Does your home have the powder room blues? There’s no need to live with a boring, drab space that leaves you hoping your guests never stay long enough to use it. While this isn’t your master bathroom, it still deserves some love. The powder room has a function, of course, but it also has a role to play— it’s there to make your guests feel welcomed.

Here’s our recipe for praiseworthy powder rooms that go bold, subtle, and everything in between.

The first step is to think about color. Since powder rooms are typically small—and sometimes windowless—they often feature bright colors. Bright white walls are a classic choice to really open up the space.

Of course, we also love heading in the opposite direction. Bold colors add dramatic richness to such a small space, requiring little effort but big reward. For your base color, consider a bold azure or cerulean blue and pair it with bright white for contrast.

You could also try a rich amethyst or a cool fern green and add a secondary color in a lighter shade. The darker the color, the more your decor should feature glossy or contrasting colors.

Here, you can fit your wallpaper to your wall color or you can choose a wall color to fit your wallpaper. Wallpaper can be either a bold move or a glaring error in other parts of the home, but it works incredibly well in a powder room design.

Create a focal wall with wallpaper, or go all out and paper all four walls. As for the design, there’s no limit to your creativity. We can’t get enough of big and flashy prints, like vibrant botanicals, dazzling geometrics, and funky abstracts. If you’re more into subtle design, pick a pastel paper and put your focus on high-quality finishes.

Lighting fixtures can really set the mood for this room, so take a moment to consider the overall impression. You want fixtures that can be functional and attractive, which often means a combination of ceiling and wall lights.

Powder rooms are the perfect place to show off unique lighting, whether you love a classy chandelier or an abstract hanging pendant light. Wall sconces are another way to get creative with lighting—place one on either side of the mirror for a dramatic look.

Apart from any wallpaper, the vanity is often the main focal point in a powder room. A sleek floating vanity highlights a modern or streamlined space, whereas a Victorian-style vanity adds vintage charm. And if the design works but the color doesn’t, don’t be afraid to add some paint. We love the way a wooden vanity takes on new dimensions with a pop of color.

Finally, dress up your walls to complete the look. If you chose bright white walls, adorn them with plenty of paintings and decorative prints. For wallpapered walls, choose a few key pieces that reflect one or two colors in the print. Also, consider replacing your door with a sliding barn door. Not only will barn doors create more space in the hall, but they draw the eye from all angles, even before your guests step inside.

If you love the look of barn doors, ask us about how we customize sliding barn doors for the perfect fit to any room.