Journal / Powder rooms

Powder room ideas: where designers take risks

Words by the Bathroom Edit editor · Updated on 3 October 2026 · 2 min read

A powder room has no shower, no steam and a short visit. That is why designers use it for the boldest idea in the house.

Because a powder room has no shower, you can use materials there that would not survive a bathroom: wallpaper, paint everywhere, and delicate stone, all in a room guests see briefly.

1. Dramatic wallpaper

Illustration: a powder room with dramatic dark floral wallpaper, a small marble basin on a brass stand and a vintage mirror — Illustration · not a real project

Spec board

WallsDark botanical wallpaper
BasinMarble on a brass stand
MirrorVintage
LightLow and warm
RuleAll four walls

Without steam, wallpaper lasts. Run it on all four walls for the full effect.

2. Colour drenching

Illustration: a powder room painted entirely in deep terracotta, ceiling included, with a sculpted stone basin — Illustration · not a real project

Spec board

WallsTerracotta
CeilingSame terracotta
BasinSculpted stone
TapwareAged brass
FloorClay tile

Paint the walls, ceiling and trim in one colour. The room feels deliberate, not small.

3. Book-matched stone

Illustration: a powder room with a book-matched marble wall and a floating marble basin, low warm lighting — Illustration · not a real project

One slab split and opened like a book makes a mirror-image pattern. A small room uses less of an expensive stone.

4. Pattern to the ceiling

Illustration: a powder room with blue and white patterned encaustic tiles to the ceiling and a white pedestal basin — Illustration · not a real project

A patterned tile carried to the ceiling turns a tiny room into a jewel box.

Common questions

What is a powder room?

A small room with a toilet and basin but no shower or bath, usually near the living areas for guests.

Can you use wallpaper in a powder room?

Yes. With no shower, a powder room is one of the best places in the house for wallpaper; keep a fan for ventilation.