Decorating Rooms Bathrooms Bathroom Decorating 22 Powder Room Ideas That Pack Style into a Small Space Add storage and style to your powder room with these top decorating and design ideas. By Mary Cornetta Mary Cornetta Mary Cornetta has been in the professional organizing industry for over 5 years. She knew she had a passion for decluttering and organization upon graduating Marist College in 2007, however, pursued it as a hobby instead of a career. All of that changed when Mary founded Sort and Sweet Inc on Long Island in 2017. Since then, she has worked hands-on and virtually with hundreds of clients to clear their clutter and create functional systems in their homes and offices. Mary runs the Sort and Sweet social media accounts, creating content and writing captions with organizing tips and inspiration for more than 12,000 followers. Recently relocated to Savannah, she continues to own and operate the business with the help of a talented team. Mary has been a weekly contributing writer for House Digest and has been interviewed as an expert by Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and Health magazines. She is the owner of the blog, Organized Overall, in which she details how she creates organization in her home. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 15, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Stacy Goldberg Half baths are primarily used by guests, so it’s nice to leave a lasting impression. However, powder rooms still need to serve as storage space for basic necessities. No matter how tiny it is, your half bath can boast both style and function. The following powder room designs pack high efficiency into a small space without skimping on style. Transform your powder room with these clever storage and decorating ideas. 01 of 22 Free Up Floor Space Werner Segarra Open up the square footage of a powder room by installing a wall-mounted sink. This will still give you the counter space you need for essentials, while making the room feel more open and airy. Plus, you’ll have a spot for a trash can or basket of rolled towels below the sink. 02 of 22 Look to the Ceiling Stacey Brandford Add character and visual interest in a powder room with a unique ceiling treatment. Try a moisture-resistant shiplap style, then wallpaper the rest of the room in a beautiful pattern, such as this metallic leaf print. A ceiling design will force eyes up, making the powder room appear taller and larger than it is. 03 of 22 Traditional Powder Room Tracey Amadio Create an elegant powder room by installing wainscoting. There’s so much versatility to this design detail, with options for simple to decorative molding and endless color options. If you keep the wainscoting in a neutral color, opt for bold, jewel-toned paint for the upper half of the room. Stick to simple bathroom fixtures and refined decor to pull the space together. 04 of 22 Go Classic Dane Tashima There’s nothing more timeless than a black-and-white color scheme. A black vanity and medicine cabinet stand out against white subway tiles and provide ample storage in a small powder room. Continue the color palette with accessories such as a black sconce and black-and-white striped towels. 14 Creative Small-Bathroom Storage Ideas to Maximize Space 05 of 22 Save Space with Sliding Doors Christina Schmidhofer If powder room space is at a premium, consider swapping out a traditional door for a sliding barn door. This will eliminate the need for considerable room for the door to swing in and out each time someone uses the bathroom. Instead, a sliding door takes up a fraction of the square footage. It’s an exceptionally smart idea for small powder rooms placed along a high-traffic hallway. Our Guide to Barn Door Installation for Practical Farmhouse Style 06 of 22 Vintage Powder Room Style James Schroder Enhance the charm of a powder room by putting some antique finds on display. Hang an ornate, distressed mirror above the vanity. Design a gallery wall with thrifted artwork or photos. Place cotton swabs in vintage jars and a bar of soap on a small secondhand tray. 19 Vintage Bathroom Ideas for Retro Style 07 of 22 Widen with Stripes Jared Kuzia Use vertical stripes to make a room seem taller or horizontal ones to increase its width. In the powder room, you’re more likely to want it to seem wider, so choose horizontal stripes in the way of wallpaper or paint. Take them from floor to ceiling and on each of the four walls to really make an impact. To take it a step further, stick to muted colors and choose a marble countertop with veining that mimics stripes in similar shades. 08 of 22 Mount the Faucet Werner Straube If you’re not ready to commit to a floating vanity, try mounting just the faucet to the wall. This will save significant space on a small countertop, so in addition to soap and a bouquet for your guests, you can also supply a sink-side bottle of hand cream. While wall-mounted faucets are generally more expensive, they are much easier to clean over time as water doesn’t pool around the base. They also look sleek and modern, even in a more traditional powder room. 09 of 22 Powder Room Storage Stacy Goldberg For a powder room without built-in storage, create your own. Hang a floating shelf above the sink across the length of the entire wall. On the shelf, showcase a mirror, a floral arrangement, and your favorite framed art. This will give you just enough space to add personality to the powder room while still keeping it simple and functional. 