Bold and Trendy Small-Bathroom Makeover

Before, the contractor-grade en suite powder room of this guest room was lacking in color and personality. With a timeline of just two days, bold hues and simple changes would reinvent it as a personalized place for guests to pamper themselves.

To turn the once-drab powder room into something bold and cheerful, the walls and ceiling were painted navy blue in a semigloss finish. The dark-colored walls and ceiling help tone down the intense apple-green paint of the adjacent guest room. Tip: When painting small spaces which open up to larger rooms, keep in mind that painting them the same color will unite the two spaces whereas using contrasting colors helps delineate them.

Similar to any other room in the house, layering colors in bathrooms is done effectively and practically with accessories. Keep the color palette consistent by choosing bath towels and hand towels in similar shades found on the window treatments or wall covering. Tip: Rather than matching colors exactly, interior designers recommend choosing colors which are slightly off from one another. This will keep a room feeling layered instead of matchy-matchy.

Lighting is one of the most important elements of a successful bathroom. Most contractor-grade bathrooms come with exposed-bulb vanity lights which cast an unflattering yellow glow on skin. Swap the existing fixture for something with diffused lighting such as a frosted-glass sconce. Once illuminated, the soft glow from the glass will cast flattering light onto the skin and allow true colors to read more naturally. If the existing junction box is centered directly over the mirror, it's easy to change out the fixtures without a hired electrician as long as the power is shut off and proper safety precautions are followed. Tip: For situations in which a junction box needs to be moved, it's best to call an electrician and prepare to budget approximately $200 for labor costs and materials.