Wainscoting is better above a sink top OR counter top. Go to a 42 inch height at least, finish with a chair rail, don't do a vanity at all, add a pedestal sink instead. It's a 1940 house. If you need storage, ( it's a pee and wash, not a full bath, ) address that, but mostly you need soap and toilet paper and a hand towel consideration, and a mirror. Done.

Nice idea! Indeed it would add architectural interest.

Wainscoting is relatively easy to do. If you go for an in-built vanity, you can leave the wainscoting out there. If later someone wants to replace the vanity for something else, it is not too difficult, nor expensive, to add a little bit of wainscoting then. Just pick a color with a number - and write it down somewhere smart - so it can be mixed again. White isn't necessarily the same as white.

Your wainscoting can be made to be at exactly the same height as your vanity, like:

Or your wainscoting can 'walk around on top of it', like:

Here they have a built-in mirror:

Another idea:

And here's a picture with a sink on a pedastal, just to compare:

Much is possible.

I would 'ruin' the kitchen for a restroom, if that's what you're asking. The kitchen should be most logical. The restroom has to do with what space is left.

But the pictures show there are plenty of options, all with wainscoting. It comes down to your personal taste now.

I hope the entry to this bathroom is not off the kitchen . As for the style if you want vintage I would do the winscoting all around and a pedestal sink with a nice mirror and I like disposible towels in PR since I think it is gross for everyone to use the same towel I just put the tray on the back of the toilet to hold them .As for TP just make sure there is anew roll when you have guests

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Here's the floorplan. This kitchen bump out will create access from the garage via a hallway (or micro-mudroom. I'm planning to put a few hooks on the wall for coats and probably a mirror across from the powder room door) and then this powder room. FWIW, there will be a sun tube in the powder room but not the hallway. (we put it on there for permits, in case we want to add later).

We ended up with 8 more inches on the kitchen bump out than I'd been expecting. Hurrah! My idea was to give 6" to the kitchen (between the sink and stove) and then 2" to this powder room, which made the 36" space 37.5" (or 38) and hence room for one of those stock built in vanities with storage.

A few weeks ago I'd been considering a console sink (rather than a pedestal), but couldn't find one with both a built-in backsplash and a shelf below. (if you know of one, lemme know). Also, I was surprised that most had shallow sinks, like 4". I plan to use this room when I come in from gardening (no more tracking dirt through the house). Also, I'd like it to be semi-useful if I have multiple overnight guests. I once had friends visit with their teenage son, all using one guest bath. So I'd like this room to be somewhat helpful for an overnight guest, to brush their teeth, etc. To that end, I'd been hoping to have some reasonable counterspace and some kind of storage.

Sounds like it's a mistake to do a 36" built in vanity here (my GC says he can do it with a stock cabinet/vanity, if the room is 1/4" wider than the countertop. I'm allow 1/2" extra). I had considered a 30" vanity but it looked cramped, and that a 24" would be better. (which isn't much storage...) Hmmm....

In terms of style, I was hoping to do something vintage-y but also fun (but not tacky). I live in a beach town, so maybe something a bit beachy. I love Hawaii, so maybe something tropical, like the old muted Hawaiiana style wallpaper or like those old maps. (FWIW, there is nothing else really tropical in the house, at least not yet). I'd been afraid to go w/ a dark paint color or wallpaper but maybe I'm coming around, especially if I use wainscoting, to lighten up half the room. If anyone is curious, I have some ideas in my ideabook.

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/128608711/list/powder-final-ideas

We're planning to frame the wall to the hallway and powder room on Monday. Thanks for all your help and ideas!

Looked at your ideabook. Scared the crap out of me (lol). There were but a few, that were not overcrowded and work best for such a tiny space. To me the built in blue vanity with the round mirror works well. You thought it might be too white. You could use silver toned lamps instead.

I also like the last two. Where I indeed would put the lamps on the side walls and not on the mirror.

A powder room needs GOOD FAN...... Light for night time/anytime. The last thing it needs is sun. : ) They call them "pee and wash" for a reason.

thanks for the reminder on the fan. FWIW the sun tube has a solar nightlight. (plus regular lighting)

My sister purchased a older home that had at one time had a pedestal sink that had been replaced with a standard bathroom vanity, but it didn't look right and was too oversized.

She replaced it with a compromise, and it looks nice, also got the matching mirror cabinet. She did keep all the original 1950's tile work in bathroom. This isn't the exact one, hers has a full porcelain top. She did purchase hers at a big box store.

This is similar:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-Del-Mar-37-in-W-x-36-in-H-x-19-in-D-Bathroom-Vanity-in-White-with-Cultured-Marble-White-Vanity-Top-DMSD36P2COM-W/100672698

The photos earlier in this thread showing wainscoting are of decent sized bathrooms--not really akin to a 3' x 8' powder room. I don't know whether or not installing wainscoting in a 3' x 8' Powder Room will make the room look smaller. You may want to do a mock up in the space and evaluate it before installing the wainscoting around the entire perimeter.

Charles Ross Homes yes, this has been challenge looking at inspo pics. My powder room will be tiny and I don't want to be swayed by rooms that are a lot different (a lot have windows--I love natural light--and I won't have that)

I did find a few tiny rooms with wainscotting

Sweetspire Select · More Info

FOX MEADOW · More Info

More examples

Sweetbriar Rd Addition 2 · More Info

I'm not doing tile but here's my reminder to think how it will look at the toilet end too.

