08/14/2026
A powder room is usually a small space, which means every decision inside it gets noticed. Here is what I think through on every project, reno or new build.
Wall treatment: I do not default to wallpaper in every powder room. Sometimes the room calls for paint, sometimes wainscoting alone, sometimes wallpaper paired with panelling like this room. The choice comes down to ceiling height, how much pattern the space can hold, what suits the house, and what the client genuinely loves.
Small details: a powder room comes together through the little pieces, not just the big ones. A detailed towel ring against a clean quartz counter is the kind of moment guests notice even if they cannot name why.
Lighting: I never rely on one fixture. If the layout allows it, I add sconces flanking the mirror for even, flattering light at face height.
When there is not enough wall space, a vanity light paired with a ceiling fixture gives the same layered effect.
Either way, everything goes on a dimmer, so the room can shift from bright and functional to soft and moody.
The vanity: this room started with the vanity, not the wallpaper. Once I found this brass console, every other decision ~ the wallpaper colour, the lighting finish, the hardware ~ was chosen to complement it.
In a small room, letting one piece lead keeps everything else feeling intentional rather than assembled.
Save this for inspo if you are planning a powder room of your own. 🤍
📷 Paul Grdina
