Pretty Papered Powder Rooms

Posted by Anna Applegate on 26 September 2011

Tags: design, powder room, interiors

There’s not a room in the house for which you have more freedom when it comes to decorating than the powder room. By their nature, powder rooms are small and briefly visited, making bold design choices more affordable and livable. It’s the perfect place to add color, pattern, and whimsy to your decor — and lots of it. And what better way to do that than with wallpaper?

Wallpaper is the perfect match for the powder room, for several reasons. You don’t have to worry about moisture issues like you would in a full-functioning bathroom, which can cause peeling if the room isn’t properly ventilated. It’s also hard to add pattern and color to powder rooms because there are simply not many opportunities to do so. Wallpaper, however, adds interest without taking up space.  And lastly, there are endless choices available for gorgeous wallpaper — however; they’re often not cheap. Papering a powder room enables you to have the high-end look of wallpaper without having to buy too much. Plus, when you’re using a bold and colorfully pattered paper, just a little bit goes a long way.

You can save even more money by adding bead board or paneling to the lower half of your wall and papering above. This also adds texture and interest to the room and can help protect the wall behind a pedestal sink if there’s no backsplash.

Another tip for a beautiful powder room is to treat it like any other room in the house. Instead of bathroom-grade lighting fixtures, mirrors, or vanities, use pieces that you would use in your living room or den. Even furniture can be made into sinks if the dimensions are right, and such a repurpose can add lots of warmth to the space. Small, hand-woven rugs also add depth and interest, much more so than a standard bathroom mat.

So be bold with your powder room and take the opportunity to showcase your personality with fabulous wallpaper. Who knows — the smallest room in your house might quickly become your favorite. 

Do you have a fabulous powder room? Tell us about it!