New This Week: 5 Bold Wallcovering Ideas for Powder Rooms
Take cues from these spaces to supercharge one of the most used rooms in your home
Mitchell Parker
December 11, 2015
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Sure, powder rooms are small. But they’re often one of the most used rooms in a house, not only by you but by your guests as well. So the space begs for attention to function but also allows for a bit of fun. Here, five designers show how they took a simple space and supercharged it with graphic wallcoverings and other lively design moves.
1. Clean and Minimalist
Designer: Alissa Madden of Alissa Madden Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 32 square feet (about 3 square meters)
Year built: Remodeled in 2014
Homeowners’ request: “My client had a concise vision: clean, minimalist, black floors and white walls,” says designer Alissa Madden. “It was gratifying to collaborate on a design using little to no color, simply relying on texture and contrast to give the room personality.”
Standout feature: Wallpaper that resembles white birch tree bark by Phillip Jeffries. “It has a topographical quality to it that works beautifully in such a small space,” Madden says. “It doesn’t fight with the rows of Bocci sconces that line either side of the mirror but at the same time doesn’t fall flat.”
Why the design works: “Monochromatic spaces can be extremely satisfying visually,” Madden says. “The various textures and shapes have a playful restraint, and the result is elegant and slightly edgy.” Mirrors and lighting help make the most of the small space. “When designing a bathroom, I usually place the vanity lights on either side of the mirror, as opposed to above the mirror, because it is more flattering,” Madden says.
“Uh-oh” moment: “The drywall dust from another area of construction settled into the black tile grout and was ground into some of the floor tile, and for some reason, we could not get it clean,” Madden says. “We tried so many different solvents and cleaners, and finally the tiler came up with a magic cleaning solution of regrouting and using industrial-strength Goo Gone on the tiles themselves. It was very stressful. I was afraid we would have to rip it out and replace it. Everyone on the project spent a good amount of time on their hands and knees scrubbing the grout, including myself.”
The nitty-gritty: Tile: 24-by-24 inch field tile in Warm Black, TU Collection, Walker Zanger; faucet: Riviera, Fantini Rubinetti; vanity and sink basin: Duravit; mirror: Bristol, Restoration Hardware; sconces: Bocci 14 wall sconce, YLighting; wallpaper: Enchanted Woods Bestowed Birch, Phillip Jeffries; pendant: Etch shade pendant, Tom Dixon
Designer: Alissa Madden of Alissa Madden Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 32 square feet (about 3 square meters)
Year built: Remodeled in 2014
Homeowners’ request: “My client had a concise vision: clean, minimalist, black floors and white walls,” says designer Alissa Madden. “It was gratifying to collaborate on a design using little to no color, simply relying on texture and contrast to give the room personality.”
Standout feature: Wallpaper that resembles white birch tree bark by Phillip Jeffries. “It has a topographical quality to it that works beautifully in such a small space,” Madden says. “It doesn’t fight with the rows of Bocci sconces that line either side of the mirror but at the same time doesn’t fall flat.”
Why the design works: “Monochromatic spaces can be extremely satisfying visually,” Madden says. “The various textures and shapes have a playful restraint, and the result is elegant and slightly edgy.” Mirrors and lighting help make the most of the small space. “When designing a bathroom, I usually place the vanity lights on either side of the mirror, as opposed to above the mirror, because it is more flattering,” Madden says.
“Uh-oh” moment: “The drywall dust from another area of construction settled into the black tile grout and was ground into some of the floor tile, and for some reason, we could not get it clean,” Madden says. “We tried so many different solvents and cleaners, and finally the tiler came up with a magic cleaning solution of regrouting and using industrial-strength Goo Gone on the tiles themselves. It was very stressful. I was afraid we would have to rip it out and replace it. Everyone on the project spent a good amount of time on their hands and knees scrubbing the grout, including myself.”
The nitty-gritty: Tile: 24-by-24 inch field tile in Warm Black, TU Collection, Walker Zanger; faucet: Riviera, Fantini Rubinetti; vanity and sink basin: Duravit; mirror: Bristol, Restoration Hardware; sconces: Bocci 14 wall sconce, YLighting; wallpaper: Enchanted Woods Bestowed Birch, Phillip Jeffries; pendant: Etch shade pendant, Tom Dixon
2. Colorful and Crisp
Designer: Caitlin Wilson of Caitlin Wilson Design
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Year built: 2012
Homeowners’ request: “We wanted a stunning powder bath, but the space was so small and
had such an odd shape that I knew I had to use pattern to create movement and statement,” says designer Caitlin Wilson.
