26 of the Most Gorgeous Half Bath Ideas We’ve Ever Seen

The half bath may be humble, but it offers the perfect opportunity to have fun and take a décor risk. Sometimes called a powder room, this tiny space is simply a bathroom without the “bath” part — it typically only has a toilet and a sink. While a half bathroom may be small, it makes a great addition to the main level of your home, serving as a restroom option for guests.

Because this is often a space that’s tucked away, it’s ideal for getting creative and trying out fun half bathroom ideas like wild designs you’ve always dreamed of playing with. Maybe it’s bold paint, removable wallpaper, or funky decor; regardless, there are tons of ideas to consider. 

We scoured our house tour and before and after archives to bring you 26 of the best half-bath ideas we’ve ever seen.

A floating sink in a half bathroom is a no brainer: Not only does it look sleek but it also saves valuable floor space, giving the illusion of a larger room. This floating sink combined with tropical wallpaper in autumnal tones gives this humdrum bathroom a remarkable makeover (and only for $800!).

This UK artist installed colorful comic strips in her wonderfully whimsical powder room. The comic strips were strategically planned out so that guests can read them when they’re doing their business.

In this Toronto powder room, the vine-y hanging plant adds texture and color in the minimalist space.

A traditional checkerboard floor pairs quite nicely with a black-and-white floral wallpaper that sits behind the regal pedestal sink in this DC row house.

Rich honey oak wood shelving and cabinetry give this California craftsman powder room a vintage feel. The red rotary dial phone and the woodsy wallpaper add to the sense of whimsy.

Octopus patterned wallpaper and a jellyfish-like sunburst mirror give this San Francisco powder room a monochromatic aquatic theme.

The powder room may have a small footprint, but it’s an area where it’s easier (and less expensive) to give something bold a try. Cue this Italian-inspired powder room before & after: The blues and rusty browns in the mosaic tile behind the mirror are a nod to the owner’s Italian roots — and really pack a punch to the rest of the all-white bathroom.

It’s safe to say no one would be able to forget this cobalt blue faucet, which gives this bathroom in Brooklyn a fun and unexpected use of color.

It’s hard to say what we love more about this powder room in Detroit — the peach wall-mounted, curvaceous sink or the Gucci floral wallpaper. The stunning colorful sink proves once again that a powder room is the perfect space to try out a bolder shade or pattern than you otherwise would throughout the rest of the house.

There’s a lot to love about this powder room before and after — the regal wainscoting, the brass fixtures, and the splash of wallpaper. But one of the most unique details in the room is the teardrop-shaped mirror hung above the sink, which softens the sharp lines of the molding.

We are beyond obsessed with the botanical wallpaper by William Morris combined with brass accents in this Georgia powder room. A navy blue vanity pairs perfectly.

This UK half bath is perfectly bold with patterned wallpaper and floor tiles, plus some funky art. Its unexpected combination of colors and prints totally works.

We’re digging the sage green hue of the vanity in this Ohio bathroom, paired with an array of matching houseplants. The witty art with a double meaning doesn’t hurt either.

This interior designer’s ambitious DIY remodel has fun wallpaper design in a few different rooms, but the half bath’s hot pink oversized flamingo wallpaper steals the show. You can immediately see how a fun, energetic wallpaper pattern in a small space — like a powder room — can be a great way to inject personality into a small space.

Since powder rooms are pretty limited in the amount of elements in the space — there’s likely a toilet, a sink, and maybe a mirror and hand towel rack — any changes you make to any of those elements will offer a huge visual impact. Even small updates, like choosing an elegant, oversized round mirror as seen in this classic-rock inspired home, can completely change the look of your half bath.

Remember, a half bath is a small space, so you don’t need a ton of decor elements to make a big impact. If you want to create a bold look with color, consider adding just one delightful hue in a surprising spot. The power room in Leslie Sumner’s St. Louis house has a bright green mirror, for example.

If you crave upgrading the finishes of the fixtures in your half bath, update them to your dream finish! Chances are it’ll be in your budget because you won’t have to replace the finishes in a large room. And because the powder room is really a space apart from the rest of your home, you don’t have to try to “match” the finishes in say, your kitchen. The finishes in this remodeled Charleston home’s half bath all feature a sleek gold vibe.

You may have heard some folks say you should avoid dark colors in small spaces, but that’s just not true in all cases. In this teeny powder room in this UK home, a dark paint color on the walls and the door—as well as in the floor tiles—creates a cozy little hug of a room.

If you’ve ever had your eyes on a really uniquely designed modern faucet, here’s your chance to incorporate one. Even if it is a stretch on your budget, the bold visual statement of one could be the only decor you really need in your half bath to make an impressive room. Let the sleek modern room in this ocean-inspired Maine home be your inspiration.

Patterns that might be too busy in larger rooms can fit in just perfectly in a small half bath, like the black and white graphic wallpaper in this Atlanta house. But you don’t have to just get graphic on the walls; consider contrasting patterns on hand towels, art, the counters, and more.

Have you had a DIY idea kicking around in your head but you have been too afraid to try? A small half bath is the perfect place to just go for it! Whether it’s a hand-painted wall mural, an art idea, or something as simple as a polka dot wall pattern like in this charming, eclectic farmhouse, use this small room as your canvas.

Many of the suggestions in this post have so far been of the aesthetic variety. But you can focus on function in these tiny spaces, too. Again, featuring this DC row house powder room, this mirror-shelf combo pulls double duty performing two functions at once. You’ll save space with this smart and stylish idea.

In a room as small as a half bath, choosing a dramatic light piece can be one of the only things you need to add pizzaz. The hanging pendant light in this New Orleans house has strong Art Deco vibes, setting the tone for the rest of the space. But you don’t have to focus on just hanging pendant lights, consider wall sconces or a vanity light upgrade above the mirror.

While you should try to embrace a similar design style in most of your rooms to bring a sense of cohesiveness to your home, rules go right out of the window when it comes to a half bath. So conceive of a quirky theme (like say, vintage tennis racquets as seen in the Australia house above) and really go for it.

While it makes sense to put small sized things in a small room, you don’t always have to stick to that rule. From oversized patterns in wallpaper to oversized fixtures, like the larger-than-it-needs-to-be sink in the renovated New Orleans house above, going intentionally large with a decor element can be a way to add drama to a small room.

Lest you think you HAVE to go wild with wallpaper, color, or bold elements in your small powder room, this lovely little half bath in a cute New England house shows that you can create just as beautiful of a guest bathroom experience by keeping it simple with color, pattern, and decor.