Decorating a Contemporary Powder Room

By Selena Kohng , last updated March 23, 2011

A powder room is not just a general term used for a bathroom; it refers to a guest bathroom in a home and/or a restroom with only a sink and toilet. Taking this definition into account, decorating a contemporary powder room is focused on impressing your guests and making the most out of little square footage. These decorating tips will help you revamp a tiny room into one that makes a big impact.

Painting the room in a bold color is a quick, affordable, and effective way to decorate. Ignore outdated advice that says small rooms need light colors; instead, opt for jewel-colored, dark tones like garnet, navy, eggplant, or slate for a contemporary look and instant drama. If repainting is not possible, use color in your accessories, like a sunny yellow vase or turquoise cake pedestal to hold guest soaps.

Channel the luxury of hotel bathrooms or mimic the comfort and charm of a bed and breakfast to indulge your guests. A large, ornate mirror and a row of candles make a statement and create a high-class feel. Fresh-cut flowers and printed towels convey a homey, yet modern style. Include specialty bath items that pamper and do double-duty as decor, too, like pastel-hued soaps. No need to hide essentials, either; use one basket to hold toilet paper rolls, another to hold uniformly folded towels.

Artwork is yet another high-impact, low maintenance design idea. Decorate a full wall with photo frames in a salon-style arrangement, which is a hot interior design trend. Look for affordable artwork or posters online, or cut calendar pages for low-budget art that can be switched out frequently.

The initial urge may be to keep everything sparse and small-scale in such a small space, but experts advise just the opposite: big and bold adds a contemporary punch to a powder room.

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