Powder Room Design Ideas

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 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 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 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 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!

Design ideas for a contemporary powder room in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, gray tile, grey walls, a vessel sink and marble benchtops.

Clovelly House

By TomMarkHenry

Photography: Damian Bennett Styling: Jack Milenkovic
Design ideas for a contemporary powder room in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, gray tile, grey walls, a vessel sink and marble benchtops.

This is an example of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with a one-piece toilet, mosaic tile, porcelain floors, a wall-mount sink, black floor, white tile and multi-coloured walls.

Powder Room Downstairs, Sandringham

By embracingspace

Tahnee Jade Photography
This is an example of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with a one-piece toilet, mosaic tile, porcelain floors, a wall-mount sink, black floor, white tile and multi-coloured walls.
entire room- but re-position plant - jessica_scott65

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Contemporary Powder Room

Photo of a contemporary powder room in Sunshine Coast with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets and a vessel sink.
the tap is really cool and i like the colours. - eliza_schoenmaker

Seven Seat House

By Kitty Lee Architecture

The Palm Co.
Design ideas for a small contemporary powder room in Sydney with a one-piece toilet, green tile, ceramic tile, white walls, porcelain floors, a wall-mount sink and grey floor.

Transitional powder room in Sydney with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mount sink and brown floor.

Bougainvillea Row House

By Luigi Rosselli Architects

Preparing for a commission to design the new Airbus toilets, Luigi Rosselli Architects have experimented with compact design for such situations with the understairs powder room. © Justin Alexander
Timber panelling, brass fittings, curved doorway - acantor

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Modern Contemporary Traditional Compact Australia Beach Style Wall Tile Colour: Grey Scandinavian Black Industrial Country Eclectic Transitional

Photo of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with gray tile, subway tile, multi-coloured walls and a wall-mount sink.

Lumiere

By LSA Architects

UA Creative
Photo of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with gray tile, subway tile, multi-coloured walls and a wall-mount sink.
good for powder room because covers pipes - lizzielawson

Photo of a midcentury powder room in Melbourne with white tile, white walls, mosaic tile floors, a wall-mount sink and black floor.

Custom Designed Abbotsford House

By Prebuilt

Photo of a midcentury powder room in Melbourne with white tile, white walls, mosaic tile floors, a wall-mount sink and black floor.
There you go - toilet and sink both together - webuser_608942747

Inspiration for a transitional powder room in Melbourne with a two-piece toilet, gray tile, subway tile, white walls, a wall-mount sink and grey floor.

Mill Park Bathroom, Ensuite, Powder Room

By M.J.Harris Group

Inspiration for a transitional powder room in Melbourne with a two-piece toilet, gray tile, subway tile, white walls, a wall-mount sink and grey floor.
Grey subway tile (vanity splashback?) - webuser_82951915

Design ideas for a small contemporary powder room in Gold Coast - Tweed with brown tile, gray tile, brown walls, ceramic floors, brown floor, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet and a vessel sink.

Aquaris Display Home

By McCarthy Homes QLD

Steve Ryan
Design ideas for a small contemporary powder room in Gold Coast - Tweed with brown tile, gray tile, brown walls, ceramic floors, brown floor, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet and a vessel sink.
lights ar they functional - webuser_903485665

Trusted home professionals turn ideas into reality

Photo of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink and beige floor.

Stunning Albert Park Home

By Hansen Living

Photo of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink and beige floor.
powder room with an additional toilet - kumo_jeon_ellis

Design ideas for a transitional powder room in Brisbane with a two-piece toilet, green tile, a pedestal sink and black floor.

The Rectory

By SMarchitecture

Scott Burrows Photography
Design ideas for a transitional powder room in Brisbane with a two-piece toilet, green tile, a pedestal sink and black floor.
Love this tile colour - cait_owen

Photo of a country powder room in Sydney with brown walls, a vessel sink and wood benchtops.

North Sydney Heritage Terrace

By BJB Architects

Photo of a country powder room in Sydney with brown walls, a vessel sink and wood benchtops.
the old school look. I think i need to work on lights for the house - semih_asaroglu

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary powder room in Sydney with white cabinets, ceramic floors, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a two-piece toilet, beige tile, flat-panel cabinets, matchstick tile and a vessel sink.

Seabrook

By FenRen

Jack Scott
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary powder room in Sydney with white cabinets, ceramic floors, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a two-piece toilet, beige tile, flat-panel cabinets, matchstick tile and a vessel sink.
good layout to our bathroom - dario_zhu

Photo of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with white walls, a wall-mount sink and grey floor.

Malvern East

By Haus Of Hanem

Adele Elizabeth Photography
Photo of a contemporary powder room in Melbourne with white walls, a wall-mount sink and grey floor.
wall and floor tiles work well together - fatma_hamit

Design ideas for a traditional powder room in Brisbane with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, black walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink and multi-coloured floor.

Kangaroo Point Residence #2

By Highgate House

Design ideas for a traditional powder room in Brisbane with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, black walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink and multi-coloured floor.
Not this wallpaper, but the overall concept - webuser_827312801

Mid-sized contemporary powder room in Adelaide with a one-piece toilet, pink tile, white tile, mosaic tile, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and a wall-mount sink.

St. Peters Contemporary Family Home

By Stallard Interiors

Arch Imagery
Mid-sized contemporary powder room in Adelaide with a one-piece toilet, pink tile, white tile, mosaic tile, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and a wall-mount sink.
I like the sink - mary_mary93