You're in the jungle now... this fun space was transformed with wallpaper, counters and a flashy shaped backsplash.
Inspiration for a small traditional powder room in Charleston with dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, brown floor, beige benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Sophisticated colors in an Alamo Heights home

Paper Moon Painting

The design team at Bel Atelier selected lovely, sophisticated colors throughout the spaces in this elegant Alamo Heights home. Wallpapered powder bath with vanity painted in Farrow and Ball's "De Nimes"

Spanish Villa New Build

Johnstone Development

Elegant Powder Room with a grass cloth textured wallpaper and an elaborate freestanding vanity.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional powder room in San Francisco with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, brown floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

Kenwood Historic Update

Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc.

Contractor: Dovetail Renovation Interior Design: Martha Dayton Design Photography: Spacecrafting
Inspiration for a small traditional powder room in Minneapolis with a console sink and wallpaper.

Wayzata - Traditional Total Home Remodel

Michels Homes

Remodeler: Michels Homes Interior Design: Jami Ludens, Studio M Interiors Cabinetry Design: Megan Dent, Studio M Kitchen and Bath Photography: Scott Amundson Photography

Classic Powder Room Remodel in Saugus MA

McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath

Powder room remodel, with a faux-marble herringbone floor, pedestal sink, custom millwork, and timeless, classic fixtures. The space is finished off with soft wallpaper, a pair of sconces, and an oversized custom mirror that enlarges the room.

The Jersey Project

TK Building & Design

This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Other with a two-piece toilet, blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a pedestal sink, brown floor and wallpaper.

Compact Bathroom Remodel

Henrietta Heisler Interiors Inc

Closeup of beautiful textured vessel sink with widespread faucet in a brown, gold and off-white quartz countertop. Classic toile (a printed design depicting a scene) was inspiration for the large print blue floral wallpaper that is thoughtfully placed for impact when the powder room door is open to the hallway.

Sunset Boulevard

Shannon Crain

Photo of a small traditional powder room in Houston with white cabinets, green walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

Stately Maine Colonial

Wright-Ryan Homes

This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Portland Maine with green walls, a pedestal sink, marble benchtops and wallpaper.

Roswell powder room

TilesMax Remodeling

Photo of a small traditional powder room in Atlanta with blue cabinets, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white benchtops and wallpaper.

The Overton House

Fraley and Company

The compact powder bathroom, a new space for this house, is a William Morris jewelry box dream. We added a shorter version of the wainscoting in the hallway and the loveliest corner sink/mirror/light vignette.

Hunt Drive Powder Room Creation

La Bella Casa Interior Designs

Paint on ceiling is Sherwin Williams Cyberspace, bathroom cabinet by Bertch, faucet is Moen's Eva. Wallpaper by Wallquest - Grass Effects.
Photo of a small traditional powder room in Philadelphia with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, light hardwood floors, an integrated sink, solid surface benchtops, beige floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

Modern English Country Style

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Photo of a small traditional powder room in Other with white cabinets, engineered quartz benchtops, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

Two Jewel box Powder Rooms

Jennifer A. Emmer/Feng Shui Style

After assessing the Feng Shui and looking at what we had to work with, I decided to salvage the Florentine marble countertop and floors, as well as the "glam" vanity cabinet. People fought me on this, but I emerged victorious :-) By choosing this Thibaut Honsu wallpaper, the green marble is downplayed, and the wallpaper becomes the star of the show. We added a bamboo mirror, some bamboo blinds, and a poppy red light fixture to add some natural elements and whimsy to the space. The result? A delightful surprise for guests.

Jean - Traditional Powder Bath

In the Deets

Cute powder room featuring white paneling, navy and white wallpaper, custom-stained vanity, marble counters and polished nickel fixtures.
Small traditional powder room in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, brown floor, white benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Modern Americana

Amy Troute Inspired Interior Design

ATIID collaborated with these homeowners to curate new furnishings throughout the home while their down-to-the studs, raise-the-roof renovation, designed by Chambers Design, was underway. Pattern and color were everything to the owners, and classic “Americana” colors with a modern twist appear in the formal dining room, great room with gorgeous new screen porch, and the primary bedroom. Custom bedding that marries not-so-traditional checks and florals invites guests into each sumptuously layered bed. Vintage and contemporary area rugs in wool and jute provide color and warmth, grounding each space. Bold wallpapers were introduced in the powder and guest bathrooms, and custom draperies layered with natural fiber roman shades ala Cindy’s Window Fashions inspire the palettes and draw the eye out to the natural beauty beyond. Luxury abounds in each bathroom with gleaming chrome fixtures and classic finishes. A magnetic shade of blue paint envelops the gourmet kitchen and a buttery yellow creates a happy basement laundry room. No detail was overlooked in this stately home - down to the mudroom’s delightful dutch door and hard-wearing brick floor. Photography by Meagan Larsen Photography

Historic Kitchen on the East Side of Providence

Red House Design Build

Photography by Aaron Usher III. Instagram: @redhousedesignbuild
Photo of a small traditional powder room in Providence with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, green walls, medium hardwood floors, a pedestal sink, beige floor and wallpaper.

The Overton House

Fraley and Company

This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Portland with white cabinets, green walls, medium hardwood floors, a pedestal sink, brown floor, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

Southern Serenity

Big Sky Design

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional powder room in Other with furniture-like cabinets, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

Traditional Powder Room Design Ideas with Wallpaper

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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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!