10 of 22 Divide and Conquer Edmund Barr If you have a large powder room, play with the layout and add a divider between the toilet and sink areas. For adequate storage, opt for a vanity with deep drawers to store toiletries and extra rolls of toilet paper. Hang floating shelves to hold folded towels and accessories. 11 of 22 Showcase Natural Beauty James R. Salomon Dark wood, crisp whites, and garden-inspired wallpaper harmonize to create warmth and texture in this powder room design. Classic-style candlestick lamps brighten the vanity and make a big decorative impact. A wide furniture-style vanity emphasizes the mirror's horizontal shape and brings vintage appeal to the traditional powder room. Budget-friendly crown molding and white subway tile are easy to install and leave the space feeling fresh and bright. 12 of 22 Focus on the Details Kim Cornelison A powder room’s petite size makes it easy to curate. Create personality with staying power by layering details in a small bath. Juxtaposed with a modern vanity, a classic rounded mirror and shiny brass faucet form a stunning focal point. The warm floating vanity and brown wall tile create high contrast with the marble countertop. 13 of 22 Country French Powder Room John Bessler Don't let the small scale of a powder room dissuade you from being creative; give this petite space the play it deserves with its own polished look. Since the powder room is often the only bathroom seen by guests, decorate with luxurious towels and pretty accessories. Old materials, such as a weathered wooden vanity table and thrift shop mirror, blend seamlessly with the vessel sink and modern fixtures in this tiny bath. 14 of 22 Room-Expanding Surfaces Emily Followill High-gloss finishes, such as lacquer, metallic, glass, or natural stone, reflect natural and artificial light, allowing a small powder room to look bright at any time of day. Draw eyes upward using a mirror with a distinctive shape or finish. A vanity with fluted wood panels gives this small bath a sophisticated style and storage. 15 of 22 Add Contrast Where It Counts Kim Cornelison Rich color, bold patterns, and mixed materials achieve the unexpected in a small room without it feeling too dark or cramped. A high-contrast palette of pastels and blacks brings fresh appeal to this modern powder room. Classic gold fixtures add a bright contrast that adds shine. A porcelain sink, large oval mirror, and slim sconces look clean and contemporary. 16 of 22 Elegant Powder Room Design Idea Werner Straube With such a tiny footprint, a little bit of extravagance goes far in a powder room. An accent wall wrapped in tile adds texture and interest to this contemporary bath. Cool blues and soft grays provide a soothing backdrop for a desk-like sink and circular sconces. Incorporate a natural element, such as a towel-filled basket beneath an open sink, to warm sleek, modern materials. 17 of 22 Add Furniture-Style Decor Emily Followill Freestanding furniture makes a bathroom feel more like a decorated room, and it's easy to find inexpensive items at tag sales -- or better yet, to enlist underused furniture you already own. An ultraslim console table mimics the open vanity's visual lightness and introduces an extra sliver of counter space for bath storage. A hint of greenery or fresh flowers makes the room warm and inviting for guests. 18 of 22 Add Repetition Bruce Buck Repeating colors and shapes will make your powder room design look polished and cohesive. Square shapes and straight lines reign in this small bath. A tile backsplash unifies its neutral color scheme while safeguarding against stains and water splashes. 19 of 22 Consider Hardwood Floors Chad Mellon Without a shower in place to run the risk of extra moisture, hardwood floors are a welcome addition to a powder room design. Since the area is so compact, it's the perfect place to try higher-end flooring material, such as tile or premium wood, without breaking the bank. Here, the warm wood flooring contrasts rich black zellige tile and modern fixtures. Everything You Should Know Before Installing Wood Flooring in Your Bathroom 20 of 22 Cottage-Style Powder Room Tria Giovan Make the most of every square inch in a small powder room by focusing on space-saving details. Pocket doors conserve space while complementing the bathroom's vintage cottage style. Folded and stacked linens share space with decorative accents under the sink basin. A wire shelf above the toilet keeps soaps and lotions within reach of the wash area. 21 of 22 Let Bold Wallpaper Shine Werner Straube Accentuate coziness and make a statement in a powder room with a bold pattern. With less surface area to cover, powder room wall treatments are less costly than in a larger bathroom. Plus, because the space is small and confined, you won't have to coordinate its decor with existing themes in your home. We Put 29 of the Best Removable Wallpapers to the Test, and These 8 Won't Damage Your Walls 22 of 22 Get Creative Werner Straube For a look that's punchier than a solid color, but less permanent than wallpaper, personalize walls with a painted pattern. Cheery strokes of pink and green wake up this plain powder room design. Minimal window treatments take advantage of natural light and visually merge indoor and outdoor spaces. Paint the ceiling a light color to give walls the illusion of appearing taller than they are. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit