Photo by Michael Downes
Small contemporary powder room in Melbourne with granite benchtops, blue tile, ceramic tile, an undermount sink and beige benchtops.

Desert Powder Room

Design Directives, LLC

Rich woods, natural stone, artisan lighting, and plenty of custom finishes (such as the cut-out mirror) gave this home a strong character. We kept the lighting and textiles soft to ensure a welcoming ambiance. Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/

Meadows

Elton R Construction

Photo of a small contemporary powder room in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured floor, multi-coloured benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Woodland

Structural Dimensions, Inc.

This is an example of a small contemporary powder room in Minneapolis with furniture-like cabinets, black cabinets, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a vessel sink, granite benchtops, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtops.

Ultra stylish and contemporary

User

This is an example of a small contemporary powder room in San Francisco with grey walls, a one-piece toilet, dark wood cabinets, white tile, ceramic tile, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, grey floor and black benchtops.

Warehouse Renovation Converted to Single Family Home

Prime 1 Builders

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Kensett House

Luminosus Designs LLC

Photo of a small contemporary powder room in New York with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, grey walls, slate floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops and black benchtops.

The Listed House

Simpson & Voyle

The image captures a minimalist and elegant cloakroom vanity area that blends functionality with design aesthetics. The vanity itself is a modern floating unit with clean lines and a combination of white and subtle gold finishes, creating a luxurious yet understated look. A unique pink basin sits atop the vanity, adding a pop of soft color that complements the neutral palette. Above the basin, a sleek, gold tap emerges from the wall, mirroring the gold accents on the vanity and enhancing the sophisticated vibe of the space. A round mirror with a simple frame reflects the room, contributing to the area's spacious and airy feel. Adjacent to the mirror is a wall-mounted light fixture with a mid-century modern influence, featuring clear glass and brass elements that resonate with the room's fixtures. The walls are adorned with a textured wallpaper in a muted pattern, providing depth and interest without overwhelming the space. A semi-sheer window treatment allows for natural light to filter through, illuminating the vanity area and highlighting the wallpaper's subtle texture. This bathroom vanity design showcases attention to detail and a preference for refined simplicity, with every element carefully chosen to create a cohesive and serene environment.

Lightning Bug

Xstyles Bath + More, Inc.

© photo by bethsingerphotographer.com
Inspiration for a small contemporary powder room in Detroit with an undermount sink, furniture-like cabinets, granite benchtops, white tile, gray tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, a one-piece toilet and dark wood cabinets.

Gästetoiletten

Ohlde & Scholz

ein kleines Gäste WC im Stiel eines schweizer Chalets: teils sind die Wände mit Eichenholz verkleidelt, teils mit PU Lack dunkelgrau lackiert, Als Waschbecken ein ausgehölter Flußstein aus Granit mit einer Wandarmatur von Vola

Coastal with French Chateau Characteristics

Patrick Widing Custom Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary powder room in Detroit with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops and grey floor.

Powder Bath

J&R Construction

Design ideas for a small contemporary powder room in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, a vessel sink, granite benchtops, beige floor, black benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Dazzling Penthouse With A View — New Home | SW Calgary

Empire Custom Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary powder room in Calgary with black cabinets, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, brown floor, black benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

New Construction

Anne Sacco Interiors, LLC

We put wallpaper behind the vanity to add texture
Design ideas for a small contemporary powder room in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a vessel sink, granite benchtops, brown floor and black benchtops.

Contemporary Powder Room

Savvy Design Group

Mike Cassimatis
This is an example of a contemporary powder room in St Louis with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a one-piece toilet, grey walls, a vessel sink and granite benchtops.

Contemporary Main Floor

Decorator's Corner

Lauren Kelley
Inspiration for a small contemporary powder room in Toronto with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink, granite benchtops and grey benchtops.

Guest W/C

Letta London Ltd.

Letta London has achieved this project by working with interior designer and client in mind. Brief was to create modern yet striking guest cloakroom and this was for sure achieved. Client is very happy with the result.

Irish Stud Farm

Maria Fenlon Interior Design

We created a feature wall with a decorative floral paper for a guest bathroom. A silver gilt mirror was chosen over the wash hand basin and two glass and chrome wall lights were place symmetrically either side. Gareth Byrne Photography

Downtown Powder Bath

Partners 4, Design

Gilbertson Photography
Small contemporary powder room in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, a one-piece toilet, black tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, concrete floors, a vessel sink and granite benchtops.

Coastal with French Chateau Characteristics

Patrick Widing Custom Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary powder room in Detroit with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops and grey floor.

Contemporary Powder Room Design Ideas with Granite Benchtops

Think of your powder room as a small bathroom that’s always on display. Likely to be frequented by guests or used as a second bathroom by family members, it should always look its best. Consisting of little more than a vanity, toilet and sink, you could be mistaken that contemporary powder room designs are easy to execute, but the tight space can be tricky to get right. As you plan your bathroom renovation, consider the following.

What’s the best way to collate small bathroom ideas?

Browse the photos on Houzz for small bathroom designs, and get acquainted with the specialist behind your favourite picks. You can bookmark and share your favourite photos with everyone involved in your renovation, and click through to Related Photos to broaden your scope. For even more contemporary powder room and small bathroom ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

How do I plan the layout of my powder room?

If you're building from scratch, an architect may be the best person to ask. There are three main objects to consider when planning the layout of your contemporary powder room: the door, toilet and sink. Pocket, sliding or folding doors will give you more options for toilet and sink placement, while wall-mounted toilets will help save you a few inches of floor space, and make the room feel more spacious. To ensure ease of use, make sure the toilet has at least 38 centimetres of unobstructed space on either side, and 61 centimetres at the front. Powder rooms are primarily a place to use the toilet and quickly wash your hands, so unless you have the square meterage, you don’t need a full-blown vanity. Look for compact options, like a pedestal or wall-mounted sink instead.

What materials should I use in my powder room?

There’s not much space to work with when designing a contemporary powder room, so keep your design fairly simple. Otherwise, too many different patterns and textures will quickly overwhelm the space. To avoid a disjointed design, opt for one statement piece or element, such as a fun splashback, benchtop or vanity, and choose subtle materials like stone, marble or granite for everything else. If you fear you haven’t created enough visual interest, fill the void with bathroom accessories such as hand towels and soap dispensers. High-quality bathroom fixtures – including everything from your toilet roll holder to faucet – with matching lines and style, will make a big difference in a such a small space, so if you have the budget, splurge a little!