A powder room is a space in your home where you can really express your personality. It’s one of the smaller rooms in the house, so wallpaper choices that might feel bold elsewhere are often a perfect fit here. Best of all, adding powder room wallpaper is relatively effortless and allows you to experiment with trends and statement looks.
Whether you’re renovating your home in Denver, Colorado or simply updating your powder room in Nashville, Tennessee, these expert-approved powder room wallpaper ideas will help you choose the right design for your space. Let’s get started.
1. Make bold statements
Brad Pearce, creative director of Haven Home Staging in Chicago, Illinois, points out, “Powder rooms are a great place to incorporate wallpaper. Given the small space, wallpaper requires less money to purchase. It also costs less if you want to replace it sooner than other design elements in your home.”
This flexibility is why he encourages homeowners to be more bold here than elsewhere. Pearce explains, “With the limited space of a powder room, we incorporate bold, dramatic patterns and colors in the wallpaper. Bigger and bolder.” “If there’s a detail you already like, like a brass faucet or green glass in a window, it would also be great to incorporate that color into the wallpaper in this space.”
2. Create a balanced look
In a powder room, wallpaper tends to be the focal point. Michelle Lafon, a designer at Amazing Spaces in Greenwich, Conn., advises homeowners not to hold back. “We love oversized patterns and moody, saturated colors because the small footprint makes the dramatic look feel intentional rather than overwhelming.”
Balance is key so the room doesn’t feel too busy. “Pair wallpaper with simple, tailored finishes (a clean vanity, minimal hardware, crisp mirrors) to give the room a curated feel, and repeat one color of the paper in your accessories for a cohesive look.”
3. Choose something delicate and sophisticated
If bold wallpaper feels a little intimidating, using it on a single wall is an easy home update that makes an impact without overwhelming the room.
“2026 is leaning toward immersive and personal wallpaper,” says Mia of Mia’s Home Staging in Santa Clara, Calif., pointing to trends like “rich-toned plants, modern stripes, or mural-style prints with visible texture.” For compact rooms, we recommend choosing one hero wallpaper and keeping everything else simple. Think “streamlined vanities, minimal accessories, and clean fixtures,” and make your wallpaper “more like a jewelry box than a visual clutter.”
4. Place the wallpaper on top of the panel
If you want something a little more practical for everyday wear and tear, putting wallpaper over paneling or tile is a smart compromise.
Gillian from the blog My Life From Home suggests thinking in terms of balance and durability. “Try wallpapering just the top half of your powder room walls and using panels or tiles underneath.” This approach is “a stylish way to break up the pattern while keeping the bottom section resistant to wet hands and everyday splashes,” she explains.
This design is especially suitable for homes with a little heavy traffic. “If you have small children, it will be easier to clean and will keep your wallpaper looking fresh for a longer period of time,” adds Gillian.
5. Try making it monochrome
A monochrome wallpaper look can make an impact in a more subtle way. Instead of high-contrast prints, this approach focuses on layering different shades of the same color to create depth and unity.
To achieve this look, start by choosing your wallpaper’s primary hue, such as a soft taupe, deep navy, or muted sage. Then, reflect that same tone on your vanity, moldings, trim, or accessories, adjusting the hue slightly lighter or darker to create a subtle contrast. Textured wallpapers, such as grass cloth or embossed patterns, work particularly well with monochromatic palettes, as they add visual interest without introducing competing colors.
6. Don’t overlook the ceiling
Designers know that in a small restroom every surface is important. The ceiling is no exception. Here are some expert-approved ways to make it part of your design.
Cover the entire room with wallpaper. Brad Pierce of Haven Home Staging suggests going bolder with wallpaper. For a completely immersive look, “consider wallpapering both the walls and ceiling, or pairing it with wallpaper on the walls to paint the entire room with color.” Use the ceiling to make the space three-dimensional. Michele Lafon, designer at Amazing Spaces, calls this “a huge opportunity to enhance your space, whether it’s painting it in deep tones, wrapping it in wallpaper, or using high-gloss or metallic finishes to reflect the walls.” Creates a subtle color immersion effect. For a softer approach, Mia from Mia’s Home Staging recommends pulling a single shade from the wallpaper onto the trim or ceiling to bring the room together without overwhelming it.
Powder room wallpaper: final thoughts
It’s the perfect time to take design risks with DIY home projects. Incorporate your favorite colors and patterns, keep the details simple, and give yourself a little creative freedom. With the right wallpaper, even the most compact space can remain memorable long after your guests have left.
