Breaking Down the Bold Powder Room
How We Designed a Bold Powder Room That Leaves a Lasting Impression
Some spaces are designed to blend in. This wasn't one of them.
When our client described their vision for the powder room, they gave us three words: funky, fun, and bold. They wanted guests to open the door and immediately smile, a complete departure from the rest of the home in the best possible way. Lead Designer Amy Evans says, “It’s like you open the door to surprise safari. Those are jaguars on the wall covering and the room is just a burst of color and fun.”
Powder rooms are one of our favorite places to take creative risks. Because they're compact and used for shorter periods of time, they offer the perfect opportunity to embrace pattern, richer color, and statement-making details without overwhelming the home.
Here's how we layered every element to create a space that feels cohesive, elevated, and full of personality.
1. Start with the Mood
Every room begins with an emotion before it begins with finishes.
In this case, the goal wasn't simply to add color, it was to create surprise. We wanted the experience of opening the door to feel unexpected and memorable, so every selection supported that feeling. Instead of one dramatic feature, we layered several thoughtful moments that work together.
2. Let the Wallpaper Set the Tone
The wallpaper became the inspiration for the entire room.
Its saturated teal palette, metallic detailing, and rhythmic pattern immediately establish the personality of the space. Because it carries so much visual movement, it naturally became the anchor for every material that followed.
Rather than competing with it, we selected finishes that enhance its richness.
Design takeaway: In a small room, choose one hero material and allow everything else to support it.
Delilah Wallcovering in Slate by Romo Fabrics, Photo by Erin Konrath Collective
3. Add Depth with Handmade Tile
Instead of introducing another competing pattern, we selected a glossy handcrafted tile in a deep olive-charcoal tone.
The variation in each tile adds texture and dimension while reflecting light throughout the room. It creates visual richness without taking attention away from the wallpaper, proving that texture can be just as impactful as color. The result is layered rather than busy.
Hilary Pendant from Arteriors
4. Choose Lighting That Feels Like Jewelry
Lighting is often the finishing touch, but in this powder room, it's part of the composition.
The seeded glass Arteriors pendant introduces warmth and softness while complementing the rich brass finishes throughout the space. Its elongated silhouette draws the eye upward, adding height and elegance to a compact footprint.
Like a great piece of jewelry, it completes the room without overpowering it.
5. Soften the Geometry
With rectangular tile and a bold graphic pattern already filling the space, we looked for opportunities to introduce softer lines.
The rounded-edge gold mirror breaks up the repetition of straight lines while echoing the warm brass tones found in the pendant and faucet. The softened corners make the room feel more approachable and create balance among the stronger architectural elements.
Small adjustments like this often make the biggest difference in how a space feels.
6. Keep the One Element Quiet
Not every element needs to compete for attention.
The warm wood vanity provides an understated foundation that allows the finishes above it to shine. Topped with a clean marble countertop and paired with a sleek Kohler Purist faucet in Vibrant French Gold, it grounds the room while reinforcing the refined palette.
This balance between expressive and restrained is what keeps the space feeling curated instead of chaotic.
Why It Works
What makes this powder room successful isn't one individual product—it's the relationship between all of them.
The wallpaper delivers personality.
The handcrafted tile adds depth.
The sculptural pendant introduces warmth.
The rounded mirror softens the architecture.
The vanity provides balance.
Together, these layers create a room that feels immersive, intentional, and unforgettable from the moment you step inside.
Powder Room Schematic Design by KED Interiors
Designer's Reflection
Powder rooms are often the smallest spaces in a home, but they're also where we encourage clients to take the biggest creative leap. They're an opportunity to embrace bold design in a way that feels exciting rather than overwhelming.
For us, this room is a reminder that memorable design isn't about adding more. It's about choosing every element with intention and giving each one a purpose.