Remodeling a Powder Room
Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

The typical powder room, that half bath in your home with just a sink, toilet, and mirror, only averages about four-by-five feet, yet even though it's generally the smallest room in the home, your powder room can create a powerful impression on guests. In fact, given its small size and the amount of use it gets, especially when you're entertaining, your powder room may actually be the most valuable square footage in your home.

The nice thing about having your powder room small is that it can be the least expensive room in your house to dramatically make over. There just isn't that much to change, but upgrading can make a huge difference in the impact your powder room can have on visitors. Here are a few suggestions for remodeling your powder room.

One of the least expensive and quickest things you can do is to change the color of the walls. Deep, lush colors can make a more impressive impact than gentle pastels. Earth tones have also been showing a strong trend recently. The idea is to create a strong impression, and nothing can do that better than bold colors.

Another hot trend has been to add vessel-style sinks to the powder room. They come in an incredible variety of styles, and you're bound to find one that suits your taste and budget. You'll be able to choose among a number of materials and textures, as well, including porcelain, glass, bronze, ceramic, and stainless steel.

If you're looking at a new sink, don't forget to pay special attention to the faucet that will be attached to it. The right faucet can make a huge difference in the overall impact of a powder room. Like sinks, you'll find a wide variety of faucets to choose from, and tying the faucet and sink together is an important part establishing a decorating theme for your powder room.

When it comes to choosing a toilet, give careful consideration to a one-piece style. A stylist one-piece toilet can lend your powder room a furnished feel, rather than simply being a necessary piece of plumbing. Your local home improvement center will offer lots of different colors and designs, so you're bound to find one that will help create the overall impression you're trying to make in your powder room. One-piece toilets have the added benefit of using considerably less water, as well, and they're quieter when flushed, which most of your guests will appreciate.

When addressing the splash section behind the sink, you'll find that slate gives a warmer impression than ceramic tile. Slate can also be integrated with granite or quartz countertops to create a lush feeling without giving the impression of being too showy.

The floor is always a remodeling consideration, too, and the recent trend has been to employ hardwood or shiny surfaces like granite or marble to give the powder room a bit more of a plush, luxurious feel. You can also use radiant heat beneath a ceramic tile or slate floor to eliminate the need for a secondary heat source.

The easiest way to add the illusion of space is with a new mirror, especially if you have an old small medicine chest above the sink -- the type with a stainless steal frame. These old-fashioned medicine cabinets really date a home. Replace with a mirror spanning the wall all the way up to the ceiling. Or, look for an extra large framed mirror and paint the frame to match your décor.

Remodeling a powder room doesn't have to be expensive, but since it's such a small room, you can often incorporate more expensive materials and features than you'd be able to do in one of the larger rooms in your home. This will allow you to impress your guests with your taste and your willingness to be a gracious host.

By Jeanette J. Fisher