Standout feature: “Our client loved feminine and delicate patterns, so naturally I started searching for a traditional chinoiserie wallpaper,” Wilson says. “The de Gournay hand-painted chinoiserie citrus trees wallpaper was the perfect complement to the brass fixtures in the space.”
Plan of attack: “Wallpaper came first, then paint and then we chose the vanity, which set the tone for the finishes we would be using,” Wilson says. “The mirror was chosen after everything was in place.”
Why the design works: “As soon as the wallpaper went up, the space came to life and the direction was clear. All of the finishes and materials complement the wallpaper and create a harmonious mélange of brass, marble and color.”
Designer secret: “Painting the baseboards a darker shade of gray was a great way to complement not only the architectural details of the home, but also the complexity of the wallpaper design.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “The angle of this bathroom was really tricky to work with,” Wilson says. “Fortunately, I was able to find a stunning sink that fit perfectly and had a custom marble top made.”
Splurges and savings: “This bathroom is as luxe as it gets. We splurged on everything.”
The nitty-gritty: Vanity: Renaissance console top in aged brass, Stone Forest; countertop: custom honed Carrara marble; faucet: Aylesbury widespread, Newport Brass; sconces: Ginger arm sconce in natural brass, Circa Lighting; mirror: No. 20283, 24 by 46 inches, Mirror Image; wallpaper: Jardinières Citrus Trees, de Gournay
Team: Pinnacle Conceptions (architectural design); E&A Custom Homes (construction); Nicole Gerulat (photography)
Designer: Caitlin Wilson of Caitlin Wilson Design
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Year built: 2012
Homeowners’ request: “We wanted a stunning powder bath, but the space was so small and
had such an odd shape that I knew I had to use pattern to create movement and statement,” says designer Caitlin Wilson.
Standout feature: “Our client loved feminine and delicate patterns, so naturally I started searching for a traditional chinoiserie wallpaper,” Wilson says. “The de Gournay hand-painted chinoiserie citrus trees wallpaper was the perfect complement to the brass fixtures in the space.”
Plan of attack: “Wallpaper came first, then paint and then we chose the vanity, which set the tone for the finishes we would be using,” Wilson says. “The mirror was chosen after everything was in place.”
Why the design works: “As soon as the wallpaper went up, the space came to life and the direction was clear. All of the finishes and materials complement the wallpaper and create a harmonious mélange of brass, marble and color.”
Designer secret: “Painting the baseboards a darker shade of gray was a great way to complement not only the architectural details of the home, but also the complexity of the wallpaper design.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “The angle of this bathroom was really tricky to work with,” Wilson says. “Fortunately, I was able to find a stunning sink that fit perfectly and had a custom marble top made.”
Splurges and savings: “This bathroom is as luxe as it gets. We splurged on everything.”
The nitty-gritty: Vanity: Renaissance console top in aged brass, Stone Forest; countertop: custom honed Carrara marble; faucet: Aylesbury widespread, Newport Brass; sconces: Ginger arm sconce in natural brass, Circa Lighting; mirror: No. 20283, 24 by 46 inches, Mirror Image; wallpaper: Jardinières Citrus Trees, de Gournay
Team: Pinnacle Conceptions (architectural design); E&A Custom Homes (construction); Nicole Gerulat (photography)
3. Graphic and Glamorous
Designer: Christina Samatas of Park and Oak Design
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Size: 36 square feet (about 3.3 square meters); 6 by 6 feet
Year built: Built in 1998 and remodeled in 2012
Homeowners’ request: Change the 1990s decor and bring more function to the powder room after reworking its size to accommodate kitchen changes and the addition of a butler’s pantry. “Given the powder room is one of the most used rooms in a house, the room needed to function well, but also given the traffic, needed to have a bit of interest,” says designer Christina Samatas.
Standout feature: Channels wallpaper in ebony and ivory by Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks. “It took a little searching to find a wallcovering that would be so impactful without feeling overdone or something the homeowner would tire of easily, but it was almost love at first sight,” says designer Christina Samatas.
