I Asked Interior Designers What They Think is the Most Underrated Room to Decorate – Here's Why They All Said the Powder Room

When I asked a handful of interior designers which room they thought was the most underrated to decorate, I expected to hear about entryways or maybe utility spaces. But to my surprise, they all came back with the same answer – and it wasn’t one I’d ever really considered: the small but mighty powder room.

It turns out this small, often-overlooked space holds a special place in designers’ hearts. Free from the practicalities of the master bath, the powder room is where they feel most liberated to take risks with bold wallpaper, saturated color, or statement lighting. And it is where they most love to let their creativity run wild.

After hearing their reasoning (and seeing the beautiful spaces they’ve created), I’m starting to see why. The powder room, it seems, is the one place where more really is more – and it's the best space to impress your guests, too.

Why Designers Love Decorating a Powder Room

If you think about it, a bold powder bathroom approach makes total sense. 'It’s the perfect spot to take the scheme from the rest of the home and turn it up a few notches to its fullest expression,' says designer Rachel Sherman of Rachel Sloane Interiors.

'Typically no one is spending large amounts of time in there, so the argument that something is “too bold to live with” doesn’t have legs,' she explains. 'I love the powder room because there are a finite number of components to select, and for the few moments spent inside, each will be considered together.'

Because they're compact, not typically used every day, and mostly frequented by guests, they become the perfect space to be bold, take design risks, and play up your personality, Kristina Khersonsky of STUDIO KEETA explains.

'Powder rooms (and small bathrooms in general) are some of the best spaces in a home to go bold,' says Kristina. 'From an architectural standpoint, powder rooms are often small or shaped a little oddly. That innate quirkiness actually lends itself to more experimental design choices.'

'It’s a great space to play with unexpected bathroom colors, textures, and materials that you’ve been eyeing but can’t necessarily commit to on a larger scale,' she adds. 'They also offer a moment of surprise and delight for guests – a chance to create an experience.'

'We love taking risks in powder baths with bold colors and patterns because generally they are small, so you won’t get tired of them, and it feels like a burst of energy in your journey through the house,' says designer Bess Lovern of Bess Lovern Designs.

'In this powder bathroom [seen above], we wanted the space to feel warm and adventurous,' Bess explains. 'We transformed a 19th-century Belgian dressing table into a bathroom vanity with the original marble top. It was already so beautifully patinated, it added so much personality to the space.'

'We design a lot for clients who love to entertain, and we always encourage them to do something different,' she adds. 'For example, if there was a color or idea that is just completely different from what they have in the rest of the house, but they still love, powder bathrooms are the perfect space to lean into that and be daring.'

If there’s one thing that makes the powder room so appealing, it’s that it allows you to indulge – both creatively and financially – without the commitment or scale of a larger space.

'A powder room provides the perfect opportunity to have fun and be bolder than you might be elsewhere in the house with a small but powerful expression of personality,' says Sarah Ellison from Frank & Faber.

'Usually frequented by guests, it’s great to provide the element of surprise and create a bit of a talking point, and let’s face it, there is the financial factor, as a smaller, self-contained space, this is a great opportunity to invest in bathroom wallpaper, bathroom lighting, and brassware you love but perhaps can’t indulge in on a larger scale.'

'One of my favourites we've designed is a tiny cloakroom in a Grade II listed converted Mill in Dorset, England,' says Sarah of the sweet space seen above. 'We used the beautiful La Pannonine Wallpaper by Pierre Frey alongside a striped encaustic floor tile, fabric shades, and a bobbin coving detail. It provides such a striking contrast to the more pared-back and robust finishes of the rest of the property.'

It’s a clever way of thinking about where to spend and where to save in a remodel – in the powder room, your dream wallpaper or statement sconces suddenly feel much more attainable due to the impact they provide.

'Being compact means that, per square metre, you can afford to be a little more opulent – to reach for that brand or finish you’ve always loved but thought was out of budget,' agrees Rina Patel of Vastu Interior Design. 'It's surprising how little you actually need to make a huge impact.'

