The right wallpaper will quickly transform a small, underwhelming powder room into something spectacular, especially if it is combined with other materials and finishes that dial up its impact. In a bathroom in Tuscany I combined the ‘Palampore Blossom’ wallpaper from Soane with a bespoke vanity unit made from Verde Guatemala marble. In another, I chose a marbled wallpaper inspired by the house’s riverside views.
Listen to the vernacular of the building and then quietly weave in an element of mischief. The unexpected lends intrigue and energy – I do this through surprising combinations of found pieces, colours, materials and art. A powder room lends itself to an element of whimsy. I enjoy accentuating a property’s character to create somewhere that feels as if it has effortlessly evolved out of the spirit of a place.
Antiques lend stories and history and are a perfect way to answer the needs of a powder room in a characterful way. In previous projects I have used a Regency dresser as storage, upholstered a chair in towelling fabric and even rewired oversized carriage lights to create bathroom lighting.
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It may be small, but a powder room should feel rich and spoiling. The space we designed for WOW!house was a jewel-box of colours and textures, combining glazed ceramic tiles with fabric walls, a tented ceiling and durries on the wardrobe doors. We filled it with art, including simple sketches, offsetting some of the grander features and giving the sense that the room evolved organically, over time.
Be smart when it comes to thinking about questions of scale and space. The powder room is often the smallest room in the house, but there are always ways to make it feel bigger. In a project where the space was particularly narrow, I decided to build the vanity unit across its whole width and, instead of wall lights, hung a single pendant light low over the mirror.
Dare to embrace your dark side – compact rooms are the ideal place to experiment with hues you may be shy to use elsewhere. A north-facing powder room in a recent home I worked on was saved from being shady and dull by drenching it in an inky tone (Farrow & Ball’s ‘Railings’), electrifying the view to both the garden beyond and the lighter blue lobby behind.
Sometimes less is more. Yes, a powder room can be a place to let your creativity run wild, but you don’t have to be bold to be brave. If you select the right focal point – a recent scheme for a Georgian townhouse in Bath was centred around a beautiful antique basin – neutral and pared-back decor can be brilliantly memorable.
The lighting in a powder room works much like jewellery – it is an opportunity for powerful punctuation of the space. If there is room, place lamps either side of the mirror like earrings (in previous projects I have favoured designs by the likes of Jamb and Felix Lighting). A low-hung pendant can be equally effective, though. ‘Homing Instinct’ by Nicola Harding is out now, published by Rizzoli; nicolaharding.com