Plan of attack: The open vanity set the tone, and the design team felt it called for something boldly patterned behind it. To add function, a basket under the vanity holds essentials like additional hand towels and toilet paper. The small art piece above the toilet nods to the homeowner’s Texas roots.
Who uses it: A family of five with kids ages 3, 6 and 8.
Designer secret: “Your powder room is a place to stretch yourself a bit, to be a little daring,” Samatas says. “The room is small but used often and seen by most houseguests — have fun with it. Always keep function in mind to ensure the space works for your lifestyle.”
Splurges and savings: The designers saved by buying a remnant piece of marble for the countertop and splurged on the wallpaper at $396 per roll.
The nitty-gritty: Wallpaper: Channels in ebony and ivory by Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks; light: Hicks pendant, Circa Lighting; faucet and toilet: Kohler; mirror and vanity base: Restoration Hardware; basket: Pottery Barn; gold vase: Anthropologie
Team: Oakley Home Builders (construction); Renee DiSanto, Park & Oak Design (photography)
Designer: Christina Samatas of Park and Oak Design
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Size: 36 square feet (about 3.3 square meters); 6 by 6 feet
Year built: Built in 1998 and remodeled in 2012
Homeowners’ request: Change the 1990s decor and bring more function to the powder room after reworking its size to accommodate kitchen changes and the addition of a butler’s pantry. “Given the powder room is one of the most used rooms in a house, the room needed to function well, but also given the traffic, needed to have a bit of interest,” says designer Christina Samatas.
Standout feature: Channels wallpaper in ebony and ivory by Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks. “It took a little searching to find a wallcovering that would be so impactful without feeling overdone or something the homeowner would tire of easily, but it was almost love at first sight,” says designer Christina Samatas.
Plan of attack: The open vanity set the tone, and the design team felt it called for something boldly patterned behind it. To add function, a basket under the vanity holds essentials like additional hand towels and toilet paper. The small art piece above the toilet nods to the homeowner’s Texas roots.
Who uses it: A family of five with kids ages 3, 6 and 8.
Designer secret: “Your powder room is a place to stretch yourself a bit, to be a little daring,” Samatas says. “The room is small but used often and seen by most houseguests — have fun with it. Always keep function in mind to ensure the space works for your lifestyle.”
Splurges and savings: The designers saved by buying a remnant piece of marble for the countertop and splurged on the wallpaper at $396 per roll.
The nitty-gritty: Wallpaper: Channels in ebony and ivory by Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks; light: Hicks pendant, Circa Lighting; faucet and toilet: Kohler; mirror and vanity base: Restoration Hardware; basket: Pottery Barn; gold vase: Anthropologie
Team: Oakley Home Builders (construction); Renee DiSanto, Park & Oak Design (photography)
4. Textured and Contemporary
Designer: Denise McGaha, Denise McGaha Interiors
Location: Bartonville, Texas
Size: 30 square feet (about 2.8 square meters); 5 by 6 feet
Year built: 2013
Homeowners’ request: A powder bath that makes a fashionable statement.
Standout feature: Black Quilted Lacquer wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries and the Spore mirror from Arteriors, designed by Barry Dixon.
Plan of attack: Designer Denise McGaha and her team began with the Italian marble sink. From there, they designed a custom vanity made from the same marble as the sink. For contrast with the smooth white marble, they introduced the spiky mirror and shiny black wall treatment. “The combination of all these textures required a simple color palette to pull off the look,” McGaha says.
Who uses it: A couple in their mid 40s — he’s in the automotive business; she’s a stylist and art lover.
“Uh-oh” moment: “We originally had planned for a bordeaux lacquer paint, but when our painter couldn’t meet our deadline, we had to come up with a solution — and fast,” McGaha says. “Thankfully the wallpaper was in stock, and we were able to install it. It did require us to bring in someone who understood how to install this type of paper and heat it with a blow-dryer in order to make the seams invisible and the corners flow smoothly.”
Splurges and savings: “This entire bath is a splurge,” McGaha says. “Budget wasn’t our main concern here.”
