The Guest Powder Room ...
(Part 3 Decorating)

When it comes to guest powder rooms some say it's all about Breaking the Rules

Even if the rest of the home is done in a traditional style, this is the one room in the house that actually stands alone when decorating.

Give the room a personality of its own, whether dramatic, sophisticated, whimsical, or romantic. Experiment with colors, textures, fabrics and unexpected embellishments.

Color/Texture/Pattern:
Whatever the reason, powder rooms seem to be the only room in the house where all the rules about color simply do not apply!

The small, intimate nature of the space and its public role to receive guests, actually invites the use of patterns one wouldn't dare use in a larger room.

Dark, bold colors work well here, making the room appear rich and dramatic rather than the expected claustrophobic box. Stark contrasts actually liven the room without jarring the senses!

On the other hand, using all white, especially in a windowless room, will tend to make the room look dreary, rather than airy and bright.

About the only color rule that does seem to work, is the use of color schemes that are pale and cool. Pastel tones in blues and greens, neutrals, and whites add to the feeling of calm and space.

Accent colors, a few small splashes of bright, light colors, mixed with liberal amounts of white will keep the room from feeling dreary. But remember, too many colors in a confined space can be confusing to the eye.

Floors:
A dark, or "warm" colored floor will absorb the light and visually raise the floor. Depending on the material used, this can have the effect of making the room feel small and cramped.

On the other hand, a light colored floor will help evenly diffuse light, adding a lighter and brighter touch to the room. Light colored floors are also easier to keep clean, because you can see the dirt. Again, the choice is a matter of personal preference.

As with any room where water is present, floors should be slip resistant and made of materials appropriate to wet areas.

Pictures in magazines, including the one at the top of this page, often showcase bathrooms with what appears to be wood flooring.

You should know that these photos are provided by the manufacturers of bathroom fixtures, and are designed to sell bathroom fixtures.

Photographers choose "wood" because it makes the photo set appear more home-like and less clinical or institutional ... not because it is a practical (or even desirable) flooring material.

A Note About Hardwood:
Hardwood and bathrooms don't mix.

No matter how well sealed the wood, continued exposure to moisture will eventually ruin the floor - even in a seldom used powder room.

Installing a wood floor in a bathroom generally voids the Mfg's warranty.

Ceilings:
Light colors are usually most pleasing for a ceiling, because ceilings are seen in shadow. Painting the ceiling one or two shades lighter than the wall color will unify the space and help reduce the "boxed in" feeling. You can buy separate paint for the ceiling, or mix your own by diluting the wall paint with white paint in a ratio of 25% color to 75% white.

If the ceiling height is over 8', painting the ceiling a darker shade than the walls will visually lower it, and give the room more of a cozy feeling. However, if the color is very dark, the ceiling will appear to push up and disappear when the lights are turned on at night. Lowering the ceiling will give the room a more balanced look.

Walls:
Avoid covering the wall with vertical lines (stripes or patterns). They add height to a room, but reduce visual space. Horizontal lines make a room seem more spacious.

A chair rail, border of tile or wall paper, or wainscoting capped by a strong horizontal band with plaster or wallpaper above combined with a baseboard and sometimes a crown molding at the ceiling adds horizontal lines that visually enlarge the perimeter of the room.

Wallpaper can open up a room and make it appear bigger. Patterns and designs with lots of white space, small florals, sky, cloud and shell patterns will help expand the walls.

Wall murals that create a distant horizon, designed to help expand the space visually, work very well in a powder room.

Mirrors/Art Work:

Mirrors expand space in every direction, making the room appear larger. If the only logical place to put a mirror is opposite the toilet, place it high enough that is does not reflect the toilet itself.

If there is no window in the room, a painting or photograph reflected in the mirror can give the room depth.

If the room has a window, position the mirror so the sunlight doesn't hit the surface directly or create glare.

Ideally mirrors over the sink should be illuminated by a series of small lamps around the entire perimeter; or at very least, a row of lamps at both sides.

Accessories:
In addition to towel bars, soap dishes, etc., plants and flowers are a great addition to powder rooms. Plants need natural light. If you don't have a window, use silk plants and flowers. Not only do they look great all the time, they never turn brown!

Avoid placing heavy or frequently used objects over the toilet bowl.
Procelain is breakable. A falling jar or object may chip or crack the toilet.

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