45 Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Effortlessly Elegant

A custom alabaster pendant light (Pierrefonds Antiquités), custom toile de jute draperies, and a vintage Villeroy & Boch pedestal fill this small space in an old manor house apartment in the French countryside designed by David Jimenez.

Earthen hues shine in the powder room with mossy wainscot paneling (Pigeon by Farrow & Ball) and a luminous terra-cotta abaca wallcovering (Phillip Jeffries) in this historic Los Angeles residence designed by Fran Keenan.

In this Baker’s Bay Bahamas estate designed by Amanda Lindroth, English artisan Linda Fenwick’s lustrous shell artistry serves as an exquisite stand-in for conventional paneling and crown molding.

In a Sun Valley, Idaho cabin designed by Mark D. Sikes, the bath’s delft tiles are mixed with a French folk art mirror (Epoca) and a tapestry-inspired wallpaper (Morris & Co.).

In an Arkansas farmhouse designed by Heather Chadduck Hillegas, a star-patterned wallpaper (Colefax and Fowler) and slate flooring ground the bath in captivating simplicity.

Striated and hand-painted wallpaper (Maya Romanoff) paired with voluminous window shades create a moody setting in this New York powder room by Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller. The polished nickel washstand and tasseled, Art Deco-inspired mirror (Selamat Design) add a sense of glitz to the room.

The bathroom may not be the most popular space in a home, but it's the perfect place to experiment with patterns. Designer Mark D. Sikes used a hand-painted wallpaper (Iksel) to form a florid backdrop for a bone inlay mirror (Charles Jacobsen) in this California guest bathroom.

Designers often swathe rooms in one pattern to create a homey vibe. However, the travertine stone (Ann Sacks) in this Dallas powder room actually does the opposite due to its mix of light gray tones, making the room feel more open. The custom stool was built by Sawkille Co.

In this Montana bathroom by Palmer Weiss, the 1880s Black Forest carved mirror brings dimension to a wilderness wallpaper by Lee Jofa. The sink fixtures are by Waterworks.

A mix of white, cream, and brass tones makes the vanity area in the bathroom of designer Ceara Donnelley's Charleston home feel more airy and spacious. The brass-rimmed vanity is crafted of creamy vanilla onyx (Artistic Tile).

When architects Al and Parker Platt were approached to build this lakeside lodge on Lake Toxaway, they immediately knew the home had to play seamlessly with the lush landscape. A sliding glass wall functions like a transparent pocket door, fully opening the intimate bath to the lake breeze. The sunken tub is crafted of gascogne blue limestone.

This gilded Hamptons bathroom by Alex Papachristidis proves even the smallest spaces can be the most glamorous. The New York-based designer worked with Eve Kaplan to create rock- and shell-like encrustations on the walls as an imaginative riff on the Grotto Hall at Postdam's New Palace.

While a elegant detail, the leaded-glass window, slightly off-center, made for quite the geometric challenge in this Greenwich powder room designed by Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey. The silk, pinstripe wallpaper (Ralph Lauren) sets the room straight and harmonizes with the funky marble floor.

When tasked to transform this small bath in Palm Beach, designer Joe Lucas took the opportunity to play with whimsical motifs and delightful colors. Schools of koi rush the walls in CW Stockwell's revival of a post-war pattern, adding a kitschy pop to the space.

Los Angeles-based designer Kevin Isbell cleverly used billowy drapery to divide this narrow bathroom at the Kips Bay Show House into three distinct zones: entry, vanity, and bathing area. The smokey tones of the onyx wallcovering (Carlisle & Co.) and striking artwork a sense of drama to the space. Drapery fabrication by The Shade Store.

Designer Miles Redd reinvents Bahamian style with his fearless deployment of rich patterns and vivacious shades throughout this Baker’s Bay retreat. An ornate Iksel Decorative Arts wallcovering transforms the small powder into a breathtaking design moment, sure to be the talk of this sun-drenched home. The sconces are from Visual Comfort & Co.

Each room of designer Philip Mitchell’s 18th-century Nova Scotia home tells its own story with rich antiques and illustrious collections. Within the guest bath, Mitchell displays colorful pottery from local artist Paula MacDonald, celebrating the artistry and creativity found in the maritime province. A Waterworks claw-foot tub occupies the small nook as a Chelsea Textiles curtain frames the windows. The walls are painted Dune White by Benjamin Moore.

Luxe, layered textiles elevate French simplicity and beauty within this 200-year-old Provence farmhouse designed by Susan Bednar Long. Antique terra-cotta tile flooring adds a rustic-yet-refined feel to the bath while complementing an Antiquitiés Ramis mirror and chest.

Designers Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos defy the rules of scale and contrast within the Kips Bay powder room for unexpected dramatic twist. An Ann Sacks metallic leaf backing and Area Environments wallcovering work together to give the polished space depth and movement. The window shade is by The Shade Store.

Everlasting charm reigns through each room—including the guest bath—of designer Betsy Shiverick’s Palm Beach getaway. The custom vanity is topped with Crema Marfil marble while Belgian wall tile from L’Antiquario adorns the wall. Shiverick painted the walls Benjamin Moore’s Ice Milk.