The nitty-gritty: Countertops: gold honed Calacatta marble; sink: Kreoo Nabhi Bowl in Calacatta gold honed marble, from Charles Luck; wallpaper: Quilted Lacquer in black, Phillip Jeffries; sconce: Balfour, Urban Electric; plumbing: Axor Stark single-hole faucet in brushed nickel, Hansgrohe, from Ferguson
Team: Bobby King (wallpaper installation); Paul Kramer (general contractor); Danny Piassick (photographer); Becky Kramer (architectural designer)
Designer: Denise McGaha, Denise McGaha Interiors
Location: Bartonville, Texas
Size: 30 square feet (about 2.8 square meters); 5 by 6 feet
Year built: 2013
Homeowners’ request: A powder bath that makes a fashionable statement.
Standout feature: Black Quilted Lacquer wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries and the Spore mirror from Arteriors, designed by Barry Dixon.
Plan of attack: Designer Denise McGaha and her team began with the Italian marble sink. From there, they designed a custom vanity made from the same marble as the sink. For contrast with the smooth white marble, they introduced the spiky mirror and shiny black wall treatment. “The combination of all these textures required a simple color palette to pull off the look,” McGaha says.
Who uses it: A couple in their mid 40s — he’s in the automotive business; she’s a stylist and art lover.
“Uh-oh” moment: “We originally had planned for a bordeaux lacquer paint, but when our painter couldn’t meet our deadline, we had to come up with a solution — and fast,” McGaha says. “Thankfully the wallpaper was in stock, and we were able to install it. It did require us to bring in someone who understood how to install this type of paper and heat it with a blow-dryer in order to make the seams invisible and the corners flow smoothly.”
Splurges and savings: “This entire bath is a splurge,” McGaha says. “Budget wasn’t our main concern here.”
The nitty-gritty: Countertops: gold honed Calacatta marble; sink: Kreoo Nabhi Bowl in Calacatta gold honed marble, from Charles Luck; wallpaper: Quilted Lacquer in black, Phillip Jeffries; sconce: Balfour, Urban Electric; plumbing: Axor Stark single-hole faucet in brushed nickel, Hansgrohe, from Ferguson
Team: Bobby King (wallpaper installation); Paul Kramer (general contractor); Danny Piassick (photographer); Becky Kramer (architectural designer)
5. Loud and Clear
Designers: Misty Gray of Grayscale Design and Ken Dietz of Dietz and Associates
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Year built: 2014
Homeowners’ request: A fun space for guests that’s adjacent to the mudroom.
Standout feature: Wallcovering by Astek. “The homeowner has a jam band for a hobby and loves music,” says designer Misty Gray. “This was perfectly fitting for the homeowners.”
Plan of attack: The project got off to a normal start, with the designers selecting the vanity and plumbing fixtures first. Then things took a different turn. “When we were selecting the finish for the paneling in the space, we had an ‘aha’ moment that the non-paneled walls needed to have this fantastic wallcovering to pull the space together,” Gray says.
Designer secret: “The wallpaper was by far the grand finale selection that really made this space stand out,” Gray says.
Splurges and savings: The team saved on the simple Duravit vanity and sink, and splurged on the wallpaper, wall panels and skylight.
The nitty gritty: Vanity and toilet: Duravit; wallcovering: Wall of Sound, Astek; floor tile: Porcelanosa; wall panels: custom
Team: JKA Architects; Woodland Construction; Tamara Flanagan Photography
Designers: Misty Gray of Grayscale Design and Ken Dietz of Dietz and Associates
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Year built: 2014
Homeowners’ request: A fun space for guests that’s adjacent to the mudroom.
Standout feature: Wallcovering by Astek. “The homeowner has a jam band for a hobby and loves music,” says designer Misty Gray. “This was perfectly fitting for the homeowners.”
Plan of attack: The project got off to a normal start, with the designers selecting the vanity and plumbing fixtures first. Then things took a different turn. “When we were selecting the finish for the paneling in the space, we had an ‘aha’ moment that the non-paneled walls needed to have this fantastic wallcovering to pull the space together,” Gray says.
Designer secret: “The wallpaper was by far the grand finale selection that really made this space stand out,” Gray says.
Splurges and savings: The team saved on the simple Duravit vanity and sink, and splurged on the wallpaper, wall panels and skylight.
The nitty gritty: Vanity and toilet: Duravit; wallcovering: Wall of Sound, Astek; floor tile: Porcelanosa; wall panels: custom
Team: JKA Architects; Woodland Construction; Tamara Flanagan Photography
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Love the idea of having a textured wall in any room. It is very fun and different and for those who want to take a risk. If you're looking to play it safe, the clean and minimalist look is the best bet!