I love designing powder rooms! Why the powder room? Because in most homes it’s a teeny, tiny, bathroom space that welcomes a lot of guests. So it really needs to pack a punch! It’s the perfect spot to indulge in flights of fancy you might not dare in other rooms. Here are four ways to ensure your powder room has pizzazz:

1. BE BOLD!

The powder room is the perfect spot to use a wallpaper pattern that’s bold and graphic. I adore Farrow & Ball’s Lotus pattern wall covering (below), but in a large room, it can be a bit overwhelming. In a powder room, it couldn’t be more perfect.

2. EMBRACE THE VIEW!

Many powder rooms have no window at all, so I’m referring to the view of you and your guests! A rectangle of mirror glued to your wall by your builder is a bore. The powder room is the perfect place to go over the top with an elaborate or unique mirror.

3. BE SURE IT’S LIT!

Because there are so few elements to a powder room, each selection needs to be perfect, especially the lighting. The Thomas O’Brian designed Vivian sconces in nickel and crystal were the perfect selection for my University project powder room. They made the room shine!

4. DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

I used a deep grey Venetian plaster finish with hand stenciled gold leaf ginkgo leaves as accents in this powder room below, and contrary to what you might think, the deep, dark, walls actually made the room feel larger. Dark walls can be magic, especially in small spaces.