Never Judge a Powder Room by Its Size
Your powder room is a gift for your guests to use. They will judge your taste as
surely as they may judge a book by its cover, when they step inside. Being the
smallest room in the home, we can spend on the details without blowing the budget.
Here, we consider the age-old question of what belongs in a powder room in Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
Is Wallpaper a Good or Bad Idea?
While we would never recommend papering over cracks, wallpaper does add a
certain finesse to a tiny room that can be impossible to achieve with paint, unless the
underlying finish is perfect. However, we do need to follow guidelines, or the sheer
range of choices might overwhelm us.
Consider nominating an accent papered wall so as not to overwhelm your guests on
entering. This could be a rich, warm pattern, or we could use something lighter, and
set it off with delicate fittings. When using textured paper, consider how the natural
and artificial light may fall.
Lighten Up Your Life
A powder room can seem a dull, uninviting space especially if there is no outside
window. Create a soft dreamy feel instead, that encourages your guests to relax while they
attend to their needs. Think welcoming wall sconces. If you can spare the space,
include a petite standing lamp on a shelf where they can put their keys and phones
and find them later.
So What Are Powder Room Essentials?
You must have a water closet, a vanity, a sink, and a mirror, or else what is the
purpose of a powder room? Being the ‘littlest room’ means each square foot
counts, so the secret is the fittings we choose.
A wall mount sink is more space efficient, especially if we do not need a drop in
cabinet for storage. Do we really need more than hand soap and a towel?
Generous mirrors are indispensable for reflected light and brightness – and for
checking one’s appearance before stepping outside to join your Halifax family and guests.
Spend time considering the correct placement of the mirror. In a smaller powder
room, the sink is almost inevitably on the left or right hand wall and the mirror travels
with it. Do we want to set these against the contrast wall or reflect the wallpaper?
What about the frame: Are we going to dress the mirror up, or go ‘au naturel?
What do YOU THINK is the key to a successful Halifax, Nova Scotia powder room?
Please leave a comment. We would love to know!
