Minimalist Bathrooms Are Trending – but Emma Roberts’ Rustic Space Is the Real Showstopper
Emma's powder room is a timeless take on the cottagecore look – and it blends maximalist touches with heritage charm
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Picture a modern-day powder room: a sleek, minimalist aesthetic defined by the desire for a ‘spa-style’ space likely comes to mind. Over the past few years, these tiny rooms have increasingly embraced neutral, chic modernism, but some designers are taking a different approach.
In Emma Roberts’ Los Angeles home, the acclaimed firm Pierce and Ward designed a powder room that feels striking yet notably understated. Floral wallpaper adds a maximalist touch, but it leans more toward a rustic aesthetic than a more contemporary look.
Recreate Emma Roberts' Floral Powder Room
With a creamy neutral background and elegant red florals, I think this wallpaper is the perfect way to replicate Emma's look. The marigold print is eye-catching without feeling too intense.
Want to add some florals to your bathroom without committing to a new wallcovering? Invest in a few simple accessories like this soap dispenser. I love the matching ceramic bath tray.
To bring a touch of the 'grandma chic' aesthetic to your powder room, try a dainty floral wallpaper instead of a bolder print. It's charming, elegant, and subtly retro.
You can't miss the handsome wood chair in Emma's powder room – and if you're desperate to find a similar piece, I'd start with a classic oak stool like this one. It's available in a variety of finishes, too.
Emma brings a heritage feel to her powder room using brass fixtures and a particularly gorgeous brass sconce. Get the look using this table lamp, which boasts a dainty scalloped shade.
Emma transformed an English pine chest into a vanity, but if you don't fancy a trip to the antique store, you can opt for a handsome wooden unit like this one.
Powder rooms don't always need to be particularly tranquil spaces, but Emma's feels like a breath of fresh air. Although the red florals in the wallpaper bring a real energy to the room, the cream backdrop has a powerful, grounding effect.
Upon first glance, the print still looks eye-catching, but it's softened by strategic styling – namely, organic textures in the form of the wood vanity, picture frames, and antique chair. These elements serve to break up the design scheme while balancing out the bolder colors and patterns.
Some powder rooms are fast becoming 'confidence zones' within our homes: the place for unexpected design choices that we might not make elsewhere. They can offer the chance to indulge in a more vibrant color palette, perhaps, or show off a print that simply wouldn't work in another room.
When it comes to Emma's space, however, there's a sense of harmony between playfulness and restraint. This is certainly a whimsical pocket of the home, but it isn't startling – and this allows the entire area to maintain that cozy, inviting feel.
To me, Emma's powder room is a refined take on the cottagecore trend. Florals can lend small spaces a quaint, dollhouse-inspired feel, but heritage charm adds depth here: just take a look at the vanity, which is, in fact, a repurposed English pine chest dating back to the 19th century.
Coupled with brass faucets and sconces, this handsome statement piece ensures that the room feels sophisticated and character-rich – while contemporary black-and-white photos bring a dash of personality.
Intricate floral patterns can create a striking look without making small spaces feel chaotic
Although some maximalist bathroom ideas remain enduringly popular among minimalist alternatives, designers say that Emma's powder room signals a growing preference for softer prints.
'Emma's powder room is a great reminder that pattern doesn’t have to feel loud to make an impact,' says Carla Blast, Design Principal at the eponymous Carla Blast Design. 'The wallpaper immediately draws you in, but because the scale is small and the pattern repeats evenly, it feels charming rather than busy. The soft, earthy colors help it to blend instead of shout.'
So, while experimental powder rooms are certainly impressive, Emma shows that a classic look is just as gorgeous.
'This space is very much in line with what I’m seeing right now in powder room design,' says Carla. 'People are using their spaces to take risks, but they're also mixing in vintage elements and keeping the overall look timeless and very personal.'
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