25 Powered-Up Powder Room Decorating Ideas

Powder rooms or half baths — whatever you call these small-but-mighty spaces — provide fun opportunities to flex your daring design muscle. Try bold wallpaper (since these spots don't get steamy), or splurge on gorgeous tiles (which won't cost a fortune thanks to the small square footage). In a space this tiny, it's all about packing in the personality. Get inspired by these fresh powder room designs from HGTV Magazine.

First up is this traditional beauty. “The blues and greens in here remind me of the landscape surrounding the farm,” says designer Maggie York of the powder room in her updated farmhouse. “We only have two bathrooms, and [my daughter] has claimed this one,” she says. “I don’t blame her!”

At first glance, the wallpaper by Baines & Fricker could be any pattern, but then it becomes clear: Those are dogs. “I originally saw the wallpaper online 15 years ago and thought, When I have a house, I’m going to use it,” says homeowner and animal-lover Christine Kilpatrick. (She has a coordinating cat pattern in her hall closet.)

Charming but not saccharine: Designers Leigh Lincoln and Aly Morford got the balance just right in this space. They matched whimsical pastel wallpaper with a grayish-blue vanity that has vintage-inspired satin nickel bin pulls. “A powder room is a great place to be playful,” says Leigh.

The door to this wash room is hidden in wood paneling, so homeowner Amy Church has to show new guests where it is. More suprises await inside: lime green tiles and standout dragonfly wallpaper from Harlequin.

What to do with a too-beige, very beadboard-y half bath? Paint everything deep teal for full-on gorgeousness. “It’s like being tucked in a jewelry box,” says designer Zoe Feldman. The contrast of the color with the existing white pedestal sink gives it new life. Metallic accents bring bursts of brightness.

Soft, light green grass-cloth wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries brings color and texture to an otherwise black-and-white space. Although moisture can leave watermarks on grass cloth, it functions well in a steam-free powder room. The modern bobbin mirror is by Noir.

“You feel like you’re walking into a geode,” says HGTV designer Hilary Farr of the dramatic wallpaper in her powder room. She hung a Zara Home mirror with an organic shape to play up the earthiness.

Designer and homeowner Amy Sklar has a clever hack for her teeny-tiny powder room: Scrap the vanity and put in a slim reclaimed-wood shelf with a vessel sink and a wall-mount faucet. Combined with terra-cotta floor tiles from Ann Sacks that have a rough-hewn look, the space got instant vintage vibes (no waiting decades required). For a bit of spunk, she hung an angled globe pendant from Flos.

Choosing the perfect wallpaper isn't always easy. Designer Tyler Karu looked for six months before landing on this stunning print from Cole & Son. To complement it, she installed tile from Fireclay in a matching shade of sage.

“Half bathrooms are perfect places to be bold. This orangey red with a spot-on name (Habanero Pepper by Benjamin Moore) brings unexpected color to a traditional vanity,” says designer Robin Gannon. The bold moves don't stop there: Lotus-print wallpaper by Galbraith & Paul is equally eye-catching.

Designer Brooke Wagner took traditional picks — black and white tile, Shaker-style cabinetry — and put a fresh spin on them. She had floor and wall tiles laid in different patterns and chose mossy-green paint for the vanity. Another twist in her mix: brass pulls and matte black fixtures. “Since they’re all simple, they complement each other,” she says.

With its bold mix of patterns and metals, this powder room seems more like it belongs in a posh hotel than in the ’burbs — exactly the vibe homeowner Raeleen Yoon was going for. The wallpaper is by Brunschwig & Fils; she bought the spiky mirror years ago from Horchow. “The fact that somehow the mirror and the wallpaper work together is the thrill,” she says. The marble vanity with polished nickel legs is from RH.

Pastels and florals are always a charming pair. “To make my client’s little vanity memorable, I had it painted strawberry-ice-cream pink — a shade I pulled from the wallpaper — and then added crystal knobs. It’s never failed to get oohs and aahs from visitors,” says designer Jennifer Strickler. (Paint color: In the Pink by Sherwin-Williams)

No reno, no problem! Homeowner Nedra Davis put her stamp on this tiny bathroom with crane-patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper, then revamped a brown vanity by painting the base Naval by Sherwin-Williams and using a white gloss epoxy spray on the counter.

Guests are always wowed when they walk into this powder room — that coral trellis wallpaper by Quadrille does not hold back. The vanity is painted to match, and the Ballard Designs mirror, with its ruffled frame, is inspired by sea coral, a quirky play off the room’s main hue.

... Or silver, or bronze! Any metallic sheen will do if you're aiming for a prize-worthy powder room. Designer Maggie Clarke created a luxe look in this spot with gold-flecked Hygge & West wallpaper that continues onto the ceiling.

This little spot feels like a fantasy thanks to the luscious floral wallpaper, starburst cement tiles and lavender vanity. Golden accents, like the Crystorama sconces and the Pottery Barn Kids mirror, are like a sprinkling of fairy dust. (Vanity color: Wisteria by Sherwin-Williams)

“This glossy, bright berry is perfect for a powder room where we wanted to make a strong, chic color statement — like wearing a great pink lipstick,” says designer Megan Jackson Meder. (Paint color: Glamorous by Behr)

Homeowner Jo Gick added abstract art (from HomeGoods) to give the flower-covered walls some edge. (The wallpaper is by Indy Bloom Design.) Another daring move: Using gold grout on the floor highlights the detailing on the vanity, mirror and faucet.

As soon as you step into this powder room, the kaleidoscope-esque wallpaper by Eskayel makes you feel transported to a spa. The mix of calming blues and soft pinks with hits of black creates a mesmerizing look. The concrete trough sink by Native Trails has resort appeal.

“To update this powder room, I put in a bold brushstroke wallpaper and pulled out an energetic orangey red for the vanity. Walking in always feels unexpected and thrilling," says designer Krysten Ledet. (Paint color: Stop by Sherwin-Williams)

"The minute I saw this wallpaper, I adored it," says homeowner and designer Sarah Hayes of the toile Serena & Lily print. The sailboats remind her of the woodsy lake community surrounding her home. The rope mirror — another nautical touch — is by Shades of Light. “Bringing in blues and natural fibers gives that indoor–outdoor feel,” she says.

A powder room is a perfect place to go all-in on one print. Here, the walls and window treatments feature the same bee-utiful design. “The large scale is key,” homeowner and designer Katie Kime says. “If those bees were small, it would look dizzying.” Two-inch honeycomb-shape floor tiles take their cue from the buzzworthy print. The vanity color (Admiral Blue by Benjamin Moore) matches the blue hue in the pattern.

“With three kids, I needed a functional powder room that didn’t take itself too seriously,” says homeowner Siri Warkentien. Her wallpaper quest led to this groovy orange number (one wall is plenty of pow), contrasted with navy penny tile on the floor. The slightly curved panels on the vanity doors, made by her husband, wink at the wallpaper shapes.