The half bath typically is so small—averaging 4 by 5 feet— that there’s no use pretending it isn’t. So skip the white paint and play with rich, dark colors—or your favorite color—on walls and cabinets. Try painting three walls and the ceiling a light color—and then brushing a dark color for contrast. The room will “pop.”
A few other ideas:
- Don’t waste wall space. Hang a cabinet with an attached towel rack on the wall above the toilet.
- Build in storage space on walls and under the sink so you can hide extra rolls of tissue and cleaning products. Clutter never makes a good impression.
- Lay oversized tiles on the floor and backsplash.
- If you don’t need the storage space, go with a wall-mounted or pedestal sink instead of a vanity with a storage cabinet underneath. A sparser sink opens up the space and makes the room appear less cramped. A tip: Buy one that’s three to five inches taller than a standard sink. As you age, you’ll be grateful that you don’t have to bend over as much at the sink.
- Cover your powder room floor with the same hardwood as the floor outside of the half bath. When the door is open, the small bathroom will look elongated.