Sometimes, it’s the limitations of these rooms that make it so memorable and push you to think differently – and nowhere is that truer than in a historic home.

'I have worked extensively in historic homes, and powder rooms are usually the most wonderful design challenge because, with few exceptions, these rooms are being added to a space for the first time,' says designer Bethany Adams.

Bethany actually faced this in her own 1897 home, where she transformed a former servant’s bathroom under the stairs into something extraordinary. Space was tight, and when a new plumbing vent pipe meant building a false wall, she decided to recess the sink four inches into it, creating the stylish tiled niche seen above.

'Because the space was quite petite to begin with, I chose to leave a niche in the new wall so that the sink could be recessed into it,' she explains. 'Tiling the niche and lighting it made this problematic area an absolute showstopper, and there is not a single person who doesn't comment on it – and none of them have any idea that this beautiful design was born out of necessity!'

As designers know best, these design constraints can often spark creativity, rather than killing it. 'Occasionally, there are powder rooms with no daylight, and those are the most fun to design,' adds Rina. 'You can completely control the mood lighting, creating extra impact and drama. Lighting doesn’t have to be bright; it just needs to be flattering. Soft, warm illumination that enhances the finishes and flatters the person looking in the mirror.'

What I hadn’t quite expected was just how personal designers get about powder rooms. They’re not just spaces to be bold for boldness’s sake; they’re tiny spaces for storytelling.

'Small bathrooms or powder rooms are such a joy to design,' says designer Lauren Gilberthorpe. 'They are compact enough to take risks and play with color, pattern, or finishes without it feeling overwhelming. Creating a bold powder room is about making it personal, whether that is a wall mural celebrating family achievements or a quirky wallpaper that references a much-loved hobby.'

'We often enjoy having a bit of fun in powder rooms, using artwork that tells a story or accessories such as playful books,' Lauren continues. 'I am a firm believer in creating statement rooms in small spaces, so it is a chance to be more whimsical.'

'From painted panelling to botanical wallpaper, or even a curved, ultra-minimalist design, we have worked on a huge variety of bathrooms. One thing remains constant – they are personal and celebrate the people who live there.'

'Once you’ve defined the personality of the room, you can start layering details,' adds Rina. 'The toilet may be functional, but the basin, taps, lighting, mirrors, and accessories are your chance to make a statement. Clients adore powder rooms because they surprise and delight within the smallest of footprints. It’s the room guests whisper about later – “Have you seen the bathroom?” – because it lingers in their minds.'

'It’s the smallest space in the house, but most people who walk through your door will end up in that room, so I love to create an enveloping visual experience,' adds Jeff Andrews of Jeff Andrews Design. 'In particular, the powder is a perfect opportunity to experiment with bold, unique wallcoverings and lighting. Even for the most subtle aesthete, a powder bath is the place to go bold.'

And if there’s one lesson to take from the designers I spoke to, it’s that decorating a powder room is about creating a statement.

'I love designing powder rooms, they’re such fun spaces to get creative with,' says designer Sean Symington. 'I find that often the smaller the room, the bolder you can be.'

'I think the trick is to see them as an extension of the home and not just a forgotten corner, so I try to avoid anything too clinical,' Sean advises. 'I like to add warmth and personality through color, texture, and lighting.'

Sean’s approach is a masterclass in balance. He explains how his favorite approach is to combine half-height panelling with complementary wallpaper, soft wall lighting with gathered lampshades, and artwork that brings humor or charm. A statement mirror, he adds, can make all the difference – reflecting both light and personality back into the space.

A place to experiment with color, texture, and personality on a smaller scale, the powder room is a small but mighty space that tells a story, aims to makes guests smile, and gets to focus on fun rather than functionality. For more ideas to help inject some joy into your powder bathroom, check out the latest bathroom trends in our round-up.