Bathroom Renovation · More Info

I think this is the only tiny powder room I've seen with wainscotting and built-in vanity. Maybe that's tough to pull off.

North Fork Waterfront · More Info

Then there is this--go big or go home! ;)

Eureka Valley House · More Info

girl_wonder - there is another way. When space is at a premium, I have had the contractor remove the drywall up to the point where I want the top trim. That then leaves the bead board/sheetrock on the same plane and not taking up any additional room. I then place a piece of trim (egg & dart, or there are many others), that has a flat back over the seam. It solves the problem.

Thanks Design Girl . Yeah, I had discussed this with my GC this week and he says he's not a fan of that approach. FWIW, he did say the wainscotting sheets take about 1/4" each and it's the crown molding that's thicker, so I supposed I only need to allow the for the sheets. Based on this discussion and looking at inspo pics, I may choose to frame the room to be 37 1/2" so someone (in the future) has the option to install a stock cabinet as a built-in. I'm back leaning towards a smaller vanity (or pedestal sink or console sink) but this time with wainscotting and wallpaper on top. Then if someone doesn't want the wainscotting in the future, they can remove it. Thanks for your thoughts!

BTW, does anyone have an opinion of skipping the wainscotting panels and installing some molding to look like wainscotting, like this?

https://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-install-picture-frame-molding-the-easiest-wainscoting-style-ever.html

It might save a little space. I prefer that "frame"/panel type of wainscotting vs. beadboard.

@acm

Wellllllllll. is that not really just what it is?? : ) Its history in name hasn't evolved?

God bless the internet below: LOL

"A powder room is a small bathroom that contains only a toilet and a sink. They are sometimes called guest bathrooms or halfbaths. There is no shower or tub in a powder room. They are almost always located on the first floor of a home.

The first floor positioning of powder rooms allows guests to utilize the facilities without feeling as though they have intruded in your home. The powder room is normally a very small room that is conveniently located and rarely contains a window.

Origin of the Term

The term powder room has been around since the 18th Century. It was considered a closet sized room where people applied extra powder to their wigs. The Victorian times kept the term "powder room" to discreetly excuse oneself.

Some women still refer to the half bath as the powder room, where "powdering your nose" was a phrase used again as a euphemism".

To borrow from Shakespeare: A Powder Room by any other name would smell as...well, let's not borrow from Shakespeare after all.

Have a similar powder room that also serves as a cleanup room from the gardening chores. We’re planning to refresh it, while keeping the practical aspects, so I’m looking forward to seeing your end product.

@girl_wonder We have that picture frame style molding in our dining room and master bath, and I like it just fine. It’s easier on the budget too. Have you also considered a board and batten style wainscot? That’s what we did in our powder room (with a pedestal sink). It will depend on whether you’re going for a dressier or more casual look.
This was our inspo for the powder room:

https://www.thelilypadcottage.com/2018/01/lake-house-powder-room.html

@JAN MOYER, thanks for the etemology lesson! Closet size room: check. No window: check. Powder for my wig ... it’s here somewhere....

Re: the fan: do you have a preference on location (over the toilet?) and brand/size/capacity? I’m guessing I’ll need an overhead (canned) light, in addition to sconces. With the sun tube that ceiling may feel cluttered. Is that as issue? i already bought the sun tube and I like natural light. Should I still use it here (seems like a good idea to me) or move to that hallway or ?

@J OBrien thanks for your comments. Since you‘ve lived with this size room, is there anything you did that was a great idea or that you wish you’d done differently?

@Ephma thanks for sharing! I love your home and that powder and laundry room too.(yes get the wine fridge lol) Great wallpaper. How wide is your powder room and your sink? (I’m back to considering a 24“ vanity so I have some modicum of storage). Thanks for the suggestion on the board and batten. Last night I googled, for the first time, the diff styles of wainscoting. Many! Which do you think is less formal? I live in a beach town and want this room to feel fun.geez, just what I need, another decision!

thanks everyone! I really appreciate your help!!!!

@girl_wonder Oh that’s not our powder room, just the blog where I got the inspiration! Our powder room is a little bigger/ configured differently, but we did do the board and batten and Serena & Lily wallpaper and pedestal sink. I do understand wanting storage - I have to store extra toilet paper etc in a nearby cost closet. :/ I think if you’re going for a beachy feel and don’t like beadboard, then the board and batten would be a good bet. V-groove paneling would be another good option.

@Ephma thanks. Sorry I missed that you posted the I inspo photo (coffee has not kicked in fully lol). Thanks for the suggestions on paneling. I’ll check those out. Should I reconsider bead board too? Sounds like idea of framed panels is too formal. Thanks for the feedback.

Girl wonder, I think you are right about the picture frame being too formal. The board and batten look is really nice and probably a lot easier to install and adjust the install it to your liking, probably much cheaper even because of simple cuts. And it can be done on the drywall and won't really take any extra space that the paneling you were thinking of doing.

@Izzy Mn, thanks. Those are all really good points!

Does anyone have an opinion on the exact location of the pocket door in this tiny room? It’s 96“ long. I want the door trim to match the rest of the house, 4” wide (it’s a 1940 bungalow)

I’m thinking of allowing 28” for the vanity (22” deep counter + 4” door trim + 2” extra), the 32” pocket door, then 36” for the toilet (Eco-Clayton is 28 7/8, so round up to 30” to allow space from the wall + 4” door trim + 2” to spare?) . Does this make sense? Seems like there’s only a few inches to play with.

thanks!