Little wonder
For Melissa Penfold, a powder room’s small canvas invites big ideas.
NO MATTER HOW PETITE, the powder room is the jewel box of the home – a bijou space that can make a showstopper design statement. It is a perfect opportunity to take risks. To emphasise its potential and style, look at a powder room as somewhere to impress guests, because you don’t have to worry about tiring of something. Dark, saturated colours and large-scale patterns that might overwhelm in a living room or bedroom are often ideal. And use high-end materials that may be too expensive to install in larger spaces, as there isn’t a lot of area in a powder room.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO THINK BIG Things don’t have to be tiny just because the space is. Think big. You may be surprised what dramatic wallpaper, statement lighting or a hero mirror can do to make a small room feel grand and give it dimensions it doesn’t actually have.
GO BOLD The biggest mistake when decorating a small space is to treat it like a small space. Use an oversized mirror, paint the room in a dark colour or use dramatic tiling to add architectural weight.
ADD COLOUR FROM FLOOR TO CEILING A common misconception with a powder room is that you have to keep it minimal. A little room with nothing in it will always look like a room with nothing in it, but clever decorating can see a beautiful room with character. Pack as much punch as possible. Create an experience.
Having a sound design plan is important in all spaces, and especially in smaller ones. Determine your vision at the outset to avoid clashing styles. Or choose a dominant element – a wallcovering, ceramic tile or heavily veined marble – and build the room around it, with subtle details in a coordinating colour palette. Everything has to balance. If you choose a graphic wall, you might opt for a calmer floor. DRESS THE WALLS Wallpaper in a striking pattern adds life. People think a small space shouldn’t have pattern all over, but rules are made to be broken. Wall-to-wall paper enlarges a powder room and pushes parameters.
Don’t squeeze in too many elements. Go with one theme for harmony and build from there, which doesn’t mean limiting style or drama. Carry the theme with candles, scents, soap dishes, mini trays and towels. USE STATEMENT PIECES Thinking small pieces work better in a small space is a mistake. Use large statement pieces. Fewer pieces, but the right ones, create impact. SHOW OFF YOUR ART COLLECTION Art lovers like the jewel-box effect when vibrant art is featured in small spaces. A powder room lets visitors view smaller pieces that would be overlooked in the living room. Artwork in the bathroom needs to be protected, remember, so place it out of the way of sinks. Smaller sculptures can be displayed on custom pedestals against the wall.
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