6 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Update a Powder Room
A powder room is a great place to do an update in your home. Whether you’re new to DIY design or you want a place to start redecorating your home, the powder room is a great place to start because it’s small, you don’t really need to change the floor plan and it’s an area that is closed off from the rest of the home so you can make it fun and bold. Here, I’ve outlined some easy and inexpensive ways to update the powder bath.
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Wallpaper
Since this is just a powder room, there’s no need to worry about excessive moisture from a shower here. Go for the wallpaper! You can use a peel and stick or traditional paper here. It’s a little tricky getting around areas like the toilet and sink, but it’s a small space so it’s a great area to go bold. Do something really fun here such as a printed paper in either a large floral, a busy pattern or a whimsical print. Head over to my Get the Look page to get links to some fantastic wallpaper choices.
Pro Tip: If you want an accent wall, make the ceiling your accent wall. Do not only treat one wall. If you’re wallpapering, do all walls. If you’re painting a bold color, paint all walls.
2. Add wainscotting or board and batten
Not feeling the wallpaper? Put some paneling on your walls such as a wainscoting or a board and batten. Paint it a high gloss moody color or white and add some wallpaper above the paneling.
3. Replace the mirror
You can find some beautiful, decorative mirrors that will give your powder room some extra style. Do this especially if you have a builder grade mirror without a frame. They are not difficult to remove and replace.
4. Replace the light fixture
Is your light fixture dated? Mine is too! I’ve been living with the same builder grade so ugly vanity light in my powder bath. No real reason why I haven’t changed it out, just a time thing for me. Luckily, these are pretty easy to replace. You can install a new light fixture above your mirror or try some sconces on either side of your mirror for an updated look. Hint: For optimal lighting with a mirror, sconces actually should go beside the mirror, not above. But, for a powder bath, you usually are looking for a dimmer, more moody look. You’re not inspecting wrinkles and blemishes in this room!
5. Treat your ceiling
Add a wallpaper to your ceiling or paint it. Treat your ceiling as your fifth wall. I’m pretty into this right now. In the photo below, obviously there’s wallpaper on the walls and a coordinating paper on the ceiling separated by molding. I love this, but it is a lot! Most prefer to do either wall or ceiling with the paper, not both. If you are wanting to do both though, hire a designer to get it right. Trust me, it will be well worth it and you’ll actually save a lot of headache and money in the end!
Image from Pinterest
6. Change out your fixtures and/or accessories
This is an easy fix. Change out your towel ring and your toilet paper holder. Have fun with this one! Try something whimiscal!
I’m getting ready to refresh my own powder bath. Here’s what I’m thinking…definitely wallpaper, possibly paneling on lower half or coordinating wallpaper on ceiling, new light fixture, new mirror. Budget will be $500. Can I do it?