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10 Star-Studded Powder Rooms
Forget playing to the rules when designing your half bath – dare to be different with these unique ideas
Space is usually tight in a powder room, so people often shy away from bringing in any bold design elements. While in most cases white or a light neutral can help make a space feel bigger, break out of the white box in a small space. Expand proportions, try a bold wallpaper, add a unique mirror, look at eclectic vessel sinks, choose ornate sconces and turn a piece of furniture into a vanity. See how 10 designers put their own spin on 10 surprising and unique half baths in a wide range of styles.
Exotic geometry, intricate details and a dramatic wall tiled floor-to-ceiling in sky blue make visiting this powder room a treat.
Here’s another example of intricate details, strong geometry and exotic style that results in a very different look. The walls go from dark hexagonal tiles to a light intricate wallpaper and the vessel sink looks like something brought back from a trip somewhere between Turkey and Nepal.
TIP: If you don’t like light fixtures overhead, you can make space for a larger mirror by mounting sconces to the walls on either side.
TIP: If you don’t like light fixtures overhead, you can make space for a larger mirror by mounting sconces to the walls on either side.
Some think books in the bathroom are tacky, but I beg to differ, especially when the books are part of such a charming wallpaper print.
Real books in a clever recessed niche add personality and entertainment to this powder room. Walls covered in a birch forest and a snowshoe repurposed as a mirror pay homage to the woodsy Vermont surroundings. This homeowner collected plumbing fixtures for years in anticipation of her remodel; these vintage treasures are the icing on the cake.
This fun take on rustic style may not appeal to all, but I feel it deserves high praise. It's not too literal and it's not some kind of cartoon, old-saloon parody. It's simply having fun with lanterns, an old metal bucket and reclaimed boards and not taking itself too seriously.
There’s a lot of glamour sparkling in this small powder room, whether from the large-scale gold wallpaper or the sconces that resemble dangled earrings.
TIP: Don’t assume you need to go small with your moldings in a small room. The wide and layered moldings at the baseboards and ceiling are well-proportioned here.
TIP: Don’t assume you need to go small with your moldings in a small room. The wide and layered moldings at the baseboards and ceiling are well-proportioned here.
Classic vintage style can transform a bathroom into a little jewel box. The height of this tile, coupled with the natural light, reflects and shines; the black and white tile accents give it fun apothecary appeal.
This is what I’d call a truly transitional bathroom, and each element has characteristics that are traditional-meets-contemporary. The designer showed restraint but not fear when creating this unique mix of textures, materials, patterns and styles.
MORE
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MORE
Beautiful Bathrooms: 10 Show-Stopping Sinks
Seize the Day: Bathrooms That Dare to be Different
12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work Harder
How to be Bold (and Beautiful!) in the Bathroom
TIP: If you need to save space, play around with setting the faucet to the side of sink. If you need to save even more space than that, mount the faucet into the wall.