics

Pin

You don’t have to live somewhere with palm trees and a tropical climate to decorate with this look.

The powder room is the ideal place to drop in a hint of tropical charm.

34 of 38

Allure With Lighting

Pin

The trick to an ideal lighting solution is incorporating light at multiple levels.

In this lovely powder room, pretty sconces are complemented by an intriguing bubble chandelier.

35 of 38

Incorporate Rustic Details

Pin

A reclaimed wood vanity and mirror hung by wooden beads add subtle, rustic elements to an otherwise modern powder room.

Find more rustic home decorating ideas here.

36 of 38

Include Favorite Pieces

Pin

In the powder room of this airy Inlet Beach, Florida, cottage, designers Bo Massey and Susan Bohlert Smith enveloped the space with beachy, botanical wallpaper and hung an antique mirror gifted to the homeowner by her great-grandmother.

37 of 38

Add A Swish

Pin

To soften up the windowless powder room in this Fairhope, Alabama, home, which is painted Porch Swing by Benjamin Moore (CSP-750), the designers added a pleated skirt in Erika M. Powell’s Artichoke print below the vanity. 

38 of 38

Rethink Your Sink

Pin

For the powder bath in her Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, cottage, designer Hannon Doody plumbed a ceramic bowl and an antique chest to fashion a one-of-a-kind sink.