Skip to main content

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

9 captivating powder room design ideas that add drama and depth to a small space

A powder room may be a small space in your home, but the decor and design choices you make can pack a big punch. There are so many unique and stunning powder room ideas depending on your design style, from modern to boho to farmhouse inspired. Here are nine half bathroom decorating ideas to consider when remodeling or redecorating your space is on your winter schedule.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Go maximalist

Don’t let square footage get in your way when thinking about how to decorate. The true maximalist doesn’t let space dictate design. For a powder room, this could mean bold wallpaper, a large metallic mirror, wall shelves with vases filled with soaps and lotions, and a luxurious rug underfoot.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Use luxury accents everywhere

A small bathroom is the perfect place to go nuts with luxury items. This could mean a thick, vintage-inspired gold or brass metallic mirror, wainscoting on the walls, heavy metallic lighting over the mirror, or luxurious drawer pulls and faucets. In terms of flooring, choose a rich marble or statement tile that will impress any guest.

Recommended Videos

Draw the eye up

In a small bathroom, you want to use all the space you have. This means drawing the eye up and out, especially if you have taller ceilings in the powder room. You can achieve this by adding a tall mirror over the sink or vanity, like this brass one from Pottery Barn. You can also choose a large statement chandelier that gives off plenty of light as well as adds style and draws your eye in.

navintar / Adobe Stock

Consider a tiled wall

If you really want to make the most out of the space, consider tiling one wall. You can either use the same tile from the floor and bring it up or, if you have a wood floor, choose a patterned tile like this one from Tile Bar. Not only will it be easier to clean off any water stains, but it will create character and movement in your powder room.

Add a skirted sink

If you are really low on real estate and don’t have room for a vanity, think about adding a patterned skirt to a pedestal sink. This offers a bit of charm and allows you to hide necessities like toilet paper and towels. This is a great option for a country or farmhouse-inspired powder room.

Offer a fun surprise

Powder rooms don’t need to be boring. One way to give the room a little personality is to add an element you wouldn’t expect to see. Add a built-in bookshelf to the corner, and fill it with books or decor. Add an expensive piece of art from a country you’ve recently explored. Let your imagination be your guide.

Ground Picture / Shutterstock

Pick a bold color

Powder rooms are the perfect place to go bold with color. Choose a blue vanity like this cobalt blue option from Wayfair (we love the gold hardware). Add a colorful vanity mirror or choose a pop of pink like this circular shag rug, also from Wayfair. You don’t want to make it too busy, but adding one or two statement colors will turn the room from drab to fab.

Kick it back a few decades

Everyone has a favorite decade, so why not use the powder room to celebrate it? Find movie posters, memorabilia, and wall decor from that era to create a bit of nostalgia and character in the room. It’s a fun way to pay homage to the past and entertain your guests.

dark black bathroom wall color with natural decor
Siwakorn TH / Shutterstock

Transform the room into an apothecary

We love this idea to really bring the drama to a small space. To pull off the look, consider painting the walls black (if that’s too dark, you could always add lighter beadboard to the bottom half of the walls). Then, fill vintage medicine cabinets with soaps, lotions, candles, and medicine bottles — the older, the better. Antique stores are the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gems.

Because powder rooms don’t have showers or tubs, they have space to add a statement vanity or elegant pedestal sink as well as walls to fill with character items that will draw the eye up and out. It may not be a ton of space, but that’s the fun part of decorating a powder room. You really can’t overdo it when it comes to decor, so find a theme that works for you and buy items around it. You can afford higher-end products like flooring, hardware, and wallpaper because it is such a small space, so go ahead and get started making your decorating dreams come true.

Julie Scagell
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
9 stellar front porch design ideas that will give you major house envy
These Instagram-worthy front porch ideas can help you boost your curb appeal
Porch swing with pillows on it and small table in front

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner, and that means changing up your front porch to welcome in the seasons. There are so many fun and unique ways to decorate your front porch, and it's a way to immediately transform the look of your home. It also helps welcome guests into your home and gives them a sense of your own personal style. If you're looking for some inspiration, look no further than Instagram to give you some fresh new front porch ideas.

Some styles work better than others, depending on how much space you have, but we picked nine that we think will kick-start your imagination.
What are the different types of porches?

Read more
Need design inspo? 9 modern living room ideas you’ll love
Oversized pieces, block colors, and more texture: Here are some design ideas to consider
Living room with multiple types of lighting

If your modern living room is lacking or looks plain drab, you may be considering a redesign. While white walls and straight lines have dominated modern interiors for the past few years, home design is shifting to more quirky additions in our spaces.

So, if you’re looking for some design inspo for your home, we have some modern living room ideas you don’t want to miss.
Opt for a black and white interior

Read more
Cringe-worthy decorations that definitely ruin good home design
Experts say these are some of the most common design mistakes that ruin your home's interiors
Woman placing a pillow on bed for cohesive design

If you’re aiming for a stellar home design, then there are a few things many experts urge you to watch out for. Good home design is all about intentionality and ensuring that your design appears balanced through the use of color, texture, and form. So, to help alleviate any worries and to save you from a cringe-worthy design, we’re offering a few tips on how you can decorate your home to achieve a stunning look.
Uninspired, boring artwork

One of the most common aspects of bad interior design is adorning your walls with uninspired, boring artwork. Artwork is a great way to express your personal style while also adding color and character to your room decor. For homeowners in need of decorating a blank wall or who crave more visual interest, artwork can be a fantastic solution. However, it’s easy to pick out any old piece to style your space quickly. But doing so can sometimes leave your design feeling cheap or poorly planned.

Read more