7 Steps to a Show-Stopping Powder Room

by Carlisle Homes

Make a bold statement in your powder room with these seven clever ideas from our expertly designed showroom spaces.

It may be the smallest room in your home, but a beautifully designed powder room can pack a real punch design-wise. As a room you don’t use every day, it’s the perfect opportunity to have a little fun, be it with patterned tiles, a striking mirror shape or look-at-me wallpaper – touches that are sure to delight any guest who uses the space. 

Looking for ideas? At our Spectra Showroom, we have 11 beautiful bathroom vignettes on display to fuel your design thinking. When you come in for your Spectra colour selection appointment, you’ll see a huge range of products and finishes. Can’t wait that long? Get a sneak peek with a virtual tour here.

In the meantime, here are seven great ideas to steal from our expertly designed showroom vignettes.

1. Statement wall lights

Having a pair of wall sconces either side of your powder room mirror will make a beautiful statement and offer plenty of light. For a classic look, consider a pair of decorative pendants in an opulent finish like brushed brass. Or, for an understated look that’s right on-trend, opt for curvaceous, frosted glass spheres. Linear wall lights in matt black or white will bring a contemporary edge to your powder room, while touches of brushed gold will add a luxe feel.

And remember – a flattering light makes people feel good when they’re looking in the mirror. Avoid bulbs that emit a bright white or bluish light, and instead opt for those that emit a warm glow.

2. An arched mirror

While a basic square mirror will do the job adequately, why not step things up in your powder room with a more dramatic mirror shape? An arched mirror injects instant character into the space, while the curved line adds softness.

Go frameless for a minimalist look or choose a style with a slender coloured frame, such as brass, black or white for added visual punch.

3. Concealed storage

Even the smallest powder room will need some storage. Make it easy to keep the space neat and uncluttered by including concealed storage for items such as hand towels and spare toilet paper rolls. Make your vanity storage seamless with a deep, handle-free drawer in the same material as the benchtop, and for additional storage, add drawers in a tonal hue at the base of the vanity.

4. An LED mirror

Eliminate the need for wall lights altogether with one of the latest mirrors with integrated LED lighting, such as the Remer LED mirror – which we offer as an optional upgrade for your new Carlisle home.

This smart mirror features a dimmable LED light so you can easily change the mood in your powder room. It also comes with a built-in demister and de-fog function, so you never have to worry about hot water fogging up the surface.

It comes in a range of shapes, including oval, round, rectangular and a mirror shaving cabinet-style, and a choice of side-frame colours, including black, white, rose gold and brushed brass, so you can easily match it to your powder-room style and colour scheme.

5. A decorative mosaic-tiled splashback

Got your heart set on stunning, statement tiles? The beautiful thing about a powder room is you can install those big-ticket tiles across a small area (like a splashback) without blowing the budget. That’s not to say you need to pay a fortune on tiles to make an impact – we’ve got a raft of gorgeous and affordable styles available too!

Decorative mosaic tiles come in a huge range of colours, shapes and styles, and provide an easy way to express your personality in your powder room. Add texture and interest with a wall or splashback in chevron-patterned mosaics; inject a sense of luxury with beautiful, marble mosaics; bring in a touch of fun with penny round mosaics; or embrace the latest trend for a wall of finger mosaic tiles in charcoal, sage green or oceanic blue.

6. Unique tapware finishes

Chrome isn’t your only option when it comes to tapware finishes – you can instantly elevate your powder room by choosing a statement finish, such as matt black, brushed gold or brass.

A tap with sleek, simple lines and a matt black finish will add a crisp, contemporary vibe to your powder room, while a luxe finish, such as gold or brass, on a decorative tap style oozes timeless sophistication.

7. Dynamic material mixes

You don’t need a lot of space to inject personality into a small powder room – even a simple change to your vanity benchtop will work wonders.

Rather than going the standard route and choosing one material for your benchtop, why not layer two? Specifying a floating vanity in rich woodgrain Laminex Blackened Elm with a raised section in contrasting Caesarstone White Attica transforms your vanity into an eye-catching feature.